Vauxhall Insignia!?
Discussion
In my eyes, despite the naff Vauxhall image that still seems to pervade motoring circles, the Insignia is fast becoming a real second hand bargain, with early examples dipping towards 5 grand. Thats a lot of car for the money. I looked at a 2009 2.0 CDTI SRI with admittedly mega miles on it and wondered if it would make a decent family chariot...to my eyes, a fine looking car and personally I think its ageing much better than the current shape Mondeo which the motoring press all prefer.
These cars are not really discussed on pistonheads, but what feedback is there for them in terms of reliability, driveability etc? Im sure some of you will have owned them as company cars!
Can't comment on reliability as i only ever use them as hire cars. The diesel engine is pretty pokey and seems to return good MPG on a good run. Space, the boot is very large even in hatch back shape.
I don't like much else about them TBH the back window and all round visibility is poor i am not a Vauxhall fan at all but as a family hack i guess it would do the job and seems fairly well built but not my cup of tea i would be looking at older German cars for the same money if it were me. But each to there own.
I don't like much else about them TBH the back window and all round visibility is poor i am not a Vauxhall fan at all but as a family hack i guess it would do the job and seems fairly well built but not my cup of tea i would be looking at older German cars for the same money if it were me. But each to there own.
Being from the 70's, Insignia will always be a shower gel to me. 
I would pick the Mondeo every time because it doesn't have a stupid electronic handbrake or those ridiculous indicators. The fact it's a better driver's car is just a bonus.
Personally, I would drive one before making the jump as whenever I've hired vauxhall, I just don't get on with them and come away disappointed. Imagine that feeling if you'd bought one.
Being a bargain is one thing but is there a reason for it, is it going to continue plummeting in value and will you be able to sell it again easily.
I would pick the Mondeo every time because it doesn't have a stupid electronic handbrake or those ridiculous indicators. The fact it's a better driver's car is just a bonus.
Personally, I would drive one before making the jump as whenever I've hired vauxhall, I just don't get on with them and come away disappointed. Imagine that feeling if you'd bought one.
Being a bargain is one thing but is there a reason for it, is it going to continue plummeting in value and will you be able to sell it again easily.
Incredible value for money. The 2.0d 160 bhp version is probably the pick of the range (up to 50mpg and doesn't feel slow). Many on here don't like vauxhalls or have had a 1.8 petrol as a hire car and judge the Insignia by that poor example.
They don't have any major problems, look modern, have a nice interior and are comfortable to cruise on the motorway in.
As a car fan many will say an 8 year old BMW is a better car, but as solid family transport a 3 year old Insignia has a lot going for it.
They don't have any major problems, look modern, have a nice interior and are comfortable to cruise on the motorway in.
As a car fan many will say an 8 year old BMW is a better car, but as solid family transport a 3 year old Insignia has a lot going for it.
It took 1 post before someone suggested that you buy an old, clapped-out BMW instead! Love PH-logic.
They are a good, decent car. The steering is dead, but as are most cars, whilst it doesn't hide its' size around town either, it's quite intimidating to drive in confined areas (especially if it belongs to your dad). Not my cup of tea but by no means a bad car.
Oh and don't get one without the rear parking sensors, cos you can't see anything out the back of one.
They are a good, decent car. The steering is dead, but as are most cars, whilst it doesn't hide its' size around town either, it's quite intimidating to drive in confined areas (especially if it belongs to your dad). Not my cup of tea but by no means a bad car.
Oh and don't get one without the rear parking sensors, cos you can't see anything out the back of one.
They're not a bad car but the steering felt disconnected from my hire car's wheels and the electronic handbrake drove me mad. It was very comfortable over broken Irish roads and the EcoFlex was gentle on fuel. My car was pretty abused before I got to steer it but it felt in worse condition than my Octavia that was twice as old and with twice the miles. That might be the fault of the previous drivers rather than the car's but it didn't inspire confidence.
Vision out of the back is poor but similar to its rivals. That said, I'd have parking sensors.
I wouldn't buy it, but I can see why others would. If I cared more about comfort than steering feel and I had to use one as a motorway hack every day, it has a lot of plus points but I'd struggle to deal with its handbrake and I would worry about bits falling off. (Others may reassure you with stories about cars that weren't Hire Car specials though- my experience might be unfair to Vauxhall.)
Vision out of the back is poor but similar to its rivals. That said, I'd have parking sensors.
I wouldn't buy it, but I can see why others would. If I cared more about comfort than steering feel and I had to use one as a motorway hack every day, it has a lot of plus points but I'd struggle to deal with its handbrake and I would worry about bits falling off. (Others may reassure you with stories about cars that weren't Hire Car specials though- my experience might be unfair to Vauxhall.)
Excellent buy, and a fine car all round. Used to sell them when they were first launched, and they're now approaching Vectra money. The clicky indicator stalks from Vauxhalls of old have gone and from memory not all models had the electronic handbrake. Pick of the bunch, as somebody else noted, was the 160ps SRI, preferably with large, tasty wheels. The SEs are nice too and could be specified with DAB radios.
I've had one as a company car now for over a year, a 160bhp SRi diesel Nav version.
160bhp diesel is a strong engine with a smooth power delivery, reasonably refined. Economy with mine over mixed roads is about 43, lower if around town. Does 80 in 3rd.
Mines got sat nav which is one of the best I've used. Handling is OK for most, steerings a bit light if you're hooning. Firm suspension but nice and quiet and a good place to be - seats and ergonomics very good.
Vision out the back is terrible, the rear window is tiny. Unless you've got rear parking sensors you will bump stuff but the bumpers are quite flexible... the front's not much better.
Space in the rear isn't as bad as some reports, I've had 3 adults in the back for a 3 hour trip and although restricted in the middle seat (which really isn't a seat) it's acceptable. Boot space is good but the bumper/lip is high so you'll get wet and dirty trousers if you have to lean over to fetch stuff from behind the back seats.
Toys and stuff on the SRi is good, IPod connectors, good radio and stuff and mine has bluetooth which works well. The control for the menu on the sat nav screen (which doubles as the radio, phone and menu screen) is good and even I can find my way around all the setings. All knobs and buttons work well.
Electric handbrake is a ridiculous idea. Some like them, I don't. Yes it works, but I hate it. Heating system is rubbish. Takes ages to warm up and although it has a climate control setting all that happens is that the fan speed increases to higher you set the temp, it's not at all intelligent like the Audi one. Cold start, set it to max heat and it just blows out cold air, it doesn't ramp up as the engine warms like it should. Pathetic really, and inexcusable. May as well not have it, just a rotary dial would be better.
Reliability - mine's done 35k and is 2 years old. Some niggles with creaky interior trim (it looks good but when you have a feel around it's cheap tat) but all sorted. I've had front discs and pads replaced as they warped, common apparently. Lots of them have a weird running problem in the summer but not in the winter... during 'warm up' there's a hesitation or stutter on part throttle until it gets to normal temperature. Annoying but not the end of the world. I hear some have problems with DMF's and EGR valves (usual modern diesel problems) but as mine is driven hard and not pootling around town stopping and starting so far so good.
VX dealers nothing special - they try but unless the computer says so they don't know. Also they never admit to a problem that you know exists 'cos everyone else has it.. again, annoying but not the end of the world.
So in conclusion, nice to drive, relatively fast and economical, has some niggles but if you can find one where you can speak to the previous owner and find out if it's a good one or a bad one on the reliability side you could end up with a half decent car.
Had a 1.8 petrol as a hire car a few weeks ago.
Negative points - Terrible engine for that size of car. Vision out of the back (mentioned above) is bad. Vision to the right as the driver is also bad due to the placing of the pillar. Steering felt detached from the car and it seemed very wallowy. Electronic parking brake wasn't too bad for me, but my fiancee struggled with it (I can see why it would be a pain).
Positive points - Quiet and comfortable. Had lots of space (four adults in the vehicle comfortably, two of which are over 6ft 2in tall) and the boot was ample for our luggage and stuff (went to a wedding weekend).
I guess that if you can get over the poor vision, get a decent engine and ditch the electronic parking brake, you should be ok.
Negative points - Terrible engine for that size of car. Vision out of the back (mentioned above) is bad. Vision to the right as the driver is also bad due to the placing of the pillar. Steering felt detached from the car and it seemed very wallowy. Electronic parking brake wasn't too bad for me, but my fiancee struggled with it (I can see why it would be a pain).
Positive points - Quiet and comfortable. Had lots of space (four adults in the vehicle comfortably, two of which are over 6ft 2in tall) and the boot was ample for our luggage and stuff (went to a wedding weekend).
