Insignia 2.0 cdti money saver??
Discussion
As noted elsewhere I’ve sold the marvellous Phaeton and bought a VX tourer. 
Need more pics.
I intend to use this a bit more than the Phaeton to relieve my van of some mileage. I don’t really want to buy a new van(expensive). It’s in excellent condition but the mileage is climbing so if I can slow down the accumulation it will last longer hopefully.
This VX should be useful and hopefully economical to run as well as not attracting CAZ charges at the moment.
So… Vauxhall insignia SRI 2.0cdti with the VX line sport kit and big wheels.
Saw it advertised with only 31500 miles which i was sceptical about especially since the service history was ‘lost’
However upon viewing I was pleasantly surprised. Been owned past 11 yrs by one chap. Was in super condition inside and out. Just looked like a low mileage car on seats, wheel switches etc.
Doesnt appear to ever had paint. Very few chips, no dents. Just a couple of touched up marks on bumpers.
It’s even on 2011 Goodyears all round. Can’t quite fathom that one.
However did have condensation in headlights and rear parking sensor faulty and the longest brake pedal ever!
So after buying, a full service including pads and discs all round, brake fluid, coolant etc.
The air filter etc were quite clean so obviously had been serviced. Pity about the lost records. That was around £500
Then just yesterday had the cam belt and water pump done. £360. Not a great way to spend money but I suppose for peace of mind it has to be done.
I’ve dried out the headlights and resealed along the top. No cost.
Fitted one parking sensor. £12. now fine.
So up to now not saving any money over the Phaeton. However going forward should be better.
Road tax is less than half and it easily achieves 45+ mpg
As some may know,There is some commonality between this and the Alfa 159. One of those things seems to be a skimpy approach to under seal on front and rear subframes. The VX isn’t terrible but a bit of cleaning and preventative coating wouldn’t hurt. So that’s a job before winter. It’s also had new rear toe links fitted by Vauxhall as a recall due to corrosion. Interestingly the Phaeton was corrosion free and 4 years older!
As for the drive. Well it’s quite firm over bumps etc. Sri suspension and 20” wheels combined with old tyres I guess.
However it does grip very well, corners flat and has quick, if over light, steering.
It’s great on the motorway, comfy seats etc
Reasonably spacious all though not particularly big in the boot. I think the Mondeo is bigger in the back.
Think that’s it for now. It’s not exciting but sometimes ordinary is all that’s needed

