Could This Fast Vauxhall Bargain Tempt You Away From A BMW 330i?

It's a tenth of a second faster to 62mph than a BMW 330i of the same age, and it's definitely good value, but would you consider the surprisingly genteel Insignia VXR as a viable fast saloon alternative to the likes of the 3 Series?
Could This Fast Vauxhall Bargain Tempt You Away From A BMW 330i?

Has today’s Vauxhall Insignia GSi news put you in the mood for a fast Vauxhall bargain? Either way, let us try to tempt you with a 321bhp V6 Insignia for less than £9000. It’s a stylishly understated hot saloon with six cylinders and rarity on its side.

The venerable 2.8-litre V6 at the heart of this fetching Arden Blue Insignia VXR has its design origins going back a couple of decades, but this turbocharged effort is the key to a surprisingly refined gentleman’s express. If that gentleman comes from Essex, anyway. Vauxhall quotes a 0-62mph time of 6.0 seconds – one tenth faster than the contemporary BMW 330i – and a theoretical top speed north of 170mph if you remove the limiter. It’s manual, too.

Could This Fast Vauxhall Bargain Tempt You Away From A BMW 330i?

This VXR never quite feels as quick as its power figure suggests, but it likes to be worked hard. Keep your foot down past 4000rpm and the engine begins to come to life a little on its way up to peak power at a low 5250rpm, but a surprising emphasis on refinement over raw performance makes this relaxed brute something of a disappointment in the noise stakes. Not that such a thing should put you off, because it’s still a handy all-weather weapon thanks to four-wheel drive and so much cornering grip that both your eyes could end up on the same side of your nose. That’s if it still wears the proper Pirelli tyres, anyway.

The weight of the big V6 block at the front means the Insignia always defaults to understeer when you do find the limits, but most of the time it just offers punchy performance and continent-crossing comfort. Even the optional and lovely 20-inch wheels on this car don’t stop it being plush.

Could This Fast Vauxhall Bargain Tempt You Away From A BMW 330i?

For your £8989 (a massive £6 saving over the windscreen price) you get an eight-year-old VXR saloon from early in the Insignia’s production life. It’s covered just 42,000 miles, so it’s practically showroom-fresh. Park your cheeks on half-leather Recaro sports seats and gaze upon the colour widescreen sat-nav unit. There’s cruise control, climate control, automatic windscreen wipers and DAB radio.

Running costs might be a bit of a stumbling block, with a £535 annual road tax bill stemming from the awkwardly high 268g/km emissions. Fuel economy is, Vauxhall says, about 24.7mpg on average, but 20mpg seems like a realistic best-case real-world scenario. From £31,000 new in 2009, this has obviously lost a pretty penny in value, but that slippery slope should be less steep going forward. It’s an interesting alternative to the German norm, even if a previous owner of dubious taste has swapped the Vauxhall badge for a stylised Opel alternative… but only at the front.

Comments

Anonymous

UK: High tax of £535.
Ireland: High tax of €2350.
Y U DO DIS GOVERNMENT.

07/20/2017 - 13:50 |
84 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

and yes £535 is €604 for anyone wanting to know. €2350 is still more than that lol.

07/20/2017 - 13:51 |
14 | 0
Tom Batchelor

I always liked the insignia, it was a perfectly serviceable rival to the mondeo/3-series. and the VXR badge just makes it even better!

07/20/2017 - 13:57 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

Insignias are terrible for reliability so that prob why it’s cheap

07/20/2017 - 14:07 |
32 | 2
Dave 12

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

And used 3 series aren’t? Nothing to do with the cars. It’s the owners.

07/21/2017 - 07:59 |
2 | 2
Anonymous

The only problem with it is the reliability, wich makes an 80’s Fiat look like a Toyota.

07/20/2017 - 14:24 |
14 | 0
Tom Batchelor

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

I had one for 2 years and I never had any trouble with it.

07/20/2017 - 14:53 |
0 | 0
Anonymous

I’d rather have a 318 than an insignia because at least you can say I drive a BMW.

07/20/2017 - 14:28 |
0 | 8
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Yeah, but that would only impress a non-petrolhead.
A petrol head would laugh at you for only having a 318.

07/20/2017 - 14:38 |
30 | 0
SirJamjaxIsGoingAgain-PeaceOutChaps

Nope i wouldnt, id take the bimmer. Also, I definitely wouldnt buy from motorhub. All the “verified purchase” reviews of Motorhub arent real bcuz if u look at all their reviews which are more than 2 months old, all the reviews are terrible 1/2 stars

07/20/2017 - 15:44 |
6 | 0
Janno

Hell yeaas!! That car is awesome and al lot more special than a 3-series

07/20/2017 - 15:59 |
2 | 8
Hevar

Can I choose the BMW instead?
Yes I Can.

07/20/2017 - 16:31 |
2 | 0
ferrarman11

In America it’s called the Buick Regal GS, and it’s freaking awesome, it’s a lot faster than your average hot hatches, and will smoke your base model BMWs and Mercs

07/20/2017 - 17:19 |
8 | 2

The GS topped out with a 270hp inline 4, and only came in FWD when paired with a stick. This Insignia is AWD with a stick and a turbo V6.

If this was sold in the US, it would actually be the Regal T-Type, or Grand National when paired with the limited black pack.

07/20/2017 - 21:54 |
6 | 0
James Reuter

The badge at the front hasn’t been swopped for an Opel one, its just fallen off and just has the Opel symbol behind it

07/20/2017 - 18:39 |
0 | 0

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