I was coming down the Motorway this evening, in the outside lane waiting for the car in front to move over (not in his boot or anything).

A Blue Vectra with the VXR Grille appears in my ashtray.

The other car moves over & away we went.

I was really surprised, he kept up with me for a second or so, then off I went.

Pulled up behind the next set of traffic in the outside lane, again, wait for it to clear a bit and away again.

This happened a couple of times before I came to my exit.

As I moved over, I looked to see any acknowledgement, thumbs up or down, no eye contact from hil.

It was an 07 plate VXR.

Perhaps he wasn't really trying, (I think he was.)

Bit of a mystery??

Any one had an exchange of views with one of these on a motorway/a road or whatever?

And your thoughts,as I said, on paper it looks good, in reality today (unless he wasn't trying as I've said) not a patch on Mr Scooby, and it's not a particular monster or anything.

Regards



Alan MaC

 

They are quick cars. They would be a close match for a newage WRX but not so much an STi. No idea what you drive so can't comment as to whether he was trying.

Nice to hear comparisons anyway before the anti speed and fun crew turn up and rubbish your thread

 

Cheers mate.

It's a Forester.

As I said, not a Monster 305 Brake/290 lb a foot.

Regards


Alan MaC

 

I fancy having a vectra VXR8 but its the fact its a vauxhaul thats putting me off

 

I had a vectra, broke 3 gearboxes there just to soft

 

I think you'll find he wasn't trying. Autocar got 0-100mph in 14.3 seconds out of the Vectra and you have to remember the lack of traction off the line. Given an STI will probably be about 1.5 seconds quicker to 60mph it would need to hit 100 in 12.8 seconds to be as fast as the Vectra between 60 and 100mph. With me? If it were my money I reckon between 60mph and 100mph the Vectra would be fractionally quicker and above 100mph it would pull away - remember it has a top speed of 161mph. Fast cars, crap chassis.

 

As I said, on paper it looks awesome.

On the M5 where this occurred, there are some nice bends by j 2-3, left him there.

There were outside lane queues that we both had to slow up for.

It may have been different if it was a clear run, I don't know.


I was surprised, definitely going for it.


Regards


Alan MaC

 

took one out for a test drive whilst the scooby was in for a service, i was impressed it had a better quality feel inside and was quick with a nice sound from the exhaust with a loub pop every time i changed gear and i gave it full nuts but it was still a VAUXHALL and i am sorry to say but it was just a fast rep mobile with no real soul like a scooby

 

I don't believe in all this it's a Vauxhall crap. Remember Subaru was thought of as a poor jap marque before the rally success. Fact is Vauxhall have made some good cars and still do. The VXR range is quality and the Holden Manaros they brought in are simply amazing. They do make a lot of ****e though hence the reputation.

I'd be happy to own an Astra or Vectra VXR as they are good cars for what they are. They are not as good as an STi Impreza though. The VXR Manaro is better IMHO.

A lot is down to the driver as well lets not forget. Perhaps he wasn't getting the most out of his machine as the VXR Vectra is very "lively" with regards to handling it's own power so you would need to be a very good driver to get the figures on paper. Subarus are more sympathetic to average drivers (not saying the OP is that of course ).

If your Forrester is not an STi or heavily tuned then he wasn't a good driver.

 

What is the BHP AND Torque on these Vectra and Astra vxr's then?

 

The Vauxhall Astra VXR

 

Vauxhall Vectra VXR | evo Car Reviews | Car Reviews | evo

 

Mikkel,

The reason I posted this was because I thought they were Awesome Motors.

My Forester isn't an STI (don't know why you said that, Foresters are, in Turbo format a cousin of the Impreza).

It has however, had a lot of "tweaks" , 305 brake/290 Lb a foot.

I have just looked up the Vectra, it is 276 brake/236 lb a foot and I would have thought a lot heavier than the Forester.

It is about surprise that it didn't do better.

The chap did try, the post as I have said was about surprise.

There are Foresters on the Web Page that are over 400 brake and, if you remember 5th Gear last year on the track, the Impreza & the Forester, there wasn't a lot in it.

Regards.



Alan MaC

 

Nothing wrong with vauxhalls

i believe a corsa b with a calibra turbo engine will give a lot of guys on here a run for their money

 

Wrighty,

Not saying that there is anything wring with V'S.


Far from it.


The point I was making was, I thought the Vectra would have been a lot quicker than it was.

No disrespect, just a little surprised in a nice way.

Get my drift????

Regards.



Alan MaC

 

agree

 

wtf against a sti no chance unless its a 10yr old driving maybe against a wrx will have to disagree matey

 

Simple calculation of power to weight would suggest that it would have more than a chance. Okay if it's front whell driven traction may be an issue, but once rolling it would probably show many 'fast' cars a clean pair of heels. Many years ago a tuned Nova with throttle bodies and around 200 plus bhp seriously embarrased amongst others a Esprit, 911 and a TVR. It's all about power to weight.

 

still disagree had a nova before bloke had a turbo engine dropped in it jus span then understeered everywhere etc etc n a corsa with a n/a red top engine was quicker.
i see what your saying but not this call sign matey i believe if you wanna go fast get a fat car in the first place

 

also thats remember your average corsa is barely lighter than classisc so with a small weight advantage against another 150bhp/lb etc 4wd
if you got 2 same drivers talent wise

 

I agree a surfeit of power over grip is not conducive to making rapid progress. Sometimes less is more. However the Nova was renowned for being a giant killer with a few choice mods.

 

That will be tweaked to more power and about the same torque as a late Forester STi (and a lot more than an early one!)....why do all you Impreza guys think none of us Forester Connoisseurs modify our Subaru's when you all do!

Simon

 

I think you've answered your own question

 

I used to own a Vectra

Anyway, Clarkson didn't like the VXR...
YouTube - Vauxhall Vectra.

 

Generic Vextra VXR: 162 bhp/ton

AlanMaC's XT Fozzy: 214 BHP/ton

QED.

Rich (Forester Connoisseur)

 

power to weight stated, AlanMaC's should have pulled well!

 

Mon the Fozzies!

 

Nothing to do with the op's initial post however............last year at TOTB there was a Purple bashed up looking Corsa doing the 1/4 mile.

Just before the Corsa went, an Aston Martin and a Lambourghini went up the strip, don't quote me but I think they got in the high 12's, then the Corsa went and got 12 dead on.

 

Thanks for the support boys.

Kind regards


Alan MaC

 

From personal experience, I have owned two multiple-mag featured near-200bhp novas and it a straight line would be quite a bit quicker than a standard classic, as proven many times by myself at York dragstrip and on "private" roads in Oldham LOL! On the motorway I could stick with STI's being driven shall we say "spirited" but i'm sure they'd leave me on the corners. . . .

The weight difference between a classic and a Nova is quite big (don't know the differnce off top of my head)