Estate car advice - Insignia?

Nice thread, in a similar position, but dont want the Insignia, I am looking at Volvo estates, Mondeo, Superb, Octavia's & Passat's.
The Volvo & Passat are my top runnerss.

I want auto though, as I am getting lazy :)
 
The only real way to avoid bland is to buy the hot (or hot looking - R Line etc) version.

I'd go for (and did) the Octavia Estate, or Superb if you need bigger. I got the 1.5 petrol (150ps) SEL and it's a decent drive for what it is. It's nothing exciting, but it's practical and does what I need efficiently.

If you want something more exciting, but in estate format, the VRS or Golf R etc is about the best you'll get this side of a BMW M or Audi RS.
 
I really like the look of late Mk1 Insignia SRis, they're really cheap for what they are as far as I can tell. My Dad's is a bit boaty but what isn't at this size/end of the market?
 
[TW]Fox said:
Yet he's asking us about a Vauxhall estate?
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Indeed, and a Passat, but it was my Civic duty to point it out :)

To answer your question, my wife was unsatisfied with the bland Superb so went for...
...the rock'n'rolla lifestyle of owning a Corolla Touring Sports :D

As for Porsche, I did half-jokingly point out a Cayenne in a car park at one point....
 
hugobosslives said:
Recently made a similar choice. My final shortlist was between a Volvo v60, Skoda Octavia/superb and the Leon estate fr.

Went for a v60 in the end. Seemed the best spec/comfort for the money. So far (10k miles later, no regrets!)
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The V60 isn't really in the same class though. A lot smaller boot than a Insignia, Mondeo, Superb etc.

I sat in a top spec Insignia GSI back at Goodwood in 2017 and it didn't seem a bad car at all. Boot was massive and no different in quality to a Skoda Superb.

This one is an Elite so top spec and isn't a bad looker imo.

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Magic_x_uk said:
The Volvo & Passat are my top runnerss.

I want auto though, as I am getting lazy
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volvos the only one with a decent torque convertor box (vs dct), so pulling away especially especially with a towed load is smooth, more reliable too afaik,
(maybe phev passat's are good with motor filling in the dct gear changes)
peugot 508 in the same price bracket has a nice gbox too, but an acquired taste.
 
The insignia sports tourer GSI is a lovely looking thing and fairly brisk too however, good luck finding one.

I would be looking at a Passat or Octavia estate though given the budget
 
For a 19 plate that spec there isn't a reason not to buy the vauxhall. Octavia for that money have either moon mileage or are poverty spec and look naff with silly small engine size.

Having a quick scout the others aren't available for that sort of dough

The reviews for the vauxhall are good, and they designed it to be more like an Audi.

Apparently it feels a bit more bland than a Mondeo etc but at the end of the day it's a family cruising wagon it's not going to be often you batting down the b roads and chances are if you are the wife be Moaning to slow down.

With that budget and noting it's for family you need to get as much as you can for the money, and the vauxhall fits the brief perfectly.
 
Magic_x_uk said:
Thing is, my kids love the panoramic roof that we presently have in our Qashqai, so would ideally want a roof too
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does look like you can get a panoramic roof on a v60 too https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305307931788
agree that ambiance for rear passengers is improved with them
(3 series touring gets a reasonable amount of light through rear windows though ... other than for babies don't think i'd ever want privacy glass in rear either - not in uk climate)



... so the Insignias diesel engines are from Fiat it seems https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/123826/vauxhall-insignia
 
A note on the diesel engines, they are all terrible as the mileages climb.

2.0 Mondeo engines if the later type with the wet belt go through oil pumps and welt belt snapping.

I could complain about all the diesel engines tbh.

The VW diesel is probably the most reliable.

Petrol engines are the way forward for optimum reliability tbh.
 
For what its worth I had a 2016 passat estate with the 1.6 diesel engine and someone crashed into the back of me (in 2017), while it was in the garage the courtesy car I had was a 2017 Insignia estate 2l diesel. I couldn't wait to get back to the Passat despite it being pretty dull..

What about Mazda 6 estate or Volvo v60? You're likely to find a newer one for similar price to the Vauxhall. You may also find a F31 320d for not much more if you're lucky, or a 318i in budget.
 
I had a similar dilemma not so long ago. I ended up with an estate Passat B8 GT 2.0 TDi. Decent spec with the virtual dash, pan roof, heated seats etc. Wouldn't touch the Vauxhall tbh, had a quick look around one and the difference in quality is night and day between that and the VW.
 
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