Astra VXR

[aussie-astra-vxr]

coming onto 11 months of ownership and still puts a huge grin on my face

main mods to date
TMS stage 2 map
turbo back milltek with 200 cell race cat
KW varient 3 adjustable coilovers (running a 30mm drop)
AP 4 pots & 343mm grooved/vented disks

stuck with the standard 18's over the 19's more for the performance handling over the show pony looks,
power output is approx 280bhp (240 at the wheels)& 300lb/ft of torque,
power delivery is smoothed out over standard but still has that aggresiveness to it,
torquesteer isnt what i consider to be an issue but does add to the fun of it and the wife hasnt complained yet, especially as she has this obsession with getting the rear out pulling through rounabouts,

VXR goes into Thorney Motorsports on Friday to commence stage 3 upgrade : )

Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Wednesday 18th November 10:28

[LukeBird]

Very, very nice!
Have to say out of the current crop of hot hatches the Astra is my favourite!
Bet it shifts with 280..... whats it like in the wet?
Mega car.

[aussie-astra-vxr]

shifts very well in all gears, holds the torque very nicely,
in the wet, drive with caution & TC on : )))))
actually its not to bad to be honest but one of those cars
you have to get accustomed with its handling before giving it stick in the wet

[deevlash]

I love that car! Ive always been a ford type person and have a puma but if I was hot hatch shopping It would be between one of those and a 2nd hand focus RS. Its going to be a big cult car in the future methinks, cant say the same about the ST, it looks like a big plastic box.

[hollowpockets]

looks very good indeed, but iv got to say those wheels do look horrible, they dont suit the car.
I see where your your coming from about not wanting to do it for show, but a nice set of 18" lightwieght multispokes in a titanium/anthracite finish would make it look and show off the nice big discs better!

Edited by hollowpockets on Wednesday 22 November 13:56

[mattiselvis]

Seriously nice motor! I don't see many of them about either, compared to the ~1,000,000 Focus STs in S. London.

[mackie1]

Are you the guy they wouldn't let into the carpark at the Ace on Austialia day recently? If so, Hi!

Nice car btw, a bit of a weapon and would probably give my 'ro a good run for it's money.

[aussie-astra-vxr]

that and the recent Bathurst meet lol

didnt seem to believe us when we told them the Vxl VXR is
badged as a HSV VXR back in Aus!

[School boy]

Are they RWD?

[aussie-astra-vxr]

fwd mate : )

[school boy]

aussie-astra-vxr said:

fwd mate : )

Thats what I thought.
I was reading an article in Top Gear and the driving it round the 'ring said the golf and the focus strugglred against it because they were FWD.

Nice car by the way

Edited by school boy on Friday 24th November 16:52

[LukeBird]

So how'd the Stage 3 tune turn out?
Or are you having so much fun burning through tyres you forgot about it... :P

[aussie-astra-vxr]

havent yet picked it up, just returned from a trip to Egypt,
will let you know when i do : )

[jaik]

Lovely car, mate What does this stage 3 upgrade entail then?

[aussie-astra-vxr]

well its been a while since i last updated on the stage 3 development and Pace IC,
well its still undergoing some more development and changes but giving a reading of
296.5bhp (flywheel) & 322lb/ft of torque running at 18psi, went back in today and will be back next week.

some updated pics with 18" light weight pro race team dynamics in ultra gloss black : )
new IC can be just seen sitting behind lower front grill

Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Thursday 22 February 11:07

Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Thursday 22 February 13:00

Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Thursday 22 February 13:01

Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Wednesday 18th November 10:34

[LawrieMoon]

hollowpockets said:

looks very good indeed, but iv got to say those wheels do look horrible, they dont suit the car.
I see where your your coming from about not wanting to do it for show, but a nice set of 18" lightwieght multispokes in a titanium/anthracite finish would make it look and show off the nice big discs better!

I agree there Looks nice and shiny though

[forthright MC]

that looks fantastic! love the new black wheels on it, look great with the red paintwork!
see its got quite a bit of grunt under the bonnet now too! bet it must obliterate other hot hatches in a straight line!

[aussie-astra-vxr]

power is delivered very nicely through the front wheels just waiting to bed in the toyo proxis that i have just had fitted, as per its handling throughout the bends and corners the KW varient 3 coilovers do the job well : )

[LukeBird]

Very, very nice!!
Well done, that is very nice looking!
The wheels really suit it!
Bet you could scare a few people with it...

[TaylotS2K]

I think the Astra VXR looks good, although I just couldn't see myself spending that money on what still is an Astra. The same goes for the Focus ST. They needed to make the VXR rear wheel drive too.