Still waiting for my Zafira VXR to show up, shouldn't be long now ! Anyone out there got their Zafira/Astra/Vectra VXR yet ? Let us know how're getting on.
I have to admit to not actually seeing an Astra VXR on the road yet - except for when I was driving one! I'm upto five on the Focus ST count so far... lost count on the Golf GTI in March sometime.
Was the Astra VXR universally praised though? Everyone said it was bonkers, torque steered your arms off etc.
I bet it's great on smoother continental roads, but UK roads are so rubbish that i'm not surprised it tramlines like mad.
I've gone for an ST3 now and that was in large part to your road test and input on this message board Tom, so road testers can have a big influence on car buyers
yup, honda for me too...i'd bet even with its power deficit it will still show the more powerful, and unruly, hot hatches the way home. i remember clarkson and co bemoaning the fact that the vxr torque steered like crazy and was unable to put its power down...cant be that bad or the golf woulda kicked its ass i'd have thought? even if its lighter and more powerful, its extra power is of no use if it has traction issues, but it obviously doesn't have the massive problem in this respect that tg made out. personally, i'd have a vxr over the much more common gti any day, but would much rather wait for the new type r, which is gonna be in a lightweight 3 dr shell and have 257 bhp!!...here comes the new boss, same as the old boss
ive heard the new civic is gonna be 4WD which it must be if its gonna be that powerful?
Ive also heard that Honda are sticking to a 200-220bhp range with more of the focus going on weight reduction, which is always the best place to start imo.
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
Heh...well some 390ish views so far and no sign of a VXR ! My Zafira VXR is apparently built and waiting for the finishing touches in Germany....not bad considering I was expecting a November delivery. More news as I get it.....very doubtful as a Crimbo present now though.
I've seen quite a lot of the Astra sport hatches but no VXR, I'm afraid! Out of the VXR and the GTI, I think I'll have the GTI. Reviews I've read say it's a great drive both during regular motoring and when you kick it about a bit! But 20 grand on a hatch?
Originally posted by Dan1989: If you want to stand out from the crowd then get an Astra VXR...seriously...they turn many heads...more than a common GTi.
just wait for next year's leon cupra, will make the the astra vxr seem just a boring hatch with a strange rear end. turn heads, only in laughter opc anyone?????
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
I have to drive a couple of thousand miles a month, and I have not spotted a VXR Astra yet. Oddly I have spotted a couple of VXR Moranos, although this could be because they are more distinctive and appeal to me more than the Astra.
I find the thought of a Meriva VXR plain scary, the standards ones I used as hire cars in Spain last year were horrible. I dread to think what they would be like with more power!
Enjoy the VXR when you get it and let us know what it is like.
I think Fords ST brand appeals to me more than the VXR brand. No offense, but I think putting a VXR badge on a Zafira devalues the kudos of VXR. Can't imagine Ford making that mistake with a Galaxy.
Originally posted by Dan1989: will that be a diesel leon cupra lol
that will come as well alongside the 240hp+ petrol one, slightly more powerful than the astra vxr
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
Originally posted by Dan1989: yeh but what u got to remember is...the leon is based on a golf...and golfs are boring lol
that over simplifying things quite a lot, any lower medium hatch is going to be boring thinking your way, vxr = aspirational badge for poor chavs
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
Barky, you have leeched on to me about saying Golfs are boring.. have or, and do you, own a Golf at all? And by that I include the Seat Golf, Skoda Golf, and the Audi Golf (all of them)!
Not yet seen a VXR, although it would be my personal pick of all the new hot hatches as it's the most old-school one with turbo lag and torque steer. Not to mention being the fastest.
I don't think the Astra VXR looks different enough from normal Astra's and other hot hatches(eg. Golf GTI, Seat Leon, Honda Civic, etc.). You would be hard pressed to identify one from its side view in particular - it could be any one of a number of family hatchbacks. It's only selling points are its BHP and 0-60 speed - something that appeals only to boy racers at the £20K price point.
I'm betting that the VXR range will be a total flop simply because it's too closely linked to Vauxhall. The bottom line is that it's a £19K Vauxhall. If the VXR range had been spun off and was fairly autonomous then I think it would do better.
It just goes to show that despite the motoring press raving about cars, it's the buying public's wallets that need to open to make a car successful.
can't argue with Roma, got to add [again] the fast vauxhalls should have worn opel badges, like the old manta did, to differentiate them in the UK market from the more common fleet car range.
yes noxie i used to have a golf, last of the good light ones [a late mk2 gti] & since the advent of the mk3 they have been to bloated for my liking - real sucessor to mk2 golf was the audi a3. my days of wanting a "fast" hot hatch are gone now [call it being closer to 40 than 30 if you like] but now what i would prefer would be something with about 75% of the performance of an astra vxr in much more subtle clothes & 4 doors [no not a vectra vxr] as a daily driver. comfort over outright speed & without a common as muck mass market fleet car badge really ... what do you think i mean ????
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
