Vauxhall Corsa 'D' VXR Nurburgring Edition

[Mike1990]

melvster said:

I'd be interested to feel how aggressive the diff is alebit from the passenger seat; think they're a great looking car these, much prefer them to the ST Fiesta from the aesthetics.

Your more than welcome to give it some stick next time we're out for a drive if you want to?

[melvster]

Mike1990 said:

Your more than welcome to give it some stick next time we're out for a drive if you want to?

That would be ace mate, likewise for you with the GP.

[Mike1990]

Noticed the "INSP 0" appear today, so cleared it using this trick.

Guide by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Handy to have.

Also it is approaching 17.5k after its run out to the 'Dales last night, all is well, still loving this 'Burg, its a special little Hot Hatch.

[Mike1990]

Just over 18k-ish now, only right to grab a few pictures on a recent drive out, something about the Autumn and Winter months, all the grime the car picks up, quite satisfying, anyways, a few pictures.

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr


I really do love this little car, its uncouth, a little raw, sometimes frustrating to drive, but point it down a good Road in all all weathers and let the 'Diff work its magic and it really is quite something, it excites me in a way in what no other car i've owned has. Love it

[f1nn]

I really like these, and would choose one over a Fiesta ST, Clio RS or similar if I was in the market for a hot hatch...I'd go for a grey Clubsport I think but yours looks great in that colour.

[Mike1990]

f1nn said:

I really like these, and would choose one over a Fiesta ST, Clio RS or similar if I was in the market for a hot hatch...I'd go for a grey Clubsport I think but yours looks great in that colour.

If I am being honest i was mainly looking at the 208 GTi 'By Peugeot Sport' models, but they were out of budget and i've always liked and been drawn to these Nurburgrings and Clubsports, pretty much the same hardware in a older design and alot cheaper, also i think its quite a good looking car, certainly still stands out these years later against the newer tackle, also being pretty rare on the roads.

[Mike1990]

So on Sunday i met up with a mate who'd a few days prior changed his Fiesta Mk7 ST MP215 for a Focus RS Mk2, only right to go for a drive and grab some pictures

Hot Hatches by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hot Hatches by Michael Smith, on Flickr

RS by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Wheels by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hot Hatches by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hot Hatches by Michael Smith, on Flickr

RS by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Wheels by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hot Hatches by Michael Smith, on Flickr

It's a 1 Owner car, FFSH, with about 40k on the clocks, really really top condition, wearing premium Michelin's, not a squeak or rattle i could hear, but all i can say is WOW, what a special piece of kit, first time i've ever sat in one and drove one at some pace on some good roads i know, alot better than i expected, and the 5 Pot Engine is the party piece. I really do think i'd have one over the current crop of 20k+ Hot Hatches despite being quite old now. Its left a lasting impression.

Anyways, the current OE Wiperblades have had it, so replacement Bosch Aerotwins fitted,

Wiperblades by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Can see where i'am going now and VXR Badge fitted to the front Grille,

Badge by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Badge by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hoping a drive out the Wales is on the cards for this weekend!

[Mike1990]

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

The joy's of the Autumn and Winter months, coupled with a daily commute of A/B-Roads to work ends up with a filthy car. Mileage is a shade under 19.5k now and still running sweet as a nut, nothing interesting to report apart from that LOL.

[Mike1990]

Had to clean it today! it was getting me down LOL.

Clean by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Clean by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Clean by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Much better! also give under the Arches and Suspension and underneath a clean as much as i could without jacking and taking the Alloy's of. I forget how good this car looks.

[s m]

melvster said:

I'd be interested to feel how aggressive the diff is alebit from the passenger seat; think they're a great looking car these, much prefer them to the ST Fiesta from the aesthetics.

Paul O'Neill ( the Touring Car driver ) really liked it - diff felt 'very' aggressive when he was piloting it round Oulton ( VXR Performance car day ) - we had some ludicrous angles round the bends.

Quite a bit different to the normal VXR Corsa- handling wise - I was pretty smitten with it - reminded me of the old S1 Rs with the VC when they were new - you could keep putting the power on and it would just keep nosing into the corner

When they're a bit cheaper a Burg is on my list of purchases

[Mike1990]

So finally picked up my mates GM branded Remus Back-Box and Enhance Performances 'Replica' Centre Pipe of him that was on his Corsa 'E' VXR, as he's changed to a Cobra Cat-Back. Firstly gave it a good scrub with the trusty Autosol.

Exhaust by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Exhaust by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Exhaust by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Unfortunately we couldn't fit the Centre Pipe so will go to an Exhaust place at some point, but i'am still over the moon with it, got some noise now! nothing major but its added some more character the to car!

Also fitted some brighter DRL's or whatever they are called!

Lights by Michael Smith, on Flickr

^^^Before

Lights by Michael Smith, on Flickr

^^^After

Lights by Michael Smith, on Flickr

^^^Before

Lights by Michael Smith, on Flickr

^^^After

That's all for now! 20500 miles now, its due a Service in 3.5k miles so will be getting that sorted!

[problemchild1976]

nice - i was looking at the focus but WOW they are expensive for a ford! £20k!!

especially when there are nice C30s around running the same engine for 1/4 price (leaves a lot of scope for tweaking the handling and adding a little bit more power etc)

thats not to mention the mazda 3 mps which can output figures greater than that

how did you rate the corsa vs it? again £7k vs £20k

i do have a little soft spot for the corsa VXR

not tried the BRABUS against one yet though

JJ

[Mike1990]

Went out last night on some good Roads i know, covered about 50 miles or so, not really had a chance to do some 'spirited' driving prior to that, so was looking forward to trying new Back-Box out. It's nothing special but to me, fits my OEM criteria nicely.

Anyways, I'am well impressed, i know they sound pretty fruity from the outside, but from the inside it's definitely give the car some more audible noise when pressing on, and changing from 2nd to 3rd gives some nice pops and even double pops on some occasions which makes me giggle somewhat, even 3rd to 4th gives some pops aswell, although not as much, but still mighty impressed.

I still need to fit the Centre Pipe, but I'am still in Two minds after hearing it last night LOL.

I'am pretty happy with the car now, I'll be Servicing it soon, and my wish list to upgrade is,

• Corsa 'E' VXR 'Performance Pack' Brembo Caliper Carriers/Brackets so i can fit 330mm Discs. You need them apparently.

• Braided Brake Hoses of some kind and Fluid.

• Corsa 'E' VXR Factory 'Short Shifter' as i believe they have one as factory, my mates 'E' feels so so good compared to mine.

All OEM

Apart from that, just enjoy the thing, it's a bloody cracking Hot Hatch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mike1990]

So yesterday, set of nice and early for a Sunday Morning blast to Hartside Cafe, from Penrith the A686 via Melmerby to Alston, then working my way back down on the B6277, B6276, via the A685 and the fantastic A683 and then to Hawes along the B6255 back to Ingleton and finally on the A682 back to the M65 Motorway, very enjoyable morning, the 'Burg proving sublime, it still can't get over how capable it is, i think if it had a Ford or Renault Badge it'd be the holy grail of Hot Hatches LOL. Anyways, a few pictures.

Hartside by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hartside by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hartside by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Hartside by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Was a bit Cold!

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

VXR by Michael Smith, on Flickr

Saw a few other like-minded people on my travels, DC5, 172 Cup, RS3 to name a few

Front Michelins are wearing nicely too, about 4.5-5.0mm left across both sets. and about 6k into them. Need to drive it harder more :P

[problemchild1976]

bet its a hoot.....

not sure that exhaust sits right though - too much sticking out

JJ

[anonymous-user]

Test drove a corsa e performance pack vxr and hated every second, glad your happy though and thats a lovely colour

[Mike1990]

Learn2MergeInTurn said:

Test drove a corsa e performance pack vxr and hated every second, glad your happy though and thats a lovely colour

What didn't you like about it ?

[Mike1990]

problemchild1976 said:

bet its a hoot.....

not sure that exhaust sits right though - too much sticking out

JJ

It's a hoot alright, that's for certain.

I never really noticed until i looked that the pictures again, but does appear more pronounced on the pictures than in real life.

[problemchild1976]

should be more like this......



are the tips adjustable?

JJ

[Mike1990]

They are fixed Tips.

I'll have a look under the car when it's dry to see if they have shifted on the Exhaust Rubbers of something, i'am , just looking at my old Exhaust on pictures and they stuck out abit a tad too.