Monaro V MG ZT260 in this weeks Autoexpress (May 5th - 11th)
Discussion
Here's a few quotes:
"Big, brutish, and now on sale in Britain, the Monaro is gunning for the coupe competition, armed with a thumping 329 bhp 5.7 litre V8. Running it wont be cheap, but with ample room for four, and a decent boot, it's as practical as it is sideways"
"An Aussie import with a Corvette sourced 5.7 litre engine under the bonnet, isn't as unwelcome in the Uk as you would expect. Fast, unflappable, and hugely capabile in all conditions. Makes even a Nissan 350Z seem effete"
"The first big Vauxhall coupe since the Calibra is a very different beast - but while the Monaro might lack visual fireworks, a 5.7 litre V8 and rear wheel drive more than compensate"
"The V8 is a great enticement to buyers wanting to recapture the essence of an American muscle car in a modern package - the Monaro does that particularly well"
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Wednesday 5th May 23:28
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Wednesday 5th May 23:30
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Thursday 6th May 09:11
"Big, brutish, and now on sale in Britain, the Monaro is gunning for the coupe competition, armed with a thumping 329 bhp 5.7 litre V8. Running it wont be cheap, but with ample room for four, and a decent boot, it's as practical as it is sideways"
"An Aussie import with a Corvette sourced 5.7 litre engine under the bonnet, isn't as unwelcome in the Uk as you would expect. Fast, unflappable, and hugely capabile in all conditions. Makes even a Nissan 350Z seem effete"
"The first big Vauxhall coupe since the Calibra is a very different beast - but while the Monaro might lack visual fireworks, a 5.7 litre V8 and rear wheel drive more than compensate"
"The V8 is a great enticement to buyers wanting to recapture the essence of an American muscle car in a modern package - the Monaro does that particularly well"
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Wednesday 5th May 23:28
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Wednesday 5th May 23:30
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Thursday 6th May 09:11
Well I hope Auto Express give it a better write up than they did the last time they tested one.Then it was up against a BMW so naturally it was on a loser right from the start,this time it's against a mere Rover so it might stand a chance.
Looking forward to reading it even if they slate it.If they don't like it it shows they've got no taste.
Looking forward to reading it even if they slate it.If they don't like it it shows they've got no taste.
Never been a MGB (MGBoring) fan. People seem to rave about them in this country, they just seem pre-historic to me. But I suppose each to his own, if it floats your boat... I'd much rather see a nice Viva HB GT.
The new MG's are a totally different kettle of fish though. In Autoexpress they say the Monaro lacks the cutting edge design of the MG. If you ask me, the MG looks dreadful from the front - droopy sad looking headlamps, a grille that looks like someones nose who has a heavy cold, and fog lamps and driving lamps dotted all over the place like acne. Well if that's cutting edge, it's not for me. The Monaro looks lovely in comparison.
Quote from Autocar:
"Is there really a market for a relatively ordinary-looking £30k coupe that struggles to top 15mpg in hard driving, and wears the badge that enjoys all the kudos of a Tescos carrier bag"
Snooty b*****s. Look how many Fords and Rovers you see parked in Tesco's car park - yet they never get a slating.
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Friday 7th May 12:59
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Saturday 8th May 14:51
The new MG's are a totally different kettle of fish though. In Autoexpress they say the Monaro lacks the cutting edge design of the MG. If you ask me, the MG looks dreadful from the front - droopy sad looking headlamps, a grille that looks like someones nose who has a heavy cold, and fog lamps and driving lamps dotted all over the place like acne. Well if that's cutting edge, it's not for me. The Monaro looks lovely in comparison.
Quote from Autocar:
"Is there really a market for a relatively ordinary-looking £30k coupe that struggles to top 15mpg in hard driving, and wears the badge that enjoys all the kudos of a Tescos carrier bag"
Snooty b*****s. Look how many Fords and Rovers you see parked in Tesco's car park - yet they never get a slating.
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Friday 7th May 12:59
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Saturday 8th May 14:51
CommodoreGS/E said:
Never been a MGB (MGBoring) fan. People seem to rave about them in this country, they just seem pre-historic to me. But I suppose each to his own, if it floats your boat... I'd much rather see a nice Viva HB GT.
The new MG's are a totally different kettle of fish though. In Autoexpress they say the Monaro lacks the cutting edge design of the MG. If you ask me, the MG looks dreadful from the front - droopy sad looking headlamps, a grille that looks like someones nose who has a heavy cold, and fog lamps and driving lamps dotted all over the place like acne. Well if that's cutting edge, it's not for me. The Monaro looks lovely in comparison.
Quote from Autocar:
"Is there really a market for a relatively ordinary-looking £30k coupe that struggles to top 15mpg in hard driving, and wears the badge that enjoys all the kudos of a Tescos carrier bag"
Snooty b*****s. Look how many Fords and Rovers you see parked in Tesco's car park - yet they never get a slating.
