Moving over to VXR8

Moving over to VXR8

Author
Discussion

preciousmetal

3,369 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Gary H 2008 said:
"also would only look at 6.2 LS3 engines"

Really?

Why?
+ 1 confused a well sorted LS2 could be better than another LS3.

Euro 4 emissions on LS3 means nothing its still very high. I have an LS3 now but would have another LS2 tomorrow

preciousmetal

3,369 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
ARAF said:
Gary H 2008 said:
"also would only look at 6.2 LS3 engines"

Really?

Why?
I missed that bit.

The extra 18bhp is mere willy waving, and soon overcome by the first modification. If you are only considering the LS3 because they are newer, then carry on. smile
And the LS3 HSV GTS is another whopping 11 bhp over a Clubsport (VXR8) eek

bigunit00

890 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
preciousmetal said:
+ 1 confused a well sorted LS2 could be better than another LS3.

Euro 4 emissions on LS3 means nothing its still very high. I have an LS3 now but would have another LS2 tomorrow
Especially in Impulse Blue with S/C.............smile

preciousmetal

3,369 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
bigunit00 said:
preciousmetal said:
+ 1 confused a well sorted LS2 could be better than another LS3.

Euro 4 emissions on LS3 means nothing its still very high. I have an LS3 now but would have another LS2 tomorrow
Especially in Impulse Blue with S/C.............smile
weeping

r8black

1,405 posts

128 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
ARAF said:
Gary H 2008 said:
"also would only look at 6.2 LS3 engines"

Really?

Why?
I missed that bit.

The extra 18bhp is mere willy waving, and soon overcome by the first modification. If you are only considering the LS3 because they are newer, then carry on. smile
precisely :
The LS3 is a more modern updated engine,

Edited by r8black on Thursday 21st August 20:16

preciousmetal

3,369 posts

175 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
r8black said:
ARAF said:
Gary H 2008 said:
"also would only look at 6.2 LS3 engines"

Really?

Why?
I missed that bit.

The extra 18bhp is mere willy waving, and soon overcome by the first modification. If you are only considering the LS3 because they are newer, then carry on. smile
precisely :
The LS3 is a more modern updated engine,

Edited by r8black on Thursday 21st August 20:16
really confused they are both old school and behind the times in modern engine technology but that's why I love them. The LS3 isnt that different in real terms to an LS2 so a buyer should look at both engines and buy the best car

ARAF

20,759 posts

222 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
preciousmetal said:
r8black said:
ARAF said:
Gary H 2008 said:
"also would only look at 6.2 LS3 engines"

Really?

Why?
I missed that bit.

The extra 18bhp is mere willy waving, and soon overcome by the first modification. If you are only considering the LS3 because they are newer, then carry on. smile
precisely :
The LS3 is a more modern updated engine,

Edited by r8black on Thursday 21st August 20:16
really confused they are both old school and behind the times in modern engine technology but that's why I love them. The LS3 isnt that different in real terms to an LS2 so a buyer should look at both engines and buy the best car
That wasn't what I meant. I was actually talking about the fact that the shell and running gear is newer, so should be in better nick. However, in retrospect, the newest was build in October 08, so is nearly six years old (and been on the road for nearly 5), when the oldest of the LS2s are only a couple of years older - so there really is little in it.

magic77

Original Poster:

54 posts

224 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Thanks everybody for the input really appreciate it.

Has left me thinking more about this. Ironically have spent afternoon going over adverts and other sites and its all looking good for this car. Esecially when insurance fully comp with £400 access was only £300 per year with 10k allowance smile. I must be getting old

Yep the XFR is posher but certainly not a buzz as much as this motor, and interior can be tidied up to make it better. Thanks for the info on the audio I think amps and speakers might prove a easier task.

Is there really that much difference between teh ls2 and ls3 motors to be bothered about. Mainly asking as there is some late ls2s for sub 20k on the adverts on pistonheads. Though I think the two dealers I've come across one mentioned on here will be getting my call.

Thanks for the point re the winters but its not the snow i'm worried about. Winter tyres (not snow tyres) work best anyting below 7C. Ok last winter was weird with the rain and lack of cold but last few winters before that the tyres even on my 205bhp derv worked wonders. Live on at the top of a steep hill with off which my culdesac is downhill so you got to go up to get out and a downward sloping drive and even with mm of snow or just ice it can be a nightmare to get anything rwd ouf of the road. So all it takes is temps to get low and it can be a no go as I found out first time I took a rwd home. Ended up in neighbours drive at the bottom.

Will probably get a second set of wheels if I can and just swap over if needed.

Another question auto or manual? Everyhting says manual but thought I ask

Now to find a nice one in blue smile

fastbikes76

2,450 posts

121 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
magic77 said:
Now to find a nice one in blue smile
Good luck ! only 25 made in blue, although excellent choice if I say so myself wink




magic77

Original Poster:

54 posts

224 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
doh I suppose thats why valet magic in Camberley exist I can always wrap one smile

Dave3166

1,770 posts

125 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Ofcourse mpg is a low teens but expected with a monster engine.

Took family to Portsmouth today, had a few over 100mph blasts, averaged 21 mpg, I`m really pleased with the mpg, mind you, I do drive like Miss Daisy some times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!biggrin



ARAF

20,759 posts

222 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
magic77 said:
Another question auto or manual? Everyhting says manual but thought I ask
Personal choice. The manual has quite a slow and agricultural gearchange action. Very tedious if you spend time in traffic.

