The forgotten hot hatch
Discussion
I have no idea what they're like to drive but I do recall the original Astra VXR being known for it's torque and understeer. Though this was back in the day when 240bhp in a front wheel drive car was an absurd idea! Things have moved on a lot since 2005.
I must admit I think the GTC is a very tidy looking car and in VXR guise even better looking. One of the best looking hot hatches of this era actually.
I must admit I think the GTC is a very tidy looking car and in VXR guise even better looking. One of the best looking hot hatches of this era actually.
The original Astra VXR is, in my eyes much like the Saxo VTS... actually pretty good when first introduced, got cheap enough to fall into the Barry market and thus the kill count was huge however these days, seeing a nice, clean non molested example is actually pretty rare. On which note, I passed an immaculate red Astra VXR in stick guise last week, looked superb. As for the Astra J.... 20" wheels and huge brakes made them rather dear to maintain, perhaps the Focus ST was therefore a bit more appealing to Joe Average in that sense?
Jimmy Recard said:
WCZ said:
I was thinking this the other day, the first one was legendary for its torque steer and the second was completely forgotten about!
I don’t understand this legend though. They weren’t particularly bad for torque steer rodericb said:
The Vambo said:
They are a very nice looking car. Nicely solid looking and with a minimum of rice burner fakevent.
In today's world of excessive scoops and careless swoops and strakes, this car is rather handsome.
Davie said:
The original Astra VXR is, in my eyes much like the Saxo VTS... actually pretty good when first introduced, got cheap enough to fall into the Barry market and thus the kill count was huge however these days, seeing a nice, clean non molested example is actually pretty rare. On which note, I passed an immaculate red Astra VXR in stick guise last week, looked superb. As for the Astra J.... 20" wheels and huge brakes made them rather dear to maintain, perhaps the Focus ST was therefore a bit more appealing to Joe Average in that sense?
Yeah, fortunately there are a few options for aftermarket brakes, but the original are fairly eye watering.Mastodon2 said:
Many moons ago a lad in an one of those metallic blue Asts GSI things drove into my stationary Civic Type R and knackered the bumper. He was desperate to pay for the repairs to my car in cash and not get his insurer involved. A colleague knew the guy and was friends with him on Facebook - a quick look at his profile revealed the car had a gen 1 Astra VXR engine, which I suspect his insurer didn't know about.
When the day came to pay for the new bumper and paintwork, he turned up with £300 in cash, very apologetically, because he didn't realise he couldn't get £900 out of a cash point. He then jumped in his car to go to the bank, nailing it up the road as he went - it did look like quite a quick car. Those engines were 240bhp and could easily be remapped for another chunk....
Did he keep coming back apologetically for the next 2 days after with chunks of £300 until the debt was paid? When the day came to pay for the new bumper and paintwork, he turned up with £300 in cash, very apologetically, because he didn't realise he couldn't get £900 out of a cash point. He then jumped in his car to go to the bank, nailing it up the road as he went - it did look like quite a quick car. Those engines were 240bhp and could easily be remapped for another chunk....
Would the Twingo 133 count as a forgotten hot hatch? The SotW looks quite smart. I had a GT a couple years ago (wrote it off) which was a perfectly decent little shopping car but I've always coveted a 133 - there's one near me in that lovely blue with go-faster stripes which looks the business.
geeks said:
Servicing costs and £1k to renew the front brakes meant it had to go (along with a lack of space) but thoroughly enjoyed it.
Were the brakes carbon ceramic or something? My (pretty large) front discs and pads need doing on my XK and they're £455 fitted from the main dealer.SweptVolume said:
Were the brakes carbon ceramic or something? My (pretty large) front discs and pads need doing on my XK and they're £455 fitted from the main dealer.
They are 2 piece 355mm brembos. Initially there were around 1k from Vauxhall, but there are a lot of after market options now.GeordieInExile said:
Would the Twingo 133 count as a forgotten hot hatch? The SotW looks quite smart. I had a GT a couple years ago (wrote it off) which was a perfectly decent little shopping car but I've always coveted a 133 - there's one near me in that lovely blue with go-faster stripes which looks the business.
Cracking little cars but not a hot hatchahenners said:
The GTC VXR is a pretty damn good car and pretty reasonable value 2nd hand. Drove them a few times round Darlington, Silverstone and Oulton back from the VXR experience days if anyone else on here went on them.
I bet a lap of Darlington was an experience never to be forgotten 
ahenners said:
The GTC VXR is a pretty damn good car and pretty reasonable value 2nd hand. Drove them a few times round Darlington, Silverstone and Oulton back from the VXR experience days if anyone else on here went on them.
Yes, I tried them too at those events and they seemed pretty decent - I have to say I preferred the Cora’s Nurburgrings - they were really fun - but that’s just me preferring smaller hot hatches usually.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff