Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Caravans and Caravanning -  Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Vauxhall Insignia Post Reply Post New Topic
via mobile 09/5/2023 at 7:17pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Pegasus 546. CRV 2.2d
View bigtimz's Profile View Profile   Reply to bigtimz Reply   Quote bigtimz Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2009

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   206

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi
Anybody using the latest Insignia to tow with?

I have a 2022 2.0 diesel Insignia hatchback.. Currently using a Volvo XC90 but not expecting the same faultless characteristics from the Vauxhall.

If you tow with an Insignia, what are you towing and how does the car cope?

Thanks


12/5/2023 at 1:36pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 524
View TrigGLX's Profile View Profile   Reply to TrigGLX Reply   Quote TrigGLX Quote  
Joined: 19/8/2008

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   535

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 7
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi we had a vx insignia 2.0ltr Diesel Turbo sri estate in 2018. It was a bloody good car spacious and everything, however towing our van Adra Altea 542uK mmtplm of 1300 Kgs, it was a nightmare. No matter what i did to alter the weight balance in the van and car could iget it to stop swaying at 55 mph. however the car coped with the weight and fuel consumption was 30 ish towing.
No other car prior to and after has suffered like this with the same van, and loadings etc.

I can only put it down to lowered stance of the SRI models and the large rear over hangs of the estate.

hope this helps.


12/5/2023 at 4:52pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Monty15's Profile View Profile   Reply to Monty15 Reply   Quote Monty15 Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2015

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2327

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 6
Site Nights 2018: 0

Can't comment on the Insignia personally, but can confirm TrigGLX's experience that a perfectly good stable outfit behind one car (well actually many different cars) can become a nightmare behind another for no obviously good reason. You can make all the numbers work perfectly well, but there is always a risk that it's not a match made in heaven! Rarely a complete disaster (if you don't lose it altogether!), generally just a case of maybe driving a little slower, and treating more difficult situations with a little more thought/consideration.

There was a Practical Caravan test with the Insignia a few years ago, and they commented that it wasn't as stable as some other cars under some conditions, but overall rated as a good tow car. https://www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/vauxhall-insignia-sports-tourer


via mobile 12/5/2023 at 5:09pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Pegasus 546. CRV 2.2d
View bigtimz's Profile View Profile   Reply to bigtimz Reply   Quote bigtimz Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2009

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   206

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for your replies!

The instability has been my concern. I had an Audi A6 sportline estate a few tears ago towing the caravan mentioned. Every trip , no matter what I did was stressful due to swaying .
I moved onto a mk3 Honda Crv then to the XC90 both of which I would recommend. I don't know if it's because they break the airflow in front of the caravan but they are both great tow cars.
My best towcar ( but only upto 1300kg) was a 2007 Citroën Xsara Picasso.

Thanks!


12/5/2023 at 6:32pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
View Monty15's Profile View Profile   Reply to Monty15 Reply   Quote Monty15 Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2015

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2327

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 6
Site Nights 2018: 0

Quote: Originally posted by bigtimz on 12/5/2023
Thanks for your replies!

The instability has been my concern. I had an Audi A6 sportline estate a few tears ago towing the caravan mentioned. Every trip , no matter what I did was stressful due to swaying .
I moved onto a mk3 Honda Crv then to the XC90 both of which I would recommend. I don't know if it's because they break the airflow in front of the caravan but they are both great tow cars.
My best towcar ( but only upto 1300kg) was a 2007 Citroën Xsara Picasso.

Thanks!



Strangely, my current car is a 2017 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, and it's an amazingly good tow car. I bought it new before I'd decided to get a caravan, so certainly not chosen for it's towing qualities, all the numbers are pushed quite close to the limits, a 1.2 litre petrol (and only 3 cylinder at that!) engine hardly seems adequate for a 4 berth 1310Kg MPTLM caravan, but it absolutely shines, and after nearly 5 years and many thousands of miles I've pushed it hard dragging the van all over the country, and it's never disappointed or given concern. It's VERY eager to push on, and I've hit well over 70mph when attention has slipped yet it's still rock solid. I think if anything it more than proves that you just can't tell until you try!

I think TrigGLX's comment about the rear overhang of his Insignia may have a point, my C4GP is quite lightweight (lots of plastic and aluminium panels) but pretty much has a wheel on each corner and is very wide, so the caravan has less influence on it.


Advertisement



13/5/2023 at 7:33pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View martin734's Profile View Profile   Reply to martin734 Reply   Quote martin734 Quote  
Joined: 23/1/2019

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   203

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 2
Site Nights 2021: 5
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Rear overhang makes a big difference to towing any trailer. The further behind the rear wheels the towbar is the greater the leverage effect the trailer exerts, both vertically and horizontally. This leverage effect reduces the vertical load on the front wheels of the tow vehicle while at the same time, any yaw from the trailer is exaggerated at the front wheels. This effect is even worse on cars such as sports estates with harder suspension


14/5/2023 at 8:09am
 Location: chesterfield
 Outfit: Ford Kuga AWD & Lunar Clubman SI
View cliffbrown's Profile View Profile   Reply to cliffbrown Reply   Quote cliffbrown Quote  
Joined: 02/7/2006

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1581

Site Reviews Total: 6
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 8
Site Nights 2018: 0

dont know about the new Insignia I had a 64 plate estate, a lovely car, but only had a towbar limit of 75Kg


via mobile 14/5/2023 at 7:39pm
 Location: Stoke on Trent
 Outfit: Bailey Pegasus Modena 2016
View Paul and Nikki's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul and Nikki Reply   Quote Paul and Nikki Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2016

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   298

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Nothing to do with an insignia but more a general remark about towcars and a repeat of what trigGLX said, we had a 3 litre diesel BMW X3, which is classed as a great towcar and a 1600KG Swift Celeste, the numbers were great on paper, nose weight, 85% rule, everything, but in reality I found it an awful match, even at 55mph towing through France, it just felt really unstable every time a lorry went past us, it always felt like it was on the verge of snaking, no matter what we did with the weight in the caravan, it obviously has an end bed and we were towing with nothing under the bed, it was terrible


15/5/2023 at 1:36pm
 Location: Manchester
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 524
View TrigGLX's Profile View Profile   Reply to TrigGLX Reply   Quote TrigGLX Quote  
Joined: 19/8/2008

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   535

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 7
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi all glad it was not just me then, we have had two BM X1 since then with no issues towing with the same van. Just for ref carsa we have used to tow this van at 1300 Kgs MTPLM.

1. 2006 Ford Focus 2.0ltr diesel estate (Zetec) Brilliant no issues
2. 2009 Volvo V70 2.0ltr Diesel (same engine as above) Brilliant no issues
3. 2012 Vx Antara 2.2ltr Diesel (did not know caravan was there) Brilliant no issues
4. Vx Insignia 2.0 ltr diesel estate, was not stable, and could not get stable.
5. 2018 BMW X1 xdrive (4x4) 2.0ltr Diesel, Brilliant no issues sure footed
6. 2022 BMW X1 sdrive 2.0lte petrol, Again brilliant, but no as sure footed as the xdrive, but amazingly just as frugel, as the diesel on fuel.

Next ??, as looking to get a new heavier van at around 1500 Kgs MTPLM

Hope this helps


16/5/2023 at 10:08am
 Location: Bolton
 Outfit: Avondale Dart 510 5
View Geoff48's Profile View Profile   Reply to Geoff48 Reply   Quote Geoff48 Quote  
Joined: 06/9/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   649

Site Reviews Total: 38
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 4  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 7
Site Nights 2023: 28
Site Nights 2022: 19
Site Nights 2021: 19
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 16

I had a 2 litre tdci Diesel Hatch a few years ago a 64 plate. Used it to tow Avondale Dart max MTPLM 1260kg the only issue I had was that for me it "bounced" more than any other towcar I had or have had since. I used it for trips out every month March to December and trips to france for a fortnight in August. My opinion is it wasn't the best towcar but was quite ok. The best tow car I had was a 2 l tdci Mondeo 06 plate very stable and lots of torque.


Advertisement



16/5/2023 at 8:18pm
 Location: Essex
 Outfit: None Entered
View skipp66's Profile View Profile   Reply to skipp66 Reply   Quote skipp66 Quote  
Joined: 08/6/2008

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   211
Tent Reviews:   3

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

My brother has had company cars for the last 10 years or so, had 2 insgnias, both diesel manuals, and now has a 21 plate mondeo.All estates.
Tows a van aprox 1400 KG so quite lite, and has said the mondeo is the best of the bunch so far.
However our mum has a Passat estate 2015 2.0 diesel.
And this tows the van far better than either of the 2 newer cars !


via mobile 18/5/2023 at 10:21pm
 Location: northwest
 Outfit: Vanless
View OLLIEB's Profile View Profile   Reply to OLLIEB Reply   Quote OLLIEB Quote  
Joined: 03/5/2010

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   68

Site Reviews Total: 11
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 4  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 5
Site Nights 2021: 14
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

I use 20ltr TD sri to pull lunar lexon 585 . Tows well enough ,keep under 58mph. Occasional wobble. Bit sluggish on long hills. C5 2.2d was much better.


28/5/2023 at 12:52pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Elddis Avante
View Aldo1877's Profile View Profile   Reply to Aldo1877 Reply   Quote Aldo1877 Quote  
Joined: 22/7/2010

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7
Tent Reviews:   4

Site Reviews Total: 30
Site Reviews 2024: 9  
Site Reviews 2023: 4  
Site Reviews 2022: 3  
Site Reviews 2021: 7  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 3  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 42
Site Nights 2023: 24
Site Nights 2022: 11
Site Nights 2021: 32
Site Nights 2020: 24
Site Nights 2019: 17
Site Nights 2018: 3

I had similar issues with my Insignia. In terms of capability it had no issues pulling, but was susceptible to sway and side wind gusts. My biggest issue with the car was it's lack of reliability up until the point the engine blew in Germany on my way to Italy.

I now have a Ssangyong Korando and a larger van which it pulls no problem.





In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Caravan Towcars and Towing Advice - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














7665 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder