Morning all,

My new "company car" arrives tomorrow to replace the red rocket - my 1.6LS Vectra!

It is a sliver Astra SRi 1.8 etc etc and I was wondering whether I could add a bit of character, i.e. chip it (AARGGH!) or preferably get an HKS Super Dragger on it!

What do you think!? Serious and silly replies required!

Cheers,

Jon.

 

Koni springs, stolen scoop from an Impreza and an EVO 6 rear wing.

[This message has been edited by Neil Smalley (edited 09 October 2000).]

 

LOL!!!!!!!

SUPERB!!!!!!!

Any more ideas??!

 

Mossman,

OK, so you won't be able to do anything to the engine (warranty), and since it's not your car you want to spend the absolute minimum, I assume.

Handling will be the best way, I reckon. I'm in the exact same situation as you (but with a Mondeo) and I immediately got the geometry checked - they're often a good way out as delivered. After that, I got some better settings which reduced understeer - I was lucky cos I used to work at Ford, so had some contacts to supply information, dunno where you'd get this for an Astra.

At the first tyre change (some way off for you, I realise) I dropped the profile of the tyres from 60 to 45, again to make it more responsive. This was a bit too harsh, so I'm now running 50-profile tyres, which are a reasonable compromise.

I've also gone for better brake pads, though in the standard calipers.

The geometry and tyre have transformed the Mondeo, though obviously it's still a slow, ill-handling beast!

You may also want to consider a Puffa jacket, Oakleys (but only at night) and wikkid grafix (AstraPower!!) to complete the picture. Obviously, some chuffin' choonz that pump da baaasssss will only add to your street cool.

 

I saw an Astra yesterday with a big sticker in the back window saying 'Astra La Vista, baby'. It looked, errm, fantastic. No honest, really. Made my day.

 

Mossman,

Surely you need to fit in with other "fast" Vauxhall owners, so I recommend:

Puffa jacket (38psi )
Reversed baseball hat
A tape of indiciferable (sp?) music in the 'boom, boom, boom,' category

Oh, and a suitable collection of McDonald's wrappers in the back

Yex

 

Badly self-applied (loads of air bubbles)window tinting film would really make it look the business.

 

You will need:-

Touring car style front and rear sunstrips.
Single wiper conversion.
Over large twin upswept DTM's.
Stick on twin headlight conversion.
13" three spoke alloys.
Stuck on rear headrests.
Four ugly mates to go everywhere with you.
Blacked out rear lights and side indicators.

I have done all this to my WRX (HEE HEE HEE!)

 

I've owmed some Astra's in my time (company car's out of my control). And here are a few tips.


Serious First

Don't chip it you will get no power gains just a higher fuel bill.. Vauxhalls fuel enough as it is.. I assume that it is master hire car so there ain't must you can do but i got away with exhaust and air filter moods with didn't give great gains i.e. 1BHP but made it a lot more responsive on acceleration....

Silly

As for handling vauxhalls understeer to much best thing to do is just use the handbrake a bit more.. Or fit a Koni kit on it (cheers JasonM great tip that one).

And as for body mods I have a hammer you could borrow!!!!!!

 

Torch it!

[This message has been edited by NeilR (edited 09 October 2000).]

 

Crash it before tourching it !!!

 

BIG laughs to all threads....cheered me right up it did

 

10am tomorrow!

I cannot wait! I have my stickers at the ready - Scoobynet, SIDC and a few HKS ones for that "tuning" touch!

Plus it gets the Wax Wizard treatment on Saturday if the weather is ok! It is PISSING it down here at the mo!

Cheers,

Jon.

 

Why waste time & money putting Wax Wizard gear on it, use Fairy Liquid [to be kind to your hads] with 1/2 a cup of salt to give it those lovely swirls in the paint.

 

The best upgrade you could make to your Astra is what's known as "trading it in for an Impreza"

 

A bit of badge engineering wouldn't go amiss - like BL did in the seventies...

Take the 'Vauxhall' off the boot.

Remove the 'h' with a hacksaw.

Replace the 'Vaux' on the boot.

Leave a space and fit the 'all'.

Pull-off 'Astra', ditch the 'A' and re-arrange the letters using the spare'h' to spell 'trash'.

Fit this after the 'all'...

...and Bob's your uncle... 'Vaux all trash'

Sums em up really!

 

so if I get flashed by an astra I should not have a go then?

SuperDrager on it, pah! fit a hiper drager, must louder, much better! (guess who's got one)

Seriously though, you'd want to take it to Courtney(sp) who specalise in vauxhalls, especially chipping and turbo charging them. They should have an ad in Revs or Max Power, or so I've been told, never read those mags myself of course

 

How about a huge sticker in the back that reads 'my other car's a subaru'

 

Torch it Jon or park it on Bransholme for 1/2 an hour Same difference.

 

Yes, simple, BURN it

Pete

 

Hi Jon

If you go over to boxhill some guy will show ya how to do a burn out (with all of 1 wheel).

But for some idea's try visiting

 

If you come out with us on Sunday in a car like that you are going to need the sat nav to find out where all the scoobys end up!

We'll wait for you, though

 

Anyone remeber that thread that linked to the USA scooby bbs - It was about what to do with your daily rental car - a couple of them nitroed a Crysler Neon as I remember.

If anyone remembers the tread please advise -I would love to read it again, but can't find it.

Jon - try a Nitro kit

David

 

Trade it in on a Chevette HS 2300


Richard

Yeah I know I'm a old git

 

Not long to go! Just cleared out the Vectra, took off the flames down the side, ditched the Nitrous and took the dragster rear wheels off!

The company car dept. are horrified at this thread! he he!!!!!!

 

RSquire

Blinding mota

Dont dismiss the HS Shovette until you have been in one.

 

Bin it!!

 

ok, this has gone on enough.. I'm gonna start knocking heads together if you lot can't at least take the mick a bit better.

I've got an astra with superhero Bilstein shockers and all sorts of other stuff - it'll outcorner a cat that's just come face to face with a grinning Doberman holding a hosepipe, so bite me.

now.. can we please try harder ?

 

IT's HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And.........it looks rather nice with the extra bits on!!!!!!!

Update after lunch!!!!!

 

Sod the update.

Lets have before during and after pics of you torching the front wheel drive shopping kart.