Vauxhall Corsa VXR Clubsport | Spotted
If you think hot hatches should be three-door, front-drive and a bit lairy, look no further
Though buyers after a Golf GTI-sized new hot hatch are almost spoilt for choice, anyone after something smaller don't have such a hard decision to make. You get a Fiesta ST or an i20 N (or a GR Yaris if there's money burning a hole in your pocket). They're all great, it should be said, but it's sad not to have more options in a sector that also used to feature Renault Sport, Peugeot and SEAT as well. The profit margin argument clearly isn't in favour of supermini scorchers, so they don't tend to happen.
Hyundai will surely make vastly more money from a Kona N than an i20 N; if those old stagers ever make a return to the segment, it'll be as a small SUV rather than a conventional hot hatch. The Puma ST shows that Ford has already cottoned onto that idea. Volkswagen, of course, has started applying its R badge to what seems like everything it makes. T-Roc included.
Vauxhall is another one of those manufacturers that once offered several hot hatches yet currently has nothing available. Hopefully they'll return in one form or another, particularly given the Corsa and Astra are more competitive than ever - but until then there is at least a considerable back catalogue to plunder.
The Corsa VXR is now 15 years old, meaning even those teenage scallywags that coveted one as new drivers back then are now into their 30s - yikes. It was always a real rascal of a hot hatch, sometimes a bit too rough around the edges for its own good but fun in its own loutish way. The Corsa's manners improved with time, too, thanks to the expensive hardware - Drexler LSD, Bilstein dampers, that sort of thing - fitted to the Nurburgring and Clubsport models.
This is one of the latter, a 2014 Clubsport with just 23,000 miles on it. The advert for this one doesn't list much other than standard spec, but it's pretty well turned out. This has never been a hot hatch to buy for its quality or stylish fittings - that said, the smart Recaros are unmarked and the wheels free from damage. If you like the idea of a Corsa VXR, a Nurburgring or Clubsport (or the later Performance Pack) are certainly the ones to have.
This one is for sale at £10,990, putting this Clubsport towards the top of the Corsa VXR values; early cars are still there from less than £4k, with the best low mileage, late ones around £13,000. Nobody needs reminding of the secondhand alternatives at the money, with the Ford Fiesta ST impossible to avoid for hot hatch buyers. Both Peugeot 208 GTI and Renault Sport Clio EDC are better than you've heard, too. Still, as we wait (possibly without much hope) for Vauxhall to rejuvenate its performance cars for the electrified age, there are many worse ways of reliving the glory days than a Corsa Clubsport.
SPECIFICATION | VAUXHALL CORSA VXR CLUBSPORT
Engine: 1,598cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive, LSD
Power (hp): 205@5,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184@2,250-5,500rpm
MPG: 37.2 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 178g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 23,000
Price new: £22,390
Price now: £10,990
The 89bhp VXR .
Always quite fancied one, but mainly because I passed my test in a Corsa, my first car was a 1.4 Astra and I absolutely love the look of the seats.
For this price, surely you can pick up the facelift version with the much better dash/infotainment?
). Maybe I'm old and that's why I think the Sierra Cosworth is an important performance baseline. But even comparing it to contemporaries, that Corsa is making power not far off what Vauxhall were putting in the non-VXR 2.8 Vectras (230bhp) and Ford was putting in the Mondeo ST220.
It's not for me, and I think that price is bonkers (the whole market is), but I bet it's a lot of fun.
It's a shame that this segment is now so baron. Makes you wonder how long the aforementioned Fiesta ST and i20 N will last.
The 89bhp VXR .
My sons drive a Corsa D and Polo 6R. I'd have to say, the Corsa is the better drivers car.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12681044
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12681044
The Clubsport is a rare car so i guess that is why i they cost a premium to normal Vxrs, it was also the "run-out" model for the Corsa D. I had a normal Vxr from 2012/2016 and the Clubsport is a totally different car, the Bilstein suspension and LSD transform the handling, its like a go-cart. Also comes with the Remus exhaust standard which is quite nice as it gives off a rasp.
As for this one, the Asteroid grey paint is the colour to have on these. The price seems a tad strong as i paid no where near that for mine and the mileage is similar.
I personally think they are great little things.
Which seems remarkable given how big and bloated the FK2 is..
Possible that someone has compared Civic kerb weight with Corsa max weight, I remember someone on here posting their A-Class Mercedes weighed 2-tonnes.
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