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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2024
- Designed in Germany, built in Germany and a car that even comes with a German name. So why then is the Vauxhall Insignia still seen as beneath its German saloon counterparts? That's what I wanted to find out, so I bought one.
Specifically a 2009 2.0 Diesel G09 Insignia with 78,000 miles on the clock. This was my personal daily for the last 3.5 months and this is my extended test drive and review.
Having grown up with VW's, I was without doubt one of the people who disregarded Vauxhalls as beneath the other known German brands. Of course they are aimed at different price points an so the Insignia is obviously going to be less refined than an Audi A6 for example. But what are they like to own?
Well, solid. If I was only permitted to use one word it would be solid. Big, heavy and while the cornering may be questionable, you don't buy a diesel Insignia for track days.
I think it's best suited to long commutes and motorway driving. It's relatively comfortable, lots of space in the cabin, massive boot and very good on fuel.
This is the 2nd car in the series where I am buying, fixing up and selling and I've once again made profit. It you would prefer to watch a video to that regard, the link is below.
I hope at least one of you found this useful and I will see you next time. I'm back on the hunt for another affordable car!
00:00 Intro
00:50 Interior
02:48 Dimensions
03:27 Performance
04:41 OPC Insignia
04:53 MPG
05:37 Exterior
06:02 Strange Features
07:27 Should you Buy One?
08:05 Outro
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WHO AM I:
I'm Josh, I work with cars in Derby, UK. I make videos on this channel solely about cars and I have about 4 years worth of footage to get through as well as the reviews I'm filming weekly!
I also have a personal channel which I upload on twice a week!
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If you’d like to talk, I’d love to hear from you. DM'ing on Instagram will be the quickest way to get a response, but feel free to email at macswhips@gmail.com if your question is very detailed! I'll try my best to respond quickly! See you next time!
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I own 2011 2.0Dci sri ecoflex estate . Have it since 2017, done 100K miles with it. I can't be happier. We even sleep in the back with my wife on some trips as when you fold the back seats, me being 185cm tall and I can sleep with legs sttatched straight ( camping mattress and sleeping bag)... Can't be happier with the car!
Yeah thats really impressive you can sleep in the back. Have you got the hatchback or the saloon?
@@macswhips estate (combi) version, but nearly sure the hatchback will be fine also...
Had loads as company cars and hires and have put at least a couple of hundred thousand on them.
I recently picked up - what I believe - is the sweet spot for these cars, a 2016 SRI Nav.
2 litre diesel, 168bhp, 6 speed manual.
Averages over 60 mpg on mostly motorway with a little bit of urban driving, plenty of pull for everyday driving and only £35 per year road tax. And its Euro 6 so no congestion charge.
Cruises at 80mph like its standing still...solid.
Massive boot means you dont have to have an estate either.
Mines got the optional parking sensors and andriod auto but....would have liked auto wipers.
Overal I cant think of anything else I would rather drive for £5k.
The hatchback Insignia is a much better looking car. Also, even more practical.
If you're looking at the pre-facelift model (like this car), don't go for a bog standard trim so avoid ES and Exclusiv. Look for an SRI Nav (CD500 Navi as a minimum) or above. Go for a car with 18 inch alloys and some decent name tyres on it. Handles surprisingly well with not a great deal lost in comfort.
The one to go for is probably an Insignia CDTI with 158 bhp. Get an auto. It's more suited to the Diesel. They're eminently tuneable. A stage 1 remap for £300 ish will get you to just over 200 bhp and 320 lb ft. They're decently quick remapped. Under 8 seconds from 0-60 mph and top speed of 145 mph approx. You can go the Hybrid Turbo route (+ remap) and get a very easy 235 bhp for 2k or spend a bit more and get 270bhp. The Hybrid Turbos are fairly quick cars and not far off a standard VXR/OPC. The 270 Hybrid cars will do 0-60 mph in under 7 seconds and top out near 155 mph.
VXR/OPC's generally need a remap especially if they're autos. The remap to get is the Courtenay Motorsport one. Transforms the mid-range. Makes a genuinely quick car with 360bhp ish and 410 lb ft.
