RE: Advertorial - Insignia VXR Gets A BTCC Workout
Discussion
Dimski said:
j-j said:
Garlick said:
j-j said:
ADVERTORIAL...
Who else remembers the good old days?
Oh come on now, our first was around 3 years ago. As long as they are about relevant cars I don't feel they ruin the experience of the site. Who else remembers the good old days?
The reason why I feel that a line has been crossed is because how can someone read an article like this and take a 100% balanced view point? I assume that these column inches were paid for, and approved by the manufacturer, with one of their contracted drivers supplying most of the feedback. Pistonheads is known for great impartial reviews and now (for me anyway) the impartiality is not quite what I thought it to be. Maybe its just me and thus 1 vistor is not going to loose you any sleep...
I guess the 'Get out of Jail' card is that you let us readers know that it is an advertorial, but I still feel:
Leave the advertising (advert boxes, banners etc.) to the sales people and leave the content, reviews and articles to the journos and editors.
Then we all know where we stand and what to expect. The moment these start to be mixed is when you can identify the most informative and objective sites from... the rest.
So, albeit on an entirely different level, If those advertorials keep the rest of the site free, then fair play.
To me they are obvious adverts, and detract nothing from the normal reviews.
In fact, by making this distinction between editorial and advertorial, I could argue that PH are being transparent. I've heard people suggest that winners of group tests in some car mags are simply the biggest ad spenders. I'd rather have an advertorial than a biased review!
Hi there
The technology sounds interesting indeed, but as it stands it all sounds very biased to me at the moment.
I've been in cars with Paul O'Neil around Donnington and that guy could make a crap car feel good. An example of this is he took me around Donnington for 4 laps in a Vectra VXR, made the damn thing feel awsome, bit his approach was sideways every corners and all out flashy stuff which one could do in any car.
I drove all the VXR's that day for several laps and am sorry but the Vectra VXR was a pretty terrible car, it suffered a lot of torque of steer and was nothing special in the corners.
The best handling cars I found were the Corsa VXR and VXR8, the Astra was OK. But the Meriva, Zafira and Vectra just were not.
However I am willing to give the Insignia a chance, having seen one in the flesh they look like an awful lot of car for the money and if they truly do drive great could be an awsome bit of kit.
However it just seems odd to me why anyone would buy an Insignia VXR over a VXR8 at present. A friend picked up his brand new VXR8 3 weeks ago and wait for it but he paid £23,200 on the road, now for a motor thats got a 6.2l corvette engine, RWD, better build quality than other Vauxhalls why would you buy the Insignia? Unless its a lot better on MPG and handling which are both yet to be answered.
The technology sounds interesting indeed, but as it stands it all sounds very biased to me at the moment.
I've been in cars with Paul O'Neil around Donnington and that guy could make a crap car feel good. An example of this is he took me around Donnington for 4 laps in a Vectra VXR, made the damn thing feel awsome, bit his approach was sideways every corners and all out flashy stuff which one could do in any car.
I drove all the VXR's that day for several laps and am sorry but the Vectra VXR was a pretty terrible car, it suffered a lot of torque of steer and was nothing special in the corners.
The best handling cars I found were the Corsa VXR and VXR8, the Astra was OK. But the Meriva, Zafira and Vectra just were not.
However I am willing to give the Insignia a chance, having seen one in the flesh they look like an awful lot of car for the money and if they truly do drive great could be an awsome bit of kit.
However it just seems odd to me why anyone would buy an Insignia VXR over a VXR8 at present. A friend picked up his brand new VXR8 3 weeks ago and wait for it but he paid £23,200 on the road, now for a motor thats got a 6.2l corvette engine, RWD, better build quality than other Vauxhalls why would you buy the Insignia? Unless its a lot better on MPG and handling which are both yet to be answered.
Garlick said:
j-j said:
ADVERTORIAL...
Who else remembers the good old days?
Oh come on now, our first was around 3 years ago. As long as they are about relevant cars I don't feel they ruin the experience of the site. Who else remembers the good old days?
Is this the first labelled as such though as I cant find any others via google with that label?
Edited by robuk on Monday 24th August 23:31
Thers no pleasing some people..regarding the article if you don't like adverts don't read them pretty simple.
As for the vxr,just can't do right by it can they..the sri didnt have enough power..the vxr comes along it hs to much power needs awd..gets awd..nah badge is not good enough..
how is the badge any worse than, ford, honda, toyota, renault,nissan, etc..the days of bmw badges impressing anyone are well gone...I bet this car could be turned into a flyer with a bit of fiddling.
As for the vxr,just can't do right by it can they..the sri didnt have enough power..the vxr comes along it hs to much power needs awd..gets awd..nah badge is not good enough..
how is the badge any worse than, ford, honda, toyota, renault,nissan, etc..the days of bmw badges impressing anyone are well gone...I bet this car could be turned into a flyer with a bit of fiddling.
Dagnut said:
Thers no pleasing some people..regarding the article if you don't like adverts don't read them pretty simple.
As for the vxr,just can't do right by it can they..the sri didnt have enough power..the vxr comes along it hs to much power needs awd..gets awd..nah badge is not good enough..
how is the badge any worse than, ford, honda, toyota, renault,nissan, etc..the days of bmw badges impressing anyone are well gone...I bet this car could be turned into a flyer with a bit of fiddling.
As for the vxr,just can't do right by it can they..the sri didnt have enough power..the vxr comes along it hs to much power needs awd..gets awd..nah badge is not good enough..
how is the badge any worse than, ford, honda, toyota, renault,nissan, etc..the days of bmw badges impressing anyone are well gone...I bet this car could be turned into a flyer with a bit of fiddling.
You'll get someone coming along and saying it's got the same suspension as a Vectra and handles like a boat in a minute too
Carrera RS said:
OnTheOverrun said:
Carrera RS said:
It seems like a good car all round...except from the fact its a Vauxhall which is social suicide!
I don't have a problem with the Vauxhall badge, in fact my next car is highly likely to be a VXR8, but having recently had two Insignias as rental cars I would be amazed if anyone could turn it into an enjoyable drivers car, but I remain open-minded and hope I'm proven wrong! 
[OcUK]Gibbo said:
Hi there
The technology sounds interesting indeed, but as it stands it all sounds very biased to me at the moment.
I've been in cars with Paul O'Neil around Donnington and that guy could make a crap car feel good. An example of this is he took me around Donnington for 4 laps in a Vectra VXR, made the damn thing feel awsome, bit his approach was sideways every corners and all out flashy stuff which one could do in any car.
I drove all the VXR's that day for several laps and am sorry but the Vectra VXR was a pretty terrible car, it suffered a lot of torque of steer and was nothing special in the corners.
The best handling cars I found were the Corsa VXR and VXR8, the Astra was OK. But the Meriva, Zafira and Vectra just were not.
However I am willing to give the Insignia a chance, having seen one in the flesh they look like an awful lot of car for the money and if they truly do drive great could be an awsome bit of kit.
However it just seems odd to me why anyone would buy an Insignia VXR over a VXR8 at present. A friend picked up his brand new VXR8 3 weeks ago and wait for it but he paid £23,200 on the road, now for a motor thats got a 6.2l corvette engine, RWD, better build quality than other Vauxhalls why would you buy the Insignia? Unless its a lot better on MPG and handling which are both yet to be answered.
Where did he get a brand new VXR8 for £23k from??The technology sounds interesting indeed, but as it stands it all sounds very biased to me at the moment.
I've been in cars with Paul O'Neil around Donnington and that guy could make a crap car feel good. An example of this is he took me around Donnington for 4 laps in a Vectra VXR, made the damn thing feel awsome, bit his approach was sideways every corners and all out flashy stuff which one could do in any car.
I drove all the VXR's that day for several laps and am sorry but the Vectra VXR was a pretty terrible car, it suffered a lot of torque of steer and was nothing special in the corners.
The best handling cars I found were the Corsa VXR and VXR8, the Astra was OK. But the Meriva, Zafira and Vectra just were not.
However I am willing to give the Insignia a chance, having seen one in the flesh they look like an awful lot of car for the money and if they truly do drive great could be an awsome bit of kit.
However it just seems odd to me why anyone would buy an Insignia VXR over a VXR8 at present. A friend picked up his brand new VXR8 3 weeks ago and wait for it but he paid £23,200 on the road, now for a motor thats got a 6.2l corvette engine, RWD, better build quality than other Vauxhalls why would you buy the Insignia? Unless its a lot better on MPG and handling which are both yet to be answered.
j-j said:
Ahonen said:
noclue said:
Mmmmm bit hard to make an judgement on a car being driven by a massively skilled racing driver built by his sponsor.
A very apt username. The driver here is Paul O'Neill, who drives a Honda for a private team in BTCC, not factory Vauxhall driver Matt Neal...He doesn't race for Vauxhall. But if you read the advertorial:
"You know, I do wish it had a tiny bit more power" says Paul with a wink, before remembering his 'corporate responsibilities' and adding "only because the chassis would be so obviously up to it, of course."
Its almost as good as... corporate responsibilities and all.
Merrick_McKay said:
Who is this Lotus99t? Sounds like a right weapon (or No_clue in disguise).
I hope Paul is laughing his head off at this - the concept of him losing all credibility for giving anything other than his honest opinion is pretty funny to those who know him. Mint indeed.
I hope Paul is laughing his head off at this - the concept of him losing all credibility for giving anything other than his honest opinion is pretty funny to those who know him. Mint indeed.
Is that you john?
Merrick_McKay said:
Who is this Lotus99t? Sounds like a right weapon (or No_clue in disguise).
I hope Paul is laughing his head off at this - the concept of him losing all credibility for giving anything other than his honest opinion is pretty funny to those who know him. Mint indeed.
Yes I took the time to set up a fake user name to validate my earlier comment.....!?!?I hope Paul is laughing his head off at this - the concept of him losing all credibility for giving anything other than his honest opinion is pretty funny to those who know him. Mint indeed.
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