Monaro or VXR8?

[Ian350]

Hi everyone,

I am seriously thinking about buying a Monaro. I have been trawling through old posts on this forum and saw someone say that a Monaro and a VXR8 are very different cars. Apart from the obvious extra doors on a VXR8 could anyone please tell me what the other main differences are please?

Thanks for your help

[Shinobi]

Monaros a Muscle car, a VXR8 is 5 door with a good chaise and a better engine.

[stick100]

Ian350 said:

Hi everyone,

I am seriously thinking about buying a Monaro. I have been trawling through old posts on this forum and saw someone say that a Monaro and a VXR8 are very different cars. Apart from the obvious extra doors on a VXR8 could anyone please tell me what the other main differences are please?

Thanks for your help

Vxr8 more doors better suspension newer car
Monaro two door vauxhall omega

[dreamtoy]

All depends if you have a family? vxr8 will suit you more i'd say as getting in and out the monaro back seats is tight but no biggy! monaro looks nice tho!!

My answer.... Have both

What ever you buy you will smile!!

[dreamtoy]

stick100 said:

Ian350 said:

Hi everyone,

I am seriously thinking about buying a Monaro. I have been trawling through old posts on this forum and saw someone say that a Monaro and a VXR8 are very different cars. Apart from the obvious extra doors on a VXR8 could anyone please tell me what the other main differences are please?

Thanks for your help

Vxr8 more doors better suspension newer car
Monaro two door vauxhall omega

Love the omega! haha

[monkfish1]

dreamtoy said:

My answer.... Have both

Good plan! Sounds like man maths in action.

[mik_ok]

With respect, that is a bit like asking what the difference is between an M3 and an M5.

Apart from having LS series engines, they are completely different cars.

[Craig1984]

stick100 said:

Ian350 said:

Hi everyone,

I am seriously thinking about buying a Monaro. I have been trawling through old posts on this forum and saw someone say that a Monaro and a VXR8 are very different cars. Apart from the obvious extra doors on a VXR8 could anyone please tell me what the other main differences are please?

Thanks for your help

Vxr8 more doors better suspension newer car
Monaro two door vauxhall omega

Lol VXR8 is a vectra on roids

[lincsls2]

VXR8 is a modern car which is 'better' in several key areas.
Monaro is an older design, still a very nice car and IMO has more character and is more unique. I also think it looks better.
Not a huge difference in straight line performance between them, I would edge my bets that the Monaro VXR LS2 is faster than a VXR8 LS3 once rolling as VXR8 is better off the line due to traction of fatter tyres.

Monaro VXR (LS2) is faster around the Top Gear track than the VXR8 despite the 'better' suspension of the newer car. Gets over looked a lot that one.

Ultimately, both wicked cars with stonking V8 engines that are a dying breed. Not a massive difference in price, there is some cross over so go test both and buy your preferred car although a Monaro can be had very cheap now and also get cheaper tax.

[ARAF]

Shinobi said:

Monaros a Muscle car, a VXR8 is 5 door with a good chaise and a better engine.

Fek off. The only 5 door is the wagon that EVO now have on test.

I'll agree with you on the chassis front though. The VXR8 is probably a 10 year newer floor design, and it shows.

[stick100]

Craig1984 said:

Lol VXR8 is a vectra on roids

Better being a newer vectra on roids then a early 90s omega lol

[ARAF]

stick100 said:

Craig1984 said:

Lol VXR8 is a vectra on roids

Better being a newer vectra on roids then a early 90s omega lol

....with a couple of doors welded up and the gaps gobbed in?

[Vret]

Having owned a Monaro VXR 6.0L for 5years and traveled over 99000 miles, I am now the owner of a VXR8 6.2L (since last wk end) I loved the VXR including the originality of the looks most of all.
I also like the meaty looks of the VXR8 The performance is vertualy the same except for the limiter on the 8. The only thing I dont like about the 8 is it seems a bit 'wollowy' at speed over undulating road surfaces, so I'll be looking to get some Pedders fitted in the near future, other than that its down to your personnel prefrence to what takes your fancy and how much cash you have, Either way you wont be disapointed. Happy motoring,

Edited by Vret on Thursday 7th November 23:10

[jonnM]

Hi Ian, I've owned both in the last two years. They are both great, characterful cars The main difference, IMO, is chassis dynamics. They're both heavy cars, but the VXR8 just seems to disguise it better and feels a little more "planted" mid corner. The VXR8 also has a more modern interior and masses of space (and a big boot too). I do miss the Monaro seats though.....they were super comfy!

Bottom line is, whichever you get you wont be disappointed. They both have something which is missing from most modern cars....character! I fking love em!!

[stigmundfreud]

Ian350 said:

Hi everyone,

I am seriously thinking about buying a Monaro. I have been trawling through old posts on this forum and saw someone say that a Monaro and a VXR8 are very different cars. Apart from the obvious extra doors on a VXR8 could anyone please tell me what the other main differences are please?

Thanks for your help

Have owned both, would own both again. The VXR8 is much more modern in design and feel and is hugely practical. It drives very differently too and has a much more developed or rather fresher feeling chassis but that doesn't make it better. It wins out on practicality, the boot is like a small detached house in size and it is a very imposing/in your face muscle saloon. Brilliant fun.

The monaro is older, it feels older but that doesn't mean it feels worse. Practicality is limited due to the smaller boot (unless you get an 04 model vxr/cv8 - get a 5.7 or 6.0 vxr). The seats are annoyingly slow to pull forward when you need to get in the back and they make access a bit of a chore but once inside you can fit 6 footers in the back in comfort (only 2 seats in back). Drive on the monaro is lovely and whilst an older interior it is a much better quality than the vxr8 and comes with something that all cars should, memory seats. The vxr8 does not have memory seats (the new models might).

If I was buying again tomorrow I would be looking at the 6.0 vxr Monaro, as much as I loved the vxr8 I think now its 2 years since shifting on I look back with fond memories of both but the Ro wins out.

[hammo19]

Had both basic models - prefer Monaro has more character thats my personal preference. If you don't have a family or need cabin space and the money don't discount a UTE.....

[007 VXR]

This could be a long thread

You need to drive both as has been said, both are great cars but very diffrent.

[Ian350]

Thanks very much for the replies - so many in such a short time!

There are some particularly useful posts which have helped enormously. The answers were exactly what I was hoping for.

Thanks again everyone

[moif]

Very suprised the age issue has not been mentioned...but it says if your young you have a Monaro but if your old you have a R8...
I'm 52 but have a mental age of 10 so i could have both
VXR8 for me

[MatrixXXx]

its personal preference i think.

they spent billions of dollars on the Monaro and ended up with the VXR8, the VXR8 is a much more advanced car, but most people buy these cars with their heart.

I needed a daily reliable driver so the VXR8 was the only way to go for a low mileage example.