Subaru killer?

A friend has just bought an Astra Coupe Turbo on a 2002.

A nice looking car all in black I must admit, not quite sure about the Subaru Killer part though - does anyone have the stats for this motor?

The story goes that Autocar, Parkers, What Car, Top Gear etc made errors with the timings and the real 0-60 is around 5.3 secs.

5.3 secs? Na!
197 BHP, 0-60 7 secs, top speed 152.

I owned one. Raced a Subaru the whole stretch of the M50 and kept up with him for 5-10 seconds off the round abouts and he then kept slowly pulling away.

It's definately not a Subaru killer but not far from matching it.

Your "mate" is talking boulderdash! He is as good a liar as Wayne Rooney is a footballer.

Do you honestly believe that all those established, well respected publications all made the same errors with their timings and somehow lost 1.8 seconds from the 0-60 times. Perhaps Vauxhall should get in touch with Stephen Hawkins as they have found the key to travel forward in time!

It sounds to me like your friend is trying to make his car sound better than it obviously is. Comparing like with like how can a vehicle with a measly 197 bhp be around 1.5 seconds faster to sixty than a Civic Type R with 197bhp, furthermore 0.5 seconds faster than a Focus RS Mk2 with 300 bhp. I have heard some ridiculous claims in my time but that has to be the best.

What next? Wait until sometime next year when he trades in the Ashtray Coupe for something else like a clapped out Calibra 2.5 V6 - you'll be on here telling us that he claims it is faster than a Bugatti Veyron.

Next time you are speaking to your friend, take my advice - when you see his lips move you know he is telling lies!

Informative post. I have to disagree though this machine is a bonified Subaru killer.

I think the Astray, which I prefer to pronounce 'Asterrari ...' as nick named in prototype phase of this legend, is more than capable of a 0-60 dash of 5.3 seconds. I've experienced this and have the doctor's note to prove it.

Furthermore, with some simple aerodynamic and weight reduction techniques, ranging from removal of the rear wiper blade to disconnecting the headlight wash/wipes, removing to interior light bulb, blue printing the electric window motor and upgrading with 'spax sockers", this little lady is transformed. The results translate to some breathtaking figures on paper...

In fact, I've a hospital note that confirms, following the implementation of the above this machine is capable of a sub-4 second dash and if quick enough to wrestle the subtle boardering severe torque steer an even more impressive sub 7 second dash to 100 – all of this was achieved short shifting on half throttle, sunshine roof slightly ajar. A might that would humble exotica

Stand corrected this is the marquee not to be messed with no place on a retro site in light of it recent rerelease at the Kazakhstaney motor show.