Testing The Vauxhall VXR | Top Gear

[@gasperfantas]

Only James can review a car, whilst filming a documentary about road signs :D

[@Relax0kay]

It wasn’t a documentary about road signs. It is a car show

[@gasperfantas]

@@Relax0kay Sherlock?

[@IronMan3582]

It's segments like this that slowly made me realize that James really was the best presenter on the program.

[@AverageAlien]

No, Jeremy is. No one can top his reviews

[@IronMan3582]

@@AverageAlien look up James’ review of the Singer Porsche, and get back to me

[@AverageAlien]

@@IronMan3582 look up Jeremy's review of the P1 and get back to me, or just never speak to me ever again, depending on your opinion of it.

[@IronMan3582]

@@AverageAlien I have seen that one and it shows how hypocritical he can be about raving about “British engineering being the best in the world” and spends a good portion of the video throwing McLaren under the bus saying that the P1 was born in a laboratory where no one tells a joke…or how overly complicated it is to turn the traction control off and when he asked the technician why is it so and the tech said “why would you want to?” “To have some fun?” Seriously he was the same way with the Audi R8 V8 describing it like being “smearing honey on Keira Knightly” and when it got the V10 engine a year later he said it was “soulless” which makes no damn sense because V10s have the best exhaust note in existence. Same thing with the Lexus LFA, he went from “I don’t understand this car” to a nonstop raving about it like it was the best thing since sliced bread. The man is all over the place, saying he would always prefer a Ferrari to a Porsche, but whenever he is forced to sit down and actually drive a Porsche…he walks away loving…case in point the 2008 911 Turbo or the 2005 Carrera GT

[@AverageAlien]

@@IronMan3582 Oh no, how dare he use emotional appeal and metaphors to enhance his journalism? There is a reason Jeremy is the most famous and successful car journalist on the planet. Just because you're a boring robotic human being that wants cold hard facts in their car journalism doesn't mean most people will want this. Jeremy wins. Jeremy's reviews hit the right spots. The P1 review unbeatable. Everyone with a soul knows this.

[@IllusivePrime]

James was chatting up that lady, I'm surprised he didn't use his trademark chat-up line. Hello.

[@alonzolopez9649]

Because then they would’ve shot him

[@IllusivePrime]

@@alonzolopez9649 ???

[@alonzolopez9649]

Illusive Prime it’s a reference to the America special, very poorly applied.

[@gram.]

"Can you show me the bits where you pee from?" 💯% success rate

[@Fraudemusic]

"I think you're quite unusual" 😂😂😂

[@rezenzone]

Leta german clear this up: Opel = Original, Vauxhall = Rebadged Opel in UK by GM (some) Buicks = Rebadged Opels un US (Buick Regal =Opel Insignia). Holden= Cars which use the Opel basis in Australia.

[@LifeOfTuners]

Apart from the fact that the cars Holden made by themself, were the basically only decent cars gm has ever made 💀 Sure there's the corvette, but wow GM, you made one good car

[@HardwareG33k]

Well... Apart from the fact that the engine in this car was developed by Holden (HFV6) and turbocharged by Saab

[@DaleSteel]

@@LifeOfTuners you consider Holden high quality? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DaleSteel]

@@HardwareG33k shit engine. Wont take a tune. Overworked

[@HardwareG33k]

@@DaleSteel yeah it's a bit strung out already stock, but tbh in its stock tune I think it's fine. Not a good engine if you want to go far beyond 300 hp though

7:30 "Margaret didn't like this sort of driving" No kidding, it was way too slow. She wanted more speed. Bring out the Stig!

[@soundseeker63]

328bhp VXR and he spends most of the review talking about road signs...... Might as well have given him the basic diesel version to review tbh!

[@Stryke607]

+soundseeker63 Maybe that was exactly what he intended to do ... it speaks for itself, doesn't it? He didn't do much of a review, but goddamn did he put a message in it!

[@Stryke607]

Why is everyone on KZbin only 12 years old ?! Aren't there any people capable of understanding deeper messages here?

[@tomforrest7814]

sorry I thought I was watching a Vauxhall Insignia VXR Review not a roadsign documentary

[@tomforrest7814]

yeah 321bhp and 0-60 in 5 and a half seconds is boring come on give it a chance

[@soundseeker63]

Stryke Most other reviewers gave it a positive verdict so no, I don't think it says much about the car or gives a deeper message. It's just Captain Slow living upto his name. Jeremy would have slated it because Jeremy is incapable of being objective, especially with about a Vauxhall, but I bet Hamster would have gotten it sideways and smoking.

[@djdani1763]

"Did you put my seat heater on as a joke?" LOLLLL

[@ProtonFilms_Mark]

James May isn't old-fashioned, he is classic.

[@NikoBell12]

6:00 had me cracking up!

[@superabdoulworld]

I love this car soooo much, more than bmw 3, merc c, audi a4. It looks sooo good and now we have it here in canada so thank you GM. A fine example of car design.

[@truckerjames4749]

Only James may can review one of the coolest,fastest and best looking family cars around and talk about road signs in the same video

[@truckerjames4749]

I never read replies so if you had the option of a Ford Focus, Peugeot 308 or an Insignia VXR with 330bhp you’re telling me that u wouldn’t have somthing with double the power?

[@Jay-qr5wr]

James Hollingworth you know that there’s other cooler, faster, better looking family cars, personally I’d much rather have a Audi S4 or a BMW 330i

[@truckerjames4749]

Skengman yeh same but for the money and at the time this was shot it was still a decent car

[@Jay-qr5wr]

James Hollingworth it’s a decent time for back then but still, I’d rather save for like 2 months and pay another 5k to get a S4 at the time, let’s be honest, an Audi S4 has way more road presence than the VXR

[@coldhell3580]

Skengman I think the Audi has less road-presence. I can’t tell an S4 from a standard A4 until I see the badge on the back. The Audi just looks like any other boring euro-box/rep-mobile. The Vauxhall at least looks a bit more fierce.

[@RecoveringLoner]

"I think you're quite unusual...." GAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[@Josbons]

This cant be boring ppl! This is James May! Everything boring in this review is just plain funny!

[@luisronaldofigo]

idk guys but i may be the only guy in the world that enjoys watching more james may's reviews than the other two guys :D

[@DaveMonty01]

a handsome looking brute! get the same sort of vibe from the new beefy looking mondeo, quite a bit more interesting to look at than the equivalent bmw or audi saloon imo.

[@autofreak7]

The Vauxhall VXR8 is a rebadged Holden, but it isn't sold as an Opel. All the other Vauxhalls (Agila, Corsa, Astra,...) are rebadged Opels. The last genuine UK-designed Vauxhall was the Vauxhall Viva.

[@eclecticcollected8570]

"It looks like a car that's been designed by a committee" that's a shame... I like the look of the insignia... It looks nice for a vauxhall!

[@AndorRadnai]

I don’t agree with her on that at all. Sure, it is paired back, but at the same time it is the best looking modern Opel/Vauxhall there is. It is not overdone, but a few almost fighter jet style intakes set it apart. Simple and surprisingly elegant, but still dynamic. No committee would be capable of that much nuance.

[@buttdick273]

Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden all have pretty much the same lineup. Vauxhall is in Britain,Opel is in Europe, and Holden is in Australia. They are all owned by GM.

[@annoyedwithsignup]

"I think you're quite unusual." LOL.

[@AlexTrain5249]

The Insignia is known as the Buick Regal in the USA and I love the estate version which is called the TourX. It’s a retro modern car. The seats are incredibly comfortable in it (the leather ones aren’t as comfortable). 0-60: 6.7 seconds, top speed: 160.

[@zackpenhaligon9904]

Agree totally, slept in the back of mine (vauxhall, uk) a few times, brilliant all rounder, quick, handles well... Would still rather a '67 Mustang though, if I'm honest!

[@dominikfcbsousaoutnow5948]

In the eu. Its an opel Insignia OPC the same 0-97 (i use km/h).

[@ssss-df5qz]

@@zackpenhaligon9904 I've just got a remapped CDTi Mk1 - best car I've had. Corners like a house fly, 60mpg on motorway, comfortable. Love it.

[@T966ER]

"I think you're quite unusual.."

