Renault Fluence and Opel Insignia

Grab All Association · 01-03-2026 05:29PM #1

Now that the Hyundai's, mk3 Avensis and Mk4 Mondeos seem to be dying off, I'm seeing a hell of a lot of more Renault Fluences and Opel Insignias. The former a car I'd rarely ever spot before.

I remember at the time of launch, the advert had this parody of the late Brian Lenihan getting hounded by reporters over the price of the Renault Fluence. I never really noticed them on the road up to very recently,

The Insignia on the other hand, I and others at the time thought it was aesthetically a downgrade on the Vectra. Id see these around, but not in the numbers I'm seeing them now. Note it's mostly Opel and not Vauxhall insignias I'm seeing, though they are around as well.

So were we the fools not to buy these cars instead of the Avensis, Hyundai's and the Mondeo?

joebloggs32 · 01-03-2026 05:33PM

Had two fluence over 8 years. Each from new. Great cars. Never a bit of trouble with either of them.

Jim_Hodge · 01-03-2026 06:03PM

I had a couple of Insignias and I loved them. Great comfort, great spec and never a single issue with them.

kippy · 01-03-2026 07:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124275686#Comment_124275686

Would you be expecting trouble from on average 4 year old cars?

joebloggs32 · 01-03-2026 07:33PM

Had the first one 5 years actually.

Plenty of cars that age can start acting up.

1.5 diesel engine in it was very reliable.

BrianD3 · 01-03-2026 10:39PM

The Insignia has a bad reputation for reliability. The Fluence, like the Mk3 Megane, has a good reputation. They were a favourite of taxi drivers but reaching the age limit for taxis now. Lots sold during the scrappage scheme around 15 years ago.

Fluence has excellent ride comfort especially on bad roads. It has slightly higher profile tyres and a longer wheelbase than the Megane on which it is based.

blue5000 · 06-03-2026 09:46AM

I think Fluence is a very underrated car. I think Renault had a bad reputation in the noughties and it took a long time to shake that off. The 1.5 diesel seems to be very reliable.
We had one for a few years, electric window and the rubber bubble for bleeding fuel were the only things that gave trouble in 250k km. l think part of Opel Insignia’s problem was a 30,000 engine oil and filter change interval. Now I could be wrong on that as I never even drove one never mind owned one.

GPoint · 06-03-2026 12:47PM

Fluence was released at the wrong time when suv hype overshadowed it

Would have bought it myself at the time if had money to change from an old mondeo

Killer K · 07-03-2026 09:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124290181#Comment_124290181

Could have written the exact same post! It is a car I would have liked to have owned having driven them occasionally as rentals.They have proven reliable as others have said. That 1.5dci engine was used in so many other Renualts, Dacias and Nissans and the one from the Fluence era has proven very reliable and efficient

Grab All Association · 13-03-2026 12:13PM

Ah FFS 9 of them Fluences between Templemore and Roscrea. 4 parked on the one street in Roscrea.

4 Insignias passed me.

Renault Fluence and Opel Insignia

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