Change to Monaro?

[StypeAndy]

Hi All,

First post on this forum.

I currently run an S-type V8 Sport which is approx. 3 years old. Considering a change for one of the £26995 Monaro's currently available. How do you think the 2 will compare?. I do a lot of high speed motorway driving commuting between Suffolk and Cheshire at which the jag excels. The auto box is also great for round town driving and when you are stuck in Jams. Add to this the well put together and luxury feel of the Jag and you have a package thats hard to beat.

The downside is that it makes me feel middle aged! and the looks are interesting at best....I still cant get to love them. Speed is Ok but the whole driving experience lacks passion.

How do you think the Monaro will compare?

Appreciate your thoughts

Cheers

Andy

[BO55 VXR]

You will not be disappointed...Motorway's are a Monaro's best friend...and if you get bored (yeah, right!!), you can always start upgrading it.


BTW: You will obviously have to change your identity as well

Edited by BO55 VXR on Friday 15th December 22:31

[BigNige]

If you spend a lot of time in traffic the Monaro may not suit.
The clutch & box are quite heavy compared to...errr... well, anything actually.

Motorways are ok, it has cruise and the seating is very comfy although I suspect the Jag is probably quieter.

Hard call but, in your shoes, I'd actually consider sticking with the Jag tbh.

[StypeAndy]

Thanks Guys,

I rather feared the heavy clutch and gearbox, however......... when did head ever rule heart with car selections. The Jag was probably first time as previously had Focus RS and M3. Both of these were a pain in traffic but the upside made them well worth it!

Hows the cabin feel of the monaro, not a great lover of Vauxhalls generally, but appreciate the Monaro will be different.

One last question, in normal circumstances is it unruly and requires skil to drive or is it a pussy?

Cheers

Andy

[stevieturbo]

StypeAndy said:

Thanks Guys,

I rather feared the heavy clutch and gearbox, however......... when did head ever rule heart with car selections. The Jag was probably first time as previously had Focus RS and M3. Both of these were a pain in traffic but the upside made them well worth it!

Hows the cabin feel of the monaro, not a great lover of Vauxhalls generally, but appreciate the Monaro will be different.

One last question, in normal circumstances is it unruly and requires skil to drive or is it a pussy?

Cheers

Andy

The Monaro is NOT a Vauxhall. It is a Holden with Vauxhall badges. I dont think the clutches are that heavy at all. The crappy transit I was driving today in work, was far heavier !!!!

They are a pussy....

[Dan_S V8]

Definitely a pussy, if you watched the TopGear reports you would have seen just how easy it is to induce lazy power-over slides that go on and on and on and on

[BigNige]

The interior is good but it ain't Jaguar standard.

As always with advice of this subjective nature, the only real way is to have a test drive and make ones own mind up.

Edited by BigNige on Saturday 16th December 09:22

[V6 JDT]

Hi Andy,

My previous car was a S Type sport (V6 not V8) and I have never looked back. I do mostly motorway/dual carriageway miles with the occasional twisty A9 up to the North of Scotland and can honestly say it's really great to drive and the most comfortable car to be in I've ever had. Stuck in traffic is no bad thing as you can watch everyone looking at the car trying to figure what it is! especially since I badged it "Holden".
Go for it

[gibo993]

Think you will be suprised how good the interior is. I had an M5 and then a Porsche 996 and my new Monaro feels much more like the M5, I really like the interior its just so comfortable.

Great motorway car but the gear change is very heavy(still only 400 miles) clutch is no problem gear change can be much improved with a £500 rip shifter I'm told, so thats my next purchase, then Exhaust and remap , headers, brakes, suspens.........................


anyway for £26995 you would be mad not too, I bought mine over the phone, I had never seen one in the flesh, I'm still smiling it's much much better than I expected.
Oh and I just love telling people I've bought a Vauxhall, not many understand

[StypeAndy]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Still torn to be honest, I will probably faff around and make a decision once they have all gone!

Sounds like you are all well impressed with the Monaro and have obviously made a great choice.

Havent seen one at all in Suffolk, but unfortunately lots of middle aged farmers driving around in S-Types.

Cheerrs for the advice and best wishes for Christmas

[pwig]

Why not take a test drive and see if you like it?


Oh and at the bloke who put holden badges on his vauxhall.

[74TC]

pwig said:

Why not take a test drive and see if you like it?


Oh and at the bloke who put holden badges on his vauxhall.

and how does putting holden badges back on a holden make you roll about laughing ?

[phrich]

He probably thinks the Mini is a great British car

[barking]

pwig said:

Oh and at the bloke who put holden badges on his vauxhall

For somebody who sells cars as for a living you seem awfully ignorant. Maybe when you reach the maturity of yor 22nd birthday you will be able to make an informed decision on buying a car to replace your push bike.

[booster]

pwig said:

Why not take a test drive and see if you like it?


Oh and at the bloke who put holden badges on his vauxhall.

Duh! That's coz they are Holdens - duh. If you take the fron vauxhall badge off an o4 CV8 underneath is the template for the Holden lion - i.e. It's a rebadged Holden.

[V8 EOL]

Back on topic....

I find the clutch quite heavy. Also... idling along in first gear in traffic, I tend to find I go faster than everyone else... which is quite anoying as you have to stop all the time. Also idling the Monaro will burn 1.6 gallans per hour. Quite a lot if you ask me. My previous 2.5 v6 Calibra burnt 0.3 gallans per hour. As a result, expect < 10 mpg in traffic.

Once on the open road, nothing compares. Sliding out of roundabouts with a drift on at about 50 mph is absolutly unbeleavable... especially when you dont realise you are doing it! The torque of the v8 will mean you can pull strong and hard in 4th from 30 to 120 and it will cruse up to 160 very easily.

If you are used to a slush box and dont want a big left leg then its not for you. If you want to drive somthing that will put a smile on your face every single day...

[V6 JDT]

pwig said:

Why not take a test drive and see if you like it?


Oh and at the bloke who put holden badges on his vauxhall.

The laugh is the push bike owner photoshopping his forum name on an XJ numberplate!

[AM04ARO]

Heavy clutch?

I think standard cars are perfect for motorway driving, I bought mine when I was doing 100 miles each way to work and found it totally relaxing compared to the astra I had before.