What's the general opinion of the new Monaro? My boss is picking up the very first UK VXR from the Aldershot dealership on Tuesday. Apparently the first of 50 to be released this year. I have a feeling it's going to retain it's value for quite a while. I have to admit it seems like a beefy engine.

 

http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthread.php?t=326032

I have an appointment to see (& listen) that very car tomorrow am, although can't test drive it as its already sold !!!

 

Yes, it will definitely be something unique - at least by Vauxhall standards. But I was quite impressed by it. I guess buying the 1st in the VXR line will be something special. He's spent £35K on it, and bought a licence plate ** VXR for £250. The insurance companies originally couldn't come up with a quote because the model isn't officially released until next month. Unfortunately he has to take the "red" model because it is the first to be released. I guess he's quite lucky. The tyres are 19" Pirelli P-Zeros ... he will be forking out some serious cash, but he's looking forward to owning it. I just wonder what the car will be worth in 3 years time.

On a side note, even Jeremy Clarkson was suitably impressed by it.

 

I not so sure about the residual values and rarity seeing they are 10 a penny in Oz. All it needs is a few grey import businesses to set up and presto it'll be the exact same situation as with what happens with scoobys.

Without the issues of 100 octane fuel either

 

HUGE tuning potential guys, famous SMALL BLOCK CHEVY engine, everything available here at reasonable cost, including heads, stroker kits (383/400ci)you name it.......... and of course nitrous oxide? = 600/700hp not hard to get.

 

Put a nice straight through exhaust on and hear that V8 roar!!!! They sound awesome!

 

The VXR Monaro is very good. 400BHP as standard and the engine can easily be tuned to 700bhp. They come with alot of kit and performance and for £35,000 you carnt go wrong. Its a very special car

 

Tony he will love it, its actually number 11 on the plaque under the bonnet, the alloys are immense, I want one too, its just having to justify the extra 5K to get the VXR model.

 

Monaro VXR

 

On a side note, even Jeremy Clarkson was suitably impressed by it.

Hmmmm.... Herr Germany Clarkson impressed by it eh ..... give that a miss...

 

friend of mine with a 300+ bp RB5 WR has test driven one of these, and he loved it.

Not as fast as his scooby, obviously - it's heavy - but he told me about going round roundabouts sideways, controlling it just on the throttle.. - his words were along the lines of "the most fun I've had in a car".

And I think they look fantastic

 

DanTheMan,

It is indeed number 11, but the first 10 cars have gone to Vauxhall ... whatever that actually means. I guess the UK directors get the very first editions. So he'll get the first commercially available car.

 

I'm struggling with the Calibra looks of it. Nice idea and reasonable price, but I think it will depreciate pretty heavily. Its a shame though as Vauxhall should be commended for at least bringing it in. Will be a good secondhand buy in a year though - my guess 35% depreciation in the first year minimum.

Jonathan

 

Lets hope the price of fuel keeps going up then

 

Official VXR stats & pics just put on the Vauxhall website:

http://vauxhall.co.uk/vxr/index.jhtml

387PS @ 5800rpm and 376 lb.ft of Torque

0-62 in 5.4 secs and top end 170+

 

Pick up this weeks Autocar.

Group test done...........

Monaro, Impreza WR1, Evo FQ330, MGZT260, Audi A3 3.2V6, BMW 330Ci Sport, Megane 225.

Group test Winner was the 4.6l V8 MGZT260.

Cheers
Lee

 

There is a review in MAY 04 issue of Total Vauxhall...like it a lot!

 

Try this link http://vauxhall.co.uk/vxr/onTheRoad/monaro/index.jhtml - the official web one seems screwed

 

Just looking at the accessories...locking wheel nuts?????? £35K car and that's not standard!!! £104 option shame it doesn't mention tracker either as all the on-line quotes I've done want one for the standard car nevermind the VXR. Not that impressed with the buy-on-line discount either.

