We Do It The Old Way: 2009 Vauxhall Vectra VXR Review

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Today on the channel, I look at a performance car icon of yesteryear - the hotted up Vauxhall Vectra VXR.
#Vauxhall #Vectra #VXR
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6 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 302

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

CarVertical: The History Checking Service Use this link or code "JAYEMM" for a discount! www.carvertical.com/gb/landing/v3?b=1e4c9523&a=JayEmm&voucher=jayemm&chan=jayemm

@Fc-cb3tn Год назад

The VXRs are why I would ever give Vauxhall a chance: they do all kinds of batshit stuff that they could without asking themselves if they should, and I love it.

@ColonelForkEyes Год назад

That's the whole point of having a performance spec version as part of the lineup. I am of the persuasion that if a manufacturer doesn't have a few half-decent 'halo' cars and/or cooking versions of their regular models, it hurts the image and credibility of the brand, much as how being involved in motorsports creates the 'Win on Sunday, Sell on Monday mentality, having a few 'bonkers' cars in your line-up helps the overall image and creates enthusiast communities round those models. The Hyundai i30N is a case in point. The fact it exists and is highly-rated by journalists has an elevating effect on the perception of the whole brand, and even if people don't go for one they' might still consider a regular i30.They might not sell a lot or be a huge money spinner, but as part of a corporate branding strategy they're very useful.

@Fc-cb3tn Год назад

@@ColonelForkEyes unlike Hyundai however they made a mess of most of their VXR cars except the VXR8, last Astra, Corsa VXR and the Insignia. The early ones are usually a mess to drive and it’s kind of funny when that happens😂

@billienomates7100 Год назад

Maybe pre Peugeot when they'd slap V6 into a family car or twin turbo a 1.6 for a hatchback but now they are pretty boring and not worth it.

@geeteebloke1979 Год назад

The vec vxrs are retro cool.... i'm on my 2nd one and love it for all its faults... it reminds me of my old 2.8 sierra with the sound but just a bit faster ;)

@leonbishop5183 Год назад

Had one of these 7 years ago, mint Arden blue 40k one owner example and driving it was an event either slow or fast. It had such a presence on the road and was unpretentious just a fully beefed up family car, they were cheap for what they were and I’ve always rated Vauxhall’s build quality for a mainstream brand, it was like a wild bull in a straight line and I torched all its contemporaries. These are and were brilliant cars with a six second 0-60 and 160mph top speed straight out the box, it easily trounced the other cars of its class when tested on top gear show when it was released but was still unfairly judged in conclusion. I miss the days of the beefy versions of normal cars the British used to love, modern cars are functional and boring with their plastic engine parts and ugly ridiculous iPad dashboards, there’s a reason why there’s still so many Vectras about today and that’s because they were good...🙂👍

@geeteebloke1979 Год назад

i still have an arden blue one... love them in a retro way and still pretty quick compared to modern stuff :)

@TheMirrorGuy 9 месяцев назад

I'm considering one, what sort of mpg do you guys get?

@denaco 6 месяцев назад

Ye but total chav wagons. No offence!

@imkirbo3094 Год назад

When I was around 15 the police had a load of these both in livery and unmarked and they always looked absolutely mint.

@SilkyBadger Год назад

I have one of the 80 ex-police models left on the road, in black, just love it, will never sell it.

@JayVXR Год назад

I own a Frozen White Vectra VXR Ex police, absolutely love it

@nub4373 Год назад

One of the Police Interceptor documentary cops stated the Vectra VXR as his favourite pursuit car. He said it was fast enough and more importantly tough enough to survive rams and TPACs etc that little ever escaped his VXR.

@johnny6476 8 месяцев назад

Yeah he loved his VXR, He called it Christine after the movie. 🤣

@jo05dk Год назад

I miss the days of fun engines in ordinary cars, like the Xantia V6 (or the fun and fantastic Activa, but that's another story), Audi 100/200 with their wonderful 5 cylinder engines, Vectra A V6, 5 cylinder Volvos aso aso. We had it good back then. ..and for that reason this car gets some love from me too. Not because i want it, but because it's a bit nuts ❤ ..oh and a ton of love to the owner. I would have taken it on to save it from the scrapyard too. We must cherish these cars.

@bensmithkent22 Год назад

Yea me too. Im 37 now and got into reading about cars when I was 10. Still got my early What Cars stashed in a box 😂. I didnt care for the supercars of the day I far preferred reading about the regular family saloons hatches and execs. I was a proper car geek. The high end 6cylinder models of most manufacturers family car ranges were always a treat to see as they were far rarer even back then. Rare but not impossible to see. Things like the 2.5 vectra cdx and 406 V6 etc etc. this was a time when the 3 series didnt totally dominate sales and not everybody could get easy credit for a bmw or merc. Now its gone full circle so that even that class of car - the premium sporty compact exec saloon finds itself threatened by ghastly crossovers and engines are now all hybrids or turbod 4s. Times change but still nice to remember.

