Dom's Astra VXR & Corsa D SRi - Saxperience

Dom · 18th August 2013, 23:21

Hello again Sax-P!

I'm back with two new toys, this place has changed since last year with plenty of new faces. As some will know my old projects;

The Low Milage Yellow 106 GTi which started out drastically different..

The BMW that had battled through a court case, and won..

After the headache and heartache the BMW put me through, I decided it wasn't worth the risk of keeping it. At the age of 20, I wonder why I bought a Diesel Automatic, I always felt like I had something sporty and a project missing. It sold for a stupidly low trade in price, if you see BM58 DOM or WF58 HVU, do not buy it. It has cracked alloys, again.

As a few of the locals on here know, I work my nuts off in regards to hours at work, so I treated myself. A trip to Evans Halshaw Vauxhall later, I somehow came out with two cars, one as a present my lovely other half and an animal toy for me!

So here they both are;

The Corsa is a lovely smooth drive to be quite honest, and I like driving it myself. Its the 1.4 SRi, low on power at the low rev's, but pulls quite well on motorways. It sits at 100mph without rattles and feels quite sturdy inside. 62 plate that had done sub 5k miles, its quite a minter tbf. Today it got its first clean, wash and wax only just to keep the better half happy. Already starting to show the dreaded swirl marks from its previous owner taking it to the polish one too many times!

The Astra VXR is my little toy, nothing better than jumping out of the work van and into a little rocket. Oh how I've missed the power! Completely standard example, but its proving to be a right bastard paintwork wise as I noticed today. I'll elaborate on that a bit more in a second. Again today this one got its treatment, and found some annoying things, thanks vauxhall.

Full Leather interior too, quite rare on a VXR from what I've heard;

As I said, the paintwork problem, I didn't notice this when I collected the car, you win some, you lose some. It'll get sorted once the time and money becomes freely available, until then, its a 5 year old car that'll only devalue more.

Modifying wise, the VXR will be going heavily down that route. I hope to make a number of tweeks and changes and smash through the 350bhp mark before the end of next year. Although saving for a house at the same time will be a struggle.

Comments and criticism welcome as per!

PS. Ross, trade you a go on my other half for that machine polisher you've got.

smiith · 18th August 2013, 23:32

Smoking is bad for you Dom.

VXR's are cool though! Shame about the scuff, but at least its no where noticeable!

LSOfreak · 19th August 2013, 00:05

can i ask, why the corsa?? surely that must be so dull and depressing to drive knowing that you can drive the vxr?

love the astra though (not the corsa lol)

Dom · 19th August 2013, 06:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiith

Smoking is bad for you Dom.

VXR's are cool though! Shame about the scuff, but at least its no where noticeable!

I now only smoke 10 cigs a week, compared to the 20 a day before

smoking is a waste of money and life.

Cheers, yeah luckily enough the rest of the bodywork only needs a polish and/or a filler pen on the stone chips. It'll get sorted eventually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSOfreak

can i ask, why the corsa?? surely that must be so dull and depressing to drive knowing that you can drive the vxr?

love the astra though (not the corsa lol)

The Corsa is mainly for my mrs, as a present for her, but for me to run to the shops and back in if need be.

LSOfreak · 19th August 2013, 11:32

oh.. i thought the mrs bought it for you lol

Jay_ · 19th August 2013, 18:09

I hope you don't smoke in the car

VXR looks lovely, brave buying the GF a car at such a price though!

jeffchiz · 19th August 2013, 18:23

i gave my gf my p reg 1.1 and thought i was generous ha

Dom · 19th August 2013, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSOfreak

oh.. i thought the mrs bought it for you lol

Lol like she would ever be that nice to me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay_

I hope you don't smoke in the car

VXR looks lovely, brave buying the GF a car at such a price though!

Nope, no smoking car, it will remain clean. Hopefully.

Maybe.

I'll try.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffchiz

i gave my gf my p reg 1.1 and thought i was generous ha

Tbh, my original choice was a 1.4 quicksilver until I thought about the long nights repairing its problems after work. So I guess the warranty and safety pulled me into buying it.

jeffchiz · 19th August 2013, 21:45

without trying to be nosey im guessing you got both cars for not much more than the price of the bmw? just did a little search and one 58 plate 320d seems just a little less than a '12 1.4 sri and the '08 vxr

but then again you did buy them from a dealer and you said you didnt get much for the bmw.. so my guestimates could be well out lol

Dom · 19th August 2013, 22:51

Well, well out my friend. I got 10.1k for the BMW. The VXR was £9k in total and the Corsa finished up near the £9.8k mark. I wish I got more from the BMW, something near the £12k was my original hopes.

