Emerald Green Vauxhall Astra GTC VXR | Spotted

VXR has at all times been a model of hits and misses. The Corsa VXR, as an illustration, at all times had a spot alongside the Ford Fiesta ST and Renaultsport Clios as a rorty, boisterous sizzling hatch that flipped a center finger to its rivals’ extra centered manner. On the opposite hand, there was the Vectra. A automobile I’m certain many can have of bizarre gentle spot for however, let’s be sincere, it was a load of garbage. And the much less mentioned in regards to the Meriva VXR, the higher.
Yet, right here we’re in 2023 and Vauxhall’s efficiency arm looks as if a distant reminiscence. Now beneath the Stallantis umbrella, which has gone all-in on electrical energy, the probability of seeing a brand new VXR with blistered wheel arches and a farty exhaust are zero. Granted, it has tried to heat the vary up a bit with the GSe plug-in hybrid, however that’s hardly going to get the subsequent era of boy racer fired up, is it? Not that they’ll be capable to afford them, as a result of an Astra GSe will set you again over £40,000. Good factor you possibly can relive VXR’s glory days for a fraction of the value, then.
Arguably the automobile that completely nailed the VXR system was Vauxhall’s beefed-up Astra GTC. Swollen wheel arches and a small roof spoiler upped the aggression over the usual automobile, whereas 20-inch wheels and glossy trim on the entrance bumper added a contact of sophistication. It was a extra cohesive design, too, quite than the bolt-on physique package look of most different VXRs (which, admittedly, does enchantment in its personal proper). Vauxhall did provide a non-aero package variant with smaller wheels, however that appealed to virtually nobody and hardly any have been offered.


Not solely did the Astra GTC VXR look extra refined, Vauxhall put the time in to ensure that a lot of the 280hp from the automobile’s 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine reached the tarmac – quite than lighting up the entrance tyres. A Drexler mechanical diff helped pull the GTC VXR out of corners and did a reasonably good job of eliminating torque steering. You’d nonetheless get the odd tug on the wheel beneath acceleration, however nowhere close to the extent of earlier VXRs. Three-way FlexRide adaptive dampers appeared area age on the time and supplied a mixture of journey consolation and precision that, once more, was in contrast to something we’d seen from VXR.
Naturally, individuals went loopy for them. Vauxhall offered hundreds of them, preserving used values at bay and the classifieds properly stocked. There’s the standard mixture of blue, black, pink and white examples, however this specific automobile is completed in ultra-rare Emerald Green. It’s not apparent whether or not that was all the way down to an absence of recognition or if it was a limited-run color (PHers, do your factor), however what’s for sure is the GTC VXR seems mighty high quality in inexperienced.
Now, I’ve been looking out for an Emerald Green Astra GTC VXR on the classifieds for months and, abruptly, two have just lately develop into accessible. This specific automobile is field recent with simply 11,000 miles on the clock, although it carries a hefty premium at £18,900. Alternatively, there’s this 54,000-mile automobile for £12,979, however the pink brake callipers recommend some work has been carried out. Either manner, you’re grabbing arguably certainly one of VXR’s biggest creations in less-arguably the very best color accessible for lower than half the value of the brand new Astra GSe. It could not have been one of many biggest sizzling hatches of the period, however that’s a discount that’ll be tough to disregard…
SPECIFICATION | VAUXHALL ASTRA GTC VXR
Engine: 1,998cc four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed guide, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@2,400rpm
MPG: 34.9
CO2: 189g/km
Year registered: 2017
Recorded mileage: 11,000
Price new: £26,995
Yours for: £18,950