Leon cupra r 225 vs Vectra VXR

[rb5er]

allroad one said:

Turquoise said:

Saab Aero estate all day long. Still looks really classy. Easily tuned too.

Why does everyone love these? They look extremely dated, there are no dealer networks, about as interesting as a bean bag and are ancient.

I would be placing my money on a late model Volvo T5, which doesn't look 1980s, left field choice? 335i touring

Agreed, they are beaten by a Volvo in every area. I guess its hard to beat a Turbo Saab for a grand but beyond that I can't see much appeal.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 30th May 12:18

[anonymous-user]

rscott said:

allroad one said:

Turquoise said:

Saab Aero estate all day long. Still looks really classy. Easily tuned too.

Why does everyone love these? They look extremely dated, there are no dealer networks, about as interesting as a bean bag and are ancient.

I would be placing my money on a late model Volvo T5, which doesn't look 1980s, left field choice? 335i touring

We're taking about the 9-3 estates on here - very different to the older 9-5 design. Parts are easily available as many are shared GM. Others are still being manufactured in Sweden and there's still a service centre network. http://www.saabparts.com/en-gb/uk/
I've got more Saab service centres with 30 miles of me than I have Ford or Volvo!

Ah, thanks for clarifying.

I hate the 9-5 but the 9-3 is ok. It is beyond me why Saab did not update the 9-5 until a few months before they went bankrupt?
I haven't got a single Saab service centre near me. Mostly VW, Audi, Seat, Volvo, Toyota, Dacia, Renault, Nissan, Suzuki, Honda..........

[griffin dai]

I'd go for a nice VXR, I fancy one next and just transfer all my go faster bits from the Saab onto it.

The 2.8's a fantastic engine, but it really needs a remap to get it going. Not that quick standard, they're definitely not slow and can get a decent pace on (very smooth power delivery, maybe too smooth!) but stick a map on there and they go like stink

Should see around 320bhp & 400+ft/lbs depending who maps it, some (Saab) tuners below who could also map the Vec.

Hirsch - quick (ish)
Maptun - quicker
JZW - mad
Vtuner - just as mad

Courtney seem to be the preferd ones for the VXR although JZW has done a few Vectras. Take a look on VXROL for more info or UKSaabs if you fancy a Saab v6 instead. Personally I'd avoid the TurboX with all the Hadlex issues and put the cash towards the Aero's handling.

Only real issues I can think of are stretched chains which seem more frequent on the Vectra vs the Saab and coil packs dying especially on mapped cars.

[matchmaker]

Stu-nph26 said:

Never had the Vectra but owned 2 LCR 225s over the years. Great cars plenty of power different animal with a remap I think mine was about 260bhp. Brembo breaks, VW build quality had no major issues with mine over 4 years of ownership. Looks great with the 18s. I'd have another in a heart beat. Go drive them both and decide for yourself.

No they don't.

[rscott]

allroad one said:

Ah, thanks for clarifying.

I hate the 9-5 but the 9-3 is ok. It is beyond me why Saab did not update the 9-5 until a few months before they went bankrupt?
I haven't got a single Saab service centre near me. Mostly VW, Audi, Seat, Volvo, Toyota, Dacia, Renault, Nissan, Suzuki, Honda..........

GM were trying to kill the Saab brand by dumping costs onto it and not funding the new developments properly. They thought we'd all want Cadillacs instead...

[MikeyMike]

Evo certainly rated the VXR http://www.evo.co.uk/vauxhall/vectra/14196/mitsubi... Surprised me to be honest and certainly a candidate for my next car alongside the Legacy Blitzen, classic Impreza wagon and a couple of others. I'm not keen on the dash and would prefer RWD or 4WD over a front driver but I'm sure a good diff would improve things.

Have you considered the Mazda 6MPS? 260hp 4WD. Or even the Vauxhall Signum? Same engine as the Vectra VXR but making 250hp.

[200Plus Club]

I drove the vectra vxr round Croft at the vxr trackday and it was a big fast understeering barge tbh.
The astra vxr on the other hand was fabulous for fwd.

[Nickyboy]

200Plus Club said:

I drove the vectra vxr round Croft at the vxr trackday and it was a big fast understeering barge tbh.
The astra vxr on the other hand was fabulous for fwd.

That was Clarksons view as well but how many people actually drive like that in normal life? If you push it into corners with your foot down then yes you'll find out it understeers massively, drive it normally and you'll have a blast.

