Modified Car of the Year Winner

Tina Playle
On March 30, 2022
https://www.safelyinsured.co.uk

Modified Car of the Year: Emily’s Vauxhall Astra H VXR feature

We are extremely excited to bring you this feature on Emily’s Vauxhall Astra H VXR. Not only is this Astra kitted out with a list of impressive modifications, but Emily actually won the Safely Insured Customer Car of the Year award!

Emily kindly checked in with us to tell us the full story behind the modified Vauxhall Astra H VXR. And what an incredible story it is!

Emily’s Story

Emily has been a part of the car scene since she was 15 and attended her very first Max Power car show. The cars she saw that day inspired her to get her hands on her first car and start modifying. Emily went from owning BMX bikes and riding dirt bikes to buying her very first Corsa B at the age of 16, before she could even legally start learning to drive!

Her very first modification was a K&N filter on her first car, and since then, she hasn’t been able to keep any car as standard.

Emily told us “there are many things I like about modified cars, one being that you get to make your car unique and different from everyone else’s”.

Emily’s Vauxhall Astra H VXR

Fast forward to now and Emily is the owner of an award winning Vauxhall Astra H VXR which is admired by car enthusiasts all around.

Emily’s journey with the Vauxhall Astra H VXR has been going for 6 years and counting and she has loved every minute of it. When asked about how the story started, she told us “I purchased my car from my ex partner’s parents which you might think is quite a strange thing to do, however he isn’t an ex by choice. My VXR belonged to my partner of nearly seven years but unfortunately he passed away from a motorbike accident seven years ago”

“I originally asked his dad to come and view a car with me as most garages try to rip off young women and he asked me why I didn’t just buy this VXR. At first I thought to myself I would never be able to drive this car without him. It would be so hard and would be so strange without him there beside me, however after a lot of thought, and things going through my mind and many different feelings and emotions, I am happy that I chose to buy his car as I get to keep a part of him with me throughout the next journey in my life without him.”

Full List of Modifications – Vauxhall Astra H VXR

Air filter
Cross Over delete
Cobra exhaust system 2.5 Inch
Airtec intercooler
Courtenay Sport ECU remap
18″ rota grids
Brembo 4 pot front brake callipers
DNA rear lights
Currently running 300BHP
30mm lowering springs
2 pod pillar pod boost Gauge & oil gauge
Blue SMD Conversion
Blue seat belts – front & back
Wind Deflectors & back wiper delete
Maxton design front splitter
Finned diffuser
Rear tinted windows
Forged header tank
Forced actuator & Forged recirc
2 x 15 inch ViBe black air subs & 3 amps
ViBe Cven series component speakers

Emily’s Future Plans for the Vauxhall Astra H VXR

For Emily, the journey with her Vauxhall Astra H VXR isn’t stopping any time soon. She has some rather exciting projects in the pipeline.

“I have a few things lined up this year for my VXR, one of them is building a boot build. I have 2 fifteen inch subs along with 3 amps and upgraded door speakers, hopefully by the summer this year this will be finished and be on show at a few car shows. Also maybe a different colour with vinyl wrap might be in the pipeline, plus a few interior changes.”

But that’s not all! In true car enthusiast fashion, one is never enough. Emily tells us “my boyfriend is in the process of buying an RX7, so we both can’t wait to get it and start stripping it apart to build it back up.”

We made sure to check in and see what Emily’s dream car would be and she said “I don’t think I could pick just one, I have always loved American muscle cars such as the Hellcat and Shelby GT, however if money wasn’t the object a McLaren P1 would be up there in my top 10.”

When she’s not working on making more modifications on her own car, Emily spends her free time attending car shows and has started to detail friends and families’ cars! She even dedicates time to managing the Facebook Group and Instagram page for VXR Owners Club.

Winning the Safely Insured Customer Car of the Year Competition

We were so proud to award Emily the Safely Insured Customer Car of the Year title. It was no easy feat! Emily’s VXR was one of a total of 30 shortlisted nominees, one of our biggest Customer Car Competitions yet! There was fierce competition, but Emily’s VXR obviously stood out from the crowd to get the winning amount of votes.

When asked about her victory, Emily told us “I was actually in shock when I got the email saying that I had won, I thought someone would have made it up as a joke at first. I didn’t think I would get through, never mind win. I want to say thank you to everyone who voted for my VXR.”

We would like to thank Emily for taking the time to tell us her incredible story behind her fantastic VXR.

If you’re like us and want to follow Emily and her journey with the VXR, her Instagram handle is @emjayvxr

We try to host a Customer Car Competition every year, so just make sure you’re watching this space for your opportunity to have a special feature next!

Insurance for modified and performance cars

The Customer Car of the Year competition is just one of the ways that we get to celebrate the brilliance of specialist cars.

Such extensive work deserves to have the right protection. Our modified and imported car insurance policies cater for different needs compared to a standard car insurance policy. We can offer: