humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

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humbucker
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humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

As some of you will already know, I've added to the fleet by purchasing an Arden Blue Vectra VXR. At the time of writing, I'm two weeks into VXR ownership. So far, so good!

This is the 280bhp edition. Power supplied by a turbocharged 2.8-litre V6 mated to a Getrag F40 six-speed gearbox and a Remus twin-exit exhaust system. As far as I can tell, my car differs from factory spec only by way of its anthracite-painted 19-inch rims and half-leather Recaros that feature embroidered VXR logos. More details to follow :)

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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Cavalier342 »

Is that the same model as was tested on Top Gear by Clarkson where it under-steered like it was on ice? lol.
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China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE

Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

Cavalier342 wrote:Is that the same model as was tested on Top Gear by Clarkson where it under-steered like it was on ice? lol.
Yes (although I think that was the earlier 250bhp model), but bear in mind that it has been proven time and time again that the Top Gear team broke the car's electronic handling and suspension features before their test drive. In fact, they removed the fuses for the system when they couldn't get it up and running again, resulting in the inaccurate review that was broadcast on the box. Evo magazine had a Vectra VXR on a long term test, providing a much more reliable round-up of the car's features and performance ("a glowing review").

That said, even in 'fully working' mode, chucking a barrel load of torque at a FWD car flat out in a corner is likely to cause the odd wobble! In the words of one disgruntled commentator, "I wouldn't trust the Top Gear team to review a movie, let alone a car!" :lol:
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Cavalier342 »

Well they tried doing the car chase scene for The Sweeney film, that turned out well lol.

Fair enough, I didn't know they messed about with it.
Previous:
China Blue 1989 Vauxhall Cavalier L 18SV
Kings Blue 1992 Vauxhall Cavalier LSi Auto C18NZ
Smoke Grey 1994 Vauxhall Cavalier V6 C25XE

Am I a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? Well that depends on how much I've had to drink...
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Lowrider Dave »

humbucker wrote:I wouldn't trust the Top Gear team to review a movie, let alone a car!
Sounds about right.
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Mk3alan »

My daughter in law has had hers for about a year now, loves it, sounds awesome!

Alan
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

Mk3alan wrote:My daughter in law has had hers for about a year now, loves it, sounds awesome!

Alan
The sound from the factory Remus exhaust system is brilliant. So much rumble when you put your foot down!
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

It's high time I reported on the fun I've been having with this car since buying it at the back end of last year. What a fantastic machine!

I’d been toying with the idea of getting rid of my Saab 95 Aero HOT estate for some time, and while it’s true to say that the 250bhp Swede provided a seemingly unrivalled amount of bang per buck, the car was getting a little long in the tooth, leading me to weigh up the pros and cons of various newer motors that might do an even better job of providing plenty of smiles to the mile.

Time and time again I returned to the notion of owning a Vectra VXR. With its 2.8-litre turbocharged V6, blistering pace, stunning styling, six-speed transmission, huge tuning potential, large luggage area and an ability to happily munch through the squillions of miles that I’m likely to throw at it, I was convinced that the growling Griffin ticked all the right boxes.

eBay threw up a gorgeous Arden Blue example that was collecting dust in North Yorkshire. This particular VXR was packing full-colour integrated factory satnav, 19-inch Ronals that had been painted anthracite, half-leather Recaros with the VXR logo stitched into them and various pieces of carbon-wrapped interior trim. With the exception of an expansion tank overflow pipe that was enthusiastically pissing coolant when the engine was up to temperature (after a somewhat ‘spirited’ test drive!), the car was perfect. Needless to say, I was driving it home a short while later.

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The colour information display is pretty cool...

