Astra VXR Deja Vu Road Test

[Notanotherturbo]

It must be depressing reading for General Motors. Every road test from the 2nd generation Astra GTE has said virtually the same thing. Now in EVO this month the new VXR. Vauxhall have thrown everything at it, specially developed hydraulic steering, more power than any of its rivals, an on paper spec to rival any hot hatch out there. The result, the Megane 265 wipes the floor with it as does the old shape Focus. The reason - mainly torque steer and poor ride handling compromise, the same criticism levelled at every hot Astra for 20 years. Message to CEO - employ someone who knows how to engineer a chassis!

[em177]

Drive all 3. Then get back here. I have done, and don't agree at all with that.

[inman999]

You see enough of them so I presume the bean counters are happy, which lets face it is what really matters to the big companies.

[Codswallop]

For the vast majority of motorists, pub bragging rights are the be all and end all. Therefore, the most powerful hatchback will sell. The last Astra VXR certainly sold well enough despite similar handling issues compared to more resolved rivals.

[DickHerpes]

Notanotherturbo said:

It must be depressing reading for General Motors. Every road test from the 2nd generation Astra GTE has said virtually the same thing. Now in EVO this month the new VXR. Vauxhall have thrown everything at it, specially developed hydraulic steering, more power than any of its rivals, an on paper spec to rival any hot hatch out there. The result, the Megane 265 wipes the floor with it as does the old shape Focus. The reason - mainly torque steer and poor ride handling compromise, the same criticism levelled at every hot Astra for 20 years. Message to CEO - employ someone who knows how to engineer a chassis!

What is the practical difference of this supposedly worse handling? I'd suggest very little. Therefore other factors like price, styling, pub bragging rights are likely to influence purchasing decisions more.

[s m]

Notanotherturbo said:

It must be depressing reading for General Motors. Every road test from the 2nd generation Astra GTE has said virtually the same thing. Now in EVO this month the new VXR. The result, the Megane 265 wipes the floor with it as does the old shape Focus. The reason - mainly torque steer and poor ride handling compromise, the same criticism levelled at every hot Astra for 20 years. Message to CEO - employ someone who knows how to engineer a chassis!

Hmm, interesting how you've read it. To me it read like the Megane was certainly the pick of the crop....but it seemed like the Focus was far from wiping the floor with Astra dynamically. I read it as the Focus was more fun, more feel-good factor than the VXR.

Certainly the Renault seemed to be the "winner" in their eyes though

[MarkRSi]

Codswallop said:

For the vast majority of motorists, pub bragging rights are the be all and end all. Therefore, the most powerful hatchback will sell...

http://youtu.be/izCoSemS_qo

oops

[s m]

MarkRSi said:

Codswallop said:

For the vast majority of motorists, pub bragging rights are the be all and end all. Therefore, the most powerful hatchback will sell...

http://youtu.be/izCoSemS_qo

oops

No surprise there really - the car with the better PWR was quicker

[Notanotherturbo]

Hmm, close but the Megane edged it interestingly my Gta Turbo hit 60 in 5.1 and did the quarter in 13.2 when tested at Brunty and that's when it was only running 280 bhp. The joys of light weight

[Graebob]

That VXR vs Megane 265 video explains everything properly.

Megane 0-60: 6.06 seconds.
VXR 0-60: 6.25 seconds.

0.19 seconds difference to 60.

Who. fking. Cares.

[elvismiggell]

Graebob said:

That VXR vs Megane 265 video explains everything properly.

Megane 0-60: 6.06 seconds.
VXR 0-60: 6.25 seconds.

0.19 seconds difference to 60.

Who. fking. Cares.

+1

This.

I really couldn't care less about 0.2 of a second. In my eyes, I'd rather look at and sit in the Astra.

[hotmelt]

elvismiggell said:

+1

This.

I really couldn't care less about 0.2 of a second. In my eyes, I'd rather look at and sit in the Astra.

+1, but I would rather sit in Megane(better to drive, sporty handling)

[elvismiggell]

hotmelt said:

+1, but I would rather sit in Megane(better to drive, sporty handling)

Good, more chance of one being left by the time I can afford one!!!

[DukeDickson]

Notanotherturbo said:

Message to CEO - employ someone who knows how to engineer a chassis!

I thought that both the current and previous VXRs enjoyed the benefit of at least some Lotus chassis input?


That would suggest the CEO isn't quite as off message as you might think & presumably the issue is elsewhere - managers chasing profit margins by cost cutting, sows ear into silk purse being more difficult than thought, etc.

[Defcon5]

It sounded so promising on paper too.

[Mastodon2]

Key error in this thread, and one that gets made here quite a lot, is believing that what EVO think means anything at all to the average buyer of these cars. And while we are indeed petrolheads and enjoy things like handling, nuance etc, in reality the difference in ability between the Megane and the new VXR is going to be very slim indeed, even on track, and practically negligible on the road.

[s m]

Mastodon2 said:

in reality the difference in ability between the Megane and the new VXR is going to be very slim indeed, even on track, and practically negligible on the road.

This ^

Best to drive all 3 and make up your own mind if you're going to buy one There may be subtleties you prefer in the Focus or VXR.

[Steve vRS]

The interior of the Astra is a much nicer place to sit than the Megane.

At the end of the day, would anyone spend £25k on the recommendation of EVO alone?

However, saying that, on a test drive, you are unlikely to be allowed to give the car some serious beans.

Steve

[R12HCO]

I dont think the astra is 'that' bad, I just think the megane is 'that' good.

[s m]

R12HCO said:

I dont think the astra is 'that' bad, I just think the megane is 'that' good.

That's the impression I got from reading the article.

The Focus they liked to drive because of the soundtrack and the 'adjustability' of the car into a corner. There were quite a few positive comments about the VXR as well