Vauxhall Astra VXR (2005 - 2010) 2.0T 16V VXR 3d (2007/56) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Still being young people think im one on these chavvy boyracer freaks when im anything but. Everyone compliments how attractive the car is ecspecially the colour(Arden blue). You also get loads of looks as you drive around :-).

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

My mum loves the looks but thinks its too fast. All my mates love it and envy me for having one at quite a young age. Everyone compliments the looks and sound of it.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I wouldn't simply because i dont buy the same car twice. If I did it would be the Nurburgring Edition as a sort of upgrade i suppose.

What are you likely to buy next?

Im gunna be keeping this for atleast 2 years but if im still financially stable then maybe step up another notch. An Impreza STi, E46 M3 CS, or maybe a MK2 Focus RS in performance blue. yummy.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£7,495

When did you buy the car?

July 2012

Did you get a good deal and why?

I traded my 07 Astra Design diesel with high mileage and they gave me £400 on top of the book price, they also let me drive away the same day aswell. They also gave me half price on my next MOT & service!

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Ive always liked Vauxhalls and always loved the look on the VXR's. After admiring the styling and sound of them for ages I decided to get one. Just a shame I had to wait until i was 22 to afford the insurance and running costs otherwise one would've been purchaced a long time ago!

What was the dealer like?

The dealers were very polite and helped me source a VXR that fell in to my criteria. I previously went to view a red one at the same garage but it had sold the previous day. They also gave me a 3 month warranty instead of the standard 1 month. I would defo recommend these guys.

What's it like to drive?

As you can expect being a performance hatch with large rims them ride hasn't got a Rolls Royce feel. The car tramlines over bumps and potholes and you have to seriously slow down for speedramps. Otherwise its fine, the seats are nice and comfortable and the clutch is very light. Also at normal speeds the engine is rather smooth and pulls well in every gear no matter the revs.

What's it like to park?

I never have to parallel park but i imagine it could be a tad tricky with the small rear window. You have to watch the kirbs aswell for with those pricey alloys. The turning circle is good though considering these cars are on 18/19 inch wheels.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Ive only had the car 3 weeks but nothing so far. The great thing with Vauxhalls aswell as Fords is they are probably the cheapest cars on the market to maintain/repair/service etc, they are very reliable to start with aswell.

What's most practical about your car?

It has a roomy cabin and even though i dont ever carry more than one passenger the rear seats are ok too. Like the reviews say the boot lip is a tad high but the actual boot space is plenty big enough for my everyday needs. On a run in 6th gear you can even see 40odd mpg!

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The cruise control is good on carriage ways but the Sport button does it for me. Once pressed the suspension stiffens up even further, the throttle response improves and even more thunder comes out of the exhaust. Pure driving pleasure!