2013 Vauxhall Astra VXR review

"Speedmonkey" (Speedmonkey) 08/20/2013 at 07:24 • Filed to: Vauxhall, hot hatches

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I ran a British spec Vauxhall Astra VXR (also known as the Opel Astra OPC) for a week.

It's a 280 hp, front wheel drive, hot hatch - with a mechanical LSD to keep the power down on the road. I loved it.

Full review

Subaru05 > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:19

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If GM didn't kill Saturn, this could have been a big seller here in the States. Damn you GM.

PilotMan > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:23

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How about GM uses this to compete with the Focus ST here in the US? That is a beautiful hatch and would definitely attract a younger crowd for Buick here in the US.

Jay_Hoff > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:23

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BUICK?????

ptak appreciates old racecars > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:26

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Best. Buick. Ever.

duurtlang > PilotMan 08/20/2013 at 10:27

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I'm not American so I can't comment on what Buick supposedly stands for, but the Buick Verano being nothing more than an Astra sedan means that including this hatch isn't too far fetched. I'd include the Opel Cascada convertible as well.

MaWeiTao > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:29

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Those Europeans sure know how to build a damn nice hatchback.

duurtlang > Subaru05 08/20/2013 at 10:31

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How so? These are roughly identical:

citizennick > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:38

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link is not working

Subaru05 > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 10:39

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The Opel Astra was sold as the Saturn Astra. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astr…

SP23 > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:40

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GM should make a Buick version of the Opel Meriva, because suicide doors.

duurtlang > Subaru05 08/20/2013 at 10:41

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The previous generation, yes. But the current generation is sold as the Buick Verano.

Doug Nash > PilotMan 08/20/2013 at 10:42

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I was wondering the same. Such a neat little car. But why would it have to be Buick? It could just as easily be badged as a Chevy, couldn't it?

meccapanzer > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 10:42

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Wonder how she handles.

dogisbadob > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:50

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Too bad GM won't sell the hatchback over here. We only get the sedan, an they don't offer a Verano T-Type :(

Subaru05 > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 10:52

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Yes as a sedan but not a hatchback. Saturn only sold the hatchback of that model. The article is about a hot hatch not sedan.

zyodei > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 10:52

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So you're saying it's the latest incarnation of the Cobalt SS?

PilotMan > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 10:56

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We do have the Buick Regal GS here which should look very familiar as well:

I have no idea why GM does not have the Cascada/Regal convertible here already since it's gorgeous. GM only has the Camaro to sell as their only convertible here in the US.

KirkyV > zyodei 08/20/2013 at 10:56

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Well, at least as much as any other modern, relatively powerful hot hatch is.

nealsoad > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 11:02

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The Regal/Insignia is the sexiest(did I just really say that?) car in Buick's lineup. It's probably the first car since the '95 Riviera to actually make people(car people) change their thoughts about the company and actually look at a Buick. I understand that it's an Opel before anything else, but I've always seen them as the same company.

Side note: My parents had a white '73 Opel GT before I was born. I would kill to have that car back in the family.

Now.. go back in time to 1994 when the '95 Riviera was released, grab a Buick designer/decision maker, and shake them violently while screaming at them to "please keep it up and don't drift back to boring crap for the next 17 years". But alas....

Ce he sin > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 11:13

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You start the car just by putting in a key and turning it? It's nearly worth buying for that alone.

PilotMan > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 11:16

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I would totally drive this, it's like the Brera/Scirocco that we never got.

PilotMan > citizennick 08/20/2013 at 11:18

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Google has it cached

Speedmonkey > Ce he sin 08/20/2013 at 11:30

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Haha. I've driven 50-odd cars this last 12 months. You won't believe how many I spend 5 minutes trying to work out how to start the damn thing. S-Class Merc was the worst

Speedmonkey > PilotMan 08/20/2013 at 11:31

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It's a real looker

Wojtek > PilotMan 08/20/2013 at 11:48

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Believe me, you do not want to drive a Brera. It's overweight and slow.

aMaG1CaLmAnG1Na > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 11:59

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Holy crap that dash is just a pile of buttons......pretty sure every button from the GM parts bin is there.

Speedmonkey > citizennick 08/20/2013 at 12:05

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Bugger. Does happen occasionally. It just had too many photos and stuff embedded in it to copy/paste wholesale to Oppo

Speedmonkey > aMaG1CaLmAnG1Na 08/20/2013 at 12:06

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Yep. That is one of the downsides, and a weakness of Vauxhall

neverwander > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 12:22

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" The excess buttons are due to the info screen not being a touch-screen."

DEATH TO TOUCHSCREENS IN CARS

Jalop-O > duurtlang 08/20/2013 at 12:39

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Buick stands for a last name.

The founder was a scottish immigrant named David Dunbar Buick.

zyodei > KirkyV 08/20/2013 at 12:46

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Well, at least as much as any other modern, relatively powerful, GM manufactured hot hatch is.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

KirkyV > zyodei 08/20/2013 at 12:54

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Eh, I'll concede that. Though, if those are the parameters, I'd say it's more of a successor to the older Astra VXR, or older still GSI. They've been making them for quite a while.

(My semantic-o-meter is a hateful bloody thing.)

Jimmy the Engineer > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 12:58

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donkity donk

GrauGeist > Subaru05 08/20/2013 at 13:46

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No, it wouldn't, as evidenced by previous Saturn sales prior to the closing of the brand.

Saturn and Pontiac were both chasing the same customers as Chevy, at the same bottom price point. Completely duplicate efforts in the mass market.

Opel product has too much development cost to be sold at a Chevy price point. But it is very reasonable at an Oldsmobile or Buick price point.

Opel is too expensive to be Saturn, so it doesn't sell well. As part of a reinvigorated Buick, building off the Regal T-type / GNX heritage, the Astra would be a good fit.

GrauGeist > PilotMan 08/20/2013 at 13:49

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I agree. Bring over the Cascada. It's beautiful, and would present a lovely alternative to what's currently available.

The catch is that Buick can only introduce one new class of vehicle each year. So far, the product march has been really good.

Still, one thinks an upmarket convertible would be a relatively easy thing to add to the mix to goose summer & California sales.

GrauGeist > SP23 08/20/2013 at 13:50

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Or Zafira. Either way.

SP23 > GrauGeist 08/20/2013 at 14:03

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The Tourer version though. It looks better.

Obsideon > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 15:00

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GM could bring it over and should, The Buick Encore seems to be selling well so this might convince them that a small hatch can sell well for Buick.

CDNSTIG > GrauGeist 08/20/2013 at 16:38

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The problem is Buick and Olds are targetted to the 50+ demographic.

Opels are not.

BlueSoap > Speedmonkey 08/20/2013 at 18:27

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A- pillars: 'Roundabouts, kerbs and apexes have to be anticipated because they won't be seen when you are upon them.'

The same problem in an '06 Jeep Commander. I swear a tanker truck could get lost behind them.

Why does Vauxhall/GM still insist on placing a pile of buttons in their interiors?

GrauGeist > CDNSTIG 08/20/2013 at 18:32

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Nope. Buick targets upper middle class in their late 30s / early 40s. It's a large demographic with money that can afford a nicer car. Go look at their ads. Families with money.

The, go look at a Lincoln ad. "Silver fox" old guy.

MooseKnuckles > Subaru05 08/20/2013 at 20:50

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Could've been the one FWD car allowed into Pontiac's lineup to be sold alongside the G8, Solstice, and Trans AM, oh and G8ST