It's dealer prices but also a main dealers warranty on both.

weve33 · 20th August 2013, 19:39

Love the vxr, I've had 2 of these both which was tuned by Courtney sports! Love them

Lewis · 20th August 2013, 21:57

Love the VXR, Ouch! on the prices though. Surely the VXR would have been a better private buy, and the Corsa on lease/finance like every bugger else.

Watching closely though

Stefan_Wood · 21st August 2013, 21:48

Pshhhh, Another diastra

MJ05LLY · 22nd August 2013, 06:54

Dom

Your now my twin!!!
Full leather is very rare in the normal VXR!

I've got a machine polisher sat in garage, let me know if you struggle to get hold of one.

350bhp though, you'll need to change turbo, even the hybrids don't push 350. Your looking at Garrett or Loba turbo upgrade. Hybrid your turbo with a few mods and 320/330 is achievable with plenty of torque.

Also if you think it's quick now, just a map and its so much different to drive!

Quite a few VXR owners on here now, Paul, Moxy, Myself, you, and am sure there is someone else!

Also save some penny's for a rainy day just in case your gearbox wants to be a pain!

JAGVTS · 23rd August 2013, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Dom

Your now my twin!!!
Full leather is very rare in the normal VXR!

I've got a machine polisher sat in garage, let me know if you struggle to get hold of one.

350bhp though, you'll need to change turbo, even the hybrids don't push 350. Your looking at Garrett or Loba turbo upgrade. Hybrid your turbo with a few mods and 320/330 is achievable with plenty of torque.

Also if you think it's quick now, just a map and its so much different to drive!

Quite a few VXR owners on here now, Paul, Moxy, Myself, you, and am sure there is someone else!

Also save some penny's for a rainy day just in case your gearbox wants to be a pain!

Yeah me

love mine! Oh and mine has full heated leather recaro's

Dom · 11th November 2013, 20:40

Wehey I'm back with updates..

Not so good ones though..

The VXR has been back and forth to Vauxhall, firstly to sort out some issues with the bodywork, which were touched up to "Vauxhalls high standards" which is also known as everyone elses low standards.

All was repaired, done and dusted. Then we had the Brake problem, took back yet again, new brakes fitted, Vauxhall agreed they should have been done before sale. Hmm.

Engine fault, one after the other. Coilpack, spark plugs and a list of other sensors to sort, all got done under the warranty, after a battle that is.

Finally, to add to my woes, after the car being in and out for weeks and weeks, the Alternator finally died, days before the 3 month warranty was up. Needless to say, the VXR was 'dumped' on their forecourt. Grrr, never buy a Vauxhall ladies and gents, the customer service is below par (comparing to VW's and BMW's for example), the cars are not very well built neither.

Ps. Anyone thinks I'm being pedantic, far from it. The car has done less than 500 miles since buying it, and its not hammered at all (yet).

GolfJay · 11th November 2013, 20:51

I haven't slated you on any of the other cars and i'm not now but what the hell is it with you buying complete dogs when it comes to cars? lol

Dom · 11th November 2013, 21:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GolfJay

I haven't slated you on any of the other cars and i'm not now but what the hell is it with you buying complete dogs when it comes to cars? lol

Haha do not have a clue. At the moment though I can only laugh about it. I'm hoping this VXR will get half inched. There is a spate of VXR thefts in my area lately, apparently Expanding foaming under the rear arch and leaving over night to silence the alarm, then back to override the ECU/Keyless entry system using the same technology the BMW's are plagued with.

MJ05LLY · 11th November 2013, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dom

Haha do not have a clue. At the moment though I can only laugh about it. I'm hoping this VXR will get half inched. There is a spate of VXR thefts in my area lately, apparently Expanding foaming under the rear arch and leaving over night to silence the alarm, then back to override the ECU/Keyless entry system using the same technology the BMW's are plagued with.

Muhahaha mine has gone now! Prices are dropping on the new ones big time which only means the H is gonna plummet. So I got in before the drop with a decent price

Hairdressers car next for me I thinks

Dom · 11th November 2013, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ05LLY

Muhahaha mine has gone now! Prices are dropping on the new ones big time which only means the H is gonna plummet. So I got in before the drop with a decent price

Hairdressers car next for me I thinks

Think you've made the right choice, what sort of price do you think my VXR would go for without any problems? It's food for thought, if they're worth a bit I may get rid. As I've said, I barely get time to drive the VXR!