My MY11 Astra VXR Arctic Edition

[Podie]

austinsmirk said:

Who remembers the legendary thread on Barry boys with some detailing weirdo buying a blue one and then complaining to Vauxhall re paint depth.

missed that, but sounds a corker.

[L9 GTE]

Crafty_ said:

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.

Heard about the ARB and DAP springs, I would be tempted. Not sure I am keen on scraping the car on anything though, bit too old for that lark now.

I quite like the newer VXR, just a shame about the epic list price and epic depreciation. I am keen to get a White one with leather/nav/xenons next. Year old ones are a bargain but I am trying to not jump cars so quick.

[L9 GTE]

Prohibiting said:

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.

Looks lovely that chap!

I am tempted with an exhaust but most of them must be a nightmare in the car for noise. Tempted to get some sound deadening added to enhance the refinement. If it makes a noticeable difference I might be swayed with one!

[L9 GTE]

Podie said:

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.

This is what is on there now Nothing to compare them too, but they do the job. Will need replacing before long, so will see whats around, I have always liked Michelin PS, but they are pricey for this, so might get Contis again

[L9 GTE]

Crafty_ said:

griffin dai said:

What's the difference between this and the Nuremberg?

aside from the badges etc the nurburgring version got a remus exhaust, thats about it.

Wider track and lightweight 18" alloys too.



Thanks for all the positive comments all. Hopefully do some better more detailed photos soon.

[Crafty_]

L9 GTE said:

Heard about the ARB and DAP springs, I would be tempted. Not sure I am keen on scraping the car on anything though, bit too old for that lark now.

I quite like the newer VXR, just a shame about the epic list price and epic depreciation. I am keen to get a White one with leather/nav/xenons next. Year old ones are a bargain but I am trying to not jump cars so quick.

I've actually still got a set of DAP-R springs sat in the garage. I changed to the Eibach lower ones (red), mistake imho, the DAP-Rs rode better and gave better ground clearance. They give the car a little forwards rake. The ARB is a revelation to sort out the slightly wobbly rear end. The entrance to my road rises steeply, with the ARB the car would cock the inside wheel, in fact I could park it there, on three wheels and get my shoe under the rear inside!

The newer car is ridiculously big, its like 4" wider than your car and weighs another 200 kilos. They also ruined the torque delivery. It drives a bit like a golf gti, which is the exact reason why I and so many others didn't get a golf gti, its all a bit too refined and boring. All the knobs moaning about "uncontrollable" torquesteer in the H made Opel soften it all up. Wanted to like the J and seriously considered buying one on the basis of I'd get used to it, but just couldn't do it. If the map in your H is anything like mine a stock J will disappoint, imho a stock H is more fun - even on track.

[Nickbrapp]

Podie said:

austinsmirk said:

Who remembers the legendary thread on Barry boys with some detailing weirdo buying a blue one and then complaining to Vauxhall re paint depth.

missed that, but sounds a corker.

It was a thread on detailing world too, he had a artic version like this after and was going to reject the car after he found a 0.01mm paint blob on the roof

[djgritt]

Complete overkill VXR Nurburgring 'detail' on Detailing World.....

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

[Mike1990]

Stunning VXR, you should be proud. As an ex-VXR owner these are cracking cars, so much than the rep they have and at that stage now where OE/OEM+ examples are becoming quite thin on the ground and are still holding there money rather well. Will follow this with interest

[L9 GTE]

Crafty_ said:

I've actually still got a set of DAP-R springs sat in the garage. I changed to the Eibach lower ones (red), mistake imho, the DAP-Rs rode better and gave better ground clearance. They give the car a little forwards rake. The ARB is a revelation to sort out the slightly wobbly rear end. The entrance to my road rises steeply, with the ARB the car would cock the inside wheel, in fact I could park it there, on three wheels and get my shoe under the rear inside!

The newer car is ridiculously big, its like 4" wider than your car and weighs another 200 kilos. They also ruined the torque delivery. It drives a bit like a golf gti, which is the exact reason why I and so many others didn't get a golf gti, its all a bit too refined and boring. All the knobs moaning about "uncontrollable" torquesteer in the H made Opel soften it all up. Wanted to like the J and seriously considered buying one on the basis of I'd get used to it, but just couldn't do it. If the map in your H is anything like mine a stock J will disappoint, imho a stock H is more fun - even on track.

I have heard they are bigger, the press seem to rate the chassis a lot better in the J. I would certainly be interested to see what the torque steer is like with Hi-per strut suspension. Whilst it may have taken away some of the excitement I bet it is far more composed driven quickly.

