Expert answer

Hi Bryan,

It’s VERY hard to value a car like that without seeing it, but I can give you some pointers. Obviously, the originality is a big selling point, so if you’re going to get anything done to it before sale, make sure it’s done carefully and considerately. To be honest, even if the paintwork is currently a bit faded, I’d be tempted to leave it be, as originality really is everything.

As for a value, you could be looking at around the €12-15,000 mark if its rarity plays out, although many good sixties Beetles go for around €9-10,000 if restored. I think you should get in touch with the VAGE Club Ireland, the Volkswagen owners'  club, and have a chat with one of their Beetle experts before you go about trying to sell it. They should be able to give you some good pointers.

Best of luck

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Hi David,

They’re not bad actually. The only major mechanical items that cause regular bother are the engine’s exhaust gas recirculation valve (if the engine is down on power or putting out lots of smoke, suspect this…) and the fragile water pump on the 1.6 HDi diesel. That 1.6 also needs a steady diet of high grade oil at service time. The only other issues are minor electrical niggles, such as the electronic parking brake, sticking fuel filler flaps and the like. Buy one with a full service history and keep it serviced and you should be fine.

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Hi Bridie,

Yes, it’s true. Early Insignias did have a habit of developing some electrical gremlins, especially with the central locking and alarm systems. They do seem to have been sorted out now though, as it’s very rarely reported.

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Hi Nick,

A genuinely remarkable vehicle. Seats for seven (and seven fully grown adults at that) and with the sort of on-road refinement and comfort you'd need a Mercedes-Benz E-Class to better. Yet it can get into and out of remote, rocky, boggy, muddy, snowy places in a manner that occasionally boggles the mind. Yes it's big, heavy and thirsty and it rolls a lot in corners, but it's a truly great car. Reliability is the only Achilles'  heel. It's much better now than it used to be, but older models still suffer from gearbox, electrical  and suspension issues. 

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Hi Neil,

Generally a car has to be driven on to the forecourt, and be taxed and insured, to get a scrappage deal, but as this isn't government-backed scrappage and is really just a dealer promotion, there may be some wiggle room. Try dropping in a new battery (they're not expensive) and see if that works and if not have a word with the salesman who gave you the deal and see what he says. 

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Hi John,

Yes, I'd say it's worth getting the bigger battery. It perhaps doesn't make quite as much of a difference as you'd think but it keeps the range anxiety at bay for a while longer on main roads and around town you'd probably only have to charge up once or twice a week, thanks to excellent regenerative braking. 

Read our Nissan Leaf 30kWh review here

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Hi George,

Yes, and I’m assuming you mean the 1.6-litre diesel model? It’s a very good engine – decently reliable and very economical and it needs long motorway miles to make sure that the diesel particulate filter doesn’t start clogging up. The particle filter also needs to be replaced at 120,000km. It needs a cam belt change every 160,000km, but you need to keep it checked at regular service time as the belt can stretch and slip. The water pump is also a weak point, so keep an eye on that. There are a few random electrical issues with these cars too, mostly to do with the ignition system and intermittent warning lights on the dashboard. They’re more niggles than serious problems though.

Oh, and don’t buy one without a full service history. That engine needs a steady diet of really high-quality oil at service time, or it can develop sludgy waste oil in delicate parts.

Expert answer

Hi Karina,

You are, if I may say, a smart cookie. Yes, the Insignia is decently solid and pretty reliable, but the fact is that they do get issues with their electrics and, as we all know, ain’t nothing more reliable than a Toyota. Well, almost – have a good look at the Mazda6 estate too, as it's handsome, really good to drive and hugely reliable. A good foil to the Toyota. 

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Hi Joe,

A hugely underrated car, the S80. Big, comfy and mostly very reliable. As ever with something that started out in life as an expensive model, don’t buy anything without a full service history and check carefully for any electrical gremlins. They’re also sensitive to knocked-about suspension, so check the tyres carefully for any uneven wear and tear. Other than that, reliability is pretty decent. The bigger diesel engines can be expensive to run, but if you go for the 1.6 diesel you’ll have a car that’s really frugal and not all that under-powered.

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Hi Donal,

Short answer – no. That’s partially down to the fact that such in-depth comparisons have to take into account the type of mileage you do, the electricity tariff you’re on and more. The best I can suggest is that you have a good long look through our various electric car reviews and then use the cost calculators on both the ESB and SEAI websites to further refine your research:

BMW i3 review

Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric

Nissan Leaf review

Renault Zoe review

Tesla Model S review

Volkswagen e-up! review

Volkswagen e-Golf review