@macky4074 Год назад

@Lifesloser nothing wrong with Turbo'd 4's, Renault 5 turbo & cosworths among a few rocking a turbo 4 back in the day. In fact if I remember rightly there was a craze of sticking turbo stickers on everything from hot hatches to hoovers and even Yo-Yos 😂

@philliprusson2645 Год назад

I had one from 2008 till 2017 and it was my baby I absolutely loved it, it was just stupid in so many ways but it’s flaws it what made it feel it had a personality, and that sound it made no matter how bad my day was it always put a smile on my face, it was my friend and was heartbroken when she had to go i have such fond memories of the vectra vxr, and always will despite it’s shortcomings.

@eljayr4669 Год назад

As a family man I had about 6 Cavaliers and Vectra’s but I didn’t like the third generation model. I bought an Alfa Romeo 156 instead. Unbelievably I had no problems with it and ran it for 9 years.

@stevehs4287 Год назад

I was seduced by the Alfa 156 when it was released and bought one brand new . It broke down on the drive home from the dealership on collection day and gave me nothing but trouble for 12 months until I sold it!

@eljayr4669 Год назад

@@stevehs4287 They did have a bad reputation but my brother also bought one and had no trouble with it. I still miss it.

@stevehs4287 Год назад

@@eljayr4669 I loved the car but mine was definitely a Friday afternoon build !

@MBLDN32 Год назад

That's the most comfortable he's ever looked in a car

@Ktmzqw Год назад

The 3 156 I owned were ridiculously reliable. Not perfect as all had exagereted suspension and tyre wear, but that's part of the chassis setup. Overall no issues.

@AWMJoeyjoejoe Год назад

I was very tempted by one of these once but the road tax is astronomical. £675 a year? Not a chance.

@Punisher9419 Год назад

Mk XKR is half that. Although it seems to have gone up this year. I assume road tax increase ever year? I thought I only paid £340 last year now it's £395.

@NathanSijpkes Год назад

Lol we pay thay every 2 or 3 months here even more, holland

@Hopgop1 Год назад

@@Punisher9419 Yeah increased this year. You get really shafted if your car is registered after about the middle of 06 and it's in the highest emissions band though.

@BigUriel Год назад

@@Punisher9419 Yes it's been going up almost every year that I can remember. Fucking scam is what it is.

@Punisher9419 Год назад

@@Hopgop1 Thankfully mine is a 2003, the later X150 cars are really expensive now to tax £695 I think. I feel really sorry for owners of those now even though they have a much better car. Granted you can get a 5.0 engien with 575 hp so there are some upsides but most are probably the normal 5.0 engines or the 4.2 like mine with a little over 400hp. The 400 hp or so that I have is more then enough for the public roads. I haven't ever thought once I needed more.

@robsmall6466 Год назад

"Insignia, when was the last time you saw one of those" Um..... all the time to be honest. They are quite a common sight on British roads

@Baron-Ortega Год назад

There's one on my neighbours drive lol

@DreamsOfGaruda Год назад

See them all the time if I think about it

@i.s.3458 Год назад

Really weird take from him, they're so common

@robsmall6466 Год назад

@@i.s.3458 I'm guessing he meant the Insignia VXR and it got lost in the edit maybe 🤷‍♂️

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Yes the VXR specifically was what I meant, though there is also a drought of Insignias around me. They've all been replaced with Mokkas or KIAs

@steveastin2684 Год назад

Couple of years ago I needed a banger to use for work after my other car died, only thing available was a 13 years old Vectra 1.9cdti that had been slightly modified and had more than the specified 150bhp £500 with 5months test it was like the crazy girl you mistakenly cop off with when it ran it was great, surprisingly fast pulled like a train and being an estate was huge inside, over the 4 months I owned it it basically tried bankrupting me, and when a brake line let go almost killed me but for what it was I really enjoyed it I can only imagine what the vxr was like mine was both the best and worst banger I ever had, and I'm actually considering saving up to get a decent example as a hobby car

@sleepercell9926 Год назад

2009 seems like yesterday, but when you see a Vauxhall from that year it always looks so old. Maybe its because it started in 2002 which is 21 years ago. It looks like something from the mid 90's

@staLkerhu Год назад

You have a really bad eye or memory if you honestly think it looks like a mid 90's car...

@joshuakhaos4451 Год назад

I was about to go into my last year of High school in 2009 lol. its insane to realize how long ago the 2000s is now. Even better, my current car in a 2009 mustang gt. Its been a really good car for the last 7 years

@sleepercell9926 Год назад

@@staLkerhu Its just the styling then maybe. It seems to have aged very badly when I compare it to cars of its age. E81 BMW or BMW 3 series or 2009 Ford Focus or Fiesta. I think it may have very American styling that just dates I think. That slab sided straight cut look that Cadillac had for a while maybe.

@GoldenCroc Год назад

@@sleepercell9926 Seems more like you dislike the styling, period. Thats fine, to each their own. But it doesnt look older than the model istelf is, or from another decade than it was. In fact, this is one of those cars that really scream of being exactly the age it is, the styling of it is extremely "early 2000", with the front, sides and kind of angular, upright headlights. You are right about some parts being cadillic-y, but those cars were also made in that exact period.

@leonbishop5183 Год назад

90’s was jellybean, round edges,Vectra had straight lines and unique arch to its roof.was launched to compete with mk3 mondeo from 2000 so definitely not 90’s👍

@paulmoor595 Год назад

James. I have to disagree about the performance comments. You are judging against modern day in a tired example.. As the boss of the Essex Police ANPR interceptors team back in the day circa 2009, we had an unmarked grey one of these. It always outperformed the, Scoobys Evos and BMW 330 petrol when they were in pursuits together..at the top end..In the real world driven flat out, the boys thought it was a missile !.. Good memories of it. It can be seen in action on Police Interceptors..

@geeteebloke1979 9 месяцев назад

I agree... when he says nippy but not devastatingly quick... nippy compared to what a 911 turbo ? mine goes like stink 😂

@Caridium Год назад

Loved the VXR-inspired b-roll segment! Would be a laugh to see a few of them randomly inserted in future reviews.

@bumbleo8993 Год назад

Never pretended to be something it wasn’t and all the better for it.. 👍

@SilkyBadger Год назад

Got the ex-police version of this with auto box and stage1, will never sell it. Just a great car under all conditions, from cruising round town to blasting the open road. PS 320BHP is s1 power, so defo mapped.

@VXRretro Год назад

Appreciate the comments and review you have made, but there is a few points i want to raise. It was available in auto, but why would you 😅. Next is that exhaust is definitely been modified, most likely had the rear boxes sleeved if the rest of the exhaust is standard making it look unmodified. Next is there is no torque steer on the standard open diff, it sounds like it has a LSD. I cant comment on the power as im no tuner but mines has been remapped to 300 on the dyno albeit it has 413lbft. I see there is a few comments on handling. Ive had 4 vectras and two of them were VXRs and have never had any issues with handling(apart from in the wet) but a well aligned car and good tyres makes all the difference. Ive since put Bilsteins on the car and that has made a big difference.

@pmr01 Год назад

i'm with you. far better car than people give it credit for. evo gave it a a good enough review in a group test with a subaru, evo and a 330i

@ElmoBHD Год назад

I had 2x Vectra C's. They were fantasic. both SRi. Star Silver. BTW: both built better than my current Tesla piece of crap.

@nuttylivett2713 Год назад

Got the Sri petrol on a 08 plate and in starlight silver love it

@badrolkane Год назад

You made laugh out loud with your drive by shots! It’s a cruise night car! And like a shooting a shooting star

@asifnoaman8978 Год назад

Fantastic review. I suggest finding a Astra GTC VXR Aero to review. Much more refined car and the best handling car vauxhall has made in a while

@Inazuma68 Год назад

I have a bit of a weak spot for that car. I owned an estate in black from new and it looked pretty good. Never had a car wirh more space. It weighted at 1630 kg, so it was quite fast. Traction was horrible but from 50 kmh in 3rd gear, it pulled strong. Once a R8 4.2 tried to overtake me (and my family…) and failed 😂. Maybe with the longer wheelbase (12cm) the ride was a bit better in the estate. Anyway on German Autobahn it was on the quicker side. Compared to my Insignia VXR, the newer car is more grown up with the 4x4 but 300 kg plus doesn‘t help from stand still. When I drive my 996 GT3 I remember what a light car means….

@seancooke7332 Год назад

My work Colleague had a 2006 one which was ex Manchester Traffic Branch so 310 bhp as opposed to 280 bhp and plenty of miles on it. Yes it could change lanes under hard acceleration and he never took it out in the rain, very unwise, he said. However, it sounded awesome, it was reliable, and very practical. Its replacement was a BMW M135. He still loved that Vectra though because with the police tune it was a very very fast car indeed.

@hartoz Год назад

My wife had one of these, we were living in Sydney, and the Australian version was a little different. In Australia Holden put an even bigger engine in it (3.6 no turbo), and it's the one car that my wife said was "actively trying to kill her" every time she drove it. Handling in corners was dangerous, unless you kept a neutral throttle in the corner. Torque steer was immense. Terrible car, we traded it in for a Holden Commodore (same engine but rear drive), which was heavier but ultimately faster in day-to-day driving (because it handled better).

@martinevans1256 Год назад

Had one of them brand new in 2007 had it 3 years and sold it with 12 k on the clock and still miss it today

@Inazuma68 Год назад

Same 👍

@marfrandema1884 Год назад

LOVE THIS THING!. I've seen only 1 in my life in switzerland. ULTRA rare car

@robsmall6466 Год назад

See them now and then in the UK. Normally in electric blue. The Astra and Corsa VXR are much more common though

@marfrandema1884 Год назад

@@robsmall6466 i believe between 500 and 1000 were made if not mistaken.

