2010 Vauxhall Insignia SE 1.8 16v petrol from UK and Ireland
Summary:
Great looking car and nice to drive
Faults:
Thermostat coolant leak. Oil cooler replaced as well.
The rest was just wear and tear for age and miles.
Gearbox a bit too notchy.
Condensation in the headlights.
Cosmetically the car looks great for its age, but it is well kept and garaged. Serviced on time and all belts replaced.
General Comments:
This Insignia is a very sharp looking car in the common grey metallic. My SE model is a high spec on these early cars.
Very smart exterior - 18 inch alloy wheels look fantastic, the car has the look of a coupe rather than a saloon/hatch.
Seats 4 adults in comfort. Rear headroom a little limited for taller passengers, otherwise no complaints. Luggage area is massive, and as mentioned the SE model has all electrics and half leather seats with walnut dash. The car is as comfortable as you can get in this class.
Pretty good to drive, the clutch is smooth and the controls are light to the touch. Handling is OK. 1.8 petrol engine is a bit lethargic, but averages around 35 mpg with mixed driving. Not bad for a petrol engine in a heavy car. The car is at its best on long motorway cruises.
Overall I cannot fault this car and hope to keep it for a few more years yet. Despite the age and miles getting on, they are not worth much at this time, but find one on the used market that has had most of its common issues addressed at a nice price, go for it! You'll have on of the best looking and driving cars on the market at the price.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th April, 2024
6th Oct 2023, 22:03
I had one of these, it's pretty much the same 1.8 petrol engine that was in the Vectra previously, very old technology. You must have done a lot of motorway cruising to get 35 - 40 mpg, I barely got more than 34 mpg from mine. I wouldn't say the head gasket was a common issues on these cars, but that killed mine also, the 1.8 is not a great engine. Diesels are better, but they have their quirks also. The Insignia is an OK car, and a great looking one too, it's just a shame it never had a decent selection of reliable engines and gearboxes to do it justice.