Why so vague?

Perhaps the OP is embarrassed to admit he likes the Insignia.

My assumption is that the Vauxhall engine in question is the 1.0 turbo which would point to an Astra or Corsa, but it could also be something using the 1.4 turbo, which I believe would include the Insignia(?)

My assumption was based on the simple fact the OP named the Insignia in his first post. No mention is made of the Astra or Corsa.

So why would he mention the Insignia if he had looked at a Corsa or Astra?

It just seemed an odd way to phrase it, "a particular Vauxhall". I wondered if the subsequent mention of the Insignia was just as an example of Vauxhall in general (its been a long day!).

I... Civic tourer (not many around),...

There wasn't much choice of civic tourers when we bought in 2018. I hope the scarcity helps when I come to sell it in the summer! (waiting for a new Toyota estate to arrive).

Personally I would buy less than 3 years old every time to take advantage of remaining warranty. An older higher mileage car is going to be inherently less reliable. Drive what makes you happy, not the doubtful promise of hassle free ownersh

That's been my long term strategy for decades - the trouble is with the car market being currently somewhat weird/inflated (Covid, chip shortage etc) prices are all over the place. Some nearly used prices have been higher than new due to manufacturing / supply delays.

Found a 2016 Octavia back in 2019 for my son, it'd just had the first MOT - the very same 2016 model of car generally costs more now in 2023 despite the extra age / mileage - MAD!!

There might be a little evidence that things may be stabilising - we'll see. I normally keep a car for a decade and I bought my last 2014 Superb in 2015 so two years until my usual swap time!

I thin that the first signs are coming, despite the much-projected (including by yours truly) big recession not arriving - for the moment. House price drops have already started though, which is normally a sign of bad things to come down the track.

I suspect the start of the softening of second-hand car prices has more to do with the chip shortage and other pandemic-response-related logistical issues starting to wane to a degree.

Re the original post I always prefer a newer car with higher mileage compared to an older car with lower mileage. Re the latter time decays components and there is a greater risk of clocking! Around three/four ish years ago many petrol direct injection cars started getting GPFs (Gasoline Particulate Filters) - might be worth avoiding early implementations of this technology.

I suppose it depends on what car you're buying, from whom and its history. If you are buying from a main dealer and it's a one-owner only car they maintained, there's less likelihood that it'll be clocked. Similarly if - for older cars like mine - you know the owner (and trust them) and they've been the sole owner since new and who has a full, documented history.

You obviously would have to take the person at their word for a low mileage (relative to age) car if, sich as for myself, 90% of the mileage is not short trips from cold and thus no additional wear would've taken place.

I agree that some cars, say a 'granmobile' that does a once/twice a week trip to the shops in town is often not always the best buy unless that person has gone over and beyond as regards its maintenance. My dad's 15yo Fiesta 1.25 appears to have done quite well generally despite it mostly being used in that way - its first battery lasted 12 years!

I would say that many 'older' cars can be very dependable, especially if they are the lower-specced ones with less gizmos and less complex engine designs to go wrong, especially with regard to emissions. As such, petrol engined cars are normally a better buy (risk-wise) than a diesel if they are low mileage.

I agree with other posters that it's no use buying something that's reliable if you don't like how it drives or on the practicality / running costs front. Best to narrow down the type of car you want first, then choose from what's on offer of that type.