Thinking of buying...
Discussion
Hi folks,
It's been a month or so since I wrote off my Jaguar XKR, and I feel the insurance company may be ready to give up some of their hard scammed cash in my general direction. As such, I'm looking for new cars.
I'm thinking of a 2004 Monaro 5.7 non-VXR (I'd love a VXR, but I'm supposed to be sensible about the price) because, perversely, the insurance is cheaper. The ones on autotrader are all <20,000 miles, and in good condition, however I'm not really aware of any bad points to look out for.
Is there anything I should look out for when buying one of these second hand? Are there any reasons I shouldn't buy a 2004? If you've got any comments, please let me know, it'll be much appreciated.
Also, I have one other question that you may be able to answer - do you know if the stock stereo has a line-in for ipods, satnavs, phonekits etc?
Thanks in advance for any info,
-Russ
It's been a month or so since I wrote off my Jaguar XKR, and I feel the insurance company may be ready to give up some of their hard scammed cash in my general direction. As such, I'm looking for new cars.
I'm thinking of a 2004 Monaro 5.7 non-VXR (I'd love a VXR, but I'm supposed to be sensible about the price) because, perversely, the insurance is cheaper. The ones on autotrader are all <20,000 miles, and in good condition, however I'm not really aware of any bad points to look out for.
Is there anything I should look out for when buying one of these second hand? Are there any reasons I shouldn't buy a 2004? If you've got any comments, please let me know, it'll be much appreciated.
Also, I have one other question that you may be able to answer - do you know if the stock stereo has a line-in for ipods, satnavs, phonekits etc?
Thanks in advance for any info,
-Russ
Hi Russ.
Not really anything major to point out on these cars, they are built pretty well and no real re-occuring problems seem to surface. You might want to take a look at www.hsv.org.uk/topic.asp?h=27&t=310717 which is about buying an 04 VXR but the same applies.
No real reason not to buy an 04, in fact you will get the advantage of actually having a boot! The 05 loses most of its boot because of the re-positioning of the petrol tank.
As for a line-in on the stereo, I don't believe there is. I have been known to be wrong before though!
Hope that helps.
Not really anything major to point out on these cars, they are built pretty well and no real re-occuring problems seem to surface. You might want to take a look at www.hsv.org.uk/topic.asp?h=27&t=310717 which is about buying an 04 VXR but the same applies.
No real reason not to buy an 04, in fact you will get the advantage of actually having a boot! The 05 loses most of its boot because of the re-positioning of the petrol tank.
As for a line-in on the stereo, I don't believe there is. I have been known to be wrong before though!
Hope that helps.
with all the money you're saving buy the new pioneer double din head unit complete with sat nav, bluetooth, 7" screen, dvd player and hard drive for around 1800 quid and throw the Monaro standard head unit in the bin. Other than that go for the 04 over the 05 because 1)its got a boot and 2)it looks far better. Then take a wad of that insurance money and go visit LSV, Monkfish etc and get an exhaust, headers, brakes, supercharger, and suspension - all for around 10 grand if you shop about and get yourself a 500bhp+ supercar eating monster.
Cheers for the advice folks. 
SatNav, screen, dvd player etc don't really interest me - already got a Tomtom 910, so that does my mp3s/satnav/phone, and the idea of watching a DVD while I'm driving doesn't really appeal.
If I do rip out the stock head unit and put a new one in, do I need a specific fascia or something to make it not look hideous? And is there any functionality I'd lose, like... steering wheel volume/track controls, etc?
The 2004 looks to be the better bet, though - especially for the added bootspace that I will lose as soon as I stick a sub enclosure into it.
The wad of insurance money I have left over isn't all that great, sadly.. it's certainly not enough to pay for the extra insurance after having a supercharger fitted, let alone have the supercharger fitted in the first place (jags aren't that expensive to insure 'cos they're only driven by old men). Oddly, 24 year old's don't tend to buy jags and then stack them into ditches. I think I'm special.
Any ideas on replacing the head unit? Pros/cons etc?
Thanks again, folks.
-Russ
SatNav, screen, dvd player etc don't really interest me - already got a Tomtom 910, so that does my mp3s/satnav/phone, and the idea of watching a DVD while I'm driving doesn't really appeal.
If I do rip out the stock head unit and put a new one in, do I need a specific fascia or something to make it not look hideous? And is there any functionality I'd lose, like... steering wheel volume/track controls, etc?
The 2004 looks to be the better bet, though - especially for the added bootspace that I will lose as soon as I stick a sub enclosure into it.
The wad of insurance money I have left over isn't all that great, sadly.. it's certainly not enough to pay for the extra insurance after having a supercharger fitted, let alone have the supercharger fitted in the first place (jags aren't that expensive to insure 'cos they're only driven by old men). Oddly, 24 year old's don't tend to buy jags and then stack them into ditches. I think I'm special.
Any ideas on replacing the head unit? Pros/cons etc?
Thanks again, folks.
-Russ
I just got a head unit facia from ebay for 15 quid - waiting for it to arrive to check its the proper thing to allow a single din unit to replace the standard head. If its the right one its a bargain as they usually cost around 100 quid from the states iirc. Several people on here have replaced the head unit and can probably send you pictures of their installs or you could check out the American forums at ls1gto.com for more ideas. Believe I read someone on here got an adaptor to allow the steering wheel controls to work with an aftermarket head unit though not sure on price. A search on here should throw up more info.
Aftermarket steering wheel adapters cost around £50.00. Some (like mine) work via infra-red and others connect directly via an aux input cable.
Double Din fascia surround (and yes you will need one if you go for a double DIN like a KENWOOD 8027) will set you back about £90-£100 and you will have to import it from the US. A couple of us have gone down this route. As WELL FANS said, if you get a single head fascia, it works out a lot cheaper.
Double Din fascia surround (and yes you will need one if you go for a double DIN like a KENWOOD 8027) will set you back about £90-£100 and you will have to import it from the US. A couple of us have gone down this route. As WELL FANS said, if you get a single head fascia, it works out a lot cheaper.
To be honest, the single one would do. Does make me wonder what's so wrong with the original head unit, though, and if there _IS_ a way to have a line-in.
What's the speaker arrangement? Does it have to have anything special, or is it simply the two normal ISO connectors, plus the antenna?
Cheers,
-Russ
What's the speaker arrangement? Does it have to have anything special, or is it simply the two normal ISO connectors, plus the antenna?
Cheers,
-Russ
Or you could save the money put it towards the other mods that you will be tempted by, for the even a basic hi-fi upgrade properly fitted you could have a ripshifter. Lets face it been an ex Jaguar driver the current system is more then capable of providing Radio 4 for you . But at the end of the day each to their own.
. But at the end of the day each to their own.Hey tyranneous,
*ahem* not wishing to plug too blatantly, but this is a lot of 04 Monaro for the money:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/94123.htm
If you're anywhere near London, you're welcome to come along and give it a blast up the road - you'll be smiling for about a week afterwards!!
*ahem* not wishing to plug too blatantly, but this is a lot of 04 Monaro for the money:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/94123.htm
If you're anywhere near London, you're welcome to come along and give it a blast up the road - you'll be smiling for about a week afterwards!!
Radio 4? Cheeky bugger.
What's the ripshifter? I'll look into it, of course... however I get the feeling you guys are the experts.
Greeny12: That monaro of yours (s'yours, right?) does look _very_ nice. Even the girlfriend said it was pretty, which is extra bonus marks. The only real problem is that at a price like that I'm convinced it'll be sold before my insurance cheque comes through. However, the page is bookmarked.. so if by some miracle elephant pull their fingers from you know where, then I'll be looking for more information from you.
As an aside, what's your insurance like with all those modifications on? Thinking about this, I'd get spannered (recent accident, youngish driver, zero no claims). If I end up with a stock monaro, I'd still be interested in making it better.
Thanks folks, you're all extremely helpful.
-Russ
What's the ripshifter? I'll look into it, of course... however I get the feeling you guys are the experts.
Greeny12: That monaro of yours (s'yours, right?) does look _very_ nice. Even the girlfriend said it was pretty, which is extra bonus marks. The only real problem is that at a price like that I'm convinced it'll be sold before my insurance cheque comes through. However, the page is bookmarked.. so if by some miracle elephant pull their fingers from you know where, then I'll be looking for more information from you.
