Vectra VXR
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Soldato
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The same can be said of a RWD though, if, like an idiot you boot it when cornering hard as many poor drivers do, the back will come out, which will be far more of a disaster than a bit of understeer in the hands of an inexperianced driver.
They are not as quick.
I've gone from an Insignia VXR to basically a Vectra VXR (it technically isn't, it's ex-police so VXR engine, map, brakes etc but SRI interior).
The Vectra is a decent car but won't win any awards for handling. In a straight line it is very capable and after a small remap will happily pull with over 300 BHP with max BHP & torque at approx 2500 revs. It is better then the astra imo but obviously a 330i will be better. Dont let anyone make you believe a ST220 is better though because it's not.
You've just said the Vectra isn't going to win any awards for handling. The Mondeo has fantastic handling, far above the Vectra. So why does that then make the Vectra better?
The Ford V6 is just sublime and the power is enough for the car. The build quality in the Vectra is pretty 'lol' the same can't be said for the Mondeo. The Mondeo can be had for less, and it will be more reliable with less to go wrong.
For some there's more to a car than a remap and going 'POWER!' on the motorway slip road, and if that's your taste then why not get a Scooby?
The Ford V6 is just sublime and the power is enough for the car. The build quality in the Vectra is pretty 'lol' the same can't be said for the Mondeo. The Mondeo can be had for less, and it will be more reliable with less to go wrong.
For some there's more to a car than a remap and going 'POWER!' on the motorway slip road, and if that's your taste then why not get a Scooby?
Agreed. Every normal Vectra I've driven has been awful in pretty much every possible way. I can't imagine that the VXR is suddenly amazing. I'm willing to be proved wrong, but I can't imagine that shoving 260 odd bhp through a sloppy FWD chassis and fitting some stiffer springs and dampers is going to make for a very rewarding drive. Sure it's fast in a straight line (once traction is obtained) but even so..
They are not as quick.
I've gone from an Insignia VXR to basically a Vectra VXR (it technically isn't, it's ex-police so VXR engine, map, brakes etc but SRI interior).
The Vectra is a decent car but won't win any awards for handling. In a straight line it is very capable and after a small remap will happily pull with over 300 BHP with max BHP & torque at approx 2500 revs. It is better then the astra imo but obviously a 330i will be better. Dont let anyone make you believe a ST220 is better though because it's not.
it may make max torque at 2500rpm but it certainly won't be making peak BHP at that point!
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
They are not as quick.
I've gone from an Insignia VXR to basically a Vectra VXR (it technically isn't, it's ex-police so VXR engine, map, brakes etc but SRI interior).
The Vectra is a decent car but won't win any awards for handling. In a straight line it is very capable and after a small remap will happily pull with over 300 BHP with max BHP & torque at approx 2500 revs. It is better then the astra imo but obviously a 330i will be better. Dont let anyone make you believe a ST220 is better though because it's not.
The only thing the Vectra has over the ST is straightline performance.
The 2.8 V6 in the VXR is a better engine and more reliable.
The interior is better in the ST220.
Soldato
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The ST220 is supposed to be a better all rounder than the Vectra apart from power... the ST220 could definatley do with more power and it's pricey trying to improve it.
So Vectra for power (and probable clutch issues
) or a solid ST220 which is a better all rounder.
So Vectra for power (and probable clutch issues
) or a solid ST220 which is a better all rounder.
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Soldato
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The Duratec V6 is reliable. The engine may be strong in the Vectra but it's all the other bits connected to it that goes wrong
'Better' or simply 'More powerful?'
And more reliable? Given there are very little in the way of major issues with the Duratec V6 in the ST220 I'm not sure how much of an advantage that is?
THe vectra VXR engine / drivetrain is most certainly not reliable.
The spark plugs Vauxhall supply as standard are barely up to the job, start upping the boost at all with a remap and they get blown out. In order to run a remap with upped boost, you need to recap them to stop them blowing out the spark, and watch what model they supply you. There are several different makes you can end up with when ordering from VXL, and only one of them is actually up to the job.
