STYLISH
Normandy Wisdon
When What car? magazine voted the Vectra its Estate Car of the Year, it particularly paid compliments to its practicality and space. But what further set it apart was its styling, strong performance, refinement, and its driver focused chassis dynamics. Words by Nick Trott pictures by Simon Stuart-Millers
It's all too easy to rush a short break. Yes, a cheap flight will shrink the distance, but staring out of a tiny window over beautiful countryside it's often difficult not to feel a tinge of regret that you're not seeing it from ground level. After all, you can't stop the plane, find a café, sip a drink, watch the world go by. . .
Which brings us to the happy notion of a weekend on wheels. Is it necessary, after all, to fly a thousand miles when you only have three days to play with? Or should you seek out somewhere closer, but rich in its own culture, style and historical charm? And just as important, can you get there in comfort and security, and feel relaxed on arrival? If you have a Vectra SRi Estate, the answer is a categorical 'yes' - all of which is the sort of reasoning that recently saw the Vectra crowned as What Car magazine's Estate Car of the Year.
They have a point; the Vectra's strong styling and impressive performance positively encourage weekends away. And with satellite navigation and an Exterior pack including VXR styling and 19-inch alloy wheels, our SRi is one car you can pack your life into and just go.
With the Estate, the questions aren't in the usual 'how fast?' or 'how much?' mode, more 'where are you going to take it?'
The Vectra's style and space are their own call to loadup and disappear for a few days, to enjoy the strong performance of the 2-litre turbocharged engine, and most of all to see where the Vectra takes you - it's all just waiting.
In this case our escape started with a dash for Portsmouth and the relatively leisurely crossing to Caen on the Normandy coast. The plan? Skirt the D-Day landing beaches and drive north to the chic and bohemian fishing port of Honfleur.
Snug in the Vectra's multi-adjustable driver's seat, the 170-mile drive from home to the ferry was a lot easier than the 4am start the sailing time dictated. And even for a mere man, the impressively intuitive sat-nav brought Portsmouth up with no more than a brief
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