RE: Next-level Vauxhall Corsa VXR for sale
RE: Next-level Vauxhall Corsa VXR for sale
Tuesday 21st October

Next-level Vauxhall Corsa VXR for sale

Your kids probably won't have heard of Courtenay Sport - time to educate them on the finer things?


The Corsa VXR always existed in a curious space in the hot hatch hierarchy. Not quite as polished as a Fiesta ST, not quite as talented as the Clio RS - yet not so distant from either that it didn’t deserve an enthusiastic fanbase. Which is precisely what it got. Most hot Vauxhalls are so rewarded, doubly so when we’re talking about a slightly unhinged, boost-happy little rocket that prioritised excitement over finesse. The model was a descendant of the Nova, after all, one of those cars that functions as a wellhead of middle-aged reminiscence, alongside Two Dogs lemonade and hearing ’Slide Away’ on the radio. 

By the time the Corsa had made it to its E generation in 2014, it was a world away from those modest beginnings - but some things had not changed. Among them was the tuning input of Courtenay Sport, a firm that once graced the pages of Max Power almost as frequently as top-heavy teenagers from provincial towns. Vauxhall may have spent the last decade extending its brilliantly memorable performance car aspirations to arm’s length, but the internet suggests that Courtenay is still going strong and doing what it did best. 

This, we’re happy to hear, much as we’re delighted by the prospect of an apparently well-kept Corsa VXR that has benefitted from what we surmise to be the Stage 2 tuning pack. At any rate, there’s an uprated exhaust, intake and apparently a dyno report that testifies to the gains made via an ECU remap. The vendor does not indicate what the printout actually says, though Courtenay’s website suggests that the alterations ought to have unlocked around 240hp and 245lb ft of torque - plenty enough to be getting along with in a supermini. 

Of course, it would not be unusual for such tweaking to be accompanied by a laissez-faire attitude to servicing as the car moves between owners - but this VXR has only accrued 47k miles at the hands of three keepers, all of whom seemed to have understood the importance of maintaining a full Vauxhall service history. More generally, it looks in genuinely good nick, and someone has even gone to the trouble of installing Apple CarPlay, which is a nice touch. 

It still looks the part, too, in Mineral Black - vaguely menacing on 18-inch alloys, but without the obvious look-at-me excess of Vauxhall’s more garish colours. But the real reason for considering the VXR is no different to the ST or RS: save for the latest Mini Cooper JCW, there is no modern-day equivalent of the pocket rocket - or not one powered by combustion anyway. And there are few better ways of getting your rocks off on the public road than by giving a front-drive supermini death via an oversized petrol engine. 

Especially one with the soundtrack courtesy of Piper. A grin machine if ever there was one, and yours for a fiver less than a bag. Fairly pricey for a VXR, we’ll grant you - it’s certainly possible to get a decent one for a couple of grand less - though clearly the dealer thinks the car’s condition, add-ons and history speak for themselves. Given the number of alternatives, especially in the Ford camp, they might be waiting a while for the right hot hatch buyer. But that’s always been part of the VXR’s charm. Eventually, someone will go home very happy.


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Author
Discussion

Konan

Original Poster:

2,147 posts

164 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Had to Google "Slide Away" wink Guess that's not one I remember on the radio the first time around! Novas however.. still firmly first car territory in these parts when I got my license.

Used to work in earshot of Courtenay Sport's dyno. I'm firmly in the Ford camp as a rule but it was always fun clocking the various tuner cars coming in and out.

Andy83n

581 posts

80 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Wouldn't '...a fiver less than a bag.' put it firmly in she's territory?

It's a rack or stack.

Andy86GT

719 posts

83 months

Tuesday
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Back when I had my Manta GT/E I remember reading about Courtenay conversions to Turbo with water injection. Whilst I appreciate the water was for cooling, it always seemed a bit weird to be putting water in your engine...

fantheman80

2,177 posts

67 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Andy83n said:
Wouldn't '...a fiver less than a bag.' put it firmly in she's territory?

It's a rack or stack.
Yep, PH trying to go all lock, stock and two smoking piper tailpipes and getting it wrong wink

Courtney wheels for the Nova were gorgeous, glad to see they are still going

Tom1312

1,126 posts

164 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Always thought the VXR Corsas looked the most boy racer/best out of the 00s baby hot hatches, never got to drive one though.

