Moving over to VXR8

[magic77]

Just thought I post on here as potentially looking to buy a VXR8
So finally looking to buy something more fun than a 320D so had to look into a vxr8

Drove a 2009 plate manual today with wilkinshaw exhaust. Amazing engine. But few quesions came up in my head.

Car doesnt have xenons was the first just wondering if anyone has retrofitted some and how hard is it.

More importantly since I dont know much about the vxr8 what are they like to live with.

Ofcourse mpg is a low teens but expected with a monster engine. What about common faults , what to look out for. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Also any mods worth considering straight off. One thing I could feel is while brakes a decent enough the body roll is something that would need addressing. Also any cars worth avoiding I drove a manual but anyone have the auto how do they compare.

Also since I live in a heavily populated area can anyone recommended a good exhaust system that has a twin stage so I can put on a "stealth" mode when coming home from late or leaving early at stupid oclock. Do a lot of these due to my work and dont want to annoy the neighbours especially as next door I have a right old pair of $"£$"£%$"$!"

thanks in advance

[magic77]

Thanks, all sounds good by the looks of it. The car is a 6.3 if I recall correctly waiting for all the info on it as had to rush off post testdrive so ask dealer to email me.

This one has the full loud wilkinshaw exhaust so I wonder if it can be altered will need to look into it.

Xenons will be a must as I drive a lot at night so needed. I rather not do the aftermarket ones and fit OEM but I'm sure will be a challenge. Something this oen did not have so will need to consider it or look for another model

Any ideas on Audio by a chance, are their facia adapter kits as it will be a project car so a good audio will be a must as well.

One other question whats the servicing like in terms of frequency and cost.

[magic77]

Love the vid so true. Bought the E90 about 5 years ago as was meant to do mega miles. Typically things changed and after five and half years only managed 59k. Finally in position to swap, kids, house got in the way. So thought hey what the hell swap on the large scale. Plus will be able to have more fun through hindhead . Right now its between vxr8 or xfr really as was thinking e90 M3 but they are as rare as hense teeth and dont sound nowhere as good as the other two

As you said its all about the engine but at same time I like my audio and its just an excuse to mod. Interior I would say is on par with the E36 BMWs but thats not why I would buy this car. Its something you deal with if you want the LS3 up the front. Few things where the trim has lost its gloss etc are easily fixed with paint and 3M Vinyl wrap. What I did like is the fact I fit nicely into it and the seats are big enough.

With xenons its a must for me as the amount I drive at night its going to be nightmare and as well will need to find some winter tyres but thats an easy search.

I've got a contact is melbourne that will do some digging for me on audio front as from what I could see the controls are in lower half so might be able to transfer them to new facia.

But exhaust mod will be a must as with the wilkinshaw I can see my neighbours the "£"££$"£%"£% just really throwing their towels out. These are people who complain because the kids are playing in the garden or it the culdesac and making some noise. Oh and we live 100 yards from primary school. on second through hmm supercar option please for the exhaust

When buying anything I need to look out for so to avoid a lemon etc.

[magic77]

Thanks everybody for the input really appreciate it.

Has left me thinking more about this. Ironically have spent afternoon going over adverts and other sites and its all looking good for this car. Esecially when insurance fully comp with £400 access was only £300 per year with 10k allowance . I must be getting old

Yep the XFR is posher but certainly not a buzz as much as this motor, and interior can be tidied up to make it better. Thanks for the info on the audio I think amps and speakers might prove a easier task.

Is there really that much difference between teh ls2 and ls3 motors to be bothered about. Mainly asking as there is some late ls2s for sub 20k on the adverts on pistonheads. Though I think the two dealers I've come across one mentioned on here will be getting my call.

Thanks for the point re the winters but its not the snow i'm worried about. Winter tyres (not snow tyres) work best anyting below 7C. Ok last winter was weird with the rain and lack of cold but last few winters before that the tyres even on my 205bhp derv worked wonders. Live on at the top of a steep hill with off which my culdesac is downhill so you got to go up to get out and a downward sloping drive and even with mm of snow or just ice it can be a nightmare to get anything rwd ouf of the road. So all it takes is temps to get low and it can be a no go as I found out first time I took a rwd home. Ended up in neighbours drive at the bottom.

Will probably get a second set of wheels if I can and just swap over if needed.

Another question auto or manual? Everyhting says manual but thought I ask

Now to find a nice one in blue

[magic77]

doh I suppose thats why valet magic in Camberley exist I can always wrap one

[magic77]

The key with winters is not snow. Its just cold and ice. They work better under 7C while summer tyres go hard and actually the wear rate increases in winter. I've been running one set of winters Nov to March for last 3 years. Same set of tyres and in that time I've not also changed by summer tyres.

Winters covered about 5k each winter and still look new.

Its a initial outlay but to be safe and freak people out when they see a BMW not struggle is a big bonus. There is a lot of misconception in uK that winter tyres are for snow only. For me its a must as have had too many scare moments coming down the hill where I live with just ice on the road and even coming up has been scary at times.

[magic77]

stigmundfreud said:

I don't see them as anything than a new marketing ploy, yes I understand normal tyres are perhaps not as good but the outlay to have a spare set of wheels, tyres etc for little use then to store them for a year and repeat, how often should they be changed?

Just adjust driving to the conditions, we've survived this long without them

Sorry but thats the route of the issue. Its not a marketing ploy. If you can get access to a car which is RWD and when temperature is below 7C you will realise it. In some countries its the law. Just here because we have had week winters its a urban legend. Yes when it doesn't show the benefit as muchif it doesn't snow. ( Then its great fun, when you see a focus or a fiesta or a range rover wheel spin to hell and you trundle past them up a hill with no worries) In cold weather only thing I realised how well they worked was by noticing how much less my TC light would come on. (have a heavy foot)

I thought they where pointless until I tried it. Fact is they are IMO a vital tool. I found even in my poxy 320D I can drive easier in winter when temps are low and its crazy wet with them on. As they are better at displacing rain and grip better when temps drop. In effect it reduces the worry that you have to be careful in bad conditions as much as you would on summer tyres.

Its like everything yes you can adjust to the conditions and drive accordingly but if you depend on your car 247 like i do for work I rather spend that then risk it.

I spent about £200 on a set of wheels and then tyre on top on my 320D for winter 4 years ago. Use them 5 months a year and store them at friends house. When I sell the car I'll easily get at least half of that back on the wheels and tyres proabbly as well since they are still in good condition. Over the 5 years of ownership my outlay apart from the wheels has been the same as if I had just summers. Mainly as its allowed my summer tyres to last longer as well. Yes initially bigger outlay but overall pretty the same.

If I go down the vXR and its looking like that will aim for similar best not to risk with 500brake and ice on my local roads


If you happy to adjust and be super careful when temps drop and its slipper than thats good. Personally I rather know I'm prepapred. All it takes is to be on motorway suddenly temp drops to freezing and your brake distance and grip vanishes. While they dont make you invincible I sure rather have to do emergency stop in winters at that point than on summer tyres. Done enough long journeys and seen enough crashes due to this and rather not be in one

But thats my two bits, all I would say is you havent experienced them in the right condition dont know them.


Now to find a out if the two stage exhaust can be retrofitted to a wilkinshaw exhaust or do I need a new full system as I cant see the mrs approving of taking family out with 102db at hte back. Nor my neighbours

[magic77]

stigmundfreud said:

heavy foot = adjust driving

only owned high powered rwd and only once had an issue on an untreated road in freak weather so I turned around and went home = not worth the cost

how did we survive without traction control, stability control, abs, air bags?

Fair point and I do adjust but just like everything else its a security layer.

Same way ABS , airbags they are a tech development. Its surreal how different the tyres are. Just same way I rather have ABS, TC and airbags in my car. I rather have winters. It makes a difference even if small. Same way TC in old days was not there but hey most people dont realise how much it saves them these days


Its also about being able to get home, before I got them twice I got stuck due to bad weather back then snow and another time iced up roads and was not able to get home. Since using them number of times I got home when otherwise I would not be able to i've lost track. Its a personally preference same way other people buy cars and are not fussed about running budget tyres as they are cheap as its just a "brand" thing. Likewise a car that has airbags to one that doesn't in old days.

Good thing is our winters apart from few freak ones do tend to be mild. But other times its not the case, call it a boyscout thing be prepapred in my view. Its a big of hassle and money works out not much over. So why not.

[magic77]

Anyway digressing any ideas if I can find anywhere online a parts list or at least a user handbook

Wanted to see what is available in options from factory so I can look out for spec. ANy ideas if bluetooth came standard and if its hard to retro fit satnav and bluetooth to the blaupunkt

[magic77]

Cool thanks if it was a cheap then possible for casusl use, I suspect it will be back to a cradle and copilot on my S4.

[magic77]

Cool well dealer came back with a decent option on my as part X so wheels are in motion.

I still will hunt around though as auto will be a must and also the one at dealer is low mileage 28K but one colour I cant do and manual.

They also have a blank one similar mileage in black and auto. So tempting but you can see they are both been bought on cheap and marked up. I rather look at specialist. I think there is one in Alton in Hampshire unless anyone else can recommend a good place local to the M3 corridor / surrey

[magic77]

Thanks for all the info, everybody and Elite a very positive trip today.

Now to sit down and try to decide , Monday will tell all