Vauxhall Vectra VXR | Spotted
Remember when the world's dullest car became a 161mph, V6-powered rep rocket?
The laws of physics dictate that a front-wheel-drive car can only manage so much power before terminal understeer sets in. There was once a belief that no more than 300hp could be sent through the front wheels exclusively, and it wasn’t that long ago that over 250hp was a bit too much for some. This is what makes some of the more recent front-drive hot hatches so mind-bendingly brilliant. Ford’s trick ‘RevoKnuckle’ suspension and active torque biasing differential helped it lay down 305hp in the Mk2 Focus RS (or 350hp in the RS500), and what Honda’s achieved with the latest, 330hp FL5 Civic Tyre R is nothing short of extraordinary.
Of course, that has all been made possible with advancements in suspension design, increasingly clever diffs and elaborate tyre compounds - as well as the commitment and investment from the world’s most deep-pocketed manufacturers. And it’s only been in the last 15 years or so that big strides have been made. Before that, manufacturers were still chucking as much power through the front axle as they could, albeit with hugely mixed results. The Alfa Romeo 156 and 147 GTAs are notoriously wayward without aftermarket assistance, as was the original Focus RS. But no one did understeer quite like a front-drive, mid-noughties Vauxhall, especially the Vectra VXR like we have here.
You’ll likely remember one of its TV appearances, if only for the noise of its tyres scrubbing along the tarmac while its front wheels furiously attempt to find purchase. Obviously, we know how producers like to ham things up for telly and any car will understeer into the distance if you really try, but the truth is VXR was building a reputation based on power and straight-line speed. It’s the Top Trumps effect, which isn’t quite as prevalent in today’s age of 1,000hp EV family saloons but was a surefire way to a sales hit two decades ago. So when its main rival, the Ford Mondeo ST220, was putting out 226hp from a 2.5-litre V6, Vauxhall swiftly gazumped it with 255hp from a 2.8-litre V6 turbo.
It was properly quick, too. The Vectra VXR could hit 60mph from a standstill in 6.5 seconds, a whopping 0.8 seconds faster than the Mondeo, and topped out at an impressive 161mph. This is back when people took a curiously deep interest in top speeds, too - and it must've provided useful ammunition against your mate down the pub with their 155mph-limited BMW M3.
Just as important was the way it looked. Vauxhall has never been known for daring or memorable designs, with the Vectra arguably being the dullest of the lot. The VXR, however, drastically upped the desirability with 19-inch alloys, sportier skirts all-round, two missile-launcher exhaust outlets and a pouting lip spoiler completing the look. Little was done to the interior, save for a set of Recaros and some VXR badging dotted around the place. But it didn’t matter, because the Vectra VXR looked the part, went like the clappers and was near as damn it the same price as the Mondeo.
Sure, it was never dynamically on par with the competition, and did suffer from considerably amounts of torque steer, but that just adds to its old-fashioned bruiser appeal today. And just as they were 20 years ago, Vectra VXRs are cheap as chips nowadays. This 2006 example has 92,000 miles on the clock, appears to be very tidy both inside and out, and has a recent MOT pass with no advisories. All for £4,895. On the other hand, this Mondeo ST220 with 5k fewer miles will cost you almost twice as much. And while it may drive a little sweeter and feel a little plusher, it probably won’t whack a huge grin on your face quite like the VXR will.
SPECIFICATION | VAUXHALL VECTRA VXR
Engine: 2,729cc V6, turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 255@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 262@1,800rpm
MPG: 27.4
CO2: 247g/km
Year registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 92,000
Price new: £23,970
Yours for: £4,895
I worked at a Vauxhall dealer when these were launched. My recollections of driving them were a tidy handling, if slightly numb car (it wasn't as sweet or communicative as the Mondeo), which was startlingly rapid to a 20 year old being given the keys to his manager's demo.
The local traffic plod had marked and unmarked VXR's dressed up to look like the 'Active' base spec, which I always thought made a good sleeper sans bright colours!
I've considered one as a daily drive a few years ago but the punitive tax (same situation with the Insignia VXR unfortunately) put me off.
I worked at a Vauxhall dealer when these were launched. My recollections of driving them were a tidy handling, if slightly numb car (it wasn't as sweet or communicative as the Mondeo), which was startlingly rapid to a 20 year old being given the keys to his manager's demo.
The local traffic plod had marked and unmarked VXR's dressed up to look like the 'Active' base spec, which I always thought made a good sleeper sans bright colours!
I've considered one as a daily drive a few years ago but the punitive tax (same situation with the Insignia VXR unfortunately) put me off.
Then again they probably didn’t remove the traction control fuse like Top Gear did
It looked lovely, was very comfy, and sounded great. At the time my only criticism was that it would have been better 4WD and 50BHP more, which they did with the Insignia VXR. Another car I owned, used as a daily for 2 or so years (this time for about 100 miles a day), also gets an awful lot of hate and I found to be a great companion day to day.
Before I get jumped on please bear in mind this is only my opinion from having lived with VXR products as daily's. And before I get accused of being a fan boy I have also had many other cars to compare them to including E90 M3, 'Teg Type R, various fast Fords, RX8, 3 Evos (2 x VI and a VIII) etc and currently have an SVR.
