Corsa VXR Arctic - how does it compare to a 197 Cup?

[ikonic]

I used to have a RenaultSport Clio 197 with the cup pack.

Best car I've ever owned period.

For reasons unknown, i got rid thinking it was time to get sensible, but i find myself just yearning for another small-ish hot hatch.

Given I've been there done that with the Clio, how do you guys think a Corsa VXR Arctic would compare?

The peakiness of the 197 did used to frustrate a little bit so i guess the turbocharged VXR will solve this, but put simply..... are they as good to drive as the 197s do you think?

And do we think the Corsa VXR have somewhat questionable image? I spend a lot of time visiting MDs at clients for my job, so would rolling up in a Corsa that has an exhaust that pops and bangs be a bad idea?

any thoughts from current owners would be greatly appreciated!

[HellDiver]

Corsa VXR are pretty slow, because they're REALLY heavy. A corsa VXR is heavier than my Vectra. My old remapped diesel Astra sporthatch was almost exactly the same speed as a Corsa VXR, and actually was faster at the top end.

I don't think it'd compare anywhere near a Cup 197.

The 1.6T in the Corsa doesn't take kindly to tuning either, unlike the 2.0T in the Astra VXR. The Astra's lump is good for 300hp before even looking at internals, the Corsa lump has been known to give trouble with only 240hp through it.