Insignia impressions anyone?

Gerard

Gerard

Gerard

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
41,513
Location
Ireland
Just wondering if anyone here owns or has driven one, im awaiting a test drive date coming tomorrow sometime.

Took a run to the showroom on friday, surprised at the length of it, seems to be noticably longer than a mondeo. Interior is really nice, only thing that seemed odd was the small steering wheel and the wing mirrors seemed to also be pretty small given the size of the car (seems to take a cue from the mondeo which also has small mirrors on a barge of a car). Steering wheel also seemed to be sat a long distance from the driver, forgot about the reach and rake controls on the steering column so that obviously would have made a difference.
 
Ugh. I drove the more powerful 2.0 TDCI (10 days as a hire car) , I found it to be not exactly slow, but not particularly quick. Badly put together, squeaky plastic (2 month old car), electric handbrake wound me up, stereo was crap, seats were fairly comfortable but nothing special. Blah balh, it's just another crappy Vauxhall. And I don't hate Vauxhall at-all, but overall I would not buy one, when compared to the competition.

Oh and it had the 19" rims, there was a nail in the tyre and it took 2 days to source a tyre for it in Liverpool (I visited 3 tyre places while the hire company called everyone in the phone book, no dice).
 
Doesn't sound good, my parents astra is over a year old and has no squeaks or rattles in it. =/
 
Isn't the Insignia built in Germany? The Astra is built in the UK (5-door) or Belgium (3-door)

Haven't driven one but sat in one in the Motorshow last year. First impressions were that it was a million miles away from the Vectra

Reviews haven't been bad either, although most still seem to prefer the Mondeo
 
ajgoodfellow said:
Isn't the Insignia built in Germany? The Astra is built in the UK (5-door) or Belgium (3-door)

Haven't driven one but sat in one in the Motorshow last year. First impressions were that it was a million miles away from the Vectra

Reviews haven't been bad either, although most still seem to prefer the Mondeo
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Yeah most say the handling isnt as responsive but the designer stated he wanted about 80% of the mondeos handling. Supposodly this comes from someone from vauxhall having a mondeo as a hire car in another country and his wife commenting on why he was constantly moving the wheel about while driving on a motorway, they came to the conclusion that it was a bit too twitchy and toned it downa bit.
 
I can understand the thought process behind that - if they're targeting it as a rep car to munch miles on the motorway then that would be a positive benefit leading to a more relaxing car to drive
 
My dad bought a couple for his sales reps as they look the part.

Both broke down on the motorway within 6 months, dealers said it was a known fault with these cars... so he doesn't recommend them!
 
ajgoodfellow said:
I can understand the thought process behind that - if they're targeting it as a rep car to munch miles on the motorway then that would be a positive benefit leading to a more relaxing car to drive
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Yup, but that being said some reviews have said vauxhall didnt want them to call it a "repmobile". :p

Its supposdly quieter than a mondeo on the move as well, petrols at least.
 
I have one and have had a lot of time with the new mondeo...

my notes:

Not that quick at all, its a big heavy thing :)
Same build as a mondeo in general, its a real mix of good materials and some cack plastic in the wrong places
Bigger outside, smaller inside - depends what you want. Mondeo is more about interior space, the insignia feels like it was an exterior shape with the best space to fit.
More refined than the mondeo, this is based on diesels
Less feedback from the wheel and a little less fun to drive

Basically, a good overall rival to the mondeo. If you want something smoother and more refined, then the insignia would be better.

The clincher for me was what you get for the money. My 160 CDTi SE with a good few options was £16k new.
 
ajgoodfellow said:
Isn't the Insignia built in Germany? The Astra is built in the UK (5-door) or Belgium (3-door)

Haven't driven one but sat in one in the Motorshow last year. First impressions were that it was a million miles away from the Vectra

Reviews haven't been bad either, although most still seem to prefer the Mondeo
Click to expand...

correct, but the 3 door might be coming to the UK :)

Stelly
 
Stelly said:
correct, but the 3 door might be coming to the UK :)

Stelly
Click to expand...

Not seen anything about a 3 door insignia yet, i remember some magazine showing what appeared to be a coupe version but im sure that turned out to be the 2010 astra.
 
Vauxhall's attempt at replacing the Vectra with a Mk3 Mondeo beater... but forgot that Ford released the Mk4 Mondeo in the process...


Note: I haven't been within 10 feet of, sat in, or driven either cars, the above is purely posted as a mickey-take.
 
We've had a few as hire cars.. comparing CDTi to Mondeo TDCi of equivalent spec...

It's a bit more refined on the road, less road noise, better damping. The Mondeo is still a little sharper to drive, but feels rougher because of it.

Interior quaility feels better in the insignia, primarily because of the dash design, it's more 'sculpted' and some will like this, some won't..

Overall, nothing to get excited about IMO, which is exactly what I would say about a Mondeo as well..

However, the guys with the Audi A4's in here have commented that unlike the Mondeo, they would consider an Insignia as it has more of an element of style to it both outside and inside with pretty reasonable build quality...
 
I like it, feels a nicer car to be in than the Mondeo, driving is on a par imo with the Mondy. Its quite an expensive motor now going by the list price.

I wouldnt have one tho........its a bleedin Vauxhall:p
 
alexthecheese said:
I remember the Top Gear episode with Clarkson saying that the market for them didn't exist, and that they'd never sell, and I keep seeing them everywhere now!
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Me thinks you are confusing the 'Signum' with the new 'Insignia'..

The 'Signum' was the Hatchback looking Vectra based thing that was comfier in the back then the front.. actually quite nice cars to be ferried around in, but yes, built for a niche that wouldn't be seen dead in a Vx.

 
Demon said:
Me thinks you are confusing the 'Signum' with the new 'Insignia'..

The 'Signum' was the Hatchback looking Vectra based thing that was comfier in the back then the front.. actually quite nice cars to be ferried around in, but yes, built for a niche that wouldn't be seen dead in a Vx.
Click to expand...

Clarkson did say about the market being non existant in his times "review" if you can call it that, hundreds of words of total bs then he gets on to actually talking about the car..

They’ve got the Insignia even more wrong than usual because the absolutely last thing anyone wants right now, and I’m including in the list consumption, a severed artery and a massive shark bite, is a four-door saloon car with a bargain-basement badge.
Click to expand...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article5292547.ece


How anyone can call that a review is beyond me, he just seems to like blabbing about anything possible before giving the car a couple of paragraphs.
 
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