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.
26th Sep 2025, 15:29
I took my VXR to Vauxtec for an interim service and a voluntary gearbox and LSD oil change and overfill. The oil sensor believes that I had another 48% oil goodness before it needed changing, but I am convinced annual changes with good oil help this car run so well.
The gearbox and LSD oil changes have made a tangible difference. The gear throw is much smoother, and the LSD no longer groans from lock to lock.
It could be emotional tuning, but the the car feels much freer and a bit quicker than before.
The interior is still creak free, dead comfy and the car doesn't have a spot of corrosion anywhere. I say again, if this had an Alfa badge on it, the motoring press would have spaffed!
42000 miles now.
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.