Autocar VXR8 GT review

[Sketchface]

I'm sure I'll be met with a chorus of 'Shut it, VAG boy' or maybe just be met with total silence, but does anybody else share my reaction of incredulity at autocar's review.

My favourite part:

Road Test Top 5:

1 VXR8
2 JAG XFRS
3 MERC E63
4 RS6
5 M5

You bunch of cards!

[Codswallop]

The only surprise on that list is that the RS6 beat the M5 imo. The VXR8 offers a very competitive package for the price (though I'd probably go for a C63 if I wanted a super saloon).

[kiteless]

Hang on!

I watched a Sutcliffe Autocar video review yesterday where he was comparing the M5 Competition Pack (£80 fking k, I ask you ) against a VXR-8, and he was of the opinion that the VXR wasn't really in the same league as the M5. Admittedly, and as usual IMO, Sutcliffe did seem to have his usual pre-conceived judgement for each car that was just trawled out during his commentary.

So what's happened for the VXR - in the space of a day or so - to now comprehensively trump the M5?

For the record, I like neither car; both are needlessly fat and ugly

[-Z-]

Yup:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcm9evmWObk

Same cars, video a few days old, Sutcliffe says M5 whips the VXR8.

Side note, nice to see the M5 easily pulls away from the VXR8 despite a theoretical bhp/kg deficit.

[Fantuzzi]

I think the auto car mag had a 3 way test with the VXR8, it came out on top in that as well.

[-Z-]

kiteless said:

Hang on!

I watched a Sutcliffe Autocar video review yesterday where he was comparing the M5 Competition Pack (£80 fking k, I ask you ) against a VXR-8, and he was of the opinion that the VXR wasn't really in the same league as the M5. Admittedly, and as usual IMO, Sutcliffe did seem to have his usual pre-conceived judgement for each car that was just trawled out during his commentary.

So what's happened for the VXR - in the space of a day or so - to now comprehensively trump the M5?

For the record, I like neither car; both are needlessly fat and ugly

£80k (not that anyone pays that) is good value. An standard e39 M5 would cost £93k today!!


Switching it around, you can pick up new M5s today for £62k which was £42k back in 2000 or the same as an e46 M3.

Cars have never been so cheap.

[TheFinners]

The VXR8 to me seems like a much more outgoing modern day E39 M5 with a whacking great supercharger, so it should be loved on here! I think it strikes a very good balance of simplicity and technology, and is probably a lot more fun and involving to drive at more sensible speeds than what seems to be the the immensely fast and capable but slightly detached opposition.

[eliot]

Std 430bhp vxr8 is 4.9 0-60, so not sure why he showed the 570bhp supercharged one also having the same 0-60?

[s m]

eliot said:

Std 430bhp vxr8 is 4.9 0-60, so not sure why he showed the 570bhp supercharged one also having the same 0-60?

Should have been 4.8 for the 577bhp GTS one - maybe it was near enough?

[DickHerpes]

Sketchface said:

I'm sure I'll be met with a chorus of 'Shut it, VAG boy' or maybe just be met with total silence, but does anybody else share my reaction of incredulity at autocar's review.

My favourite part:

Road Test Top 5:

1 VXR8
2 JAG XFRS
3 MERC E63
4 RS6
5 M5

You bunch of cards!

Is it possible that the reviewers at Autocar give less weighting in their review to 'Being able to say I own an Audi' and 'Quality Plastic on door handle' than you feel they should, resulting in incredulity on your part?

[Bennet]

Sketchface said:

I'm sure I'll be met with a chorus of 'Shut it, VAG boy' or maybe just be met with total silence, but does anybody else share my reaction of incredulity at autocar's review.

For sake of discussion, how about you talk us through the reasons for your incredulity.

[Bibbs]

s m said:

Should have been 4.8 for the 577bhp GTS one - maybe it was near enough?

You are thinking the VE (which Vauxhall did two flavours of), the VF GTS is 4.4 (with the new LSA engine).

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/57030/2013-hsv-gt...

link said:

HSV says it’ll do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.4 seconds, and blast down the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds.

A local tuner, put on an air filter, a higher poost pulley & tune and added 50% more power (I saw it pull a 640+ rwhp run on the dyno, which kinda made my 350+ run seem a bit lacking).

Wish it would have come with a better gearbox though. Heavy manual, or old school auto. The new Corvettes are currently getting a great 8 speed auto I think.

