19th Mar 2025, 11:09
Third annual service and MOT this week.
I only do 6k miles per year, but I love all of them.
No repairs. Nothing creaks. Washes up like new. Fuel economy has improved slightly to 25 MPG overall, 32 on a run.
Downsides? It's a very vulnerable car. I reversed into a solid bollard that was invisible with the VXR's terrible visibility. Have a 2 inch crack in the rear bumper. I'll get that fixed sometime.
Also the front wheels need a refurb next time I get new tyres.
Upsides? Everything else. In a world of giant hybrid SUVs, I love ratting around in this daft FWD performance car. It's fast as hell, truly beautiful and genuinely 300-miles at a time comfortable.
Of course absolutely no-one notices it or looks at it, but hopefully makes it less likely to be vandalised or nicked.
I have half considered getting a dream E36 M5, but i's not that much quicker than the VXR and a lot more to run.
Mark me down as a fan. Opel got it very right with the J VXR.
20th Mar 2025, 14:20
Glad you are still enjoying the car. I was the guy commenting now and then on these cars. I ended up buying an Insignia, and the VXR version of that car is insanely good, but settled for an ordinary diesel 2015 model for economy reasons for now. Vauxhall / Opel cars from this time are really underrated.
23rd Aug 2025, 23:41
OP here.
I acquired a holiday home in Wales. This means the VXR has been getting some real quality miles regularly.
The huge, flexible boot means I can carry everything I need. The VXR was built for roads like Mid Wales. I typically get 33 MPG in mixed driving on these runs.
This fabulous car is entirely anonymous despite being beautiful, has been a paragon of reliability and basically costs me nothing to run, and is worth nothing. I intend to run it until it is beyond economic use. I love it. Still my supercar for everyman.
21st Oct 2024, 20:59
Thanks for the update, glad you still like the car. The GTC still looks incredibly modern for a car that has been around for 10 + years now.