@robsmall6466 Год назад

@@marfrandema1884 Seems to be around the 1000 mark. The estate is a unicorn though. Always wanted a VXR but didn't get the chance unfortunately

@Inazuma68 Год назад

Ha en schwarze Kombi gha, nie en andere gse. Immer problemlos gloffe.

@aaronamarok 3 месяца назад

It's quite interesting just how different the Vectra is to my Saturn Aura, despite having the exact same face. Very good review!

@mynt253 Год назад

Insignias are really quite common here in Germany

@AntoniusTyas Год назад

Mr. Clarkson hated the Vectra, and the VXR got slated by him for chronic understeer. Now I usually tend to follow The Book of Clarksonius. But Vectra VXR is one of several case of which I went against said book. I love one in blue. The other case of me doing the blasphemy includes me being a 911 fan.

@Inazuma68 Год назад

I had one, drive now an Insignia VXR and a 996 GT3. I see your point 😊

@markymark-r Год назад

I love them. They’re terrible but that’s what makes them different. People talk about them, may well be for the wrong reasons, but they do get talked about. For that reason and their rarity…… future classic.

@colti98 Год назад

Ahhh Jay bless you..Doing a good job of trying to be kind to the old thing.This was a fairly typical example of Vauxhall never quite managing to compete with Ford for desirability...Though the Mondeo V6's were also going out of fashion at the time.

@bentullett6068 Год назад

The BTCC helped sell these cars being that Vauxhall ran these as the factory team cars with a lot of success. The same happened with the Astra VXR before this.

@dj_paultuk7052 Год назад

The engine was actually borrowed from the SAAB 9-3 Turbo X as GM owned SAAB at that time. As you say its a Holden V6, but it was SAAB that redesigned it for turbocharging.

@BigUriel Год назад

They didn't "redesign" it they just lowered the compression and slapped a turbo on it, stop trying to make Saab seem relevant.

@dj_paultuk7052 Год назад

@@BigUriel Shows how much you know then. The pistons are different, the conrods are different. Entirely new crank. And the webbing in the block around the mains is increased to give extra strength. Im an ex SAAB Master Tech and attended the introduction course for the TurboX.

@daniellissenburgh1584 Год назад

You could get the suspension upgraded for a small amount of money, then a remap would make it more fun, bare in mind the vxr's we around 8-10 grand cheaper than their competitors like fords RS's, and a top spec BMW would have been double the price!

@EdgyNumber1 Год назад

Great fun under acceleration but absolutely shocking in the bends, even with some fancy PS4S tyres.

@johnwebster6360 Год назад

Would love to see a review of the 24v Carlton please

@garside6425 Год назад

I currently own a 2009 estate vxr and find it handles fine, I've driven the length of the country on all kinds of roads and find it a nice drive. I had various performance cars in my past, subaru stis, m135i, r32, foucs st's, rs fiesta...list is endless...I really don't find the vectra bad at all, always puts a smile on my face when I jump in the drivers seat. Cracking all rounder if you ask me. I don't quite get how you praised the other vectra C then jumped on the same bandwagon as everyone else and slated the vxr, same engine, just slight more power in the vxr with added stability measures so how was it a worse drive than the other?

@weeevilswine Год назад

Maybe not worse to drive than the standard vectras, but he will be comparing it to the sportier offerings from bmw etc from the same time period since it’s a more powerful car, which I’d imagine it doesn’t compare greatly considering the price difference at the time

@MrRohanThomas Год назад

The person who drives it is what matters in handling, I've seen many people unable to adapt to a different vehicle for it's suitable handling characteristics and then shocked when someone else drives it way out their imagination

@darkchild130 Год назад

I bought my Z4 coupe based on your review and now you’re talking about a car I’ve been considering for my next daily for some time now. Why are you in my mind mate?

@JayEmmOnCars Год назад

Just don't look at that pot plant in your room too closely

@larssonk22 Год назад

Did the 5th Gear production team make that VXR advert? Feels like it could have been part of a review!

@thehumanoid6543 Год назад

First here lol. This car is fucking amazing. Back when vauxhall made some really good cars for the masses, not just "trendy" ev's, which can't be bought by anyone below 40. As someone who's below 20 and is now looking for a used car, I'm really short for options. I have 6 grand, I'm in LA and there is nothing much I can find. Miatas are all about 8, TSX is about 10, ford focus st's are also 10. The world is now making cars for 45 year old millenials who think ev's are the only way forward and that all cars should cost 50000 dollars and weigh more than hummer h1's. 2000's was a great decade for car enthusiasm:(

@baronvonjo1929 Год назад

Never been any affordable cars for us young folks. Even when the Ford Fiesta, Fit etc were here they were still unaffordable. Unless it's under 10k we can't afford it without taking a huge chunk outta savings.