[@half_r_mk5]

this is why i love Top Gear. They have such diversified hosts of characters...

[@dindinduckduck]

5:52 Would you agree with me that it would look a bit sexier in glasses LMFAO.....

[@DaveDavis126]

it's not the usual we get from top gear, but it is funny that flicking on the seat heater is just as funny here in Canada as in GB, especially in the summer.

[@polg0003]

this is the Buick Regal in US right?

[@fhurley8447]

+Greg Polansky Yup

[@InteloPL]

+Greg Polansky Ot the new CTS I think.

[@TucsonDude]

+Greg Polansky ...with a manual transmission and Brembo brakes?

[@polg0003]

+Edslittleworld I don't know, this always confused me. I remember seeing some review where some guy was driving a buick regal with a manual transmission and RWD, but could never find it again, and can't find the video. I thing it was a 2012 Regal, some kind of special edition... maybe the "R" if anyone else has any info, id appreciate it

[@polg0003]

+Greg Polansky I might have just confused it with this Vauxhall

[@cclluubbs]

VXR stands for Vauxhall Racing, I think. In the case of the Opel, OPC is Opel's performance division, and serves the same purpose as VXR. It's kind of like AMG for Mercedes or TRD for Toyota. So to answer your first question, yes. VXR and OPC basically mean the same thing.

[@wanderingdreams]

Really nice scenery shots (who am I kidding, the camera work is always great here).

[@geeteebloke1979]

Have a white insignia vxr myself and it is a lot of motor for the money now... grab one while you can !

[@goldeneagle99]

May do next year...in blue or red...

[@azkymohamed123]

I remember learning about her in my Gcse course

[@haraldsenb]

James is the best!

[@CheekyCultured]

Margaret Calvert is a ideal person for May because both of them like driving slowly .

[@nootnoot4058]

Yes.

[@dan_k_]

Nice car! Wish we could get cars like this in Canada.

[@jml8841]

@KingWilliamMB That's because is basically is a Opel Insignia OPC. Vauxhall and Opel (Buick Regal) belong to GM so they are the same cars, just the Vauxhall has RHD. Vauxhall and Opel have had the same models for a number of years now so it's not really copying.

[@michaelkennedy8573]

1960's footage is taken from short documentaries called "Look at Life" fantastic videos well worth a watch!

[@jamestorrens645]

Holden sold these 1st gen Insignias in australia and I must say they are very sexy cars to look at. The 2nd gen Insignia-based 5th gen Commodore also looks phenomenal. Love them both.

[@TucsonDude]

It's crazy (good) to see a "normal" car with a manual transmission.

[@HRHooChicken]

Most cars have manual gearboxes in the civilised world

[@zbynekdrab8077]

Most cars made prior to 1992 maybe.

[@jochem1986]

Most cars made prior to 2020 actually.

[@ITmage]

Actually automatics are sort of American-Australian thing, those are really not very popular in Europe-Russia.

[@ale58301]

Want to get one here in Australia but they only come in auto :(

[@HolyFuckinShitBatman]

@wyciskTV Vauxhall was actually founded in England in 1857, making it 6 years older than Opel. GM bought both companies but decided to keep the English brand name in England as Vauxhall was already established as a reliable car maker. Why won't they change? For the same reasons that Opel isn't called General Motors, nor is Lamborghini called Volkswagen.

[@Jimbo8012]

I think part of the Insignia VXR's problem was that it was always slightly under powered for its heft. 320 bhp isn't really enough to make a 1.8 tonne barge especially fast. Could have done with at least another 50 bhp stock and a flatter torque curve. That would drop the 0-60 mph time by half a second and the 0-100 mph time by at least 1.5 seconds. Would have made a difference.

[@geeteebloke1979]

Fixed by a simple remap m8

[@TheMainMan318]

that car looks really good, real high quality in a cheap price, id love that hear in the states

[@Hampstead343]

Funny, I have the same car (Buick Regal), the same colour and I'm a road signs euthusiast.

[@TheSteelGamer]

+Hampstead343 well GM take Opel Insignia and rebaged as a buick ... they did that Opel Omega... and Cadillac Catera

[@lambertbutlersilvers6588]

+TheSteelGamer vauxhall started it all off.

[@JulesD92]

The Car Boar enthusiast nope

[@JulesD92]

The Car Boar enthusiast Opel build the majority of the Vauxhalls, in fact the technology etc was produced by Opel

[@zackpenhaligon9904]

Vauxhall made in Britain. British brand, too. Vaux did start it off - 118 years ago! 🇬🇧👍😁

[@AliErfurt]

@wyciskTV Vauxhall, Opel, Holden, Chevrolet, Pontiac... all the same. Because GM wanted to give the same car in a different region the most prestigious auto brand from each selling region. In GB it's Vauxhall which is existing since 1857 (London) and belongs to GM since 1925.

[@themightyboush]

Margaret Calvert also designed the font for the Tyne & Wear Metro.

[@serenityinside1]

Thank you. I am a little more enriched by knowing that

[@bmwmsport11]

yeah. for some reason GM sells this car under the "buick" name plate in the US...and if you didnt know, buicks are old people cars. also we dont get a VXR button, we have a button called "GS" which is basically "sport" on the Vauxhall.

[@Disappearingboy1039]

lol this seemed like it was awkward but James pulled it off and managed to keep it somewhat interesting i guess

[@cclluubbs]

Vauxhall and Opel share models because they are both owned by GM, and GM sells their cars under different names depending on country. So yes, in continental Europe it would known as an Opel, in the UK it's a Vauxhall, and in North America it's sold as a Buick, another brand GM owns.. There's also a Holden version sold by GM's Australian division too I think.

[@robertjdm]

Beautiful car! Loved the seats and the stance of the car, shame we didn't see more of the CAR in this ROAD TEST video!

[@MrAntimationStudios]

In Australia this is called the Holden epic, but there is no HSV (our OPC/VXR equivalent) or sport version that I know of. I know this one uses an international GM platform, the confusion comes from earlier model VXRs, which were rebadged versions of the a HSV Commodore, which had it's own Australian designed and built platform. The model I am talking about was called the VXR8

[@rarutab]

She doesn't look like a very nice lady to spend an afternoon with

[@ironfist452]

+rarutab no not at alllllllll

[@Romulan2469]

+rarutab She sounds and acts like a typical upper class English snob.

[@lodgin]

She seems to me like the type of person who just wants to do something well and move on. She never seems to actually want to talk about her work on the road signs, instead, it's everyone else constantly bringing it up. She doesn't want to be idolised, she just wants to feel comfortable. But then again, I have no idea what she wants, this is just what I figured from this and other videos of her.

[@joewakeford]

+Romulan2469 Margaret is South African.

[@Romulan2469]

Joe Wakeford I stand corrected, but she still comes across as snobbish.

[@Konformation07]

The Insignia is coming to the US as the new Buick Regal. The should bring the Insignia VXR as the new Buick Regal GNX. The old Regal GNX used a turbocharged six cylinder engine just like the VXR as we see here.

[@TripleZ89]

I LOVE the car and want it to become the new Buick GN perhaps :P Also as not EXCITING as other Top Gear episodes this one was still pretty informative and not bad at all. I actually learned something! XD

[@kristianspencer1978]

My next car, but a saloon in blue. Plus induction kit and stage one remap.

[@kappakappa3110]

Vauxhall is Opel?

[@MrRohanThomas]

YES

[@unexceptionalcars914]

Kappa Kappa it was bought out. Never used to be but it is now.

[@megu2272]

And Buick and Holden

[@strahinjastevic7480]

there are actual brits that beleive vauxhall makes their own cars

[@romulas-cushmanproject3273]

Vauxhall is Opel is Buick is Holden is Chevrolet is Vauxhall is…

[@JPWack]

the interview was more interesting than the car, kudos to James May!

[@mojitobandito6637]

2:59 bloke on the motorbike looks like Clarkson

[@Lenoch_]

@wyciskTV If I'm not mistaken, Vauxhall is the English subsidiary of Opel that specializes in distribution.

[@MyGlobalwarming]

yea its a buick regal...but in the states we dont get the performance that the opel gets...we only get the look...and the interior is shit, and the engine is gutless...i recommend exchanging an opel insignia v6 turbo...1,000% better than the buick and a near identical price tag...

[@ArabianKnight7771]

we are 4 years behind with the design Europe always ahead of us here in the USA now we are getting this car

[@StanOfGB]

Now you're just talking nonsense. The Buick variant of this car is called the Regal RS.

[@alfisti93]

StanOfGB The Regal GS is a turbocharged 4-banger with 270hp, I believe? However, the Opel Insignia OPC (Vauxhall Insignia VXR) has a turbocharged 2.8 V6, making 325hp and 435Nm. (the torque is limited to 435, because the transmission is officially only capable of 400Nm +10% tolerance)

[@derbigpr500]

StanOfGB It's not the same. VXR / OPC are special sports version with totally different suspension, 4wd, v6 turbo engine, etc. It's a very different car to any Regal.

[@hardcorehardo]

It's german engineered.

[@Janni3494]

@DriftDweller Nope. It's originally a Opel Insignia. In the US/Canada called Buick Regal and in the UK Vauxhall Insignia

[@AdzSONLINE]

Margaret Banter

[@Marco-ql3co]

the only and realy top gear

[@antiteroristickejedinicepo4830]

aweosme car

[@Celeon999A]

@HollandandJasper Vauxhall and Opel are both owned by General Motors hence there is no point in having both companies compete against each other with own models. It would be a waste of money. Opel's cars already sell good so GM decided that Vauxhall should built Opel line cars for the british market and the other right hand drive markets aswell. So most but not all of Vauxhalls' cars are right hand drive derivatives of Opel cars. The opel equivalent of the VXR sport line is called OPC

[@iainbruce3376]

I guess if that same car had a Ford badge on it they would have been getting wet over it.

[@XxAWSOMExXLAMBOXxRS]

the holden commodore is the only australian one but the cruze is assembled there aswell. the captivas are just deawoos with the holden badge and so are the astra but they are made in germany. Hence the comback from the company to start up in the country after a few years. even in the ads there is a german accent!

[@matthewcoupe393]

Chavs drive a 1.2 VXR rep not a genuine VXR

[@zackpenhaligon9904]

Mind you, I quite like the corsa vxrs. Think I'm going through a second bout of teenager syndrome 🤭

[@hawkez2003]

The Cruze is definitely a different car. In most of Europe Opel is the brand name. Holden stopped using any of the German based (opel) cars to fill their line up. Now they use mostly Taiwanese based world GM cars. Opel has started selling cars here recently and that is the Insignia, a class above the Cruze. The Cruse we have here is almost identical to the U.S. Market Cruze.

[@DinosauerCor]

why do those brits always act like vauxhall really builds these cars? that are just german opels or australian holdens with different badges on them. vauxhall hastn engineered a single own car since the 70s. ??????? i just don't get that

[@Jack-qn4vt]

Aside from the commodore, the rest of the range were imports too

[@Jack-qn4vt]

Here in Aus I mean

[@leesmith813]

This is a Holden Cruze, right?

[@Jack-qn4vt]

Opel Insignia

[@aaronporter0776]

@kempowarrior there is a american version, called the Buick Regal, they plan to start manufacturing it in late 2010 in Germany & ship them here, but in 2011 they'll start making them in Ontario, Canada

[@AznBoi0wnz]

She was trying to seduce him when he was changing Gears. "That could be a bit better" "Lets try that again" "Yeaaaa" ;]

[@Ypsilon941]

today nearly everything of the GM Company comes from the Research and Development Center of Opel in Rüsselsheim and Rodgau-Dudenhofen in Germany.

[@bappybumbam]

Pointless review 🙄

[@DreamCarGarage1]

I agree totally. It's like he's really just taking the mic. Check out this review of the Insignia VXR and let me know what you think: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWLdoGBsaaaMitE

[@superapple4ever]

I’m American but that seems like a hell of a GM saloon. (AKA nice Chevy sedan.)

[@macblox6871]

All you paying for is the badge when you compare the price of a Vauxhall and an Audi

[@tmanepic]

Have you ever seen, been in, or driven an Opel before. 5k more is a bargain!

