Nice New Vauxhalls

Without beating around the bush too much, I wasn’t exactly looking forward to writing about the Vauxhall Insignia. This was for one very particular reason though; it is the ancestor of the Vauxhall Vectra. The Vectra, in my humble opinion, was an absolutely terrible example of a mid-sized saloon. It looked ugly, it handled like an incontinent goat and it was about as exciting as tea with Granny. Vauxhall have since waded back into the Execu-cars market and have hopefully done a better job than last time. So is the Vauxhall Insignia any good?

From a distance it looks pretty similar to every other execu-car on the market; the sporty saloon shape, curvy body and elegant (if slightly understated) good looks. The Insignia definitely looks the part though and, frankly, the best looking Vauxhall ever created. The designers have made a really good job of creating a car that looks a lot more expensive than it is. The interior, as you would expect, has been designed with long journeys in mind. Cars of the Insignia’s ilk spend the best part of their working lives bombing up and down motorways, so comfort is a necessity. The Insignia also comes with an impressive array of engines ranging from peppy 1.8 petrols, to a rumbling 2.8V6, with enough petrol and diesel variation in-between. So depending on your preferences, there is bound to be an Insignia to suit everyone’s driving preferences. But would you want one?

To answer as concisely as possible; yes, you would. Thankfully, after the mess that was the Vectra, Vauxhall have gone back to the drawing board and have actually designed a car that it is a pleasure to spend time in. The comfort is unrivalled for the price (starting at around the £12,000 mark) and the performance is excellent. I generally don’t expect such responsiveness from a Saloon; the longer bodies and heavier chassis make pinpoint handling quite a chore, but the Vauxhall does exceedingly well on these grounds. It is capable of gliding round the tightest of corners, when most who drove the Vectra would be slowing down to 5 mph and turning the wheel like it was steering a boat in tough seas. As you would expect the interior of the Insignia is relatively luxurious. The higher end models such as the Elite come equipped with an ‘Infotainment’ centre, a ‘FlexRide Switch’ (for adapting the ride comfort depending on road surface), climate control, MP3 and seats with 4-way electric lumbar support. So either way you look at it, Vauxhall have certainly made the effort to make the Insignia comfortable and ever-so-slightly swish on the inside.

Cars like the Insignia are built to make impressions. The Vauxhall Insignia [http://www.westend-vauxhall.co.uk/new-vauxhall/vauxhall-insignia.shtml] is intended to be a car used by Sales Reps and those amongst us who spend more time in boardroom meetings than with their families. This is why the Insignia will either succeed or fail purely on how well it looks pulling up outside an office. If you ignore the badge on the front, the Insignia could pass for a car twice its price, but with that griffin-badge on the front it can’t help but lose some of the class it has worked so hard to achieve. If you are a sales rep who isn’t too concerned with the connotations that inevitably come with Vauxhall ownership, then the Vauxhall Insignia is probably the best Saloon you will find at anything close to this price.

Pete J Ridgard

Even the car connoisseurs can get a little flummoxed when deciding which used Vauxhall car they ultimately like best. With so much choice, each complete with the trusted Vauxhall name, drivers might feel just a little bit spoilt for choice to say the least. Plus, drivers love the fact that buying used means they can save lots of money. With the tough part being decision-making which model is best, here’s a quick breakdown about which ones are likely to appeal:

Used Vauxhall Insignia

Although a relatively new model, this is a car that drivers will find great savings on when they buy used. This executive-style 5-door vehicle is kitted out with the latest mod cons and its gleaming looks put it on the same level as a BMW or Audi. The good thing though is that a used Vauxhall Insignia costs much less! Luxury style is affordable with a used car, and this is what makes buying used so instantly appealing.

Used Vauxhall Corsa

The Corsa; perhaps the most popular small car of all time? Well, it stands a good chance of being up there with the best, and whether it’s a new style Corsa or a cheap old run-around, there is something for everyone to fall in love with at a garage full of used Vauxhall Corsas. People often find it difficult to decide between a Corsa and an Astra because they are quite similar, whereas something like the Insignia is reserved for the more adventurous car buyer looking for a really impressive motor, perhaps as a business car.

Used Vauxhall Vectra

Although larger than a small hatchback, the Vauxhall Vectra always appeals, as it is a typical family car. There are some great deals on used Vauxhall Vectras these days, and it doesn’t matter what age of vehicle you’re looking for, there always suitable options at your local used Vauxhall cars garage.

These are just some of the popular used Vauxhall cars that people have trouble deciding which they want to buy. The key is understanding what the purpose of the car is, so that you can make a worthwhile decision. If its needed for mainly business, a Vauxhall Insignia is an ideal choice. If its for trips round town, a used Vauxhall Corsa is likely to be the better option. For families looking for space and a smooth ride, the used Vauxhall Vectra should be considered.

To buy any type of Vauxhall car, be sure to visit this very popular site dealing in Used Vauxhall Cars. Visit http://www.allsmallcars.co.uk today.

The new, updated Vauxhall Astra will be launched at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor show and images released by the manufacturer already have fans of the car drooling. After its initial debut at the Motor Show the Astra will be on general UK sale towards the end of the year.

One of the main selling points of the new Astra will be its increased cabin space. This mid-sized family car is often expected to carry up to five passengers in the average household so space is generally very important to buyers. The space within the body of the Astra has been increased and will deliver higher levels of comfort and space for both the driver and any front and back seat passengers.

The cabin of the Astra has also been given a more “premium” feel. Vauxhall have recognised that buyers are searching for value but also quality. The interior of the new Vauxhall Astra has elements of the Insignia and the wrap around instrument panel is particularly striking and well laid out. Vauxhall are aiming to raise the bar in the compact car class and early photos and press releases suggest they might just achieve this.

The popular outgoing Astra is still on sale, with prices starting from around £15,000 OTR. As with many new cars when a new model is set to be released dealers are keen to shift their existing stock, so shop around and haggle. You may grab yourself a real bargain. The current Astra is an impressive and successful car in its own right. It is available with a choice of engines in both petrol and diesel and boasts a five star NCAP crash test rating, so safety standards are high.

Vauxhall currently have a variety of deals in place for the Astra and all other models in their range. A popular deal available on the Astra currently is a zero percentage finance offer. The Government scrappage scheme could also save you a further £2000 if you have a car over 10 years old that you are willing to trade in against a new car.

Author Mark Woodcock is a Webmaster of a wide variety of online specialty shops including a very popular site on New and Used Vauxhall Cars. Visit http://www.vauxhallclick.co.uk today.