Vauxhall/Opel Insignia

[nickdrinkwater]

Supposedly press photos leaked ahead of the launch in London.







http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080415.001/new-opel-insignia-leaked

[Galaxy]

It is some what of a let down.

[akuma_supreme]

Did GM even attempt to make a worthwhile replacement for the Vectra?

It seems to me that GM forgot this car sells for the equivalent of US$40,000 in most markets.

[ThunderCharger]

It's ok.

[sandertheshark]

We get the Chevy Malibu and Europe gets this?

Shoe on the other foot, eh?

[2o6]

Did GM even attempt to make a worthwhile replacement for the Vectra?

It seems to me that GM forgot this car sells for the equivalent of US$40,000 in most markets.

.....And a Focus sells for $30K, and a Fiesta for $20K.


Your point?

It's not as exciting as the Mondeo, but overall is pretty good, if a bit underwhelming stylistically.

[565]

Looks pretty good.

[akuma_supreme]

.....And a Focus sells for $30K, and a Fiesta for $20K.


Your point?

It's not as exciting as the Mondeo, but overall is pretty good, if a bit underwhelming stylistically.

The Insignia will sell in the same territory as a BMW 3-Series.  Would you buy an Insignia over a 3-Series?

[nickdrinkwater]

The Insignia will sell in the same territory as a BMW 3-Series.  Would you buy an Insignia over a 3-Series?

Actually, it'll be cheaper, larger and better equipped than the 3er.

[2o6]

The Insignia will sell in the same territory as a BMW 3-Series.  Would you buy an Insignia over a 3-Series?

If I had a family, yes. The 3-series is lesser equipped, and with the RWD formation, it makes interior room overall less. The Insignia is a bit cheaper and more practical as a family sedan.


Comparing a Mondeo, Insignia and 3-series is pointless. Yes they have similar prices, but their clientelle are different.

[2o6]

These pics make the car look much better.



http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/17/officially-official-opel-insignia-revealed/

[Cookie Monster]

Not bad. I like it.

[cozmik]

I think it looks handsome. Interior looks nice.

[Madman]

If I had a family, yes. The 3-series is lesser equipped, and with the RWD formation, it makes interior room overall less. The Insignia is a bit cheaper and more practical as a family sedan.


Comparing a Mondeo, Insignia and 3-series is pointless. Yes they have similar prices, but their clientelle are different.

Mondeo and Vectra/Insignia are, and have always been direct competitors.  Granted, the non-premium D-Segment has been shrinking in Europe over the past decade.  Sales of Mondeo and Vectra have reflected this downward trend.  This is Opel/Vauxhall's stab at clawing back customers who may be tempted to defect to compact executive cars like the 3 Series.  Where the Insignia is sure to score high is in the value-for-money stakes.  Similar money will also get you a 3 Series, albeit one with a much lower level of equipment and a less powerful engine.

Let's compare UK prices.

Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 Turbo 16 valve SRI 5-Door (175 HP) : ?18,465.
BMW 318i ES 4-Door (143 HP) :  ?21,035.

The ES is the base-trim 318i and the SRI is the sporty high performance Vectra.  That's about a ?2,500 difference in price for a better equipped Vectra with more power.  However, the BMW owner will, despite having a lack of features enjoyed by the Vectra buyer in this scenario, benefit from having much stronger residual values thanks to that BMW badge.

Naturally, the BMW is the better made and better engineered car.  But the Vauxhall driver will have more goodies on board yet suffer much poorer resale value.

So while the Vectra and the 3 Series may not be direct rivals, there are plenty of people who are willing to pay a premium for the BMW.  The fact that the 3 Series now outsells the Mondeo and the Vectra are all the proof you need of that.  Ironically, if you want a car more exclusive than a 3 Series you'd do well to get yourself a new Insignia.  At least until all the minicab drivers get one too!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Pommes-T]

The new Insignia is so much larger than the Vectra, that it actually is more a Omega replacement than a Vectra replacement. It's pretty much the same as it was with Ford:
Since they stopped the Scorpio the Mondeo got larger and larger and now is as big or even bigger.

Although the Insignia has the size of an E-class it will be a midsize competitor just like the Mondeo. The Mondeo and the Passat will be its direct competitors since they have an equal size and price-range.

The 3 series is smaller, but even a bit more expensive and indeed attracts other buyers although it is said to be in the same league.

The A4 and C-class have become so big cars that they are also direct competitors (although more expensive).

From what I have read this might be a great car: It has LED-lights with about 10 or so set ups for Autobahn driving, slow inner city driving, fog etc. Plus it will also come with a new AWD system from Saab (I think) and offers a suspension that stiffs when the car starts to boggle.

Plus IMO it looks pretty good... for an Opel.

Opel is still THE brand that I would never ever want to drive, but maybe the new Vectra will be a good car that might even change my mind.

Oh yeah, and although some people here might see this differently: The old Vectra was a shitbox. Okay, it wasn't really a bad car, but it had not a single chance against the strong competitors like Mondeo, Passat etc.

And it was an Opel... 

[93JC]

I like it.

Up to the C-pillar, anyway. That has to be one of the most egregious Bangle-butts out there. Like, 7-series bad. Not a fan at all.

I'd also flatten out the bottom of the grille so that it didn't have as much of a Honda-Mazda "smiley-face" look to it.

Other than that I'm impressed; it takes the basic (pretty good) design cues found on the comparatively dowdy Vectra and wraps them up in a nice, new package.

[omicron]

I think it's awful - clumsy, contrived and graceless. This Vectra:



is a much more professional design.

[Galaxy]

This Vectra:



is a much more professional design.

That Vectra, is a design which no one wanted.

[Raza]

That Vectra, is a design which no one wanted.

This is the one for me:

[Pommes-T]

I think it's awful - clumsy, contrived and graceless. This Vectra:



is a much more professional design.

Well, now that I think about... YOu're right! Both are ugly! 

[nickdrinkwater]

New one is better looking.  I don't think anyone bought a Vectra for its looks, but I might be wrong...