 

Had a test drive in a standard Monaro today. Nice big comfy cruiser, lovely seats, excellent suspension, good to drive. What's wrong with it? Doesn't feel that fast, not like an M5 does. Build quality outside was nothing short of shocking for any car, let alone a near £29k car. Some really poorly aligned panels, several gaps were out by 2 or 3mm, bad paint under the bonnet, boot etc. some rust coming through the paint under the bonnet Maybe a result of being on a boat from Aus for 3 months.
I liked it overall, but it needs tuning/more power and the VXR is too expensive, and that build quality put me right off. Pointed out all the above to dealer and said I would have rejected the car they showed me if it turned up like that. He didn't really have an answer. I wanted to like this car, and I do, but can't spend that kind of money on such poor quality.

 

Trashman where did you find the "buy online" discount ?

 

I've not driven the Monaro but have driven the MGZT260 4.6l V8.

There are already pre-registered delivery milage examples about for under £20k


04(04) MG ZT 4.6 V8 260 Saloon, Trophy Blue, 10 miles, Anti-lock Brakes, Drivers Air Bag, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Remote Central Locking, Climate Control, Driver Intelligence Pack, Electric Windows, Power Steering, Rev Counter, Adjustable Steering Wheel, Tinted Glass, Engine Immobiliser, Compact Disc Player, Front Fog Lamps £19995

Lee

 

No discounts to be had. Only 350 cars available in total. If you don't want yellow or red, you have to wait. I was quoted 10 weeks which is mad for a car with no options, i.e. not built to order. I reckon they're waiting till the full allocation is sold before they set sail from Aus.

 

Sat in one at the Motorshow - quite liked it in a US/Aussie muscle car kind of way.
The clutch pedal was very heavy.

 

Well I liked it so much Ive ordered one, and will have it straight in for a stage2 ~400BHP upgrade.

Its is badged as a Holden not a Vauxhall (if you ask the dealer nicely)

I did test drive the Rover V8 but its pretty uninspiring and underpowered, and I like the idea of the Holden being fairly rare, but not buying an STi Scoob was the hardest decision of my life which I may well regret.....

 

Nice one Dan....I am soooooo tempted to chop the Legacy B4 (280 horses) for one of these, but might wait a year, and try and pick one up with a bit of the depreciation knocked off...It's that or a a 3-year old M5, anyway!

When does it get delivered?

Please keep us updated

SB

 

It's finally off the ferry and will be ready for collection this week sometime, and a week Weds its booked into Linden special vehicles for a Stage2 tune (4-1 manifolds, twin 2.5" pipes, hiflow maf, cold air intake) which should see almost 400BHP especially as they will de-cat it for me

can't wait, will have to get a dyno done asap too

 

Are Vauxhall going to honour the warranty with the mods?

 

The guys at Linden assured me that Vauxhall have informed them that any work they carried out would be warranted as normal, so that's good news.

 

so vauxhall puts the ****s on lotus with the vx 220 turbo, and now they are bringing in a 5.7 ltr monster?.

aka the holden hks, damm they are stepping up to the challange aint they.

and this is the same company that blessed us all with the cav(jippo joy), astra gte(chav central), and even the corsa.

hmm looks like vauxhall want to be given a second chance, and with cars like these, i think we should give them it,

lets look at our choices in that price bracket, 330ci?
only another 3 million ppl have one.

350z ?, i dont need to comment.

audi tt roadster, ok no power and we all wanna be gay NO.

used e46 m3, ? good choice only now
they have lost they thing.

id say vauxhall come in at the right time with this car.

they know we suffer from 1.3 fiesta's, they know we want the rumble from a v8.

maybe im wrong and im talking the finest cart of horse manure youve ever smelt in your life.

but i think im right, we need a fresh form of car over here, be it a 5.7 monster, or whatever, we need something diff, from these fookin 2.0 ltr, we get slung with !.

ive said my bit.

i bid you all fookin farewell