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Opel endurance runner: Kai-Uwe Wehrheim drives for decades Opel. His current trophy is the Vectra C.
“Instead of using a company car, I prefer to use my Vectra. I’ve been able to rely on that for years. “
– Kai-Uwe Wehrheim – owner of the kilometer hero
The community Heidenrod extends in 19 districts over the wooded heights of the Kemeler Heide. It is not surprising that many passionate hunters live here, and that their living room walls adorn the antlers of killed red deer, just as little. Kai-Uwe Wehrheim’s object of triumph, however, is not a hunting trophy but a trophy. A car fitting, the speedometer contained therein displays over 360,000 kilometers.
The man from Heidenrod-Langschied has removed her from his Vectra A, before he made his final journey. Until 2006 he drove the Opel. And today we are visiting the Rheingau-Taunus-Kreis in the south of Hesse in order to visit another trophy by Mr. Wehrheim. She still does not hang on the wall: the Vectra C takes a winter sunbath in the courtyard entrance. It is a true Opel endurance runner, he has already over half a million kilometers on the counter. The owner does not want to speculate how many will be added: “By 2020, I’ll definitely have TÜV, then we’ll see.”
The Vectra already has a good 500,000 kilometers on the clock. Every month, 3,000 to 4,000 kilometers are added.
He would give up the 1.9 CDTI, built in 2004, only, “when the gear is flying apart.” Or “if there is another repair that costs me at least 3,000 euros.” That it comes to that, he does not believe, however. Because he regularly drives his Vectra for inspection in his Bad Schwalbach service workshop.
And he makes sure that he is always filled with good fuel and lubricant. That is the secrets of a long car life, explains Wehrheim. He was taught by the trader who once sold his first Opel: Auto-Göttert, to which everyone in Heidenrod and the surrounding area went, because he was considered absolutely reliable. Opel, the reliable one.
1984 was. And in the following 34 years Kai -Uwe Wehrheim has just driven four cars – in front of the two Vectra were a D-Cadet and E-Cadet announced. “My parents have always driven Opel,” he says. More brand loyalty does not work.
Opel Vectra: Modernizer of the middle class
Everything about this car was new: the name, the technology, the shape. In autumn 1988 Opel presented the Vectra. The mid-size model replaced the Ascona introduced in 1970 and manufactured in three generations. Over five million hours of development work were invested in the design of the Vectra, including 20,000 hours in the aerodynamic design of the body. With a Cd value of 0.29, the Vectra was among the best in its class. The Vectra, designed for the European market of the 90s, is “progressive in design,
leader in aerodynamics, advanced in technology “, says in the press kit of that time. The constructive innovations were manifold. In addition to an optional, electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission, the Vectra was the first Opel car available on request with four-wheel drive ex factory. In spring 1993, the luxurious Vectra V6 appeared, which was offered as the first Opel model in its class with six-cylinder engine. There were three generations in total (Vectra A, B and C) before the production was discontinued in 2008 in favor of the Insignia.
The Vectra 1.9 CDTI drives regularly for inspection in the service workshop.
“My Opel has never let me down. Only the exhaust had to be changed. After 470,000 kilometers. “
– Kai-Uwe Wehrheim –
How he gets on the many kilometers? Kai-Uwe Wehrheim works in Mainz at Telekom. On weekdays, he commutes about 40 kilometers on the famous Bäderstraße in the Gutenbergstadt – also that is the longevity of his vehicle beneficial, he is convinced, “because the engine is warm every morning”. As a network engineer, he is also permanently on the road in the Rhine-Main area, “so I come alone with business trips to around 40,000 kilometers a year.” On a company car he would indeed claim, but Wehrheim leaves his employer rather pay a mileage allowance – ” so I just have more freedom. “
The Reliable: The network engineer is permanently on the road in the Rhine-Main area, so come alone with business trips 40,000 kilometers a year together.
“By 2020 my Vectra will definitely have TÜV, then we’ll see.”
– Kai-Uwe Wehrheim –
Occasionally, Kai-Uwe Wehrheim goes on a long trip privately. So he was with his Vectra already in the French Chamonix, but also in Munich and Berlin on the way. This has documented the conscientious owner everything in detail in his logbook. His Opel never let him down – apart from wearing parts the exhaust had to be changed. After 470,000 kilometers. “It can happen before”, the frequent traveler smiles.
Still, what if the faithful companion someday gives up his mind? Wehrheim does not like to say it out loud, but he already made sure. The Insignia, which is to follow the duration (b) renner, is already configured, secretly, quietly and quietly.
Brand loyal: Kai-Uwe Wehrheim has already secretly, silently and quietly configured his next Opel, an Insignia.
January 2019
Text: Eric Scherer, Photos: Alex Heimann