Vauxhall Astra VXR

Bang for your buck is key here, you can't argue with the 6.1sec 0-60 or 240ps... I do 60k miles a year (not in the 'stra', its for the mrs) and the naf speakers, lack of ash tray, 30mpg, £250per tyre, wearing ride and an engine too keen to cruise are not suited for long drives. However its very quick and a real treat for short journys. If you buy one drive it hard!

I've had the privelage of driving an edition 30 Golf which is better built, smoother and more refined but significantly more expensive.. but wouldn't beat the vxr at the lights (bang for your buck).

Also driven one round a track, lots of fun and serious power for not so serious money. Suprisingly cheap to insure... otherwise it would have been an S2000

Ive owned my vauxhall astra two years now and alot money has been spent. i have most of the optional extras.

Problems ive had: seats creek, CIM module doesnt work so no steering controls work when lights are on including the horn, parking sensors stop working.

i have 19s with 35 profile dont recomend them feel every bump in the road go to over take, and going over a cats eye is like hittin a brick in the road. The gear box is on it way out gears crunching and wining while driving in gears 3 and 4. The back end also lets it down its all rolly,

build quality is very poor and customer service from vauxhall is rubbish scammers and try ripping you off. lucky the old man a mechanic.

on the plus side, i was happy with the power the looks you get before. its great looking car but now the focus RS is out it looks dated.

the adaptive lights are great.

ive also spent alot of money tuning it. full exhaust and stage 2 remap, brake ducts, cooler thermo, diverter valve, cdti airbox, exhaust wrap.

rarb and springs are a must for the handling.

now with this money spent 3k just on tuning the drive is unreal so good, and handling is better but the 19s still let it down but look the best.

If you like smiling, and i feel fairly confident in presuming that the vast majority of people do, you can do far worse than to take a trip to your local Vauxhall dealer and purchase a Vauxhall Astra VXR.

When you see it, you'll smile. When you sink into the supportive yet amazingly comfortable seats, you'll smile. When you turn the ignition, hear the engine turn over and watch the dials come to life, you'll smile. When you press the accelerator......i think you can see where this is going.

This car gives extraordinary bang for your buck. Yes, it is true that the wheels can spin in the wet, and yes, you can feel torque steer when you bury your foot, but this can, and should, only make you want to drive the car better and get the best out of it. Give the accelerator a gentle, but firm squeeze out of a corner and, you've guessed it, you'll be smiling all the way to the next one.

This is not a car for miserable people who don't like to smile.

Or for people with a large family. Or, for that matter, people who think about the environment every time they go to the petrol station. A combined mpg of 30.1 certainly isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it isn't a figure likely to inspire much joyous singing and dancing within the green brigade.

A car for all occasions. Great around town, equally good for the trip to Waitrose and more fun that you can shake a stick at. Buy. Buy one now. Like right now. Have you bought one yet?

Drive one and see for yourself...The aceleration and great styling are the best points about the vxr, have owned the car for a year now and have had no problems mechanicly and have enjoyed the car every time im in it. Fairly basic interior, but not many bad points to talk about

Awesome power and acceleration. Looks great. Less boring than a Golf GTI.

Don't test drive this ca runless you're serious about buying it! You'll have to have it.

Build quality in the Vauxhall Astra VXR is good, safety features are numerous and WORK, with all the gadgets on the car, I did think weight would be an issue, but no, the car can still pull away in 3rd gear from the lights and have BMW 3.6 Turbo's crying into their steering wheels. Overall, this car is certainly a fun drive, insurance is not too bad depending on age and the company of choice. I think this car is for the slightly older man, looking to re-kindle some of the fires of youth.