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Matt's Insignia - The workhorse

67K views 332 replies 19 participants last post by  Matt-SRI 
#1 · (Edited)
So, bit of background for those that don't know the situation.

For work, I do quite a few miles (about 25K miles per year) Instead of a company car, I receive a car allowance which works well for me. I've usually bought something of a compromise car so something that is semi-fun but also usable for work. So a BMW 325i, the Merc CLK280, Astra VXR etc. I've now decided that I can't be doing with a half way house. Reasons being terrible depreciation, always being annoyed when you get loads of stonechips, Ginsters all over the place :) , high cost of servicing for ultimately a "nice" car but nothing that special etc. I've also got a decent drive now...

so I bought a Monaro VXR for fun (to go with my 205 GTI) with the plan being to get something cheap and cheerful to run for work.

Car allowance rules state:

Must be under 3 years old when purchased
Must be under 5 years old when sold (they tend to leave you alone until it gets to 6 in fairness)
over 1.6
Four or more seats

So, I bought this and will keep it updated with the trials and tribulations of running such an amazing/crap vehicle....

Forgive the autotrader screen grabs...





It's 2.5 years old... 95K on the clock, high but it's motorway miles
Full Vauxhall history
1.8 petrol (slooooow)
decent tread on the tyres.
Dull
6 months tax

£5900

I only intend to run it for a year as the depreciation shouldn't be too bad after that length of time and do the same again...
 
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#3 ·
For that money you get a lot of car . Looks like it's got the structure look alike fake alloy wheel trims on , one of Vauxhalls better ideas . 1.8 petrol is a good choice in some ways . What's your road tax for 12 months ? I'd say it's a good buy overall , yes there might not be a fire breathing motor under the hood but in the end of the day it'll get you from A to B in comfort .
 
#6 ·
Needs lowering

Number plate is wonky

etc etc

Beat its a real beast?

As its a poverty spec ( but still one up from Dave's Vectra) does it have the proper handbrake rather than the crappy electronic version?

Guess your clients will feel sorry for you now when you turn up in that after the Merc??

:)
 
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#7 ·
Needs lowering

Number plate is wonky

etc etc

Beat its a real beast?

As its a poverty spec ( but still one up from Dave's Vectra) does it have the proper handbrake rather than the crappy electronic version?

Guess your clients will feel sorry for you now when you turn up in that after the Merc??

:)
Alas it still has the wankomatic hand brake...

I was thinking about using the sympathy card with clients but alas alot are petrol heads so we talk cars a fair bit, thus they know about the Monaro/pug... The others won't even notice :)

Quite looking forward to a workhorse that I'm not arsed about. Will be liberating lol
 
#9 ·
One of the lads on the rank just bought himself a very nice 3 year old ex lease Saab 93 TTID 160 Turbo edition in light grey . Car has covered 100.000 miles . Full service history plus new water pump & cam belt @ 75.000 miles & the selling dealer has just changed the DMF & clutch as well all for an asking price of £5700. Bodywork is perfect , interior is nice with black leather seats & usual Saab refinements . Dash board lights up in dark lime green . Also has parrot phone kit installed as well . Car sits well on it's alloys , the roof line is low giving the body a sporty stance . A few bits of damage here & there on rear door trims (something large carried in back i suppose) & a few scuffs on rear light drivers side but that's all i found from a quick look around so all in all it's a good price when you consider the list price when new .
 
#12 ·
Well it looks like going forward the used car Market should unleash quite a few bargains based on the way new car sales are going at moment , so if your looking hang back a while and grab yourself a bargain .
 
#17 · (Edited)
So, i'm going to try to update this monthly with running costs. Partially to keep track myself and partially as it might be handy for folks to see what running one of these as a workhorse works out like.

Incidentally, it's great to drive for work. Very comfy and will sit at 85 (ahem - obviously not MPH) all day long. Getting about 440 miles to a tank of petrol too (not that I care - fuel card :) )

Costs this month

Purchase - £5900
Parrot kit - £Free (roast dinner)
Proper bo tailored mats that fit and everything - £15

Total £5915
 
#18 ·
So, i'm going to try to update this monthly with running costs. Partially to keep track myself and partially as it might be handy for folks to see what running one of these as a workhorse works out like.

