Vectra VXR

Fr0dders

Fr0dders

Fr0dders

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
33,467
Location
West Yorks
Went for a test drive of both this and the ST220 yesterday. Have to say i much preferred the VXR. The interior feels less cluttered, the seats are more hugging and the power delivery is much better. In the ST220, there seemed to be a slight pause low down the rev range waiting for the revs to build, however the VXR was much more urgent with sport mode engaged. Putting your foot down had an immediate response.

Top gear and others have criticised the VXRs cornering ability, but i threw it into some roundabouts without fuss. I dont think you're likely to find the limits of the car's handling on the UK Roads unless you're driving like you stole it.

There's also the rareness factor as well. ST220s are much more common than the vectra VXR. Combined with the diesel ST being popular, and lots of people with Zetec S' fitting ST220 wheels from ebay, it all adds to the VXR feeling more special. Heres some photos after i got back off the test drive.

DSC00658.jpg


http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/mrlol_album/DSC00659.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/mrlol_album/DSC00661.jpg
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p279/mrlol_album/DSC00664.jpg

And it made a lovely noise! (ps excuse the "awww" in the middle of the vid, didnt even realise id said it :o)



Just got to work out where i can get the extra 3 grand from now as i was looking at spending 10k. Not enough for a VXR :( Insignia VXR isnt due for another 18 months so cant see the prices dropping much untill then. Gotta love parkers stupid depreciation figures though, according to parkers there should be loads of 1 year old VXRs hanging about for 11k. Yeah right.
 
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Sounds like a leafblower :s

Once depreciation is off, I can imagine they'd be a decent buy. A mate had an Astra VXR, sold it after about a year... nothing but problems.
 
fonzee said:
not keen on that dash at all, looks too plasticy, like the rest of it though :)
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no worse than the ST220 though

The mix of Silver, black, grey, silver then grey again just makes it look a right mish mash. If the aircon controls were the same silver finish as the top and bottom bits, and the naff clock was gone it wouldnt look so bad.

The one i drove had the CD70 system, DAB radio, Colour screen, satnav, MP3 and 6 CD changer. Combined with the automatic air conditionning etc.. it just felt much nicer than the mondeo.

DSC00670.jpg



jellybeard999 said:
Sounds like a leafblower :s

Once depreciation is off, I can imagine they'd be a decent buy. A mate had an Astra VXR, sold it after about a year... nothing but problems.
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doesnt help it was recorded on a pocket digital camera. Doesnt sound as good as it does in real life.
 
Did you orgasm during that video?

Looks good, sounds good, goes well.

Is it worth the extra over the Mondeo though?
 
jellybeard999 said:
Sounds like a leafblower :s

Once depreciation is off, I can imagine they'd be a decent buy. A mate had an Astra VXR, sold it after about a year... nothing but problems.
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Problems such as what?

I like them though, and would have one over an ST220, although it would have to be in black. Like you said you arent taking it to a racetrack.
 
beermonster said:
nice enough motor but but for 13k you could get a nice facelift M5 10x better build quality imo of course.
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M5 service costs are a different kettle of fish to the VXR. You need serious coughers to service an M5.

Begbie said:
Did you orgasm during that video?

Looks good, sounds good, goes well.

Is it worth the extra over the Mondeo though?
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I think i did a little bit :D

As for worth the extra, it depends. If i just go with my heart, and get carried away then yes. But if i start putting my thinking cap on, and thinking where im going to have to get that 3k then maybe not.
 
I personally quite like the beefy looks of the vectra vxr and the power delivery is pretty nuts!!

The handling is made out to be a lot worse than it is, sure it's not as nimble as a little hot hatch but that's pretty obvious.
 
The interior of the VXR is clearly a matter of personal taste, I prefer it over the Mondeo as well, not for it's looks, as it's quite plain, but the way everything integrates together in use, the only 'hard' plastics is the centre section, which is supposed to be like that and is superb at not showing figure marks, and is very scratch resistant, the Astra/Zafira etc are all like this too, and oddly, you find that Ford have also gone down this route..

As for it's performance, go and check out the Vectra VXR road review with the EVO mag, they had took the Subaru STi, Evo, 330i BMW, and the VXR, and they seemed to really like the VXR as it was easily keeping up with the STi/Evo on real roads..

What is universally accepted is that if you drive it hamfistedly, it will not reward in the slightest, with dogged understeer, etc, but driven well, and it seems a good match for just about everything else on the road..
 
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