RE: Vauxhall brings back the GSI!

[dunnoreally]

Robmarriott said:

Not confusing at all.

starting near the beginning;

SR was replaced by SRI as the mid range, sporty model but not the top end in the Nova and Astra mk2
GTE became GSI at the top (and GSI was available with 4x4 in the Cavalier)
The Cavalier was a bit obscure as the Turbo sat at the range, but nothing else in the Vauxhall line up had a 'Turbo' model other than the Calibra which was basically the same car but never badged as an SRI even with the same engine as the Cavalier SRI. The Cavalier V6 was never badged as a Sport though, only SRI or 'V6' with GLS trim.

Sport replaced SRI at a later date in most cases it later replaced GSI, the mk3 Astra ended up with a Sport model with 3 engine options, which used to be SRI or GSI, the Corsa had 2, which used to be SRI and GSI but the GSI was sold along side the Sport to begin with before the GSI was dropped, Vectra was still available as an SRI or a Sport depending on engine. Oh, and Supertouring earlier on in the range with either a V6 or a 2.0. And GSI with a V6.

So then Vauxhall decided the mk4 Astra would be badged as a Sport and have an SRI as the range topper, then they built about 4 SRI turbos which then became the GSI.

Then Vauxhall invented VXR and dropped Sport and GSI but kept SRI.

See, not complicated or confusing in any way.

Where does SXI fit into all of this?

[Vantagefan]

QuattroDave said:

Personally I'm glad Vauxhall are trying to make something more exciting of their cars, they've been stale for far too long

Change that Vauxhall badge to a Holden one and the world becomes a brighter place my friend. The SV6 is a very enjoyable DD for me.

[F1GTRUeno]

dunnoreally said:

Where does SXI fit into all of this?

SXi is just S-Line/M-Sport/etc trim on a boggo car.

[Limpet]

I have had so little interest in anything Vauxhall has done since the mid 90s, that I had no idea there was even a new Insignia out until I saw one on the M4 last week. It was one of those thought processes that went along the lines of "That's a really good looking car, I wonder what it is...oh..."

I stand by it though. It's a very well proportioned car. If they get the driving experience right on the GSi, I would seriously consider one.

[CDP]

The big issue is depreciation

I reckon looking at a leasing site is a pretty good guide: a £32,000 BMW 3 series 2 litre diesel automatic is 215+VAT while the £23,000 Vauxhall is 241+VAT.

You'd really have to like the Vauxhall a lot to pay an extra £26 per month for it but at 3 years old for under 10K it will be a really good buy...

[Shakermaker]

Djtemeka said:

Isn't 260bhp a bit tame these days?

Not really for a Vauxhall, no. Its a bit lower than the Skoda Superb 280 but probably more than the top-spec Mondeo, though I don't know Mondeo figures off the top of my head.

But then they will be releasing a new VXR model with somewhere north of 300bhp at some point, need enough of a difference.

[CDP]

Shakermaker said:

Djtemeka said:

Isn't 260bhp a bit tame these days?

Not really for a Vauxhall, no. Its a bit lower than the Skoda Superb 280 but probably more than the top-spec Mondeo, though I don't know Mondeo figures off the top of my head.

But then they will be releasing a new VXR model with somewhere north of 300bhp at some point, need enough of a difference.

It's a family saloon/repmobile, 260bhp is heaps. It's almost as much as my brother's Chimera, double an S1 Elise etc.

[IanJ9375]

Shakermaker said:

Not really for a Vauxhall, no. Its a bit lower than the Skoda Superb 280 but probably more than the top-spec Mondeo, though I don't know Mondeo figures off the top of my head.

But then they will be releasing a new VXR model with somewhere north of 300bhp at some point, need enough of a difference.

No I'm pretty sure there won't be a VXR model, there hasn't been any noise of a new VXR model for a while unfortunately

[Shakermaker]

IanJ9375 said:

No I'm pretty sure there won't be a VXR model, there hasn't been any noise of a new VXR model for a while unfortunately

Which would be a shame. I've heard rumours they will be bringing one out with this new iteration of the Insignia. But you haven't heard the rumours?

[Andy665]

The GSi will be the top model - nothing above it planned at all

[Robmarriott]

F1GTRUeno said:

dunnoreally said:

Where does SXI fit into all of this?

SXi is just S-Line/M-Sport/etc trim on a boggo car.

Sort of.

As an example, a Corsa SXI is a small engine with SRI seats, better wheels and sometimes slightly lower suspension than base spec, normally aircon (although I suspect they've all got that from poverty spec upwards now)

However, Vauxhall did go through a phase of badging models which used to be SRI (after the dropped Sport) as SXI or SXI+ depending on which car it was on.

As I said before, not complicated at all

[IanJ9375]

Shakermaker said:

Which would be a shame. I've heard rumours they will be bringing one out with this new iteration of the Insignia. But you haven't heard the rumours?

