opinions and tuning options 3.2 GSi please

**johnsastra16v** · 9th February 2009, 18:14

Hi guys

im in the market for a vectra c 3.2 gsi.
now i know these come with around 200bhp standard, which is a step up from my 2.2 astra coupe

BUT

my dad HAD a vxr vectra upto afew months ago. so i know how immense they are with 280bhp on tap.
i know the gsi is not a patch on the vxr, but id be looking to get the engine to around 250bhp - if thats possible.

so that brings me to you guys.

what tuning options does the 3.2 engine have?

cheers

**big_dave** · 9th February 2009, 18:41

i test drove a gsi they drive totally different to the vxr. The vxr has turbo lag the gsi doesn't, the gsi pulls from the go. don't get me wrong the vxr is a different beast to the gsi but what i got from the test drive was that more power is not nessesary. Plus the general concencous seems to be that 208bhp is conservative it is probably more like 220bhp. To me the gsi is a fast enough car to just step into and drive for a while before i feel the need to modify (except maybe the love/hate alloys)

**i320** · 9th February 2009, 20:23

I mailed Couraney's the other day to see what they did and got the reply that they don't do anything for tuning!

Personaly I think it is because there are relatively few and it is not worth their time.

You would be able to piece together an intake, exhaust and remap from various sources which is alledged to get nearer the 250 mark, but the older 2.5 & 3.0 V6's were hugely tunable with enlarged throttlebodies and cams. Think the ecotec nonsense may have spoiled our games here!

Dunno what the difference is with the Omega MV6 engine that put out 217ps - twin plemum intake aside...

**Big Sig** · 9th February 2009, 20:27

There are a few on here with 250bhp gsi's and one 260 siggy. Remaps, air filters and exhausts are the only way forward at the moment, with out maga cash anyway.

**byebyeitsagsi** · 9th February 2009, 22:54

Officially there is only 0.5 of a second difference in the 0-60 times for a gsi v's vxr. From the word go the gsi is a goer and you can break 70mph in 2nd gear and ill not say how fast the top end is

The most ill do to mine is a panel filter and exhaust when i come into some money but im in no rush as im quite happy with it.

**hagga** · 9th February 2009, 23:01

Air filter, de-cat and exhaust works well...

Originally Posted by byebyeitsagsi

ill not say how fast the top end is

I've seen 160 on the speedo..on a secret private track.....

**rob 2.2dti** · 9th February 2009, 23:19

Got to say a 3.2 sounds fast enough to me, if its quick from the off and has a decent top speed what more do you want ? Throw on a panel filter and sports exhaust should be fun.

**gtr1000** · 9th February 2009, 23:24

BSR also replied to me about re-mapping the GSi - "no can do" was their answer.

**yorkshireborn** · 10th February 2009, 02:26

look side by side on date GSi v VXR there not too far apart

the only difference is the VXR needs a turbo to get those figures

if only it was possible to get a turbo fitted to the GSi.

**CDXI_2003_AUS** · 10th February 2009, 04:58

As the other guys have said on here, exhaust, air intake and a remap is pretty much all you can do without throwing some decent cash at it. There was a supercharger fitted to the irmscher ones in germany but doesn't fit the RHD cars due to the steering column. If you had the cash you could look at a TB setup but haven't seen one done as of yet.