Vauxhall Corsa VXR Nurburgring: Spotted
Overpriced new but now available with 100 miles for £17K, the VXR 'ring looks a hot hatch bargain
How many more BRZ/GT86s would be on the roads with a price nearer £20K? Will Peugeot regret pricing the 208 GTI significantly higher than the Fiesta ST? And is an M135i still a performance bargain when it's been specced-up to £37K?
Vauxhall asked a similar question to enthusiasts in 2011 when it launched the Corsa VXR Nurburgring: though ostensibly based on a sub-£10K supermini, the Nurburgring cost £22,295. Could a Corsa, even a significantly upgraded one, ever be worth that? This nearly-new VXR Nurburgring would suggest not. A 13-plate car with just 121 miles, it's for sale at a Vauxhall main dealer in Beverley for just £17,250. Tempting, no?
The biggest hindrance to the success of all Corsa VXRs was of course the Renaultsport Clio. Whether in 197 guise or as a 200 from 2009, it simply proved the more engaging driver's car. Whilst the VXR was decent, it lacked the Clio's freakish ability and effervescent nature.
The Nurburgring was a very different prospect though. The addition of a Drexler mechanical limited slip differential, Bilstein dampers, stiffer springs, forged wheels and some upgraded brakes transformed the Corsa VXR. That there was a smidge of extra power (up to 205hp from 192) seemed almost inconsequential given the added hit of dynamism, agility and composure the Nurburgring upgrades had injected. Maybe it wasn't quite the Clio's equal, but the gap between them was.
However, there was still that price to overcome. The Nurburgring wasn't even a better car the Clio, let alone one worth £6,000 more. But a fortunate repercussion of buyers' reluctance to accept the VXR's price is used examples such as the car featured here.
Furthermore, with the latest breed of junior hot hatches all lacking mechanical diffs and expensive suspension components (Clio 200's hydraulic bumpstops notwithstanding), the VXR Nurburgring begins to look even greater value. Though it may be a generation older, it would be fascinating to compare the Corsa with the current crop.
Before this start to sound like a eulogy, there are other nearly-new pocket rockets to choose from, even if they don't represent quite such conspicuous value as the Corsa. This Polo GTI is around £2,500 below list, although will struggle to match the VXR for thrills. A Mini? The only JCW for less than the Corsa is a 2011 car with 20,000 miles and is being sold privately.
Let's hope the next Corsa VXR is just as much fun as the Nurburgring out of the box. But maybe a little cheaper...
Vauxhall Corsa VXR Nurburgring
Engine: 1,598cc four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Power (hp): 205@5,750rpm
Torque (lb ft): 207lb ft@2,250-5,500rpm (on overboost)
MPG: 37.2
CO2: 178g/km
First registered: 2013
Recorded mileage: 121
Price new: £22,295
Yours for: £17,290
See the original advert here
This article reminds me that I picked up a bargain. Pitting the 2.0 Clio 200 against the current crop of hot hatches would be the comparison I'd like to see.
I then explained to him that Vauxhall took the piss.
Vauxhall released a special edition with its own ditinctive colour, so the bronze for the Nurburging, the White for the Arctic and even the red for the racing edition.
So the owners were happy, the cars stood out and people would know when you drove passed you had the limited run arctic edition and ownership felt great, my brother loved his Arctic.
Then what did Vauxhall do, they nicked the vxr bodykit the exact same bodykits and then bunged them on 1.2 ste boxes. They are everywhere and really spoil the model they are effectively raping. its kind of like Ford taking a 1.4 focus sticking an RS bodykit on it and mat black vinyl wrap, pissing on the limited run RS500 just to sell a couple of extra 1.4's
these are good cars but vauxhall spoilt the special editions purely to shift a few units of the 1.2's.
Apart from that you do have a point... but they kinda look good. I bet they've made more money from the 1.2's. Think about all the young lads that can get a car with a bodykit and actually afford the insurance! I wouldn't worry about it so much
Vauxhall hit the market bang on with the 1.2 limited editions that at a squint look a bit like a VXR. Youngsters that cant get the insurance on VXR's buy them in their droves because of the cheap insurance. Go on comparison websites and its cheaper to insure a 19 year old on a brand new 1.2 LE fully comp than it is for the same guy third party on a 10 year old Corsa grot box ! Oh and they chuck in 100,000 mile warranty so the youngsters can rag them to their hearts content and get new engines free !!!
We were all young once, i know i would have loved a sporty looking, low insurance car when i was a youngster - they are built pretty well too.
Vauxhall have got the market bang on, shame some people cant see the bigger picture!!
Were you at Oulton? Did you go for the hot lap with Paul O'Neill?
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