► Month four with the Vauxhall Corsa VXR
► Drive it flat-out and the VXR delivers, but…
► … you’ll lose you license in the meantime
I took the VXR for a proper strop this week. You know. Late night at work. Deserted and familiar roads on the way home. Depeche Mode’s 101 on the iPod. I drove the little Corsa as hard as I could. And you know what? It delivered. At ten tenths the torquetastic engine, taught body control, epic brakes and pointy steering all gelled together to deliver a proper goosebumpy ride. Tasty. Problem is, at anything below flat-out and sweaty-palmed, Shrek defaults to its usual status: truculent, dull, stiff-jointed and inert. Pity.
Logbook: Vauxhall Corsa VXR
Engine: 1598cc 16v, 202bhp @ 5800rpm, 181lb ft @ 1950rpm
Gearbox: 6-spd manual, fwd
Stats: 6.5sec 0-62mph, 143mph, 174g/km
Price: £17,995
As tested: £22,135
Miles this month: 1201
Total miles: 5823
Our mpg: 32.3
Official mpg: 37.7
Fuel: £2311
Extra costs: £0