A clutch on this car is £200 , flywheel £220 ? Fit yourself as an easy job ! Never ne a car dealer unless you are a mechanic or finished before you start..... Taking a car to a garage omg no ...
Matt. No need to replace that headlight for misting. Easily solved by removing it, drying it out with a hairdryer nozzle through the back panel and reseal around the edge where the acrylic glass meets the black plastic with silicone sealant. Takes about 40 minutes and costs around a fiver. Job done. I know you're not saving this one but it's an easy and inexpensive fix for the common fault of misting headlights on any car.
@@edwardmullan2724 I guess if you're a busy CEO or a brain surgeon, but if you're a second hand car dealer looking to minimize costs... He already changes reg plates, touches up scratches and fixes up the simple stuff anyway.
Actually, not for you Matt, but for a private owner this would not be a bad buy. No body rot, repairs of say even £2000, you've got for £2,800 a car that could easily then last for another 5-6 years. My predecessor Omega is 23 yrs old and still in superb condition. Benefit of one careful owner since new.
Add my Volvo 2.0SE to that!! 24yrs old from new. I know it and it knows me. Never ever been Roadsided with Her, been all over Europe and Scandanavia. I have a Brilliant Mechanic who Services it and likes it like i do. I'm with you. Cost of Ownership virtually zero. I reserve about £400pr year for Maintenance, nearly always less. Runs Fabulously, Smooth Quiet, Typical Volvo! Built like a Brick.....Fabulous Cars. The Swedish Volvo is the safest car on the road. Biggest Issue is a falling availabilty of Parts. EBay bailed me out for a Special Hose last year. It was only £50 but Crucial for a Repair.The Volvo Dealers are Brilliant they will advise you the exact Volvo Part Number etc..About 12yrs ago the ABS Pump Failed the Bosch pump was £2,500! I got told to put it on EBAY and say about the ABS light you might get a hundred quid!!! YEH Right!!! Found the exact one in Poland on EBay for £90. did the job myself needed a mate to pump the pump as well as the brake circuit! Took it back round to the dodgy dealer to show the prat/robber! Passed every MOT since first time and that was 12yrs ago! EBay is a Real Winner!
@@skimmingstoness Is the market flooded with ones with a new clutch? The point is the subsequent 5-6years use for the cost of doing a clutch & flywheel.
I buy cars exactly like that and bring them to Poland and register them repair and knock years out of them, it's a real shame the throw away mentality of the UK I seen a couple of days ago a vauxhall zafira with over 800k km pulling a trailer with two massive round bales of hay not a problem 😂
Totally underrated cars. I have a 2011 insignia sport tourer auto which I bought in 2012, with 12,000 miles. The car now sits at 95,000 miles, is very reliable and still looks great. the interior has also aged very well. The sports seats are also very comfortable, regular servicing is key and there are known faults that can ruin them if not addressed. Great video and shows how vehicles can be considered unsellable due to repair costs. Keep them coming Matt.
That Volvo is far cooler and has more presence than any Range Rover in my eyes Matt, not surprised to hear about the Vauxhall's issues, absolute piece of junk
I trucking love that Volvo. Mind you, I love my own, too. But they're a beast. The only thing they don't do well is being a sports car. It ticks the box for everything else.
@@jayturner3397 The Dutch royals drove Volvo S80's for a long time, now they use German Audi's A8... There are a lot of old Volvo's in the Netherlands left, Volvo is popular here. They made a V70R with 300PK, they should have put the V8 in. The suspension and steering is not sporty at all.
I like the Insignia. The headlight is a common issue. Some Insignias do actually feel like a premium car at such a low price. Just a shame the previous owner didn’t spend an extra few quid on this one
Agreed. Couple of other things. On the vid Matt mentioned the paintwork is a bit flat and needs polishing up. Not quite. The colour on that car isn't a straight solid black, it's called "Carbon Flash" and is a metallic finish. It's quite subtle, and when washed/clean it speckles in the sunlight, it kind of mimics the carbon/lead in a pencil, and when dirty like that one just open the doors and you'll see the original speckly paint on the internal surfaces of door pillars. The service intervals are 20k miles due to the type of oil so that's why the first service was at 19k miles. The engine noise didn't sound good at all on the test drive and apparently due to a worn DMF (Dual Mass Flywheel) which as Matt said is intertwined with the clutch and replacement of the DMF and clutch together is very costly as Matt said. If trying another Insignia and there's a slight judder on acceleration it can also be the Solenoid Turbo Boost Control Valve / Wastegate Actuator valve which can also cause an odd judder sensation on acceleration but it's a cheap item as a part and cheap to fit/replace incl labour. I know cos I got mine done and it cured it back to being smooth again. Mine also had the cam belt and water pump replaced at 98k miles (scheduled at 100k), currently at 157k miles, a year younger than the one on this vid, complete with parking sensors, sat nav, better alloys, and I always have Continental ContiSeal, with Winter version on the fronts (pricey but good tyres). Over the years I've driven various company cars incl VW Passat, Audi A4, Ford Mondeo, but the Insignia is the most comfortable I've ever driven, a motorway mile muncher, I used to have to stop with the Mondeo on long journeys but with the Insignia can drive 300 miles without any stops and fresh as a daisy at the other end, really comfortable and effortless on the motorway and the 'full fat' 2.0 diesel 163bhp engine helps, it gets treated like a baby, recently replaced susp springs, bushes and drop links, kept well serviced, very smooth, and I still get 60mpg, at 1800 revs in 6th gear it cruises at about 67mph with just feather touch on the accelerator and on long journeys have even had 65mpg and well over 800 miles from one tank, best I've had was 860 miles, didn't chance it to go for the 900 but it still didn't take a full tank on refill, though I've found usually higher mpg in warmer months of the year and less in colder months, not sure why but that's how it goes.
@Jon 199102 Exact same as my dad's car. Diesel. 110k mileage I believe. Very reliable and drives really well. Really comfortable as a passenger too. Great for motorway journeys and around the city.
I’ve got a 2013 2.0 cdti elite which has just clocked 185k miles and runs like an absolute dream, just did a 400 mile round trip in amazing comfort whilst doing 70 mpg and carrying 4/5 suitcases. Amazing car I’ve had it a year and a half now done nearly 20k miles in it and all I’ve had to do is change the rear brakes and service it, cannot fault it in the slightest!
My family bought a 2011 Opel Insignia 2.0 CDTI diesel for 4300 euros in May of 2020, after 3 years of use ,i have to say this has been of the best cars we've ever had in our family.
I had 3 of them as company cars. You’d do well to find a better, more comfortable mile muncher. I loved mine - and never had any issues with any of them - each going back with 85k+ on the clock.
Fantastic motorway cruisers 100%. I had two of them, a 2014 and a 2016 the 2014 had 135,000 miles when I sold it and the 2016 had 110,000 miles. No issues with either of them, they were 2.0 diesel, an sri 140 bhp 2014 and an elite 170 BhP 2016. Great on diesel too
@@Edvard.Munchkin I especiall love the interior design of the facelift model. I have a 2016 1.6 SIDI and I´m honestly in Love with it. I bought it in 2016 when it only had 3000 Miles on the clock and now I am at only 40.000 Miles. I´m also quite surprised how much they are still worth with low mileage and good specced.
In the United States we got a version of this model sold as the Buick Regal. They came came with either a normally aspirated 187 hp 2.4L 4cyl or a 259 hp 2.0L turbo with either a 6 spd automatic or manual. They were steady but hardly spectacular sellers and developed a pretty good reputation for reliability and durability. Looking at any of the online sites that sell vehicles show several for sale with well.over 200k miles.
Tbh 200K miles ain't all that much, naturally depending on the typical trip length. I got an (Mk.IV) Astra 2.0Di diesel @675K miles. Even the original clutch lasted 606K. (Solid flywheel on those mind You)
@@teppouotinen9136 The Regal is newer and was never available as a diesel in the United States. TBH how many vehicles, including Astra diesels, are still on the road with 200k plus miles. I am sure if the the owner was willing to make the necessary repairs the Insignia/Regal could be kept on the road indefinitely also.