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Friday 7th May 12:59
>> Edited by CommodoreGS/E on Saturday 8th May 14:51
Don't know that this was meant to be a snooty comment to be honest - if Ford made a similar vehicle to compete with 350Z, TT 3.2 and the various other cars around in that sector of the market we'd probably say the same thing - it would be a consideration of most buyers after all.
Anyway I think its fair to say that, on balance, we love the Monaro. Judging by how much time it spent in the car park during its time with us (clue: not very much at all!) and by how much our road testers have been raving about its drifting abilities, we can't wait until our long term car arrives...
Hello Stuart 
I was not being serious about the so called snooty comments - I was just trying to stir up a bit of debate. Looks like it's has that effect, good to see you here. You are absolutely right - brand image is an important consideration (more for some people than others) when it comes to buying a car. I can't wait to get my car, and as you will be running one long term, I'll look forward to reading about it in Autocar.
I was not being serious about the so called snooty comments - I was just trying to stir up a bit of debate. Looks like it's has that effect, good to see you here. You are absolutely right - brand image is an important consideration (more for some people than others) when it comes to buying a car. I can't wait to get my car, and as you will be running one long term, I'll look forward to reading about it in Autocar.
I Agree totally with you CommodoreGS/E,
The article did try to make the ROVER with a FORD engine, look good against a very good car.
The Front end on the ROVER looks like the cross between two ROVER front ends, with the MG grille in the middle, (If thats Styling you can have it )
In the Star Ratings on Value for Money, they give the Monaro 2 & Rover 3. COME ONE the cars cost about the same, but the Monaro has so much more.
Traction Control
Cruise Control
Leather int
Electric Seats
Metallic Paint
Parking Sensors
Rain Sensors
Also a 2 Door Sports car with a better Engine.
I know which of the two cars will turn most heads !
Back to Styling, Monaro 3 Rover 4 What a suprise again.
It seems unless it's a European Car it has no Style.
If the Monaro had BMW on the side they would all say it had Style.
Give me the Monaro any day,
HOLDEN DRIVE ON !
The article did try to make the ROVER with a FORD engine, look good against a very good car.
The Front end on the ROVER looks like the cross between two ROVER front ends, with the MG grille in the middle, (If thats Styling you can have it )
In the Star Ratings on Value for Money, they give the Monaro 2 & Rover 3. COME ONE the cars cost about the same, but the Monaro has so much more.
Traction Control
Cruise Control
Leather int
Electric Seats
Metallic Paint
Parking Sensors
Rain Sensors
Also a 2 Door Sports car with a better Engine.
I know which of the two cars will turn most heads !
Back to Styling, Monaro 3 Rover 4 What a suprise again.
It seems unless it's a European Car it has no Style.
If the Monaro had BMW on the side they would all say it had Style.
Give me the Monaro any day,
HOLDEN DRIVE ON !
EH*ROB - With styling, some manufacturers seem to be doing 'cutting' edge, just for the sake of it, or to 'keep up with the Jones', so to speak. Some designs seem to work, the Ford Focus, for example, or some of the new Alfa's (Gorgeous). But others don't. The Rover just looks a bit of a mess, IMO, and as for some of the new BMW's ... Of course that won't stop a lot of people buying BMW's - "because it's a BMW".
Getting back to the Autoexpress and Autocar reports on the Monaro - On the value for money rating in Autoexpress, I agree with you. I thought it must have been a misprint when they gave the Monaro 2 stars, and the MG 3!
Some of these road test reports can be subjective, but it's good to see that the Monaro seems to be doing well in all the magazines.
As for Badge kudos - well, I couldn't give a "4X" as I'm actually selling a Porsche to buy a Vauxhall
Getting back to the Autoexpress and Autocar reports on the Monaro - On the value for money rating in Autoexpress, I agree with you. I thought it must have been a misprint when they gave the Monaro 2 stars, and the MG 3!
Some of these road test reports can be subjective, but it's good to see that the Monaro seems to be doing well in all the magazines.
As for Badge kudos - well, I couldn't give a "4X" as I'm actually selling a Porsche to buy a Vauxhall
I dont know how they can say the Monaro looks boring.
To me its one of the most beatiful cars on the market...but I may be a lil biased!
The one thing I know for sure is that they're 100 times better looking in real-life than the photos. I remember the first time I saw one - in a showroom in Melbourne - it made the hair on my neck stand up and sent me weak at the knees!
To me its one of the most beatiful cars on the market...but I may be a lil biased!
The one thing I know for sure is that they're 100 times better looking in real-life than the photos. I remember the first time I saw one - in a showroom in Melbourne - it made the hair on my neck stand up and sent me weak at the knees!
Gassing Station | HSV & Monaro | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff