Police_Driver in another thread:
'I have also driven both the ST and the VXR. I have driven the 3 door ST twice, and the 5 door once. I have driven the Astra VXR twice.
The 3 door ST made me smile, it felt quick, I loved it. That was before I drove the VXR. Having driven it the first time, I felt it was difficult to control. Luckily I am used to front wheel drive and so the handling was not alien to my driving style. However all you have to do with the VXR is place your foot on the pedal and already it is jumping and jolting forwards like a banchee. You do not get this in the ST. I believe the ST is a safe, average hot hatch. I also believe the VXR is an unruly beast that only proper drivers, those who understand the technicalities of driving, can reap serious rewards from.
I found the Astra only needed a mm of acceleration around gradual corners to put it on the limits of adhesion. This is despite approaching every corner wide and straight lining the road to obtain maximum wheel grip. This is an odd sensation, one I have never felt before. Most will say, well, it is over powered and blah blah blah. I don't, I just think that it means you can achieve maximum cornering from the car without flooring the pedal round the corners.
The ST's front end looks like a fish anyway. Have you noticed, its beady eyes and wide crustacean eating mouth. The lower paint strip is far too thin on the ST, and this means it is lacking in the style department.'
So now we all know how its done! What a donut.