@@williamegler8771 body corrosion and electronic gremlins are the main reasons well maintained high mileage GM cars end up in the scrap yard, I believe. Some DMF's (read ones not made by the lowest bidders) can last pretty well - My 9-series Volvo has the original one @404K miles. Some chap even did 248K with a basic 996 Porsche, before the original DMF gave up - Pro'lly having had the berries way more than an average grocery getter :)
I have had a 62 plate of those. Loved driving it, every second of it. Sold it and got a Passat Estate 16 plate, and really can't get along with the car. I wish I hadn't sold the Insignia. I love your videos btw. Very informative and I really enjoy the "normal person" way you review the cars. Thank you
I had an insignia as a taxi and when the clutch went I had the dual fly wheel and clutch removed and a traditional clutch installed instead half the price and twice the reliability an longevity any mechanic worth his salt would have told you you could get rid of the dual mass system entirely. Insignia is a great workhorse and family car. As it competes with more "fashionable" brands it's base spec is pretty good. You get an awful lot of car for your money.
Single mass conversions are almost always cheap at the expense of incredible engine vibration. If YOU are willing to live with that, fine, but for someone selling a car, you'll just get the customer back asking why it's shaking them to death. Any mechanic worth their salt would tell you that
Be just the job for a young mechanic who could do some of work themselves and end up with a good reliable car for their family at minimal cost. If utility value is considered instead of its ability to make thousands in profit for a trader, it's actually a good buy for the right person.
Never realised an Insignia has so much to offer... plenty of leg room in the back, some really nice cupholders and you found the icing on the cake a "knob" that fits nicely in your hand..... well done 😜🤭🥳🤩
Know immediately it was very likely flywheel as I've had a couple of those go. Usually, the clutch is fine. However, your mechanic would have recommended that be changed too, because while changing the flywheel, it makes sense to change the clutch too whilst down there and having removed everything.
Bought one, 2011hatchback version 3 years ago, off a friend as a school run/ workhorse for tools etc. The boot is massive & when u put the seats down it's cavernous. I've gotten wheelbarrows & such in no problem. It's 160 bhp, perfect for the motorway & main roads. Pretty economical to boot. I keep looking for something else as we all do but it just suits my life perfectly. Can't move on from it for the money paid which was very little. Tip for you Matt. If you pop off the cover at the back of the light the heat from the engine will dehumidify your light casing so you don't need to buy a whole new headlamp.
I enjoy watching this videos… easy to watch and well presented. Coming from a generation of when it was worth fixing cars I still find it hard to come to terms with how modern cars aren’t cost effective to repair (depending on the issue)
Depends, this guy needs to make a profit or it's worth it for him. A competent DIY person could pic up a cheap car like this and fix the problems themselves and use it for several years
Shame it’s not a newer estate or I might have been inclined to have a punt on it. I know many people don’t like Vauxhalls but I’ve had a few and they’re not bad cars.
I do like the insignia, The clutch cost seems extremely high and I reckon your mate could do well with fitting a 300 quid clutch plus any sensors, Still plenty in it really for him, One slight issue on this engine is the position of the thermostat housing, Vauxhall in their wisdom put it at the back of the engine so it's an engine out job to change which is incredible really
Hello Again, Matt, you wondered if it had a 'cam belt', at 88,587miles the service book had 'toothed belt' with a tick, GM tend to call a 'cam belt' a 'toothed belt' !!. Regards, RichardA.
They do fail but they are necessary to smooth out the pulses on diesel engines which are much bigger than petrol ones produce by virtue of the long stroke and high compression. The dual mass flywheel is what has allowed diesel to dominate the big luxury car sector, without them they are like a tractor.
@@ryanrichardson9044 Unless you're spending time on the racetrack, single mass conversions are incredibly uncomfortable to daily drive with. There is a reason DMF's were invented for all of the problems that come with them
I’ve got an Insignia Tourer elite. It’s by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Comfortable and economical. Only fault that’s really common is the oil seal in the engine that starves it of oil and killing it. I will ad there is currently a recall on all insignias made from 2008-2013 for the rear toe links. The abs is probably just a sensor on the front wheel
That wasn't because there was anything wrong with it. It was a reaction to the demise of the Aussie designed and built RWD, V8 Commodore in 2017. I bought one last year - a 2018 ZB V6 AWD RS-V (used obviously). It's a great car to drive, has loads of space (hatchback), nice perforated leather interior, decent equipment level, sounds and goes better than the previous Aussie Commodore V6 (it's quite quick) and has been completely reliable thus far. Was sold new with 7 years warranty and capped price servicing, which runs to mid-2025. Underrated and uncommon on the roads, which is part of the appeal.
Not bad. I've got the sri 2.0 cdti it's a tank. People don't look after their cars. I've lowered mine and replaced the oil pick-up seal from plastic to aluminium, so it will never be an issue. Easy to work on. And loads of parts due to lack of care from owners.
‘Big old car without parking sensors’…. Is this why people don’t know how to park using mirrors and spacial awareness? Great video though Matt, love the channel 👍👍
I had exactly the same symptoms on my 2013 Ford Focus TDCI back in April. Lots of vibration and no diagnostics. My Focus had done 185k and so the Dual Mass Flywheel was well past its use by date! Since I have had the car since new, It is well serviced and still returns 65mpg, I took the decision to put a new DMF in it for £1,100 and it is driving like new again!
On an older car what’s wrong with keep fit windows in the back at least? Less to go wrong, keeps your costs down. KISS as you often say Matt . Interesting video as usual.
There’s nothing “wrong” with it but electric windows all round is a cheap upgrade and gives the car a more premium feel. Makes it a doddle to open the rear window a bit when you have the front one down to prevent buffeting.
@Adam McAllister or just use the cars climate control and enjoy filtered, conditioned, dehumidified air at the temperature of your choice. No buffeting that way, and the air will be cleaner. Most only ever need to open the window if they are waiting for a long period and don't want to keep the engine running.
I remember your video on the Green Insignia you had, as an Insignia owner they're very much a white good.... Nothing to write home about but does exactly as needed everyday and swallows push chairs wheelchairs and everything! There's a reason it was a favourite with Police and taxi fleets
yeah, but they are built like crap and ironically thats not Opel's fault. Especially in the UK where they bought by idiots who run them into the ground 😂. if you actually take car of your Insignia then its pretty solid.
@@HandsUpforThePanther mine is a 2014 and I've owned it for nearly 5 years putting around 37000 miles through it. Never failed an MOT, never broke down or had faults... Only had to do pads and routine servicing. Certainly no silky smooth 3 or 5 series but a dependable family servant so far
Never been a fan of modern Vauxhalls. I've driven a 2019 Corsa and been in multiple Corsa Ds and can say they are terrible. Nothing like the old Novas!
@@j11films-98 had 70k on clock. Was a 2.0l diesel and really moved well. Just got a 2.0 Zafira recently on 18 plate and again runs well as same engine.
I think sometimes it's why people trade them in, they get the quotes for the problems it's got and think twice about doing it, so just trade it in. Good videos as always.
Hi Matt , what a shame :( £800 was worth a gamble I suppose , but yep , you can’t win ‘em all! Pity , cos it’s a huge chunk of car for the money . Especially with a boot big enough to hide Shergar in 😂 Superb vid , as always. Thank you 😊 👍
@@steveruddy6353 what? All the draws are live videos on this channel. They’re all there for you to go back at watch. Go and do that and then you can come back here and apologise 😂
I have a 2013 Insignia 2.0 Diesel with just over 238,000 mile on it still going strong .when I bought it had about 13,000 on the clock. February 2024 nearly clocked up 255,000 miles
Good insight Matt, the dreaded dual mass flywheel . Most diesel manual cars have them now to absorb the intrinsic vibrations and torque of oil burners. Better with an auto box. Just goes to show how undesirable an Insignia is massive deprecation, shame really, good motorway cruiser.
D.M.F failures for the Insignias are quite common. Nasty orange glare from the instrument brinicle filling the windscreen at night, does have good points too as stated below.
