Vauxhall Viceroy

Which Vauxhall Viceroy version to buy

If the goal is the strongest engine in this catalogue, take a 130 hp car. If the goal is a simpler shift pattern and more ratios, take 2.5 MT. If the goal is fewer gears and no clutch, take 2.5 AT. Those three rules cover all four rows; the rest of this article is the arithmetic behind them.

If the goal is the strongest engine in this catalogue, take a 130 hp car. If the goal is a simpler shift pattern and more ratios, take 2.5 MT. If the goal is fewer gears and no clutch, take 2.5 AT. Those three rules cover all four rows; the rest of this article is the arithmetic behind them.

There is only 1 generation, so there is no later restyle, no second body, and no later engine family to wait for. Production of every listed version is 1978-01-01 to 1982-12-31. Choosing a year inside that window does not, on this data, change power, gearbox, drive, or clearance.

Specs: the four versions side by side

Torque (Nm) is not measured on every version. Do not treat a missing torque figure as “this engine has no torque”; it is simply not in the data.

Power: 115 hp versus 130 hp on the same 2490 cm³

The only engine size in the catalogue is 2490 cm³. Specific output is therefore a fair comparison:

• 2.5 MT (115 hp) and 2.5 AT (115 hp): 115 / 2.49 ≈ 46.2 hp per litre (85 kW at 5200 rpm).
• 2.5 MT (130 hp) and 2.5 AT (130 hp): 130 / 2.49 ≈ 52.2 hp per litre (96 kW at 5300 rpm).

The step from 115 hp to 130 hp is +15 hp and +11 kW, which is 15 / 115 ≈ 13% more peak power on the same displacement. Peak is quoted 100 rpm higher (5300 vs 5200). Boost is No on all four, so the extra 15 hp is not a turbo or supercharger option in this table.

What that extra 15 hp does not buy, on the given numbers:

• not a larger engine (still 2490 cm³)
• not a different cylinder count or layout (still 6, Inline)
• not a different fuel type (still Gasoline)
• not a different drive (still RWD)
• not a different ground clearance (still 140 mm)
• not a measured gain in 0–100 or top speed (both not measured)

So the 130 hp pair is the higher-output calibration of the same listed engine size. If you are choosing between two cars that both say 2.5 MT or both say 2.5 AT, the distinguishing number is 115 hp versus 130 hp. Use that number; the names alone are not unique.

Gearbox: 4-speed Manual versus 3-speed Automatic

Holding power fixed, the gearbox is the other real fork.

At 115 hp

• 2.5 MT (115 hp): Manual, 4 gears.
• 2.5 AT (115 hp): Automatic, 3 gears.

At 130 hp

• 2.5 MT (130 hp): Manual, 4 gears.
• 2.5 AT (130 hp): Automatic, 3 gears.

The Automatic always has one fewer listed ratio than the Manual (3 vs 4). Drive stays RWD. There is no fifth gear, no dual-clutch, and no extra Automatic ratio in this generation.

A practical pairing:

• Want 130 hp and 4 gears: 2.5 MT (130 hp).
• Want 130 hp and no clutch pedal: 2.5 AT (130 hp).
• Want the lower-output engine and 4 gears: 2.5 MT (115 hp).
• Want the lower-output engine and Automatic: 2.5 AT (115 hp).

Crossing the matrix (115 hp Automatic vs 130 hp Manual) mixes two independent differences: −15 hp and +1 gear. The data do not say which of those two matters more on the road, because 0–100 km/h and top speed are not measured for any version.

Generations: nothing later to wait for

1 generation only: Sedan, 4 versions, 1978–1982. There is no second generation in this dataset to compare for more power, more gears, AWD, or a different body. A restyle is not listed as a separate generation. Buying “the last year” does not, on these figures, add horsepower, litres, or transmission ratios.

Chassis items that are the same on all four versions and therefore do not decide the purchase:

• Front suspension: Independent, spring
• Front brakes: Disc (label in data: Disc)
• Ground clearance: 140 mm
• Rear suspension: not measured
• Rear brakes: not measured

If two cars differ only in year inside 1978–1982, this table does not give a mechanical reason to prefer one year over the other.

Performance and mpg: what is not measured

For 2.5 MT (115 hp), 2.5 AT (115 hp), 2.5 MT (130 hp), and 2.5 AT (130 hp):

• 0–100 km/h: not measured
• Top speed: not measured
• City consumption: not measured
• Highway consumption: not measured
• Combined consumption / mpg: not measured
• CO2: not measured
• Eco class: not measured

You cannot rank versions by acceleration or fuel use from this catalogue. A claim that the 130 hp car is “faster” or that the Automatic “uses more fuel” would be a number that is not in the data. The only performance-related figures that exist are power, rpm, displacement, and gear count.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

• Kerb weight: not measured (all four)
• Gross weight: not measured (all four)
• Ground clearance: 140 mm (all four)
• Fuel tank: not measured (all four)
• Wheel sizes: not measured (all four)

Weight per horsepower cannot be calculated: mass is missing. The 130 hp versions are not shown as heavier or lighter than the 115 hp versions. Ground clearance does not change with gearbox or power, so a “higher” Viceroy is not on this list.

Which version to choose (decision from the numbers)

1. Default: 2.5 MT (130 hp). Highest listed power (130 hp / 96 kW at 5300 rpm), highest specific output (≈52.2 hp/L), Manual with 4 gears, same 2490 cm³ Gasoline 6 Inline engine, No boost, RWD, 140 mm clearance. This is the row that maximises the two things the data actually vary: power and gear count.

2. If you want Automatic: 2.5 AT (130 hp). Same 130 hp / 96 kW as the strongest Manual, same 2490 cm³, same RWD. You give up 1 gear (3 vs 4). You do not give up the extra 15 hp versus the 115 hp Automatic.

3. If you specifically want the 115 hp engine and a clutch: 2.5 MT (115 hp). 115 hp / 85 kW at 5200 rpm, ≈46.2 hp/L, Manual, 4 gears. Versus 2.5 MT (130 hp) you lose 15 hp and keep the same gear count, displacement, fuel, cylinders, layout, boost, drive, and clearance.

4. Narrowest case: 2.5 AT (115 hp). 115 hp / 85 kW, Automatic, 3 gears. Versus 2.5 AT (130 hp) you lose 15 hp and keep 3 gears. Versus 2.5 MT (115 hp) you lose 1 gear and keep 115 hp. Versus 2.5 MT (130 hp) you lose both 15 hp and 1 gear. On this dataset that is the version with the fewest of the two measured advantages.

What “extra money” cannot be shown. Prices are not in the data. The mechanical extras that are in the data are +15 hp (115 → 130) and +1 gear (Automatic 3 → Manual 4). Those two increments can be bought independently: power without changing gearbox, or gearbox without changing power.

Reliability / problems. This catalogue has no failure rates, recalls, or service intervals. Do not infer durability from horsepower or from Manual versus Automatic.

Names for linking. Use the database names exactly: 2.5 MT and 2.5 AT. When two rows share a name, disambiguate by 115 hp versus 130 hp (and by 85 kW at 5200 rpm versus 96 kW at 5300 rpm). Renaming them would break modification anchors.