One other positive is that the servicing cost for the VXR products was always very reasonable. However the level of service from my local dealer at the time was bloody awful! So, swings and roundabouts I guess.
It looked lovely, was very comfy, and sounded great. At the time my only criticism was that it would have been better 4WD and 50BHP more, which they did with the Insignia VXR. Another car I owned, used as a daily for 2 or so years (this time for about 100 miles a day), also gets an awful lot of hate and I found to be a great companion day to day.
Before I get jumped on please bear in mind this is only my opinion from having lived with VXR products as daily's. And before I get accused of being a fan boy I have also had many other cars to compare them to including E90 M3, 'Teg Type R, various fast Fords, RX8, 3 Evos (2 x VI and a VIII) etc and currently have an SVR.
One other positive is that the servicing cost for the VXR products was always very reasonable. However the level of service from my local dealer at the time was bloody awful! So, swings and roundabouts I guess.
”The unmistakable high-rise spoiler of a Mitsubishi Evo is jinking and weaving ahead of me as we skim across Exmoor, black soot belching from its huge exhaust every time another upshift hits home. If the straight is long enough, the Evo pulls out a noticeable gap, and into the slower corners it steals another few yards. As the road opens up and tight corners melt into fast sweepers, the gap stabilises. Absolute acceleration counts for nothing now, it's the ability to carry speed that matters. And the Evo can't shake me off. I can't shake the car behind either, but as with the Evo ahead, the gap back to the Impreza is almost constant. On wicked roads, littered with sump scars from unseen undulations and always throwing-up nasty surprises - the kind of roads tailor-made for cars like the Mitsubishi and Subaru - an interloper is matching their every move. Incredibly - no, scrub that - shockingly, that car has a Vauxhall badge on its nose. The Vectra VXR is splitting the two hardest, most outrageous rally wannabes right down the middle. And despite significant horsepower advantages, not to mention the benefit of two extra driven wheels each, there's nothing they can do about it. Frankly, I'm staggered at the Vectra's sheer ground-covering ability. The roads are dry, which levels the playing field, but even so, none of us would have expected the VXR to live with the final car of this foursome, BMW's superb 330i M Sport, let alone get stuck into the rally reps. The 251bhp 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 is giving 26bhp to the Impreza and 75bhp to the ballistic Evo FQ-320 (we wanted a FQ-300, but there isn't one on Mitsubishi's press fleet), and at £23,995 it's easily the cheapest car here. To be honest we almost didn't include it in the test. It seemed like leading a lamb to the slaughter. But in two days it has won our respect and ruffled more than a few feathers.”
”The unmistakable high-rise spoiler of a Mitsubishi Evo is jinking and weaving ahead of me as we skim across Exmoor, black soot belching from its huge exhaust every time another upshift hits home. If the straight is long enough, the Evo pulls out a noticeable gap, and into the slower corners it steals another few yards. As the road opens up and tight corners melt into fast sweepers, the gap stabilises. Absolute acceleration counts for nothing now, it's the ability to carry speed that matters. And the Evo can't shake me off. I can't shake the car behind either, but as with the Evo ahead, the gap back to the Impreza is almost constant. On wicked roads, littered with sump scars from unseen undulations and always throwing-up nasty surprises - the kind of roads tailor-made for cars like the Mitsubishi and Subaru - an interloper is matching their every move. Incredibly - no, scrub that - shockingly, that car has a Vauxhall badge on its nose. The Vectra VXR is splitting the two hardest, most outrageous rally wannabes right down the middle. And despite significant horsepower advantages, not to mention the benefit of two extra driven wheels each, there's nothing they can do about it. Frankly, I'm staggered at the Vectra's sheer ground-covering ability. The roads are dry, which levels the playing field, but even so, none of us would have expected the VXR to live with the final car of this foursome, BMW's superb 330i M Sport, let alone get stuck into the rally reps. The 251bhp 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 is giving 26bhp to the Impreza and 75bhp to the ballistic Evo FQ-320 (we wanted a FQ-300, but there isn't one on Mitsubishi's press fleet), and at £23,995 it's easily the cheapest car here. To be honest we almost didn't include it in the test. It seemed like leading a lamb to the slaughter. But in two days it has won our respect and ruffled more than a few feathers.”
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Usual fast Vauxhall story - amazing ? nope significantly better than the vast majority gave it credit for ? yes.
Always sounded quite good this engine I thought.
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Usual fast Vauxhall story - amazing ? nope significantly better than the vast majority gave it credit for ? yes.
Always sounded quite good this engine I thought.
t less to muchI don't mind this either though to be fair, and I've always generally liked cars with V6 engines.
Good looking - especially in that Arden Blue, sounds great, plenty powerful enough and well equipped.
Like others have said, many people just quote the crap spouted by Clarkson (I really enjoy his stuff BTW, but plenty of it is b
ks), the EVO review is much more accurate.Same apply to the likes of a Chevette HSR, a Lotus Carlton or VX220 Turbo?
I've had a few Vauxhalls and found them just as good as, if not better than, the Ford alternatives.
But I think this one might get hit by £700+ a year RFL.
As I prefer RWD I bought a 2005 330i with 107K miles and 255bhp for more than a grand less, and from what I have read the 155mph limiter only interferes in 6th gear!
Although it's still much more appealing than an over-priced Mondeo, especially in that colour.
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