The DMF isn’t a matter of running into the ground, just bad luck I think. I had one go on a Vectra, otherwise fully serviced for 8 years, and main dealer quoted £2600 😳. Local garage quoted around £1500 and I was going to have it done, as although the car was only worth £2000 it was worth more than that to me as a newer car would set me back a lot more and I knew the whole history of this one. A week later I was rear-ended on the M40 and the Vectra was written off. So I’m glad I didn’t move too quickly on that 😅
A lesson i've learned from the Shgun Sport i owned(2003-2012)-when ABS is onn,look at right/left break lights.If both!! don't work,change the bulbs.This may switch off the ABS light in the dash.Only if it does not,'dig deeper'
I owned a 2011 2.0CDTI 160PS SRI Red edition for five years. It must have been a demo car originally as it was fully loaded, literally every option you could spec, full leather, nav, sensors back and front, heated and cooled seats (only car I’ve ever owned with cooled seats). I put a 100K on it and aside from the usual servicing and split pipe from the inter cooler to the turbo (which I bought for £30 on eBay and changed myself) nothing went wrong with it. Only issue was the 20 inch wheels which looked the business but were way too easy to kerb. It drove well, pulled like a train, and carried every bit of luggage I threw at it. I still miss it now.
I've got a remapped 2.0 CDTI SRI Nav as my workhorse. Not quite as well specced as your old car but it has just over 200 bhp. It's decently quick. Does 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds (Dragy) and I've also done 146 mph in it (153 mph indicated). Really good torque (319 lb ft) too so great for overtaking. Excellent on a UK Motorway. 2,100 rpm at an indicated 80 mph so pretty refined. It's a lot of car for what it costs now (circa £4.000). I've driven much faster cars but objectively, you don't need much quicker for UK roads. I could get into trouble with this car because it's deceptively fast.
@@Jimbo8012 Nice, I remember toying with the idea of remapping mine at the time, but in the end I decided not to, as you say, way too easy to get pulled nowadays and it was plenty quick enough for me as standard anyway. I believe they made a biturbo version of this engine as well. I've always wondered what that went like but I've never met anyone who owned one. Still got a soft spot for the MK1 insignia though. I'm keeping an eye on the prices of the VXR. Now that would be an awesome toy.
Well done Matt for flying the flag for the insignia. I had an SRI diesel and it did have a few niggling faults but across country it really held the road. Probably quicker than the F30 run flat equipped three series I've got now. Get a good one and you've got a lot of car for your money. A good looking thing too. Still looks fresh at nearly 15 years old.
The last of the pre-facelifts. This looks like an optioned-up Exclusiv (Vauxhall's spelling, not mine), going by the alloys and fogs but still has rear winders. Metallic black looks nice on these. New mats would make this interior like new.
@@owrang9756 - It's not an SRI. Doesn't have the piano black trim inserts, the sport seats, the aluminium pedals, electric rear windows and doesn't seem to have the sports suspension as it seems to be riding slightly higher. Definitely an Exclusiv that's been optioned up with front fog lights, sports leather steering wheel and SRI alloys.
I had one as a company car, two dual mass flywheels failed by 40k miles. Was a good motorway cruiser though. Since discovering the volvo v70 I'm never going back.
I bought a year old SRi from a Vauxhall dealer for the manager in my business. Had 10K on the clock, and 4 years of the 5 year warranty they were offering at the time. The engine was agricultural compared to its competition, but it was crazy cheap (cheaper than a base Focus of same age) and absolutely loaded. The cabin was very well built and surprisingly classy. The guy loved it, did 80K miles over 3 years and the only thing done other than servicing was a new battery. I would NOT even countenance one at 120K miles at any money. Replaced it with another bad rep car - Mazda 6, which he loved even more and was just as reliable and trouble free.
Easy to repair that headlamp for next to no cost, I did both on our 2011 Insignia 3 years ago and both are still fine. Drill a small hole in the underside, evaporate all moisture on a radiator for a few days, clean all joints thoroughly and seal with silicone roof and gutter sealant (don't use the standard stuff)
I had a 2012 Insignia, reviewed it on my channel at the time. I loved everything apart from the fact I had the sri and the suspension was too hard for my liking. I prefer the styling of them to it's replacement.
My friend had an insignia 2012. It developed engine issues and his mechanic thought it was the injectors but couldn't be certain that would fix it. He ended up scrapping it unfortunately just wasn't worth the money to fix it. I've had 2 vauxhauls in the past. Never again. Really not a fan of the quality. Great video as always matt.
Tbf to the owner the clutch wouldn't have been prevented by a service anyway. So in the end it would have still ended the same way. I'm in a similar boat, how long do you keep throwing money at a car until one day, even with all maintenance, it's still worth less than the job costs to do.
I love my insignia but I do throw money at it, the difference between me and most people is I look at is as it’s still cheaper per year than a 7k car on finance that is £200, it’s all how you look at it obviously is not viable for you as a dealer to do that but most people buy a newer car to “save” money which realistically just cost them more,
Hi Matt, could you please do an episode on cars in general and then specifically why some have come to be classics, while others haven't. Like why the W124 is a classic and the later models aren't. Just like the E38 and E39 from BMW. The Volvo 850, too. And, what current cars would you think would become classics and why?
You might expect each generation from a given manufacturer to get better but then either the accountants get involved or they decide they need e.g. plastic engine components to show improved mpg. The classics will be the best they can do before they change significantly for the worse. I like both the W124 and E39.
😢I had 2009 cdti 130bhp most important thing to do on this and 160bhp engine is oil seal rubber if not done it's goodbye engine 😢 clutch on other hand is different story it's moving flywheel so unfortunately they do go but solid flywheel is better option in my opinion other thing then is gearbox that go in 130 bhp syro start to whine as I remember 160bhp had diff gearbox so they be ok but with remap 210 bhp and dpf remove is quite quick car then.
Trouble with the clutch and dual mass flywheel, they tend to go at an age and mileage that owners may be thinking of getting rid anyway. It probably wasn't worth them getting it fixed as they wouldn't have seen that money back in the trade in.
I've got a 2010 insignia SRi estate. It's an automatic and I have had it since 2013. I've done almost 100,000 miles in it. It had 35,000 on the clock when I got it. I had the cambelt/water pump done for £300 about 2 years ago. Apart from that all I've replaced is bushes, trackrod ends and usual oil/filters/brake pads/tyres etc. Been a great car, drove 600 miles in it last week without an issue. Lot of car for the money.
Had the estate version of this for a little while. Had to get rid as it was just tiny - opposite of a tardis. The boot was embarrassing. Replaced with a Passat. On the positive side it was an sri 163bhp and went really well - superb brakes if I remember correctly and also handled well around the corners. Unfortunately the seats gave me back ache which was the final nail in the coffin before getting rid.
Insignia estate....tiny? Are you thinking of the same car? Or do you normally drive a van? The Insignia estate is not a car I'd say has a 'tiny' boot, my hatchback has an enormous boot, can get 4 decent size suitcases in it when we go on holiday, which is one of the many reasons I bought one, which is now my 3rd.
@@paulturner2911 - Yeah, you're right. There's one thing you cannot say about the Insignia is that the boot is "embarrassing". It's fucking enormous even on the hatchback. The hatchback has a 530 litre boot and nearly 1,500 litres with the seats folded down. The estate is even more practical. It's a very practical car by any objective standard. The main criticism would be rear headroom due to the slopping roofline. If you're over 6ft and sitting in the back, you'll likely have to slouch a bit but there's a good amount of legroom so it isn't a huge problem.
Nope. The estate insignia has a tiny boot, most of it taken up by thick walls and an oddly thick boot lid. Weirdly I'm told the hatchback version actually had a bigger boot. The Passat estate I replaced it with was far more practical, but I will say definitely not as fun to drive!
I picked up a 2014 cdti elite tourer a couple of weeks ago and i love it.. it is a highish miler but well serviced and drives lovely... lot of car for the money !!!