What does 54k of 5 series get you new?

Edited by Bibbs on Thursday 1st May 02:33

[s m]

Bibbs said:

s m said:

Should have been 4.8 for the 577bhp GTS one - maybe it was near enough?

You are thinking the VE (which Vauxhall did two flavours of), the VF GTS is 4.4 (with the new LSA engine).

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/57030/2013-hsv-gt...

link said:

HSV says it’ll do the 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.4 seconds, and blast down the quarter mile in 12.3 seconds.

I was thinking more of the timed figures in the Autocar issue where he got 4.8 to 60 and 10.2 to 100 to be honest

[Bibbs]

s m said:

I was thinking more of the timed figures in the Autocar issue where he got 4.8 to 60 and 10.2 to 100 to be honest

Yeah, the 4.8/4.9 (and the 10.2) were the timings from the previous generation of car (which was my badly written point).

Still shows how much better the transmission on the zimmer is compared.

[jamieduff1981]

Is the review in the OP a video or mag review? I can't seem to find anything with that lineup.

I can't get worked up about it tbh. I watched all the reviews that told me the M5/6GC and E63 AMG S were better than the XFR-S and ordered the latter anyway without bothering to drive the former. To be honest I didn't even consider the VXR8 - not that there's anything wrong with it - I just forgot it existed. I didn't consider the RS6 either - an admittedly lovely engine, all wrapped up in a package I have no interest in owning.

I think people get hung up on these reviews. There aren't really any bad cars in this bracket. 'Ring times are irrelevant as are lap times. They're all fast enough to require a light foot on fun roads and they're all nice cars to drive. I'm an advocate of just getting the one you like best rather than depending on a journo to tell you to best one to buy.

[s m]

Bibbs said:

s m said:

I was thinking more of the timed figures in the Autocar issue where he got 4.8 to 60 and 10.2 to 100 to be honest

Yeah, the 4.8/4.9 (and the 10.2) were the timings from the previous generation of car (which was my badly written point).

Well, the previous generation of car must have been the one that was tested in yesterday's issue of Autocar then - this ( LSA V8 577bhp ) model was what he based his timings on.

[SturdyHSV]

DickHerpes said:

Sketchface said:

I'm sure I'll be met with a chorus of 'Shut it, VAG boy' or maybe just be met with total silence, but does anybody else share my reaction of incredulity at autocar's review.

My favourite part:

Road Test Top 5:

1 VXR8
2 JAG XFRS
3 MERC E63
4 RS6
5 M5

You bunch of cards!

Is it possible that the reviewers at Autocar give less weighting in their review to 'Being able to say I own an Audi' and 'Quality Plastic on door handle' than you feel they should, resulting in incredulity on your part?

By Jove, I think he's got it!

Swap over 4 and 5 and I think that's exactly the order I'd put them in on a scale of 'want'. Maybe some of the gents at Autocar like driving instead of playing golf, comparing salaries and stroking interior plastics?

Would sir prefer option A, a 6.2 litre supercharged manual and £30,000 to spend on fuel and tyres, or option B, this turbocharged automatic that plays pretend engine noises through the stereo but has a badge your neighbour's wife will approve of?

[s m]

SturdyHSV said:

By Jove, I think he's got it!

Swap over 4 and 5 and I think that's exactly the order I'd put them in on a scale of 'want'. Maybe some of the gents at Autocar like driving instead of playing golf, comparing salaries and stroking interior plastics?

Would sir prefer option A, a 6.2 litre supercharged manual and £30,000 to spend on fuel and tyres, or option B, this turbocharged automatic that plays pretend engine noises through the stereo but has a badge your neighbour's wife will approve of?

Plus if you want a manual gearbox there's really only one option

[Devil2575]

Sketchface said:

I'm sure I'll be met with a chorus of 'Shut it, VAG boy' or maybe just be met with total silence, but does anybody else share my reaction of incredulity at autocar's review.

My favourite part:

Road Test Top 5:

1 VXR8
2 JAG XFRS
3 MERC E63
4 RS6
5 M5

You bunch of cards!

Incredulity that some people have a different opinion to you?

Shock horror

[s m]

jamieduff1981 said:

Is the review in the OP a video or mag review? I can't seem to find anything with that lineup.

It's on page 63 of yesterday's Autocar at the bottom of the new GTS road test