MRC

astra vxr what do you lot think????????????

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

I think you put this thread in the wrong section, for starters, hence the move!

VXR- very good.......for FWD. My opinion is that FWD is not the optimal way of deploying 230bhp though!

SetoN

you see the concept vxr-r?

claims twin turbo 300bhp

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Still FWD?!?!?!

When you look at most high powered FWD cars their ECUs are set to retard torque output in the first two gears just so they don't merely create large clouds of expensive smoke without actually going anywhere. They're overpowered for their layouts IMHO. Yes, you can use clever diffs/suspension to negate the effects somewhat, but it's an engineering elastoplast to a problem that wouldn't have been there had 4wd or RWD been used. Furthermore, the cost of implementing these solutions begins to undermine one of the principle reasons for using FWD, i.e. the cost savings!

SetoN

So I hear... but isn't the new Focus RS ment to boast 300bhp on FWD?

j0k4r7

Yeah but the RS has a REVO Knuckle to help with the power

wiley

iTrader: (63)

the nurburgring astra vxr looks the nuts!!

wiley

jonc

It'll be way more expensive to take an existing hatchback/chassis and convert/adapt it to RWD, redesigning a new engine/gearbox, suspension components, diffs, etc etc.

Cheaper for a mass car manufacturer to make a few tweaks to the front suspension, reprogram the ECU and perhaps add a LSD.

Mrfastbaz

i used to have a 05 plate leon fr remapped which ran around 210 hp at the fly and that was stupid in the damp/wet, floor it and the traction control would just cut in all the time even changing 2nd to 3rd on a wet road you could spin the front wheels so 300 hp phew good luck thats why i chose a scoob....

richs2891

lol saw the person who has one near to me this week struggling to get up the hill in the light snow - just sat front wheel spinning everywhere (& this was at the bottom of the hill which is not steep at all )
OK not a scientific test but how cars perform in the snow to me is a good test of grip / how well a car puts it power down.
VXR looks ok on the outside - bit naff on the inside - but too much power to the front wheels.

Richard

stilover

Was reading somewhere no so long back, that VauxPoo are going to start using 4WD for future VXR models.

Maybe the new generation Astra etc will have chassis developed with this in mind. Just like the new Focus chassis was.......

scooby_wrx1984

Thorney Motorsport Astra VXR-R

Just read the above article. they are claiming 4.9 to 60mph, I know they have a competition Diff fitted and some other bits but thats a big claim for a FWD car.

Anyone agree or disagree?

Tidgy

well knowing where the tweeks will have been done , it will prob be something like that, but would be on a grippy surface on a dry day. 888 did a sprint version of the vxr, stripped out etc etc, and in my uk turbo at 260bhp with uprated shocks i had no trouble staying with him on straights and twisties, conditions were a bit greasy though. there not bad for a new car, prob quicker straight line that a new wrx but doubt round the corners, sti would be a whole different ball game, type 20, well vxr is gone

Jenn&Steve

Astra VXR is a good bit of kit, toyed with the idea of getting one when I got posted to Cyprus. They are renowned for torque steer as is the vectra VXR, christ even my 180/311 dirty derv vectra torque steers but in the end the girlfriend won and we have a WRX to play with

Like the nurburgring edition but not convinced on the wheels.

The new Insignia VXR will indeed come in an AWD format and that could be seen applied to the rest of the range but who knows.

Zeon

With regards to 0-60 times. EVO magazine recorded the Litchfield Type 20 (hatchback) as 4.8 (0-60) and 9.8 (0-100) in the wet which they mentioned was the same as the R8 in the dry. Very impressive.

There is only one way to confirm and that's to give it to an independent person to test.

uk300scoob

iTrader: (24)

YouTube - vauxhall astra vxr nurburgring edition

heres video of the vxr nurburgring at a rolling road day i was at

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

The 888 Version of the astra H was a diesel only car, the astra G had an 888 version but they were not VXR's
Either way, the 888 H was 200bhp and the 888 G was 197bhp.

Tony

MrLouKnee

fith gear review

YouTube - Fifth Gear Vauxhall Astra VXR versus Renault Megane Sport 22

vicky butler henderson

YouTube - Vicki Butler Henderson Cleavage

New_scooby_04

iTrader: (4)

Bit too much Knowledge of Vx cars demonstrated there, Tony!!

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

They are bringing an 888 version out of the petrol VXR with 290+bhp but i only have a diesel version (normal 1.9 16v 120ps) but they handle pretty well and are comfortable, have lots of feedback and are not that bad (nice interiors etc) and are still up there competing with the focus and golf its just the dealers are a bit naff

Tony

dunx

iTrader: (3)

Cath's car by any chance ?

dunx

sparky d

My father in-laws got a white vxr Ring addition one , i gotts say its bloody awsome , as said above fwd is not the optimum way to get it down but hey their really good fun when you get used t it

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

It can be contained well, but not for ever, I drove a 130 bhp Astra MK2 and it was a liability, my 250 bhp Saab puts it down very well considering, it will spin up but the traction control reigns it in if you get too silly but to be honest you dont need to worry.

I had a Fiat Coupe turbo, it was pure evil in the wet, guess what, swapped the crap "Nankang" tyres for some Conti's and it was like fitting 4wd such was the difference in traction.

So, you cant judge FWD prowess based on ancient overpowered hot hatches of the 80's and 90's on budget tyres, suspension development means it has improved masses, I can see how a 300 bhp Focus would work with a trick diff and the latest suspension developments, in fact I suspect a brand new Focus RS would lap a track quicker than a good proportion of older 4wd cars.

I am not a massive FWD fan by any means but most cars these days are so we may as well get used to it.

MRC

[QUOTE=dunx;8449692]Cath's car by any chance ?

dunx[/QUOTE

yeah was just seeing what people think about them because i have beat an sti on m1 in one the other night

dunx

iTrader: (3)

It's all well to say they have come a long way but Xmas 2007 I had a play with Jamesemt in his Ibiza TDi and a Z4, we just happened upon.

Z4 was sliding so wildly I daren't pass it, and James was about half a mile away, 'cos it was damp = zero traction.

In the dry his car was a match for mine as it has 350+ lb.ft.of torque.

IMHO

dunx

P.S. FWD is the work of the devil.