Just received a Vauxhall Insignia courtesy car whilst my Octy is in the body shop after being side swiped by a Sainsburys delivery lorry Grrrrr.

Anyhow, I thought it seemed to be a reasonable motor. SRi. 2lt CTDi or something. Less gutsy than the 2.0 TDi I'm used to and seems less economical at the moment. Road holding is amazing though. very impressed. Seats are very very good too.

Not so keen on the build quality though. Much prefer the Skoda. Also rear view is less. Not sure how that is possible compared to an Octy but it is.

Also - done 35 miles and already have 'Service car now' and 'diesel particulate filter full. See owners manual'. Very much NOT IMPRESSED by this. Will be onto lease company ASAP in the morning. Also has a disturbing rattle on gear change/acceleration - probably the DMF breaking up.

Seems all modern cars have the same issues whatever the brand.

Consider yourself lucky, my sister had her Megane convertible written

off last year, also by a Sainsburys artic on the A2. Think they use a lot of agency

drivers. She was shunted into the outside lane where another car struck her again.

He didn't even stop and it took a member of the public to chase after him

and force him to pull over. She got burnt from the airbag and my 6 month

old niece was in the car as well and was showered with glass.

Imagine the lorry drivers surprise when he found out my sister is a copper.

She was doing about 60 passing the HGV in the middle lane

and would have pulled back in if he hadn't "swerved to avoid a cat" and wiped her

out while she was alongside. Car was a total loss.

I often observe bad driving by Sainsburys lorries on my regular

run to and from Bristol. Maybe it's coincidence. Maybe their vetting

isn't up to much??

Snap... Had one when I got rear ended... The bill sent to the insurer was £1500 after a week and a bit and it lead to the claim taking 18 months to be settled as the paying insurer refused for ages on the basis huge rental cost.

Not much to say, mine was the 130bhp 1.8 petrol with the variable valve timing.. bit to built up in side for me. Like a bit more space.

(think It's why I'm lusting after a mk3 golf, lol)

Felt Strangely slow, like you say... but the speedo needle moved as quick as the vRS's did.. I figured it was just more refined then I'm used to in my cheap brand diesel.

Very nice clocks though, from what I remember.

Also rear view is less. Not sure how that is possible compared to an Octy but it is.

I have been out this year on post accident training sessions with three drivers from the same company who have all had identical collisions - rear quarter side swipes. In all cases they were aware of the vehicle behind the one they pulled out into, but not the one they hit. They were all driving Insignias! I would say that your comments about the rear vision are quite mild. I would say it is as near non-existant as makes no difference.

In general I would say that VAG vehicles tend to be much better than most in this respect.

Rob.

Edited 15 November, 201114 yr by keystonedriving

Like a bit more space. (think It's why I'm lusting after a mk3 golf, lol)

Lust after a Mk2 Golf. far more room than a Mk3 and much more precise handling. The mk3 was when the middle aged spread set in lol

Felt Strangely slow, like you say... but the speedo needle moved as quick as the vRS's did.. I figured it was just more refined then I'm used to in my cheap brand diesel.

Yes, quite rapid but you don't feel it. None of the 'oomph'. I guess its common rail injection? (and also the clogged DPF lol)

Very nice clocks though, from what I remember.

Yes, lovely clocks. Like the sweepy needle thing. Dont like the centre consol/radio/display bit. Cheap. tacky. fiddly.

Also - getting used to electronic hand brake is a bit of a learning curve!!! Took about 5 mins before I could move off at first! lol

I have been out this year on post accident training sessions with three drivers from the same company who have all had identical collisions - rear quarter side swipes. In all cases they were aware of the vehicle behind the one they pulled out into, but not the one they hit. They were all driving Insignias! I would say that your comments about the rear vision are quite mild. I would say it is as near non-existant as makes no difference.

In general I would say that VAG vehicles tend to be much better than most in this respect.

Rob.

I can quite believe that too! Rubbish. The wing/door mirrors are quite small too. £25k car? I think not.

I often observe bad driving by Sainsburys lorries on my regular

run to and from Bristol. Maybe it's coincidence. Maybe their vetting

isn't up to much??

Yes, he was from the Bristol Depot too! Usually drove artics, so he said so he didn't realise quite how far the rear of the 22 tonner swung out! Useless fekker.