I have driven, but never owned, a number of automatic cars in the past, and I am now tempted to make my first purchase albeit from the used sector. My neighbour recently bought a 2004/54 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI SRI Automatic with 70,000 miles on the clock. It is immaculate and also suited my requirements so I was considering buying a similar model. However, within a short time of his purchase, the car suffered gearbox failure, something about water getting into the gearbox from a faulty radiator seal and he has had to spend £2,300 to put things right. This has put me off making a similar purchase. I wonder, was he just unlucky? Or is this car prone to automatic gearbox problems after only 70,000 miles, which does not seem a lot for a diesel. For that reason should it be avoided?