Faults:
Beyond changing the cam-belt and water pump and services I have had - Clutch, coolant leaks, exhaust, and so on, the usual stuff for age and miles. I have been advised my car is fitted with the "M32" manual gearbox which is known to fail early (early bearing whine), but mine seems OK for now and it has over 80K miles on it.
General Comments:
A stunning looking car for its age, the Insignia is a very nicely styled car. Vx Line trim adds a subtle body-kit on top of the already sharp looking SRi trim level. Best in darker colors.
Inside nice and stylish also, very comfortable seats. SRi has stiffer suspension, great handling in corners and the ride suffers a bit but not too much to make it uncomfortable; it is a very smooth car on the motorways. Gear change is slick and smooth also. Very spacious. Controls are good to use.
1.8 petrol performs OK on flat roads, up hills it is terrible however - this engine has zero torque and this car is way too heavy at 1.5 tonnes for this engine. Not that economical either - 33 mpg at very best in winter / short drives. Get on the motorway however and select 6th gear and cruise, then you can see an average of 38 mpg or a touch more, much better. It also prefers super unleaded rather than the standard E10 unleaded fuel. Expensive, but worth it for that extra kick of performance and economy. Bear in mind it will take a few tank fulls for the ECU to adjust to this fuel. Or you can try a shot of that RedEx fuel cleaner stuff now and then.
A large car and there is some blind spots when parking. Visibility is not great. But you get used to it.
Rear hatch opens up to a huge boot. Silly design however at corners - on a wet day rain water collects and drips into the boot area when opening!
Minor points aside the Insignia is a fine used car and there are plenty right now on the used market. Choose an engine / trim level that suits your needs best, there is plenty of choice. Try not to pay too much for one however - this generation (2008 - 2016) are getting on a bit now, and there is lots of overpriced cars out there. I'll likely go for the newer Insignia from 2017 onwards next, it looks like a very nice car.
11th Oct 2023, 12:42
The gearboxes on these older Insignia's were a real pain, even the automatics had trouble as you mentioned, difficult/hesitant shifting or crazy gear changing as the unit goes mad when they get older. Probably not helping your economy either.
The manual M32 boxes fitted to most cars were the worst (early bearing failure); I'd take a chance on an older automatic though, so long as it drives OK; most just aren't worth fixing at this age and mileage.