There's a question, lol!
It started with a call to Courtenay in 2006. I booked the car in for the CS4. I then returned later in 2006 for a set of Schrick cams taking the engine to CS5. I was happy with that until December 2007. My car was used for the 2.4 inlet manifold and 2.4 TB developement. Whilst I was up there, Mark Watts took me out in his SC Astra. I was hooked. The sound and the feeling of instant torque had me in awe.
I returned home whilst my car stayed at Courtenay. I was thinking about Marks car for a week or so but couldn't justify paying out for the conversion. The car was there for a few months and in that time I went back up to attend a z22se.co.uk RR day. My car was okay to drive with the new 2.4 inlet fitted but the 2.4 TB was still having issues. I took the car for a drive but wasn't impressed with the inlet. The car made no more power than before the manifold but it did drop the torque by 20lbs.
I then got talking to Mark again and had another ride and also saw Poundys Vectra. My car left behind at Courtenay again, I returned home but with it in mind that I really wanted the conversion carried out. After another week of me moping about I set about how I would fund it if I was to have it done. I was working 75-80 hours a week as we had so much work on. I was earning good money so I looked at how long it would take to raise the money and went from there.
I called up Jon Shield and discussed my options. He came up with a price and a plan about an hour later and the rest is history as they say. BUT.....I went into it with my eyes open. I was prepared to spend an obscene amount of money on a car that was worth half of the conversion cost.
Looking back, yes I could well have bought a newer, better powerful car. The difference being was that my car was a good base to build on. 40k on the clock and the bodywork in excellent condidtion. There was only 1 other SC Vectra at the time and the Astra. All the others were vx220. Mine was to be the last Courtenay SC conversion using the lowered compression and seperate boost management. It also was the most powerful conversion at that time in 2008. Jon's plan made it a little more unique and with that and Mark taking me out in his Astra, being completely overwhelmed by the feeling and sound of SC power, I was caught hook line and sinker!
Would I do it again, probably not. But you have to try these things sometimes. To anyone considering it, just make sure you take everything into consideration financially and accept that it will be difficult to see your money back unless you can sell it on to a fellow enthusiast.