I guess that if you can get over the poor vision, get a decent engine and ditch the electronic parking brake, you should be ok.
I've only been a passenger in one but I was quite impressed. They do seem to be a bit of a bargain now really. If you can stomach the fuel bills I'd go with one of the turbo petrol versions, but if not the 160bhp 2.0 diesel will see close to 200bhp with a remap. They are by no means slow cars. And as said previously, silver with xenons means EVERYTHING will get out of your way on the motorway. 
ttily made British Vauxhalls, you want a well made Teutonic car instead...Had many Insignia Hire cars all diesels in different trim and engine specs. Always thrash the nuts of them and never had a problem with any of them.
Some of the specs seem a bit funny though, a few of the SRI's have had manual rear windows and no climate.
The Bluetooth doesn't appear to be standard which is a miss by Vauxhall on a car designed for demolishing Motorways, although they always seem to have cruise. Excellent motorway car and i think much nicer inside that the equivalently priced Mondeo, build quality also seems better than ford but is very marginal.
I didn't really notice much difference between the 130 an 160 engine in the real world, although in the Astra the 160 is quite a bit faster than the 130.
The Wife has had a few recently and she really likes them, given that she hates driving anything bigger than a Focus, must make it easy to handle. She even suggested it might make a good replacement for her current car (Current shape Kia Rio) when the lease runs out on hers and commented that they are cheap and she never looks on Auto trader.
Some of the specs seem a bit funny though, a few of the SRI's have had manual rear windows and no climate.
The Bluetooth doesn't appear to be standard which is a miss by Vauxhall on a car designed for demolishing Motorways, although they always seem to have cruise. Excellent motorway car and i think much nicer inside that the equivalently priced Mondeo, build quality also seems better than ford but is very marginal.
I didn't really notice much difference between the 130 an 160 engine in the real world, although in the Astra the 160 is quite a bit faster than the 130.
The Wife has had a few recently and she really likes them, given that she hates driving anything bigger than a Focus, must make it easy to handle. She even suggested it might make a good replacement for her current car (Current shape Kia Rio) when the lease runs out on hers and commented that they are cheap and she never looks on Auto trader.
Edited by big_boz on Wednesday 28th November 11:22
C.A.R. said:
It took 1 post before someone suggested that you buy an old, clapped-out BMW instead! Love PH-logic.
.
...Quite!! as a family man on a budget, I quite like the idea of a 3 to 4 year old car for not much more than 5 grand, my current Passat has been a brilliant family car, costing 3 grand and still going strong with 120K on the clock at the moment...these family sized non premium badge rep mobiles are unbeatable in my book for metal per pound...
I bought a 2009 plate SRi sport tourer with 40k on the clock for a shade under 10k.
Before it, I had a 2005 e90 320d which when I got rid, had 126k under its belt.
On paper, they're very similar, similar power, similar spec, similar mpg figures.
However... The insignia is atrocious on fuel, it barely does 35mpg average. It's battery failed after 2 weeks of ownership. The turbo whistle drives me mental. It doesn't feel stable at speed. The controls are fiddly. The boot is tiny for a 4.9 metre long car. It has no PDC and a worse rear view than a Countach. The gearing is all wrong, you always need to be one gear lower than you should. The seats are showing signs of wear already. When putting it in reverse the button on the gear lever traps your skin and it hurts. The brakes are terrible. The bonnet is so high you end up parking 2 feet away from a car in a car park.
It is, without a doubt, THE worst car I've ever owned.
Such a shame as it is in theory a perfect alternative for a lot less money than certain other brands.
Before it, I had a 2005 e90 320d which when I got rid, had 126k under its belt.
On paper, they're very similar, similar power, similar spec, similar mpg figures.
However... The insignia is atrocious on fuel, it barely does 35mpg average. It's battery failed after 2 weeks of ownership. The turbo whistle drives me mental. It doesn't feel stable at speed. The controls are fiddly. The boot is tiny for a 4.9 metre long car. It has no PDC and a worse rear view than a Countach. The gearing is all wrong, you always need to be one gear lower than you should. The seats are showing signs of wear already. When putting it in reverse the button on the gear lever traps your skin and it hurts. The brakes are terrible. The bonnet is so high you end up parking 2 feet away from a car in a car park.
It is, without a doubt, THE worst car I've ever owned.
Such a shame as it is in theory a perfect alternative for a lot less money than certain other brands.
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