@user-hc5si5tw5p Год назад

@@baronvonjo1929 there are boys u just got to look in the right places. Focus at mk2 mint low miler goes for 4 grand, Mazda mps 2.3 turbo can be had for 2 to 3k, look at fiesta sts the older ones and even motorcycles for big speed

@rekordi Год назад

That wobble or shake under acceleration can be inner cv joint. The slightest play here makes vectra feeling all broken.

@Envy701 4 месяца назад

Great cars. I only had the 1.8 petrol variant but I knew a few people in the Vectra C owners club who had the VXR. Had a few great rides in these. The best one had Bilstein B10's fitted (I believe) and was mapped and that handled so much better. It was a tad scary but much fun.

@gerbentvandeveen 9 месяцев назад

I am myself. Again looking for an Opel Vectra 2.5 V6 B caravan automatic. I got rid of mine. In 2018. With 32200 km on the odometer. 160000 Miles. Year of manufacture 1997. I have had this car for almost 8 years. And bought for €1000. And received €450 back for my Nissan Micra 1.3 SRI. 1998.

@RichieRouge206 Год назад

The sound is fantastic and sharing the drivetrain with the Saab 9-3 Aero. Torque steer is definately a big problem on these which is a shame. Shame it isn’t rear wheel drive. But still likeable for it’s unusual looks, rarity and one of those cars that appeals because it’s the underdog

@TheSimonhammond Год назад

I like the Vectra C especially the first gen with it's mk2 front and mk3 rear Cavalier styling. The whole point of owning a fast Vauxhall is it is ridiculous.

@matthewpotter8491 Год назад

Even when this car came out, I thought the design was dated. At the time I preferred the previous generation. Still do after all these years.

@gmain1977 Год назад

The Vectra offered performance for a cut price you got 280hp for under 20 grand. Problem is people by BMWs and Audis because of how it makes people seen to others(status) How can you compare an M3 whixh was like 50 grand to a car that costed like 20. When Top Gear tested this a BMW for bit more money had like 150hp 0.60 in like 9 or 10 seconds. Things Ford and Vauxhall have bot racer History Audi ,BMW and Mercedes do not. When I was 18 youth wanted GSI, GTE's Ford RSs etc etc now they want status cars on finance so people think they balling. This why American and JDM scene is by far the best. German scene is not nice. A table full of BMWs ,Audi , and Merc drivers and another table of JDM drivers I would sit on JDM table much better scene same with Muscle Hot Rod scene.

@psircos Год назад

The stalks and gear knob look the same as from my MkII astra merit, from 1995! This seems to be a case of taking an average engine and bolting on a turbo, without due care and attention. The 3.2busso, with roots in the 60s, managed 250hp on air. The BMWs were leagues ahead at the time. Someone correct me, but did the equivalent M3 not have 330hp from its 3.2 NA lump? Anyway, I did always like how they looked, the astra VXR too, had something about it which was easing to the eye. Understeer, particularly in the wet, was the order of the day though. I've seen a couple in a field, on a bend, in my time. Much like the fiat coupe 20v turbo! Turbo lag, turbo lag turbo lag....right, here's your 220hp all at once and, off the road you go 😂

@VXRretro Год назад

It was actually saab that tuned it. Its a holden engine the smallest displacement in the Alloytech range.

@dj_paultuk7052 Год назад

@@VXRretro SAAB redesigned the Holden engine to support Turbocharging, as the engine was originally "normally aspirated".

@user-ue6iv2rd1n Год назад

You can't compare it to an M3 the price difference was massive, even more so today. It made about what you'd expect from that engine, being a turbo engine you could always just turn the boost up and get around 300 anyway. I've got an e46 BMW from that era and the build quality is terrible, they haven't aged well at all. The driving position is rubbish too, steering wheel and pedals both misaligned in opposite directions to the seat.

@NickyLong89 Год назад

Always preferred the GSI to the vxr. That front bumper was 👌

@donaljamescaddye3805 Год назад

Glad that old girl got saved ! There was a massive cull on them Vectras up until recently - They are no Mondeo but ! The Mk3 Mondy ST220 is a great handling car in comparison - Ford really took it to Vauxhall at that time - No cars like them anymore - Save one today i say !

@iain4 Год назад

Ahh the golden GM days, now a sad shadow of itself under PSA / Stellantis ownership 😪. We will not see oddball cars like this again.

@waterzap99 Год назад

That's Chrysler

@jarokenny Год назад

my first car was Opel Vectra 1.7D..without power steering..I think nowadays no one would would accept live without it..

@MrFredscrap Год назад

@11:00, About the Insignia being slower, insignia was heavier *and* the boost for 1st and 2nd gear on the Insignia was limited because it exceeded the max torque of the transmission....

