Everyone thinks I'm a little bit mad so thought I'd share here...
I currently drive a 2021 Vauxhall Insignia (Buick Regal to you US folks). It has a 1.5 3-cylinder diesel engine that is basically half of a Duramax 3.0, including its belt-driven oil pump. It's 14 months old, has just shy of 18,000miles on the clock and I've had it since day one.
It's a nice-looking car, it's very comfy (has optional AGR seats with loads of adjustment), it's fantastic on fuel (60mpg+), it's well spec'd and considering it's tiny powerplant, goes very well.
BUT... I've had endless niggles with it. A constantly stream of rattles, warning lights and various other minor issues. Every minor issue made worse by a dealer who takes multiple visits and often days on end to get anything repaired. In the last 14 months, my car has spent 6 weeks total in the dealer, accumulated over 11 visits.
It behaved itself for a month but now the heatshield that got replaced 2 months ago is rattling intermittently again, I have a dashboard that buzzes and vibrates at certain engine RPM and my parking sensors only work 50% of the time.
The little 3 pot diesel suffers badly with NVH at lower engine speeds (sub 2000rpm) and I can't help but feel that it's literally rattling the car apart.
So I'm selling it to a car-supermarket this weekend for a very good price (I've not lost anything). Helped by the economic climate and a strong second-hand market currently.
I've placed an order for a brand-new Dacia Duster. I was quite insistent it had to be four wheel drive and the only one built and available is 500miles away in Northern Ireland. I can pick it up in 2 weeks, but collection is going to involve a flight and a 9 hour drive home which includes a ferry.
Am I mad?
I currently drive a 2021 Vauxhall Insignia (Buick Regal to you US folks). It has a 1.5 3-cylinder diesel engine that is basically half of a Duramax 3.0, including its belt-driven oil pump. It's 14 months old, has just shy of 18,000miles on the clock and I've had it since day one.
It's a nice-looking car, it's very comfy (has optional AGR seats with loads of adjustment), it's fantastic on fuel (60mpg+), it's well spec'd and considering it's tiny powerplant, goes very well.
BUT... I've had endless niggles with it. A constantly stream of rattles, warning lights and various other minor issues. Every minor issue made worse by a dealer who takes multiple visits and often days on end to get anything repaired. In the last 14 months, my car has spent 6 weeks total in the dealer, accumulated over 11 visits.
It behaved itself for a month but now the heatshield that got replaced 2 months ago is rattling intermittently again, I have a dashboard that buzzes and vibrates at certain engine RPM and my parking sensors only work 50% of the time.
The little 3 pot diesel suffers badly with NVH at lower engine speeds (sub 2000rpm) and I can't help but feel that it's literally rattling the car apart.
So I'm selling it to a car-supermarket this weekend for a very good price (I've not lost anything). Helped by the economic climate and a strong second-hand market currently.
I've placed an order for a brand-new Dacia Duster. I was quite insistent it had to be four wheel drive and the only one built and available is 500miles away in Northern Ireland. I can pick it up in 2 weeks, but collection is going to involve a flight and a 9 hour drive home which includes a ferry.
Am I mad?
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