astra vxr....worth the 20k?

Demon · 27 Mar 2006 at 13:58

top gear had this up agains the new golf GTi and they perfered the golf as it handled better even tho the vxr had more power the torque really let the car down. U could get an R32 for <20 surely? id rather have 1 of them

Not true at all, they preferred the Golf as it wasn't so hardcore, and was more practical... the VXR was over 2 seconds quicker around their track, which is very twisty, it even beat the old R32, and the Megane Cup was 0.5s faster again..
I've driven the Golf/Focus/Astra, and I think if you don't go and test drive all 3, then see what you like best yourself, you are mad.. I really liked the ST, it was smooth, and had refined handling and I like the interior, the VXR had a more aggressive power delivery, and agressive handling.. You wouldn't jump in any of them and think they handled anything other then superbly.

I like all the 'I'd never have another vauxhall again" comments.. if I thought that about every crap car I'd had, and not realised that each generation of model can be radically different to it's predecessor, I'd never drive another Ford/Peugeot/BMW/Vauxhall/Rover (Ok then Maybe the Rover

)..

Take each car on it's own merits, all companies are improving all the time, after the Japanese, VX and FORD standout as have the next best reliability..

Malachy · 27 Mar 2006 at 14:00

Demon said:
Take each car on it's own merits, all companies are improving all the time, after the Japanese, VX and FORD standout as have the next best reliability..

what better than all the germans ? oooooooook

EddScott · 27 Mar 2006 at 14:09

SgtTupac said:
Ford needed to make the new ST AWD to be honest. I think it would have had a larger impact on the market!

Certainly, but I assume that vehicle production costs are such that unless a 4WD version is catered for from the outset, the costs of building specialist rear ends to accept the 4WD system is now too expensive - or that the end product will be priced out of its range.

Nissan did it with the GTIR, Ford with the Escort Cossie. These days a 4WD Focus would have a price tag of something near 40K and no one would buy it.

Anyone remember the Seat Ibiza wide arch special they built? Was like 30+K and still only FWD. No one bought it as it was just too much for what it was.

With Audi S3 and hints of RS3 in the future, a Focus Cossie 4WD may be too much of a gamble for Ford. Well they've killed the 4WD Focus for sure now.

Demon · 27 Mar 2006 at 15:53

Malachy said:
what better than all the germans ? oooooooook

OK, I was thinking 'main stream' cars.. the equivalent BMW/AUDI hot hatch is just a little more expensive..

Stonedofmoo · 27 Mar 2006 at 16:17

4WD will always cost a fortune and car manufacturers usually wont bother for a single model in the range. It's different for Impreza's and the like as ALL in the range are AWD so it's still mass produced

Cars like the Escort Cossie and GTIR were only made for rallying and at the time cost around £20k which was a lot more than current exchange rates.

My friend Emma brought her Focus ST over yesterday and I thought it handled the 220bhp very well. No noticable torque steer and handled very well even in the pouring rain. I'll get a pic uploaded later, the orange really suits it. They have great road presence and I would certainly consider one as an alternative from the VXR.

Mat · 27 Mar 2006 at 16:25

You can pick up an RX8 231bhp for less than 20k these days.

Arc · 27 Mar 2006 at 16:44

Oracle said:
The Astra is actualyl cheaper than the ST, and IMHO a far better looking car...

ST1 and ST2 are a lot less than 20k, is the Astra?

SgtTupac said:
Ford needed to make the new ST AWD to be honest. I think it would have had a larger impact on the market!

Welcome to the Focus MkII RS. The test mules were pictured in the press, it was using a high pressure turbo version of the same engine used in the ST (the ST has a low pressure turbo unit), hand plenty of power and would probably have cost less than 25k (volvo running gear dramatically cut the costs) but Ford ditched it due to their money trouble.

They were bitten badly by the Focus MkI RS (all sold at a rather high loss) and then the Mk1 4WD Cossie that unfortunately never made it. Shame as the Focus chassis isnt to hard to adapt to 4WD due to the rather nice exhaust tunnel running down the centre of the car.

Thats why there are the three ST levels, ST1, ST2 and ST3. Trying to cater for a wider audience with what is essentially the same car.

9761 · 27 Mar 2006 at 16:59

Arc said:
ST1 and ST2 are a lot less than 20k, is the Astra?

Welcome to the Focus MkII RS. The test mules were pictured in the press, it was using a high pressure turbo version of the same engine used in the ST (the ST has a low pressure turbo unit), hand plenty of power and would probably have cost less than 25k (volvo running gear dramatically cut the costs) but Ford ditched it due to their money trouble.

They were bitten badly by the Focus MkI RS (all sold at a rather high loss) and then the Mk1 4WD Cossie that unfortunately never made it. Shame as the Focus chassis isnt to hard to adapt to 4WD due to the rather nice exhaust tunnel running down the centre of the car.

Thats why there are the three ST levels, ST1, ST2 and ST3. Trying to cater for a wider audience with what is essentially the same car.

Also same happened with the Fiesta RS, didn't have enough money to produce it which I thought was a shame as it looked really neat!

Phate · 27 Mar 2006 at 17:09

some interesting replys making this a good read, surprised someone rezed the thread tbh.

Infidel · 27 Mar 2006 at 17:58

Might it be worth holding on until the new civic type R comes out? Should be a bargin..

Minxy · 27 Mar 2006 at 19:26

Oracle said:
The MK4 Astras used to be able to handle over 300bhp through the front wheels, although admittedly early chassis were Lotus built (designed), this is not so of the new VXR and in my opinion, the chassis is actually not quite as good.

Mark, that you?

How many mk4 Astra's do you know that are running over 300bhp because I've yet to find one thats hit over the 280bhp mark (altho I do know of one thatc currently in the process but it wont be a z20let engine) Even Regal's very own coupe couldn't cope with too much power and that things had pretty much every modification you can find for the zlet thrown at it.

Going back to the VXR, personally unless you have a friend at Vxls who can get you a partners deal I'd hang it out for them to hit the second hand market, they could very well be some nice cheap toys in a few months time.

Slackworth · 27 Mar 2006 at 21:39

I've learnt my lesson with Vauxhall's. The cars on the whole are reasonable and nice and cheap to run. If you are going to run it in to the ground and keep it for a while then it's not too bad. If you are buying it from new or nearly new then you lose shedloads of money if you want to get rid of it 12 months later.

I love the look of the Astra VXR and expect it's a fun car to drive but on this occasion, I'm saying Golf GTI all the way.

There's only one Vauxhall that I may hope to own in the future and that's the stunning Monaro.

ajgoodfellow · 27 Mar 2006 at 21:45

adwhitworth said:
There's only one Vauxhall that I may hope to own in the future and that's the stunning Monaro.

Me too

Shame they're stopping production of it this year

Minxy · 27 Mar 2006 at 22:17

Hasn't it stopped already?

ajgoodfellow · 27 Mar 2006 at 22:31

Think so but I think there's enough left to satisfy demand until September or something

Such a shame but I won't be able to afford one for many years unless I win the lottery or something!