@jameswingrove7421 Год назад

I had a Saab 93 Sportwagon with the same engine as this. Mine had all the Hirsch performance bits fitted from factory including exhaust, suspension, brakes, and the all important ECU tune which gave it the same power as this VXR. I always felt it had a bit more than the quoted 280 horse power and 295 torque. A dyno run proved that at 304bhp and 312 torque. Great car, still miss it.

@Battery-Powered Год назад

For some reason there is no single Vauxhall/ Opel out there that I find in any way attractive to buy....

@exgtt2061 Год назад

Not even Monaro V8 or VX 220t or Senator 24v manual?

@robsmall6466 Год назад

@@exgtt2061 Or Lotus Carlton

@Battery-Powered Год назад

@@exgtt2061 To be fair the way the exterior design of the Monaro is what I don't like and performance for a 6L. isn't IMO quite good. Then the VX 220t is a great suggestion but for the money I'd rather have Lotus Elise

@Lukesummers94 Год назад

The vauxhaull style shot bit made laugh, great video!

@johnmusk7007 Год назад

Cant see how you can compare to a 335i when they were nearly 10 grand more expensive in 2008/2009

@jefferysmith3930 Год назад

If you really want to something tragic, look up the US variant: the Saturn L series. Why they didn’t just bring it over as is, I’ll never know

@snbala Год назад

I know George really well, he loves his cars. This is a bit of a left field choice I guess, I think it got a lot of stick from Clarksons review and people just didn’t warm to it or give it a chance, plus the VXR badge does attract the wrong crowd. I don’t see these on the roads, nor the Insignia VXR, no wonder Vauxhall discontinued it.

@V6weeks Год назад

The evo mag review I have here says it “split the two hardest rally wannabes down the middle “ being the evo and Imprezza

@losslessification Год назад

To be fair to Vaux interiors of that era, they aren't the best looking, and the control weights of everything is a bit excessive. But, all the materials do wear pretty well, especially the seat fabrics.

@keithnewton8981 Год назад

These vxrs and other versions all seemed to have much lower offical bhp than in reality the v6 twin easily had 300bhp as standard. I had several vectra c all where great car my first was 2.2 diesel turbo auto that had a little sticker by the headlight know saying this car is fitted with more options than stated . It was an elegance trim press car that dad got at 6 weeks old as he worked for Vauxhall I need a auto car he told his boss and this car appeared heavy discounted and it was lovely I feel in love with the wood trim the velour seating in sand beige two tone dash and so well put together sat nav cd cassette, dab, hard drive for music adaptive suspension tri zone climate su roof I loved that car in in three year I cover 150k not one issue. Everyone who travelled in could not believe it was a Vauxhall friends with audi A4 even converted it was the dot dash this meant the moulding had to be perfect vauxhall opel really did build a good car it was safe and boring but so are bmw and mercedes.

@garethshaw5165 11 месяцев назад

My mate had one and it shat it’s gearbox. After some haggling with the local Vauxhall dealership they eventually replaced after claiming it had been driven too hard. About 6 weeks later the car never gave him any more hassle after somebody broken into the house stole the keys and off it went into the night never to be seen again

@MrWilliam.Stewart Год назад

MPG, ah, so blessed am I to have the metric system. That said, wheels have hung on to the fingers and foots measurement ways, an that seems to work ok.

@goose4150 Год назад

To me the massive mistake has been offering it in only Fwd variant, especially when you consider that the other cars on that platform had an awd version, in particular Saab

@BigUriel Год назад

There's also the thing about manufacturers in the late 2000s thinking it was a good idea to make FWD cars with 250hp+ V6 engines and not even a limited slip diff.

@ProMilkshake Год назад

The "flatness" fron 3K rpm is likely down to the standard factory engine mapping. Those engines are tuned to have very flat torque. Presumably to tame the torque steer and save gearboxes.

@rougeyrogue Год назад

Had one of these on test at work when they were new. Starting it up in the downstairs car park set all the other car alarms off 😂

@larssonk22 Год назад

I recently got a GTC VXR, it's better than I imagined it would be (having previously owned a modified MK5). No ridiculous burble tune from factory! Oh yes the torque steer is hilarious but the car is quite predictable so it's easy to control. Only thing I dislike is the heavy clutch makes slow traffic more like a gym session.

@pauldunne3069 Год назад

I have a 2007 one and I do think by the sound of it that the back boxes are sleeved there a very quiet car standard it looks standard from outside

@Wetthewhistle 6 дней назад

They were available as an automatic but only sold around 20 odd I’m sure. Also it definitely doesn’t sound standard far too throaty. Suspension is too low to be standard. If it’s sitting at 320bhp then it’s definitely got a stage 1 remap on it.

@omarf2406 Год назад

10:54 The insignia is significantly heavier. That might explain it.

