Why did you buy yours?

Why did you buy yours?

Author
Discussion

SturdyHSV

Original Poster:

10,083 posts

166 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Inspired by this quote in the Aussie prices thread:

dan mugglestone said:
For my pennys worth . I brought it for looks , noise and because I wanted to , Had no intention of 'making' money and its a 20+year keeper.
Yes for the money i could have brought something faster , handle better , cheaper to run? but dont care its what i wanted .
I thought it'd make an interesting, or at least fairly easy thread smile

I'll chip in too, for me I always wanted a big V8, manual, RWD car. Teenage years I was thinking TVR, ideally a Griffith 500, or possibly a Cerbera...

Then Clarkson drove a Monaro on Top Gear in 2003, and then the VXR in 2004 (the beach episode) and 18 year old James thought that if this piece of motoring perfection was 'only' £35k now, then perhaps in 7 years when I'm 25 and insurance might be sensible, I could get one...

Needless to say after Hammond drifting a silver VXR (now with a 6 litre cloud9) I was not put off.

Around 23 I was making reasonable money, had a flat, outgoings were comically low, so I saved up ready to get my first proper car. At the time I really quite loved the look of the T350 with targa roof panels, but this was a straight six and really I wanted a V8. Add to this the temperamental nature of the Speed Six motor (warm-up procedure etc.) and the fact it would be living outside, my TVR dream started to look a little unrealistic.

And then one week I remembered the Monaro. I had a quick search on Pistonheads, the prices were basically the same as they are now, and usefully about £8k cheaper than the TVRs I had saved up for, and I knew it would be the car for me.

There was one nearby at a garage, I went there on the next Saturday, test drove it (gently, I was coming from a 1.2 Clio) and the want was strong. Alas it was putting out a lot of white smoke after the test drive, there was a belt squeak (I knew very little about mechanics at this point) and the dealer absolutely refused to budge on the price whatsoever. This even though it was the 27th February, and the tax expired on the 28th, so if I'd bought it a couple of days later I would have saved hundreds of pounds...

Alas I walked away, and was most grumpy, I'd made my mind up, and I wanted one NOW! hehe

I resorted to ebay, and there was one being sold in Bath, he was getting a VXR8, and was planning to trade the Monaro in, but wanted to see if he could sell it on instead.

I went to visit him on the Sunday, test drive etc. the deal was done. It was always going to happen, and Bruce came home with me hehe

Nearly 9 years (and a LOT of mods) later and the Monaro still makes my friends and I laugh as much as it did in our 20s. It was always going to be a keeper, it has been absolutely everything I expected and more, for me it is just perfect cloud9

So over to you lot, was it just a cheap Vauxhall with a big engine? Did you also see the Top Gear 'beach' episode and decide that if Clarkson was licking the bonnet it had to be worth a go?

Powermaster1

138 posts

84 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Yep mine was that very top gear episode on the beach , for me it was when clarkson rarely likes a car 100% said it also reminds him of the classic big v8 Aston martins that sold me I always wanted a big Vantage 5.3 v8 never going to happen so the the hunt for the monaro started . I’ve always been into the big Opel /Vauxhall - commodores, Monza and 3000 gsi’s so six years later I found her and have owned her now for coming up 7 years . I have on a couple of occasions thought about something thing else but to be honest there’s nothing out there coupe wise Maserati gran torismo Ferrari engine £££££’s to service and roughly the same bhp , xkr no rear seats same bhp , Bentley continental gt to big and cramped interior and the mustang ? Doesn’t really do it for me so mines a keeper

SturdyHSV

Original Poster:

10,083 posts

166 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
God yes, the old twin supercharged Vantage cloud9 Absolute dream car for me, but as you say, never going to happen hehe

shakermikee

567 posts

154 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Good topic Sturdy! Why did I buy mine nearly 9 years ago?

I grew up loving V8 muscle cars and always fancied the Monaro after seeing the same Top Gear episodes. Always had a good look at the Monaro brochures everytime I took my Astra estate company car in to Vauxhall for a service.

Alas I didn’t have enough money and as a family of 5 with 3 small children. This meant not only could I not afford one, it also wouldn’t fit us all in. So would always remain a dream to own something like that.

I bought a Zafira VXR to cope with the family demands and also have something that was pretty capable for what it was.

Then I saw the VXR8, it could fit the family in with ease and be both practical and bonkers at the same time. Aged about 38, I got it in my head that turning 40 would be a good excuse to buy one. Whenever the conversation came up, what was I doing for my 40th? I used to answer getting a VXR8, eventually the kids would jump in and answer for me if anyone mentioned my upcoming 40th “He’s getting a VXR8”, my plan was working and I was getting everyone adjusted to my mindset!

About 6 months before my 40th, I thought now was the time to start doing the research and find the right VXR8 for me, within a fairly limited budget. I had 6 months to wait for the right one and ideally, I wanted the LS3 and in evoke.

First glance at what was on offer and prices were a bit scary with all of them at low mileage (about 25k miles max), just one impulse blue LS2 with 65,000 miles on the clock, 4 hours drive away at a car specialist in Oxford. The mileage reflected in the price, I gave a call to enquire if it was available and get a ballpark figure he’d give me in part ex for the Zafira VXR. Was quite pleased with the figures but was cautious I would be swapping a 2008 reliable car still in warranty, for an unknown 2007 car out of warranty. Blagged work that I had a meeting that would take up most of the next day and set off to Oxford for a look at my first VXR8, having never seen one up close.

Told myself not to get giddy and keep cool, this is the first one I was looking at and could be a benchmark to see how any others in the next 6 months would stack up against it.

First time I saw it parked up, couldn’t believe the size of it and how good it looked. Had a look round did the tyre kicking bit and then he passed me the keys for a test drive. Started it up with the drivers door still open,… that sound!!!! Playing it cool went right out of the window, must have had the biggest grin in the world on that test drive and he must of known the car was sold. Got back from the drive, agreed the figures and done deal.

Couldn’t wait to pick it up a week later and was then trying to convince myself and others that I would be happy to own it for a year/ tick it for the list/ get it out of my system etc.

Nearly 9 years on I just can’t give it up, made so many friends through owning this car and just love the reaction it gets.

Powermaster1

138 posts

84 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
I also think gm branded the car wrong,it shouldn’t have been a Vauxhall nor should it have been a holden ( sorry Holden lovers) as Holden is famous down under but in the northern hemisphere no one knows about the brand.as for Pontiac really good brand but the monaro body styling didn’t in my opinion suit the Pontiac image I mean putting gto nostrils on the bonnet and the Pontiac kidney radiator grilles didn’t cut it for me but I think it should have been branded a Chevrolet Camaro in its own right serviced at selected Vauxhall dealers ,as for the body subtle iroc stripes keep the natural vxr body kit and you would have had a the true competitor for the mustang. Now how would you have liked to say down the pub I own a Chevy camaro z28 or iroc-z I personally think it may have sold a bit better and it would have led nicely into the newer camaro based on the vxr8 platform that came out in the us. Just a thought Only my opinion though

Mezzell

134 posts

54 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Top gear for me too!!
I’ve had loads of Vauxhall’s over the years. My first car was a mk2 Cavalier SRI, then I saved up and got an SRI 130. I’ve had a Nova GTE track car and various Astra’s. but this was when I was younger.......
I’ve always been a massive petrol head and always loved a V8. I’ve had a lot of cars over the years but recently, what with having 4 kids, they seem to have been bought out of necessity rather than because I want them.
I’ve got a couple of motorbikes that don’t get used too much these days (the Mrs went on the back once and won’t again) so I decided to sell them and, for the first time in quite a while, buy something that I wanted.
I didn’t want to be totally selfish and get a two seater, so it had to have at least four seats. It had to be quick but I wanted it to be different.........
So I started trawling the internet. I was looking at seriously modded R33’s and BMW’s but nothing really stood out for me. Then I just typed 500bhp into eBay and my Monaro came up. I hadn’t even thought about one up to this point. So I started reading up on them and phoned up to see if I could take a look and the rest is history!

