Shudder

I saw one of those yesterday on a transporter. Have to say I thought it looked really nice. Vauxhalls often do look good. That little Astra coupe thing they do is very pretty. My own experiences of the brand have been at best mixed, and mostly disappointing I'm afraid, but I do always sort of want them to be better.

I could see some of our reps being quite taken with that new estate. Looks like it'd be a fine load lugger. Let's just hope the mechanical reliability is there to back up the pleasant styling. In that market I'd go for a Mondeo every time but that new Vauxhall is way nicer looking. The Ford has developed a positively obese appearance which detracts from its appeal in my view. The Insignia vaguely reminded me of the new V90, which is also a good looking car.

I'd not rush to choose an Insignia, but if I found myself being issued with one, I'd not be too ungrateful, provided it didn't let me down. Looks like I'd be able to get my bikes on the roof anyway !

It was you that the article made me think of, Humph. Not the dog's appendage bit, but the boot that can hold an adequate quantity of carpet samples.

I used to rent a room in a house owned by a carpet tile salesman. The fibres in the air probably took a year off my life expectancy. He drove a Vauxhall: a Cavalier SRI. Black, inevitably. I wonder if he's still in the carpet game.

I had several Cavaliers, I always did rather well with them, everything from L to CD. I also had the go-faster one, GSi I think it was. I had one of the Astra GTEs with the digital dash as well. A Viceroy at one stage and a Royale for a while.

To be honest, I've always quite liked Vauxhalls.

I blew the engine out of the Viceroy, not bad given its 2.5l straight six engine. And as I recall injectors failed onew one, the CDi I think.

Anything else that went wrong with them came under the general heading of "blunt force trauma".

Many moons ago it used to be a Vauxhall for business need drivers - so most had an Astra or Cavalier/Vectra. And at one time you got a new car every six months. Employees were not impressed - it often took 6 months for all the gremlins to be sorted at the dealers.... and then you'd get a new one. Maybe that's why Vauxhall did it - lots of second hand cars that were working okay in the end

In 1999 I finally persuaded my manager to let me get a benefit car grade - meant I could pick something other than a Vauxhall. A colleague had an Impreza turbo and that was fast and fun.

My first company car was a Cavalier 2.0L - you simply cannot imagine how utterly utterly chuffed I was.

Vauxhall's best era. Although the Vauxhall I'd hanker after isn't a Vauxhall.  Opel Monza GSE.  Royale with a red velour interior would be a right touch though.  Smoooooth.  Almost as desirable as a Granada Ghia Coupe.