Volkswagan Passat 140 diesel v Vauxhall Insignia 160 diesel

[JasonSDunks]

Hello all.

As a
fortunate company car driver, I need to order a new one...

I have a
choice for the 1st time between a Passat Highline diesel 140 and an Insignia SE
160. Having been through the spec lists with a fine tooth comb and worked out
my tax liability, there is not much between then. So the question is which will
be the better tow car?

My van has
a MTPL of 1350 but I may change to something nearer 1450 in the future.

The passat
has a bit less pulling power and BHP however it is a lighter car. But being
lighter does that mean it’s less stable???

I have had
an Insignia for nearly 3 years and 85k miles and it’s been good. What to
do!!! Help please................

 

[Surfer]

Hello all.

As a
fortunate company car driver, I need to order a new one...

I have a
choice for the 1st time between a Passat Highline diesel 140 and an Insignia SE
160. Having been through the spec lists with a fine tooth comb and worked out
my tax liability, there is not much between then. So the question is which will
be the better tow car?

My van has
a MTPL of 1350 but I may change to something nearer 1450 in the future.

The passat
has a bit less pulling power and BHP however it is a lighter car. But being
lighter does that mean it’s less stable???

I have had
an Insignia for nearly 3 years and 85k miles and it’s been good. What to
do!!! Help please................

No doubt in my mind. I would go for the Insignia as even teh auto can tow up to 1700kg! The manual is higher.

 

[NigelHutson]

We have had the newer Passats at the Tow Car awards in both 140 and 170 bhp guise. As they all seem to come with "Bluemotion Technology", I'd be wary of the 140 version as the gearing is so high. The 170 copes very well, but the 140 is rather left wanting in as much as sixth gear is totally redundant, and at times fifth is almost too high for comfortable cruising. Nice cars, but as a tow car I'd have my doubts.
I know we've tried the Insignia, but I can't remember which version it was.

 

[JasonSDunks]

thanks gents.

the Insignia is good but with the ecoflex diesel i also find 6th not much good for cruising whilst towing. tugging in 5th it still gives around 28mpg on the M5 jaunts.
one of the guys at work tows with the even less powerful passats, 106bhp? and finds it ok.
still not sure.........

 

[GeordieRanger]

I've had a VW Tourane with the 140 TDi and it coped well with a similar sized van but struggled on the long climbs north up the M6 and A69 which ended in it going in to limp mode. I changed it for a 179 Passat Sport 2008 plate which is definitely more powerful but again the turbo is whining at 45000 miles. Although diagnostics say its working fine I'm thinking of switching away from VW now. We had a Sorento 2.5 XT which worked without fault.

I drive an Insignia Tourer on holiday last year. Not towing but thought it was better put together than my Passat!

 

[tonyb2]

hyi just bought a zafira tourer 160 bhp. I am told lots of the vehicle is insignia. very stable towing 1400kg. 6th gear ok at 55/60 on most motorways.
well pleased with the vehicle. good allrounder
rgds tony

 

[JasonSDunks]

gone for the passat. bit less torque and BHP however it is similar weight and having managed to find one to borrow with a tow bar, it pulls no problems, including up the big hills in derbyshire.

 

[Firkle]

Jason,

I don't think you will have any problem as my Passat 140BM Sport pulls an Olympus2 with 1435 MTPL quite happily even though at a 93% match. The VW towing limit for this vehicle is 1800kg.

A recent 190 mile tow along the M4 maintained an average speed of 57 MPH and returned better than 29 mpg. The only time I have a had problem with motorway towing in 6th gear was in Southern France when going into a forecasted 35 MPH headwind up an incline.