Good cars at this price point. A dual mass & abs sensor are almost consumable items at this age and mileage! I’d be more concerned about the missing wheel nuts than the dual mass failing😬
I bought a 2011 petrol Insignia as a cat N write off as a short term car until my new car turned up, It needed a front wing and the driver door had some damage. I purchased replacement parts (in colour) and fitted them in a couple of days after which the car was perfect. It later sold very quickly to a couple who were delighted with it despite the cat N status. I would certainly have another (petrol) as in my opinion they go well and are comfortable transport
My dad has a 2014 insignia , they do look nice for a Vauxhall. The 1.8 petrol it has would not pull you out of bed and one of the bearings in the gearbox is on the way out but its not a bad place to sit on the motorway. Still rather be in my 3 series tho.
Apart from thermostats being made of something that Jacob’s Cream Crackers would laugh at, those 1.8 petrols are pretty bulletproof and can crack 50mpg on a run if it’s driven carefully enough.
I like the insignia because they give you the experience of trying to reverse with virtually no rear visibility without have to spend a fortune buying a Capri.
I bought one of these brand new in 2011, I really liked it, it was excellent long distance from Germany to UK and back, used to do 70 to a gallon whilst keeping up with Autobahn traffic, I got an awesome deal on it brand new for £12k. That was 50% book price.
I rented an insignia in around 2013 whilst on vacation in the UK. It was a nice car. But a little large for some of the narrow roads in Devon and Cornwall, on more than 1 road the mirrors were touching the hedges on both sides of the car.
I’ve been down roads in my Mazda 6 that would be a squeeze on a motorbike. There comes a point when you’re on the south coast that you’ve just got to accept bush damage!
I bought one of these over a year ago now for £800 with the sat nav 2.0 cdti the only thing I've had to do is put fuel in it. Very good budget car loads of room in boot loads of room for the children and comfortable to drive long distance also I'm getting 55mpg+ on a long run. Mine didn't come with any service history, but I'm planning on doing the cambelt very soon. Probably the summer, so I don't get wet doing it.
I think you do very well while using external labour to fix your cars. Clearly you are making a profit but so is the mechanic so your cars are keeping two people gainfully employed !
I got stung the same way! My Volvo V50 needed a new clutch and flywheel, cost me the same as the car did! But I had it done and have continued spending, hey ho I still love driving it 4 years on (not my only car so not reliant on it), the gears worked fine on it even though it needed a new clutch
Well the reg started with MJ and I think he said Michael Jackson as he was entering the reg into his phone..... I'm going to guess Michael Jackson! 😂😂😂 2+2=7 I think! 🤣🤣🤣
A run of the mill Insignia like this looks really nice in black! It's aged well🙂 Great cars for not a lot of money, reminds me of the role that the MK3 Cavalier played once it was a used car, they made great cheap cars for a long time. We can just pretend that the Vectra never happened
They are not the best cars mechanically, but another reason why there are so many on scrap yards is because there were so many build in the first years of production. The car sold very well.
Where they belong. Never liked Vauxhalls...I have driven the Astra and Vectra on loan. The brand new Astra was full of water after being parked overnight, but it was quite a nice vehicle. The Vectra wasn't nice to drive, very poor visibility for one thing.
Main problem with these diesel insignias is the oil pickup seal perishes over time, starving the top of the engine of oil and ruining main bearings, engine seized. 😢
Love your honesty Matt... laughed to myself with your comment about the gear knob... know exactly what you mean I'm like you... you're not alone 👍🏾 looking forward to your next upload 😊
''SUSPICIOUSLY CHEAP'' So why didnt you do a history check before you bought it ? ''Its crucial you do a history check before you buy any car or bike'' yet you never appear to take your own advice.
Further to your standing comments earlier about environmental cost - imagine the cost of this thing overall in terms of loss, etc. all for the want of maintenance items. I wasn't aware of any baseline level of derision for those things, I always looked at them as a bit of an outsider and rather liked them.
As soon as you started that car I said to myself "dual mass flywheel is knackered". A days labour to replace it?? No chance. That job can be done in 5 - 6 hours.
Had the facelift model of this in the Elite Nav and I absolutely loved it. So much space in the back and it drove quiet nice too. Only dislike was the engine, sounded like a van. I couldn’t part ways with it so my partner now drives it ha
The "mooing" noise on blipping the rev is the Boost Solenoid thats sat on the front panel near passenger headlight
I love the videos about cheap cars! Please don’t stop making them!
Same
A clutch on this car is £200 , flywheel £220 ? Fit yourself as an easy job ! Never ne a car dealer unless you are a mechanic or finished before you start..... Taking a car to a garage omg no ...
Yeh we luv our cheap cars cos it reminds us of when we bought our first motor and got some liberty 😂
@@bilbobaggins4366 Yep
I have a 2016 insignia yes the boot is huge but I find the opening quite narrow,and very low top
Matt.
No need to replace that headlight for misting. Easily solved by removing it, drying it out with a hairdryer nozzle through the back panel and reseal around the edge where the acrylic glass meets the black plastic with silicone sealant. Takes about 40 minutes and costs around a fiver.
Job done.
I know you're not saving this one but it's an easy and inexpensive fix for the common fault of misting headlights on any car.
Better still, remove the car from the headlight, change the car, put a new headlight back in - it would be cheaper than salvaging the car.
Depends on what value you put on your time.
@@edwardmullan2724 I guess if you're a busy CEO or a brain surgeon, but if you're a second hand car dealer looking to minimize costs...
He already changes reg plates, touches up scratches and fixes up the simple stuff anyway.
@@Oceans_Sail😂😅😊
That's not the idea with these videos?
Actually, not for you Matt, but for a private owner this would not be a bad buy. No body rot, repairs of say even £2000, you've got for £2,800 a car that could easily then last for another 5-6 years. My predecessor Omega is 23 yrs old and still in superb condition. Benefit of one careful owner since new.
Add my Volvo 2.0SE to that!! 24yrs old from new. I know it and it knows me. Never ever been Roadsided with Her, been all over Europe and Scandanavia. I have a Brilliant Mechanic who Services it and likes it like i do. I'm with you. Cost of Ownership virtually zero. I reserve about £400pr year for Maintenance, nearly always less. Runs Fabulously, Smooth Quiet, Typical Volvo! Built like a Brick.....Fabulous Cars. The Swedish Volvo is the safest car on the road. Biggest Issue is a falling availabilty of Parts. EBay bailed me out for a Special Hose last year. It was only £50 but Crucial for a Repair.The Volvo Dealers are Brilliant they will advise you the exact Volvo Part Number etc..About 12yrs ago the ABS Pump Failed the Bosch pump was £2,500! I got told to put it on EBAY and say about the ABS light you might get a hundred quid!!! YEH Right!!! Found the exact one in Poland on EBay for £90. did the job myself needed a mate to pump the pump as well as the brake circuit! Took it back round to the dodgy dealer to show the prat/robber! Passed every MOT since first time and that was 12yrs ago! EBay is a Real Winner!
The labour is the killer and the market is flooded with them unless you can do the work yourself it's not worth doing.
@@skimmingstoness Is the market flooded with ones with a new clutch? The point is the subsequent 5-6years use for the cost of doing a clutch & flywheel.
I buy cars exactly like that and bring them to Poland and register them repair and knock years out of them, it's a real shame the throw away mentality of the UK I seen a couple of days ago a vauxhall zafira with over 800k km pulling a trailer with two massive round bales of hay not a problem 😂
Still rocking my 30 year old Vauxhall Cavalier Colorado. Still going strong and do all my own repairs.
Totally underrated cars. I have a 2011 insignia sport tourer auto which I bought in 2012, with 12,000 miles.
The car now sits at 95,000 miles, is very reliable and still looks great. the interior has also aged very well. The sports seats are also very comfortable, regular servicing is key and there are known faults that can ruin them if not addressed.
Great video and shows how vehicles can be considered unsellable due to repair costs.
Keep them coming Matt.
The old Volvo suits you well, they always do these XC/V70's. An car suitable for every situation and understated. The insignia is gone though.
