Silverstone.......Vxr8----Lotus Carlton
Discussion
Something Dougie posted on vxronline..............might be of intrest to a few....
www.drivers-republic.com/dr_tv/ind &area=videos
either the driver can't drive 
LC860G said:
MyM8V8 said:
Either the Carlton was a car ahead of its time ot the VXR is a slacker!!
There is not much between them to be honest. LC is way quicker in 2nd and 3rd when the turbos spool up and has far more presence but the VXR8 is no slouch either.
Like LC860G I have owned both of these cars,and the comparison between the 2 is made often.
I bought the VXR8 as a car that would be as close to a LC as possible without paying silly money.
The LC was and still is an awesome bit of kit to drive.If they made new ones I would buy one.
This type of test is interesting but not comparing like with like. The VXR8 is stock out of the factory and the Lotus Carlton was re manufactured by Lotus. In 1990 the Lotus Carlton was £48000, which in 2006 would mean a sticker price of £82000. So a comparison to an Jag XKR would be more valid.
Island boy HSV said:
This type of test is interesting but not comparing like with like.
Ohh I don't know its pretty close, 4 door saloon, rear drive, around 400 ponies, both sold by Vauxhall, fairly crude in the driver aids dept etcIsland boy HSV said:
The VXR8 is stock out of the factory and the Lotus Carlton was re manufactured by Lotus.
LC is stock out the factory from Lotus, except being built in a shed near on 20 years ago probably goes as a disadvantage 
Island boy HSV said:
In 1990 the Lotus Carlton was £48000, which in 2006 would mean a sticker price of £82000. So a comparison to an Jag XKR would be more valid.
Evo did this a few years ago with the Jag S type R if you fancy a read see the following link http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/cargrouptests/2987...A few times the two have gone head to head in the media lately so nice to see the old girl still causing a stir despite getting into old age now
Edited by NotNormal on Monday 8th December 13:20
I may stand corrected,however I believe the LC started life as a Carlton GSI,was shipped to Lotus,who took a grinder to the rear arches,fitted a body kit,took out the drive train(which was then sent back to go into the next one).
They started at £48k but came down to £45k at the end of the run.
I owned 2 LC's,the first for 7 years,and the second for 5 years.
I feel I can make comparisons,as I have owned both the vxr8 and previously a vxr Monaro.
As said earlier,The LC and VXR8 both lack driver aids and electronic gizzmos that many other cars have.
To be able to truely compare one car against another,you have to experience living with them for some time with various day to day kinds of use.
All cars are more advanced and cheaper to buy new today than they were 10 years ago,take for example a Ferrari, £175k for Flagship model,today equivelent model £180k.
They started at £48k but came down to £45k at the end of the run.
I owned 2 LC's,the first for 7 years,and the second for 5 years.
I feel I can make comparisons,as I have owned both the vxr8 and previously a vxr Monaro.
As said earlier,The LC and VXR8 both lack driver aids and electronic gizzmos that many other cars have.
To be able to truely compare one car against another,you have to experience living with them for some time with various day to day kinds of use.
All cars are more advanced and cheaper to buy new today than they were 10 years ago,take for example a Ferrari, £175k for Flagship model,today equivelent model £180k.
The point I am trying to make is the LC is a great car and ahead of its time but it is a low production specialist car. It was hand built with allot of critical components changed for high performance upgraded parts. For example the engine I believe was increased from 2.9L in capacity to 3.6. The VXR8 on the other hand is a volume production car, built in thousands in AUS. It just shows how good the LC was if it can be compared to production cars over a decade later.
I think the point made earlier is fair. Both are 4 door (super) saloons. And as far as I am aware, same MO on both marques. HSV is a low(er) volume specialist variant. i.e standard Commodore taken of the Holden production line by HSV, bigger motor, better brakes/suspension, body kits etc fitted and re-sold at (far) higher price.
I personally would just love to have a drive in an LC to compare. There is really something just a little bit special for me about the LC. The anti-establishment thing, maybe?
I personally would just love to have a drive in an LC to compare. There is really something just a little bit special for me about the LC. The anti-establishment thing, maybe?
I dare say that if Lotus were handed a stock VXR8 they could produce a car with a little more grip, better set up and more power (just add S/C). Many raised an eybrow when the LC was unleashed on to the market as it was capable of 180mph (no limiter) etc which was true super car stats. Now many cars are limited to the European 155mph agreement including the VXR8 which many cars are capable of, so no need to raise that eyebrow.
vxr8mate said:
I dare say that if Lotus were handed a stock VXR8 they could produce a car with a little more grip, better set up and more power (just add S/C). Many raised an eybrow when the LC was unleashed on to the market as it was capable of 180mph (no limiter) etc which was true super car stats. Now many cars are limited to the European 155mph agreement including the VXR8 which many cars are capable of, so no need to raise that eyebrow.
Can't argue about the 155 (but can be overcome with the right kit easily enough), but my point was that the VXR8 is an ordinary Holden sedan uprated by HSV in a similar manner to which the Carlton was dealt to by Lotus.Island boy thought I was underrating the LC, I wasn't, however, you can buy a box stock old Vauxhall Carlton for £50 now or even be paid to take one away, and that kinda spoils the mystique of the LC for me - shame.
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