A bit of advice on buying...
Discussion
Hello all, my 1.2 Clio has finally developed so many problems that it's not worth fixing and therefore I'm on the lookout for a new car. I'm after something that's comfortable on long cruises as I have a 140 roundtrip to work 3 or 4 times a week. It needs to be quiet and relaxing, have a decent stereo as standard and be relatively manageable as an everyday car. So my qestions are (I tried searching but didn't get what I needed from it);
1. Am I fooling myself into thinking I'll get upper twenties or maybe even 30mpg on my motorway cruise to work at 75-80mph? The journey is 75 miles each way with about 4 miles of steady 40mph roads (no stop/start) and the rest motorway. Oh and about 20 miles of the bloody 50mph limit on the M1 at Nottingham! (I don't mind if it does 10mpg for my own personal use going to town/shopping/thrashing etc...)
2. How does it compare to a mid range saloon (Saab 9-3, Mondeo etc...) with regards to comfort and road noise? This is really my most important question as the place that I've found a Monaro at is too far from a motorway to test it. Is the air conditioning good?
3. Is it a useable car every day or does it get hard work in the wet (and the Winter).
4. What is a sensible amount to budget for a years worth of maintenance?
5. Where can I find some information on what to look for when buying a Monaro? Or what should I look for in terms of problems?
6. Should I just buy a diesel Saab 9-3 instead?
Cheers, Simon.
1. Am I fooling myself into thinking I'll get upper twenties or maybe even 30mpg on my motorway cruise to work at 75-80mph? The journey is 75 miles each way with about 4 miles of steady 40mph roads (no stop/start) and the rest motorway. Oh and about 20 miles of the bloody 50mph limit on the M1 at Nottingham! (I don't mind if it does 10mpg for my own personal use going to town/shopping/thrashing etc...)
2. How does it compare to a mid range saloon (Saab 9-3, Mondeo etc...) with regards to comfort and road noise? This is really my most important question as the place that I've found a Monaro at is too far from a motorway to test it. Is the air conditioning good?
3. Is it a useable car every day or does it get hard work in the wet (and the Winter).
4. What is a sensible amount to budget for a years worth of maintenance?
5. Where can I find some information on what to look for when buying a Monaro? Or what should I look for in terms of problems?
6. Should I just buy a diesel Saab 9-3 instead?
Cheers, Simon.
Mine is a daily driver, you will do the same if you own one.
Re Q's:
1. CV8 will get you 28mpg on a M/way cruise
2. Quiet cruiser (on std exhaust at least !) -road noise pretty low. Air con? Its from Oz mate - like a freezer if you turn it uop.
3. 364 days a year, no prob (though it wasn't keen on the snow!!). Not particularly well rustproofed, may be worth a waxoyl
4. Std 20k mile service is £200-£250, interim 10k is less. Tyres and brakes cost more than servicing.
5. Here.
6. Yes, if you wear a cardigan.
Re Q's:
1. CV8 will get you 28mpg on a M/way cruise
2. Quiet cruiser (on std exhaust at least !) -road noise pretty low. Air con? Its from Oz mate - like a freezer if you turn it uop.
3. 364 days a year, no prob (though it wasn't keen on the snow!!). Not particularly well rustproofed, may be worth a waxoyl
4. Std 20k mile service is £200-£250, interim 10k is less. Tyres and brakes cost more than servicing.
5. Here.
6. Yes, if you wear a cardigan.
TBH it will eat more fuel that you are after.
With the 5.7L you might touch 30mpg on a trip if its all tuned up nicely.
But its not going to compare with 4cyl and diesels.
Deffo take one for a drive though as you may find it ticks all the other boxes and the power will close the deal for you
With the 5.7L you might touch 30mpg on a trip if its all tuned up nicely.
But its not going to compare with 4cyl and diesels.
Deffo take one for a drive though as you may find it ticks all the other boxes and the power will close the deal for you
Thanks! 
Forgive my ignorance but what's the CV8? Is that one of the earlier ones? I'm afraid my budget would be maxed out around 12-13k so I suppose I'm looking at an 53-54 plate.
For some strange reason I enjoy buying new tyres so I've never seen them as an expense as such!
Quick edit to add......would it take away from my Chimaera 500 as being my 'special' car? I enjoy the thrill of getting into the TVR and wouldn't want it to be watered down too much by having another equally potent car on the drive!
Forgive my ignorance but what's the CV8? Is that one of the earlier ones? I'm afraid my budget would be maxed out around 12-13k so I suppose I'm looking at an 53-54 plate.
For some strange reason I enjoy buying new tyres so I've never seen them as an expense as such!
Quick edit to add......would it take away from my Chimaera 500 as being my 'special' car? I enjoy the thrill of getting into the TVR and wouldn't want it to be watered down too much by having another equally potent car on the drive!
Edited by simonej on Sunday 28th June 19:53
simonej said:
I've worked out that based on 18000 miles a year fuel costs would be about 3500 pounds compared to about 2500 pounds for the Clio at 38mpg..........1000 pounds doesn't seem much for all that power and comfort! :whistle:
Or have I got my calculations horribly wrong?
Or have I got my calculations horribly wrong?
I thought aabout a 'special car' for fun and small car fo rshopping and commuting etc. But I know a fair number fo people who have their 'special car' in the garagre, being repiared blah, blah that they rarely seem to use them. So I thought I'd put the money I'd spend on a commute car towards the running of a 'special car'. So I have one car only a VXR8 :-)
Steve
simonej said:
Thanks!
Forgive my ignorance but what's the CV8? Is that one of the earlier ones? I'm afraid my budget would be maxed out around 12-13k so I suppose I'm looking at an 53-54 plate.
For some strange reason I enjoy buying new tyres so I've never seen them as an expense as such!
Quick edit to add......would it take away from my Chimaera 500 as being my 'special' car? I enjoy the thrill of getting into the TVR and wouldn't want it to be watered down too much by having another equally potent car on the drive!
Forgive my ignorance but what's the CV8? Is that one of the earlier ones? I'm afraid my budget would be maxed out around 12-13k so I suppose I'm looking at an 53-54 plate.
For some strange reason I enjoy buying new tyres so I've never seen them as an expense as such!
Quick edit to add......would it take away from my Chimaera 500 as being my 'special' car? I enjoy the thrill of getting into the TVR and wouldn't want it to be watered down too much by having another equally potent car on the drive!
Edited by simonej on Sunday 28th June 19:53
Check out the FAQs at the top of the page for all the different models in the range.
As to your other questions, all I can say is take one for a test drive. I've owned my VZ CV8 LS1 Monaro (bet that confused ya!
) for over two years, and for the first year at least it was a daily driver. The 27 mile each way commute would see 30mpg over the whole journey. Nowadays however, the car is a pampered garage queen/ weekend toy. I let the shitbox Fiesta take the strain during the week!
moosepig said:
I commute 50 miles a day in mine and only get 18-19mpg out of it. But then I do drive it like I stole it
That’s the norm for a Ro driver isnt it? Any other type of driving would be gay Edited by moosepig on Monday 29th June 11:48
Every time I take mine out, I sub-consciously say "right sensible driving this time" which lasts for as long as my driveway is ... 
t boxes as daily drives now.simonej said:
1. Am I fooling myself into thinking I'll get upper twenties or maybe even 30mpg on my motorway cruise to work at 75-80mph?
NO, AT THE SPEED YOU QUOTE I'VE HAD 30+ ON A LONG M/W JOURNEY; 25MPG ON A MIXED DRIVE. THIS IS ACHIEVABLE DUE TO THE RIDICULOUS GEARING IN SIXTH GEAR (43MPH PER 1000RPM).
2. How does it compare to a mid range saloon (Saab 9-3, Mondeo etc...) with regards to comfort and road noise? This is really my most important question as the place that I've found a Monaro at is too far from a motorway to test it. Is the air conditioning good?
DON'T KNOW BUT I FIND TYRE NOISE CAN BE INTRUSIVE AT TIMES.
4. What is a sensible amount to budget for a years worth of maintenance?
I'VE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE TYRE WEAR WITH THE O/E BRIDGESTONES. I CHECK PRESSURES EVERY WEEK BUT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL GROOVE WEARING SMOOTH ON BOTH REARS. I HAVEN'T CHANGED TO ANOTHER MAKE YET.
NO, AT THE SPEED YOU QUOTE I'VE HAD 30+ ON A LONG M/W JOURNEY; 25MPG ON A MIXED DRIVE. THIS IS ACHIEVABLE DUE TO THE RIDICULOUS GEARING IN SIXTH GEAR (43MPH PER 1000RPM).
2. How does it compare to a mid range saloon (Saab 9-3, Mondeo etc...) with regards to comfort and road noise? This is really my most important question as the place that I've found a Monaro at is too far from a motorway to test it. Is the air conditioning good?
DON'T KNOW BUT I FIND TYRE NOISE CAN BE INTRUSIVE AT TIMES.
4. What is a sensible amount to budget for a years worth of maintenance?
I'VE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE TYRE WEAR WITH THE O/E BRIDGESTONES. I CHECK PRESSURES EVERY WEEK BUT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CENTRAL GROOVE WEARING SMOOTH ON BOTH REARS. I HAVEN'T CHANGED TO ANOTHER MAKE YET.
