CHUNKY.MONKEY.

hi all
i have a sti 5 @330 bhp
i have i boy and another baby on the way
my missus will still be doing her test next year also
im thinking of getting a astra vxr
i need somthing a bit newer as i will only be able to run 1 car but do 80 miles a day for work
i still want somthing thats quick and looks good but safe and somthing my wife will be able to get insured on from the off
i like the vxr its got a 5star saftey rating all the toys weighs the same as my classic and i know you can get a blue fin or simular ecu upgrade for it taking it from the original 240bhp to around 280 for £500 and still returns 35mpg on a steady m@way run with the suspension being good for both crusing and spirited driving
your thoughts please

G-string

iTrader: (1)

If you got to get a newer car mate, you checked a focus st, clio 197, megane225, golf gti, seat cupra, skoda octavia vrs etc. Though would of thought the vxr weighs more than your classic mate.

GazJenno

the corsa VXR weighs the same as the classic scoob so i'm sure the astra weighs more.

turboDean

iTrader: (4)

According to a quick search on google 1393kg for the Astra VXR to a fair bit heavier than a classic scoob.

Soong

Go to the online insurance companies and put in her details as if she has already just passed and get a quote. Anything over about 130bhp (depending on type of car) and you will lose a lot of companies that will insure a new driver at a reaonable price.
If you modify it in any way very few will insure her at all, thats if your planning on telling them. If you don't tell them, they won't pay out if the car is examined and the mod is found.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

I like the VXR and i am sure it is a match for most Imprezas once on the move.
Shame you can't keep your car and buy a family hatch for the missus to drive in the day.
Surely she will need to get about when you have the car?

classic scooby

iTrader: (21)

hi

I had an astra vxr just over a year ago before i bought my scoob,very good car was pleased with it in every way,if you get one i would defo sort the handling out as it's a bit larey round the twisties,also if you are gonna go for a remap go to either thorney motorsport in milton keynes(they are the guys who help out top gear on a regular basis)or the vxr performance centre(triple8)in banbury,my mate has a corsa vxr and he went there for lowering and a remus exhaust which by the way sounds fantastic on full chat as it does on the astra(is expensive tho £800 iirc)and dont bother with a dump valve cos you cant hear it total waste of money.another good thing is to join vxronline.co.uk very much like s.net but all about vxr's,some fantastic and very knowledgeable guys on there who will point you in the right direction with anything you need to know.

hope that helps you out a bit
let me know if you got any q's

regards

nick

CHUNKY.MONKEY.

let me know if you got any q's

ok mate cheers i think i would just go for a re map with some up rated pads and light susp mods to help cure understeer and put on some toyo proxies maybe exhaust and pannel filter not too loud tho
whats the wheelspin like in the wet etc?

CHUNKY.MONKEY.

thats strange just checked the parkers guide under facts n figures and it sais 1230kg for astra vxr? what ever as mentioned i think these with 280-300 bhp ish will give alot of cars a good go once on the move

WRX_SWRT

iTrader: (2)

35mpg in the astra vxr when i spoke to dealer bout it the man from delmonte said no chance unless you are cruiseing it at 60 and most of the time the vxrs are returning 22mpg

have you considered a Seat Leon FR tdi 170 horse standard with mad torque you would be suprised how fast these are and its an easy £400 quick remap to 205bhp and some mental torque some cheap deals at motorpoint on new ones too Greig

Crosstalk

Make sure you can live with getting kids in and out of the back of a 3 door car, I eventually found it a real pain in the backside getting them strapped into their seats and stuff.

Also, if they throw up in the back (or are about to), no way for an emergency exit to save further mess, and it's difficult to clean up...

turboDean

iTrader: (4)

is strange seems to be difference of opinion on the weight 1230 or 1393 depending on what website u look on

They are pretty quick cars though, my mate had one with stage 1 mods (exhaust, de-cat, filter and re-map) and it went very well.

classic scooby

iTrader: (21)

No worries happy to help

The mods you say are spot on and the toyo's which i had on mine,but i had the 19" alloys on mine and the tyres were expensive!!
The traction control is quite good in the wet but there is still alot of power for a front wheel drive car!If you take the traction control off BE WARNED you will light up the tyres!!and the tyre wear will scare you!!

anyway more info give me a shout

nick.

wolfie28

Sorry mate to go slightly off track and probably none of my business but do you think its ok to have your wife with a new drivers licence and very little driving experience driving a modded Astra VXR . It also might be tricky getting car insurance on it.

