Vauxhall Omega (1994 - 2003)

Well equipped, comfortable. 4,787mm (15' 8") long x 1,960mm (6' 5") wide. 150 mph 207 bhp 3.0 MV6 was almost good value by UK standards at list price of £24,445. Big at 15' 10" long and 5' 10" wide (6' 5" with mirrors). Also heavy, from 1,410kg to 1,808kg. Manual boxes better suited to engines than Senator manuals. Get a white, grey or otherwise dark coloured one and the cars in front will still think you are a police car.

Comprehensively facelifted and re-engineered in autumn 1999 for 2000 model year, with option of new 2.2 litre belt cam 146 bhp four-cylinder engine offering 151 lb ft torque. Three year warranty from October 2000. 2.5 litre 6 cylinder BMW diesel supplemented, then replaced by GM's own 2.0 and 2.2DTi four cylinder chain cam diesels from January 1998.

144bhp 2.2 Sport with MV6 chassis added to range at £19,995 in September 2001.