Test Drive

marinabrian · 3rd January 2015, 16:42

I have just returned after test driving a Vauxhall Insignia diesel.

What I wanted to be able to say was I was disappointed, but no it was very smooth and civilised with no more cabin noise intrusion than a 75 diesel.

The driving position was good, the seats firm, and there were lots of nice trinkets to keep me occupied whilst driving.

But the best part of all, was the lack of blind spot which for me at least is the Achilles heel of the R40, doesn't matter where I position the driver seat on the 75, the windscreen A-Pillar always interrupts my field of view when approaching roundabouts.

The pedals are sensibly located, the information available from the "IPK" leaves the 75 looking very spartan by comparison.

The downside being the size of the rear window, were more than compensated for by a cavernous boot space.

In more than a few respects, it ticked the boxes for me, and I reckon this would have been akin to what the replacement for the 75 may have evolved into had Rover not collapsed.

While the styling is not as curvaceous as a 75, I would have to say this would be a more than worthy successor to the 75.

Brian

coolcat · 3rd January 2015, 16:46

My Dad ( LittleDeeps ) on here is looking at selling his ZT and buying a Vauxhall Insignia as the replacement .
He praised it in much the same way, the only thing that surprised him was the lack of parking sensors as standard!
Not an expensive retrofit though so not a deal breaker

VMax1000 · 3rd January 2015, 16:50

What's a Vauxhall

A19_Graham · 3rd January 2015, 16:54

I drove one a couple of years ago, followed by the Mondeo titanium x sport, and I found it knocked spots of the insignia.

Pleasant enough, just not very inspiring. But that was probably 4 years back now maybe more.

What didn't help the insignia, was the fact it was white

and the ford was black

Saga Lout · 3rd January 2015, 17:03

I liked them when they came out, now I think they look dated and bland. The Cabrio one was nice but no good in the UK. I've worked on them a few times and I don't think they are built well, just to a price.
My view of them is that if I lined a hundred of them up and looked down the line, I'd wonder what the attraction was. If I did the same with a hundred mixed 75's and ZT's I'd know, and it's not just Rose tints! I'm a Cortina man through and through so I'm not too biased in favour of the Rover/MG, I just think we still haven't seen the best years of them, maybe we will never live to see them but others will.

Petetourer · 3rd January 2015, 17:14

How very dare you Brian!!

Post on here praising another manufacturers car.

Seriously though, so many people produce negative comments on threads where people mention another brand that they are thinking of buying or bought.

What will these people do when the need to replace their ZT/75?

Whilst some would argue that they never would replace it, there will be a time when using them as a daily runner will not be possible.

Seafrost · 4th January 2015, 16:31

Its a car I said I would get IF I had to replace the tourer... BUT I detest the dash on the Insignia... everything else I like... just detest the dash.... but then, upon sitting in the Supermarket carpark, you see them parked and nobody gives them a second glance...... My 75 still gets people give that glance back.....or as I found on my return to my car in Sainsburys the other day, a chap walking around it... obviously not worth him stealing it, so he must have been admiring my tourer.

... even though its a 1.8 n/a...with a real Rover engine

, not no fake BMW lump.

grivas · 3rd January 2015, 17:01

It is a cheap and cheerful car to replace the 75, designed for reps on motorways, Vauxhall spent their money on interior for sure, but engines are rough mid range power poor and diesel engines very inflexible depreciation will be catastrophic so buy with care, the choice for me will be an estate, but the 75 will be greatly missed, every time I think about it I fell physically sick, God help us all.

MrDoodles · 3rd January 2015, 21:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by VMax1000

What's a Vauxhall

A Holden with it's badge replaced!

VMax1000 · 3rd January 2015, 22:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrDoodles

A Holden with it's badge replaced!

Oh...............it's an imposter..................known as OPEL in the real world.

That's the one ????

3rd January 2015, 16:42	#1
marinabrian MG ZT Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 20,151 Thanks: 3,565 Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts	Test Drive I have just returned after test driving a Vauxhall Insignia diesel. What I wanted to be able to say was I was disappointed, but no it was very smooth and civilised with no more cabin noise intrusion than a 75 diesel. The driving position was good, the seats firm, and there were lots of nice trinkets to keep me occupied whilst driving. But the best part of all, was the lack of blind spot which for me at least is the Achilles heel of the R40, doesn't matter where I position the driver seat on the 75, the windscreen A-Pillar always interrupts my field of view when approaching roundabouts. The pedals are sensibly located, the information available from the "IPK" leaves the 75 looking very spartan by comparison. The downside being the size of the rear window, were more than compensated for by a cavernous boot space. In more than a few respects, it ticked the boxes for me, and I reckon this would have been akin to what the replacement for the 75 may have evolved into had Rover not collapsed. While the styling is not as curvaceous as a 75, I would have to say this would be a more than worthy successor to the 75. Brian

3rd January 2015, 16:46	#2
coolcat This is my second home Audi Q3 TDI S-Line Quattro Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Clacton On Sea/On the boat somewhere Posts: 51,166 Thanks: 9,890 Thanked 12,235 Times in 8,232 Posts	My Dad ( LittleDeeps ) on here is looking at selling his ZT and buying a Vauxhall Insignia as the replacement . He praised it in much the same way, the only thing that surprised him was the lack of parking sensors as standard! Not an expensive retrofit though so not a deal breaker __________________ Jeff.

3rd January 2015, 17:03	#5
Saga Lout This is my second home MG ZT and Rover 75, Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Wigan Posts: 3,276 Thanks: 2,556 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,037 Posts	I did like them. I liked them when they came out, now I think they look dated and bland. The Cabrio one was nice but no good in the UK. I've worked on them a few times and I don't think they are built well, just to a price. My view of them is that if I lined a hundred of them up and looked down the line, I'd wonder what the attraction was. If I did the same with a hundred mixed 75's and ZT's I'd know, and it's not just Rose tints! I'm a Cortina man through and through so I'm not too biased in favour of the Rover/MG, I just think we still haven't seen the best years of them, maybe we will never live to see them but others will.

3rd January 2015, 17:14	#6
Petetourer This is my second home None at present Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Portishead Posts: 5,337 Thanks: 203 Thanked 246 Times in 194 Posts	How very dare you Brian!! Post on here praising another manufacturers car. Seriously though, so many people produce negative comments on threads where people mention another brand that they are thinking of buying or bought. What will these people do when the need to replace their ZT/75? Whilst some would argue that they never would replace it, there will be a time when using them as a daily runner will not be possible. __________________ My First Ever Rover!! A 2002 75 2.0 V6 Club SE Tourer Then a 2002 MG ZT-T CDTI + in Starlight Silver Then a 2003 ZT-T 2.5 V6 180 + in Royal Blue Then a 2002 Rover 75 2.0 CDTi Connie SE Then a 2003 ZT-T 2.0 CDTi + In Le Mans Green 2004 1.8T ZT-T + In Goodwood Green [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

3rd January 2015, 16:50	#3
VMax1000 Passed Away MG ZT260 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Swindon Posts: 2,805 Thanks: 62 Thanked 325 Times in 249 Posts	What's a Vauxhall

3rd January 2015, 16:54	#4
A19_Graham I really should get out more....... Land Rover Freelander 2 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hartlepool Posts: 2,454 Thanks: 3,124 Thanked 722 Times in 482 Posts	I drove one a couple of years ago, followed by the Mondeo titanium x sport, and I found it knocked spots of the insignia. Pleasant enough, just not very inspiring. But that was probably 4 years back now maybe more. What didn't help the insignia, was the fact it was white and the ford was black

4th January 2015, 16:31	#7
Seafrost Posted a thing or two 75 Connie SE 1.8 Manual Tourer Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Outskirts of Newport :) Posts: 1,450 Thanks: 479 Thanked 241 Times in 163 Posts	Its a car I said I would get IF I had to replace the tourer... BUT I detest the dash on the Insignia... everything else I like... just detest the dash.... but then, upon sitting in the Supermarket carpark, you see them parked and nobody gives them a second glance...... My 75 still gets people give that glance back.....or as I found on my return to my car in Sainsburys the other day, a chap walking around it... obviously not worth him stealing it, so he must have been admiring my tourer. ... even though its a 1.8 n/a...with a real Rover engine , not no fake BMW lump.

3rd January 2015, 17:01	#8
grivas I really should get out more....... Rover 75 CDT Club Tourer Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Milky Way Posts: 2,381 Thanks: 105 Thanked 513 Times in 382 Posts	It is a cheap and cheerful car to replace the 75, designed for reps on motorways, Vauxhall spent their money on interior for sure, but engines are rough mid range power poor and diesel engines very inflexible depreciation will be catastrophic so buy with care, the choice for me will be an estate, but the 75 will be greatly missed, every time I think about it I fell physically sick, God help us all.