RE: Vauxhall brings back the GSI!
Discussion
Interestingly* I believe GSi was the moniker of performance models from them foreign Johnnies at Opel, initially. Our dear little fast Novas and Astras were GTE by name. The first recorded GSi encounter in Britain took place in late 1986, when one Todd Frisps of Grumble-by-Bushes, Borkshire, witnessed a nearby Carlton GSi 3000.
By that stage, the tide had turned; first the Nova GTE was booked in for a routine facelift, but was sabotaged mid-op. by those dastardly Opelists and woke to find GSi badges over itself. The glue was stronger this time, too.
Then the mk2 Astra GTE was reported as missing briefly in 1991, but just as the search was being organised, it reappeared with suspiciously doughy styling and GSi badges. Everyone who saw it quietly agreed that this was not the same car, even though it claimed otherwise.
By that stage, the tide had turned; first the Nova GTE was booked in for a routine facelift, but was sabotaged mid-op. by those dastardly Opelists and woke to find GSi badges over itself. The glue was stronger this time, too.
Then the mk2 Astra GTE was reported as missing briefly in 1991, but just as the search was being organised, it reappeared with suspiciously doughy styling and GSi badges. Everyone who saw it quietly agreed that this was not the same car, even though it claimed otherwise.
spikyone said:
Sometimes I read these threads and wonder if people have something different on their screens to what I'm seeing on mine. Good looking? PH gets more like mumsnet every day. There is not a single current Vauxhall that I would describe as anything other than utterly bland. Last time I was unfortunate enough to drive one, the interior looked like it has been designed by a dozen different departments who'd had a huge falling out and just gone away and done their own thing, and the driving experience itself was the epitome of white goods.
Honestly, I'm struggling to think of any car maker with a less interesting line up of cars than Vauxhall.
spikyone said:
Sometimes I read these threads and wonder if people have something different on their screens to what I'm seeing on mine. Good looking? PH gets more like mumsnet every day. There is not a single current Vauxhall that I would describe as anything other than utterly bland. Last time I was unfortunate enough to drive one, the interior looked like it has been designed by a dozen different departments who'd had a huge falling out and just gone away and done their own thing, and the driving experience itself was the epitome of white goods.
Honestly, I'm struggling to think of any car maker with a less interesting line up of cars than Vauxhall.
spikyone said:
Sometimes I read these threads and wonder if people have something different on their screens to what I'm seeing on mine. Good looking? PH gets more like mumsnet every day. There is not a single current Vauxhall that I would describe as anything other than utterly bland. Last time I was unfortunate enough to drive one, the interior looked like it has been designed by a dozen different departments who'd had a huge falling out and just gone away and done their own thing, and the driving experience itself was the epitome of white goods.
Honestly, I'm struggling to think of any car maker with a less interesting line up of cars than Vauxhall.
260BHP doesn't sound a lot in my opinion. The problem I have with Vauxhall is the pricing, when compared to the competition they are expensive for what they are. Then they're snapped by leasing companies and they become two a penny on the roads. The exclusivity isn't there. Wait a couple of years and these will be selling for cheap as chips. Oh and if you buy one, you will forever wish you had brought the BMW or Audi, yeah at the time it may have been a few £k more, but if you were to sell early or circumstances changed at least you would get most your cash back.
Shakermaker said:
Last time you drove one... This new one? or the old one?
A Vauxhall. The interiors of every one that I've seen recently share the same horrible mish-mash of materials and styling cues, and it was an utterly forgettable driving experience.CDP said:
Some of us need a comfortable, reliable family car, would like a helping of enjoyment from it and see beyond the badge. This is as good looking as a lot of cars costing ten grand more and should last at least 200,000 miles. I'm sure a BMW, Jaguar or Alfa will handle better but I doubt a Lexus, Audi or Mercedes would feel much different at all but they are all a lot more expensive.
The bit in bold is what I meant about white goods. It's fine if all you want is a car to get from A to B, but let's not pretend it's anything more than that. Beyond the badge it's just another middle of the road family saloon. 10-15 years ago, you wouldn't have been surprised to see Korean manufacturers churning out that sort of same-again design. Slightly O/T but I always found those Vauxhall Mokka adverts ("don't blend in") hilariously ironic - it was a bandwagon-jumping car that couldn't have looked less distinctive if they'd been actively trying.Dazed and Confused said:
What current competitors would you describe as good looking?
Honestly, not many of them. "It's as good-looking as a bunch of other average-looking cars" is hardly praise though. It's like they cobbled together various design elements of other family-sized cars, and then blended the corners in a bit. Mercedes rear end, VW proportions, lots of other bits and pieces.If I was looking to buy a four door car of that size, I'd probably take my money to Subaru and buy a Levorg - even if it meant a few quid extra on the monthlies. Not because of the way it looks, but because it's interesting. And I can't remember the last time a true Vauxhall/Opel product (rather than a rebadged Holden or rebodied Lotus) could be described as interesting.
EdHall697 said:
Then they're snapped by leasing companies and they become two a penny on the roads. The exclusivity isn't there.
