Anyway, back to the VX220. The driving position (once in past the huge sills of course) is nigh on perfect. Only the Lotus Elise is as good in my opinion. A prominent start button on the barren dash kicks into life a very lively (and loud) 2.2-litre engine. Out into the real world, with traffic, roundabouts and lollipop ladies. My mum could drive this car (she may need double-jointed hips to get in first). Docile at low speed, ultra-direct (yet not heavy) steering, and a tractable engine all add up to a nice experience if that's what you are after. Nice is not the word to describe the car once the national speed limit signs fade in the rear view mirror.

Let me describe the driving route Vauxhall had set for us. The first mile or so took us through a small town. Then, after about 10 minutes of (sweating and arm-twirling) bumpy back road, the route widened and the surface improved. Suddenly we were able to test the cars at high speed through long sweeping corners. It was a very interesting circuit, and a brave one for Vauxhall as it did actually show up each cars weakness (and strength).

A squeak of wheel spin in third? No problem. In the dry though?! Yep. This is what happens when you drop a 2.2-litre lump into a light aluminium frame. The first few miles in the VX220 were a little nerve-racking to be honest as the road was just so bumpy, and there was just enough standing water to make you use the ABS every now and then... However, the car is small and light, and flits over the bumps rather than crashes into them. The VX220 seems more at home on long sweeping bends. The front end bites keenly while the rear clings on unless provoked. Quite fantastic, breathtaking and addictive. What more is there to say about it? I did not feel as if I knew the car by the end of the day unfortunately, but I suspect that that is a good thing for prospective owners. If we only drove it at nine tenths, I'm scared to think what a regular driver could get out of it.

Taking the VX220 as the first drive of the day really spoilt us. A mistake? It certainly felt like it as we rolled out in the new Vauxhall Astra 2.2-litre SRi next. Immediate reactions were along the lines of being at the helm of the QE2. This is of course nonsense. The Astra SRi is the sportiest version of the hatch yet. A few miles later, VX220 memories dulled, the Astra shows off its abilities. Where the VX220 danced from crest to dip the Astra SRi soaks it all up and goes exactly where you point. Very comforting. Ok, the driving position is way too high (again, probably only in comparison). It would be fixed by an adjustable steering rack, which all Vauxhall cars present seemed to lack. The Astra does not have the same sense of occasion as the VX220, but that is to be expected. You do, however, get the same great engine, and a much more civilised and quiet car. I would have assumed that this car was designed for motorway eating, but having driven it, now I'm not so sure. It may float a little and roll through the high-speed corners, but its cross-country ability is surprisingly good. Before I forget, the car we drove had the most impressive brakes of any we drove that day (including the VX220).

The second car on display that I really wanted to get my teeth into was the acclaimed Astra Coupé Turbo. Lucky for us, we got the keys of the lovely blue version. Walk around it and the car does not instantly look pretty. Aggressive from some angles, but awkward from others (what is that chrome strip on the boot lid for?), the Coupé is as much about having only 2 doors and a turbocharged engine as it is about outright style. The colour helps massively though.

Out on the road, the Coupé is mid-way between the Astra SRi and the VX220 in handling and ride dynamics. It is certainly quite stiff, but it seems able to soak up the bumps a lot better than the VX220 does - the extra weight may help I suppose. That weight does not stop the Turbo from feeling faster than its little open-top brother though. Out of tight corners, in the right gear, with the turbo coming on full boost, the Coupé takes off. Very nice indeed. I've used the nice word again. An apology to all Coupé owners - it is much better than just nice. I think the words "Holy s*#t" came out of my mouth the first time I tried it...

For those of you not yet acquainted with the Astra Coupé, the interior is a step above the regular Astra, but the two-tone wheel is just plain ugly (personal opinion of course). There is, unusually for a coupé version of a hatch, loads of room inside. A family man/woman could easily justify it to their partner.

Again we were spoiled. Next car up was the new 1.8-litre Vauxhall Corsa SRi. Now, I've never really been a fan of the new-look Corsa's styling. However, lowered, in Vauxhall's eye-catching blue, with suitably large alloy wheels, the SRi is bordering on being a sexy little car. Emphasis on the word bordering...

Inside, things are pleasant enough. The gear knob looks strange, but is grippy and in the right place for quick changes. The indicators have a very irritating noise, and unbelievably, the engine limiter cuts in before the red line on the rev counter. Hmmm. The ride is stiff, but the chassis itself does not feel very sophisticated. Short blasts on twisty back road are this car's domain. It didn't like the high speed sweeping bends as much, feeling quite unstable at speed. Saying that, the car is very easy to place on the road, and is quite chuckable.

Chuckable is not quite the word I'd use to describe our last drive of the day - the Chevrolet Camaro convertible. I am aware that this is not a Vauxhall, but it was there for the offering. It would be rude to say no. What a laugh though! The whole thing shook before we left the car park. Thoughts of power sliding an all-American muscle car legend quickly evaporated as the roof rolled back and the sun came out. This car is even worse to drive than I imagined. The V6 engine, mated to an automatic gearbox, barely has enough grunt to move the monster along. Waft is one of the few verbs you will want to do in this car. The others are just rude.

Navigating the beast back into the car park, it came to me how to have fun in this car - load it up with friends and head off for a weekend of debauchery. It all makes sense now. Especially in the virtual world of sunny summer days in the UK...