RE: PH goes record breaking in an Insignia GSI*

[ChocolateFrog]

So Vauxhall have wed one of their few remaining trademarks that has any credibility from an enthusiast perspective and to rub salt into the wounds it 'only' does 36 mpg on a motorway run.

Sad really as this generation of Insignia actually looks alright. With a characterful engine making circa 350hp and a price undercutting things like the BMW 340i I think they'd have a good car on their hands.

[Jakg]

roverspeed said:

One would hope the VXR version will have the twin turbo v6, but who knows with all the engine downsizing these days.

What makes you think there even will be a VXR version?

There's no new Astra VXR - apparently the new model only takes a max of 1.6L engine so there probably won't be.

The Insignia VXR was never a big seller.

The VXR8 is discontinued.

Vauxhall appear to of pulled all the VXR PR events.

Sounds like it's dead to me.

[Wills2]

Nice looking car regardless much better than a Mondeo looks wise.

Produce a 450hp awd hybrid with a slick DCT, add flared arches and price it at 50k offer a good lease deal and all will be forgiven.

[H100S]

I am running one of these new Insignia. Mine has the 136hp diesel and i can compare it to the previous car with the same engine both in Sri spec.
The old car in vxline trim i still think is a good looking family car however the new car is made of much better quality materials. The car is massive especially on the inside a proper family car. The car offers way more space than a equivalently priced SUV. The car is a dream on the motorway, comfortable and stable. The 136 hp diesel is very nippy, refined and economical. This is the sweet spot in the range, the dearer versions make less sence. Performance compared to the previous example with the same engine is vastly better. The chassis is far more agile yet the ride is much better due to less weight.
The only criticism i have is the steering is slightly light and lacking in feel even though its reasonably direct and clearly plenty of grip.

I like this GSi, the styling is great and no doubt it has great real world pace but a fwd sri nav with one of the lower power output makes so much more sence.

[unsprung]

Chassis and available engines are probably much improved in this latest version of the Insignia

On the other hand, the previous generation (2008 - 2017) might now be good value for money. Maybe, maybe not. Probably depends on the country. In addition to Vauxhall, there were Opel, Holden and Buick versions. I wouldn't be interested in FWD, but they do have AWD.

Below the Buick Regal GS -- the previous generation

[J-P]

TheBALDpuma said:

Bluehawk said:

Last time I looked these circuits were in the same country:

"The original idea was to set three diesel production car lap records, in three countries, in 24 hours. Knockhill Monday afternoon, Oulton Park Tuesday lunchtime and Anglesey before the sun went down on the same day. Simple, right? Not the case as it turned out, as the Anglesey lap was kiboshed just a couple of days before we were due to travel. So it would be two circuits, two record laps, two countries and 24 hours. Even simpler, then, and ample opportunity to see if the Insignia is good enough to lure buyers from their SUVs."

Does anyone proof read these articles any more?
I know anyone can make an error, but recent articles are littered with them.

Knockhill - Scotland
Anglesey - Wales
Oulton - England

Last time I looked, these were three different countries.

did somebody really say the above? That's hilarious - I see they must have deleted their OP

[Wills2]

H100S said:

I am running one of these new Insignia. Mine has the 136hp diesel and i can compare it to the previous car with the same engine both in Sri spec.
The old car in vxline trim i still think is a good looking family car however the new car is made of much better quality materials. The car is massive especially on the inside a proper family car. The car offers way more space than a equivalently priced SUV. The car is a dream on the motorway, comfortable and stable. The 136 hp diesel is very nippy, refined and economical. This is the sweet spot in the range, the dearer versions make less sence. Performance compared to the previous example with the same engine is vastly better. The chassis is far more agile yet the ride is much better due to less weight.
The only criticism i have is the steering is slightly light and lacking in feel even though its reasonably direct and clearly plenty of grip.

I like this GSi, the styling is great and no doubt it has great real world pace but a fwd sri nav with one of the lower power output makes so much more sence.

I'd hate to only have 136hp in a car that size I often wish for more power with 431hp, however I used get around with 45hp so perhaps I need to revaluate the situation.

[greenarrow]

Wills2 said:

H100S said:

I am running one of these new Insignia. Mine has the 136hp diesel and i can compare it to the previous car with the same engine both in Sri spec.
The old car in vxline trim i still think is a good looking family car however the new car is made of much better quality materials. The car is massive especially on the inside a proper family car. The car offers way more space than a equivalently priced SUV. The car is a dream on the motorway, comfortable and stable. The 136 hp diesel is very nippy, refined and economical. This is the sweet spot in the range, the dearer versions make less sence. Performance compared to the previous example with the same engine is vastly better. The chassis is far more agile yet the ride is much better due to less weight.
The only criticism i have is the steering is slightly light and lacking in feel even though its reasonably direct and clearly plenty of grip.

I like this GSi, the styling is great and no doubt it has great real world pace but a fwd sri nav with one of the lower power output makes so much more sence.

I'd hate to only have 136hp in a car that size I often wish for more power with 431hp, however I used get around with 45hp so perhaps I need to revaluate the situation.

its absolutely fine and a cracking engine, although when I had an old shape one last year as a loan car, felt it was laggier than my own 2 litre diesel. The extra turbo makes it feel far pokier in roll on acceleration situations than you would imagine, although it seems to run out of puff earlier. I was also impressed with the economy, an indicated best, 58 MPG from Reading to my home near Bournemouth on Maunday Thursday in pretty terrible pre easter holiday traffic......

[Wills2]

greenarrow said:

Wills2 said:

H100S said:

I am running one of these new Insignia. Mine has the 136hp diesel and i can compare it to the previous car with the same engine both in Sri spec.
The old car in vxline trim i still think is a good looking family car however the new car is made of much better quality materials. The car is massive especially on the inside a proper family car. The car offers way more space than a equivalently priced SUV. The car is a dream on the motorway, comfortable and stable. The 136 hp diesel is very nippy, refined and economical. This is the sweet spot in the range, the dearer versions make less sence. Performance compared to the previous example with the same engine is vastly better. The chassis is far more agile yet the ride is much better due to less weight.
The only criticism i have is the steering is slightly light and lacking in feel even though its reasonably direct and clearly plenty of grip.

I like this GSi, the styling is great and no doubt it has great real world pace but a fwd sri nav with one of the lower power output makes so much more sence.

I'd hate to only have 136hp in a car that size I often wish for more power with 431hp, however I used get around with 45hp so perhaps I need to revaluate the situation.

its absolutely fine and a cracking engine, although when I had an old shape one last year as a loan car, felt it was laggier than my own 2 litre diesel. The extra turbo makes it feel far pokier in roll on acceleration situations than you would imagine, although it seems to run out of puff earlier. I was also impressed with the economy, an indicated best, 58 MPG from Reading to my home near Bournemouth on Maunday Thursday in pretty terrible pre easter holiday traffic......

Can't argue with that, I remember my first drive in a 115hp Passat PD diesel (over 20 years ago) I thought it was a rocket ship at the time, it would roll on very nicely at 90mph.

[rodericb]

Turbobanana said:

southerndriver said:

This Insignia has nothing to redeem itself to enthusiasts thanks to having a 4-cylinder diesel under the bonnet. At least the old Insignia was available with a petrol V6 even if hardly anyone bought it.

I think that's the point, isn't it? Why should they bother?

How about for the rest of the world outside little old England?

[Mr Tidy]

Shame on you PH - you mention David Leslie and John Cleland, but what about Jeff Allam who drove in the BTCC back in the 90s with John Cleland in a Cavalier GSi?

He had a Vauxhall dealership then, but they pulled the plug so now he runs a Skoda main agent in Epsom - but I think he is still involved with BTCC driving standards (assuming they have any).

[Davie]

Mr Tidy said:

Shame on you PH - you mention David Leslie and John Cleland, but what about Jeff Allam who drove in the BTCC back in the 90s with John Cleland in a Cavalier GSi?

Yes, but they were named in the article when referencing Knockhill and people cheering for both the drivers named... home circuit and all that.

[ambuletz]

I can't tell if that speedo is real or a digital one. either way i hate speedos like that. much prefer normal designs where you see the entire needle rather than a small one going around the edge.

[Jader1973]

Australia gets a VXR badged version as a Holden Commodore.

No V6 for Opel / Vauxhall: it is only in the Buick and Holden versions (and only because Holden insisted on getting a V6 when they decided to take the Insignia instead of continuing to build cars in Australia).

The V6 is a 3.6 NA lump, the turbo ones don’t fit. The 2.0 petrol used in the European GSI has more power and torque than the V6.

Holden get a lower output 2.0 FWD petrol as base and then the V6 AWD on upper spec and the VXR.

Opel / Vauxhall / Buick / Holden are all built in Germany by PSA, and the Buick and Holden versions are then sold to GM.

[unsprung]

Jader1973 said:

Australia gets a VXR badged version as a Holden Commodore.

No V6 for Opel / Vauxhall: it is only in the Buick and Holden versions (and only because Holden insisted on getting a V6 when they decided to take the Insignia instead of continuing to build cars in Australia).

The V6 is a 3.6 NA lump, the turbo ones don’t fit. The 2.0 petrol used in the European GSI has more power and torque than the V6.

Holden get a lower output 2.0 FWD petrol as base and then the V6 AWD on upper spec and the VXR.

Opel / Vauxhall / Buick / Holden are all built in Germany by PSA, and the Buick and Holden versions are then sold to GM.

informative, interesting

thanks

[0a]

Wow are they still making the Insignia? Looks ancient.