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...as is the integrated Bluetooth car phone feature. Who to prank call today?! :lol:

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The leaky pipe turned out to be a simple fix – an examination of the expansion tank’s filler cap highlighted rubber seals that were as flat as a pancake. I replaced the cap with a new part before filling up with fresh coolant, and I can confirm that the troublesome pipe has been bone dry ever since. Job done. I also plugged in my genuine dealer-spec Tech 2 diagnostic machine and can confirm that there are no worrying trouble codes to speak of, although I have changed the service interval schedule programmed into the car’s ECU to reflect my preferred value of 5k miles. Running oil for the manufacturer’s recommended 20k seems to me to be asking for trouble. Not cool.

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Wanting to know more about what was happening under the bonnet of the car during varying driving conditions – but not wanting to clutter my new ride’s dashboard with extra dials – I invested in a Scangauge II digital scan and gauge control module. Plugging directly into the VXR’s OBDII port, the compact, programmable unit provides live data relating to rpm, mpg, speed, fuel and oil pressure, coolant temperature, boost values, and a wide range of additional information including the display of trouble codes as soon as they’re generated. It also features a comprehensive trip computer and a backlight that you can colour code to the host vehicle. Ardentastic!

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The car's OBDII port is located beneath its ashtray:

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The grid on the back of the storage tray provided a handy guide for me to use when marking out the hole I needed to cut in order to feed the Scangauge II's cable down and under the centre console and into the OBDII port:

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All in. Difficult to show this doing it's thang when stationary. You can have four different diagnostic readouts running at any one time. I've currently got it set to RPM, MPG, speed and coolant temperature, all of which are far more accurate than the car's standard dash clocks:

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I’ve also bought a new set of factory mats (they add 20bhp dontchakno!) and a K&N high-flow air filter that promises to improve the 280bhp V6’s breathing while providing the car’s Remus twin-exit exhaust system with even more of a bark than it is currently generating. Pop, bang, roar!

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More to follow...
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Robsey »

My favourite colour of Vectra-C.
And the sat nav is the same as my own in the Cavalier.

Surprised you have the Griffin for the start-up screen - Yours should be the VX-R symbol.

With regards to gauge accuracy, yep they soon drift off the mark.
Especially the temperature gauge.

I have used torque pro with my samsung phone and a blue tooth ELM 327 diagnostic tool.
Works a treat on all Vectra engines except the half-CANbus 2.0 and 2.2 TDi engines.

Don't you find the Tech 2 very slow. ?Typical for all Vetronix test tools.

As you have the colour display, you are aware of the "hidden" Test Mode diagnostic screens aren't you?

Set head unit to radio
Press the main button
Hold the settings button pressed until you hear a bong.
Then you can go through the values relative to the sat nav, the audio system, and board computer.

Keep pressing the Nav, Audio, or BC buttons to scroll through the data. :ugeek:


Hmm - I am on Dan's phone list... eek - prank call alert. Ha ha. :no
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Lowrider Dave »

Nice to see I'm on the prank phone list!

The Vectra's looking nice with some nice fettling, non destructive mods. Still got the Aero or has it gone now?
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

Robsey wrote:My favourite colour of Vectra-C.

I'm sure there is an argument for Arden Blue paint being the most successful cost option in Vauxhall's history!
Robsey wrote:And the sat nav is the same as my own in the Cavalier.

And that of my MV6!
Robsey wrote:Surprised you have the Griffin for the start-up screen - Yours should be the VX-R symbol.

Vectra VXRs were Griffin logos by default (I checked this fact with other members of the owners club). You can opt to have the VXR or OPC logos via Tech 2, but compatibility is - apparently - dependent on whether you have a two or three line CID. I'll plug in my machine and give it a go...
Robsey wrote:Don't you find the Tech 2 very slow?

Not as slow as trying to fault find without one!
Robsey wrote:As you have the colour display, you are aware of the "hidden" Test Mode diagnostic screens aren't you?

I had been told about 'em, but I haven't had a look yet. I'll report back with my findings!
Robsey wrote:Hmm - I am on Dan's phone list... eek - prank call alert. Ha ha. :no
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

lowrider dave wrote:Nice to see I'm on the prank phone list!

The Vectra's looking nice with some nice fettling, non destructive mods. Still got the Aero or has it gone now?
Thanks Dave. It's changed quite a bit since those pics were taken (see below). I'll post details of the latest updates shortly. And no, the Aero is still here. Don't think I'm gonna ditch it after all. More likely to chuck a tow bar on it and use it to drag my Cavaliers between body shops tbh.

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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

VXR ownership is a blast! The Vectra is a fantastic machine that pulls like a train and has a rear end that produces smile-inducing Remus-generated pops and bangs on demand. The car looks fantastic and seems to be enjoying being pampered with frequent oil changes and accelerated service intervals.

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It was another fluid drop that got me thinking about performance oil filters. As many of you will know, the 2.8-litre turbocharged V6 that powers the Vectra VXR is the very same engine that can be found in late Saab 93 Aeros. K&N list a high-flow oil filter for the Swede at half the cost of a genuine equivalent part for the Vectra. An uprated oil filter at a reduced price? I couldn’t see why it wouldn’t suit my Arden Blue beast!

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My curiosity paid off: the K&N filter was a direct fit and a part that will save plenty of pennies with each successive service. Other new bits and bobs to find their way onto the car since my last project update include Team HEKO wind deflectors and pressed metal registration plates housed in Irmscher carbon-effect carriers.

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I wasn't sure that the front plate carrier would fit properly due to the contour of the VXR's nose-end bumper, but a bit of drilling, bending and gentle persuasion did the trick:

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The rear bumper needed to be drilled too:

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Job's a good 'un:

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I’ve also removed the mahoosive rear Griffin badge and added a color-coded VXR emblem in place of the factory tailgate decoration.

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Arden(ish) Blue accent instead of the standard VXR red:

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Other than minor styling updates, the focus of my attention has been to ensure that the first few weeks of VXR ownership have gone without a hitch and that any niggles that I might have inherited when purchasing the car are ironed out before I begin modifying. That’s not to say that I haven’t started stockpiling parts – Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs and a matching Pro-Alignment bolt package are patiently waiting in the wings.

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I’ve also been looking at wheel options. I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t wondered what the VXR might look like if sat on my Irmscher MV6’s freshly-refurbished and powdercoated staggered Ronal Sport Stars. I guess there’s only one way to find out…

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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

The VXR’s excessive wheel arch clearance made the car look as though it was riding on Frontera suspension! I invested in a set of Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs that promised to deliver a ride height drop of approximately 35mm, and I also got hold of a set of Eibach Pro-Alignment bolts that would enable the correction of any negative camber caused by a lowering of the car’s chassis.

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I popped along to independent performance vehicle specialist, A Reeve Performance, where the company’s head honcho, Aaron Reeve, set about removing the VXR’s dampers and factory-spec springs before fitting the shiny new Eibach parts. Aaron’s King’s Lynn workshop is a fantastic place to spend an afternoon, largely due to the presence of a wide range of fast-road and track cars that a steady stream of customers drop-off for alignment, corner weighting, diagnostic or professional mapping services (the latter taking place on Aaron’s in-house MAHA MSR500 dyno). Needless to say, the Vectra was in safe hands!

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Escort Cosworth lurking close by:

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Standard VXR brakes. I'd like to replace these with the main dealer cost-option six-pot VXR APs:

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Removing the front shocks provided the perfect opportunity to fit the brand new top mounts and bearings that I’d bought from Saab parts retailer, Neo Brothers. Much like the K&N oil filter that I reported on in my last project update, the VXR’s top mounts are the same as those fitted to the Saab 93 Aero V6 Turbo. In fact, the VXR shares loads of parts with the 93, a trait highlighted by the Swedish outfit’s logo stamped into the Vectra’s turbocharger and battery tray!

