New Owner - Blimey!!!!
Discussion
Picked up my 05 VXR on Friday and now resemble the Cheshire Cat - Can't seem to wipe the smile off my face. I've had a Chimeara 500 for the last 4 years and it's taken me the last 12 months to decide what to replace it with but after half an hours ownership I know I've done the right thing. It's what the Cerbera should have been....?
Highs so far: The noise (even on standard pipes), the build quality and the sheer presence of the Beast is awesome. 22mpg (with several half hours of silliness and a drive to Brighton n back for fish n chips just so i could drive it), the looks it gets (parked it up in central london and EVERYONE kept looking at it twice), the fact the Mrs can drive it, the way it feels so damn planted (ish!!!)
Lows so far: Getting used to the weight of it (understeer here we come), crap brakes (I thought the newer ones were better...God help owners of the older ones then!), not the best level of service from the Vauxhall dealer I bought it from, long throw gearchange (lose a lot of momentum between changes or am I just being a bit soft with it?), the fact it's supposed to have a 75l tank but when on empty only takes 60???? This has happened twice now and yes folks, thats £120 of Shell's finest in a weekend but worth every penny.
So blokes n birds....what should I expect to go wrong and what should I look out for? They seem pretty indestructable but I'm sure there are common wobbly bits....
Look forward to hearing from you/seeing y'all in due course.
Keep it sideways......Holty!
Highs so far: The noise (even on standard pipes), the build quality and the sheer presence of the Beast is awesome. 22mpg (with several half hours of silliness and a drive to Brighton n back for fish n chips just so i could drive it), the looks it gets (parked it up in central london and EVERYONE kept looking at it twice), the fact the Mrs can drive it, the way it feels so damn planted (ish!!!)
Lows so far: Getting used to the weight of it (understeer here we come), crap brakes (I thought the newer ones were better...God help owners of the older ones then!), not the best level of service from the Vauxhall dealer I bought it from, long throw gearchange (lose a lot of momentum between changes or am I just being a bit soft with it?), the fact it's supposed to have a 75l tank but when on empty only takes 60???? This has happened twice now and yes folks, thats £120 of Shell's finest in a weekend but worth every penny.
So blokes n birds....what should I expect to go wrong and what should I look out for? They seem pretty indestructable but I'm sure there are common wobbly bits....
Look forward to hearing from you/seeing y'all in due course.
Keep it sideways......Holty!
biglump said:
Lows so far: Getting used to the weight of it (understeer here we come)
There is a button on the centre console and a pedal on the floor to remove all traces of understeer....
check on the thread but there are some good dealers and some not so good dealers for Monaro service and support.
Bennno
Hey biglump,
Welcome to the world of HSV ownership and to the HSV forums. You'll find out sooner or later that the people who frequent these forums are extremely knowledgable on the subject of these cars, so no matter how silly the question, don't be afraid to ask...and believe me, I've asked a few myself and always get a courtious answer.
Looking at the "low points" you mention, most of them are solvable by.....UPGRADES!!! Brakes, Suspension, Ripshifter etal
I notice you mention "Brighton" in you post and your profile says "Darn Sarf!!!", would you care to be a little more precise as there's a couple of us "Darn Sarf!!!" and would be good to meet up (PM me if you wish privacy)
Finally, I hope you can make it to the VXR National Meet III at Silverstone - Follow Me
Drive on
Bo55
Welcome to the world of HSV ownership and to the HSV forums. You'll find out sooner or later that the people who frequent these forums are extremely knowledgable on the subject of these cars, so no matter how silly the question, don't be afraid to ask...and believe me, I've asked a few myself and always get a courtious answer. Looking at the "low points" you mention, most of them are solvable by.....UPGRADES!!! Brakes, Suspension, Ripshifter etal
I notice you mention "Brighton" in you post and your profile says "Darn Sarf!!!", would you care to be a little more precise as there's a couple of us "Darn Sarf!!!" and would be good to meet up (PM me if you wish privacy)
Finally, I hope you can make it to the VXR National Meet III at Silverstone - Follow Me
Drive on
Bo55
Thanks for the comments ....Seems a trip to one of the tuners will be required in the not too distant future ££££'s! I'll admit that I've been looking at the forum for the last couple of weeks to convince myself I was doing the right thing (as it were needed) and you all seem suitably loopy which is a good sign!
