Discussion
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 : )
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
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
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
update
well the car is basically finished the stage 3 upgrade and now putting out 297bhp & 327lb/ft of torque,
had it out on Castle Combe in March and the mid range torque is supurb, currently having a front end respray to sort out the 16 months worth of stone chips : )
few pics of how it is looking
well the car is basically finished the stage 3 upgrade and now putting out 297bhp & 327lb/ft of torque,
had it out on Castle Combe in March and the mid range torque is supurb, currently having a front end respray to sort out the 16 months worth of stone chips : )
few pics of how it is looking
standard turbo, pretty much max'd out now
power delivery is quiet smooth with sports off so it quiet managable,
and then the wife dont complain when she is behind the wheel, tc off sports on and its aggressive but handles well on track when firming up the front dampers, any tugging on the wheel just adds to the enjoymeny : )
power delivery is quiet smooth with sports off so it quiet managable,
and then the wife dont complain when she is behind the wheel, tc off sports on and its aggressive but handles well on track when firming up the front dampers, any tugging on the wheel just adds to the enjoymeny : )
Edited by aussie-astra-vxr on Thursday 17th May 21:55
Hollywood Wheels said:
I know that bridge well! Early Sunday morning I presume? 
Cracking looking Astra, I really do like these. Mate of mine has a '57 reg Corsa VXR, can't rate it highly enough. I do much prefer the Astra though, kind of like a modern interpretation of a mad fwd 80's hot hatch....
late Sun arvo actually and was bloody freezing lol but is only a min drive from home, Cracking looking Astra, I really do like these. Mate of mine has a '57 reg Corsa VXR, can't rate it highly enough. I do much prefer the Astra though, kind of like a modern interpretation of a mad fwd 80's hot hatch....
ask my wife which she prefers to drive and she will tell you the straight, the astra, she prefers the challenge where as the corsa is very forgiving, corsa is a great little car but the astra has much more of the old school psychotic factor which wins in the fun stakes!
flattotheboards said:
The corsa looks good, do you have any plans for that?
yeah it will be replaced lol the wife has it already putting out 227bhp & 254lb/ft of torque, TMS software, milltek exhaust, ITG filter and KW springs, does handle nicely and goes well, very quick for a 1.6lt
gonna have a look at the focus RS once more is known & shown at the Brit motorshow or wait for the insignia VXR next year, the wife wants the astra for herself.
mark.h said:
how come your not tempted by second hand m3 or evo9? both would be on my list if i was considering spending 25k on a car. Focus RS will be a let down from what ive heard. 300bhp and fwd with a fancy diff. when ford have the means to make it 4wd through volvo's system, hell, the mazda 3mps has the same floorpan as the focus (if Clarkson was correct) and they do a 4wd version!
tbh i have no interest in beemers whats so ever, just never done anything for me, i would much prefer to stretch my funds towards an RS4,as for the Evo, even though i do like them im not really up for the regular servicing but then i dont drive a car on a regular basis but still!I will probabaly sway next year for the insignia VXR with its XWD system which i have been hearing good things about but time will tell.
ebthesned said:
very nice car mate indeed, looks very smart with the black wheels. Think you should remove the grill hiding the IC 
Are you looking to upgrade the turbo next or you staying with the standard blower until it gives in?
finished with the power upgrades so will remain now as is and stock turbo until it needs replacement in the future, currently in having fitted a quaife diff just to finish it off and help just that bit to get the power down when powering away. Are you looking to upgrade the turbo next or you staying with the standard blower until it gives in?LotusExcelSA said:
Yeah top gear went oTT,
but I meant as a FWD overall, 280bhp is little but concerning
its running at around 300bhp & over 330lb/ft of torque at present and we have had it out on track a few times, the chassie is well sorted with the kw varient 3's and like any powerful fwd cars it lights up the front end when pulling out of a corners but is very easy to real back in but the quaife atb diff has just now been fitted and should help just that bit more with puting the power down, as for handling the power, my wife seems to be able to control it well putting it sidewards through roundabouts and pulling it back into line and isnt afraid to get out on track but saying that many have said she is a better driver than myself lol but I meant as a FWD overall, 280bhp is little but concerning
lgmini said:
LotusExcelSA said:
Very Nice....but 280bhp?
seems a bit violent? how does it handle? (worries about understeer)
Not as bad as you maay think, top gear exaggerated things big time.seems a bit violent? how does it handle? (worries about understeer)
As for TG, pre prod car, SRi chassie, VXR engine and body, was meant to be sitting on the stage floor isntead it was put out on the track lol
Vxl fault in someways for trusting JC to begin with in the first place lol
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