New Astra VXR gets 0-62mph time

New copy of Evo dropped through the door today... Astra VXR vs Mégane 265 Cup vs Focus RS.

"Sadly the VXR finds itself in the presence of greatness. Think of the 265 Cup as the Porsche GT3 of hatches, or the Ferrari 458. A product of obsessive attention to details, relentlessly honed and tweaked, every last bit of performance and precision eked out of every single component. The VXR might have hydraulic steering, it might have a limited-slip diff, if might call the Nürburgring home. All the sorts of little details that we love. But today it took on the best, and on any road we threw at them, the best just got better. One day somebody will make a better hot hatch than RenaultSport. We can’t wait to drive it. (Jethro Bovingdon)"
 
Drove the 265 last week, it's a fun machine. I prefer the exterior and interior of the VXR though. The VXR's definitely the more capable cruiser as well, the 265's very stiff. The Renault is probably the faster car though, certainly better steering feel. Great engine too.

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Had a brief go in the new ST as well. I must admit that I wasn't particularly taken with it, but I'm going to reserve judgement until I get a proper drive in it. Was more impressed with the 1.0-litre EcoBoost :D
 
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Yes, but I'm specifically talking about feel, if Reanult have cracked it then fair play. But Lashout also things that the Hyundai i40 is a better car than the F10, so...
 
I thought it was pretty obvious we were talking about steering feel?

I've not driven either car, just suggesting that it's not always fair to say no electric system can possibly feel better than any hydraulic system, thats all.

Edit: You edited :p

Muffin said:
But Lashout also things that the Hyundai i40 is a better car than the F10, so...
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This is a good point. I now agree its probably unlikely it really has better feel than the Astra then :p
 
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Muffin` said:
Yes, but I'm specifically talking about feel, if Reanult have cracked it then fair play. But Lashout also things that the Hyundai i40 is a better car than the F10, so...
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I think it was actually the Kia Optima I was talking about.

I wasn't saying it was a better car, just that I preferred it in a lot of ways compared to the boggo F10 520d, in terms of the overall package.

Plus there were odd little things that appealed to me - like the fact that the Kia's gearlever didn't vibrate and buzz, whereas the BMW's did (quite noticably).
 
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Muffin` said:
You think the Renault has better steering feel even though it's electric?
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Both are very good but the Renault is lighter and a lot more vibrant and active (overall), so you feel a lot more in tune with what's going on. Just that bit more talkative. The downside of that is that it's more tiring to drive over longer distances.

It's very close though, so I'd have to drive both back to back.
 
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It just surprises me that VX would fall down on steering feel which I feel is such an important factor of its class. They share the same sentiment because they've specifically put in a hydraulic system for the VXR along with an 'proper' LSD. VXR does appear to run on bigger wheels, which of course has a negative effect on turn in, and that will show [feel] through the wheel.
 
Muffin` said:
...VXR along with an 'proper' LSD.
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I imagine you know, but for anyone who doesn't: On the £26K Mégane 265 with all the creature comforts (rather than the povo spec £25K Mégane 265 Cup) you can have the Cup Chassis option for £1k. That gives stiffer springs and dampers, 18-inch alloys with stickier tyres and also gets a mechanical limited-slip diff.

£26K + £1K = £27K = Same as Astra VXR.
 
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