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The offside top mount was rank:

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Replacement parts from Neo Brothers:

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It didn’t take long for Aaron to fit the new parts, and the car was soon making its way into his dedicated Hunter 3D alignment booth. The Eibach bolt kit’s ability to return the Vectra’s altered camber to factory specification after the fitting of the springs was of importance because the car is put to work for almost four hours each day. In other words, this particular VXR eats mega miles, and I don’t want to have to buy fresh tyres any more frequently than is necessary.

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A Reeve Performance
01553 764 600
http://www.arperformance.co.uk
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by James McGrath »

Looking sweet Dan.
Those new springs should help around the corners. :thumb
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

James McGrath wrote:Looking sweet Dan.
Those new springs should help around the corners. :thumb
Yup, the wider wheels and new tyres I've fitted have also made a big difference. Talking of which...

Things were going swimmingly until the car’s stock offside rear toe adjustment bolt decided to give up the ghost. It’s a commonly-reported fault that has frustrated many members of the Vectra VXR Owners Club, not least of all because Vauxhall dealer parts desks rarely seem to have replacement adjustment bolts in stock! A new part was put on order, and I left the car with Aaron ready for work to resume in advance of a play on his rolling road the following day. I’ll report back with the resulting bhp and torque values shortly.

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Doh!

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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by Lowrider Dave »

Dan, keep meaning to ask, why the 'irish' reg plate?
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

lowrider dave wrote:Dan, keep meaning to ask, why the 'irish' reg plate?
When I bought my Cavalier CDX V6, I inherited the car's original registration plate. It ended with a provocative three letter combo: BNP. This actually served as quite the distraction, at one point encouraging an enquiry from a chap who thought it was a cherished plate designed to project its owner's far-right view of the world. Rather than balk in horror, he suggested that he was of the same mind, even going as far as to give me a 'thumbs up' of approval. I'd already been on the receiving end of BNP-related comments and jibes from mates, so I put paid to it by investing in "the cheapest private plate I can lay my hands on." I ended up buying IIG5310 for £35 plus the DVLA's transfer fee.

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It worked, although everyone then tried to decipher just what it was that my new registration plate was supposed to say. "It says 'this is the cheapest plate Dan could find'." Anyway, it had the welcome side-effect of starting the car's history anew, no risk of anybody pointing the finger and saying, "oh, that's Dave's old motor," or similar. When my cars started to appear as projects in magazines, it made sense to give them a new identity - a kind of 'starting from scratch'. The last thing you want is to pour your time, money and energy into a car only for it to be recognised as somebody else's (or worse still, for them to take the credit for your work!). So new plates are what I've applied to the Vectra and my Roller, and what I intend to do with my Cavalier Turbo(s) and MV6. Sharon insisted, however, that we keep her classic Saab 900's reg, primarily because it's an unusual 'two number' plate.

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So now you know! :)
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Re: humbucker's 2007 Vectra VXR

Post by humbucker »

The VXR spent time at independent performance vehicle specialist, A Reeve Performance in King’s Lynn, having its Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs and camber bolts fitted before 3D wheel alignment and a go on the firm’s rolling road. With regard to the latter, I was interested to find out what power the car is producing, not believing that the pops, bangs and burbles emanating from its exhaust are factory features. Furthermore, the car has a lot of ‘pull’ when compared to other Vectra VXRs that I’ve come across, leading me to suspect that a previous owner may have paid for a remap.

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I wasn’t wrong, although the dyno results weren’t quite what I’d anticipated; 320lb/ft torque is certainly a step up from the 262lb/ft quoted by Vauxhall in its Vectra VXR spec sheet, but 281.3bhp is only a smidge more than a single pony on from stock power! Most ECU map packages that I know about for late examples of the model (like mine) should add torque to the value of near 400lb/ft with a boost of bhp to the 300bhp mark, and that’s before we get into the realm of Insignia VXR turbochargers. Ooh, there’s a thought!

I guess any improvement over standard performance is to be welcomed, but I’ll be looking into alternative power packages during the course of the coming weeks.

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THANKS

A Reeve Performance
01553 764600
http://www.arperformance.co.uk
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