Tempted with the ARB and DAP springs, worried about ground clearance and ride though. May just keep stock for now.

Thanks for all the positive comments, due a polish on saturday. Might take some decent SLR shots if it doesn't rain!

[L9 GTE]

The one thing that let my car down was the state of the paint. The car is relatively low miles but appears to have been cleaned with a Brillo pad for all of its life.

So me and a friend set about using a Dual Action Polisher and some Chemical Guys VSS on it to improve the state of the dull and swirly paintwork. We are both complete amateurs and don't have an amazing DA or anything expensive product wise. Just gave it a shot. It is far from perfect, there are still swirls but my god the clarity and shine is epic! It was also clayed before hand.

Here is the roof as it was, snapped on a petrol station forecourt (Don't you love the lights there )

Before:




And after:




Few crappy shots taken after we wheeled it out of the garage. No protection on it here, I drove home and waxed it. Apologies photo's are a bit crappy but you get the idea!










Was all very therapeutic doing this, I am fancying purchasing one of these DA machines and giving it a go again

[Chris x]

Looking good Jambo!

[J4CKO]

Funny should spot this today, my eldest has just bought an Sri 3 door in white with the Exterior Pack, about as close as he can get at 20, always liked the looks of the sporthatch, looks quite similar, went looking at the Civic Type S but most were dogs and this popped up so we had a look and it was pretty tidy after looking at a selection of ropey, overpriced Hondas.

Now I know it isnt all that fast but 140 bhp at 20 I think is plenty, over double his C1, he could have skinned himself to buy a Type R but too much of a stretch, so this is our first Vauxhall, unless you count a couple of GM Saabs, and a Manta GTE in 1990, my brother has been running an Astra H 1.6 for years, it isnt very exciting but it has been dependable and reliable.

Pick this one up tomorrow, its being prepped, wheels were a bit scabby so being repainted, talked him out of black for gunmetal, will set to with the DA polisher and get it spot on.

Edited by J4CKO on Wednesday 24th August 11:53

[Brett748]

Really like that OP. That said I would say that as I own a Nurburgring Edition myself.

They get a lot of bad rep the VXRs especially for the handling but I find mine to get down a road very quickly. They would benefit from a diff in slower corners but they're always good fun.

[Chongwong]

djgritt said:

Complete overkill VXR Nurburgring 'detail' on Detailing World.....

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Imagine having dinner with him...

[Chongwong]

Chongwong said:

djgritt said:

Complete overkill VXR Nurburgring 'detail' on Detailing World.....

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

Imagine having dinner with him...

Infact disregard that, I'm finding his attention to detail amazing, can't stop reading the thread.

[L9 GTE]

Thanks all.


Needs better brakes. Currently undecided on the next step. Discs/pads or some attractive oversized stoppers to make it look (and feel) a bit better.

Brakes on it at the moment verge on dangerous so much be some cheap stty aftermarket pads fitted by the garage I purchased it from

[Crafty_]

They certainly shouldn't be dangerous. When I got mine I really didn't like the brakes at all, just didn't give me confidence. They got better once bled and the second set of pads/discs were far better (all OE stuff).

There were AP Racing and Alcon setups available, not sure about the Alcon setup but the AP ones had horrendously overpriced replacement discs, if I recall there was even something about AP not making any more discs but I don't remember the details. I know a guy who was machining the carriers to use vectra vxr calipers which are bigger. Not sure what is available now but I'd start with a good bleed and new OE stuff.

[J4CKO]

L9 GTE said:

Thanks all.


Needs better brakes. Currently undecided on the next step. Discs/pads or some attractive oversized stoppers to make it look (and feel) a bit better.

Brakes on it at the moment verge on dangerous so much be some cheap stty aftermarket pads fitted by the garage I purchased it from

New fluid and pads then see where you are upto.

[L9 GTE]

The discs are rusty and not that expensive to replace so would probably get some new ones at the same time. Fluid was changed back in Jan.



The AP setups are nice but hugely expensive. Many people run the D2/Ksport setups and report good things, these are relatively well priced by comparison. Not fussed on the Vectra upgrade, they will be bigger and heavier which will affect handling and probably give a more spongey pedal feel. Had a similar upgrade on my Corsa years ago and it ruined the car if I am honest.


As for dangerous, slowing down in an emergency situation on an Mway provides initial bite, then instant fade. That was after not having touched the brakes in 20+ minutes. They are fine around town but need replacing obviously. Don't inspire confidence at all.