A friend of mine bought an Astra VXR this weekend, all I can say is My God!! Makes my vRS look like a 1.6 Golf!

Just goes to show don't listen to everything you hear on telly! It is one awesome car.

One comment of Clarksons I do agree with is "Its exciting in the way being shot at is exciting"

I think it may end in tears either loosing control (Its a handful in the dry) or we have had a recent spate of car jackings for Astra VXRs in Manchester. Anyway good luck to the lad and if you see an Astra VXR on the road and fancy a race, think twice 'til you have driven one!

just get a bigger turbo!!!

:D:D

just get a bigger turbo!!!

:D:D

There are easier and cheaper ways than that

really?

4k octavia and 2.5k to get you to around 270-280bhp so thats from 6.5k upwards or 20k on an astra

I wouldn't want a Astra VXR because of all the unwanted attention.

I think it would take more than just a bigger turbo to beat one! I already feel my standard vRS has more straight line speed than it has handling potential, try following a fast BMW round sweeping motorway bends (might just be me though)

really?

4k octavia and 2.5k to get you to around 270-280bhp so thats from 6.5k upwards or 20k on an astra

Nope, £14k on a MkII and £3k of mods

Nope, £14k on a MkII and £3k of mods

or 15k on a brand new VXR, and a £500 remap to get 285bhp/340lb/ft

or 15k on a brand new VXR, and a £500 remap to get 285bhp/340lb/ft

I can see where this is going, Mazda 3 MPS?

Lads Oh lads Oh lads...

When will you realise that ultimate power and ultimate speed does not produce the ultimate driving experience?

What you want is a small chuckable sports car will just enough power to keep a grin on your face round the twisty bits. Something with RWD perhaps?....

Nope, £14k on a MkII and £3k of mods

so neither cheaper or easier then? :confused:

thats 17 grand mate when my way costs 10 grand less than that!

Torque-steer-tastic!

Good laugh, but a low-rent interior and a lofty driving position put me off

Nope, £14k on a MkII and £3k of mods

much rather go down the route of FRS and <£3k of mods

Torque-steer-tastic!

Good laugh, but a low-rent interior and a lofty driving position put me off

Have you driven one? the torque steer is nothing compared with say a Lupo GTI

Low rent interior did I hear that correctly? I am not on an Audi forum am I?? can't get much lower rent than a mk1 octavia!

Well... yes... hence my comment

Torque-steer was nothing like a Lupo GTI!

I much prefer my Octy's interior. And I preferred the interior on the Corsa VXR (and seats were superb!). In fact, I much preferred the Corsa VXR all round!

I enjoyed driving the Lupo, but It was scary taking your hand off the wheel to change gear at high rpm! The Astra is alot more civilised than i was expecting with all the lousy reviews I have read. It turns in well and there is plenty of grip, however i don't think it would thank you for giving it a bootful of throttle mid corner.

Lads Oh lads Oh lads...

When will you realise that ultimate power and ultimate speed does not produce the ultimate driving experience?

What you want is a small chuckable sports car will just enough power to keep a grin on your face round the twisty bits. Something with RWD perhaps?....

Exactly a MX5 then, not that I am biased of course:)

It turns in well and there is plenty of grip, however i don't think it would thank you for giving it a bootful of throttle mid corner.

Surely that depends on how you corner. If you chuck it in too fast with tyres squealing it'll have no more to give, but if you power it all the way through the corner, it'll handle it just fine...

Chris

They're only 237bhp, can't be that much faster than a remapped/sorted vRS?

I don't think it would thank you for giving it a bootful of throttle mid corner.

It's got ESP and all the other modern traction control gubbins so shouldn't be deadly unless you're really really careless.....probably

or 15k on a brand new VXR, and a £500 remap to get 285bhp/340lb/ft

or 5k on an old S4 2.7TT + 10k of mods for 600bhp +

They're only 237bhp, can't be that much faster than a remapped/sorted vRS?

Unfortunately they are.

Unfortunately they are.

power delivery, handling, poise.

mind you i still think my 2000 Accord 2.2 R would have the edge on b roads... ahh the old days.

then again neither would see which way my old octy went......

Power delivery? Didn't seem that different when I took one around the track for a few laps.

VXR Trackday

I really like the VXR Astra. Having driven one, I am very impressed. Sure you get a little torque steer and if you drive like a ****, understeer as well. However, driven tidily it is one seriously fast way to get from A to B.

Compared to the obvious choice of Focus ST, it has a much better front end feel and although power understeer is an issue (as it is in the ST as well) ultimately it resists constant speed understeer better. Would be high on the list in that class for me.

Chris