vectra vxr - your thoughts?

[lardo]

Please help,

I've been toying with the idea of purchasing a used vectra vxr - my perspective is a) they are now going between £8-£15k for a nice one. b)161mph c)know that I can't afford the latest 280bhp version d)can't help but notice that I don't see many around in comparison to the Astra so would in fact be a novelty.

[KieronGsi]

There not as bad as they make out although if its top speed your after go for a de restricted GSi 3,2 V6 as they will push past 161mph.

[Stupeo]

They are a good buy IMO.

I've probably seen maybe maybe three or four since they were launched compared to the hundreds of Astras ive seen. They are also quicker than the astra?

Go for it.

[CatherineJ]

I did 10,000 miles in 2005 in one when they were first launched. It was a brilliant car and much better than the god awful Astra VXR that we bought at the same time.

[milu]

how will a less powerful GSI be faster on the top end?

ive had my estate for a year and only ever seen 3 other vec vxr's.

good car,better than 'snobs' will admit.great engine with good potential.lumpy ride.

Edited by milu on Monday 16th March 21:56

[CatherineJ]

Lardo, you can also get the Vectra re-mapped quite easily.

When we had our car, I remember on vxronline there was lots of discussion on how the existing car could be brought up to the latest specs, without too much trouble from memory.

[KieronGsi]

milu said:

how will a less powerful GSI be faster on the top end?

ive had my estate for a year and only ever seen 3 other vec vxr's.

good car,better than 'snobs' will admit.great engine with good potential.lumpy ride.

Edited by milu on Monday 16th March 21:56

Its all about displacement the GSi is a 3.2 V6 over the 2.8 V6 of the VXR and whilst theres no denying the VXR would arrive at its top speed quicker the GSi will roll on past the VXR's top end.

[milu]

i still fail to see how the bigger engined but less powerful car will go faster.

are the gsi's 210bhp?
if so its pretty remarkable to go faster than 161mph!

Edited by milu on Tuesday 17th March 13:00

[Russ T Bin]

I have had my Vectra VXR 2 weeks now, have had an E46 M3, Escort Cossie, Evo 6s blah blah and find the Vectra a very accomplished car indeed with similar power to the M3.

Smooth power, great refinements, quiet with a slight rumble through the exhaust, reasonable on fuel and look smart enough not to be confused with the 'usual' other Vectras.

Be wary, the specifications vary a lot, try to get one with as many options as you can, the 255 models are cheaper on road tax than the 280 and the only real differences are a few suspension tweeks.

A visit to a reputable tuner such as Thorney motorsport will see 300+ bhp and around 400 ib/ft for the 255 and 280 - that costs around £500 and mine is currently booked in for this, should provide a lot of big grins.

I have an Arden blue 280 model and i love it so go get one!

Edited to add, most 56 plates to present are 280 models, you can tell which is which by looking on the drivers B pillar, 188kw denotes 255 and 206kw denotes 280.

Edited by Russ T Bin on Wednesday 18th March 12:21

Edited by Russ T Bin on Wednesday 18th March 12:32

[Russ T Bin]

KieronGsi said:

milu said:

how will a less powerful GSI be faster on the top end?

ive had my estate for a year and only ever seen 3 other vec vxr's.

good car,better than 'snobs' will admit.great engine with good potential.lumpy ride.

Edited by milu on Monday 16th March 21:56

Its all about displacement the GSi is a 3.2 V6 over the 2.8 V6 of the VXR and whilst theres no denying the VXR would arrive at its top speed quicker the GSi will roll on past the VXR's top end.

I also beg to differ on that - GSI top speed is 154 mph so not quite as fast, although granted, not much in it.

[Prometheus]

Buy one:

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/6518...

Ignore the spasticated Top Retard test, Clarkson had all the car's electronic aids disabled, dangerously, then barrelled into all the corners on full lock. Strange how he didn't do that to the Nissan GTR for instance, which also uses electronic trickery to help it handle.

What a .

[HellDiver]

Hint: get the 18" rims if you value your spine. The 19" rims are harsh and like to crack first pothole you hit.

[KieronGsi]

Russ T Bin said:

KieronGsi said:

milu said:

how will a less powerful GSI be faster on the top end?

ive had my estate for a year and only ever seen 3 other vec vxr's.

good car,better than 'snobs' will admit.great engine with good potential.lumpy ride.

Edited by milu on Monday 16th March 21:56

Its all about displacement the GSi is a 3.2 V6 over the 2.8 V6 of the VXR and whilst theres no denying the VXR would arrive at its top speed quicker the GSi will roll on past the VXR's top end.

I also beg to differ on that - GSI top speed is 154 mph so not quite as fast, although granted, not much in it.

I think youll find thats a restricted top speed.

Hence this policeman getting a ticking off.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1490503/Pol...


Take the restrictor off and it will cruise up to about 168mph.

Edited by KieronGsi on Saturday 21st March 06:49

[rsstman]

so surely a restrictor off the vxr will give it a better top speed as it is far more powerful.

all sounds a bit odd, i fail to see how agsi can be faster in any way.

[KieronGsi]

rsstman said:

so surely a restrictor off the vxr will give it a better top speed as it is far more powerful.

all sounds a bit odd, i fail to see how agsi can be faster in any way.

The VXR isnt restricted hence it has a top speed of 161mph and the GSi has a longer legged 5 speed box where as the VXR has a closer ratio 6 speed box with a lower final drive.

[milu]

yeah but you still need power to drive that long 5th gear.
above 150 your starting to battle drag a fair bit.

[stevenandalex]

Great car, but high fuel consumption and rfl would put me in an astra every time.

[rsstman]

KieronGsi said:

rsstman said:

so surely a restrictor off the vxr will give it a better top speed as it is far more powerful.

all sounds a bit odd, i fail to see how agsi can be faster in any way.

The VXR isnt restricted hence it has a top speed of 161mph and the GSi has a longer legged 5 speed box where as the VXR has a closer ratio 6 speed box with a lower final drive.

well i take your word for it if you are an expert but it seems silly for a 5 gear gearbox to have a longer final drive than a 6 speeder.

[Russ T Bin]

rsstman said:

KieronGsi said:

rsstman said:

so surely a restrictor off the vxr will give it a better top speed as it is far more powerful.

all sounds a bit odd, i fail to see how agsi can be faster in any way.

The VXR isnt restricted hence it has a top speed of 161mph and the GSi has a longer legged 5 speed box where as the VXR has a closer ratio 6 speed box with a lower final drive.

well i take your word for it if you are an expert but it seems silly for a 5 gear gearbox to have a longer final drive than a 6 speeder.

I agree, can't see an old GSI being faster top end than a VXR, regardless of how long the 5th gear is, I think it would struggle to get past a real 140 mph - but would be happy to be proved wrong

[KieronGsi]

Russ T Bin said:

rsstman said:

KieronGsi said:

rsstman said:

so surely a restrictor off the vxr will give it a better top speed as it is far more powerful.

all sounds a bit odd, i fail to see how agsi can be faster in any way.

The VXR isnt restricted hence it has a top speed of 161mph and the GSi has a longer legged 5 speed box where as the VXR has a closer ratio 6 speed box with a lower final drive.

well i take your word for it if you are an expert but it seems silly for a 5 gear gearbox to have a longer final drive than a 6 speeder.

I agree, can't see an old GSI being faster top end than a VXR, regardless of how long the 5th gear is, I think it would struggle to get past a real 140 mph - but would be happy to be proved wrong

Just ask PC Morton who got caught doing 159mph in his Police GSi.