Need more pics.
I intend to use this a bit more than the Phaeton to relieve my van of some mileage. I don’t really want to buy a new van(expensive). It’s in excellent condition but the mileage is climbing so if I can slow down the accumulation it will last longer hopefully.
This VX should be useful and hopefully economical to run as well as not attracting CAZ charges at the moment.
So… Vauxhall insignia SRI 2.0cdti with the VX line sport kit and big wheels.
Saw it advertised with only 31500 miles which i was sceptical about especially since the service history was ‘lost’
However upon viewing I was pleasantly surprised. Been owned past 11 yrs by one chap. Was in super condition inside and out. Just looked like a low mileage car on seats, wheel switches etc.
Doesnt appear to ever had paint. Very few chips, no dents. Just a couple of touched up marks on bumpers.
It’s even on 2011 Goodyears all round. Can’t quite fathom that one.
However did have condensation in headlights and rear parking sensor faulty and the longest brake pedal ever!
So after buying, a full service including pads and discs all round, brake fluid, coolant etc.
The air filter etc were quite clean so obviously had been serviced. Pity about the lost records. That was around £500
Then just yesterday had the cam belt and water pump done. £360. Not a great way to spend money but I suppose for peace of mind it has to be done.
I’ve dried out the headlights and resealed along the top. No cost.
Fitted one parking sensor. £12. now fine.
So up to now not saving any money over the Phaeton. However going forward should be better.
Road tax is less than half and it easily achieves 45+ mpg
As some may know,There is some commonality between this and the Alfa 159. One of those things seems to be a skimpy approach to under seal on front and rear subframes. The VX isn’t terrible but a bit of cleaning and preventative coating wouldn’t hurt. So that’s a job before winter. It’s also had new rear toe links fitted by Vauxhall as a recall due to corrosion. Interestingly the Phaeton was corrosion free and 4 years older!
As for the drive. Well it’s quite firm over bumps etc. Sri suspension and 20” wheels combined with old tyres I guess.
However it does grip very well, corners flat and has quick, if over light, steering.
It’s great on the motorway, comfy seats etc
Reasonably spacious all though not particularly big in the boot. I think the Mondeo is bigger in the back.
Think that’s it for now. It’s not exciting but sometimes ordinary is all that’s needed
Jazoli said:
I had one of these, they are decent cars, if you haven't already get the oil pickup seal changed, its a common fail point and has destroyed many an engine in Insignia's.
WHS - I did one on an insignia CDTi a while back and at 9 years old and 100 k miles caught it just in timeYep the oil seal is on the list
I have had an intermittent brake sticking issue. Couldn’t work out which brake but car just wouldn’t move
Anyway it’s happened again today and luckily I was able to jack it up.
Drivers front. Totally random. I was just moving it around at home and it just grabs hold.
Considering I’ve had all new brakes and the callipers were cleaned and greased etc it’s a bit annoying.
Did happen on day 2 of owning,prior to new brakes and has continued occasionally.
My mechanic,who is a pal, has ordered a new flex line. A degrading one can stop fluid returning. He will also have another look at calliper whilst fitting.
So far the VX is irritating more than the Phaeton did!
I have had an intermittent brake sticking issue. Couldn’t work out which brake but car just wouldn’t move
Anyway it’s happened again today and luckily I was able to jack it up.
Drivers front. Totally random. I was just moving it around at home and it just grabs hold.
Considering I’ve had all new brakes and the callipers were cleaned and greased etc it’s a bit annoying.
Did happen on day 2 of owning,prior to new brakes and has continued occasionally.
My mechanic,who is a pal, has ordered a new flex line. A degrading one can stop fluid returning. He will also have another look at calliper whilst fitting.
So far the VX is irritating more than the Phaeton did!
My dad had one of these for 3 years from new (motability deal).
All he ever did was complain about the stupidity of the boot in it, though he’d just come from a V70.
Since then he’s ended up in these fake off road jobbies and looks back quite fondly on the Insignia. I remember it being a fairly comfortable, if rather bland motor as a passenger though.
Hopefully it’ll work out a fair bit cheaper on fuel/tax for you than the Phaeton.
All he ever did was complain about the stupidity of the boot in it, though he’d just come from a V70.
Since then he’s ended up in these fake off road jobbies and looks back quite fondly on the Insignia. I remember it being a fairly comfortable, if rather bland motor as a passenger though.
Hopefully it’ll work out a fair bit cheaper on fuel/tax for you than the Phaeton.
I read the Astra sport tourer has a bigger boot, only due to the Insignia's curved bum, its not as practical?
Do like these I have to admit, yours looks rather good in this colour and spec OP, rather than black/white/black your see everyday
I wouldn't entertain a diesel though personally, too many "what if's" for me, the petrols are very good albeit abit of a plodder if you go for the 1.8 VVT, probably the only one that can get good mpg if your very careful, but very reliable.
Good luck with it, they are very underated cars I think.
Do like these I have to admit, yours looks rather good in this colour and spec OP, rather than black/white/black your see everyday
I wouldn't entertain a diesel though personally, too many "what if's" for me, the petrols are very good albeit abit of a plodder if you go for the 1.8 VVT, probably the only one that can get good mpg if your very careful, but very reliable.
Good luck with it, they are very underated cars I think.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Great cars. I've been looking at options post lease hand back and everything had gone way over what it's worth.
Thank fully people seem to think they are above Insignia's.
Yeah they are actually bargain's if your careful and choose wisely, their loss is our gain, and they are very good cars.Thank fully people seem to think they are above Insignia's.
I did look at one few weeks back for my eventual Vectra replacement - wasn't too keen as it's not as big as this old thing, but, they are very very hard to ignore for value for money, so they are back on my radar again!
Ignore the VX snobs on here, they're perfectly good cars. A month or so ago our 2015 Insignia Elite nav estate was written off (not by us) and up until that point it had given us 100k trouble free motoring, asked for very little in jobs, and was both economical and brisk. If yours is the 168bhp model like ours was we could hit 60mpg on a motorway run.
Shame with ours that in the months prior it had had 4 Goodyear F1's, a cambelt, new rear springs, and new discs. If anyone sees EY15 DNE for sale it's a good one (will be put back on the road) just make sure they sort the parking sensors mind!
Shame with ours that in the months prior it had had 4 Goodyear F1's, a cambelt, new rear springs, and new discs. If anyone sees EY15 DNE for sale it's a good one (will be put back on the road) just make sure they sort the parking sensors mind!
DaSugg said:
My dad had one of these for 3 years from new (motability deal).
All he ever did was complain about the stupidity of the boot in it, though he’d just come from a V70.
Yep, They're a bit style over function in that respect. A high floor, and arch shaped roof line. Took our 5.5 stone Dobe x with no worries though.All he ever did was complain about the stupidity of the boot in it, though he’d just come from a V70.
Pistom said:
There's always going to be critical of whatever you drive, they really are just dicks.
I've always liked the look of these and they drive fine.
Good colour too.
I'm amazed that NN (Nightmare Niece) hasn't killed hers - she's a proper car killerI've always liked the look of these and they drive fine.
Good colour too.
I have every sympathy for the insignia under her ownership - I've done my best to give it a chance but ultimately she will kill it but it won't be as a result of the normal lack of maintenance
Having said that I haven't seen it since last year.................
We have had our 2014 facelift elite (same engine as yours) for almost 2 years now.
We did the oil pick up seal and changed the (auto) gearbox oil and its been brilliant for dad duties + holidays.
Its on 142k miles now and everything works as it should, the fit and finish is good and its a very comfy cruiser.
We did the oil pick up seal and changed the (auto) gearbox oil and its been brilliant for dad duties + holidays.
Its on 142k miles now and everything works as it should, the fit and finish is good and its a very comfy cruiser.
Update time

Not the best pic. Plant optional!
Original wheels needed a refurb. These came up at good money so took the plunge. I’m not normally a diamond cut wheel guy but in the right light etc these look pretty good imo.
Also meant I could change tyres to 255 from 245. Can’t say they feel any plusher though. Still a fairly lumpy ride.
Also been lowered on Eibach springs which I think has improved the ride quality very slightly.
Coped well with 4 large adults and 100kg of luggage recently. Was low but no catching etc
Done almost 5k miles now at 44-45 mpg. Not broken yet lol so happy days
I’m thinking of a remap? Anyone done it on this engine?

Not the best pic. Plant optional!
Original wheels needed a refurb. These came up at good money so took the plunge. I’m not normally a diamond cut wheel guy but in the right light etc these look pretty good imo.
Also meant I could change tyres to 255 from 245. Can’t say they feel any plusher though. Still a fairly lumpy ride.
Also been lowered on Eibach springs which I think has improved the ride quality very slightly.
Coped well with 4 large adults and 100kg of luggage recently. Was low but no catching etc
Done almost 5k miles now at 44-45 mpg. Not broken yet lol so happy days
I’m thinking of a remap? Anyone done it on this engine?
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