No as Admin on VXRonline I'd expect to have seen/heard something by now, so I'd say not happening as it stands

The problem the Insignia has is it's still going to be a GM product licensed or whatever for PSA/Opel/VX to build until the next generation lands

[Shakermaker]

IanJ9375 said:

No as Admin on VXRonline I'd expect to have seen/heard something by now, so I'd say not happening as it stands

The problem the Insignia has is it's still going to be a GM product licensed or whatever for PSA/Opel/VX to build until the next generation lands

Ah, well you'd probably be the person in the know if you get wind of these things. Us more lowly Vauxhall Owners club people don't get the access like we used to

[Jimmy Recard]

Robmarriott said:

However, Vauxhall did go through a phase of badging models which used to be SRI (after the dropped Sport) as SXI or SXI+ depending on which car it was on.

Ah but you see, in the Corsa C you could have a 1.2 or 1.4 SXi or a 1.4 SRi, but you couldn't have a 1.2 SRi. You could have a 1.8 SRi but not a 1.8 SXi

By the end of production though, you could have a 1.2 SXi or SXi+ or a 1.4 SXi+ or a 1.8 SXi+ but no 1.4 SRi or 1.8 SRi


I think that that is much clearer now

[astrsxi77]

F1GTRUeno said:

dunnoreally said:

Where does SXI fit into all of this?

SXi is just S-Line/M-Sport/etc trim on a boggo car.

Not quite. I think the statement above is fair for cars badged SXi from the early '00s onwards, but initially SXi appeared on the mk2 Astra at the very end of the production run: 1990-1991. It actually replaced the SRi in sitting below the GTE during those final years and was essentially the same spec (inc. 1.8i 18SE engine) - I had one! To add further to the confusion, at the same time there was the SX - perhaps a spiritual successor to the early SR. It was outwardly identical to the SXi, but had the 1.6 carb, manual windows and softer suspension) - had one of those too!

There was also a Nova SXi at around the end of production, c.1992. However, that was, I think, more of a badge-job, since the SRi and GSi still existed above it in the hierarchy. Think is was availabe as a 1.2 and with the Izusu 1.5TD.

Do you want more? Yes, 'course you do.
Well, during the run-out of the mk2 Cavalier around '87-'88, there was an LXi and LX which gave the concept and styling cues to the Astra SXs as above. But like the Nova, I think these were nice badge/trim jobs, as the Cav SRi 130 and Calibre still existed at the top.

Now, there were Astra mk2 LXi models in Belmont and Estate form, but even that is getting too confusing for me. Time to lie down.

[Jimmy Recard]

Shakermaker said:

Ah, well you'd probably be the person in the know if you get wind of these things. Us more lowly Vauxhall Owners club people don't get the access like we used to

There may or may not be an Insignia VXR due, but I take this GSi as an indication they are keeping the option open. Otherwise it would've been launched with 280-300 horsepower.

That's no more than a guess based on my own logic. Either way, I really like this car. I can't wait to see a few around

[philmots]

Djtemeka said:

Isn't 260bhp a bit tame these days?

I really like this car to the point of being a bit biased... but I think you're right, it doesn't sound enough considering the rest of the running gear.

In its defence, the new Insignia is around 175kgs lighter than the old one, and probably the competition too... which is a big amount and probably makes it a bit lighter than the last Astra, in which case 260hp sounds ok!

We'll see, but i right fancy one in a couple of years if the leases stack up.

[IanJ9375]

philmots said:

I really like this car to the point of being a bit biased... but I think you're right, it doesn't sound enough considering the rest of the running gear.

In its defence, the new Insignia is around 175kgs lighter than the old one, and probably the competition too... which is a big amount and probably makes it a bit lighter than the last Astra, in which case 260hp sounds ok!

We'll see, but i right fancy one in a couple of years if the leases stack up.

160kg lighter but the last insignia was quite porky @1825kg
Current Astra VXR weighs in at a minimum 1475kg which is heavy but it's a big car for a hatch so will still be 200kg heavier than that by my reckoning.

I do agree that 260bhp will be fine especially if the GKN AWD system does the same trick it's done on the Focus RS and Evoque by making quite heavy cars feel very light on their feet

[djdest]

Sorry if its already been mentioned, but does anyone know what the chances are of a GSI estate?
Do they even do an estate in this shape?

[Jimmy Recard]

djdest said:

Sorry if its already been mentioned, but does anyone know what the chances are of a GSI estate?
Do they even do an estate in this shape?

I don't know either way about a GSi estate, but yes, there is an estate in the new Insignia. I saw two only today.

Vauxhall says it's quicker than the old Insignia VXR at the favourite long German race track, so maybe 260 is enough power! The VXR was what, 320? 325?