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[Mr.OmegaMan]

Even with all that camouflage crap on the car it reminds me of the Omega in a weird twisted way (what a up to date version of what i'd expect the Omega would look like), Hopefully it'll be a better proposition than the current gen Insignia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5r1dXcrpOA

Sounds like their keeping the V6 also going by the video 

Don't know about anyone else... But i'll be tempted to give one of these a test drive when their out probably around 2017/18.

Who knows.... Maybe Vauxhall will make something that will one day be an acceptable replacement to fill the gap in the Vauxhall line up since they axed the Omega. Maybe then there will be less "Omega Replacement" threads 

[Varche]

Anyone thought of writing to GM formally demanding the return of a RWD just for enthusiasts.

We ordinary folk would of course have to wait till they were affordable ((circa ten years old) so given design andproduction lead times might be ten years or so. So in 20 years time we would finally be cateredfor. Google bathchair for design format

[frostbite]

You do realise the calipers say cadillac

[tunnie]

Anyone thought of writing to GM formally demanding the return of a RWD just for enthusiasts.

We ordinary folk would of course have to wait till they were affordable ((circa ten years old) so given design andproduction lead times might be ten years or so. So in 20 years time we would finally be cateredfor. Google bathchair for design format

 

That will be laughed all the way into the bin 

[tunnie]

Don't know about anyone else... But i'll be tempted to give one of these a test drive when their out probably around 2017/18.

Who knows.... Maybe Vauxhall will make something that will one day be an acceptable replacement to fill the gap in the Vauxhall line up since they axed the Omega. Maybe then there will be less "Omega Replacement" threads 

I tried to like the Insignia, I really, really did. Car Giant had loads of the buggers, 13/14 even 15 Plates within budget. Trouble is they are just so poorly refined.

They are cheap for a reason.

[Omega VT3000]

You do realise the calipers say cadillac

Could be to throw the scent off. Don't forget that the Insignia is sold in the USA as the Buick Regal and the Mokka is sold as the Buick Encore.

[frostbite]

Looking at the size of the disc, theyre as big as my 15" rims and the limp sounds v8 ish

[Kevin Wood]

Looking at the size of the disc, theyre as big as my 15" rims and the limp sounds v8 ish

.. being the operative word because there seems to be a lot of noise and not much go.

I'd say it's a V6.

[Bojan]

Anyone thought of writing to GM formally demanding the return of a RWD just for enthusiasts.

Some other parts of GM had common sense, and kept RWD platform. But they had market for that kind of cars, of course.
Nobody is building car for enthusiasts. Or at least not in buissines-class.

If you like younger RWD vauhxall, you can always buy GT (if you don't mind its lack of size and look).
Otherwise, better stock up on parts and start learning all about car-restoration.   

PS. As for insignia - I'm sure it will be FWD car again -> big FWD cars are a big no-no in my book

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Looking at the size of the disc, theyre as big as my 15" rims and the limp sounds v8 ish

.. being the operative word because there seems to be a lot of noise and not much go.

I'd say it's a V6.

Yep. V6 not V8. Probably the same old arthritic lump as found in my Signum.

[aaronjb]

If you like younger RWD vauhxall, you can always buy GT (if you don't mind its lack of size and look).
Otherwise, better stock up on parts and start learning all about car-restoration.   

Never sold in RHD unfortunately, so you also have to learn to sit on the wrong side of the car The '68-73 original is still nicer looking, too..

[Varche]

If you like younger RWD vauhxall, you can always buy GT (if you don't mind its lack of size and look).
Otherwise, better stock up on parts and start learning all about car-restoration.   

Never sold in RHD unfortunately, so you also have to learn to sit on the wrong side of the car The '68-73 original is still nicer looking, too..

That is easy. Overtaking and junctions and car park machines need extra effort.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Those calipers will either be 'scent throwing' as you say, or in fact they are literally Caddy calipers, which GM have gone parts-bin shopping for. After all it makes no sense whatsoever to go making a custom component for one car, when there's another, identical-specced affair on another model in another market. (not that even the biggest companies haven't already done this, of course they have, and do)

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Anyone thought of writing to GM formally demanding the return of a RWD just for enthusiasts.