It ticks every box for me. It’s nicely understated to look at. Great lines and amazing looking from the back but no big spoilers or body kits. I consider it a proper drivers car too. Not easy to drive at all but I like that. It goes like stink and sounds incredible and people are constantly asking me what it is, which I love.
In my eyes it’s a car that demands respect. You’re never going to see one in the hands of a boy racer but it makes me feel like a naughty child every time I turn the key!!

Mines a keeper and I’m sure I’ll still own it in 10 years and still love it as much as I do now.

mfp4073

1,940 posts

173 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
When I saw the "Night Rider" driving a mysterious "Pursuit Special" in Mad Max, that was it...I was hooked...and that was in 1979!!!!!!
I guess I never recovered from that?

Edited by mfp4073 on Thursday 24th October 11:07

bigwheel

1,616 posts

213 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Clarkson, Top Gear did it for me.
After missing out in my early 20's on a gold '69 Camaro 350 SS. I had helped repair it at a back street garage I worked at after the boss bought it from the customer. It lay there for weeks and I was besotted with it, but the insurance£££'s! One weekend I thought "**ck it", I'm buying it. Into work Monday to discover the boss had sold it, ba***rd! That was the itch firmly rooted and only mildly scratched by doing burnouts oops, correction, driving customers' Yanks, Jags, Mercs and Rollers.
Then my young family appeared and Ford's finest mk3 and 5 Cortinas did the business.
In 2006 I was in a position to buy a Monaro. I test drove a '04 CV8 at a second hand car dealer but he was too greedy with the price. The Vauxhall dealer, Greens of Rainham, Kent showed up on an internet search with well priced new '05 models. I really, really wanted the Odyssey blue and got the last unregistered one. The salesman asked over the phone if I wanted them to fit the Wortec cat back exhaust and remap. You betcha!
And later on I discovered Monkfish! Road Response Pack and a 3.9 diff, sorted!
Sorned every winter and I'm still a happy bunny, it's special.

Edited by bigwheel on Thursday 24th October 13:38

vxr2010

2,554 posts

158 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
My cv8 was a divorce present to me lol , plus i wanted a v8 muscle car , 9 years later with quite a bit spent on mods no regrets and still enjoying it , as soon as the dealer started it with the wortec exhaust noise , it was sold , i paid just under 10k£, i think it was around 28k miles on the clock

SturdyHSV

Original Poster:

10,083 posts

166 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Mezzell said:
I just typed 500bhp into eBay and my Monaro came up
rofl that's brilliant!

Really nice to hear some stories, Mike your R8 is on some serious miles now isn't it? I'm keen to get some more miles on the Monaro, it's not even reached 70,000 yet!

shakermikee

567 posts

154 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
SturdyHSV said:
rofl that's brilliant!

Really nice to hear some stories, Mike your R8 is on some serious miles now isn't it? I'm keen to get some more miles on the Monaro, it's not even reached 70,000 yet!
175,000 miles. Throwing down the gauntlet to all other R8 owners drivingbiggrin

SturdyHSV

Original Poster:

10,083 posts

166 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
shakermikee said:
175,000 miles. Throwing down the gauntlet to all other R8 owners drivingbiggrin
Proper job! biggrin

Mezzell

134 posts

54 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
I had a Scorpio cosworth back in the day. Had 320,000 on it when I sold it. Original engine and box!!!

Mezzell

134 posts

54 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
I do love the fact that a lot of people on here seem to be long term owners. Says a lot about the car I think..........

99PBATR

486 posts

77 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
I'm a late starter on V8's...sort of. I love cars of all types but having lived in the states for a while, I got into V8s even though I was too young to afford one. I've had quite a varied car ownership history but I settled on saloon cars with my early purchases such as an Opel Manta GT/E, Vauxhall 3L Carlton etc but then made a terrible mistake and bought a Lotus (ahem) and then the world of work got in the way and for many years dictated what I drove as they were company cars. I couldn't really afford to run two cars until a few years ago when I had some extra cash as I was that bit older. I got into the Jap scene and had a few jap motors and then decided to spend nearly 4 years restoring a Honda Accord Type R to show condition...if i'm honest better than show condition, but that's another story. You'll see the full story if you type my user name in and look at the build thread of it on here.

Then one fateful evening I happened to get a ride in my mates Monaro and within all of 20 seconds, having spent 4 years restoring the Honda and showing it for the past 2 years, the Honda was in my head gone and the search for the Ro began. One of my bucket list items was to own a V8 and the Ro ticked all the boxes...right hand drive, aggressive looking, rare, not what everyone else drives etc etc.

In my case I was adamant, having done my research that it must be and have the following:

Ro VXR
Black
Supercharged
AP Big brakes
Uprated Exhaust (and headers if possible)

Then I feel it was fate based on what happened....I happened upon my car in the Autotrader and must have spent months drooling over it. It was Black, Supercharged, had all the kit & a fair bit more on it....but I just couldn't afford it. It was up for a fair bit more than I wanted and actually could pay. Then it disappeared...so I figured that was it and my dream was over..hey ho...But then a few months later it re-appeared and was almost at the top end of the budget. I gave the guy a call who oddly was a restorer of Ferrari's and this was his DAILY eek
He already had someone lined up for it to buy it and who was flying down to buy it, so I was gutted. I had a good chat and asked him to call me if that changed. A couple of days later I was amazed to get his call and next day I was in the car with a fistful of cash. Got to his workshop to find the car on ramps (already a good sign) for me to expect. The moment I saw the car I knew it was going to be mine..no idea why but I just knew...fate! Within 10 minutes of desperately trying to look disinterested (I wasn't fooling anyonelaugh) we did the deal.

Best decision I ever made. I love that car. It's everything I wanted. No it's not perfect and it needed a shed load of work on the paint and luckily, as I used to run my own detailing business, that was actually good news for me as I knew i'd be able to get it looking mint. So after about 120 hours on it, I've still got a way to go but it looks pretty darn good. I've had to spend a few quid on it too but it's been well worth it and it's just a joy to get into. Its not perfect it has many flaws but they are flaws I can most definitely live with and flaws that give it character (an often overused term).

I love the fact that its loud, a bit brash, looks mean (even when stood still) and is an old skool muscle car in a modern jacket. That is cool to me. I appreciate modern supercars but its all a bit too clinical and detached for me. My mate has a McLaren 720S and whilst that is a hell of a weapon, it's also too polished, too exacting and almost too perfect. I can appreciate it's brilliance and I'd have one if I had the cash but it would have to budge up in the garage to make room for the Ro.

Nothing sounds like the Ro. The supercharger gives me goosebumps ever time I put my foot down. Its not an experience driving it, it's an eventsmokin

monarodom

1,247 posts

145 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
So a mixture of Top Gear on Pendine Sands & seeing an article in the paper about the CV8 when I was 13/14. I still have that paper in a wardrobe at my parents...along with the Wortec silencers! I wanted one as soon as I saw it and have a fondness for Vauxhall having grown up with them.

Love having something that looks different and sounds incredible. 7 and a half years in for me now and I ended up with an LS1 VXR like the one on the beach smile

I did the usual of telling myself not to buy the first one I saw but doing it anyway after a 250 mile round trip to Bristol. It needed work and has thrown up a couple of hefty bills over the years but every time I fire it up all is forgiven!

Mezzell

134 posts

54 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Probably not a question for this thread and has probably been covered before but I’m going to ask it anyway! ......does the bottom end need any strengthening before adding a supercharger?

wormus

14,509 posts

202 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
My new Alfa 159 kept going wrong so I took back to the dealer and asked for a refund. They also sold Vauxhalls so I got them to do me a deal on my Monaro (it’s the only Vauxhall I liked and I didn’t want another Alfa). That was in 2006 and I’ve owned it ever since. Quite different now I’ve modified it. Don’t think I’ll ever sell it.

wormus

14,509 posts

202 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
Mezzell said:
Probably not a question for this thread and has probably been covered before but I’m going to ask it anyway! ......does the bottom end need any strengthening before adding a supercharger?
Not really although it depends on power level. It’s really pistons that need doing first. An LS2 is still good for over 600hp on stock pistons.

Mezzell

134 posts

54 months

Thursday 24th October 2019
quotequote all
So mine’s an LS1. I’m not thinking about this anytime soon as brakes are definitely first on the list!!!
Just wondered if I could bolt one on, remap and not wait for obliteration!!!