Vauxhall Corsa VXR: PH Carpool
Vauxhall's underrated hot hatch finds an enthusiastic fan in our featured PH owner
Car: Vauxhall Corsa VXR
Owned since: August 2013
Previously owned: "Toyota Aygo, Vauxhall Corsa SXI, Corsa SRI, Toyota Yaris SR, Mazda MX-5, Mini Cooper."
Black on black was worth hunting down
"At the time I started looking, I had the Yaris SR which is a very nice, naturally-aspirated 1.8 petrol. It was (hopefully still is) a lovely car and I think very underrated. But I longed for a bit more power and a change from the Jap cars. I only moved over here in 2009 and being from Ireland had never heard of the VXR range - unfortunately we don't get good spec cars back home. At Pageant of Power one year I spotted an Astra VXR and really fell for it, so I started doing my research into the Astras and that was when I first stumbled on its little brother.
"The VXRonline forum was a very good source for information and opinions and pretty soon I had narrowed my choice down to the Astra VXR, Mini Cooper S or the Corsa VXR. There were more but this was the shortlist. Then one lovely summer evening I was overtaken by a Corsa and it sounded pretty good too. I caught up with it pulling into a car-park and had my girlfriend with me, she looked at it and before I even said a word went 'Chavvy car'. My mind was made up then - being a typical lad I was determined to prove her wrong.
"I did a bit of hunting and then went test driving and found that I really wanted one with a Remus exhaust as the standard note is just way too flat. This only came factory fitted on the Arctic and Racing editions and the colours I had definitely decided against were white and red so it became clear then that I'd be going down the modifying route.
"I spent about six months or more looking and waiting for the right spec. I knew I wanted the factory tints all round because it just set the black cars off really well. Funnily enough, I decided I only wanted the half leather seats as the full leather Recaros just didn't do it for me but the cloth mesh looks very tidy. I had decided I wanted the smaller 17-inch wheels for better handling but then I saw the 18-inch polished face wheel and added them to my wishlist. It was actually difficult to find a car that ticked all these boxes at the time but then I spotted my ideal car up in Doncaster; black, low miles and all original with the factory tinted windows all round and the 18-inch wheels so I dusted off my wallet and set off!"
Trips back home to Ireland are fun
"I had done plenty of research and so I knew what I was looking for in relation to spec and had been and driven a couple of different cars so when I found my one there weren't any great surprises other than it was exactly what I wanted and I knew it.
"What I really wish I'd known about my car specifically was that the steering rack had not been set up to accommodate the 18s and so on full lock the wheels rubbed the inside of the arches. This caused two issues which I maintain the dealer (main Vauxhall) I bought it off should have spotted. Over about 12 months the rack and pinion strained and there came a knocking sound which got worse and started to feel like there was a fair bit of play in the steering. Secondly, and more immediate, was the tyres had been cut from this rubbing one the inside edge which led to me having to replace the front two after they both started going flat when on a road trip in Ireland. Not exactly an easy place to get hold of 18-inch tyres when you are in a small town in the middle of nowhere. Both caused me massive headaches and I eventually got them sorted and the costs reclaimed but it was not an easy fight. We look back and laugh at these adventures don't we and try not let them taint the car."
18-inch wheels look good but raised issues
"There are a lot of things I love about this car, the exhaust burble as it comes down the revs or the lovely pops and bangs when it gets thrashed. The colour over those lines and curves always gives me a smile when it's all polished up.
"It handles really well and even better now its got a new set of semi-slicks on. I know that as hot hatches go it's not the fastest or the most renowned for its handling but for the price they are a great car all round.
"I've had several people ask me about it, which always surprises me because it's still just a Vauxhall at the end of the day. The most surprising was when a man in what I'd say was his 70s approached from a distance when I was outside the post office one day. As he walked over I thought 'oh god, here comes the lecture ... I do look like a chav' but was really surprised when he burst into a big childish smile and told me how much he loved it, especially the burble from the Remus. We chatted so long I was a bit late for work."
Half leather Recaros lift the ambience
"Hate is such a strong word, I don't hate anything about it but the small crack that appeared at the base of either mirror bugged me until I got them replaced under warranty. It's a design flaw in them that they flex, leading to a hairline crack at the bottom over time so they will probably go again.
"The saga with the dealer over the tyres and later steering rack was tedious but I've got over that now and it was made much worse because the people I was dealing with were four hours away."
Costs:
"It hasn't been an expensive car to run really, the servicing is quite reasonable with a local independent garage who are fantastic. I managed to go six months before splashing out on the Remus so that was £600 and worth EVERY single penny, it transformed the soundtrack and there are times I choose it over the stereo.
"Most recently was £400 on the new Federal 595 RSRs which again have made it handle like a new car. I've gone for the higher profile 225 40s because the original 225 35s that come on these with the 18s are far to low profile for the roads I drive on. It grips like mad now and gets proper torque steer instead of just spinning out like it used to.
"Running costs are not eye watering it returns about 36mpg which makes it very practical to live with. I run it on the posh petrol because it seems to run better on it and I'm told it makes them pop and bang better too."
The essential moody 'staring out to sea' photo
"I've been on a few good trips down to south Wales a couple of times, that A44 is a very special bit of tarmac. I've taken it back home to Ireland several times now and will be due another road trip across to Galway. It's always a good adventure on those roads when you're not sure if you will round the corner to face a flock of sheep.
"My neighbours are steadily convincing me to join them on their next trip to Nurburgring later in the summer so hopefully that will happen."
Whats next?
"I will be keeping it for a little bit yet but I have been looking at Toyota GT86s lately and my next car will be rear-wheel drive. Fun as the Corsa is it just doesn't get the back out enough. But I could change my mind on that so we shall see."
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