RE: Vauxhall Astra Nurburgring Edition
Discussion
Thekirkbyfake, a point well made I think.
A lot of people have refered to the fact that Opel is a cooler brand than Vauxhall, unfortunately GM Europe are trying desperately to find a way of improving Opels Image as while Vauxhall are for the last quater top sellers in Britain, in Germany at least there is very little brand acceptance of Opel and they are really struggling, this is from an internal GM meeting.
The VXR range is actually pretty good, I have driven them all flat out at Millbrook, and with the possible exception of the new VXR8 which takes time to learn but is actually a total hoot (providing you can afford the fuel and tyres), the pick of the bunch is actually the Corsa, it is cheaper, it is not a lot smaller, it has two of the best seats found in any car I have driven (inc. Ferraris, Porsches, Astons, Lotuses, Audis et al.) and around the Millbrook handling circuit I found it was faster than most other even vaguely comparable cars inc Honda Civic type R & Audi TT 3.2.
The focus RS is a great hot hatch, but at anything less than ten tenths on the road its fancy diff just made it shunty and fidgety.
A lot of people have refered to the fact that Opel is a cooler brand than Vauxhall, unfortunately GM Europe are trying desperately to find a way of improving Opels Image as while Vauxhall are for the last quater top sellers in Britain, in Germany at least there is very little brand acceptance of Opel and they are really struggling, this is from an internal GM meeting.
The VXR range is actually pretty good, I have driven them all flat out at Millbrook, and with the possible exception of the new VXR8 which takes time to learn but is actually a total hoot (providing you can afford the fuel and tyres), the pick of the bunch is actually the Corsa, it is cheaper, it is not a lot smaller, it has two of the best seats found in any car I have driven (inc. Ferraris, Porsches, Astons, Lotuses, Audis et al.) and around the Millbrook handling circuit I found it was faster than most other even vaguely comparable cars inc Honda Civic type R & Audi TT 3.2.
The focus RS is a great hot hatch, but at anything less than ten tenths on the road its fancy diff just made it shunty and fidgety.
Yugguy said:
Agoogy said:
Yugguy said:
Aye, it seems fashionable, almost compulsory, on here to hate anything with a Vx badge, except when it can be twisted to not be a Vx.
agreed.. although on a looks/sound basis, its only the the more expensive brands that actually sound nice... or have nice looking emblemsI mean: Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes (just)
or: Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Audi
Agoogy said:
Yugguy said:
Agoogy said:
Yugguy said:
Aye, it seems fashionable, almost compulsory, on here to hate anything with a Vx badge, except when it can be twisted to not be a Vx.
agreed.. although on a looks/sound basis, its only the the more expensive brands that actually sound nice... or have nice looking emblemsI mean: Ferrari, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes (just)
or: Ford, Vauxhall, BMW, Audi
Ahonen said:
crocop said:
I wonder how much more successful would Vauxhall cars be if they were marketed as what they REALLY are...as OPELS!!
Interesting one - and one that GM Europe has pondered.Vauxhall is currently the best selling brand in Britain and its market share in the UK far outstrips Opel's in any other market so, on balance, I'd say it wouldn't really increase sales. A lot of people still perceive Vauxhall as a British brand and they might be upset if they had to start buying a 'German' car.
I'm not even british-born, and I find this sad.
BTW, TATA in Croatian means dad/father, so it seems the brits have abandoned their 'problem children', and let them be adopted. Why on earth didn't they just bring in foreign management to sort out the companies, like other companies do, they head-hunt the best people, instead of just selling away what they'll never get back. But than, we've done a lot of that here too...coz we're stupid.
White really is so 1980s and to prove it I have a kit car standing in my garage in that very high colour that is 20 years old this month. I cannot imagine what marketing genius came up with such a naff colour scheme. Or as it's basically an Opel, perhaps it's German racing white, in which case the Vauxhall should be British racing green.
Not in the garage, but outside it is a Subaru Impreza RB5 PPP that also has 237bhp, but the advantage of superbly balanced handling and 4WD (sorry AWD) to go with the power.
I suppose if Vauxhall were to lend me one for 6 months I might be prepared to be seen driving around it, but only if it came with a baseball cap to complete the boy racer look.
Not in the garage, but outside it is a Subaru Impreza RB5 PPP that also has 237bhp, but the advantage of superbly balanced handling and 4WD (sorry AWD) to go with the power.
I suppose if Vauxhall were to lend me one for 6 months I might be prepared to be seen driving around it, but only if it came with a baseball cap to complete the boy racer look.
Yugguy said:
I'm sure I'll get flamed alive for this, but there was an Astra VXR in red in our car park this morning, and I don't think it looks any more chavvy than the current crop of LED-ed Audis.
overall i think i have decided on this view myself. i loved the idea when i first saw an article in autocar.. then i realised i wasn't keen on the actual car.. but it probably isn't that chavvish at all. as you say it certainly isn't as wrong as some other models.
Davie said:
Buy a 888 diesel, it'll tear a VXR arse to tit anyday. Proven.
Proven where?You clearly have not seen the review of them both side by side during various tests on fifth gear then? (Youtube it).
The 888 Diesel may be a fast car, but in terms of equal performance it won't quite pip a petrol VXR, and won't even come close to a modified one.
thekirbyfake said:
TEKNOPUG said:
Progess? I think not.
So a practical sub £20k hatchback that can lap the 'Ring as quick as the NSX and 996 is not progress?There's no pleasing some people.
Yet on the Top Gear site the Astra is slower than the VXR
http://lonewolf-online.net/funstuff/top-gear/stigs...
Nothing like comparing like with like!!
Seeing as the thread has been ressurected..........these things look horrible! A white car with white wheels? The normal VXR Astra is a cracking looking car, but this thing? And how much?! Can't believe that anyone would consider trading in a perfectly decent standard VXR for this horrid thing.
The "top gear Track" - the "be all and end all". On that list the Astra is also faster than a Noble 
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