Incidentally, it's great to drive for work. Very comfy and will sit at 85 (ahem - obviously not MPH) all day long. Getting about 440 miles to a tank of petrol too (not that I care - fuel card :) )

Costs this month

Purchase - £5900
Insurance - £275 (business use - 25K miles)
Parrot kit - £Free (roast dinner)
Proper bo tailored mats that fit and everything - £15

Total £6190
85 that's the Chinese for 70 !
 
#19 · (Edited)
Hello there Insignia fans...

So, here we are very nearly at the end of Feb so I thought i'd do my little monthly update to keep the excited masses at bay.

Mileage now sits at 98K.
Costs this month = £0

Total costs including purchase £5915
It better not die yet or that would be £2957.50 per month which would be terrible value even compared to the depreciation/servicing rip off that was the Merc. :D

It will need discs and pads on the front fairly soon so will get the trade card at the ready at Vauxhall for the bits and the gearbox is a little noisy in 5th and 6th (only a bit) it's under warranty and going in to have the bearings replaced at a local specialist with upgraded parts in the next couple of weeks at no cost to me which should see the box right for the foreseeable. A service is also due soonish so will get that booked in.

In other exciting news, it probably wants another wash really... once a month is as far as i'm prepared to go with this...



Good workhorsing so far.
 
#22 ·
Hello there Insignia fans...

So, here we are very nearly at the end of Feb so I thought i'd do my little monthly update to keep the excited masses at bay.

Mileage now sits at 98K.
Costs this month = £0

Total costs including purchase £6190.
It better not die yet or that would be £3095 per month which would be terrible value even compared to the depreciation/servicing rip off that was the Merc. :D

It will need discs and pads on the front fairly soon so will get the trade card at the ready at Vauxhall for the bits and the gearbox is a little noisy in 5th and 6th (only a bit) it's under warranty and going in to have the bearings replaced at a local specialist with upgraded parts in the next couple of weeks at no cost to me which should see the box right for the foreseeable. A service is also due soonish so will get that booked in.

In other exciting news, it probably wants another wash really... once a month is as far as i'm prepared to go with this...



Good workhorsing so far.
What a way to spoil the picture. Could of parked the car 10ft further back and taken another 10 steps back ;)
 
#25 ·
So, booked this in to have the box looked at as it was getting noisy in 5th and 6th. The M32's on these are not known for their longevity. I took it into Eco-Torque who specialise in these boxes amongst other things who have advised that although we could get away with the bearings for 5th and 6th, the others won't be far behind. As such they are doing a full bearing rebuild, replacing all the seals and refilling with proper gearbox oil (apparently, low quality box oil is a good part of why alot of these fail) Very professional outfit.

The good bit is, the warranty company have picked up the tab completely, no quibbles, no messing. Car should be back with me on Saturday with a fresh and re-warrantied box which will probably out live the car. Happy days! I had factored in a potential box when buying this so the fact it's now being done FOC is a nice bonus.
 
#26 ·
Definate bonus, but will the new box stop it being be a dog slow snotter?

Least its not a diesel!! :)
 
#29 ·
Righty, the old "it's nearly the end of the month" update.

So, not done that many miles this month as it's had it's box rebuilt as above so i've used a courtesy car. This was done under warranty at no cost to me. Only other thing it's needed is a service which I got done at a trusted independent.

Mileage is now at just over 99K

Costs so far

Purchase - £5900
Parrot kit - £Free (roast dinner)
Proper bo tailored mats that fit and everything - £15
Gearbox rebuilt £Free - warranty
Major service - £150

Total £6065

So, if it was worth nothing now that would be £2021.66 per month.... best it keeps going lol.

Fingers crossed it won't be needing anything now until MOT time in July. We shall see!
 
#32 ·
100.000 miles who cares if they don't make em' like they used to ! Should be good to double that milage . We just got hold of a petrol Focus Mk1 2-0 at work it's showing 374.000 miles recorded ! The previous owner had it serviced every 10.000 or 10 weeks whichever came first . Yet again proof that good regular servicing using the correct parts pays off when doing big miles .
 
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