As i'd enquired about the new Vauxhall Insignia before its launch, the nice people at Vauxhall sent an invite to test the Insignia at a "top secret test site" aka Millbrook Proving Ground, just off the M1 north of Luton.
We arrived just in time, were escorted across to the central area where a large display of Insignia (Insignias?) were parked to one side, and escorted into the pavillion to check in and then avail ourselves of (very nice) food.
We were called in to the briefing and a couple of Vauxhall Bigwigs were there, enthusing about the Insignia. They teased us with a look at the Sport Wagon Tourer version on the podium, but sadly didnt get to look around that one - prototype and very much off limits.
We were then split off into smaller groups where Emma enthusiastically showed us around an Elite hatch in Pannacota. Goodies like adaptive headlights, flexride, 4x4 - all very interesting (not). We were then briefed on the rules when driving the cars - and we were off.
We got outside and they ran through the specs of the different cars. Silver cars were the 1.8 petrols, pale met blue 130 diesels, dark met blue 160 diesels, black cars were SRi Turbos and there were a few grey cars which were 2.8 Turbo 4x4 Elites. Sadly didnt get to drive a grey car though.
My first impressions - nice car, rear space is limited though, ingress and egress is compromised due to the aerodynamic styling. The rest of the interior is good, the dash is clear and its easy to get comfortable behind the wheel. Oh, and it has proper indicators at last. The first car I drove was the poverty spec 1.8 model - no idea what spec as it didnt have a badge! Ride and handling are good, but goodness its slow - around Millbrooks Hill Route it struggled, had to use 1st gear at one point. On the banked circuit it was nice and smooth, just a bit of wind noise - possibly from the rear windows spoiling it.
Next car we grabbed was a 160 diesel auto - much better on the performance front but it seemed to hunt through the gears on the hill route. Road noise and windnoise was better than the 1.8, but maybe the SE spec gets more insulation.
When we got back with this car, all the decent stuff (SRIs and Elites) were out, so out in one of the competitor cars that they'd laid on. Audi A4, BMW 3, Ford Mondeo, Honda Accord, VW Passat - all there for you to compare to the Insignia. Chose a Mondeo petrol for giggles as we'd never driven one before. Very small mirrors, the annoying heated windscreen but a lot more driveable than the Insignia petrol.
So, a good day, topped off by some offroading in an Antara SUV - very capable vehicle!
Would I buy an Insignia - yes, nice car, but it'd have to be an estate. Oops sorry Sport Tourer ;)
Tony
Edited by Pugugly on 27/10/2008 at 19:40
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Thanks for the write up. Sounds like a good day
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I hope they let you loose on the hill route. it's an excellent test of any car. Soon shows up any deficiencies. Just a shame about the noise strips they put in a few years ago before the first set of real corners. HJ
Yes we did get let loose on the Hill Route, and then 2 laps of the banked circuit*. Those noise strips are a nightmare, as was the low sun on the day. We couldnt work out just why those stupid strips were there, but they sure made some noise. They were insisting on a 20mph limit on the first corner just after the strips though :(
Other than the stupidly slow 1.8 engine, couldnt fault the Insignia - the Mondeo wasnt bad either, apart from the insipid quick clear screen which I loath and detest, and the stupidly small door mirrors.
*As an aside, spotted going round the banked circuit was a LHD Honda Jazz (new model) and that new Lotus that was launched at the Motor Show. And i'm sure there was some sort of SAAB going round the 4x4 course.
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apart from the insipid quick clear screen which I loath and detest and the stupidly small door mirrors.
I've finally got used to Ford's quick clear screens now, but those stupid small mirrors are also fitted to our new Focus pool cars at work. They look totally out of proportion to the rest of the car.
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"Other than the stupidly slow 1.8 engine" Makes you realise just how large and heavy the average repmobile has become. Mk2 Cavaliers were 1.3 to 2.0 litres and Mk3's were 1.4 to 2.0 litres (later turbo & V6 variants aside) and the 1.8 & 2.0 litre engines would have been considered quite quick in their day.
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But how many mpg were they expected to do, and what about emissions. Not forgetting the loss in performance and economy from the cat.
And more importantly, cars are so much heavier now due to crash structures. The old Cavaliers were so much lighter - but would I want to be in one in an accident? I would wager a current (not the new forthcoming) Fiesta is safer than a MkII Cavalier.
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Not that it proves or disproves anything but I once rolled a Mk1 Cavalier at 60 mph having been T-boned by another car whose driver failed to stop at a give way crossroads. It was not a comfortable experience but I walked away from it. The car was fixable afterwards too.
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If any of you have been watching Top Gear, Millbrook is where they've been playing with the trucks.
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![2015 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTi [163] SRi Vx-line 5dr Auto](http://images.honestjohn.co.uk/imagecache/url/crop/90x60/https/cdn.uk.prod.group-mobility-trader.com/images/cas/0871b4a809d7fdf33c17ca4661e8a672/6b04f84cbfd2794bad0d40617780688c.jpg)
