The Vauxhall Monaro is 4,789mm long and 1,841mm wide, which makes it quite a large car for a coupe in the UK. More pertinent are the long front and rear overhangs that can make the underside susceptible to knocks and scrapes from steep driveways.
Paintwork is often cited by owners as being of mediocre quality and more prone to stone chips that most of the Monaro's competitors. This means careful cleaning and polishing is needed to avoid leaving scratches or swirls in the paint. The windscreen is also easily chipped, though replacements are available through the usual fitters.
Bumpers for VXRs can be costly to replace
The two big problem areas with the Monaro's bodywork are damaged panels and rust. Accident damage that would be easily repaired on most cars can result in a Monaro being written off as some of the body panels are very expensive to replace and hard to source. The VXR front bumper is the worst offender here and a new bumper can set you back £1,000, so check every inch of a prospective purchase's exterior for dents and dings. The door handles are also a weak paint area and can bubble up. Respraying the handles is an option, but a longer term solution is to replace with metal handles from a Vauxhall Omega that are sprayed to match the car.
Rust should not be an issue on a car built between 2004 and 2005, but because the Monaro was constructed in Australia it doesn't have the same level of protection we're used to in the UK. A careful Monaro owner will have had the car rust-proofed on a regular basis, which will greatly improve the car's longevity, but look underneath for signs of serious corrosion.
While looking underneath, check the front chassis rails for rot as water can collect inside the rails. There are drain holes, but they become blocked and let the chassis legs corrode from the inside out.
PHer's view:
"I had to replace the rubber and felt weather strips at the base of the door glass, which perished and began trapping dirt and grit. I had mine Waxoyled underneath, as being an Australian market car, they don't come with much protection from the factory, and I'd like to keep it long term."
Stephen Rees