I've got a Vectra V6CDti, while it's obviously not as fast it handles perfectly well, it's well put together and that's without the nicer interior of the VXR

[anonymous-user]

rb5er said:

allroad one said:

Turquoise said:

Saab Aero estate all day long. Still looks really classy. Easily tuned too.

Why does everyone love these? They look extremely dated, there are no dealer networks, about as interesting as a bean bag and are ancient.

I would be placing my money on a late model Volvo T5, which doesn't look 1980s, left field choice? 335i touring

Agreed, they are beaten by a Volvo in every area. I guess its hard to beat a Turbo Saab for a grand but beyond that I can't see much appeal.

Edited by rb5er on Monday 30th May 12:18

I know of a mate who spent 12 grand on a 9-3 Turbo diesel. From Stratstone.
This year. And it still had cloth seats.

[rb5er]

What a mug

[ZX10R NIN]

I have to say your mate got tucked up.

[Xxxmike86]

The vxr might under steer when you really boot it but so did my Impreza! If you gave it enough beans anyway.
I do keep thinking about going back to an Impreza. Also I have looked at the 6 MPS, nice quick car.
The Astra vxr doesn't come in a 4 door option for me so that's out.

[Stu-nph26]

matchmaker said:

No they don't.

Yes they do

[Janesy B]

2.5t Mondeo, much better car in every way.

[anonymous-user]

allroad one said:

Turquoise said:

Saab Aero estate all day long. Still looks really classy. Easily tuned too.

Why does everyone love these? They look extremely dated, there are no dealer networks, about as interesting as a bean bag and are ancient.

I would be placing my money on a late model Volvo T5, which doesn't look 1980s, left field choice? 335i touring

Absolutely agreed. The 9-5 can be dismissed once you are spending more than £2k, it's purely shed fodder now. The 9-3 is a totally unremarkable car, more like a European Buick than an actual SAAB. Reliability is poor, build quality is patchy, trim durability is woeful, engines are bland and characterless, performance is middling and parts availability is not going to get better with time. Couldn't understand why people were buying them new, don't really understand it now. This comes from someone who is an enormous fan of real SAABs.

Mondeo 2.5t is a good shout, although an S60 T5 is a better car with a more amusing HPT engine. If you want something bigger the Mk2 S80 with the 2.5t can be remapped to 250bhp ish (same engine as the mondeo) and can be found with a manual box.

Edited by dme123 on Monday 30th May 20:43

[200Plus Club]

Nickyboy said:

200Plus Club said:

I drove the vectra vxr round Croft at the vxr trackday and it was a big fast understeering barge tbh.
The astra vxr on the other hand was fabulous for fwd.

That was Clarksons view as well but how many people actually drive like that in normal life? If you push it into corners with your foot down then yes you'll find out it understeers massively, drive it normally and you'll have a blast.

I've got a Vectra V6CDti, while it's obviously not as fast it handles perfectly well, it's well put together and that's without the nicer interior of the VXR

In comparison though the astra was much more balanced at the same speeds. The vectra was just shredding the front tyres and understeering. Although I've not driven a cuppa 225 I imagine it's more similar to the astra than a vectra possibly.
Was a nice quick car don't get me wrong but a lot of weight transfer. Astra vxr left it for dead

[browno]

Having owned both an 04 LCR and 07 VXR estate then I feel well placed to comment. I had the Leon for about a year, and it was a good car, reasonably quick but also fairly practical. Compared to the Vectra though it is slower (particularly after the Vectra is awoken with a map), less practical and also less nice on a long drive - but is a little more fun to throw around on a twistier road.

Neither car is exactly a go kart (I have the 182 and mx5's for that), but the Leon is a little more nimble. I had no mechanical issues with either, and running costs were as expected really, bar the high tax on the Vectra. The V6 in the Vauxhall is much smoother and has more character than the 1.8T - although the latter probably has a bigger range of tuning goodies. The Leon does look very good, but the Vectra is such a rare beast that despite being quite shouty (in Arden blue in my case), is somewhat of an unknown quantity for most people.

I would say the choice between these two depends on your needs. If you are keen to balance handling and performance then the Leon is good, if you want great performance, and practicality along with something that is under the radar, then try the VXR. Mine was such a great family wagon that I had it for 7 years before finally selling it today - as I have succumbed to a Golf R estate, which has big shoes to fill!