Avoid, avoid and avoid the 1.8 VVT Petrol. They're slow and prone to head gasket issues.
Things to watch out for. Insignias are really prone to headlight condensation. Eventually the problem will get so bad that they'll fail an MOT. Getting some new lights isn't that cheap especially if they're Xenons. Avoid any Insignia with xenons and headlight condensation. It'll cost £2k just to replace with new headlights.
Check the MOT history, Vehicle Score and that it's been properly serviced. Pre-facelift cars are 10 years+ now and there's a big difference between cars that have been looked after and ones that haven't. Some absolute dogs on the road. Niggling things can go wrong with them so be prepared for that.
I'm going to pin this comment so potential buyers can have a good breakdown of what to look out for!
I imagine the hatchback version is crazy spacious and practical!
I didn't realise you could get so much more power out of them! 360BHP would be crazy fun in one of these...like you said, it would be genuinely quick!
@@macswhips - The boot on an Insignia hatchback is 530 litres. Very practical. Good shape too.
The VXR has a 2.8 Litre V6 Turbo (carried over from the Vectra but with more power). You can't get crazy power out of a VXR because of cooling limitations. With a Hybrid Turbo, you can get to just over 400 bhp. It's a very heavy car because of the 4WD though so it's never going to be super rapid but it's more than fast enough. With a remap between 360-370 bhp, the manual will do 0-60 mph in just over 5 seconds and the auto will do it (in semi-automatic mode) in the late 5's. 0-100 mph with the remap is in about 13 seconds.
The VXR to get is the facelift model, preferably 2016 model Supersport cars onwards as they have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a top speed of 170 mph (165 mph for the auto).
With regards to the humbler models, Insignia’s are generally underrated cars but there are a lot of dogs out there that haven't been serviced properly. It tends to happen to cars that are below £5k and are over 10 years old.
The 2.0 diesel with an auto is probably the pick of the range. With a stage 1 remap, it’s got a good amount of power and a lot of torque. Fairly near a newish BMW 320d acceleration wise. It's no slouch that's for sure.
Totally agree with you about the 2 litre diesel SRI Nav. I've had pre and post face-lift as company cars and now, all these years later, I have my own again.
Seriously considering a tune but to be honest it feels so much quicker than I remember them that maybe someone's already done it.
This is a really great video ❤
Thank you Lilly!
@@macswhipsI just bought one last week Jan 2024 vauxhall insignia 2.0 cdti diesel and on a £20 fuel its only giving me 100 miles 😮 very expensive on fuel
Hey fancy black pants did ya sell it in the end?@@macswhips
I’m always a Vauxhall fan, my current car is a 3rd gen Mondeo , had several cars over the years, including a vectra, I find the A pillar on the insignia quite intrusive as I’m tall 6f 3ins and broad, I found the Mondeo much more comfortable and less intrusive roofline, I changed from 14 years of a large comfy Rover saloon prior to Mondeo , I do still like the look of Vauxhall and Fords of this generation, they now seem almost forgotten and seen as under dogs , when they’re not actually under dogs.
I know what you mean, both really solid cars and not too expensive. Interesting feedback about the B Pillar in the Insignia. I did think that they were bigger than they needed to be.
The boot test(and carrying your father) has got my subscription 👍
Thanks Bryan! Really appreciate it. I'll have to let my old man know
I love my insignia i bought it when it was 3 year old and only had 6000miles on it, it only has 45000 miles on it now and still looks new
Sorry for the slow reply Kevin. You've really looked after it then. They're really solid if they're cared for. Are you planning on keeping it for the foreseeable?
The insignia are really good cars, the problem is that people don't appreciate the fact that just because it's a big tough car, doesn't mean they should skip on maintenance and services, it still needs care, and attention to any noises and creaky sounds, get any leaks of oil and water checked out as soon as you notice them, and you should be good. I bought an insignia 1.8 petrol 2013 coming from an Astra J 2010, and believe me, I was impressed with the difference, smoother drive, way more power, quieter, better clutch system without the jerkiness of Astra gear changes, and better responsiveness. I've had it for years now, and it's on 76,000miles and have had only two issues, an oil leak from the oil can and a cracked water reservoir, both of which you can repair yourself in less than 30 mins. On the Astra, I had to keep changing coil packs and spark plugs, none of that with this vehicle.
