Vauxhall VXR8 Saloon full 9 point review
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Performance
When a car is nicknamed 'The Thunder from Down Under', it gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. The VXR8's 6.2-litre V8 delivers 425bhp, and can blast the car from 0-60mph in just 4.9 sec (5.0 for the auto). Go for the supercharged Bathurst S model, and the engine is uprated to 564bhp, cutting three-tenths off the 0-60mph time. Make no mistake, this is a genuine muscle car.
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Ride & Handling
The VXR8 has more going for it than just raw power; it clings on well in bends and switches direction neatly, too. The dull steering is disappointing, though, because it means you're never sure how hard you can attack a corner. Perhaps surprisingly, the VXR rides well - it's a bit firmer than most big saloons, but it's far from uncultured.
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Refinement
Some will think that the V8 engine's growl is too quiet and too distant, but you can hear enough of a snarl to get you in the mood. The engine stays almost totally quiet when you're cruising at motorway speeds, too. There's a bit of wind- and road noise, but not enough to upset the calm.
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Buying & Owning
The VXR8's price looks inviting to begin with - £35,000 isn't much for a V8 monster. Resale values aren't horrific, either - after three years, it'll be worth around 40% of what you paid for it. Don't sign that cheque until you've considered the running costs, though. You'll pay a group 20 insurance premium and the car has an official average of just 18.5mpg. Worse still, if you're not careful with your driving, you won’t get anywhere near that, and you could spend a fortune on tyres, too.
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Quality & Reliability
For a car of this price, the VXR8's cabin isn't exactly plush - the plastics are more family hatchback than sports saloon. Still, they should last the test of time, and the car looks and feels well put-together. Vauxhall's reliability record has been improving in recent years, but the VXR8 is no ordinary Vauxhall, so it's tough to predict how dependable it'll be.
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Safety & Security
The VXR8 can be a bit of a handful in slippery conditions, but thankfully stability control is fitted as standard. High-performance brakes should also help keep you out of trouble. There are six airbags and active head restraints, too. It's not so great on the security front, though. You get an alarm and an immobiliser, but no deadlocks.
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Behind The Wheel
The chunky bucket seats have plenty of adjustment to help you get comfortable at the wheel – as well as plenty of support to hold you in place when you're throwing the car around. The dash looks a bit plain, but all the controls are easy to use. However, the coffee-table-sized spoiler on the back obscures your rear vision, and the handbrake is awkward to use.
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Space & Practicality
Cars this fast are rarely this roomy. The cabin is massive, and even the most generously proportioned passengers will have room to stretch out. There's space for three across the rear bench, provided that the occupant of the middle seat is prepared to straddle a bulky transmission tunnel. The boot is immense, too.
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Equipment
You expect a few toys when you're spending this sort of cash – and you get them. Every VXR8 comes with dual-zone climate control, electrically adjustable sports seats, a high-grade stereo with CD changer, automatic lights and wipers, parking sensors and a Bluetooth hands-free phone system as standard. However, that’s pretty much it – unless you want one of the Bathurst editions, the options basically extend only to sat-nav.
VXR8 rivals
Vauxhall VXR8 Saloon 6.2 V8 4dr
A charming Aussie saloon that's a cult alternative. It offers serious performance for the money, but just be prepared to sink a bit of your 'saving' into fuel bills and maintenance.
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