Never look out of place, supermarket car park or Royal ascot 😅
That Volvo is far cooler and has more presence than any Range Rover in my eyes Matt, not surprised to hear about the Vauxhall's issues, absolute piece of junk
I trucking love that Volvo. Mind you, I love my own, too. But they're a beast. The only thing they don't do well is being a sports car. It ticks the box for everything else.
@@jayturner3397 The Dutch royals drove Volvo S80's for a long time, now they use German Audi's A8...
There are a lot of old Volvo's in the Netherlands left, Volvo is popular here. They made a V70R with 300PK, they should have put the V8 in. The suspension and steering is not sporty at all.
@RoderikvanReekum good motor, am looking at one for my next, and probably last car..
I had a new 2012 SRI 160bhp as a company car and loved it- brilliant car, very reliable, safe and a rocket to go. Was so planted on the road.
My Dad had two of these as Estates. They were his pride and joy, he even installed Vauxhall Logo Puddle Lights in the doors.
The old Omega was better my dad had a 3 litre MV6 ex cop car with manual transmission 150mph on the motorway crazy it was and so comfy
I like the Insignia. The headlight is a common issue. Some Insignias do actually feel like a premium car at such a low price. Just a shame the previous owner didn’t spend an extra few quid on this one
What extra few quid should they have spent exactly? The clutch is knackered. Shit happens
Agreed. Couple of other things. On the vid Matt mentioned the paintwork is a bit flat and needs polishing up. Not quite. The colour on that car isn't a straight solid black, it's called "Carbon Flash" and is a metallic finish. It's quite subtle, and when washed/clean it speckles in the sunlight, it kind of mimics the carbon/lead in a pencil, and when dirty like that one just open the doors and you'll see the original speckly paint on the internal surfaces of door pillars. The service intervals are 20k miles due to the type of oil so that's why the first service was at 19k miles. The engine noise didn't sound good at all on the test drive and apparently due to a worn DMF (Dual Mass Flywheel) which as Matt said is intertwined with the clutch and replacement of the DMF and clutch together is very costly as Matt said. If trying another Insignia and there's a slight judder on acceleration it can also be the Solenoid Turbo Boost Control Valve / Wastegate Actuator valve which can also cause an odd judder sensation on acceleration but it's a cheap item as a part and cheap to fit/replace incl labour. I know cos I got mine done and it cured it back to being smooth again. Mine also had the cam belt and water pump replaced at 98k miles (scheduled at 100k), currently at 157k miles, a year younger than the one on this vid, complete with parking sensors, sat nav, better alloys, and I always have Continental ContiSeal, with Winter version on the fronts (pricey but good tyres). Over the years I've driven various company cars incl VW Passat, Audi A4, Ford Mondeo, but the Insignia is the most comfortable I've ever driven, a motorway mile muncher, I used to have to stop with the Mondeo on long journeys but with the Insignia can drive 300 miles without any stops and fresh as a daisy at the other end, really comfortable and effortless on the motorway and the 'full fat' 2.0 diesel 163bhp engine helps, it gets treated like a baby, recently replaced susp springs, bushes and drop links, kept well serviced, very smooth, and I still get 60mpg, at 1800 revs in 6th gear it cruises at about 67mph with just feather touch on the accelerator and on long journeys have even had 65mpg and well over 800 miles from one tank, best I've had was 860 miles, didn't chance it to go for the 900 but it still didn't take a full tank on refill, though I've found usually higher mpg in warmer months of the year and less in colder months, not sure why but that's how it goes.
Ran a insignia from 2017 til 2023. Did 130k in it without anything major going wrong. So much in fact I'm now in a insignia B. Brilliant motors.
To be fair, 6 years isn't that long of a time.
@@boulevard14 was doing crazy milage in it and when I got it was 3 years old. Had a Passat prior to it which fell apart in half the time.
@@hal752 Facelift 1st gen insignia?
@@boulevard14 yeah was a 64 plate elite. Never had a single issue bar a sway bar
@Jon 199102 Exact same as my dad's car. Diesel. 110k mileage I believe. Very reliable and drives really well. Really comfortable as a passenger too. Great for motorway journeys and around the city.
Quite love this era of Insignas (and Astras); theyre pretty decent and have a neat, timeless design that has aged very well.
Were you drunk when you wrote that??? They’re utter junk and hideous trash
Astra j opc is one of the most beatifull cars made by opel / vauxhall
I totally agree with you, sir 😃
Not in my experience there cheap and cheerful but not built to last
Its a bit early for drinking
I’ve got a 2013 2.0 cdti elite which has just clocked 185k miles and runs like an absolute dream, just did a 400 mile round trip in amazing comfort whilst doing 70 mpg and carrying 4/5 suitcases. Amazing car I’ve had it a year and a half now done nearly 20k miles in it and all I’ve had to do is change the rear brakes and service it, cannot fault it in the slightest!
Not ulez compliant shame
My family bought a 2011 Opel Insignia 2.0 CDTI diesel for 4300 euros in May of 2020, after 3 years of use ,i have to say this has been of the best cars we've ever had in our family.
I had 3 of them as company cars. You’d do well to find a better, more comfortable mile muncher. I loved mine - and never had any issues with any of them - each going back with 85k+ on the clock.
Fantastic motorway cruisers 100%. I had two of them, a 2014 and a 2016 the 2014 had 135,000 miles when I sold it and the 2016 had 110,000 miles. No issues with either of them, they were 2.0 diesel, an sri 140 bhp 2014 and an elite 170 BhP 2016. Great on diesel too
@@Edvard.Munchkin I especiall love the interior design of the facelift model. I have a 2016 1.6 SIDI and I´m honestly in Love with it. I bought it in 2016 when it only had 3000 Miles on the clock and now I am at only 40.000 Miles. I´m also quite surprised how much they are still worth with low mileage and good specced.
@@kevineis9088 They're good cars to be fair
@@Edvard.Munchkin yeah they are. I honestly don’t like the pre facelift model at all though. The interior is just a huge dealbreaker for me.
@@kevineis9088 Really? Theres not much in the difference
In the United States we got a version of this model sold as the Buick Regal.
They came came with either a normally aspirated 187 hp 2.4L 4cyl or a 259 hp 2.0L turbo with either a 6 spd automatic or manual.
They were steady but hardly spectacular sellers and developed a pretty good reputation for reliability and durability.
Looking at any of the online sites that sell vehicles show several for sale with well.over 200k miles.
That’s impressive
Tbh 200K miles ain't all that much, naturally depending on the typical trip length. I got an (Mk.IV) Astra 2.0Di diesel @675K miles. Even the original clutch lasted 606K. (Solid flywheel on those mind You)
@@teppouotinen9136 The Regal is newer and was never available as a diesel in the United States.
TBH how many vehicles, including Astra diesels, are still on the road with 200k plus miles.
I am sure if the the owner was willing to make the necessary repairs the Insignia/Regal could be kept on the road indefinitely also.
@@williamegler8771 body corrosion and electronic gremlins are the main reasons well maintained high mileage GM cars end up in the scrap yard, I believe. Some DMF's (read ones not made by the lowest bidders) can last pretty well - My 9-series Volvo has the original one @404K miles. Some chap even did 248K with a basic 996 Porsche, before the original DMF gave up - Pro'lly having had the berries way more than an average grocery getter :)
@@teppouotinen9136 Anything can be repaired if the owner is willing to pay the bill..
I have had a 62 plate of those. Loved driving it, every second of it. Sold it and got a Passat Estate 16 plate, and really can't get along with the car. I wish I hadn't sold the Insignia. I love your videos btw. Very informative and I really enjoy the "normal person" way you review the cars. Thank you
I had an insignia as a taxi and when the clutch went I had the dual fly wheel and clutch removed and a traditional clutch installed instead half the price and twice the reliability an longevity any mechanic worth his salt would have told you you could get rid of the dual mass system entirely.
Insignia is a great workhorse and family car. As it competes with more "fashionable" brands it's base spec is pretty good. You get an awful lot of car for your money.
Also the older model insignias suffer from oil seal/pump as well as crank pulley woodruff key snaps
Single mass conversions are almost always cheap at the expense of incredible engine vibration. If YOU are willing to live with that, fine, but for someone selling a car, you'll just get the customer back asking why it's shaking them to death.