You’re so right. I couldn’t agree more. I do think some people think services are for when something goes wrong instead of preventative!
I didn’t have mine very long but zero problems at all which seems strange free because the comments is full of people with horror stories!
I have a 2009 2.0 turbo petrol hatchback. I have it for almost 5 years now and despite it not being very economical on fuel it holds on very excellent. No quirky issues and at 220hp it is really nippy for such a big heavy car. I live near Germany so I drive it in the Autobahn occasionally and thats were it thrives. Cruises happily and stable at speeds up to 125 mph, and easily keeps up or even pull away from bigger premium cars. It should be able to reach around 145 mph and that I believe it is capable to reach that.
Ah, you've not had any major issues then? The comment section seems to be 50/50 of people who found a gem and others that wouldn't touch one again. Lucky you getting to drive in Germany. I have done a few German trips and it's always a pleasure!
@@macswhips i've had to have the timing chain replaced but apart from that no issues. I live 10 miles from the german border and only an hour fro. Düsseldorf and other major German cities, gas and groceries are cheaper there so I drive in Germany quite frequently. For a potent car it is natural habitat
like the look of the insignia,but notice no end for sale with engine problems!
Sorry for the slow reply Terry. Yeah you do hear horror stories don't you. My experience must have been a lucky one!
The 2.0 CDTI is pretty reliable if it's been serviced and the cam belt and water pump have been done. You can easily get 200k out of one of these if they've been looked after.
However, the 1.8 petrol is a dog of an engine and should be avoided. It's slow, not particularly economy and often has head gasket issues.
Had my 2.0 diesel for over six years now,had 58000 on it when bought,now got 142000,never had a problem,just the normal bits like exhaust,brakes etc
Thanks for the comment Paul. That was my experience, even though I only had it a few months. Its strange though, from reading the comments, it seems 50/50 with good and bad experiences with the Insignia! Do you still have yours?
I just bought the nav version of this car 2011 126k miles £800 honestly best car I’ve owned it love it
I bought 2011 insignia 2.0 diesel just last week Jan 2024 and it sucks fuel so much £20 fuel only gives Me 100 miles very expensive on fuel , mind u though its a lovely car
You mean £8000? because Here in russia they start from £10000. Considering that on average we are much poorer, that is not fair at all.
Such a steal aren't they! Especially if you stumble on a well looked after one!
Not a great time to be filling up often as well. Hopefully you're still enjoying the car!
No, I imagine he means £800. I got mine for around the same price! Crazy how much they are there over in Russia!
My version of this car 11 plate just set me back 5k in repair bills it's an auto sports tourer nave elite, the rear dif failed and the rear prop got damaged as a result so my awd is now a fwd only lol
Jesus. Sorry to hear that. Its strange because half the people who comment have horror stories and the other half love theirs!
Another thing with these insignias you need to watch out for is the rear brake callipers, they seize up and you end up with burnt brake disks.
Thankfully I got rid of mine without that issue!
How much are you selling for??? Good video
For you special price 7000 pound
Sorry mate, only just seen this. It went for just under £3000.
😂
I have an insignia on a 2017 plate and I've had nothing but Trouble With It's 1.6 cdti engine. Turbo problems, timing chain, oil pressure issues. Its had 2 brake calipers, and only has 90,000 on the clock
Insignia A or B ?
A
@@guywilloughby3383 yea i had 2.0 CDTI 170HP 4x4 and it was around 80000km on clock,had problem with rear differential(awd),AC compressor and belt,it was 2015 i changed it for 2018 Insignia B 2.0 biturbo 210hp and i made around 50000km on it bought it with 50000 and i didnt have any problema with that car it was perfect,sold it and got now Insignia GSI same engine but GSI and i made around 5000km and its so good cannot describe it,sell that shit get Insignia B …
I've seen a few of these comments Guy. It seems I just got lucky with mine from what the consensus has said. Sounds like you stumbled on a bad one.