@Inazuma68 Год назад

True had the Vectra and now the Insignia. It is plus 300 kg and the drivetrain consuming too much power. Anyway love both of them, they never let you down

@MrJOlle007 Год назад

Nice vid, but i must say, i see multiple Insignias every day... very popular car

@captgutter Год назад

I liked the idea of the VXR badged stuff like the Astra and Zafira but with the Vectra, that was beyond polishing a turd. The Vectra was second rate by miles, behind Mondeo, never mind anything German. The VXR8 and Monaro on the other hand. They got hairs on the back of my neck up.

@johnny6476 11 месяцев назад

The mondeo is a boring car, I had a vectra Sri for 5 years absolutely loved it. I would love the VXR someday wanted one of them for years, It’ll be a great weekend car.

@asifnoaman8978 10 месяцев назад

the Mondeo looked hideous

@davehudson6279 Год назад

Interesting vid - I'm actually an owner of one also in black, 76XXX miles. Just a minor correction - you could actually get the VXR with automatic transmission, although almost none were sold. Someone could confirm, but I think it was possibly single figures. Crazy.

@thomasshepard6030 Год назад

My brother had one in automatic it was a cracking colour light blue metallic can’t remember the actual name I loved driving it I had the insignia VXR 2.8 4WD manual I preferred driving the vectra auto

@CynicalBastard511 Год назад

Vauxhall sold 1.8 million Vectras from 1995 to 2008. There are 173,000 Vauxhall Vectras remaining on British roads in 2023.

@heiner71 Год назад

Likely not all of them are the VXR model.

@CynicalBastard511 Год назад

@@heiner71 Definitely not. Most of them are SRi CDTI 150.

@AWMJoeyjoejoe Год назад

That's a pretty bad attrition rate there. Less than 10% remaining

@CynicalBastard511 Год назад

@@AWMJoeyjoejoe They weren't reliable and they were worthless after just 6 years. And unlike the Carlton, which had a Lotus version, the Vectra never had any future classic high performance version. Sure there were the SRi 2.5 V6 Super Touring, the GSI 2.5 and 2.6 V6, the GSI 3.2 V6 and the VXR, but they nowhere near in the same league as the Lotus Carlton. Even the Calibra and Cavalier 4x4 Turbo are becoming more valuable classics than any sports version of the Vectra.

@euanweir2464 Год назад

The VXR was available with a automatic transmission, just very rare. I belive only 20 or so where sold in the uk. Also I can categorically say that that exhaust is not standard. I also own a vectra vxr and they're deadly quiet with a standard exhaust. The one in the video sounds the same as mine which has a middle silencer removed and the back boxes sleeved. The wheels on the video car are also non standard.

@markknoxx7164 Год назад

My local boys in blue were given two of those vxrs and wrote them both of in some spectacular style with in a month of them joining there fleet 😅😅😅😅

@deaks25 Год назад

Even back in the day when the Vectra VXR was new I thought Vauxhall got a bit carried away from the success of the Astra VXR, which was apparently also a cheap-and-cheerful, lairy torque-steering nut-job, and I think Vauxhall thought all they had to do was stuff a mad engine into the Vectra, put it on sale at a lower price-point job done. When actually things like the Mazda 6 MPS, ST220, 335i, S4, even arguably the V6 Peugeot 407 were all better one way or another while a 4-door hatchback was never going to appeal enough to the yobo-culture the Astra VXR found so much success with. I think this is destined to be one of those cars that is beloved by VXR fans but will end up forgotten in general. Fair play to the owner for bringing it out, I'd be a little nervous if my car was something of a driving project and then plastering it on ye-olde RU-vid for the world to slate its condition.

@channex8179 Год назад

I have never liked Vauxhalls and as a mechanic I should have known not to touch one, But against my better judgement I went and bought a new facelift Corsa D VXR as i liked the look of them and those Recaros CS Sportsters were amazing, What a mistake that was!!!! It was twitchy, understeered like mad and the torque steer was of the chart not to mention ticking time bomb on cylinder 4. I should have bought the Clio RS200 which was the other car I was looking at the time. Luckily my wife crashed it and I was payed out and Bought a Abarth 500 Competizione spent the money I had left over on modding it and ended up with a 250bhp pocket monster!

@Mouse2113 Год назад

Flawed but I like it, lovely noise too

@kingk2235 Год назад

Exhaust isn't standard sounds like a box or two has been removed, wheels aren't standard they are from the Insignia VXR depending on size.

@jimmyfarley5581 Год назад

I did like your comment about the odd pop and crack on a well executed upshift. Those were the days! Days when you worked for the pops and cracks. Modern cars sound like they're being driven flat out on a rally stage when looking for a parking space in an Asda carpark. So false and fake. So damn annoying.

@KarlGaff Месяц назад

Although they never come as automatic and I thought that too. There is 2 Vauxhall Vectras VXRs on auto trader right now that are automatic and I was thinking to myself, how is there 2 all of sudden when I've never even seen one and thought they never existed😂😂

@quickreviewchannel6931 Год назад

Pls do a review on a Mazda 6 mps! They are amazing! 4 wheel drive with 260bhp and low drag of 0.29 make it a fasty even though it’s slightly fatty.

