RE: Driven: Vauxhall Astra VXR

[AngryPartsBloke]

loose cannon said:

Because the types who buy this type of car don't want a under performing car with less power ;0)

under performing, hardley. Plus it's RWD!

[tommy vercetti]

TNH said:

I'll spend an extra £3k and have the new BMW M135i

320 bhp and rwd sounds sweet

[hotmelt]

Hellbound said:

I'm guessing it's the same reviewer who gave this car 4.5 stars over at Evo, an identical score to the new Focus ST. From what I've read, both cars aren't as good as the Megane 265, which happens to be the lightest.

To me seems Ford is more adjustable, so 9/10 car as defined at PH seems a little underwhelming comparing to other very positive reviews. Astra on the other hand looks great, is very accomplished(hydraulic steering, comfortablet damping), but as usual with Vauxhall there is not enough adjustability like Megane or new Focus ST. But 4,5 stars in Evo is great rating, let us see if they will mainain it.

[Oddball RS]

So its a shortened fwd 4 cyl Insignia VXR then?

[HighwayStar]

Oddball RS said:

So its a shortened fwd 4 cyl Insignia VXR then?

What??? Where did that come from?

[steveb8189]

Oddball RS said:

So its a shortened fwd 4 cyl Insignia VXR then?

NO.

This is quite clearly a lengthened fwd 4 cyl Corsa VXR

[Agoogy]

I'm loviong the dramatic rake to the windscreen/bonnet on these 3 dor Astras...it's almost a one box design...very well executed.
I'll be having one of these I reckon.... in time of course...need the initial gremlins to be sorted and depreciation to take effect...

Edited by Agoogy on Wednesday 13th June 10:24

[TNH]

tommy vercetti said:

320 bhp and rwd sounds sweet

Reasonably priced too (if you manage to avoid the options list) when you consider this Astra is £27k

[StottyZr]

jlt1000 said:

Great looking car - and sounds like a promising package too. Far from "£27k for an Astra!", I think its incredible what you can get for £27k these days.

The fly in the ointment would seem to be the 135i M Performance later this year. That, at the promised £30k, looks pretty much unbeatable really (hopefully sporting actual M suspension, not the horrendously "bouncy" M-Sport stuff you got in the old 120d).

The M135i is lsited at £27,510 on the BMW website. I thought the Astra looked great until I saw this. 320hp 450nm and 0-60 in 5.1.

The Astra is much better looking IMO.

Edit: I've just looked in another section and it says the M135i is £30k OTR. So your pricing seems to be more accurate.

[BoostMonkey]

StottyZr said:

The M135i is lsited at £27,510 on the BMW website. I thought the Astra looked great until I saw this. 320hp 450nm and 0-60 in 5.1.

The Astra is much better looking IMO.

Edit: I've just looked in another section and it says the M135i is £30k OTR. So your pricing seems to be more accurate.

£27,150 is for the 5 door, it will be about £29,500 for the 3 door.

However on both of those you get no kit, and need to add £3k to get to a decent standard

[Devil2575]

TNH said:

tommy vercetti said:

320 bhp and rwd sounds sweet

Reasonably priced too (if you manage to avoid the options list) when you consider this Astra is £27k

If you avoid the options list you'll kill the resale value. Cars like BMWs need certain options.

[IanJ9375]

These can be had for £22500 with the current discounts in place

With the Aero Pack and metallic your looking at £24k still well under RRP

http://www.astonvauxhall.co.uk/new-cars/search

[TNH]

IanJ9375 said:

These can be had for £22500 with the current discounts in place

With the Aero Pack and metallic your looking at £24k still well under RRP

http://www.astonvauxhall.co.uk/new-cars/search

It's a shame they do that - The P11d of say £29k once you have the options ticked means that company car drivers pay tax on another £5k even though the car has been discounted heavily. Suppose you will get more private buyers with this type of car though who will think they are getting a good deal.

[IanJ9375]

TNH said:

It's a shame they do that - The P11d of say £29k once you have the options ticked means that company car drivers pay tax on another £5k even though the car has been discounted heavily. Suppose you will get more private buyers with this type of car though who will think they are getting a good deal.

That's the way it is with company cars unfortunately - our Alfa we could have sourced sub list price but the taxman works off the rrp so no gain to be had

[NGK210]

Time for all motoring hacks to sign-up to a ban on the much over-used word "proposition" in articles and/or vids - it's a car road test, not an ad agency pitch!

[Riggers]

NGK210 said:

Time for all motoring hacks to sign-up to a ban on the much over-used word "proposition" in articles and/or vids - it's a car road test, not an ad agency pitch!

Consider it gone. Simple as that

[NGK210]

Riggers said:

NGK210 said:

Time for all motoring hacks to sign-up to a ban on the much over-used word "proposition" in articles and/or vids - it's a car road test, not an ad agency pitch!

Consider it gone. Simple as that

[russy01]

Ph you do this all the time. You don't include a picture of the rear of the car! Most of us want to see a pic of the front, side, BACK and then the interior!!!!

[Esseesse]

I'm an awful badge snob about Vauxhalls, but this does (and other recent Vauxhalls) look great.

Alfa Romeo why can't you make this car.

[tomv1to]

There are already some great deals being advertised for this car at some garages online, and with the 100,000 mile warranty and 0% finance also available at the moment, compared to other manufacturers this car is actually great value for money despite the official price.

I really do like the look of this car, and I would also like to try the VXR nurburgring corsa. I've driven a few SRi models in the past and never really liked them. I've also been a bit of a badge snob about vauxhall as well but I could definately see me owning one in the future.