Any mechanic worth their salt would tell you that
@@williammccracken1018 Does mean the timing can go out of synch over time ? Or all at one ? Or at all ? Note : I know nothing
Yeah a SMF conversion also increases the wear on the transmission… hence the DMF from factory.
I think you mean a single mass fly wheel instead of dual ? Single flywheel will make the car no where near as good to drive
I had a 2015 Insignia SRI 2.0 and I’ve driven nearly every Insignia under the sun. Excellent cars despite what some people say.
Im 49 this year....insignia was a popular shower gel in my day🤣😅😅...i miss the 80s
Be just the job for a young mechanic who could do some of work themselves and end up with a good reliable car for their family at minimal cost. If utility value is considered instead of its ability to make thousands in profit for a trader, it's actually a good buy for the right person.
Never realised an Insignia has so much to offer... plenty of leg room in the back, some really nice cupholders and you found the icing on the cake a "knob" that fits nicely in your hand..... well done 😜🤭🥳🤩
I'd soona have a little man in a boat all wet
Know immediately it was very likely flywheel as I've had a couple of those go. Usually, the clutch is fine. However, your mechanic would have recommended that be changed too, because while changing the flywheel, it makes sense to change the clutch too whilst down there and having removed everything.
Bought one, 2011hatchback version 3 years ago, off a friend as a school run/ workhorse for tools etc. The boot is massive & when u put the seats down it's cavernous. I've gotten wheelbarrows & such in no problem. It's 160 bhp, perfect for the motorway & main roads. Pretty economical to boot. I keep looking for something else as we all do but it just suits my life perfectly. Can't move on from it for the money paid which was very little.
Tip for you Matt. If you pop off the cover at the back of the light the heat from the engine will dehumidify your light casing so you don't need to buy a whole new headlamp.
I enjoy watching this videos… easy to watch and well presented.
Coming from a generation of when it was worth fixing cars I still find it hard to come to terms with how modern cars aren’t cost effective to repair (depending on the issue)
Depends, this guy needs to make a profit or it's worth it for him. A competent DIY person could pic up a cheap car like this and fix the problems themselves and use it for several years
Loving these knackered car videos, keep them coming Matt 👍😁
The best ones
Shame it’s not a newer estate or I might have been inclined to have a punt on it. I know many people don’t like Vauxhalls but I’ve had a few and they’re not bad cars.
I do like the insignia,
The clutch cost seems extremely high and I reckon your mate could do well with fitting a 300 quid clutch plus any sensors,
Still plenty in it really for him,
One slight issue on this engine is the position of the thermostat housing,
Vauxhall in their wisdom put it at the back of the engine so it's an engine out job to change which is incredible really
Cause the subframe is massive and in the way
Hello Again, Matt, you wondered if it had a 'cam belt', at 88,587miles the service book had 'toothed belt' with a tick, GM tend to call a 'cam belt' a 'toothed belt' !!. Regards, RichardA.
Looks like a really nice car. Shame on whoever invented dual mass flywheels, they always seem to fail.
They do fail but they are necessary to smooth out the pulses on diesel engines which are much bigger than petrol ones produce by virtue of the long stroke and high compression. The dual mass flywheel is what has allowed diesel to dominate the big luxury car sector, without them they are like a tractor.
U can single mass convert them .
@@ryanrichardson9044 Unless you're spending time on the racetrack, single mass conversions are incredibly uncomfortable to daily drive with. There is a reason DMF's were invented for all of the problems that come with them
I’ve got an Insignia Tourer elite. It’s by far the best car I’ve ever owned. Comfortable and economical. Only fault that’s really common is the oil seal in the engine that starves it of oil and killing it. I will ad there is currently a recall on all insignias made from 2008-2013 for the rear toe links.
The abs is probably just a sensor on the front wheel
GM replaced the Australian made Holden Commodore with the Insignia. To say it was not popular, is an understatement. Love your work 👍
That wasn't because there was anything wrong with it. It was a reaction to the demise of the Aussie designed and built RWD, V8 Commodore in 2017. I bought one last year - a 2018 ZB V6 AWD RS-V (used obviously). It's a great car to drive, has loads of space (hatchback), nice perforated leather interior, decent equipment level, sounds and goes better than the previous Aussie Commodore V6 (it's quite quick) and has been completely reliable thus far. Was sold new with 7 years warranty and capped price servicing, which runs to mid-2025. Underrated and uncommon on the roads, which is part of the appeal.
I am so amazed at the throwaway car culture there. The cars value depreciate so much
Surely the clutch and flywheel would just “buff out”.
Not bad. I've got the sri 2.0 cdti it's a tank. People don't look after their cars. I've lowered mine and replaced the oil pick-up seal from plastic to aluminium, so it will never be an issue. Easy to work on. And loads of parts due to lack of care from owners.
‘Big old car without parking sensors’…. Is this why people don’t know how to park using mirrors and spacial awareness? Great video though Matt, love the channel 👍👍
I had exactly the same symptoms on my 2013 Ford Focus TDCI back in April. Lots of vibration and no diagnostics. My Focus had done 185k and so the Dual Mass Flywheel was well past its use by date! Since I have had the car since new, It is well serviced and still returns 65mpg, I took the decision to put a new DMF in it for £1,100 and it is driving like new again!
That old volvo is one of the best cars you've ever owned! Spot on motor
On an older car what’s wrong with keep fit windows in the back at least? Less to go wrong, keeps your costs down. KISS as you often say Matt . Interesting video as usual.
True
There’s nothing “wrong” with it but electric windows all round is a cheap upgrade and gives the car a more premium feel. Makes it a doddle to open the rear window a bit when you have the front one down to prevent buffeting.
@Adam McAllister or just use the cars climate control and enjoy filtered, conditioned, dehumidified air at the temperature of your choice. No buffeting that way, and the air will be cleaner. Most only ever need to open the window if they are waiting for a long period and don't want to keep the engine running.
@@teddy6888 sometimes it’s nice to let some wind in while you’re driving around
@@HighPeakAutos sell it £1000 as is
I remember your video on the Green Insignia you had, as an Insignia owner they're very much a white good.... Nothing to write home about but does exactly as needed everyday and swallows push chairs wheelchairs and everything! There's a reason it was a favourite with Police and taxi fleets
yeah, but they are built like crap and ironically thats not Opel's fault. Especially in the UK where they bought by idiots who run them into the ground 😂. if you actually take car of your Insignia then its pretty solid.
@@HandsUpforThePanther mine is a 2014 and I've owned it for nearly 5 years putting around 37000 miles through it. Never failed an MOT, never broke down or had faults... Only had to do pads and routine servicing. Certainly no silky smooth 3 or 5 series but a dependable family servant so far
Never been a fan of modern Vauxhalls. I've driven a 2019 Corsa and been in multiple Corsa Ds and can say they are terrible. Nothing like the old Novas!
@@Xenon777_ The Corsa are not good cars at all. its the dog of the Opel Range.
@@johnedwards3198 you took good care of it, just shows.
I really do like the insignia. Had one on a 15 plate and it was an estate. The amount of stuff you could fit in the back of it.
how many miles on clock ? Im looking to buy one from copart for £1800 with 120miles on clock. These run well ?
@@j11films-98 had 70k on clock. Was a 2.0l diesel and really moved well. Just got a 2.0 Zafira recently on 18 plate and again runs well as same engine.
Awesome! The Vauxhall Insignia. Excited to watch this.
Actually a very interesting insight, thanks Matt. All sarcasm rescinded. Astonishing that a car as new and cheap as that isn't a viable proposition
I think sometimes it's why people trade them in, they get the quotes for the problems it's got and think twice about doing it, so just trade it in.
Good videos as always.
Hi Matt , what a shame :(
£800 was worth a gamble I suppose , but yep , you can’t win ‘em all!
Pity , cos it’s a huge chunk of car for the money . Especially with a boot big enough to hide Shergar in 😂
Superb vid , as always. Thank you 😊 👍
I thought I was on to a winner 😂
@@HighPeakAutos why don’t you raffle it Matt? No danger of anyone getting an old nail -seeing as you never seem to do the actual draw is there??
@@steveruddy6353 what? All the draws are live videos on this channel. They’re all there for you to go back at watch. Go and do that and then you can come back here and apologise 😂
@@HighPeakAutos thanks for replying this time, I will apologise if I’m wrong, but I can’t see a draw for the Lexus?
@@steveruddy6353
what a bell end. Get your facts straight before you have a go mate.
I have a 2013 Insignia 2.0 Diesel with just over 238,000 mile on it still going strong .when I bought it had about 13,000 on the clock. February 2024 nearly clocked up 255,000 miles
Good insight Matt, the dreaded dual mass flywheel . Most diesel manual cars have them now to absorb the intrinsic vibrations and torque of oil burners. Better with an auto box. Just goes to show how undesirable an Insignia is massive deprecation, shame really, good motorway cruiser.
D.M.F failures for the Insignias are quite common. Nasty orange glare from the instrument brinicle filling the windscreen at night, does have good points too as stated below.
The DMF isn’t a matter of running into the ground, just bad luck I think. I had one go on a Vectra, otherwise fully serviced for 8 years, and main dealer quoted £2600 😳. Local garage quoted around £1500 and I was going to have it done, as although the car was only worth £2000 it was worth more than that to me as a newer car would set me back a lot more and I knew the whole history of this one. A week later I was rear-ended on the M40 and the Vectra was written off. So I’m glad I didn’t move too quickly on that 😅
A lesson i've learned from the Shgun Sport i owned(2003-2012)-when ABS is onn,look at right/left break lights.If both!! don't work,change the bulbs.This may switch off the ABS light in the dash.Only if it does not,'dig deeper'
I owned a 2011 2.0CDTI 160PS SRI Red edition for five years. It must have been a demo car originally as it was fully loaded, literally every option you could spec, full leather, nav, sensors back and front, heated and cooled seats (only car I’ve ever owned with cooled seats). I put a 100K on it and aside from the usual servicing and split pipe from the inter cooler to the turbo (which I bought for £30 on eBay and changed myself) nothing went wrong with it. Only issue was the 20 inch wheels which looked the business but were way too easy to kerb. It drove well, pulled like a train, and carried every bit of luggage I threw at it. I still miss it now.
I've got a remapped 2.0 CDTI SRI Nav as my workhorse. Not quite as well specced as your old car but it has just over 200 bhp. It's decently quick. Does 0-60 mph in 7.8 seconds (Dragy) and I've also done 146 mph in it (153 mph indicated). Really good torque (319 lb ft) too so great for overtaking. Excellent on a UK Motorway. 2,100 rpm at an indicated 80 mph so pretty refined. It's a lot of car for what it costs now (circa £4.000).
I've driven much faster cars but objectively, you don't need much quicker for UK roads. I could get into trouble with this car because it's deceptively fast.
@@Jimbo8012 Nice, I remember toying with the idea of remapping mine at the time, but in the end I decided not to, as you say, way too easy to get pulled nowadays and it was plenty quick enough for me as standard anyway. I believe they made a biturbo version of this engine as well. I've always wondered what that went like but I've never met anyone who owned one. Still got a soft spot for the MK1 insignia though. I'm keeping an eye on the prices of the VXR. Now that would be an awesome toy.
Well done Matt for flying the flag for the insignia. I had an SRI diesel and it did have a few niggling faults but across country it really held the road. Probably quicker than the F30 run flat equipped three series I've got now. Get a good one and you've got a lot of car for your money. A good looking thing too. Still looks fresh at nearly 15 years old.
I just watch your videos because of your dry humor! Keep going!
Thanks, will do!
I had the exact same thing on a Vectra I got cheap, good to see vauxhall being consistent.
The last of the pre-facelifts. This looks like an optioned-up Exclusiv (Vauxhall's spelling, not mine), going by the alloys and fogs but still has rear winders. Metallic black looks nice on these. New mats would make this interior like new.
it is an SRi
@@owrang9756 is the Sri top of the range.its not sporty like the old Sri vauxhalls Sri or gte you were the man
@@owrang9756 No boot spoiler or sports seats though.
@@owrang9756 - It's not an SRI. Doesn't have the piano black trim inserts, the sport seats, the aluminium pedals, electric rear windows and doesn't seem to have the sports suspension as it seems to be riding slightly higher.
Definitely an Exclusiv that's been optioned up with front fog lights, sports leather steering wheel and SRI alloys.
@@chucky2316- SRI is mid spec. The SE and Elite are both higher spec trim levels. The lower spec cars are ES and Exclusiv.
I had one as a company car, two dual mass flywheels failed by 40k miles. Was a good motorway cruiser though. Since discovering the volvo v70 I'm never going back.
Great video Matt, always genuine and honest 👍
Thanks 👍
I bought a year old SRi from a Vauxhall dealer for the manager in my business. Had 10K on the clock, and 4 years of the 5 year warranty they were offering at the time. The engine was agricultural compared to its competition, but it was crazy cheap (cheaper than a base Focus of same age) and absolutely loaded. The cabin was very well built and surprisingly classy. The guy loved it, did 80K miles over 3 years and the only thing done other than servicing was a new battery. I would NOT even countenance one at 120K miles at any money. Replaced it with another bad rep car - Mazda 6, which he loved even more and was just as reliable and trouble free.
Shame looked like a nice car for the money. Hired an Insignia a few years back - great car
Easy to repair that headlamp for next to no cost, I did both on our 2011 Insignia 3 years ago and both are still fine. Drill a small hole in the underside, evaporate all moisture on a radiator for a few days, clean all joints thoroughly and seal with silicone roof and gutter sealant (don't use the standard stuff)
I had a 2012 Insignia, reviewed it on my channel at the time. I loved everything apart from the fact I had the sri and the suspension was too hard for my liking. I prefer the styling of them to it's replacement.
My friend had an insignia 2012. It developed engine issues and his mechanic thought it was the injectors but couldn't be certain that would fix it. He ended up scrapping it unfortunately just wasn't worth the money to fix it. I've had 2 vauxhauls in the past. Never again. Really not a fan of the quality. Great video as always matt.
Tbf to the owner the clutch wouldn't have been prevented by a service anyway. So in the end it would have still ended the same way. I'm in a similar boat, how long do you keep throwing money at a car until one day, even with all maintenance, it's still worth less than the job costs to do.
I love my insignia but I do throw money at it, the difference between me and most people is I look at is as it’s still cheaper per year than a 7k car on finance that is £200, it’s all how you look at it obviously is not viable for you as a dealer to do that but most people buy a newer car to “save” money which realistically just cost them more,
Hi Matt, could you please do an episode on cars in general and then specifically why some have come to be classics, while others haven't. Like why the W124 is a classic and the later models aren't. Just like the E38 and E39 from BMW. The Volvo 850, too. And, what current cars would you think would become classics and why?
You might expect each generation from a given manufacturer to get better but then either the accountants get involved or they decide they need e.g. plastic engine components to show improved mpg. The classics will be the best they can do before they change significantly for the worse. I like both the W124 and E39.
Your the best used car dealer, jonest, upfront, cars perfectly described. Well done.
I still maintain that this shape of Insignia still looks better than the new shape.
The facelift is the best of the Insignia range, I’d say.
Completely agree, the current one just doesn't do it for me.
@@paulturner2911 What current one?
@@Pipsicle330 The current Insignia.
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this opinion.
😢I had 2009 cdti 130bhp most important thing to do on this and 160bhp engine is oil seal rubber if not done it's goodbye engine 😢 clutch on other hand is different story it's moving flywheel so unfortunately they do go but solid flywheel is better option in my opinion other thing then is gearbox that go in 130 bhp syro start to whine as I remember 160bhp had diff gearbox so they be ok but with remap 210 bhp and dpf remove is quite quick car then.
Trouble with the clutch and dual mass flywheel, they tend to go at an age and mileage that owners may be thinking of getting rid anyway. It probably wasn't worth them getting it fixed as they wouldn't have seen that money back in the trade in.
