Vauxhall Insignia VXR: Spotted

The lesser spotted fast Vauxhall depreciates its way further into temptation

Each performance sub brand has its own tangible character. The archetypal Audi RS is a 4WD estate, a Honda Type R is (alright, was) all about revs and you would always expect a Renaultsport product to have a wonderfully engaging chassis.

Looks good, even if white is a bit blingy

But what defines a Vauxhall VXR? The moniker has been applied to everything from Meriva to Monaro, with engines from 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo to a V8. Some have been really good, some less so. The next VXR product could well be the Astra VXR Extreme, another new departure for the brand as a stripped out and further focused version of an existing car (all VX220s were spartan prior to the VXR before any smart Alecs try to point that out).

So where does that leave the Insignia VXR? It doesn't have the youth appeal of the Corsa or Astra, the oddity value proffered by the MPV derived cars or the sheer hooligan nature of the Holden V8s.

The Insignia has faced two problems since its 2009 launch: the Lotus Carlton and the BMW 335i. As a fast Vauxhall saloon with a turbocharged six-cylinder engine, the comparison with the old Carlton was inevitable despite being very different cars. With the mystique and controversy that still surrounds the Lotus the Insignia would always been seen by some as an inferior imitation.

More power from here now it's out of warranty?

But that's a minor aside really compared to the fact that German is the default choice for the buyer after a rapid saloon. As well as the 335i, the Audi S4 presents a fairly compelling case for a fast four-door. Would the Insignia have enjoyed greater sales as a German Opel OPC product?

Overlooking those fairly significant success hurdles for a second, the Insignia is far from a bad car. A few have cited that it doesn't always feel 325hp fast (probably due to a rather porky kerbweight) but there's some clever suspension tech, four-wheel drive, Brembo brakes and adaptive damping. It won't match the 3 Series dynamically but then neither does an S4. It's fast enough, comfortable, refined and just a little bit different. That last point can count for a lot.

Quite cheap now, but it's not stopped yet

Furthermore, like nearly every big and fast saloon, the Insignia VXR has really depreciated. Just over £30K new, this saloon is being privately sold for £13,600 at four years old with 35,000 miles. You can go cheaper still with more miles but remember it will still have money to lose. For a point of reference, this 2010 S4 has more miles than the Vauxhall and is £21K. Even allowing for a higher asking price new and this being a dealer sale that's a fair old premium.

For some the very thought of driving anything with a Vauxhall badge will be anathema; let them overlook it. The Vauxhall Insignia VXR may not be the world's best sports saloon but it surely deserves more recognition as a fast, interesting and affordable performance car.

VAUXHALL INSIGNIA VXR
Engine: 2,792cc V6, turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 325@5,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 321@5,250rpm
MPG: 25
CO2: 268g/km
First registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 35,000
Price new: £30,995
Yours for: £13,600

See the original advert here.

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Al U

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