RE: Citroen Saxo VTS: Spotted

[culpz]

lee_erm said:

A Clio 172, even in Phase 1 form scores a 4* Euro Ncap rating (properly impressive in the late 90's in any segment). The Saxo scores 2*! It's basically turns in to a plastic bag on impact.

That is the problem for me, now being a proper adult. I couldn't drive my kids in one. I'd drive them around in the Clio though.

Edited by lee_erm on Thursday 12th October 16:10

That's a big help for me and something i was meant to look into, actually. So, thank you very much

I'm after a 172/182 for my next car and i was worried about being absolutely crumpled if anything was to happen.

[Nicholls22]

LewisR said:

Understeer is fun ?
RWD straight-6 cars are a massive amount of fun. I can't see how a shopping car would be any more so.
The BMWs are considerably quicker too.

I think your missing the point. Whilst a RWD straight 6 lump from BMW (apart from the z4) is without a doubt a hoot, the Saxo VTS was a no frills, bang for your buck, back to basics fun. They were incredibly light and as result went and handled really well out the box. You just wouldn't want to be in one in a crash!

[Smitters]

lee_erm said:

It's basically turns in to a plastic bag on impact.

I think you're massively exaggerating here. There's just no way a Saxo is as rigid as a plastic bag on impact.

As an aside, I used to like the security keypad - you literally had to type a code into the car to start it.

[Gad-Westy]

LewisR said:

Understeer is fun ?
RWD straight-6 cars are a massive amount of fun. I can't see how a shopping car would be any more so.
The BMWs are considerably quicker too.

Nothing to do with understeer or oversteer, though for the record I think you're far more likely to encounter understeer in a BMW than a Saxo. I like my BMW's. I've had a few including straight six ones but I don't associate them with fun particularly, just being great all rounders with nice engines. A Saxo is completely different. They are just a great laugh to throw around and generally drive like a bit of a hooligan. They aren't that slow either... I genuinely think you'd be pleasantly surprised if you drove one.

[Futse]

LewisR said:

Understeer is fun ?
RWD straight-6 cars are a massive amount of fun. I can't see how a shopping car would be any more so.
The BMWs are considerably quicker too.

Of course RWD I6's are fun. And FWD GTI's are too. One doesn't rule out the other. I've had a few of both, an E46 M3 amongst others, and am now considering a 306 GTI-6. Different? Yes. Slower? Yes. Fun? Yes!

[Gribs]

Skater12 said:

There's a number of small hot / warm hatches that give similar thrills and can be picked up for shed money

'99-'00 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
Saxo VTR (the cheaper version of the VTS)
Peugeot 106 GTi, or event the Quicksilver
'97-'00 Corsa GSi
Clio 182

I've no idea about the Fiesta but Corsa GSi's make very good money as they're so rare now and even ok 106 gti's aren't anywhere near shed money.

[Bencolem]

I bought one new in 1998 (in silver). The first new car I ever bought actually - the free insurance for a 19 year old was too good to pass over! I remember it being very fast with really poor steering (very numb). And after 12 months it was completely sha66ed out!

As good a ‘deal’ as these seems for this vintage of ‘hot hatch’ I can’t see the point personally. Due to the steering, it’s not the ultimate analogue driving experience, it’s not particularly pretty or remotely definitive (unlike the 205) and would feel absolutely tiny (and unsafe) today.

[wst]

LewisR said:

Understeer is fun ?
RWD straight-6 cars are a massive amount of fun. I can't see how a shopping car would be any more so.
The BMWs are considerably quicker too.

Old French hot hatches are entirely different to German saloons. Failing to understand this fundamental point kind of renders all conversation useless.

And old French hot hatches are famous for oversteering, so it sounds like you don't know anything about them, in which case - why are you commenting?

[dhutch]

sidesauce said:

£43,000 for a Peugeot 205GTI!? £43. Thousand. Pounds!?!?!

No. Just..... How?

No.

And, compared to this or the 306, there's loads of them still.

I wonder if SaxMax is part of the reason there is less available?

