RE: Vauxhall Astra VXR Nurburgring Edition: Spotted
Discussion
Vulcanproject said:
Bleh these were fairly terrible hot hatches. The Ford Focus ST was cheaper, much more talented chassis, nicer engine. Ran rings around it. IIRC a standard ST matched the Nurburgring time of this special edition despite a significant power deficit, that's how much better they handled. Assuming ring times mean much to you.
Funnily the Focus ST time was 16 seconds slower until the VXR set the 8:35 time and then they had another go at it and came in bang the same time - funny that huh!Edited by Vulcanproject on Monday 23 July 17:16
8:51 Ford Focus ST Sport Auto (09/2005)
8:26 Ford Focus RS Sport Auto (08/2009)
Focus ST cost about the same iirc, usually with all the reviews they quote the ST1 prices and no one buys those they all jump to ST2 or ST3.
My experience was a standard MK2 ST would struggle to keep up with a std VXR
The ST was 30 horsepower down on the Nurburgring VXR but managed to match it just fine. Most reviews of the time stated the VXR was a handful and the Focus had all the talent. Probably find the odd video review of them being tracked and you will find the Focus could always at least match it and sometimes win despite the significant power deficit.
In my great deal of experience with these two cars they were correct. The Astra VXR had the edge in a straight line as it had extra power, but the Focus was vastly superior on your average B Road. Much more supple, much less tendancy to sniff out cambers and very entertaining manageable lift off oversteer. Abilities beyond the Astra. Fully independent suspension setup on the Focus FTW.
The Astra much like the Vectra VXR of the time had little attention paid to their dynamics. Skittish, nervy and armfuls of understeer.
The Focus definitely was cheaper to buy even kitted out, however a bit more expensive to run. But then you got that Volvo 5 cylinder.....
Hands down Ford victory here without much doubt. Far better chassis, delicious engine double whammy.
The generation after is much more ambiguous, the Astra was much improved over this generation and the Focus not quite as entertaining as it was.
In my great deal of experience with these two cars they were correct. The Astra VXR had the edge in a straight line as it had extra power, but the Focus was vastly superior on your average B Road. Much more supple, much less tendancy to sniff out cambers and very entertaining manageable lift off oversteer. Abilities beyond the Astra. Fully independent suspension setup on the Focus FTW.
The Astra much like the Vectra VXR of the time had little attention paid to their dynamics. Skittish, nervy and armfuls of understeer.
The Focus definitely was cheaper to buy even kitted out, however a bit more expensive to run. But then you got that Volvo 5 cylinder.....
Hands down Ford victory here without much doubt. Far better chassis, delicious engine double whammy.
The generation after is much more ambiguous, the Astra was much improved over this generation and the Focus not quite as entertaining as it was.
Edited by Vulcanproject on Wednesday 25th July 01:03
IanJ9375 said:
My experience was a standard MK2 ST would struggle to keep up with a std VXR
My experience of when they were both brand new in 2007 and I had an ST and a friend the VXR was that on a dual carriageway they were exactly the same speed.My more recent experience (last weekend) was that a 300bhp ST with standard suspension and past their best Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres managed to stay with me on a few of the 'Ring laps in my 265bhp R26 megane on Michelin Cup2 tyres and a friends 330bhp R26 on AD08Rs.
The ST is still a very capable car and I know it was modded but even as a bunch of novices on our 2nd 'Ring trip the ST was getting round in under 9mins. I don't doubt for a second that with new tyres and a racing driver that knows the track like the back of his hand that the ST could manage mid 8mins.
Edited by Ahbefive on Wednesday 25th July 06:15
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