CHUNKY.MONKEY.

she wont be driving it like a hoon shes not into that sort of thing she will have the kids in the car etc its just a car that i can enjoy but she can still use and be safe in

CHUNKY.MONKEY.

its better then her driving a 330bhp classic lol

moistlips

if you upgrade the ecu you wont be getting 35mpg out of it unless you drive like a saint and never go above 50mph my brother has got one its a sharp looking car but its not got a quality feel to it and the torque steer is awfull as mentioned above its a complete pain in the **** with kids and baby seats with it being only a 3 door plus side plenty of parts and upgrades available also on the bad side front tyre wear is something else , i would have said it would be better for you to keep the sti no ?

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

I have a Saab 9-3 remapped to 250/288, so a little over a standard VXR, but a bit heavier, the missus drives it no problem but having been there, I would totally avoid 3 door cars with kids, pain in the ****, 5 Door Focus ST is probably a better bet.

Hardly See the Astra's ?

moistlips

although having done a bit of research on the vxr they are easily tunable to beat many a sti look on you tube if you dont believe me why not look into a second hand m3 going cheap at the moment and the best drivers car you will get for that kind of money

stara

beat an sti at what? being a 3 door?, best griffin badge?, torque steer championship, most wheelspin in the wet, what?

salsa-king

can we ask how old she is?
i'd be worried about the fact of a new inexperianced driver driving anything thats classes as sporty... insurance wise i'd be worried too.
have you thought about a TDCi S-Max?

that would be safe.

moistlips

now now now calm down just because you dont like the thought that an astra will beat a sti i dont like it either but thats life top end, acceleration, yes most torque steer and wheelspin

moistlips

last time i checked in the top gear car guide a subaru impreza is a family car !!!!!!!!! what fun could he have in a tdci s max apart from tipping the £unt over R.T.F.Q

salsa-king

a 3door family car!!!!!!

seeing you've answered the question for him he'll be keeping the STi then!!!!!

moistlips

its a 4 door if you look at his picture but im glad we sorted that out next ?

mje_wrx

iTrader: (6)

i work for vauxhall and drive these cars daily. and the Astra VXR is not good. i much prefer my WRX, and they cant keep up with my wrx. the handling is terrible. too much torque, chassis isnt set up right for the power it had. good points r the interior and outside does look good. apart from that, dont rate them. id avoid them.

Jimpreza

My mate has a VXR and the only time it torque steers is if u floor it mid corner which any powerful fwd car would do. I really rate it and would love one but my 2003 wrx is worth around 10pence so I'll have to keep it. Also we've had plenty of blasts off roundabouts and I am afraid he has beat me every time. When I have drove it I was really impressed with the pull in 6th gear at 70-80 compared to my WRX.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

Sounds like the most honest opinion on comparisons and most likely comparison.

Funny how difference of opinions are on here...................nothing will beat Imprezas.

Ved

You can get a fully kitted out second hand MK5 GTI for the same money as a VXR. Much better car, £400 sees you at 270bhp and it can handle that much power very easily. It's also better made and isn't as nasty as the VXR. Better in all respects IMO.

dabow

iTrader: (19)

id say, sod the vxr. i see them every where
they always try it on when i drive the scoob

the seat cupra is great on fuel, and feels planted too
regards to power. if you have a 330bhp classic. theres no way the vxr will touch it.

get a newish dti. with 4 doors, it is a pain getting kids out the back.
you could do what most do. get it as a second car, use the scoob for a weekend car, and get something more practical (golf/cupra/audi ect)

im not saying the vxr is crap. but if your using it every day, deisel is better in the pocket