My Mrs has the contemporary ST which was great fun, I can only imagine this with 240bhp would be hilarious.

pb8g09

2,869 posts

87 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Learned to drive in a Corsa and my first car was an Astra SXi so I do have a soft spot for these. This one looks really cool but I wouldn’t want to pay more than £5k for a sorted one.

Would this special version still carry the same engine risks as the regular VXR?

Konan

Original Poster:

2,147 posts

164 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
pb8g09 said:
Would this special version still carry the same engine risks as the regular VXR?
Leans out on one of the cylinders doesn't it?

cerb4.5lee

39,226 posts

198 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I've always liked these, and who doesn't like Recaro seats? cool

Code Black

154 posts

67 months

Tuesday
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I’ve had many, many hot hatches in my time but not one of these although that’s not for any particular reason as I think they look great. This one looks really nice and the tuning will make it shift. Just seems a little over- priced to me but I’m sure someone will be interested.

mooseracer

2,466 posts

188 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I've always liked these, and who doesn't like Recaro seats? cool
Me too

I've always gone the French or Ford route with my hot hatches but I really like these.


dunnoreally

1,354 posts

126 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
I feel like the Corsa VXR was a perfectly good car, but somewhat a victim of a crowded market with some true legends in it.

If they somehow released these today, they would be almost universally acclaimed.

Davie

5,655 posts

233 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Courtenay Sport gained hero status when they built A16 VTB, the Nova Turbo. There were others but that one was the one.

Xenoous

1,909 posts

76 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
dunnoreally said:
I feel like the Corsa VXR was a perfectly good car, but somewhat a victim of a crowded market with some true legends in it.

If they somehow released these today, they would be almost universally acclaimed.
I feel you're spot on here. I'd daily it these days!

My wife had this shape Corsa as a courtesy car a while back, all I can remember of it is how bad the interior felt. Then again, I recently owned a Megane RS265, and that interior was just shockingly bad... So... I'm not really sure what my point is here.

boyse7en

7,768 posts

183 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Andy83n said:
Wouldn't '...a fiver less than a bag.' put it firmly in she's territory?

It's a rack or stack.
I always thought "a bag" was Cockney rhyming slang for "bag of sand" = a grand, or £1000

Water Fairy

6,255 posts

173 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Always liked the idea of these but the Corsa D 'Limited Edition' variants my boys had as starter cars put me right off. The interior is woeful.

As for this one it will go very well, I have a stage 2 ST with similar figures but 290 lb/ft. It's quite fast.

Jon_S_Rally

4,073 posts

106 months

Tuesday
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That looks great, a really smart looking little car, and the seats really lift the interior. Obviously it's a pricy example, but it sounds like it might be worth it to the right person.

I think the issue with these is as the article suggests; they're not bad by any means, but I just don't think I could choose one over the equivalent Ford or Renault. Still, that doesn't matter, as they were obviously popular with fans. Just a shame that this segment is now all but dead, with the Polo GTI and the MINI Cooper S the only survivors. For Ford, Vauxhall, Renault, Citroen and Peugeot to have all left the hot-hatch market is really sad.

One other question with this that someone mentioned; would the modifications be risky in terms of the engine? I've heard people say the bottom-end in these is weak without having better rods fitted, and that the issues with running lean were a result of the injectors being too small. I think I'd want some reassurances before buying one that had been fettled.

nismo48

5,684 posts

225 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
Andy83n said:
Wouldn't '...a fiver less than a bag.' put it firmly in she's territory?

It's a rack or stack.
I always thought "a bag" was Cockney rhyming slang for "bag of sand" = a grand, or £1000
Indeed...as Lee mentioned those Recaro seats are such a great addition.

DaveyBoyWonder

3,316 posts

192 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
boyse7en said:
I always thought "a bag" was Cockney rhyming slang for "bag of sand" = a grand, or £1000
I'm no faux cockney but that was my understanding too. I may be totally wrong but then I'm not writing articles on PH.

GreatScott2016

1,993 posts

106 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I've always liked these, and who doesn't like Recaro seats? cool
Yep, me too. Always yearned after these as a spotty teenager hehe

fantheman80

2,177 posts

67 months

Tuesday
quotequote all
Davie said:
Courtenay Sport gained hero status when they built A16 VTB, the Nova Turbo. There were others but that one was the one.
I saw this at Bicester scramble couple of weeks back and had a nice chat with the owner at the April one. 300 HP and 330 lb/ft - it 'goes well'