@rotoehu9266 Год назад

The real batshit crazy was when Mazda put that drivetrain into the CX7 crossover. Wasn’t uncommon to see 18mpg around town, and I once saw 12mpg after a bit of a blast on some good twisties…

@RotrexfezST 5 месяцев назад

I had a gen 1 3 mps,which was a good car. The 6 has many flaws over the 3 which has quite a few. Fragile cars sadly

@andyshank Год назад

that number plate is unforgivable

@David_Owsnett Год назад

I still prefer my V6 Turbo automatic. This is too loud. I like understatement.

@stuartcasbeard3689 9 месяцев назад

The Vectra VXR was a rare car when new. If you want a future classic to invest in…. Buy a good low mileage example with the full leather option and tuck it away for ten years. Trust me……you will be sitting on a nice little earner 👍🏻

@brxn538 Год назад

I have a 2.0 z20net vectra they are the ones to get better engines than vxr👌

@katyg3873 Год назад

If you can get home if one, do the omega v6. The 3.0 mv6 ex police ones are surprisingly rapid.

@thedetailingdoctor5746 Год назад

The ultimate chav wagon no surprise I kind of like them is it 😂 not sure I’d like the understeer though !

@sputumtube Год назад

When Jeremy Clarkson reviewed it (along with an ST220 Mondeo), I recall him saying the understeer was 'catastrophic'..! Lol.. ;)

@egosummagna3338 Год назад

@@sputumtube put any fwd car with decent power on full lock, plant your foot to the floor and they all understeer badly, even the ST220. The review was a farce. The ST220 did ride better though.

@staLkerhu Год назад

Jay, this is one of the cars, which poor eastern europeans with fresh licence want to buy to get something, which does not have an angry 4 banger. Jaguar X-Type, S-Type, Opel Vectra VXR, Ford Cougar, Mondeo ST220, Volvo S40, S60, V50, C30. These are the cars which come to mind, when someone with no money desperately wants something "different" or "more", than the boring, 1.4-1.6L economy car of the parents... (there is a reason why I left out BMW and Mercedes)

@RotrexfezST 5 месяцев назад

Interested in doing a meriva Vxr? This era of vauxhall was wicked. The stuff they did 😂

@wpjohn91 Год назад

I had an astra with the adaptive dampners. They went pop easily and cost a fortune to replace

@Stevie-disciplesOfSin Год назад

Never mentioned its party piece, its top speed

@Toolsandtech868 Год назад

They did make some of the vectra vxr in auto from late 2009 at the end of the run of the vectra c it wasn't many of them

@antonrouse1196 Год назад

I always wanted one of these but in the vxr blue

@andymiller8877 Год назад

Sounds like it's had the very large centre box removed from the exhaust.

@dunnockdan Год назад

Appreciate what it is, but would make it completely OEM as possible, i.e (as it left the factory) with the styling etc

@wolf-RC87 Год назад

My father owned a gts vectra allmost new and after 3 years he changed it for vw passat 2006. This vectra is very bad in everyway, this is the car you cant keep for long time cause it will fall appart before. But the worst part is the very bad behavior on bad roads. On bumpi roads if you push it you realise that the wheels dont follow the ground like they should ,traction control is working all the time even on strait line. You can feel the steering getting lighter all the time. Its scary!! But Jayemm said it all defenetly its a car to avoid cause everthing is bad.

@rjbiker66 Год назад

Strange that Holden never used this engine in any of their local cars. They stuck to the normally aspirated 3.6L V6, and perhaps that's what they should have stuck in the VXR

@nelsonclub7722 Год назад

The Vectra got a bad name for good reason and no amount of VXR'ing can ever change that. When I worked for Channel Five Television I crashed their Mondeo twice in the same day, sorry C5, it wasn't my fault, it never is, but Eurodollar who provided the cars had me in a spanking brand new Vectra within an hour of the totalled Mondy, and I immediately hated it for all of the reasons I should have hated it as a fully paid up member of the Petrolhead Society and all out car guy, and yet, and yet, there was a little quirky something that I can't quite put my finger on which made it good enough to just about live with. It wasn't as fast as the Mondy, the seats were hard and uncomfortable and I could never get them right, it steered like a cow, and rode over bumps like a rodeo rider on full mad bull mode, but I still somehow managed to find myself liking it and to this day don't know why.

@johang7498 Год назад

Perhaps it's because deep down you realised Petrolhead Society had some narrow views on what you should and shouldn't like ... 😀

@nelsonclub7722 Год назад

@@johang7498 Yeah I get you; it truly was a terrible car in every way - buuuut it had a 'something' which I can't quite describe - I think it was the engine - it did make a decent noise perhaps that was it - revved like billyoh