Vauxhall Monaro (2004 - 2006) 6.0 V8 VXR 2d (2005/05) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Anyone who has these cars will be an automotive enthusiast of some kind. The average Joe doesn't buy a huge V8 coupe without knowing what he wants. I think the VXR is an aggressive version of the Monaro, and so may not suite the gentleman about town. But it does turn heads where ever it goes and is always a conversation starter. Hearing the huge Chevy V8 is a rare thing in Europe and attracts attention because of this too.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My partner was not sure about the car to begin with. I used to drive a BMW E46 3 Series diesel before this that she loved. But I wanted a V8 and what does she know? ;) But I have had this for about 3-4 years now and its got real character, she loves it now. With the loud exhaust I could see that a grumpy neighbour might get miffed, but luckily my neighbour loves bikes and cars so all is well. If you are gentle with the throttle and gear changing, you can be quiet enough moving through town, late at night.

Would you buy this car again and why?

I think I would, if you look around there are just no modern cars with such performance and presence as this. I love corvettes and mustangs, but you just don't get the same amount of car for your money, its a real niche bargain. If you are into your big engine cars its a no brainer.

What are you likely to buy next?

I have thought about selling the car off and on a little bit, but its in my heart and I can't get rid of it. I love DB7 V12 Astons, but I can't justify spending over 20 grand when I have so many other priorities. For the forseeable future she is staying with me, especially because prices are just too low at the moment for sellers.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£14,500

When did you buy the car?

April 2009

Did you get a good deal and why?

At the time I purchased this car it was one of the better deals for the car, but it was totally stock in every sense. People who own these cars (including myself) tend to know a bit more about what they want and the mechanicals behind it. So upgrading these cars is commonplace. Prices for these cars are falling really low at the moment because of fuel prices and general costs. So if you are thinking of purcahsing there has never been a better time, I don't believe they will fall much further. As these cars become rarer we could see the price start to climb again, especially as people who buy them these days tend to hang onto the good, cared for examples.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I bought this car because I have always wanted a V8. And with this much size, power and comfort on offer in this Coupe how can one resist?

What was the dealer like?

I purchased mine from a youngish owner who sold it after a short ownership. I managed to get new rear tyres into the bargain and 12 months tax. This helped me decide to close the deal. I would not take this car to Vauxhall in a million years, despite importing it only a handful of dealers even know the basics of this car. I would opt for an enthusiast run garage such as Monkfish Performance.

What's it like to drive?

Its much like the large Coupe it looks really, heavy and a little wollowy, but not bad for road manners. I have had the rear end out by accident a few times, but its easy enough to control in those cases. My driving style is rather relaxed and I enjoy the windows down and listening to that exhaust note more than blasting around. Subseqently I have managed to make my rear tyres last about 2.5 years. It all depends on your style. The engine is really the centrepiece of this car, its huge capacity gives it real presence. Foot firmly down in first or second and you will be catapulted back into your seat, and the lovely torque means it pulls like a train all through the rev range.

What's it like to park?

Parking is a little tricky. With the VXR with its lower lips and body work I tend to consider ahead where I am going to park. I have been to several locations and its been a bit tricky to get over large curbs and inclines. As said by others, parking sensors make it easy enough not to reverse into stuff but being aware of ground clearance is my biggest thought when parking (and dont curb those lovely 19" alloys either).

Have you had any problems with the car?

As the mechanicals are really simple its not a diffcult car to maintain even at home for the DIYer. As these cars are made really for dry Australia, rust is one of the biggest concerns. Uncared for examples can have body rust so undersealing is preferrable but another area that can go is the power steering cooler. This is not made with stainless steal and so rusts rather easily. I had to replace this after a year of ownership at a cost of £100 or so. One of my front speakers stopped working in the doors, so I opted to change both sides out for some Alpine units from Halfords at about £50. Other than that, the car hasn't missed a beat.

What's most practical about your car?

The car isn't what you would call the most practical, especially the VXR version. Rule changes in the states meant that the fuel tank was moved behind the rear seats, taking much of the boot space. The VXR is more of a drivers car for fun. But I have taken 4 passengers in comfort over 1000 miles to Spain from the UK in this. The rear seats are excellent and on par with the front. As a daily driver, as long as you can afford the fuel (25mpg max for the 6 litre VXR) its great.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

My favourite accessory is definately the exhaust. If you dont have a performance exhaust on this car with this engine; then its totally wasted.