Autocar like the Insignia VXR !!

Fr0dders · 8 Jul 2009 at 12:31

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Vauxhall-Insignia-2.8-V6-4x4-VXR/241361/

Was very shocked at how overly positive it is !

Still well out of my price range at 30 grand though. Hopefully it will depreciate nicely, but not quite as freefall as the vectra vxr that can already be had for about 8 grand privately.

Under 15 grand within 3 years would do me

Hxc · 8 Jul 2009 at 12:34

Looks much better in VXR form...doesn't look as though it's melting as much

mrk · 8 Jul 2009 at 12:42

If I was given that car the first thing I would do is spray that silver bezel around the bumper intakes body coloured.

That's so foul it reminds me of the chrome bezel the surrounds Saab's headlight clusters.

Ergh.

Back end looks niice though.

MeAnBoY · 8 Jul 2009 at 12:57

Those chrome surrounds definately need spraying up! Otherwise it's a good looking car.

merlin · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:10

The VXR is relatively quiet but sounds lovely when you give it the beans. It is governed at 155 mph (could probably crack 170), can run a 0-60 mph sprint in 5.8 seconds, and accelerates 50-75 mph in 7.1 seconds.

BMW (E90) 325D M Sport does 50-75 mph in 4th gear in 6.4 seconds.

L and the O and the L.

Demon · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:19

merlin said:
BMW (E90) 325D M Sport does 50-75 mph in 4th gear in 6.4 seconds.

L and the O and the L.

Wouldn't the 50-75 be in 6th gear for the VXR.(You surely would hope so!).??? not sure why 4th gear comparo would mean much, especially from a midrange diesel powa machine?

Just askin, not L to the O to the L' ing...

Kappa · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:21

"Should I buy one?
Yes. Against other cars of its size, equipment and capability, the Insignia VXR is a spectacular bargain. Entry price for a saloon or hatchback is a paltry £30,995, or £32,320 for an estate."

WHAT?!

Peter Diffey · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:22

Demon said:
Wouldn't the 50-75 be in 6th gear for the VXR..??? not sure why 4th gear comparo would mean much, especially from a midrange diesel powa machine?

Just askin, not L to the O to the L' ing...

Why 6th gear? Who said 6th gear?

I imagine it would be in whatever gear would get it from 50-75 fastest

mattyprice4004 · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:25

I'll do it in 3rd and time it on the Ti then.

Demon · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:26

Peter Diffey said:
Why 6th gear? Who said 6th gear?

I imagine it would be in whatever gear would get it from 50-75 fastest

I think applying just a modicum of common sense, 7.1 for 50-75 is just ludicrously slow, many many many many (well quite a few) cars would eat that alive..

As a guage, obviously 75-100 would take longer then 50-75, so lets say 40-50% longer, e.g. 10 seconds, that's 17.1 seconds from 50-100, + the 5 seconds odd it will take to hit 50 (from 0-60 figure), and hey presto a 321 BHP car that does 0-100 in approx 22 seconds..

merlin · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:29

My bet is it's 4th or 5th, but definately not 6th.

Kappa · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:33

Well...even though Merlin would kill me, if I had to buy new I'd rather have an R36. However no doubt realistically it would be a 330i.

Jez · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:36

Kappa said:
"Should I buy one?
Yes. Against other cars of its size, equipment and capability, the Insignia VXR is a spectacular bargain. Entry price for a saloon or hatchback is a paltry £30,995, or £32,320 for an estate."

WHAT?!

£30k for a top of the range performance model...that is paltry just as they say (A Passat is around £5000 more for the same rough spec, or a clear £20k-£25k less than BMW or Mercedes mid sized top end saloons)

IMO its a paltry price for a reason, insignia's are not quality products, but there is no denying that the price is good and on that i bet they will shift a few.

Dogbreath · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:40

Weight: 1810kg :eek:

A 540i is 1650kg. Still a heavy lump, but 160kg lighter than the Vx.

merlin · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:42

Dogbreath said:
Weight: 1810kg

Damn.

Couple that with electronically controlled (gay) 4WD and you've got yourself a potential understeering hedgerow trimmer.

Demon · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:56

Ahh, but it's got Hiperstruts... that's all that really matters in the handling department!

Fr0dders · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:57

Peter Diffey said:
Why 6th gear? Who said 6th gear?

I imagine it would be in whatever gear would get it from 50-75 fastest

autocar havent said somebody guessed 6th gear

but its definately not 4th.

Standard vectra vxr does 30-70 through the gears in 5.0 dead.

Demon said:
Ahh, but it's got Hiperstruts... that's all that really matters in the handling department!

anybody who had a ride with the BTCC drivers at last years VXR track days will be able to testify how much difference the vauxhall electronics make

Top gears problem was that they were able to turn the traction control off, but not ESP. So to turn it off they pulled the fuses and disabled everything and knackered the handling in the process as they turned off the IDS+ electronically controlled dampers as well.

With the aids switched on, its a very capable car. I very much doubt that the insignia is going to be an understeering hedge trimmer. They learned their lesson with the bad publicity they got for the vectra.

bledd · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:57

sorry to derail the thread a bit, but how does a supercharged vxr8 compare with the m3 for example?

Kappa · 8 Jul 2009 at 13:57

Jez said:
£30k for a top of the range performance model...that is paltry just as they say (A Passat is around £5000 more for the same rough spec, or a clear £20k-£25k less than BMW or Mercedes mid sized top end saloons)

IMO its a paltry price for a reason, insignia's are not quality products, but there is no denying that the price is good and on that i bet they will shift a few.

No doubt you do get a lot of kit for the money, however, I was more shocked at the price point Vauxhall/Opel is entering for its performance family saloon!!! Really going up against some big players. There will be an assumed marketing allowance on this, and I think a big one. :eek:

Fr0dders · 8 Jul 2009 at 14:02

bledd. said:
sorry to derail the thread a bit, but how does a supercharged vxr8 compare with the m3 for example?

supercharged vxr8 has too much torque and power to put it down properly. It struggles to get under 13 seconds on the 1/4 mile which the m3 will do all day every day.

ive got a spreadsheet at home with specific times, but the m3 is quicker 30-70 through the gears too.