neil h
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Registered: 28th Sep 06
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Looking at a new car in the not to distant future and i really quite like the looks of the Astra VXR. Big question is though is the handling as bad as people say or is it just an urban myth??
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Ian
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Registered: 28th Aug 99
Location: Liverpool
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If by people you mean Top Gear, please consider that is television not actual experiences of owners.
You're best getting the opinion of someone who lives with one.
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neil h
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Registered: 28th Sep 06
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Not just Top Gear, 5th gear said similar (although again thats tv) and a few magazine reviews of implied the handling is a bit iffy.
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Nath--91CCC
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Registered: 9th Jan 09
Location: North Wales
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A mate of mine has 1 an slammed it on coilys and yoko tyres and he says it handles like its on rails not sure about standard wise ill have 2 ask him
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fir3vip3r
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Registered: 14th Jun 06
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire
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u2u ojc, he will give you a good, unbiased review
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Col004
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Registered: 25th Jun 03
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There boss cars on the twisties mate. my mate has one and its awesome and ive drove it alot.. I think there really good.. He has just had a lsd fitted and now its just another car
If its topgear your refering to as ian said.. clarkson hates vauxhall full stop.
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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but compared to the same class car....
they drive nice, handle well
but drive an st too to compare for yourself, everyone bias towards something
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Joe
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Registered: 20th Jun 04
Location: Hesketh Bank, Lancashire
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quote: Originally posted by fir3vip3r
u2u ojc, he will give you a good, unbiased review
Unbiased, from Oliver?!
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chrex
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Registered: 26th Aug 07
Location: Brawdy/Wirral
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i saw a tuned one at oulton last week. i was on the pit wall...and 2 radicals went past with the astra behind. next lap, he had passed and put about 2 secs on the radical...it was outstandingly quick.
Decent tyres on light wheels, Coilovers and decent brakes...and they look to be brilliant cars.
Its the vectras that are meant to be soggy...
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neil h
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Registered: 28th Sep 06
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quote: Originally posted by Warren G
but drive an st too to compare for yourself, everyone bias towards something
Yeah see problem is i get the impression i could afford the fuel cost of the vxr if driven sensibly, where as the ST appears to drink quite alot.
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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quote: Originally posted by Joe
quote: Originally posted by fir3vip3r
u2u ojc, he will give you a good, unbiased review
Unbiased, from Oliver?!
You beat me to it
Best off to have a read of a few magazine reviews and see what they say for an impartial opinion.
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Col004
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Registered: 25th Jun 03
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mpg will be similar to be fair matey
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deano87
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Registered: 21st Oct 06
Location: Bedfordshire Drives: Ford Fiesta
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Drive my car then drive an Astra VXR and see if you ask the same question
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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quote: Originally posted by chrex
i saw a tuned one at oulton last week. i was on the pit wall...and 2 radicals went past with the astra behind. next lap, he had passed and put about 2 secs on the radical...it was outstandingly quick.
Decent tyres on light wheels, Coilovers and decent brakes...and they look to be brilliant cars.
Its the vectras that are meant to be soggy...
down to driver i have no dought,
for example, my under powered standard 1.6 corsa went past a skyline/ vectra vxr etc around brands hatch
iv heard the focus are very thursty compared to the astra, which you can see between 25-32mpg depending on driving style
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neil h
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Registered: 28th Sep 06
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Yeah look on a few owners club sites for the fuel consumption and 1 of the ST sites had a poll for people to enter average mpg, and the average seemed to be low to mid 20s. Where as the concensus on vxronline is low 30s although high 30s-40s are possible on long motorway runs.
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Fad
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Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
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quote: Originally posted by Joe
quote: Originally posted by fir3vip3r
u2u ojc, he will give you a good, unbiased review
Unbiased, from Oliver?!
Mr Vauxhall himself
I would say drive a few cars like the VXR, ST and the R26 and decide for youself. Everyone has different tastes and then different perceptions on how cars should drive. I think there is often more to a car than handling i.e being the full package.
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AndyCorsaSport
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Registered: 12th Feb 06
Location: Horsforth, West Yorkshire
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Was reading new TV today, and the Blue VXR in there, owner mentions they dont handle too well, says in they a whiteline rear ARB made a shed load of difference.
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Fad
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Registered: 1st Feb 01
Location: Dartford Kent Drives: 330cd
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Evo had a VXR on a long term test for 6 months so read the following link month by month should give you a good idea of its merits and pitfalls
http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evolongtermtests/208168/vauxhall_astra_vxr.html
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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a whiteline on any vauxhall works wounders
as fad said, its the package....vxr is very nice to drive,
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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EVO's review is the best to go buy and I totally agree with it, the car as standard doesn't inspire you with confidence that it's gripping to the road when pushing it, but that isn't the case at all as it's just Vauxhall not finishing things off.
To turn it into as good as the rest you need a RARB and some DECENT springs, and if you want a LSD.
Standard for standard I doubt there is anything between the ST & Astra handling wise, Ford always seems to come out top on reviews but we all know that there is massive bias towards Ford in the motoring press, if you want me to quite Nurburgring lap times I will.
Renault R26 is the best in the class, but even then it comes down the driver as everyone of them I've ever encounted can't keep up be it on track or on the road and I'm a LSD short and driving a shitty handling Vauxhall.
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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Mr Vauxhall /\
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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You own two, I have one and a Volkswagen and you work for them
Mr Warren Vauxhall G
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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through and through
i cant comment on any other make though....
and guess what my next car will be........ even fad agrees
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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Elise.
Get a VX220
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Warren G
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Registered: 14th May 06
Location: Kent
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astra sport hatch derv...
mapped up with a few tweaks 220bhp/300lbft
well thats after the C has been turbo'd
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