As an aside, what's your insurance like with all those modifications on? Thinking about this, I'd get spannered (recent accident, youngish driver, zero no claims). If I end up with a stock monaro, I'd still be interested in making it better.
Thanks folks, you're all extremely helpful.
-Russ
tyranneous said:
As an aside, what's your insurance like with all those modifications on? Thinking about this, I'd get spannered (recent accident, youngish driver, zero no claims). If I end up with a stock monaro, I'd still be interested in making it better.
It will not be cheap, certainly got the premium well loaded up there! Group 20 ins, recent accident, young driver, 0 no claims and modified :O
As an idea I am 33, 3yrs NCB, accident in January with mods it is £800
Ah yes, can't beat good old fashioned barn door engineering when it comes to gearboxes.
The quote for me on a stock 5.7l non-vxr is 1,150, or thereabouts, for ten months. And that's less than I was paying for the jag _before_ the accident, so really it's not all that bad. I dread to think about the modifications, though, and what they'd do to the price. :S
May have to call up elephant and ask them.
-Russ
The quote for me on a stock 5.7l non-vxr is 1,150, or thereabouts, for ten months. And that's less than I was paying for the jag _before_ the accident, so really it's not all that bad. I dread to think about the modifications, though, and what they'd do to the price. :S
May have to call up elephant and ask them.
-Russ
yes I am calling a-plan tomorrow to try and finalise a deal.
Without my new quote from elephant for renewal, they quoted 790 fc with a full wortec sportpac
Elephant wanted 400 on top of that, so now just getting exhaust will see what difference they quote. Might then be tempted into getting the sportpac all in one shot
Without my new quote from elephant for renewal, they quoted 790 fc with a full wortec sportpac
Elephant wanted 400 on top of that, so now just getting exhaust will see what difference they quote. Might then be tempted into getting the sportpac all in one shot
tyranneous, if you do not plan on modifying then I would go for the '04 VXR only downside is the none full leather, but my insurance company does not have an issue with the ripshifter upto a second off each gear change or at least 2nd to 3rd and only £25 for a brake upgrade very important for '04 CV8.
stigcv8, try the sportspac in two stages pay for essentialpac first mentioning ecu upgrade only avoid the subject of remapping, then two weeks latter the air intake and axhaust then get the sportspac fitted it is well worth it. By taking it this way intially £288 increase in premium was reduced to £40+£25=£65 saving £223 with all mods declared only some slightly earlier.
stigcv8, try the sportspac in two stages pay for essentialpac first mentioning ecu upgrade only avoid the subject of remapping, then two weeks latter the air intake and axhaust then get the sportspac fitted it is well worth it. By taking it this way intially £288 increase in premium was reduced to £40+£25=£65 saving £223 with all mods declared only some slightly earlier.
Hi tyranneous,
As the others have said, A Plan do seem to be pretty fair on Monaros, particularly modified ones.
My insurance is a grand a year through Adrian Flux, but the car is on the street in a London postcode so that's about what I would expect, although I wish I'd known about A Plan when I took it out... The car was bought modded so I can't give you a direct comparison of how much less a 'straight' car is, sorry.
Even if you're still not sure you've got the dosh, you're welcome to come and have a blast in it (any excuse to take it out), but be warned, once you turn that key you'll be hooked!
As the others have said, A Plan do seem to be pretty fair on Monaros, particularly modified ones.
My insurance is a grand a year through Adrian Flux, but the car is on the street in a London postcode so that's about what I would expect, although I wish I'd known about A Plan when I took it out... The car was bought modded so I can't give you a direct comparison of how much less a 'straight' car is, sorry.
Even if you're still not sure you've got the dosh, you're welcome to come and have a blast in it (any excuse to take it out), but be warned, once you turn that key you'll be hooked!
I really do not understand why people worry about disclosing moddified exhausts and remaps? Insurance companys Are very unlikely to check or even know what a standard vehicle exhaust looks like and they certainly wont bother to transport it on a low loader so as to get it rolling roaded just in case its producing more horse power. Just me ten pence
Darren
Darren
Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff