27th Oct 2017, 19:07
Original poster here. I found I did 20k miles in the last year, almost all of them on the motorway. My lovely VXR will be worth nothing in 2 or three years at this rate :(
I think I may have to sell and get a cheap motorway barge instead.
A pity. I have loved this hooligan car. Still comfy, great looking and as fast as hell.
27th Oct 2017, 21:03
It's a shame Vauxhall cars will likely never hold their value like a BMW, Mercedes or Audi. Still, at least this makes them affordable, and there's no doubt they can make cars that can be right up there with the best, as mentioned earlier.
Since you're after a motorway barge, I was going to recommend a top of the range Insignia (if you're buying another Vauxhall), but you'd probably get bored with that soon and they also do not seem to be holding value too great either. Let us know what you get next and post another review :)
12th Dec 2017, 21:02
Original poster here - VXR sold today, replaced with a much more practical and similarly fast Subaru Forester XT.
The VXR is a miles better car than almost anybody thinks. A proper hooligan in a tailored suit. Fast as hell, stylish almost everywhere and very well built. Controls feel lovely to use.
However the ride is unbearable on broken surfaces, visibility is very poor and the doors are so long and thick a double parking space is usually needed to allow easy access.
I've lost a fortune in the year or so I've run it, but I have had fun and will always remember this everyday supercar!
19th Jul 2022, 14:55
Original poster here - Well after five years, I pick up another Astra VXR on Saturday! Now I have a Subaru Forester for family and farm work, I can keep the VXR for only the journeys it likes! I shall post a new review in a few miles :)
20th Jul 2022, 15:20
Thanks, keep us posted. I'm the guy that was commenting here a few years ago. Since have drove a 2015 Astra GTC SRi 1.4 petrol - not a patch on the VXR model obviously, but a smart reliable sleek car that I loved using day by day.
21st Jul 2022, 11:25
Yes it's been a while (2017) but I have been looking at CarSurvey for 20 + years! Easily one of the better review websites for cars, just love reading people's experience of cars from around the world.
Myself I've never driven a VXR. Had the SRi for a while with the 1.4. Not fast as you know. To be honest with current fuel prices I should have went for the 2.0 CDTi, probably a bit faster and better economy. Mind you the 1.4 can get 45 - 50 mpg economy, which for petrol is good. I find start stop technology in all cars annoying though and usually turn it off - as far as I can tell the difference in fuel savings is marginal.
21st Jul 2022, 13:52
Also for what it is worth (there are similar reviews on here already) I just put a review up of my 2015 SRI GTC if you are interested in what the lesser models are like :)
6th Aug 2022, 19:08
Original poster dude here - well a two week delay 'cos what I thought was a re-gas turned out to be an AC system replacement, but I picked up my new VXR today.
The car has done 25k miles in 8 years, and most of those in the first two years. Mechanic says the seals on the AC had perished and the internals fuzzed with mould and corrosion though non use. Dealer replaced everything.
The rest of the car is genuinely close to new condition.
It took me a while to become accustomed to all the freakin' buttons and functions, despite having put 20K on a VXR a few years ago.
It looks just magnificent in Red. It rides FAR smoother in normal mode than my old VXR did, but that could be because this one has Firestone Roadhawks fitted instead of the original P zeros. Whatever, the ride is lush.
First gear still wants to hurl me at the horizon. Interior is again a lovely place to be. The lack of bluetooth music streaming pissed me off all over again though.
The engine seems smoother than my former VXR, but still manages thundering power everywhere.
I haven't thrashed the new VXR yet, but the couple of throttle pumps I tried made the car snap to attention just like the old un.
After one day, very happy. I truly hope for a long relationship with this.
8th Aug 2022, 14:02
Thanks for the update, looking forward to the review. I have found the air con is basically dead on most cars that are more than 6 years old. Usually they just need a "re-gas" which is fairly inexpensive, but as you have found, if there is anything else wrong, especially on much older cars, it is expensive and usually not worth repairing, so most people don't bother.
I would say though if you live in the UK recently air con is essential as you know this summer has been excellent!
17th Aug 2022, 19:42
The AC has been a necessity!
I am surprised how different this VXR feels to my first one. This is DEFINITELY more composed riding than my black one. Only clatters over truly dreadful roads. Engine feels just the same, endlessly powerful. Seats feel a bit less comfy, but I am a lot thinner these days. I might need to play with the adjustments.
Interior is still a very classy place to be. The phone-only Bluetooth system feels ANCIENT, I'm going to need to upgrade this in time I think. Also the satnav is awful. It is a technology that has improved leaps and bounds in the last decade.
I'm loving discovering this car. Couple of long drives coming up in the next couple of days, I'll let you know what I think :)
1st Sep 2022, 08:48
Original poster here - 1100 miles in my first month with this VXR. I am really very happy.
Because I haven't got to use this car for reasons it's not designed for (I have horses and drive on a farm most days) it really shines. I am still wildly impressed by the interior. I know it's the same as the standard Astra J, but that just means THAT car has a really handsome, well built and comfortable interior.
The custom Recaro seats are amazing: hard on the ass when you first sit in them, but EXACTLY the same after 200 miles in the saddle. No aches.
This is so handsome in red I can hardly say - all the curves are shown off far better than my black one did.
Fuel consumption is hilariously bad - this car is as fast as a V8, and it drinks fuel like one.
Downsides are only that the fussy info system has clumsy bluetooth (no a2dp), and that the heated rear window element is bust (the dealer is replacing the back window under warranty next week).
Also this is a low, wide car with doors longer than Florida. It's not possible to get in or out while parked in a typical UK parking spot, or to ride over 20mph over a speed hump or pothole. Annoying, but as this is close to being as fast as an old school supercar like a 328 GTB, I guess I can live with those things.
Vauxhall apparently lost money on every VXR they sold. I'm not surprised, the engineering and quality are profound. I am very happy for now.
6th Sep 2022, 13:48
Original Owner here - I picked up a bit of kit from Amazon - An Eono HI FI bluetooth adapter. This is a tiny USB device that plugs into the USB slot of the dash cubby, then a 3.5 inch jack goes into the Aux socket an inch away. There's only a two inch wire so this is incredibly inconspicuous. It works wonderfully and basically enables the AUX channel with hi fidelity A2DP streaming from my phone.
Just excellent. Can't wait for my next long roadtrip!
23rd Jun 2017, 13:36
Original poster here - 20k miles now since last September.
Nothing has broken. Still looks amazing, still very comfy, with a hard urban ride.
Needs a main service, which will cost I guess, but it deserves some TLC.
A properly designed, made and engineered car that's as quick as a space shuttle and a quirky alternative to the popular German cars. Lovin' it.