djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
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Anyone got any experience of them?
They are one of the things I am considering to get soon...
Whether it is the 255 or 280PS model doesn't really bother me - I'd be getting it mapped and they map to the same it seems, only downside I can think of about the 255 instead of the 280 is that it wouldn't come with the improved suspension setup.
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LeeM
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Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
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isnt road tax obscene?
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corsa_breeze88
Member
Registered: 12th Jan 11
User status: Offline
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the power steering pump gets noisey even tho the fluid level is the slightest bit below the mark, have to keep the level at the top exact all the time, common problem, expensive car to run for tax and petrol, 280 even with the upgraded suspension doesnt handle great, coilovers with adjustable dampers are needed, they dont have good traction off the mark either and they go threw tyres rightly
[Edited on 14-09-2011 by corsa_breeze88]
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by LeeM
isnt road tax obscene?
Meh, thats fine 
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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I like them and they are exceptional VFM. Evo think they are good, meant to be a missile in a straight line and the revised edition is meant to be quite a good setup if you can see past the clarkson reviews.
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harrisp
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Registered: 15th Dec 07
Location: Derbyshire
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How long until someone who has learnt everything they know about cars from top gear to come along and tell you how shit they are
I'm a big fan of them, seem a very rare sight though.
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LeeM
Member
Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
User status: Offline
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you do seem to be getting a lot for your money with these now. if running costs arent an issue then go for it
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deanmcreynolds26
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Registered: 15th Sep 03
Location: E46 //M3
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i took one out for a test drive last week and was impressed with it, they just offered me a trade in i wasnt happy with so left it..
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Twiggy
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Registered: 15th Oct 04
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I alway think about the understeer burn outs Mr C was doing on topgear.
But if you went into a corner too fast in a powerfull FWD it will do the same.....
Want one!
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Corsa_Sport21
Member
Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
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They also pulled the TC fuse when JC drove it.What they didn't realise was that the fuse also powered the IDS suspension.So with the fuse pulled, the IDS was innactive.
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richc
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Registered: 24th Mar 07
Location: Ilkeston
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Corsa_Sport21
They also pulled the TC fuse when JC drove it.What they didn't realise was that the fuse also powered the IDS suspension.So with the fuse pulled, the IDS was innactive.
How did you find that out?
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AshWatson
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Registered: 18th Jun 10
Location: West Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Corsa_Sport21
They also pulled the TC fuse when JC drove it.What they didn't realise was that the fuse also powered the IDS suspension.So with the fuse pulled, the IDS was innactive.
i also heard this somewhere ^ apparently they did a similar thing with the astra VXR too, or might have been the astra some1 told me they did it to lol
either way the astra did exact same understeer burnouts as mentioned by twiggy but as said why would you have throttle wide open and about half lock steering on ? lol FWD and high power any car would do it i imagine ?
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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The Astra VXR they drove had SRi suspension setup, Top Gear asked Vauxhall for an Astra VXR but Vauxhall wasn't ready and Top Gear said if you don't get us a VXR for this feature we won't be featuring the Astra VXR anytime soon so here is your chance.
Vauxhall told them that it wasn't the finished article and Top Gear said it would be mentioned but suprise suprise it wasn't.
This information above has come first hand from Stuart Harris (VXR Brand Manager)
[Edited on 15-09-2011 by Ojc]
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
User status: Offline
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cry baby
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Jimbothebarbarian
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 07
Location: Cumbria..........drunk..
User status: Offline
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I've had one for just over two years. Got it from new and it's the estate version. I've got a wife two 'ickle kids and a big ass dog.
What can I tell you, well, service costs are pretty cheap my main dealer services have never been above £200 it's a vectra after all. Check it's had the hand brake and header tank recalls done. Check the alloys as they crack on the inside edge. I just fucked them off for after market ones as I've had three crack and the wheel and tyre are about £500 to replace each time.
Tax £445 tyres about £170 for 235/35/19 contisport 3's each you can get others makes for about a ton a corner. Brakes pads about £200 fitted at dealer or £30 from camskill and DIY front disks £200ish. MPG about town low 20's on a motorway run low to mid 30's kicking it's cunt in 10 or 11
You don't really hear of any issues and seem to have a pretty solid engine with very very very few known issues. The odd coilpack or set of plugs so unless you're dead unlucky they appear pretty much bombproof (watch mine blow up tomorrow!) You hear the odd clutch going due to remaps but if you drive with a bit of respect they seem quite a solid old bus.