As opposed to the exclusivity of driving what exactly? These days, nothing by Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Peugeot, Renault or Citroen could be classified as such.
EdHall697 said:
260BHP doesn't sound a lot in my opinion.
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
cerb4.5lee said:
EdHall697 said:
260BHP doesn't sound a lot in my opinion.
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
A Hillman Imp with a loose rear wheel bearing can be "exciting"...
There aren't many slow cars on sale these days but there are a lot that feel it.
cerb4.5lee said:
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me.
Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
The new Insignia Grand Sport (2.0, 4x4) weighs 1,649kg so I'm not sure why people think this is going to be a light-weight car. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
CDP said:
cerb4.5lee said:
EdHall697 said:
260BHP doesn't sound a lot in my opinion.
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
A Hillman Imp with a loose rear wheel bearing can be "exciting"...
There aren't many slow cars on sale these days but there are a lot that feel it.
mcbook said:
cerb4.5lee said:
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me.
Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
The new Insignia Grand Sport (2.0, 4x4) weighs 1,649kg so I'm not sure why people think this is going to be a light-weight car. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
cerb4.5lee said:
CDP said:
cerb4.5lee said:
EdHall697 said:
260BHP doesn't sound a lot in my opinion.
It doesn't feel that much either if it's in a relatively heavy car, my 330i has 258bhp and because it's dragging over 1500kgs around it feels mostly underpowered, if the Insignia weighed 1200kg then that's a nice weight for 260bhp for me. Modern cars are lardy but I suppose the trade off is that they perform well in crash tests versus older and lighter cars, but they need well over 300bhp though to actually feel quick.
A Hillman Imp with a loose rear wheel bearing can be "exciting"...
There aren't many slow cars on sale these days but there are a lot that feel it.
HedgeyGedgey said:
The anti Vauxhall posts make me laugh. Bit of brand snobbery me thinks. Take the badge off the insignia and it'd be praised for how well it looks. Fact. It has the same 4x4 system as the focus rs and will probably weigh similar but yet is described as boring. 260bhp isn't enough, but yet people moan that modern cars are too quick. They've shaved 250kgs off the weight of the thing so 300+bhp isn't needed! We don't know what the interior will be like so that cannot be judged yet, last time I sat in a transit van it was the same dash as a bloody focus/fiesta. Wanna talk about bland interiors talk about that one! Spend 30k+ on a top spec focus and it's the same as a bloody builders van inside. Vauxhall have lost their touch in cars lately, hopefully this brings back the character of old.
No snobbery from me, i just really don't like Vauxhall as a brand or the products that they make. I do, on the other hand, like Ford's and Renault's and think they are much better. I also believe they have much better interiors, exteriors and general styling compared to Vauxhall. This is all in my own personal opinion, of course.The point that you're highlighting doesn't make sense to me, in reference to the Ford Focus. The Insignia has never been a fun car to drive. It's always been quite bland and numb. The Focus, even in standard guise, is actually pretty good and always has been. Even the equivalent Mondeo, for that matter, is decent.
Coincidently, this just cropped up on tapatalk via my phone. Could this be the VXR version as they are essentially the same car.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
Good move by Vauxhall I think... the VXR brand has become a bit chav of late which is a shame. I always felt GSi models were the thinking man's performance car and very usable day to day whereas the VXR range came with lots of bling, stiffer suspension and wheel / tyre combos that whilst lovely, were pretty hopeless in the real world... 20" alloys on 35 series tyres are a chore!
If this GSi model reflects the ethos of the old ones it could be a good package, reasonable power, fairly compliant chassis and wheels / tyres that can cope with a bit of abuse sounds good. I started with a Cavalier GSi back in the day then ended my GSi owning career with an Astra GSi Turbo, both of which were excellent cars and racked up huge miles at my hands with minimal issues. I never bought in to the VXR brand... they just tried too hard.
Hope this works for Vauxhall, always felt the badge snobbery was a bit unfair... they do make some good products, just these days most people seems to be obsessed with image.
If this GSi model reflects the ethos of the old ones it could be a good package, reasonable power, fairly compliant chassis and wheels / tyres that can cope with a bit of abuse sounds good. I started with a Cavalier GSi back in the day then ended my GSi owning career with an Astra GSi Turbo, both of which were excellent cars and racked up huge miles at my hands with minimal issues. I never bought in to the VXR brand... they just tried too hard.
Hope this works for Vauxhall, always felt the badge snobbery was a bit unfair... they do make some good products, just these days most people seems to be obsessed with image.
kuro said:
Coincidently, this just cropped up on tapatalk via my phone. Could this be the VXR version as they are essentially the same car.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
It does seem weird that GM dump their entire European arm just when things are picking up. That looks like quite a good inexpensive "home grown" rival to the Audis and Lexi that are all over the USA. Go to San Francisco and it would be a "big" car.https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
kuro said:
Coincidently, this just cropped up on tapatalk via my phone. Could this be the VXR version as they are essentially the same car.
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
No...https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=...
VXR will most likely continue with the 2.8 twin turbo V6 that the Vectra VXR and current Insignia VXR are using, but tuned to give further power. I don't think they will use the 3.6 V6 lump from what I have heard.
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