Vauxhall Insignia vs Jaguar XF?
Discussion
I was driving along the M3 yesterday (Past a rather attractive blonde in a very smart metallic blue 51 reg Corvette 
) and came up behind two cars I always think look very similar.
One was a Jaguar XF and the other a Vauxhall Insignia.
Now, I hate Vauxhalls as much as the next man, but the Insignia's always looked a rather classy, well built car.
So, I wondered, is it any good or is it just that the designers got lucky in that the XF shares many of its styling cues?
Last time I felt this way about two cars it was Jaguar's S-Type and Rover's 75. I suffered an S-Type for a while - It was a hateful car, whilst my experiences in MG ZTs revealed them to be very capable cars with some real character (In V6 form anyway) - I'm sure this will elicit a spate of RWD frenzy from the stalls, but I just speak as I found.
So, is a good Insignia (is there even such a thing?) a worthy challenger to a low end XF?
M.
) and came up behind two cars I always think look very similar.One was a Jaguar XF and the other a Vauxhall Insignia.
Now, I hate Vauxhalls as much as the next man, but the Insignia's always looked a rather classy, well built car.
So, I wondered, is it any good or is it just that the designers got lucky in that the XF shares many of its styling cues?
Last time I felt this way about two cars it was Jaguar's S-Type and Rover's 75. I suffered an S-Type for a while - It was a hateful car, whilst my experiences in MG ZTs revealed them to be very capable cars with some real character (In V6 form anyway) - I'm sure this will elicit a spate of RWD frenzy from the stalls, but I just speak as I found.
So, is a good Insignia (is there even such a thing?) a worthy challenger to a low end XF?
M.
I hate Vauxhalls, started a new job and they see it as a right of passage that you start life in the company with an Insignia mid spec. Doesn't matter what level you serve your time in it. From there depending on your level you get to choose.
So next month my Insignia gets delivered can't wait, annoying thing people I manage drive better company cars than me. Until my initiation is over.
So next month my Insignia gets delivered can't wait, annoying thing people I manage drive better company cars than me. Until my initiation is over.
I can't even get past the two looking even remotely similar...
I always thought the Mondeo looked more like the XF (as did others) but time has cured that even though i still find the XF a bit dull to look at.
I'd also never buy a car with an electronic handbrake.
I always thought the Mondeo looked more like the XF (as did others) but time has cured that even though i still find the XF a bit dull to look at.
I'd also never buy a car with an electronic handbrake.
Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 17th August 09:24
Jesus, not driven an Insignia but it gets a good write up, thousands of people manage to drive them without mutilating their own genitals on a daily basis, never thought that the Vectra was as bad as people made out but then there does seem to be some residual Clarkson influence going on here, saying how much of an enthusiast you are by slagging the mainstream stuff, they arent for Pistonheaders Sunday morning blasts, they are for reps to batter up the motorway day in day out in comfort at 90 mph. As a modern car it really cannot be that bad, sure it can be dull and you can have contempt for it but at fulfilling its remit as a daily I expect its not bad.
Its funny how everybody Eulogises about things like E30 M3's like its the Grail itself and clamour to pay 15 grand for one but the wheel is on the wrong side, it isnt that fast and is 20 years old, not saying they arent iconic but they seem to get such easy praise despite the limitations and then it seems so easy to dismiss something like the Insignia becasue it isnt very PH.
Its funny how everybody Eulogises about things like E30 M3's like its the Grail itself and clamour to pay 15 grand for one but the wheel is on the wrong side, it isnt that fast and is 20 years old, not saying they arent iconic but they seem to get such easy praise despite the limitations and then it seems so easy to dismiss something like the Insignia becasue it isnt very PH.
Every Insignia I've seen looks like it's been made out of recycle dustbins and sprayed by a pack of spastic chimpanzees. Get close to one and they just look cheap. Cheaply made out of cheap materials using the cheapest process that turns out something that looks like a car. To be fair, I have never been in one and have had no inclination to look at the interior so can't judge the drive or comfort beyond what I normally expect of Vauxhall. Unfortunately from past experience this is also turgid s
te.
The Jag on the other hand is very pretty and even from a distance looks like a quality product.
te.The Jag on the other hand is very pretty and even from a distance looks like a quality product.
Rawwr said:
I had to use an Insignia pool car a few weeks ago. On reflection, I'd rather have smashed my balls with a cheesegrater and then sequentially dunked them into cups of vinegar, wasabi and lye before pounding what was left of the fizzing, bleeding flesh with a lump hammer.
Wasn't a fan.
So you had a Mondeo and then a Ford Ka, if an Insignia causes such self mutilation what does a rusting tin box with a clattery push rod engine do you you !Wasn't a fan.
Ah, but I guess someone told you that the Ka was fun on PH, so its ok.
