New HSV astra

[CANYONERO]

if you had the money and wanted to get into the pocket rocket cars would you consider the new astra VXR HSV over similar cars in its class eg subaru wrx? golf GTI or mabey EVO? i know its rice but i think it looks hot.

[vy_storm]

Thread moved to the polls section....

[MYSS94]

I voted definately!

I think it would be cool to have something different!

[Shortstuff]

How about an 'I like it, but i'd rather have a Golf GTI' section for the poll?

[Streetvision]

I don't know, i guess i would.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Of course...its HSV!

19 inch rims! The interior is very sweet as well! Plus its very quick! Not bad for $43,000 or whatever it costs.

Only downside is the rear exhaust. An exhaust in the centre rear doesnt do it for me.

[VRFURY]

i'd take a hsv astra, very hot little car and would definately be quicker than my vl haha

[vy_storm]

The hot hatch section of the market is heating up. Not sure if I would rather a ford focus XR5 though, if only they made them in a different colour.

[EvoVIIIJDM]

i think its hot. I would definately consider it if i was up for a pocket rocket.

[NickVR]

its an awesome little car. definately buy one if going for a pocket rocket. plus it's a HSV. now to find the other four cylinders .

[TheForgotten]

welll.... technically, it's not a HSV, it's a vauxhall (spelling)\My g/f wants one, but I'd take a mazda3 MPS

[1991_Vn2nV]

welll.... technically, it's not a HSV, it's a vauxhall (spelling)\My g/f wants one, but I'd take a mazda3 MPS

Thats like saying a barina, astra, vectra, viva etc. etc. arent Holden, they're opel or daewoo or whatever.

Its not just re-badged as a HSV, its modified by HSV. Suspension and a few other things are HSV jobs, not Vauxhall.

[bangers]

i think i'd still rather the turbo focus. it's a tough call.

[bangers]

no i'd definately go the turbo focus. i just looked at both vehicles online. the focus has 5 cylinders, not 4 like the astra. the dash on the focus isn't great but its not poxy like the astra. people are going to buy the astra just because its HSV enhanced. pity, because the focus seems the better car.

[Shortstuff]

Thats like saying a barina, astra, vectra, viva etc. etc. arent Holden, they're opel or daewoo or whatever.

Its not just re-badged as a HSV, its modified by HSV. Suspension and a few other things are HSV jobs, not Vauxhall.

I'd be interested to find out the exact differences between the aussie and european models, but I can't really see the need for it to be altered at all from european spec as it was very well set up already. The power figures are pretty much the same too, so it leaves me wondering about HSV's involvement.

Edit:Just checked and on HSV and VXR websites the suspension is quoted as being 'VXR lowered and uprated suspension' on both sites. Power and performance figures are also identical. I really can't see any differences between euro and aussie models except the 19" wheels are optional in europe and standard out here. And the brake calipers are blue on european models.

[1991_Vn2nV]

I'd be interested to find out the exact differences between the aussie and european models, but I can't really see the need for it to be altered at all from european spec as it was very well set up already. The power figures are pretty much the same too, so it leaves me wondering about HSV's involvement.

Edit:Just checked and on HSV and VXR websites the suspension is quoted as being 'VXR lowered and uprated suspension' on both sites. Power and performance figures are also identical. I really can't see any differences between euro and aussie models except the 19" wheels are optional in europe and standard out here. And the brake calipers are blue on european models.

HSV change the suspension to suit Australian conditions, just how Holden change the suspension on the viva etc to suit Australian conditions.

[TheForgotten]

Thats like saying a barina, astra, vectra, viva etc. etc. arent Holden, they're opel or daewoo or whatever.

Its not just re-badged as a HSV, its modified by HSV. Suspension and a few other things are HSV jobs, not Vauxhall.

that's sorta where I was coming from. saying don't go gooey at the knees for a car just coz it's got a badge on it. plus, the focus XR5 and 3MPS are both cheaper and considerable more powerful, but neither have the "bling" of the astra

[commod8]

i like wrx's (that haven't been ruined by dumb****s who chuck on ugly body kits) don't really like the lancer evos, **** the focus xr5 i hate it, mazda SP23 is nice, hate the vw golfs, so it's out of the wrx, sp23, and the astra (if i were to buy a pocket rocket) i'd definetly choose the astra vxr, i like it.
oh and apparently the brakes on the HSV version of this astra are slightly better than the ones that the Vauxhall version has (not 100% sure on this)

[commod8]

i also like the vectra vxr's man! they are nice, too bad HSV hasn't brought them over

[Shortstuff]

Yeah, the Vectra VXR's are really nice. I'm surprised the facelifted version of the Vectra isn't out here yet though.

[fourstar82]

Thats because Holden are dropping the Vectra seeing as its been a sales flop.

[Shortstuff]

Ah, ok. They should have brought the diesel Vectras out here. Really nice engines. Powerful and very fuel economic too. Even driving them hard you struggle to get the consumption over 7 or 8 litres per 100 km.

[commod8]

ah that's a shame, i would've loved to have seen vectra vxr's on aussie roads, ah well.

[mattman]

Top gear road tested a Vectra VXR.. or whatever they had there (turbo Vectra, basically).. and it was a heap! It was the undisputed king of understeer, it's almost funny how bad it was. Should find a clip of it and link it up

Edit - here's a small part of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKfhxsc2iYs

[Shortstuff]

It does look bad! It's funny how diffrent reviews give completely opposite verdicts on it. Evo magazine wrote that it was a match for the WRX and EVO 9, and also raved about it's balanced predictable handling! Mind you, I don't think Jeremy Clarkson has ever said a positive word about ANY Vectra, so his opinion is no surprise really.

If you search for Vectra VXR evo group test on Google.co.uk it brings the Evo article up, but I can't link it as it then asks you to register before reading the article.