As for Silverstone, what do I need to do to get myself invited? I'm going to Brands in Sept (saw the 1st rounds there too and there were a stack of Monaro's there too) so count me in.....
I live near Heathrow altho' am from Leeds originally....Will be looking out for my fellow Monaroers (not sure what the collective noun for fellow Monaro drivers is) down here and on my journeys up, down and across the UK!!!
As for Silverstone, what do I need to do to get myself invited? I'm going to Brands in Sept (saw the 1st rounds there too and there were a stack of Monaro's there too) so count me in.....
I live near Heathrow altho' am from Leeds originally....Will be looking out for my fellow Monaroers (not sure what the collective noun for fellow Monaro drivers is) down here and on my journeys up, down and across the UK!!!
Welcome Biglump
I live near and work at Heathrow, if you would like to check out the mods for yourself, I have the catback (a must) rip shifter and ap brakes. Good to see someone local' a couple of the guys also meet up in Windsor which is not to bad to get to. More importantly what colour have you got??? hope to meet soon.
Paul
I live near and work at Heathrow, if you would like to check out the mods for yourself, I have the catback (a must) rip shifter and ap brakes. Good to see someone local' a couple of the guys also meet up in Windsor which is not to bad to get to. More importantly what colour have you got??? hope to meet soon.
Paul
Edited by p7vxr on Monday 7th August 16:54
Edited by p7vxr on Monday 7th August 16:55
p7vxr said:
"RED" is quite simply the best.
Yeah, but black is faster
- Ducks the incoming flames p7vxr said:
Not to sure when the next Crispin pub meet is, if you want to meet PM me with when you are interested, i am close to Raf Northolt. Enjoy the car now because it will only get better after the honing and fettling.
Paul
Paul
Crispin is "Last Wednesday of the Month"
Welcome to the group. I would recommend a trip to the Nurburgring (or any other track). The Monaro is a very easy car to drive fast.
I was at the ring again last weekend and in the 'car park pose competition' the Monaro draws more attention than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS! Didn’t quite match the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale or the Lamborghini Gallardo, but it is only a Vauxhall.
On the track it is easy to control. The TC does actually save you from stupid attempts to power out too early; however you can still make a hash of it. The good news is if you do get it sideways it is a piece of cake to correct it.
I managed to keep up with a 2001 M5 and even the said Gallardo (driven by someone who wasn’t extracting 100% from the car admittedly). Don’t be under any illusions that you will keep up with any Evos and you don’t have to worry about Imprezas as they will break down before the lap ends. A well driven Elise will give you a run for your money.
The surprising thing is that you can out drag some of the slower bikes on the straight bits!
I should point out that the above is only valid for Black cars. Silver and Red ones are slower on all accounts
.
Good luck and welcome again...
I was at the ring again last weekend and in the 'car park pose competition' the Monaro draws more attention than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS! Didn’t quite match the Ferrari 360 Challenge Stradale or the Lamborghini Gallardo, but it is only a Vauxhall.
On the track it is easy to control. The TC does actually save you from stupid attempts to power out too early; however you can still make a hash of it. The good news is if you do get it sideways it is a piece of cake to correct it.
I managed to keep up with a 2001 M5 and even the said Gallardo (driven by someone who wasn’t extracting 100% from the car admittedly). Don’t be under any illusions that you will keep up with any Evos and you don’t have to worry about Imprezas as they will break down before the lap ends. A well driven Elise will give you a run for your money.
The surprising thing is that you can out drag some of the slower bikes on the straight bits!
I should point out that the above is only valid for Black cars. Silver and Red ones are slower on all accounts
. Good luck and welcome again...
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