Thanks for the comment, I've heard the new ones are really solid cars. They seem to be getting better with every facelift from what most people have said. I must have just got lucky with mine!
wow i found a video of a sedan. interesting. i have never been able to find footage of a sedan insignia until now, i myself own a hatchback and bought tinted plastic sheets for tinting the windows but accidentally bought for sedan version and it didnt fit. at the time i didnt even know sedan insignias existed.
I didn’t know they made the Insignia in anything except a sedan? The hatchback version of this car in the U.K. is called an Astra!
most insignias are hatches, rhe sedans are the rarest options lmao@@macswhips
Have fun to ride insignia 2.0 CDT engine. Eco flex.
On city town avergae 14Km/L and on highway its giving 22-25 km/L . So amazing in 2.0 L engine.other cars never touch this milege..
👍👍
Yeah I've heard that from a few people actually! Do you still have yours?
Just bought a 2012 petrol 1.8 with 80k on the clock a few hours ago and the coolant is spitting out of the reservoir overflow pipe... Not a good start.
Not a good start at all! Have things improved now or are you still having issues? It's strange one because half of the comments seems to be really positive and half are from people who have ran into problems with the Insignia.
Unfortunately Davey, the 1.8 petrol is the one to avoid. Slow and often beset by head gasket issues.
@@macswhips Late reply - but the car got scrapped less than a month after buying it. I would personally avoid. Shame as the drive was nice when it did go and it was a lovely place to be.
@@Jimbo8012 Absolutely - I ended up scrapping the car less than a month after buying. What a shame.
I really want a C Class, but this is going to do me fine.
Yeah absolutely. Sensible decision for sure. You can always get a C Class down the line 👊🏼
I've had my 2011 2.0L SE Ecotec since 2016 and still have it, unexpectedly much longer than I thought I would. Why? I still can't really decide what to replace it with, and it's been the MOST reliable car I've had. The CHEAPEST car to maintain, each year, and pretty quick with 158 bhp. A bit boring and family practical car, but loads of positives.
Excellent brakes and I've got 72 mpg out of it driving at 65mph all the way from Birmingham to Devon. I hope my next car does so well.
That's really interesting. It seems to be a mixed bag in the comments from what I can see, some people saying it's really reliable and some saying, not so much. But from my experience, I agree with you. Have you still got yours?
@@macswhips Yes! Just done it's annual MOT and service for £160. It's only failed once, rear coil spring broken, in 7 years.
It was an ex company lease car, one driver. Maybe like everything, if it's cared for well it will last well 😎
I've been running mine on HVO for the last 6 months, doing mixed driving & I'm down from 6.3l/100kms to 5.7l & 5.3l on a long run. You won't get more car with the same space, practicality & comfort for the money!
What benefits do you get using HVO. any differance in switching between HVO and diesel.
@@leonross5663 burns cleaner, less maintenance with cloggy dpfs etc, a little more torque & slightly better fuel economy! You can still switch over and back between the two if it's not easily accessible.
Thats really interesting. Does everywhere sell HVO? And I agree on the car, a lot of car for the money!
@@macswhips it's only a very recent thing so it's quite rare here in Ireland. Not sure about the UK. The private oil supplier I get it from run all their oil trucks on it also. My insignia flew through the national car test emissions test both times using HVO.
What year insignia is it ? I have a 2016 with the b20 engine
I have got insignia 62 plate my done 220917 on clock still run has new good cars my is diesle nice cars to run about my is in taxi
Sorry for the slow reply Mohammed. Thanks for the comment. Its strange isn't is because I had no issues with mine and yet the comments are full of people who have some horror stories!
Interesting to read that comment Tobias. Do you find you get a lot of Insignia's in your workshop? It seems from the comment some people have had terrible experiences and some people have fantastic ones.
Recently bought a insingnia and if your looking at the comments thinking maybe not for me because of the other tossers on TH-cam or any social media ignore them the sig a is the main one to stay away from but if it’s the 2.0cdti a your grand
I've just put a deposit down on a 2.0l sri ecoflow 2014 plate and I'm now pooping my pants at all the negative comments about this engine 😢
Thanks for the comment mate. It's strange because half the comments seems to be from people who have had major issues and half are from people who have loved their Insignia.
Have you picked it up yet? Fingers crossed for you haha
@@macswhips picked it up yesterday. It's a nice car and I'm happy just hoping it will run well for me! This has replaced my Audi which I had for 6 years...the driving is not quite as fun in the Insignia lol
When i say car i mean Opel ! Opel Insignia for me is one of the best car in the world!
That is some statement!
German engineering, hmm. Considering British motor manufacturers have a historically bad reputation, it intrigues me how many foreign companies market their cars as British.
The Indians market Land Rovers and Jaguars as British, the French advertise Vauxhalls as "British brand since 1903", the Chinese hang on to the defunct MG brand name and the Germans market Rolls Royce and Bentley as British - and like to put union flags on their Mini tail lights for some reason. You have to presume they know what they're doing.
Interesting stuff. I guess you have to market things to the domestic market that you are working within!
I’ve got the 1.8 petrol “SRI” or slow rambling insignia model. They rust and the visabilty is terrible, good handling and they look fantastic for a Vauxhall but they are not as good as the mondeo. My mark 3 mondeo drives better. Easy to work on though.
That SRI acronym is hilarious! I’ve heard that before about the Mondeo actually. A few people have said that is the better car. Completely agree on the visibility, the Astra of the same era are equally bad. All the pillars in them are so chunky.
@@macswhips lol the 1.8 is very slow I thought it was broke as I had a 2.0 tdci before. don’t get me wrong they look great cleaned up and polished. The Sri has a full open boot the glass is part of the tailift. But the mondeo is a better car for just jumping in and running about, the seat is a major issue for me too, the lumbar air stuff drives me nuts. The alloys on the Sri have a tendency to tram line too.
@@macswhips - If you get a 2.0 CDTI and remap it, it's decently rapid and deserving of the SRI acronym. My workhorse car has 206 bhp, 321 lb ft torque and does 147 mph. 155 mph is actually achievable if you go the Hybrid Turbo route.
The 2.0 Litre Turbo Petrol with 220 bhp is also pretty quick for what it is and you can get nearly 300 bhp with some not breaking the bank modifications. It's very well deserving of that SRI badge.
In fact, the gulf between a remapped 2.0 Litre Turbo Petrol SRI and even a remapped VXR/OPC isn't as much as you'd think.
Having previously owned one I would definitely so no. It was constantly broke 🇮🇪
You say it's a great car ?. so why did you sell it?
To be quite honest...because I needed the money. Buying to fix up and sell was always the plan with this one.
Avoid the Insignia diesels, oil pump failure destroys the engine for the sake of a seal that costs a few pounds. The seal issue is not mentioned in service bulletins and therefore not a well known fault. Avoid .
I keep seeing these problems in the comments on this video. I must have got really lucky with mine as this seems to be a recurring issue.
@@macswhips Turbo's also have issues, and the DPF Filters clog up badly too, some people drive these cars in "limp mode" quite a lot due to this, depending on DPF cleaning products just to run the car normally.
@@NoLikeNoSub - Hmmm, I think the Insignia 1.8 petrol is way worse. Countless Head Gasket issues.
The CDTI is reliable if it's serviced and the cam belt, water pump etc are taken care of when they should be. The problem is that very few people service cars properly especially when they're older.
I have an Insignia CDTI as a workhorse car. Insignia's remapped to 200 bhp so decently quick (0-60 in under 8 seconds, really good mid range). Never had a DPF issue. Run on Premium Diesel and the car has cleaning products done on yearly service. Change the oil twice a year, change the gearbox oil once a year. Done 60k miles in 5 years. Perfectly reliable.
I would only buy the diesel as the petrol engine is like a asmatic snail
😂 That doesn't surprise to be fair. Heavy old things aren't they!
@macswhips we test drove the petrol Sri and it was gutless . You had to rev the nuts of it if you wanted any performance hence my daughter bought the diesel.
@@stuartyaxley5308 I know what you mean, my girlfriend has a 1.6 Petrol Astra and that doesn't have much umph!
@@stuartyaxley5308 - The 1.8 was gutless in the Vectra and is even worse in the Insignia due to the extra weight. Also massively prone to head gasket issues. Definitely one to avoid.
The diesel is night and day particularly in 158 bhp form. A lot faster particularly in the mid range. Also far more tuneable.
With regards to the 1.8 petrol, you can get another 10 or so bhp from a remap and a sports exhaust (150 bhp). Another 20 bhp on top of that costs about £3k. Just not worth it.
A £300 remap on the diesel transforms it and will get you to 200 bhp approx. Expect 0-60 mph in just under 8 seconds and a top speed in the region of 145 mph. Another £3k on top of that gets a hybrid turbo, remap and probably another 60 bhp with 0-60 mph in the late 6's.
Also the diesel is much better on the fuel.
The only petrols to buy are 2 litre Turbo and the VXR.
It's not 3 Meters wide 🤣🤣
I know 😂 I was wondering who would be the first person to notice that. Slip of the tongue unfortunately
No way he's only 5'11.
Best comment I’ve received to date 😂
@@macswhips You look a lot taller than 5'11. Btw, you forgot to mention Mercedes when you talked about German engineering.
Brilliant cars however it could of been so much better the 20L diesel is abysmal a sheared design with fiat they should of used the 17L diesel a tried & tested Isuzu engine I down graded to the astra just to get that engine and after thousands of miles I'm glad did 👍🏻👌
I know what you mean. My girlfriend has ran Asta's for years. That Izuzu engine is bomb proof from what everyone says!
please use the correct word ...HAVE instead of that very lazy and incorrect OF
@@josephberrie9550 I'm sorry to of upset you that was not my intention I'll try much harder next time 👍🏻
The 2.0 CDTI is far from an absymal engine. I've got an Insignia 2.0 CDTI SRI Nav auto remapped to 206 bhp as my workhorse car. Does 0-60 mph in under 8 seconds, has substantial mid range torque, has a top speed of 147 mph (GPS confirmed), does 42mpg and cruises at 2,100 rpm at 80 mph. Try that in a car with 1.7 Litre Isuzu diesel. 😉
I've done 60k faultless miles in it. The problem is that people don't service these cars properly and don't replace cam belts, water pumps, and oil pumps when they should. Then they moan about how crap the engines are...which they're not.
That car sounds absurdly noisy IMO.
Yeah it was a bit of a tractor to be honest. I don't know if thats normal or not but it was a big noise diesel!
@@macswhips What surprises me is I drive a 17 year old Vectra with the 1.9CDTI 150 engine . From inside the car you simply cannot tell its a diesel- even when accelerating. The obvious choice for a replacement was the Insignia. I travelled in one as a taxi passenger and could not believe just how noisy and intrusive the Diesel was . Its like they are going backwards with their technology !!
No no no
Why not! Excellent car 😂
@@macswhips unreliable money pits which is sad as they are a nice looking car
@@TheAlien1974 I agree on the looks. It’s strange though, half the people comment have had no issues and half have horrors stories!
@@macswhipswell, mine literally burned to a crisp. Still I liked the style so I got an OPC (VXR)!
@@TheAlien1974 - Depends. My workhorse has been very reliable. Insignia CDTI remapped to 206 bhp. Never missed a beat in 5 years over 60k miles (got it at 38k miles) but has had yearly full services, twice yearly oil changes and yearly auto gearbox oil changes.
The problem is that these cars are over 10 years old. They're very cheap and the people who buy them often can't afford to maintain them properly hence they become dogs. The Insignia isn't a car you can scrimp on maintenance.
Absolutly not
Strong opinion haha
Mk4 ford mondeo is a far better car.
Can't beat a nice mk4.5 titanium x sport mondeo 😃
i have mondeo mk4 and insignia, insignia is better
Interesting. I've never driven a Mondeo to be fair so I'll have to reserve judgement.
Ford Mondeo is a bag of crap
Mondeo has more road connection while the insignia is far superior in terms of power