The auto is very good, unless you do track days, then it gets very limiting, even in 'manual' mode.

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

209 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Magic I'll offer some of my insight as a current BMW (hated) owner

I flogged my old Monaro and relaced it with an s2000, it was obviously night and day but missed the old Aussie brute despite the agricultural feel of it - it felt much more rewarding to drive. So I ditched the s2k and moved back into vxr8 ownership. Fantastic cars really, superbly practical and economical when you want them to be. The interior is not as well put together as the old Monaro but it is certainly a lot fresher, its a nice place to be.

There isn't much to go wrong as mentioned other than control arm bushes but then all cars seem to suffer these days. For me the major omission was memory controlled seats, not a problem if your partner/other driver is the same size but for me it was a major issue. It takes me sometimes months to get comfy in car and then for someone to change the seat was a ball ache. Once set up, the car was brilliantly comfy. The best improvement I made was the suspension swapped for some coilovers. I went HSD's but flogged the car a few months later, not sure HSD's would have lasted too long but a vast improvement.

I then ditched the VXR8 for an old mans jag XJ diesel which was obviously night and day in terms of refinement but I missed the VXR8 so much so I ditched it for the Bavarian equivalent the e39 m5. Despite being older the beemer is better screwed together and out of the box a better package in terms of comfort, ride and control but not as practical and a bit bland. Obviously I'd recommend the e39 BUT I'd advise on the vxr8 for a few reasons:

1.) Its presence is just amazing, the attention I got was always positive and it made driving and owning a real joy
2.) The owner group is much much better with the VX. In BMW land its all "what finance, what package to avoid depreciation" etc, I turned up at the M Christmas meal at Ace Café and it was like 1200 accountants with no story to tell. Ownership in the BM is a lonely experience unless you are a network climbing hooray henry, even in this older more classic version (which isn't really classic yet its suffering as not classic not modern but I love the car)
3.) Running costs vs performance are relatively cheap and what must be the most knowledgeable bunch to ask questions from.
4.) Any car you buy is likely to be known to someone here for that reassurance

The downside though was I found it a bit dull unless I was on it or blipping the throttle, I didn't enjoy it at normal driving whereas the e39 is a more rounded package I enjoy it whatever the mood but that personal.

I'd get one again but in no rush, it may never happen I don't know if a return would be long or short lived but what I will say is every time you get in it you will enjoy it. I used to take mine out for fun drives I don't with the beemer, yes I do miss mine.

Headlights. On the Ro they were two birthday candles at best, whilst not xenon or hid on the vxr8 they are really good - you don't need xenons or hids, its like how did we survive without GPS? The stock bulbs can be upgraded cheap with nightbreakers etc which improve things at the expense of a shorter life span. I used to drive long distance at night and never had a concern, even in the rain on a dark autobahn they were up to the job.

In short, if you are considering one, there isn't really any other car out there that will give you both the massive performance and massive practicality - the thing was bigger than my old DISCO and the boot you could have a swimming pool its that big. Oh the stock radio is st though, no RDS in Aus so you are constantly retuning if you like to listen to national channels on even a modest commute but that's a minor thing. You buy one of these and you get entry into one of the best social forum groups with race days, bbq's and dyno days

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

209 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
oh and on the ls2/3 debate, if you can get a 3 get one theres no hiding from it being a better engine but to counter that its not so much better that the ls2 is rendered pointless - there isn't much in it really just better heads and intakes about it you wouldn't notice the difference real world

oh and if I got another, it would be an auto any day of the week but the manual in the ls3 was a great improvement over the older ls1 and 2 cars (yes there was a change in the vxr8 and the later models had the best box of the bunch)



Edited by stigmundfreud on Thursday 21st August 21:56

bigunit00

890 posts

146 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
ARAF said:
Personal choice. The manual has quite a slow and agricultural gearchange .
I actually thought it would be worse than it is. I have decided its all part of its character/charm. I can only imagine if you came from a car with a rifle bolt like action it would be an eye opener that's for sure.

r8black

1,405 posts

128 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
thumbup

fastbikes76

2,450 posts

121 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
bigunit00 said:
I actually thought it would be worse than it is. I have decided its all part of its character/charm. I can only imagine if you came from a car with a rifle bolt like action it would be an eye opener that's for sure.
For me personally its hands down the worst box I've personally driven..but then Its never been said to be anything but agricultural so I just accept it as character of the beast.


wav8

3,924 posts

147 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Welcome just had a quick look in the classifieds there are some nice cars there the black supercharged one looks good value at 18k in autotradersmile

stigmundfreud

22,454 posts

209 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
If you are on anything but flat ground good luck in winter. I couldn't get mine up an untreated but lightly dusted slight gradient.

karl_h

220 posts

179 months

Thursday 21st August 2014
quotequote all
Had mine 2 months to the day today and I love it. Other than fuel you'll be surprised at the running costs I came from a fairly monstrous Focus ST and there's very little in it. I fact if you've got an M Sport E90 with 19" run flats the tyres are actually cheaper!
I also leave early and have my Wortec set to loud, I get on well with my neighbours and I'm very conscious that it is loud so don't mess about first thing in the morning and I've not had any complaints.