And lets not start on the clutch thats barely up to the job of the standard torque and isn't even a specific VXR gearbox, and is used in other models and was old even before it made it into the 2006 VXR.
OP: I owned one for 18 months and still speak to friends who own them on VXRonline.
Any questions drop me a message in my trust.
The spark plugs Vauxhall supply as standard are barely up to the job, start upping the boost at all with a remap and they get blown out. In order to run a remap with upped boost, you need to recap them to stop them blowing out the spark, and watch what model they supply you. There are several different makes you can end up with when ordering from VXL, and only one of them is actually up to the job.
And lets not start on the clutch thats barely up to the job of the standard torque and isn't even a specific VXR gearbox, and is used in other models and was old even before it made it into the 2006 VXR.
OP: I owned one for 18 months and still speak to friends who own them on VXRonline.
Any questions drop me a message in my trust.
You know how top gear works by now.
I've said this time and time again, they went and pulled fuses to disable everything to make it understeer worse for the camera.
The VXR doesn't actually have a button that switches the T/C off totally. And with the TC on it didn't understeer enough. So for artistic effect, to convey that the car understeers (which i'll admit it does), they went pulling fuses.
If you want a turbocharged 4 door car. Look at a 8k-10k impreza.
You'd think the impreza would cost much more to run. But in my experience of owning the VXR, i think the costs would be about the same.
Can't you just fit colder plugs and sod what Vauxhall provide?
Vauxhall source several different plugs for use.
One of them being NGK iridiums.
If you source them yourself, you're fine. And vauxhall will sometimes give you them if you leave it up to them to replace. But they also supply some bosch ones that aren't as good. The dealer has no idea what will get sent as they all have the same GM part number.
It makes sense from GM's point of view. They all meet GM "quality standard" and at the end of the day, does the average customer give a damn what make the plug is ? No is the answer. So they just source from whoever does a good deal at the time and just send whatever they have.
One of them being NGK iridiums.
If you source them yourself, you're fine. And vauxhall will sometimes give you them if you leave it up to them to replace. But they also supply some bosch ones that aren't as good. The dealer has no idea what will get sent as they all have the same GM part number.
It makes sense from GM's point of view. They all meet GM "quality standard" and at the end of the day, does the average customer give a damn what make the plug is ? No is the answer. So they just source from whoever does a good deal at the time and just send whatever they have.
Soldato
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I cant see why anyone anyone would go for this car over the Mazda 6 MPS
In that case, in Vauxhall's defence, is it their problems if the spark plugs overheat if you modify the car otherwise in accordance with their specifications? Unless of course you're saying that there are numerous cases of them failing when the engine is completely stock? If I had a remapped or whatever car, I wouldn't rely on the manufacturer to support it!
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
Hatchback, seats that fold flat in the rear ? The vectra is much more practical.
The vectra is also faster, and although prone to understeer, the handling is perfectly fine for hooning around the B roads having fun.
I also think the vectra sounds nicer and with its twin scroll turbo, has less turbo lag.
Thats not to say the car isn't without fault. I can list many. But it does have some things going for it over the MPS.
The vectra is also faster, and although prone to understeer, the handling is perfectly fine for hooning around the B roads having fun.
I also think the vectra sounds nicer and with its twin scroll turbo, has less turbo lag.
Thats not to say the car isn't without fault. I can list many. But it does have some things going for it over the MPS.
In that case, in Vauxhall's defence, is it their problems if the spark plugs overheat if you modify the car otherwise in accordance with their specifications? Unless of course you're saying that there are numerous cases of them failing when the engine is completely stock? If I had a remapped or whatever car, I wouldn't rely on the manufacturer to support it!
Just sayin'
Its more an annoynce with vauxhall building the thing with everything stretched to its limit.
Its not by any means over engineered, because as soon as you start upping the power, you discover that lots of standard components are only just up to the job of running the standard car.
For example, the clutch, the gearbox, the spark plugs, the cooling system.
All of which could do with being upgraded to cope with a mere 10 % increase in power.