Which one would be better for 180kms a day?

Flashdan

Just wondering what people think would be better for driving 180 kms a day on the motorway?

Opel Insignia

Or This:

Mazda 6

Trying to find actual answer on owner forums etc is quite hard. In the JD power survey the Isignia is rated as the most reliable large family car but its rated as one of the worst on what car. There seems to be 1 million Insigina's on the roads so that cant all be garbage right?

brokenbad

Opel Insignia - absolute dirt. Steer well clear. Friend of mine had a 2015 model from new and it broke his heart from day one......

Flashdan

thanks 😁 good to know.

hoodie6029

The natural habit of an Insignia is the side of the road with the bonnet up. Avoid.

Car Mechanics Magazine did one as a project car a few years ago. Everything broke on it. Twice. Ended up costing them over £12k for a 6 or 7 year old one. You wouldn’t pay that for a 2 year old one.

bazz26

First generation Insignia diesel has earned a terrible reputation for reliability. JD Power must have surveyed the petrol models to make that statement. They improved with the facelift from 2014 but that early 1.6 diesel engine has it's fair share of issues. I'd avoid.

As for the Mazda 6, just avoid the diesel version at all costs. They really are a disaster when it comes to reliability. You could get lucky and find one that has been trouble free but the odds are really stacked against it.

A similar vintage Mondeo or Avensis would be less of a challenge if you want reliability, comfort and decent fuel economy.

Flashdan

Seems they have issues with the clutches and are expensive to fix. But people say the 2.2 D in the mazda is a nightmare, something to do with the chain.

So its a Skoda Octavia really then? I don't think I could afford the repair on a Merc or BMW :/

bazz26

Mazda diesel engine has plenty of other problems, they are a poor design. Insignia can have problems with turbos, stretching timing chains as well as some of the gearboxes.

The Octavia is from the segment below the Insignia and Mazda6.

fricatus

OP, you need to consider electric if you have off-street parking and can install a charge point there. Figures below - feel free to adjust/challenge:

180 km/day = 900 km/week = 43,200 per year, assuming 48 working weeks

Assuming 7.2l/km for a 2.0 diesel Insignia => 6,000l @ €1.57 = €9,420

Assuming 160 Wh/km for a Tesla Model 3 => 6,912,000 Wh or 6,912 kWh

6,912 units @ my day rate 38.81c = €2,682, or @ my night rate 19.14 c = €1,322

bazz26

What model3 will you buy for the OP's budget?

R.O.R

I didn't think the Insignia's were anywhere near as bad a people think. We had issues with some but nothing really that major (except for a couple of "thermal incidents"). I'm not that familiar with the 1.6 diesel versions though.

The Mazda 6 would be a great choice - to avoid having to do the 180kms a day and have to ask your boss if you can work from home, as they are a steaming pile of shite, that will break your heart and your wallet. Shame really as they are a lovely car to look at and drive, when they are running properly.

Flashdan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120744192#Comment_120744192

Thanks for the information, unfortunately my parking is offset and I would have to run a cable 10m across a path.

Tazzimus

Insignia's are, not a great car.

Mazda 6's, especially the diesel ones, are timebombs.

Octavia, Avensis etc would be a better choice.

Flashdan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120744866#Comment_120744866

Yeah I have asked if I can work from home but its a no go. My Picanto gets me 5l/100kms which is good its just not comfortable. And I'm sure not having a 6th gear is hurting the engine at motorway speeds.

dinorebel

Mondeo is the best option reliable and comfortable.

ELM327

A new job. I did 120km daily round trip *5 for a number of years and wasted literal months of my life on the M3 motorway. Never again. Can only imagine how bad 180k km would be. Then again a commute to my current job if I ever had to go in to the office would be a 250km round trip! (never even been to the office)

Flashdan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120745111#Comment_120745111

Yeah, Think that would be best.

Casati

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120744192#Comment_120744192

Your maths on the Insignia aren't correct. It should be (43,200 x 7.2 / 100 x 1.57) = €4,833

Obviously 7.2 l/ 100km would be a disaster, even a diesel Insignia should be doing 6.2 l/100km which would be a not inconsiderable €4,205.

Something like a Megane 1.5 diesel would return 5 l/ 100km so €3,391 but might be a touch on the small side?

Equally with a Tesla 3 or any EV you'd want to add in 15% for charging losses

R.O.R

Christ - €10,000 doesn't get you a lot nowadays! Anything even half decent has 200k km's on.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/renault-grand-megane-gt-line-2014/34282749 - the 1.5dci engine is well proven at this stage and the GT-Line is a high spec model for the time. I supplied a good few of those to reps for a large drinks company (sensible guys went for those and the others went for a base model 1.6Tdi Passat that we had to get a Parrot kit fitted to) - quite possible that was one of the ones I supplied initially and all the drivers were delighted with them.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-rapid/34282273 - looks decent and has reasonable mileage. Better than a Picanto on a long journey and should be frugal, but looks to only be a 5 speed gearbox. The same engine/gearbox combo in the Golf & Octavia had a horrible thrumming noise at 120km/h and this is probably the same.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-passat-executive-2014/34405242 - built for doing that sort of distance each and every day. The 2.0Tdi 150hp mpdel which is just as frugal as the 1.6Tdi 105hp on longer / higher speed journeys (probably a bit better), with a decent spec and comfy seats.

Hard to find anything from a dealer at a reasonable price with reasonable mileage.

Flashdan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120745220#Comment_120745220

I don't think a Megane would be too small, Just want something comfortable with a 6th gear :/

Flashdan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120745268#Comment_120745268

Wow, thanks for the research!

All of them seem great. Really like that Megane, great kit and belt done. Does worry me that I wont have a warranty but I guess you are paying dealer premiums for it.

bazz26

Whatever you get make sure it has cruise control for that commute.

R.O.R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120745541#Comment_120745541

Very much depends on the roads being used and the time of day, whether it's any use. My commutes for the past 20 years or so have been mainly motorway, but during rush hour and the traffic speed varies so much that it's just not worth turning on cruise control. Adaptive cruise would be great, but there's not going to be anything in budget with that fitted, unless it's sky high mileage.

The Megane and Passat have cruise control.

kirving

Absolutely get cruise control, VW's more commonly have radar guided cruise control than other brands.

900km a week is lot, invest in your comfort if you can - nice seats are worth their weight in gold if you're doing big milage.

josip

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120745268#Comment_120745268

The Passat is the only one of those 3 I'd consider, the other two are a bit under powered. But I'd have to put km stickers on the Passat's speedo to remember what's what 😀