Insignia quick review
They are very nice cars. I have only driven the auto ones and i think its a 1.9TD!? The gadgets you can get are immense, e.g headlights turn left and right, automatic high beam, mirrors automatically point downwards when reversing to aid parking in a space. The ride i find is quite good, firm but so not too much body roll but comfy enough to do 30mph over the speed bumps. You dont get much steering feedback and the autobox is a bit slow to change gears if you boot it. It is 2 years old and has been back to he garage once for the rear automatic boot to be fixed (never try to lift an autoboot, proper heavy!). I do like them and i find the quality of the materials to be very good. If you want a comfy mile muncher this would be a very good choice in my opinion.
cheers
Ant
edit to add; never drove a jag so cant compare
They are very nice cars. I have only driven the auto ones and i think its a 1.9TD!? The gadgets you can get are immense, e.g headlights turn left and right, automatic high beam, mirrors automatically point downwards when reversing to aid parking in a space. The ride i find is quite good, firm but so not too much body roll but comfy enough to do 30mph over the speed bumps. You dont get much steering feedback and the autobox is a bit slow to change gears if you boot it. It is 2 years old and has been back to he garage once for the rear automatic boot to be fixed (never try to lift an autoboot, proper heavy!). I do like them and i find the quality of the materials to be very good. If you want a comfy mile muncher this would be a very good choice in my opinion.
cheers
Ant
edit to add; never drove a jag so cant compare
J4CKO said:
Jesus, not driven an Insignia but it gets a good write up, thousands of people manage to drive them without mutilating their own genitals on a daily basis, never thought that the Vectra was as bad as people made out but then there does seem to be some residual Clarkson influence going on here, saying how much of an enthusiast you are by slagging the mainstream stuff, they arent for Pistonheaders Sunday morning blasts, they are for reps to batter up the motorway day in day out in comfort at 90 mph. As a modern car it really cannot be that bad, sure it can be dull and you can have contempt for it but at fulfilling its remit as a daily I expect its not bad.
Its funny how everybody Eulogises about things like E30 M3's like its the Grail itself and clamour to pay 15 grand for one but the wheel is on the wrong side, it isnt that fast and is 20 years old, not saying they arent iconic but they seem to get such easy praise despite the limitations and then it seems so easy to dismiss something like the Insignia becasue it isnt very PH.
Well said. Some people on here talk utter b*llocks. Regarding E30 M3's I'm sure they are great cars, but I wouldn't like lhd or the sound of the four pot engine. I'd prefer a 325i sport or Alpina C2.Its funny how everybody Eulogises about things like E30 M3's like its the Grail itself and clamour to pay 15 grand for one but the wheel is on the wrong side, it isnt that fast and is 20 years old, not saying they arent iconic but they seem to get such easy praise despite the limitations and then it seems so easy to dismiss something like the Insignia becasue it isnt very PH.
Rawwr said:
I had to use an Insignia pool car a few weeks ago. On reflection, I'd rather have smashed my balls with a cheesegrater and then sequentially dunked them into cups of vinegar, wasabi and lye before pounding what was left of the fizzing, bleeding flesh with a lump hammer.
Wasn't a fan.
Trying to be Clarkson isn't cool. It just isn'tWasn't a fan.
I drove an Insignia for 500 odd miles over three days. It was fine. not special, just a good dog carrier. Is it a Jag rival? I very much doubt it. It's a well built saloon with decent ride quality space and suprisingly decent body control, direct enough steering and engines which move the car forward. I'd not go for a high spec one over a base XF though
Sure the Ka is fun, wouldnt want one every day but a Polo is deathly dull, the Ka at least had some element of enjoyment but put it in context, you wouldnt want to do 40k a year in one.
For the same reason you cant compare a Ka to an Insignia, you cant compare an XF to an Insignia, you pay more, you get more, simple.
As for Spastic Baboons and recycled dutbins, have a word with yourself, just been past one in the car park on the way to get a coffee and it looked very smart in black, looked a match for the A4 next to it, couldnt see any massive gulf in finish, ah but no, most company drivers dont want the Vauxhall as it is normal, not premium enough, doesnt impress the neighbours quite like an Audi so will slag it off to distance themselves from the "inferior" option but then will spank themselves into ecstacy over an A4 S line, both will do the job fine, perhaps the Audi does have a slightly nicer cabin, but thats it, the rest of it is all image, pride and ego.
As for the Insignia looking like an XF, slightly in profile as a silhouette perhaps but they are the same layout and not far off in size, in the way people mistake a 300C or an MG ZT for a Bentley.
For the same reason you cant compare a Ka to an Insignia, you cant compare an XF to an Insignia, you pay more, you get more, simple.
As for Spastic Baboons and recycled dutbins, have a word with yourself, just been past one in the car park on the way to get a coffee and it looked very smart in black, looked a match for the A4 next to it, couldnt see any massive gulf in finish, ah but no, most company drivers dont want the Vauxhall as it is normal, not premium enough, doesnt impress the neighbours quite like an Audi so will slag it off to distance themselves from the "inferior" option but then will spank themselves into ecstacy over an A4 S line, both will do the job fine, perhaps the Audi does have a slightly nicer cabin, but thats it, the rest of it is all image, pride and ego.
As for the Insignia looking like an XF, slightly in profile as a silhouette perhaps but they are the same layout and not far off in size, in the way people mistake a 300C or an MG ZT for a Bentley.
The Insignia VXR is a pretty thing though (IMHO) and a bit of a performance car bargain....
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3116619.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3116619.htm
J4CKO said:
So you had a Mondeo and then a Ford Ka, if an Insignia causes such self mutilation what does a rusting tin box with a clattery push rod engine do you you !
Ah, but I guess someone told you that the Ka was fun on PH, so its ok.
Brilliant!Ah, but I guess someone told you that the Ka was fun on PH, so its ok.
Ok, in all seriousness; relative to its competition I still feel it's lagging behind. I don't think the ergonomics are particularly brilliant and it did leave me feeling a bit achy after just a 70 mile drive, despite much messing around with trying to get into a comfortable position.
The ride and handling seemed so far below the equivalent Mondeo that it'd almost be unfair to compare them in the same class. I wouldn't go as far to say that the Insignia was crashy or clonky but for the type of car it is, I don't know what roads it was honed for but it certainly wasn't setup for British motorways.
I didn't get any enjoyment from the Insignia at all - and I can usually derive some kind of enjoyment from most cars - and so I will do everything I can to avoid taking another one from the pool.
Chicane-UK said:
The Insignia VXR is a pretty thing though (IMHO) and a bit of a performance car bargain....
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3116619.htm
Yep, that looks pretty nice but the badge will put most of this country off, if you put people in blindfolded and got them to drive or for a lot of the country swapped it to an Audi/BMW/Merc badge it would alter their opinion of it, the actual drive for a lot of people is not where its at, its brand perception, some may like it but reject it as it doesnt project the right image, doesnt single them out as being a cut above. I am totally not bothered by badge, alright I am but I will go the other way, would rather have a Skoda and some money to spend on modifications than an Audi or VW.http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/3116619.htm
My sister in law rejected a Ford Galaxy, wouldnt be seen dead in one but just loved her VW Sharan, its the same bloody thing ffs.
Try to separate perception/image/prejudice from reality.
PS I havent driven an Insignia so I may not like it but it got a good review by proffesional journalists who know their stuff and judge it on its merits, can guess what it will be like based on hundreds of other cars I have driven, it wont be radically different to say a Mondeo or any other fwd modern.
marcosgt said:
I was driving along the M3 yesterday (Past a rather attractive blonde in a very smart metallic blue 51 reg Corvette ) and came up behind two cars I always think look very similar.
One was a Jaguar XF and the other a Vauxhall Insignia.
Now, I hate Vauxhalls as much as the next man, but the Insignia's always looked a rather classy, well built car.
So, I wondered, is it any good or is it just that the designers got lucky in that the XF shares many of its styling cues?
Last time I felt this way about two cars it was Jaguar's S-Type and Rover's 75. I suffered an S-Type for a while - It was a hateful car, whilst my experiences in MG ZTs revealed them to be very capable cars with some real character (In V6 form anyway) - I'm sure this will elicit a spate of RWD frenzy from the stalls, but I just speak as I found.
So, is a good Insignia (is there even such a thing?) a worthy challenger to a low end XF?
M.
have you been smoking the funny stuff? Vauxhall v Jag???! ) and came up behind two cars I always think look very similar.One was a Jaguar XF and the other a Vauxhall Insignia.
Now, I hate Vauxhalls as much as the next man, but the Insignia's always looked a rather classy, well built car.
So, I wondered, is it any good or is it just that the designers got lucky in that the XF shares many of its styling cues?
Last time I felt this way about two cars it was Jaguar's S-Type and Rover's 75. I suffered an S-Type for a while - It was a hateful car, whilst my experiences in MG ZTs revealed them to be very capable cars with some real character (In V6 form anyway) - I'm sure this will elicit a spate of RWD frenzy from the stalls, but I just speak as I found.
So, is a good Insignia (is there even such a thing?) a worthy challenger to a low end XF?
M.
Rawwr said:
J4CKO said:
PS I havent driven an Insignia so I may not like it but ... it wont be radically different to say a Mondeo or any other fwd modern.
Again, brilliant. Oh, and you're wrong. The Vectra was ok, cant imagine with all the improvements they made it worse, chap in the office who owns one says he "quite likes it", glowing praise indeed
A family member of mine has an insignia tourer and I personally think it's great! The interior is such a nice place to be. I've been in it for 1000s of miles and it still amazes me everytime I get in it. From the outside I think it a decent looking car, it's by no means a DB9 but it's not ugly either. Go and have a sit in one and I promise you won't be disappointed
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