SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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So I was looking at djgritt's Vectra VXR project thread and became curious about the tuning potential of the 2.8V6 turbo engine. So had a look at tuning options on Courtenays site and a stage 1 remap on the Insignia gives you 340 bhp 400lb/ft with impressive gains in midrage of 100bhp (3700 rpm) and 140lb/ft hike in torque.
I would think this translates into a some serious midrange wallop on the road. The Insignia VXR's have a 4x4 system as well don't they? so would hope it puts the power down fairly well.
So headed onto Pistonheads to look at prices and you can get a 2009 model with 20k miles for £15k
Do we have any owners on here or anyone drive one of these?
What are they like? reliable?
On paper looks like a serious bit of machinery for the money and I have been struggling to find alternatives to a 335i which I am planning to buy after xmas.
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Meant to be very good cars.
Will depreciate a lot though
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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Well it's lost 50% of its value in 3 years surely the biggest hit has gone?
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Have a look at the price of Vectra VXR's. It wont be as bad, but wont be as good as the BMW.
Also, stop being a mong and buy the 335
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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Just had a read of the EVO review, they rated it.
I wanted to know how it drives and it sounds a little soft but not in a bad way as it would be a daily. Handling/ride sounds good though :
The brakes have now regained their composure but still have too little bite and too much travel, and FlexRide doesn’t need its middle Sport setting. Press the more extreme VXR button and you get the usual: stiffer suspension, sharper steering and throttle, plus a little more rear bias for the 4wd. And it drives in a very 4wd-ish manner, with power distributed to where it’s needed. This, combined with the new HiPerStrut means it handles very neutrally – the nose stays high through corners and understeer is rarely an issue. The steering is perhaps a heartbeat slower than you want it to be and still has little natural feel, but it’s accurate and weighty enough.
In spite of the supple ride and new-found maturity, the Insignia has a confident chassis, one that turns in smartly and responds more swiftly and eagerly to mid-corner throttle adjustments than I expected. On these roads it’s highly accomplished. And when we get back to the UK late that night it becomes even more impressive, as if it relishes the challenge of our slap-dash surfaces. Here there’s real evidence of the huge engineering effort that’s gone in, of genuine driving enjoyment and a hint of personality.
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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quote: Originally posted by Jambo
Have a look at the price of Vectra VXR's. It wont be as bad, but wont be as good as the BMW.
Also, stop being a mong and buy the 335
I am getting old and fussy. I want to explore all avenues before I dive in.
S4 is too soft and ridiculous MPG and the RS4 is out of budget so Audi out of the equation.
Not had a Vauxhall since my Vectra GSi though!
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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As i said, its a good car.
You will wish you bought the BMW though!
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Robin
Premium Member
Registered: 7th Jan 04
Location: Northants Drives: Clio 182 Cup
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Big car, like a 5 series sort of size really!
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Fad
Member
Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
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quote: Originally posted by Jambo
As i said, its a good car.
You will wish you bought the BMW though!
Warren G seems to think they are heavy and slow.....I take this racing drivers words quite highly
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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quote: Originally posted by Jambo
As i said, its a good car.
You will wish you bought the BMW though!
Even when i've got 340/400 with AWD?
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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Guess I need to drive one, but dealers are cunts these days and test drives seem to be something from the 90's
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harrisp
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Registered: 15th Dec 07
Location: Derbyshire
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I love them, don't see many of them though.
Edit: no ones seems to ever want me to test drive cars
[Edited on 17-10-2012 by harrisp]
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
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I thought this was a Vauxhall site, come on you cunts.
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Nic Barnes
Member
Registered: 5th Apr 04
Location: nowhere near ginger people
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quote: Originally posted by SetH
I thought this was a Vauxhall site
i thought that as well.
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Gary
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Nov 06
Location: West Yorkshire
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Miserable
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SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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barstards
I think it's a serious contender anyway and is on my shortlist probably to jambos disgust.
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smcGSI16V
Member
Registered: 26th May 03
Location: Farnborough Drives: Thurlby 888 CDTi No.98
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Brand snobbery.
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Deffo.
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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Understeers too much.
[/clarkson bollocks]
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Ben G
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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P.s the 335i is a lovely car. Are you going for saloon or coupe?
I envy my neighbours 325i convert
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Toby
Premium Member
Registered: 29th Nov 05
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heard the brakes have problems and some people had to fork out in excess of 2k to cure the problem (via a main dealer)
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SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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Really, not good, they have 4 pot brembo's i think?
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SetH
Member
Registered: 15th Jul 01
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Ben will be a coupe. Have been out in my friends a lot and he always parks next to my E46 at the gym. So when I come out after my workout and see it sitting there im like WANT.
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corsadonk
Premium Member
Registered: 4th Jul 09
Location: Marlborough, Wiltshire
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Get one if you can, you don't see many on the road, which is cool imo.
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Ojc
Member
Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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Not sure how 5.4 to 60 probably high 4s with stage 1 remap and a 0-100 time to shame many and 170mph+ how its classed as slow I'm not sure.
I want one, next year or year after.
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