RE: PH Blog: Vauxhall - new versus old

[stevenr]

Dave Hedgehog said:

no 4 rings is a giant cock

Yes,driving the thing

[RODTHEKIWI]

Cotty said:

Just stumbled upon an old PH story http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=47&i=3514

Wow thanks for showing that. That was my old demonstrator in the UK when I owned HSV-UK. I think that was 2001 or very early 2002 from memory. The new Maloo is a better car now though, as it should be.

[Exar Kun]

All the talk of leaving the Holden badge on the Maloo (which is sold as an HSV here anyway) when people over here fall over themselves to tear the Holden badge off their Commodores and replace them with Chev bowties!

[davepoth]

Dave Hedgehog said:

ARAF said:

Dave Hedgehog said:

Riggers said:

SleeperCell said:

3 pictures is the best you could manage for that article? You can barely even see the Maloo.

Full drive story on the Maloo coming soon, as well as a couple of other treats (I hope!) complete with many pictures.

Here's one to get you started

do people really think of these auzzie made cars as vauxhalls?

i certainly don't

It would get pretty confusing with many cars, if you didn't use the badge as reference.

Besides, Vx have the nerve to bring them in (though in smaller numbers now), so they deserve some credit.

but just imagine how much better they would be if they wernt chav branded

I hate to break this to you, but all of the other Vauxhalls are rebadged Opels. I hope this hasn't shattered your belief system or something.

[lawrenceb29]

They shoulda put Baby Bertha out on display as well

[Dave Hedgehog]

davepoth said:

I hate to break this to you, but all of the other Vauxhalls are rebadged Opels. I hope this hasn't shattered your belief system or something.

i thought the opel / vauxhall pot was very well stirred and mixed up, arnt at least some vauxhalls made in the uk in vauxhall faxtorys?, the holden cars clearly stand out on there own using only holden parts

[V2RAC]

Nothing wrong with the VXR range, tried em all VXR8 down to Corsa. If you want a proper rocket have a bash in a Astra VXR. (not literally)

[GBB]

Dave Hedgehog said:

it was funny when the top gear boys where taking the piss out of audi for there product placement lol

Audi product placement is intensive and most of it unrealised.

Ever wondered why Mary Portas has an A3 Convertible, The Country House lady on TV an A6 Allroad, etc.

All product placement.

[LotusOmega375D]

GBB said:

Audi product placement is intensive and most of it unrealised.

Ever wondered why Mary Portas has an A3 Convertible, The Country House lady on TV an A6 Allroad, etc.

All product placement.

Watched Goldfinger again at the weekend: there were so many then-new US Ford Motor Company products on there. Mustang, Thunderbird, pick-up, Lincoln etc. That was way back in 1964 and in only the 3rd James Bond film.

[blearyeyedboy]

Article said:

Try telling a Passat apart from an Avensis or a Kia Optima in a blindfold test and you'll see what I mean.

Well, test-driving cars while blindfolded could be a very exciting experience! And a very short one.

[Gregor Marshall]

LuS1fer said:

You have an unfair advantage being the spawn of a DTV god.

DJRC said:

Edited

My fav memories of your old man Gregor, were in his autumn days. Mobility type scooter in the Paddock, shuffle into a motor and then proceed to still spank everyone into the weeds. Made me crack up every time. Up there with Moss old boy, up there with Moss.

Thanks guys!!
Funnily enough I've not driven a road-going 2.3 Firenza/Viva/Magnum but my Firenza race car is road legal and been on the road a few times and they do handle brilliantly and have great torque.
I was lucky enough to drive the red Calibra from the Heritage Centre last year, was really nice and much better than I thought it would be - probably helped it was mint!!
It's a shame Vauxhall dont have a big V8 in "their" range but bringing over a Holden does make sense and they toyed with similar ideas in the '70s with a few V8 Ventoras.

[grumpy52]

Gregor Marshall said:

Thanks guys!!
Funnily enough I've not driven a road-going 2.3 Firenza/Viva/Magnum but my Firenza race car is road legal and been on the road a few times and they do handle brilliantly and have great torque.
I was lucky enough to drive the red Calibra from the Heritage Centre last year, was really nice and much better than I thought it would be - probably helped it was mint!!
It's a shame Vauxhall dont have a big V8 in "their" range but bringing over a Holden does make sense and they toyed with similar ideas in the '70s with a few V8 Ventoras.

Did the V8 ventoras get very close to production only failing on the "ripple road " tests when the a posts started to crack.
myself and mates all ran tweaked vauxhalls inc mk1 cav given 2ltr lump,bv head,cam,2 1/2" ex twin 45s, billys etc,hb viva gt 2.3 170bhp 7"minilites etc,droop snoot frenzy,cav sri running on 48s and lots of bits from the back gate at millbrook ! happy days
gregor I marshalled at many meetings where your dad raced,and being a vauxhall fan he along with tony pond were regarded as god like !but still had a soft spot for dave brodie in the "run baby run" escort.

[pSyCoSiS]

Old school all the way...

[Andy ap]

My last experience of the insignia was when i was driving along minding my own business when said repmobile starting hanging on my boot. So i left foot braked him.

When we stopped in traffic the driver got out and started yelling at my window. The only thing that went through my head was he's stuck in the 80's trying to look like a villan out of snatch or something. Enough gold on his neck and fingers to sink the titanic, open shirt with hairs poking out and awful perm and sideburns i thought he was the perfect stereotype for a poor mans Merc!!

[smugglersvin]

If he had a Mk1 Astra Van he would have got round you No problem, as they are the fastest mode of transport on the planet, they made a 1.6 but it was banned for being to fast.
I think they had a top speed was 210mph and a 0-60 in 2.7 seconds they were only available in racing white. lol

[SrMoreno]

Riggers said:

SleeperCell said:

3 pictures is the best you could manage for that article? You can barely even see the Maloo.

Full drive story on the Maloo coming soon, as well as a couple of other treats (I hope!) complete with many pictures.

Here's one to get you started

Would that classed as a commercial vehicle? The VAT and company car/van tax implications could mean that it would work out as a surprisingly economical, if utterly mental, choice for company car users!

[Gregor Marshall]

grumpy52 said:

Did the V8 ventoras get very close to production only failing on the "ripple road " tests when the a posts started to crack.

gregor I marshalled at many meetings where your dad raced,and being a vauxhall fan he along with tony pond were regarded as god like !but still had a soft spot for dave brodie in the "run baby run" escort.

There were quite a few production V8 Ventoras but Vauxhall kept quiet about them but they did exist!!
Someone had to have a soft spot for Brodie, lol!! Funnily enought the were both young (and old) HArrow Car Club members and grew up round the corner from each other.

[arg64]

Can anyone help, I have just bought a 2012 vauxhall maloo and am finding it imposible to insure, does anyone know who I could use

[LuS1fer]

arg64 said:

Can anyone help, I have just bought a 2012 vauxhall maloo and am finding it imposible to insure, does anyone know who I could use

Flux, A-Plan, Classic Line Insurance (limited mileage)