Daniel

[aaron_2000]

Skater12 said:

There's a number of small hot / warm hatches that give similar thrills and can be picked up for shed money

'99-'00 Ford Fiesta Zetec S
Saxo VTR (the cheaper version of the VTS)
Peugeot 106 GTi, or event the Quicksilver
'97-'00 Corsa GSi
Clio 182

Zetec S - good shout
Saxo VTR - Well you can get a VTS for the same money so why bother?
106 GTI - It isn't 2012 anymore
106 Quicksilver - Barely a hot/warm hatch is it?
Corsa GSi -
Clio 182 - Even if you could, at that money you wouldn't want to.

[Johnny5hoods]

Cars like the VTS/VTR will grow and grow in modern classic popularity (if unmodified), because they served up a very tactile, in your face driving experience. Most fast cars today are too heavy, massively over-tyred and they end up insulating you from the road. Electric power steering, drive by wire accelerator pedal, rock hard suspension and sidewalls so small you end up feeling nothing except the jarring ride and tramlining.

Here's the irony: it was the max power generation modding, perhaps most famously, the Citroen Saxo, with massive rims and slammed suspension that got us here. Bling became king. Now every teenage poster dream car has got 20" rims and weighs at least 1500KG.

Did you see that video Chris Harris made about a European spec 205 Rallye he bought? Slower than a 205 1.9 GTi, and yet he loved it. One of the best cars he'd ever driven.

[s m]

I'd still be tempted by one in excellent nick, really enjoyed mine despite learning to drive in an era when rwd was the way in to cheap fast cars with Mk1 and 2 Esvorts, Sunbeams, E21 BMWs, Mantas etc
Owned mine alongside bigger, faster 6-pot BMWs and Fords but found it great fun
I guess I'm not enough of a rwd fundamentalist though as still enjoy a hot hatch in the garage. Interesting comment about the steering - I always found it pretty good for feel and feedback

Here's a few mag clips that tend to echo how I remember mine

[Mike1990]

Surprised it’s taken so long to hit that sort of price :O

Fiesta Zetec-S is a good shout. There’s simply no decent ones for sale anymore, and they have such a sweet Chassis and ‘Box. Loved mine. Found mine Fiesta ST Mk6 pace wise which was suprising and i and owned both.

Have to say i did see a mint ‘52 Plate one in Imperial Blue, with about 30k on the clocks last year for 4k.

[Gad-Westy]

s m said:

I'd forgotten about the Performance car Total Performance Rating. Used to enjoy that magazine in my late teens. Some big, impressive scalps on that lap time.

[s m]

Gad-Westy said:

I'd forgotten about the Performance car Total Performance Rating. Used to enjoy that magazine in my late teens. Some big, impressive scalps on that lap time.

Performance Car ran an early one on their fleet

Mine was a later one so I never had the keypad immobiliser.....in fact it was delivered on the 15" twist rims which I didn't like

[Andgran]

molineux1980 said:

I think Citroen sold the VTR with free insurance for a while.

At 17, I looked on with jealousy while I pootled (and crashed) around in my Fondmetal wheeled Nova 1.2. Saloon. In brown.

Happy days.

My nova saloon was Miami blue miss that old boat

[BricktopST205]

Wasn't the 106 Gti in the top 3 cars of the century on a thing Clarkson did with a load of racing drivers. The late Richard Burns was one IIRC.

[s m]

BricktopST205 said:

Wasn't the 106 Gti in the top 3 cars of the century on a thing Clarkson did with a load of racing drivers. The late Richard Burns was one IIRC.

That's right, think Tim Harvey was another guy and a Ferrari 550 did very well too

[anonymous-user]

A Citroën saxo is definitely a inline 4 not a flat 4.

PH, pedantry matters..

[jiggawhat2k]

I had a vtr for 6 months, fun buzzy little thing but so fragile. 2 gearboxes, radiator, window electrics and switches falling off on a 5 year old car. Plus I had to have 'car shoes' as my work shoes were too wide to fit the brake pedal (you need mini feet to be able to drive comfortably). Sold and got a mk2 golf gti 8v, didn't regret it.

Decent price I think though, considering the rarety.