That’s true
I've got a 2010 insignia SRi estate. It's an automatic and I have had it since 2013. I've done almost 100,000 miles in it. It had 35,000 on the clock when I got it. I had the cambelt/water pump done for £300 about 2 years ago. Apart from that all I've replaced is bushes, trackrod ends and usual oil/filters/brake pads/tyres etc. Been a great car, drove 600 miles in it last week without an issue. Lot of car for the money.
Had the estate version of this for a little while. Had to get rid as it was just tiny - opposite of a tardis. The boot was embarrassing. Replaced with a Passat. On the positive side it was an sri 163bhp and went really well - superb brakes if I remember correctly and also handled well around the corners. Unfortunately the seats gave me back ache which was the final nail in the coffin before getting rid.
Insignia estate....tiny? Are you thinking of the same car? Or do you normally drive a van? The Insignia estate is not a car I'd say has a 'tiny' boot, my hatchback has an enormous boot, can get 4 decent size suitcases in it when we go on holiday, which is one of the many reasons I bought one, which is now my 3rd.
@@paulturner2911 - Yeah, you're right. There's one thing you cannot say about the Insignia is that the boot is "embarrassing". It's fucking enormous even on the hatchback. The hatchback has a 530 litre boot and nearly 1,500 litres with the seats folded down. The estate is even more practical. It's a very practical car by any objective standard.
The main criticism would be rear headroom due to the slopping roofline. If you're over 6ft and sitting in the back, you'll likely have to slouch a bit but there's a good amount of legroom so it isn't a huge problem.
Nope. The estate insignia has a tiny boot, most of it taken up by thick walls and an oddly thick boot lid. Weirdly I'm told the hatchback version actually had a bigger boot. The Passat estate I replaced it with was far more practical, but I will say definitely not as fun to drive!
I picked up a 2014 cdti elite tourer a couple of weeks ago and i love it.. it is a highish miler but well serviced and drives lovely... lot of car for the money !!!
Good cars at this price point.
A dual mass & abs sensor are almost consumable items at this age and mileage!
I’d be more concerned about the missing wheel nuts than the dual mass failing😬
I bought a 2011 petrol Insignia as a cat N write off as a short term car until my new car turned up, It needed a front wing and the driver door had some damage. I purchased replacement parts (in colour) and fitted them in a couple of days after which the car was perfect. It later sold very quickly to a couple who were delighted with it despite the cat N status. I would certainly have another (petrol) as in my opinion they go well and are comfortable transport
My dad has a 2014 insignia , they do look nice for a Vauxhall. The 1.8 petrol it has would not pull you out of bed and one of the bearings in the gearbox is on the way out but its not a bad place to sit on the motorway. Still rather be in my 3 series tho.
Apart from thermostats being made of something that Jacob’s Cream Crackers would laugh at, those 1.8 petrols are pretty bulletproof and can crack 50mpg on a run if it’s driven carefully enough.
I like the insignia because they give you the experience of trying to reverse with virtually no rear visibility without have to spend a fortune buying a Capri.
I bought one of these brand new in 2011, I really liked it, it was excellent long distance from Germany to UK and back, used to do 70 to a gallon whilst keeping up with Autobahn traffic, I got an awesome deal on it brand new for £12k. That was 50% book price.
stunning looking motor be a grand car for a diy man that can do the work on his drive nice content bro
Bro you should buy an astra , they are such good cars
I rented an insignia in around 2013 whilst on vacation in the UK. It was a nice car. But a little large for some of the narrow roads in Devon and Cornwall, on more than 1 road the mirrors were touching the hedges on both sides of the car.
I’ve been down roads in my Mazda 6 that would be a squeeze on a motorbike. There comes a point when you’re on the south coast that you’ve just got to accept bush damage!
great Vid. Haven't even watched it yet.
I bought one of these over a year ago now for £800 with the sat nav 2.0 cdti the only thing I've had to do is put fuel in it. Very good budget car loads of room in boot loads of room for the children and comfortable to drive long distance also I'm getting 55mpg+ on a long run. Mine didn't come with any service history, but I'm planning on doing the cambelt very soon. Probably the summer, so I don't get wet doing it.
Nobody has ever said a good thing about the Insignia apart from how it looks
I think you do very well while using external labour to fix your cars. Clearly you are making a profit but so is the mechanic so your cars are keeping two people gainfully employed !
Seriously where are you getting these dirt cheap cars?
I got stung the same way! My Volvo V50 needed a new clutch and flywheel, cost me the same as the car did! But I had it done and have continued spending, hey ho I still love driving it 4 years on (not my only car so not reliant on it), the gears worked fine on it even though it needed a new clutch
“He shares his name with a famous singer”,bloody hell Matt,give us an harder clue,like his name starts with a letter of the alphabet!👍🏼
Well the reg started with MJ and I think he said Michael Jackson as he was entering the reg into his phone..... I'm going to guess Michael Jackson! 😂😂😂 2+2=7 I think! 🤣🤣🤣
@@BobMc87 🤣🤣,man maths indeed.
Honestly was not expecting that ending.
In America, same model was sold as a Buick before being discontinued.
A run of the mill Insignia like this looks really nice in black! It's aged well🙂
Great cars for not a lot of money, reminds me of the role that the MK3 Cavalier played once it was a used car, they made great cheap cars for a long time.
We can just pretend that the Vectra never happened
I'm glad for your input on the fading glory of old cars.
My brother works in a scrap yard..full of these
They are not the best cars mechanically, but another reason why there are so many on scrap yards is because there were so many build in the first years of production. The car sold very well.
Where they belong. Never liked Vauxhalls...I have driven the Astra and Vectra on loan. The brand new Astra was full of water after being parked overnight, but it was quite a nice vehicle. The Vectra wasn't nice to drive, very poor visibility for one thing.
Their lovely cars but they are so unreliable we just replaced it with a signum and the vectra we had before it still runs better
Main problem with these diesel insignias is the oil pickup seal perishes over time, starving the top of the engine of oil and ruining main bearings, engine seized. 😢
Love your honesty Matt... laughed to myself with your comment about the gear knob... know exactly what you mean I'm like you... you're not alone 👍🏾 looking forward to your next upload 😊
Thanks 👍
''SUSPICIOUSLY CHEAP''
So why didnt you do a history check before you bought it ?
''Its crucial you do a history check before you buy any car or bike'' yet you never appear to take your own advice.
Because it's worth it for him not too. Even if he buys a car with gremlins, he makes enough from the videos to cover it.
Further to your standing comments earlier about environmental cost - imagine the cost of this thing overall in terms of loss, etc. all for the want of maintenance items. I wasn't aware of any baseline level of derision for those things, I always looked at them as a bit of an outsider and rather liked them.
The best thing about this Insignia is probably the spare bulb in the boot, which could be worth up to £1.99. 🥳
I had a 61 plate CDTI from new, only traded in last Christmas for a new shape one . Used it as my taxi and never missed a beat.
As soon as you started that car I said to myself "dual mass flywheel is knackered". A days labour to replace it?? No chance. That job can be done in 5 - 6 hours.
...which is basically, a days labour.
Yeah exactly with all the other bits was a day to sort
@@manonamountain 6 hour working day. Lucky for some! 8 hours is a working day for most people.
Had the facelift model of this in the Elite Nav and I absolutely loved it. So much space in the back and it drove quiet nice too. Only dislike was the engine, sounded like a van. I couldn’t part ways with it so my partner now drives it ha
Insignias are garbage!
I have a 2011. I bought it new and still have it. I'm pleased with it. How long did you have one?
@@johanvanderpulst5250 same here iv a 2011 sri 76,000 miles 2 litre diesel last 5 years driving like a dream fast is well
Dual mass flywheels nothing but trouble. Last good Vauxhalls were Carlton’s and omegas
As an owner of 2010 CDTI 2.0L with similar mileage that engine noise is absolutely bad nor the vibration, it's smooth as butter even for a diesel.
I don't know about Matt, but I personally never tire of Car Vertical adverts 😴
Music to my ears 😂