I have been reading the reviews that have started coming in, apart from two (What Car and Auto Car - same company) the reviews are full of praise. The base spec of the new VXR is ￡26,995 and can rise to over ￡30,000 for the Aero Pack and Leather Seating Pack so the likes of the Meganne 265, Focus ST etc are all cheaper.

The reviews state that you need to buy a lot of optional extras on the other manufacturer offerings to get close to the base Astra VXR Pack and then the prices are simular, but I ofcourse if you buy all those optional extra's for those cars then you add to the weight which brings it inline with the Astra. Top Gear put it second in class only behind the Meganne and even then, it is really really close. The VW Golf, VW Scirocca and Focus ST are not close by all accounts excluding the What Car and Auto Car. Auto Express and The Sun declare it out and out Class Leader while Evo gave it 4.5 out of 5... or 9 out of 10.

The only problem is the price, but I really want one!

I wouldn't mind a car at all, let alone a Astra VXR.
I do agree though, the reviews have been fantastic and it looks like a great car.