My MY11 Astra VXR Arctic Edition
Discussion
Picked this up last year after having a cheap Astra Coupe Turbo for a few months and enjoying the hark back to my younger days when I was into Vauxhalls.
Wanted something newer and more reliable with some options. Decided to get an Arctic edition (500 made) Essentially just a run out edition of the Astra H VXR, no performance ad-ons, just the Olympic White paint with black bits, 19"s and a full heated Recaro leather interior. They did offer the rather cool panoramic roof option on this but sadly I couldn't stretch to one with that (Or Xenons/Nav) as the difference was huge!
Not sure many will be fans on here, the Vauxhall hate is usually strong! But I love it, its an absolute hoot to drive with bags of character. Flawed yes, but it doesn't mean its not fun
The car remained standard for a while, all I have done is add cruise control and had it remapped to stage one with a precat-delete pipe and panel filter. Its now running 270bhp/300l/b torque. Standard exhaust so it is still quite refined (for an Astra designed in 05..) and I don't annoy the neighbours or give myself headaches on long journeys. Surprisingly it pops on downshift and under hard load sometimes the noise is great for a stock exhaust - without being droney or offensive.
Oh and I also added cruise control as it was cheap to do and I use it a lot.
Anyway, few pics for your amusement:
Cruise control stalk difference:
Laptop ooot
Fitted!
Remap courtesey of Rabbid/WG Motorworks
Wanted something newer and more reliable with some options. Decided to get an Arctic edition (500 made) Essentially just a run out edition of the Astra H VXR, no performance ad-ons, just the Olympic White paint with black bits, 19"s and a full heated Recaro leather interior. They did offer the rather cool panoramic roof option on this but sadly I couldn't stretch to one with that (Or Xenons/Nav) as the difference was huge!
Not sure many will be fans on here, the Vauxhall hate is usually strong! But I love it, its an absolute hoot to drive with bags of character. Flawed yes, but it doesn't mean its not fun
The car remained standard for a while, all I have done is add cruise control and had it remapped to stage one with a precat-delete pipe and panel filter. Its now running 270bhp/300l/b torque. Standard exhaust so it is still quite refined (for an Astra designed in 05..) and I don't annoy the neighbours or give myself headaches on long journeys. Surprisingly it pops on downshift and under hard load sometimes the noise is great for a stock exhaust - without being droney or offensive.
Oh and I also added cruise control as it was cheap to do and I use it a lot.
Anyway, few pics for your amusement:
Cruise control stalk difference:
Laptop ooot
Fitted!
Remap courtesey of Rabbid/WG Motorworks
Edited by L9 GTE on Friday 22 July 14:42
Freds said:
Again not a fan of the marque but thats a nice looking car, some cock came hurtling around a corner and ran over me in a Vauxhall Victor in 1971 and that was me finished with Vauxhalls !
You've not bothered with the marque because you were run over by one driven by a cock? Quite funny, not being run over obviously, but that it made you resent the brand.Thanks all.
I am immensely proud of it, picked it up with 40k on the clock and done 7 in it. It drives and feels like a new car still even a faint whiff of new car smell from time to time! it is a great combo of cheap thrills, easy maintenance a shed load of upgrades and decent running costs. its practical too!
I am treating it to a proper DA polish in the next few weeks so will post some pictures afterwards to hopefully show off the paint. Brakes need doing also as the ones fitted for
I am immensely proud of it, picked it up with 40k on the clock and done 7 in it. It drives and feels like a new car still even a faint whiff of new car smell from time to time! it is a great combo of cheap thrills, easy maintenance a shed load of upgrades and decent running costs. its practical too!
I am treating it to a proper DA polish in the next few weeks so will post some pictures afterwards to hopefully show off the paint. Brakes need doing also as the ones fitted for
The steering is very very odd. It is by no means as feel some as some of my previous ///M vehicles, but it FAR better than the DS3 155 I had prior to this and leagues better than the shape that preceded it. But it's very hard to describe what it's like, I has feel, I know what the front wheels are doing. But it's all a bit, artificial!? But at the same time it doesn't feel horrible at all, good weight and variable with the sport button on.
Reminds me, brief spec:
2011/60 Arctic ltd Editon
Keyless Entry + Go (love this feature)
Cruise control
Aircon
Full leather heated recaro seats
1980's trip computer
Six speed manual
Privacy glass (factory std)
Sport button to firm up steering and increase throttle response
Thinking of adding sat nav, also tempted to put some big brakes on it. But as mentioned, first a "detail"
Reminds me, brief spec:
2011/60 Arctic ltd Editon
Keyless Entry + Go (love this feature)
Cruise control
Aircon
Full leather heated recaro seats
1980's trip computer
Six speed manual
Privacy glass (factory std)
Sport button to firm up steering and increase throttle response
Thinking of adding sat nav, also tempted to put some big brakes on it. But as mentioned, first a "detail"
Good work so far, it looks a nice tidy example.
Springs and a rear anti roll bar improve the chassis quite a bit, worth doing.
They are actually (for a fwd hatch) quite good to drive, the torque curve is good fun (especially on the remap I had).
Its a shame the successor in many ways wasn't as good. Compared to its rivals of the time the H was actually a pretty good car, despite what those with blind badge hate might say.
Springs and a rear anti roll bar improve the chassis quite a bit, worth doing.
They are actually (for a fwd hatch) quite good to drive, the torque curve is good fun (especially on the remap I had).
Its a shame the successor in many ways wasn't as good. Compared to its rivals of the time the H was actually a pretty good car, despite what those with blind badge hate might say.
I liked my Astra H (even though it was a 120 cdti sports hatch and not a vxr) did over 54k miles in her and only had a couple of problems (the ecu went of the esp which wasnt worth replacing at 1200 quid 
) and a broken rear spring (oh and a new air con rad as it was damaged by a stone 
)
Better than most people think they are, was actually a nice place to be
) and a broken rear spring (oh and a new air con rad as it was damaged by a stone )Better than most people think they are, was actually a nice place to be
I used to have a H VXR a few years ago. I bought it when I wasn't properly "into" cars and bought it based on looks and straight line speed. Yes, I admit it probably looks a bit chavvy and my taste has change but it turned heads everywhere.
Luckily mine had satnav, AFL xenons, heated leather, cruise control, 19" alloys all as factory extra's.
I had a whiteline RARB, blue SMD interior conversion, heko wind deflectors, black refurbished alloys, black wing mirrors, black rear diffuser, colour coded boot strip and a cobra non-res exhaust system with decat down pipe.
Luckily mine had satnav, AFL xenons, heated leather, cruise control, 19" alloys all as factory extra's.
I had a whiteline RARB, blue SMD interior conversion, heko wind deflectors, black refurbished alloys, black wing mirrors, black rear diffuser, colour coded boot strip and a cobra non-res exhaust system with decat down pipe.
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 22 July 18:33
Edited by Prohibiting on Friday 22 July 18:34
Soov535 said:
Don't do it down - that's an immaculate motor.
You should be proud of it.
Agreed. I'm very much a Ford man, but that Astra looks great. You should be proud of it.
L9 GTE said:
270bhp
As someone who owns a high power / torque FWD hatch, it really is worth getting decent tyres. The difference between The Conti SportContact 5s (EVO's tyre of the year 2015) and the Dunlops I ran previously is staggering. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff