Vauxhall Astra VXR (2005 - 2010) 2.0T 16V VXR 3d (2006/56) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Vxr stands out from the crowd in terms of looks and pace. It's not a car for the quite but shows that you don't need a posh badge to turn heads. It's everything a hot hatch should be, a working class hero car.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Yes you will get the it's a vauxhall jabs but vxr's pace will soon sort that out. It's flash and loud especially with the vauxhall approved remus exhaust system. But that's the point of a hot hatch, vxr is what it is and it just asks people "are you vxr enough?".

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes. Absolutely. It's been fun since day one and I still love it 3 years on. It's cost a lot to repair the gearbox and it eats tires for a past time but you will still find yourself admiring it out the lounge window and loving the look on badge snob peoples faces as you roar past in an astra.

What are you likely to buy next?

Planning to run this car until it dies, and unless i suddenly come into enough money to run a v8 c63 I'm very happy here.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£8,000

When did you buy the car?

January 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

I veiwed this car just as it was taken in before any Valeting was done. I like to see cars as they were handed over my the owner, it's a good insight into its past. I believe I paid a fair price for the car with its spec level.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Wanted a hot hatch and loved the looks of the vxr, stood out of the crowd by a clear mile.

What was the dealer like?

Excellent dealer, very friendly and helpful sorting both my finance and the bits I picked up on the car I wanted sorting. After purchase I even got a one year on postcard from them with the picture they took of me with the car the day I picked it up. Very nice touch still have it to this day.

What's it like to drive?

This is what this car is all about. Vxr is a fast car. It has excellent overtaking power with an old school feel to the power delivery, really kicks you in the back and brings out the grin. On the open road it's a blast. It is quite wild tho so you need to be paying attention at speed. Many will tell you that it doesn't handle well but this is not true. This car handles well but you have to be smooth with turning in and powering on, otherwise it may get unsettled. Torque steer is present in low gears under hard acceleration but nothin a firm grip on the wheel won't fix. In short drive this car with some skill and vxr will thrill every time. It's also easy to drive everyday around town too.

What's it like to park?

Same as any car it's size. It has a good turning circle and easy clutch. The small and high rear windows do mean that it's very hard to see bonnets of cars when reverse parking on their front ends but the parking sensor option can sort that out.

Have you had any problems with the car?

First of all iv owned this car for nearly 3 years and it has never once failed to put a smile on my face. Having said that there are well known faults with these cars that you will encounter, iv had the gearbox rebuilt because of the weak bearings and a new turbo at 80k miles. Except that these will happen. Other than this iv not had any unexpected issues to speak of.

What's most practical about your car?

All the positives with a hot hatch, fast, good looking and capable of transporting a washing machine. The 3 door shape does mean that there's not as much room as some others in its class and it's not easy to see out of the high rear window, but that's the downside of the striking shape.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Very well equipped with all the mod cons. Extra touches like see you home lights and auto tint mirrors add to a feeling of higher end cars.