Some other parts of GM had common sense, and kept RWD platform. But they had market for that kind of cars, of course.
Nobody is building car for enthusiasts. Or at least not in buissines-class.

If you like younger RWD vauhxall, you can always buy GT (if you don't mind its lack of size and look).
Otherwise, better stock up on parts and start learning all about car-restoration.   

PS. As for insignia - I'm sure it will be FWD car again -> big FWD cars are a big no-no in my book

This one in the video is highly likely to be a 4x4 being the V6 Turbo. Don't see why they'd go backwards and make it FWD when the last model had 4x4 variants, It's more likely to be 4x4 than RWD also... Granted the boring examples will no doubt be FWD as usual.

[andyc]

GM Europe could bring this over.
http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2/see/Grange/
Just a shame about the name.

[Doctor Gollum]

GM Europe could bring this over.
http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2/see/Grange/
Just a shame about the name.

Where are they building them now?

[biggriffin]

GM Europe could bring this over.
http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2/see/Grange/
Just a shame about the name.

If enough people show interest, they could bring it over, and call it the (omega f2) if priced competitively, it could sell very well, drop smaller V6 in, estate version ideal police car.The estate version R8 tourer, were my lottery money. $95,990(about£45k).. Mmm mmm yes.
The senator is very nice too.

So everybody lets start pestering GM.

[biggriffin]

https://img.tradingpost.com.au/6DVN3Z7W/1DD5YW/SGRP-Boxed640x480.jpg

Ideal as a replacement for tbe or young tunnie, bit of a road trip to go and get it.

Whoops wrong thread

[Bojan]

This one in the video is highly likely to be a 4x4 being the V6 Turbo. Don't see why they'd go backwards and make it FWD when the last model had 4x4 variants, It's more likely to be 4x4 than RWD also... Granted the boring examples will no doubt be FWD as usual.

Yes, but it will probably be primarly a FWD, only activating rear wheels when needed (as all modern AWD does).
4x4 and AWDs are, IMHO, just unnecessary weight in most of the times. When the surrface is good, I would allways go for RWD (or FWD on small car). On slippery surface, AWD is a good advantage, I addmit.
And the engine is mounted wrong way.

[ted_one]

Think I saw a similar car up at the VX heritage centre a few months back,Keith ABS would know wether it was the exact model as he knew the guy who owned it,apparently it was a personal import and it certainly was a good looking car.

[Kevin Wood]

This one in the video is highly likely to be a 4x4 being the V6 Turbo. Don't see why they'd go backwards and make it FWD when the last model had 4x4 variants, It's more likely to be 4x4 than RWD also... Granted the boring examples will no doubt be FWD as usual.

Yes, but it will probably be primarly a FWD, only activating rear wheels when needed (as all modern AWD does).
4x4 and AWDs are, IMHO, just unnecessary weight in most of the times. When the surrface is good, I would allways go for RWD (or FWD on small car). On slippery surface, AWD is a good advantage, I addmit.
And the engine is mounted wrong way.

Indeed. Direct a token few horsepower through a flimsy drivetrain to the rear to avoid the shame of having to call it a FWD car shitbox.  Fact is, the structure and suspension were designed to be FWD, so compromised from the start. As you say, unnecessary weight and, of course, tyre wear to try and cover up for the fact that the car was rubbish from the start.

[Mr.OmegaMan]

No enthusiasm towards what the next instalment of the Insignia may hold?

The new Astra K did win the European Car of the Year after all... Maybe GM / Vauxhall are trying to get their act together.

Looks like the Saloon or Hatch whatever it's going to be will be more of a coupe kinda Audi A5 / A7 shape to it. Not seen any Estate spy shots though...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Must say with that HSV that's a 'boring' but nicely restrained design. Certainly not the unbelievably excessive coupe, high-tail, uber-thick C-pillar, tiny rear window aesthetics that is the norm for Vx, Ford, and basically every major car maker these days.

Clearly that would/should be the basis for a European rear-drive Omega successor. However, the market has changed beyond all recognition since the OMegas demise. There's more 3-series on the roads than Mondeos etc... now even 'ordinary people' can afford a new BMW/Merc/Aurdi up their drive, I can't imagine anyone would pick a large rear-drive (who cares where the power goes on their car these days?) saloon, with a Griffin on the front. I wish they would, passionately. I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could.

The VXR programme and the VXR-8 was a good opportunity to then introduce a 'warm' VXR8, maybe all the bodykit, with a smaller engine (SRi ?). Then add one without the bodykit, and smaller engines, and hey presto, you have an Omega, or Ventora, or whatever you want to call it. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Must say with that HSV that's a 'boring' but nicely restrained design. Certainly not the unbelievably excessive coupe, high-tail, uber-thick C-pillar, tiny rear window aesthetics that is the norm for Vx, Ford, and basically every major car maker these days.

Clearly that would/should be the basis for a European rear-drive Omega successor. However, the market has changed beyond all recognition since the OMegas demise. There's more 3-series on the roads than Mondeos etc... now even 'ordinary people' can afford a new BMW/Merc/Aurdi up their drive, I can't imagine anyone would pick a large rear-drive (who cares where the power goes on their car these days?) saloon, with a Griffin on the front. I wish they would, passionately. I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could.

The VXR programme and the VXR-8 was a good opportunity to then introduce a 'warm' VXR8, maybe all the bodykit, with a smaller engine (SRi ?). Then add one without the bodykit, and smaller engines, and hey presto, you have an Omega, or Ventora, or whatever you want to call it. 

I remember the original. Nice shape, which was the same as the Victor driven by the fella in Randall and Hopkirk (deceased)

[Kevin Wood]

... I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could....

Yes, it all started when someone decided that their customers would be prepared to pay £30k for their flagship model with... the same front end as a shitbox Astra G.

A real British Leyland bit of thinking, that was.. "Well, we've got all these left over grilles in stores".

[Bojan]

No enthusiasm towards what the next instalment of the Insignia may hold?

As long as it holds it engine transverse - NO 

Jokes aside -> Insignia is a nice car, much better than vectra. But I (and belive many other,too) resent to GM for ditching Omega, and, even more, for promoting Vectra C/Signum as it's successor. How did they dare to say something like that    What audacity 

2 Kevin Wood -> modern AWD system fitted on popular cars just doesn't seem like a real deal to me. IMO, in slippery conditions, I belive that a good,strong LSD would be more benefitial that most of AWD systems.

I remember looking at Peugeot 2008 commercial on TV a year ago (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ku3rvdWfQ, from 0:15) -> driver swithces the round knob to slip-conditions (or whatever) and goes trough some snow on the street. My thoughts were: Oh, look at all this modern technology (ESP, AWD ect), todays cars can go trough banks of snow high as 2"!!! What will they think of next!?

[Kevin Wood]

Modern car marketing:

1) Sell customer a shitbox no matter which end of the market they are buying at
2) If trying to pass off as a luxury car, add loads of gimmick "features" that cost nothing more than a few lines of code and some random buttons spread over the (plastic) dashboard to implement.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

... I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could....

Yes, it all started when someone decided that their customers would be prepared to pay £30k for their flagship model with... the same front end as a shitbox Astra G.

A real British Leyland bit of thinking, that was.. "Well, we've got all these left over grilles in stores".

I do agree to a fair extent. Thing is, the facelift of the Omega was what it was. In fairness to them they spent a shedload of cash on it (£180mill rings a bell from my memory banks) and of course what you got was a brand new car, with just the main shell and floorpan the same as the PFL, everything else got a fettle in one form or another. It was a brilliant facelift, though in years to come I think the PFL wil be perceived as the more 'resolved' design. in 2000 everything had to have fully body coloured bumpers, all in one grilles and bonnets were the new Vauxhall 'face', and of course, it's the millennium to roll out the Star Silver in buckets! I remember, beautifully aesthetic or not, the Omega was dated in 2000, and in fairness, it had hit its natural 6-year lifecycle. The fact it was revised at all, and to the level it was reminded me of Concorde, actually. 

I can see someone one day taking a last of the line 3.2 Elite, and installing PFL externals, and possibly the dashbaord, too, but leaving all those extra FL goodies that the last models got, that weren't even in existence on the 1994 cars. ESP, rear vented discs, Dual zone Charcoal filtered Climate, lift up centre armrest and cup holder jobby, etc... plus all the usual toys on top.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Modern car marketing:

1) Sell customer a shitbox no matter which end of the market they are buying at
2) If trying to pass off as a luxury car, add loads of gimmick "features" that cost nothing more than a few lines of code and some random buttons spread over the (plastic) dashboard to implement.

Yep! That's it, in a nutshell! 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

No enthusiasm towards what the next instalment of the Insignia may hold?

As long as it holds it engine transverse - NO 

Jokes aside -> Insignia is a nice car, much better than vectra. But I (and belive many other,too) resent to GM for ditching Omega, and, even more, for promoting Vectra C/Signum as it's successor. How did they dare to say something like that    What audacity

2 Kevin Wood -> modern AWD system fitted on popular cars just doesn't seem like a real deal to me. IMO, in slippery conditions, I belive that a good,strong LSD would be more benefitial that most of AWD systems.

I remember looking at Peugeot 2008 commercial on TV a year ago (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ku3rvdWfQ, from 0:15) -> driver swithces the round knob to slip-conditions (or whatever) and goes trough some snow on the street. My thoughts were: Oh, look at all this modern technology (ESP, AWD ect), todays cars can go trough banks of snow high as 2"!!! What will they think of next!?

Left a sick feeling in my stomach at the time, too. Oddly this exact same thing happened at Vauxhall in the late 70s. They'd lost the money for a replacement for the flagship Cresta/Velox/Viscount, so 'upgunned' the Victor (think Vectra) and tried to make it the new 'prestige' model. A very nice Victor it made, but a Cresta it was not.

[Doctor Gollum]

This one in the video is highly likely to be a 4x4 being the V6 Turbo. Don't see why they'd go backwards and make it FWD when the last model had 4x4 variants, It's more likely to be 4x4 than RWD also... Granted the boring examples will no doubt be FWD as usual.

Yes, but it will probably be primarly a FWD, only activating rear wheels when needed (as all modern AWD does).
4x4 and AWDs are, IMHO, just unnecessary weight in most of the times. When the surrface is good, I would allways go for RWD (or FWD on small car). On slippery surface, AWD is a good advantage, I addmit.
And the engine is mounted wrong way.

Indeed. Direct a token few horsepower through a flimsy drivetrain to the rear to avoid the shame of having to call it a FWD car shitbox.  Fact is, the structure and suspension were designed to be FWD, so compromised from the start. As you say, unnecessary weight and, of course, tyre wear to try and cover up for the fact that the car was rubbish from the start.

Neither fair, nor entirely accurate where the Insignia is concerned... rear suspension is completely different on the 4x4, and far beefier than the standard ones...

Also, in Tour/Normal modes the AWD operates as described, with a variable torque bias, with a strong front wheel emphasis... switch to Sport/VXR mode and it becomes a different car with a permanent 60:40 rear bias. The flex ride also softens/firms the damping according to mode. Mine spent it's entire time in Sport mode, and inspite of 20" wheels, rode and handled far better than the fwd hatch ever could...

Incidentally that car has now done nearly 150k miles with no mechanical issues

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Similar to the Cav/Calibra 4x4s then, in that respect versus their more lowly models? which iirc, had a rear suspension almost identical to the Carlton/Omega? (though I appreciate the Insignia doesn't have the 'feature' of destroying the 4WD system if you have odd tyres) Many people don't realise the rear suspension of the Calibra in 4x4 guise was a very different animal to the standard Cav with a beam axle rear.


(PS and yet the Cav with bog-standard beam axle handled very well, and better than plenty of 'superior' newer cars, ironically but that's another story)

[TheBoy]

... I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could....

Yes, it all started when someone decided that their customers would be prepared to pay £30k for their flagship model with... the same front end as a shitbox Astra G.

A real British Leyland bit of thinking, that was.. "Well, we've got all these left over grilles in stores".

I do agree to a fair extent. Thing is, the facelift of the Omega was what it was. In fairness to them they spent a shedload of cash on it (£180mill rings a bell from my memory banks) and of course what you got was a brand new car, with just the main shell and floorpan the same as the PFL, everything else got a fettle in one form or another. It was a brilliant facelift, though in years to come I think the PFL wil be perceived as the more 'resolved' design. in 2000 everything had to have fully body coloured bumpers, all in one grilles and bonnets were the new Vauxhall 'face', and of course, it's the millennium to roll out the Star Silver in buckets! I remember, beautifully aesthetic or not, the Omega was dated in 2000, and in fairness, it had hit its natural 6-year lifecycle. The fact it was revised at all, and to the level it was reminded me of Concorde, actually. 

I can see someone one day taking a last of the line 3.2 Elite, and installing PFL externals, and possibly the dashbaord, too, but leaving all those extra FL goodies that the last models got, that weren't even in existence on the 1994 cars. ESP, rear vented discs, Dual zone Charcoal filtered Climate, lift up centre armrest and cup holder jobby, etc... plus all the usual toys on top.

But, anti corrosion aside, the MFL was the pinnacle of Omega design and function.  I'm stuggling to think of what genuine (not just penny pinching) improvements were made to the FL.

[Kevin Wood]

The fact it was revised at all, and to the level it was reminded me of Concorde, actually. 

A gas-guzzling but quick white elephant with nice new leather seats inside. I see what you mean.

The thing is, the facelift was purely cosmetic, with exactly the same mechanicals underneath. Mechanicals which were getting tired by then, and it brought the styling of the car down to the run-of-the-mill level, a move which had already started when look look at the transition from the Senator to the Omega PFL. Easy to see how it lost its' appeal as an executive car, IMHO. All the better for us, of course, until we come to want a replacement. 

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I think the pinnacle is the MFL, or certainly a PFL with a couple of MFL niceties (headlamps, for one) though I know you are a particular fan of the MFL poo-coloured steering wheels.
-The door cards, though overall I think the PFL are nicer, the FL ones do look a quantum leap on in aethetics. Also the concealed little cubbies are a very nice feature.
-The multi-function centre armrest is a feature I like, and means you've somewhere to put your cup! Many people may have forgotten, but 'cupholder one-upmanship' was a definite feature of the 90s, possibly started by the Vectra (which came out 1 year after the Omega)
-Engines which, whatever we think of them now would not pass the emissions regulations of 2001(or thereabouts, forget the exact year) so the Y engines had to happen, restricted in power though they were.
-heated seats with variable temp settings, now that was cool.

Now, before anyone thinks I've turned and become a FL-fancier... 

PFL...
-NO rub-off rubberised coatings to make your dash look like it's got dry, flakey skin.
-A simpler engine to work on, with 'proper' HT leads, no separate coil pack thingies, no extra Lambdas to worry about, etc. and the crank sensors are cheaper, too!
-'More practical exterior. I have, regretfully being in contact with walls, posts and other cars, and nice fat textured black plastic is somewhat better at hiding these wee knocks than the 'cracks if you stare at them too hard' FL bumpers.
-Aesthetics - the PFL/MFL Omegas are frowning, sneering, and have a real 'attitude' abou them. The FLs look like a slightly odd replica of a contemporary Audi / Astra G, as mentioned above.
-You can fit your wheels in the boot of a PFL, owners of Elites will know their 235s on 17s don't happily sit in the spare wheel well as we chaps with out 205s
-What is perhaps now forgotten, but one of the most innovative boot handles, copied by numerous car makes now, but a hinged griffin that is the boot release was just so cool back int'daay, lad. 

[Kevin Wood]

Yes, speaking of "cupholder one-upmanship", Mrs. KW has upgraded her Mk2 MX 5 to a Mk3. Some of the useful cubby holes on the Mk2 have turned into cup holders. In fact, it now has 4 cup holders. It's a 2 seater.

[Kevin Wood]

Neither fair, nor entirely accurate where the Insignia is concerned... rear suspension is completely different on the 4x4, and far beefier than the standard ones...

Perhaps, but you can't help wonder if you couldn't have got 99% of the way there by just making it RWD.

[Mr.OmegaMan]

There is a new Cadillac that's going to be officially sold in the UK. The Cadillac CT6 Link

Marmite looks. Doesn't really suit the UK.

Probably better than what the next Insignia will be, But this Cadillac will be very expensive apparently.

[STEMO]

There is a new Cadillac that's going to be officially sold in the UK. The Cadillac CT6 Link

Marmite looks. Doesn't really suit the UK.

Probably better than what the next Insignia will be, But this Cadillac will be very expensive apparently.

That's gonna take on the S class? Errrrrr......no.

[Nick W]

That's gonna take on the S class? Errrrrr......no.

It doesn't have a chance, it's not ugly enough.

[STEMO]

That's gonna take on the S class? Errrrrr......no.

It doesn't have a chance, it's not ugly enough.

A pimp would have to run a lot of girls to afford that, but I suppose it will give them something to aspire to.

[Doctor Gollum]

Based on the Holden VF/VG platform

[TheBoy]

DBG, not sure what the fascination is with cup holders, but remember its an offence to drink your fresh, hot, overpriced coffee whilst driving, whatever the biff in the BP may say. In the same way you are not allowed to scoff a pie whilst driving.  Smoking, however, is allowed, but that's a separate rant.

The FL cup holder, believe me, is useless. Too far back to be useable, its actually awkward to lift a 'Donalds milkshake from it, let alone something wetter like fizzies or hot drinks.  Apparently. Obviously, I wouldn't be eating/drinking whilst driving, as that would upset Mr Plod.  .

So you have the worse of all compromises - a fairly unusable cup holder, and a tiny storage area under the armrest.


If the Omega needed cupholders, and I remain unconvinced that cars do, a better place, particularly for autos, would be centre console, just forward and outboard of the gear lever. There is a lot of wasted space under there, plenty of room for a sunken holder, that's in a more useable position.

[Ever Ready]

GM Europe could bring this over.
http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2/see/Grange/
Just a shame about the name.

I see they have a Senator over there with the 6.2super charged LSA lump.

Change the name from Grange to Mighty Mig and I'll buy one. Second hand mind

[Sir Tigger KC]

Yes, speaking of "cupholder one-upmanship", Mrs. KW has upgraded her Mk2 MX 5 to a Mk3. Some of the useful cubby holes on the Mk2 have turned into cup holders. In fact, it now has 4 cup holders. It's a 2 seater.

Many people seem to go round with a bottle of water these days for fear of dehydration and the need to drink about 8 gallons of the stuff daily, so one holder is for that and the other for your travel beer coffee! 

[2boxerdogs]

I like the Aussie one & 6.2 yes please 😎😎

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Apparently Opel/Vauxhall will unveil the European version of the 2017 Buick LaCrosse in other words the new Insignia Grand Sports, Sometime in December.



It should look something like this. (Apologies about the picture sizes below)

[VXL V6]

... I'd love to see another Omega/Royale/Senator, and if they were clever, and had tried to push the brand up not down over the years, then maybe they could....

Yes, it all started when someone decided that their customers would be prepared to pay £30k for their flagship model with... the same front end as a shitbox Astra G.

A real British Leyland bit of thinking, that was.. "Well, we've got all these left over grilles in stores".

I do agree to a fair extent. Thing is, the facelift of the Omega was what it was. In fairness to them they spent a shedload of cash on it (£180mill rings a bell from my memory banks) and of course what you got was a brand new car, with just the main shell and floorpan the same as the PFL, everything else got a fettle in one form or another. It was a brilliant facelift, though in years to come I think the PFL wil be perceived as the more 'resolved' design. in 2000 everything had to have fully body coloured bumpers, all in one grilles and bonnets were the new Vauxhall 'face', and of course, it's the millennium to roll out the Star Silver in buckets! I remember, beautifully aesthetic or not, the Omega was dated in 2000, and in fairness, it had hit its natural 6-year lifecycle. The fact it was revised at all, and to the level it was reminded me of Concorde, actually. 

I can see someone one day taking a last of the line 3.2 Elite, and installing PFL externals, and possibly the dashbaord, too, but leaving all those extra FL goodies that the last models got, that weren't even in existence on the 1994 cars. ESP, rear vented discs, Dual zone Charcoal filtered Climate, lift up centre armrest and cup holder jobby, etc... plus all the usual toys on top.

But, anti corrosion aside, the MFL was the pinnacle of Omega design and function.  I'm stuggling to think of what genuine (not just penny pinching) improvements were made to the FL.

Slightly improved suspension on most model equivalents, CID Nav (good for the time), less cluttered headunit controls due to double din facias, non-toffee wheels on the MV6, no rusting door tops creeping down from the weather seal, door rubbing strips that don't bend back on themselves.....

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I think you'll find that adds to their charm....  got FL doors fitted to my PFL, no, so no more odd-placed rust (hopefully)

I did like the hidden door cubbies on the FL, though, I'd like some way of installing them in PFL door cards, but alas probably would look homemade unless I put a lot of time and effort into it.   

[TheBoy]

Slightly improved suspension on most model equivalents, CID Nav (good for the time), less cluttered headunit controls due to double din facias, non-toffee wheels on the MV6, no rusting door tops creeping down from the weather seal, door rubbing strips that don't bend back on themselves.....

Suspension improvements I've struggled to notice TBH.

The NCDC/CID setup is a big enough improvement to make it worth retro fitting back to MFL, which is fairly trivial

Not sure I agree with improved facia. Maybe its familiarisation, but I've always preferred the earlier layout. Plus you can replace the switches with PFL ones as they have the same hopeless covering as FL.

Rusty doors is the big problem with PFL/MFL


As for MV6 wheels, well, yes, agreed, Irmscher need shooting.  TBH all Irmscher wheels are made of chocolate, but the MFL MV6 ones are a disgrace 

[TheBoy]

I did like the hidden door cubbies on the FL, though, I'd like some way of installing them in PFL door cards, but alas probably would look homemade unless I put a lot of time and effort into it.   

Mrs TB thinks the FL doorcards are utter complete <censored>, based on the fact that a) they rattle like a bugger, b) there is no door handle to hang on to.

She hates them

[Doctor Gollum]

I did like the hidden door cubbies on the FL, though, I'd like some way of installing them in PFL door cards, but alas probably would look homemade unless I put a lot of time and effort into it.   

Mrs TB thinks the FL doorcards are utter complete <censored>, based on the fact that a) they rattle like a bugger, b) there is no door handle to hang on to.

She hates them

I'll wager that neither of those items are a concern when she's driving

[TheBoy]

I did like the hidden door cubbies on the FL, though, I'd like some way of installing them in PFL door cards, but alas probably would look homemade unless I put a lot of time and effort into it.   

Mrs TB thinks the FL doorcards are utter complete <censored>, based on the fact that a) they rattle like a bugger, b) there is no door handle to hang on to.

She hates them

I'll wager that neither of those items are a concern when she's driving

The rattle annoys her enough to turn the wireless up to Disco levels.

[Doctor Gollum]

I did like the hidden door cubbies on the FL, though, I'd like some way of installing them in PFL door cards, but alas probably would look homemade unless I put a lot of time and effort into it.   

Mrs TB thinks the FL doorcards are utter complete <censored>, based on the fact that a) they rattle like a bugger, b) there is no door handle to hang on to.

She hates them

I'll wager that neither of those items are a concern when she's driving

The rattle annoys her enough to turn the wireless up to Disco levels.

[Mr.OmegaMan]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/vauxhall/insignia/97440/new-2017-vauxhall-insignia-sports-tourer-estate-seen-out-in-the-open

[STEMO]

That's a seriously nice looking car. They had to stretch it because the current ones are only millimetres longer than an astra.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

I would be surprised if Mercedes don't sue them for that design. 

[Doctor Gollum]

I would be surprised if Mercedes don't sue them for that design. 

Bah, the waistline rises to the rear rather than dropping away... Looks more Kia IMHO

[Mr.OmegaMan]

Does look a little Korean/French i supose, Then again all cars look the same these days 



Insignia Estate does look pretty good, Better than the hatch/saloon.

[Nick W]

Why have they bothered with fitting a rear quarter window to either of those estates? The diagonal panel line for the rear bumper should have been laughed at when first suggested. The tiny tyres on the pictured Insignias make their huge wheels look ridiculously undersized, and what are all of the conflicting bodylines on the doors all about? They've taken the original design and beaten it with the ugly stick some more.

[Mr.OmegaMan]

VAUXHALL REVEALS ALL NEW INSIGNIA

Luton – Vauxhall has released first pictures of the all-new Insignia, known as the Insignia Grand Sport, which will receive its world premiere at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March.

Elegant lines with class-leading aerodynamics and large coupé style
Up to 175kg lighter than the outgoing version
New all-wheel-drive with torque vectoring and eight-speed automatic transmission
New technologies including next-gen IntelliLux Matrix LED headlights
Extended OnStar service with hotel reservation

More Info Here:

http://media.gm.com/media/gb/en/vauxhall/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/gb/en/2016/vauxhall/12-07-reveal-new-insignia-grand-sport.html

[Mr.OmegaMan]

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Whatever people's opinions of the current model is, I think most would admit it has aged well, and this new model not being a massive shift from the old, visually, does bear this out. Also think it's a more cohesive design than the Mondeo, which looks just a little too slug-like in its stance, especially as the preview model was such a triumph, aesthetically.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Many don't but I've always liked the V-grille, and now it's dead and buried I always look at the newer Opel/Vx designs and think 'that would look that bit nicer with a little chrome V' so I've chucked on a little photoshoppy roughed out one. 

[Doctor Gollum]

That looks crap, especially with the old Griffin...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Well, they say honesty is the best policy...

[Kevin Wood]

I'm disappointed that they haven't yet managed to stretch the acres of nasty plastic rear bumper forward and round the whole car so they can do away with all the non-tupperware bodywork, TBH.   

[Viral_Jim]

Well, to go against the grain, and against 99% of posts on this forum about any car younger than whatever-year-they-stopped-making-the-omega:

I rather like it  . If they make one that runs on real fuel (with a 0-60 time of less than a week) and if the interior doesn't feel like its made of wheelie bin plastic, I'd seriously consider the tourer as a future replacement for the bimmer. 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I quite like it. It has a sophisticated 'grown up' appearance.

It is certainly far more attractive than the old Insignia, which looked like a dollop of something that came from a dog's arse.

[citroenguy]

That looks very good DBG 

[Doctor Gollum]

Well, they say honesty is the best policy...

Getting too old to beat around the bush

[Viral_Jim]

Getting too old to beat around the bush

Terrible when old age gets you that way 

[Nick W]

I quite like it. It has a sophisticated 'grown up' appearance.

More like middle-aged spread  trying to be trendy.