My opinion is it's the best car I've ever had. Go for holidays with wife and kids and it munches the miles in comfort. When you giving it beans there isn't a great deal you can't live with most cars you can sack off no problem and you'd be amazed at how well they handle. Forget Mr Clarkson as mentioned the fuses had been pulled. How do I and others know? You can't fully switch off the TC and IDS system unless you pull fuses or in other words you can't smoke the tyres like he did unless you pull the fuses the car won't let you! I've done evo's, scooby's various BMW's, Audi's even a Focus RS. Mine hasn't been mapped as I'm still under Vauxhall warranty and to be honest I haven't felt the need yet but by all accounts mapped ones are even more fun.
They aint bad to run but tax insurance are a bit steep but then again 280bhp car was never going to be good. They only made 1001 cars and 134 of them are estates so they're pretty rare to boot. There is some proper good ones out there if you look..
I'll shut up now but I hope my little rabble is of some use! 
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SportBoy
Member
Registered: 5th Oct 01
Location: Retford, Nottinghamshire
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im attempting to ditch the corsa and corolla to buy one of these ... only thing that apeals to me atm for some reason .280 or 255 im not fussed as i plan on a remap too
dont mind what colour it is either but not really wanting a red one alltho tbh they seem the rarest.
also which type wheels tend to crack? as they seem to have 2 types, one i belive to be a factory upgrade?
[Edited on 15-09-2011 by SportBoy]
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Corsa_Sport21
Member
Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
User status: Offline
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Red 1 would get my vote, don't think ive ever seen a red 1 on the road.
The 19" Snowflakes are soft as shit.
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Jimbothebarbarian
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 07
Location: Cumbria..........drunk..
User status: Offline
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Both the famous snowflake and the multispoke versions in 19" variations crack. I don't know about the 18" snowflakes as nobody I know has them..
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Jambo
Member
Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
User status: Offline
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Red ones look fantastic.
Pics of your bus?
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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Excellent.
Cheers for the ownership review!
Running costs aren't a massive problem, it won't be my daily driver as I have another car with a free fuel supply that gets used most, it'll mainly be for my weekend use etc.
Wasn't aware of the wheel issue though, thanks for that heads up!
I'm hoping to go for one at the end of the month - Insurance quotes are so far quite promising (3-figures) so best strike while the iron is hot.
I ideally want a Silver one, and I'm still not decided between a Hatch or Estate, will probably just go for whichever is the right money when I go for the purchase
However, I have also been considering a Mk4 Astra GSi - although I know it isn't really a comparison compared to the Vec VXR, which keeps drawing me back to the bus..
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Jimbothebarbarian
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 07
Location: Cumbria..........drunk..
User status: Offline
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There is a bloke selling a fooking mint one on pistonheads an estate, fully loaded, quaiffe ATB diff, AP nutter bastard brakes, mapped. The full shabang. Spare wheels and orig brakes. For about 8.5k. It's a weapon.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Jimbothebarbarian
There is a bloke selling a fooking mint one on pistonheads an estate, fully loaded, quaiffe ATB diff, AP nutter bastard brakes, mapped. The full shabang. Spare wheels and orig brakes. For about 8.5k. It's a weapon.
Seen that - it's a beast indeed!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3210943.htm
£8,750 - BARGAIN.
If it's there at the end of the month, which I doubt, then I may consider that one...
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Jimbothebarbarian
Member
Registered: 19th Apr 07
Location: Cumbria..........drunk..
User status: Offline
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TBH the guy is a pure fanatic. If I was in the market for one I'd buy that in heartbeat. No matter what the cost he pays it. Fucking guys got OCD when it comes to his car
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bigron1988
Member
Registered: 29th Aug 09
Location: Southport, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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had my 19inch snowflakes welded 5 times now , keep meaning to buy some more wheels lol
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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Sounds like I best budget for a set of spare Alloys too then...
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