[@PeaveyPV20]

Thanks for this one of few good episodes of top gear

[@madman2x]

"Vauxhall"? You mean "Opel". It's a german model, they just took the concept from Opel and put their own name on it.

[@EUGENIOUS96]

madman2x you know vauxhall and opel are the same thing, right

[@volante8657]

Eugene Markov sometimes Holden as well

[@miam8984]

+Eugene Markov Yes but u do know that Opel do all the designing and manufacturing right?

[@EUGENIOUS96]

Opel is sold in Great Britain as Vauxhall. It is nothing more than a marketing ploy

[@miam8984]

Eugene Markov Correct !

[@VincentVisGek]

Well, It's actuallly a Opel insignia. And because Opel is part of General Motors - Holden and Vauxhall sell it too because they are also part of GM, so it;s basicly an Opel with a Vauxall or Holden badge on it! :P

[@RTree613]

@Darknights7 well yea thats what i mean. they didnt make a completely different model for the regal. just took a model from one of their counter parts like they (GM) did for the G8, GTO, Sky, Aura and probably a few other GM models.

[@DDMKA]

Now I know how important the road sign is.....Thx Top gear.......

[@jml8841]

@kohltonq If you did you homework you'd know that Buick copied the bodystyle from OPEL. This is actually a Euro car (Opel insignia) which is sold in the US under the Buick brand.

[@TheAstralracer]

These guys makes driving and cars A-LOT more fun.

[@mercycollege123]

Australia's holden still makes better versions than other general motors brands

[@iamstd2]

Interesting info on this episode. I learned something that didn't pertain directly to cars for the first time in weeks.

[@Spongyloam]

Since 1980 Vauxhall products have been largely identical to those of Opel, "GM's" German subsidiary, and most models are principally engineered in Rüsselsheim, Germany. A high proportion of Vauxhall-branded vehicles sold in the UK, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands are produced at Opel factories in Germany, Spain and Poland, and roughly 80% of Vauxhall production is exported, most of which is sold under the Opel brand. WIKI.

[@KurdForce]

Buick Regal is build on Opel Insignia platform. Opel Insignia is the original.

[@markjwil]

This car will arrive in the US next year as the Buick Regal GS.

[@matt12101210]

i think james may does the best road tests.

[@bigkarl24]

So glad that gm brought this car to america its really nice

[@kempowarrior]

I wish they bring this car to the U.S. It look really good.

[@ariasd]

@avick84 Glad to hear. Hope after this economical down turn, if everything gets better, Ill be able to afford one since I really like this car. wasnt a big fan of american cars, but american cars have been changing dramatically recently. Cars like 2011 jeep Grand Cherokee and this buick are really stepping up in the market.

[@rowsdower12]

Very beautiful country side. The car looks good regardless if its competitive or not. I think it looks good.

[@MrAntimationStudios]

Sorry, I got confused, I was never a GM expert. Thank you for clearing that up. I have also made anther mistake in that comment, Apparently VXR8 were rebadged Monaros, not Commodores, but I'm still not sure.

[@FDisguise]

This OPEL looks amazing!!! I would buy it in an instant if I had the money...

[@makaan699]

you can buy it now i guess

[@FDisguise]

@@makaan699 😅😅😅 true

[@rosajulia78]

I don't know this Insignia VXR become the Buick Regal GS in USA.

[@XxUltimateMASSxX]

@HollandandJasper when the cars are sold in the uk they are called vauxhall and when they are sold in france they are called opel

[@mazinais31]

@CEEFilmstudios heck no - i spent a year there and came back to my country and felt very uncomfortable on the road ... i'd say britain's signs aren't very aestetically pleasing but they really do the job

[@Tungsten23]

:D it's American. GM power! Holden is GM's Australian subdivision. Vauxhall is GM's UK subdivision. GM also has major power in Suzuki and Isuzu (Both are very popular in Asia) American POWERRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

[@HughJastits]

Those Recaro's Are Siiiick

[@blu240]

if this is the new regal for the us, im pumped

[@RTree613]

which isn't such a bad idea when they are current models unlike the GTO was when it (Holden Monaro) finally came [back] to the US