Later you mention your TVR. I had a V8s and I would say there's no similarity between the Monaro and TVR apart from the sh*te consumption figures. For your £13k you should get a 0554 on the forecourt (that's using official figures not me guessing - prices have risen recently).
I have an 05 CV8 and my brother has a V6 auto Mondeo.
The Mondeo is a little more refined, quieter and more economical. Where the cars really differ is performance and handling. The Mondeo is so is so much more composed, more accurate steering and better ride. In contrast the Monaro's steering is rather low geared and the car can feel a real lump on narrow twisting roads. But in a straight line the Monaro has a lovely mid rangy power delivery, with its muted Nascar sound track. The Mondeo's V6 is just lost in the MK3 bulk and all the performance has to come from endless down changes. A manual one must be desperate, your right foot sinking looking for torque that simply isn't there. The current Mondeo has dropped this engine now, in favour of a turbo 5 cyl or endless diesels.
Other than tyres the Monaro seams pretty cheap to service. Brakes are lasting well as long as you put up with the judder. I'm getting about 25mpg on a mainly motor way commute with a bit of traffic at the ends.
I guess you need to combine the best elements of both cars, the Mon from the Mondeo and aro from the Monaro...
The Mondeo is a little more refined, quieter and more economical. Where the cars really differ is performance and handling. The Mondeo is so is so much more composed, more accurate steering and better ride. In contrast the Monaro's steering is rather low geared and the car can feel a real lump on narrow twisting roads. But in a straight line the Monaro has a lovely mid rangy power delivery, with its muted Nascar sound track. The Mondeo's V6 is just lost in the MK3 bulk and all the performance has to come from endless down changes. A manual one must be desperate, your right foot sinking looking for torque that simply isn't there. The current Mondeo has dropped this engine now, in favour of a turbo 5 cyl or endless diesels.
Other than tyres the Monaro seams pretty cheap to service. Brakes are lasting well as long as you put up with the judder. I'm getting about 25mpg on a mainly motor way commute with a bit of traffic at the ends.
I guess you need to combine the best elements of both cars, the Mon from the Mondeo and aro from the Monaro...
donk r8 said:
Blimey, just put on my third set of rears, only 24k, do you spend most of your time airborne Rich.............!!!!!!
Not sure mate, they are down to the limit though, I made sure I used them all. I do a lot of motorway travel though. If I did more around town Im sure Id be on at least my second set.Thanks for all the input chaps. Plenty to think about.
In the meantime they managed to bring my Clio back to life - for free (was the same MAP sensor that went last year so they slipped me a new one)!!
Anyway, it means there is no rush and I can spend my time looking around and wait for the right one to come up. I have to confess I went to look at a few 'sensible' cars - Saab 9-3, Mondeo, BMW 3 series, Jag X Type - and I have never been so underwhelmed and disappointed by cars. I also had a brand new Vectra SRI as a hire car - why on earth do people buy them?!! Basically it made me realise that I should either stick with the Clio as it's no worse than any of the other cars I was looking at (minus the air conditioning), or man up and pay an extra couple of grand a year on fuel and tax for a Monaro!
So fingers crossed I'll be joining the fold fairly soon! On another note, my Chimaera is the 500 (so not slow) but I struggle to keep up with my friend in his N/A VX220 on the road - mainly because it can't handle the road surfaces around me. Does anyone know how the Monaro compares with something like that? Does it inspire confidence around the corners and over rough country roads? It's rather difficult to find out in a test drive!
In the meantime they managed to bring my Clio back to life - for free (was the same MAP sensor that went last year so they slipped me a new one)!!
Anyway, it means there is no rush and I can spend my time looking around and wait for the right one to come up. I have to confess I went to look at a few 'sensible' cars - Saab 9-3, Mondeo, BMW 3 series, Jag X Type - and I have never been so underwhelmed and disappointed by cars. I also had a brand new Vectra SRI as a hire car - why on earth do people buy them?!! Basically it made me realise that I should either stick with the Clio as it's no worse than any of the other cars I was looking at (minus the air conditioning), or man up and pay an extra couple of grand a year on fuel and tax for a Monaro!
So fingers crossed I'll be joining the fold fairly soon! On another note, my Chimaera is the 500 (so not slow) but I struggle to keep up with my friend in his N/A VX220 on the road - mainly because it can't handle the road surfaces around me. Does anyone know how the Monaro compares with something like that? Does it inspire confidence around the corners and over rough country roads? It's rather difficult to find out in a test drive!
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