Vauxhall insignia opinions please?

[Saluki]

And the insider knowledge decent estate car for 10 grand is....?

Skoda Roomster is a great car. I'd have one in a heartbeat if I could afford one. I can get the bikes in, and the terriers without too much problem. Getting the hound in too is a bit trickier but it can be done with a bit of blanketage.

 

[screenman]

Mondeo estate....... .?

Not bad, I tried one last week as my Passat is due a change but it did not have a feel of quality about it that the others seem to. Luckily seeing as I work on lots of different cars each day I get the chance to try them all.

 

[simon the viking]

Brand new Dacia Logan brand new at under 10k with the Renault 1.5 DCI (I'm biased I've got the Sandero cracking car, £6.5K Brand new)

 

[MikeW-71]

And the insider knowledge decent estate car for 10 grand is....?

If you want big, Skoda Superb. It's simply massive, limo-like rear legroom and a boot as big as a Merc E class. Octavia estate is a bit shorter and narrower.

Otherwise, Passat, Mondeo, Seat Exeo (though not quite as big as you'd think)

 

[threebikesmcginty]

The middle-class wagon of choice is a volvo estate, natch.

 

[MickeyBlueEyes]

Love my Insignia estate. Smart looking car, plenty of space, fair rate of mpg, very comfy. Yes I remember reading bad reports about them before I bought one but after taking one out as a hire car for a week I disagreed with them.

 

[raleighnut]

The middle-class wagon of choice is a volvo estate, natch.

Saabs were always more idiosyncratic than the tanks

 

[Kies]

They seem to have DMF problems at fairly low mileages if iirc

All diesels will have Diesel Particule Filter (DPF) issues if they are used on short journeys and don't get a decent motorway run. The filters get clogged up and never have a chance to do a "regen", whereby they burn the excess soot off. Folks buy a diesel without understanding they are designed for long runs, not short trips .

An easy way to trigger a regen is hold a lower gear at 60/70 mph and cruise along the motorway for 10 mins. The exhaust gets hotter than usual and if it needs a regen .... Hey presto. This is noticeable by a deeper exhaust note (sounds like a blowing exhaust,but isn't)

Edit: on BMW's .... minimum of a 1/4 tank of diesel if other parameters have been met to start a regen.

 

[screenman]

DMF= dual mass flywheel. Which Some owners have had problems with.

 

[simon the viking]

All diesels will have Diesel Particule Filter (DPF) issues if they are used on short journeys and don't get a decent motorway run. The filters get clogged up and never have a chance to do a "regen", whereby they burn the excess soot off. Folks buy a diesel without understanding they are designed for long runs, not short trips .

An easy way to trigger a regen is hold a lower gear at 60/70 mph and cruise along the motorway for 10 mins. The exhaust gets hotter than usual and if it needs a regen .... Hey presto. This is noticeable by a deeper exhaust note (sounds like a blowing exhaust,but isn't)

Edit: on BMW's .... minimum of a 1/4 tank of diesel if other parameters have been met to start a regen.

I meant dual mass fly wheels most cars have problems between 80 and 100k but read reports of insignias failing at as low as 30k

 

[fossyant]

Primera P12 estate. Nothing new as last ones are over 5 years old. Petrol. Big and reliable estates. I have a 2002 Saloon.

 

[raleighnut]

All diesels will have Diesel Particule Filter (DPF) issues if they are used on short journeys and don't get a decent motorway run. The filters get clogged up and never have a chance to do a "regen", whereby they burn the excess soot off. Folks buy a diesel without understanding they are designed for long runs, not short trips .

An easy way to trigger a regen is hold a lower gear at 60/70 mph and cruise along the motorway for 10 mins. The exhaust gets hotter than usual and if it needs a regen .... Hey presto. This is noticeable by a deeper exhaust note (sounds like a blowing exhaust,but isn't)

Edit: on BMW's .... minimum of a 1/4 tank of diesel if other parameters have been met to start a regen.

This can also be done static by a diagnostic plug in computer, it runs the engine until it detects by RPM/throttle setting when it is complete, much safer

 

[Kies]

Agreed, but not something you want to force .... Kind of indicates you bought the wrong type of car for your particular needs, and i'm sure a garage will charge you to plug a PC in and hit "start"

 

[screenman]

Primera P12 estate. Nothing new as last ones are over 5 years old. Petrol. Big and reliable estates. I have a 2002 Saloon.

Good car.

 

[raleighnut]

Agreed, but not something you want to force .... Kind of indicates you bought the wrong type of car for your particular needs, and i'm sure a garage will charge you to plug a PC in and hit "start"

Yes but at least you know its been done correctly and a static car heats up a lot quicker than a moving one.