RE: Muscle car maker does well
Discussion
chaz-uk said:
Vauxhall did build a Nova , thats not a good driver's car and do not all Vauxhall's come with a chav baseball cap nice bit burberry--CLASS .
Nope, I've owned 20, currently own three and have no such accessories. The Nova wasn't a drivers car, but due to it's simple design availibility of parts it can be a lot of fun when modified (mechanically not bodily!).
As for the Monaro. I think there are some people who will actually *like* the fact it's badged a Vauxhall. Blowing something much more expensive into the weeds in a car with that badge on it must have some sort of entertainment value.
Vauxhall seem to be putting a lot of effort into their VXR range now. If they'd done something like that back in the 70's as a response to the Ford RS (amazing marketing!) badging maybe things would be a bit different. But GM couldn't even be bothered to support the cars in motorsport.
Yes the boot space in the 2004 car was a deciding factor for me too. It seems that the 2005 car has a couple of undesirable "additions". The bonnet with the non-functional air scoops can easily be resolved by ordering with a 2004 bonnet (in fact they're shipping extra bonnets over for this very purpose, I understand); however I believe you're right in saying that the 2005 model has the fuel tank moved to accommodate an exhaust tail pipe on each side - IMO a ridiculous triumph of form over function. Who cares where the tailpipes are? You can't see them when you're driving.
caspy said:
I understand the fuel tank was moved as a safety feature with th exhaust spin off. Having the tank aft of the rear axle could be intersting in bad rear ender. i imagine it aids weight balance as well.
Interesting... I guess the safety approach can't really be criticised too much, but it does seem a shame to have to lose a fair chunk one of the car's selling points.
Sadly it looks like I probably won't make the Ace on Sunday; perhaps you good folk could take some snaps of inside the boots of the 2005 models Stu is bringing, so we all know how much of a space reduction we're talking about.
As for weight, IMO the car is already biased a little too far forward; I can't see how moving the tank forward will help. In my car I find there is a noticeable improvement in handling when the tank is full, the back is less snappy and more predictable and the car feels better balanced, especially in the wet.
[quote] but in truth, Holden is Vauxhall. Everything else they sell you can buy - Barina (corsa), Astra, Vectra etc.
We call the Vectra a Holden, you can call the Monaro a Vauxhall. Nuff said.[/quote]
G'Day FestivAli,
We have had this argument before, I Have NOTHING against Vauxhall as it's GM, but Vauxhall don't make cars, they may assemble some cars but all their cars are re-badged Opel.
That will get more reaction.
Rob.
We call the Vectra a Holden, you can call the Monaro a Vauxhall. Nuff said.[/quote]
G'Day FestivAli,
We have had this argument before, I Have NOTHING against Vauxhall as it's GM, but Vauxhall don't make cars, they may assemble some cars but all their cars are re-badged Opel.
That will get more reaction.
Rob.
Fuel tank was moved as a safety issue to accomodate the US GTO version...rather than build one version for the US....they now build one version for everybody!
We have it over here in OZ with the fuel tank...oddly we don't get the bonnet delete option which I think is avaialable in the US and the UK.
Of course there is a queue to get hold of the bonnet as it fits older Monaro's...all the VX sedans and all the VT sedans! I do have pictures of a rather nice AWD coupe with this bonnet on it and I must say it does suit it more than anything else!
I am not a big fan of the Monaro!! I too prefer 4 doors or a ute! The VZ HSV GTO/VXR you hopefully get hold of is also a nice looking version of the GTO especially the wheels!
motomk
We have it over here in OZ with the fuel tank...oddly we don't get the bonnet delete option which I think is avaialable in the US and the UK.
Of course there is a queue to get hold of the bonnet as it fits older Monaro's...all the VX sedans and all the VT sedans! I do have pictures of a rather nice AWD coupe with this bonnet on it and I must say it does suit it more than anything else!
I am not a big fan of the Monaro!! I too prefer 4 doors or a ute! The VZ HSV GTO/VXR you hopefully get hold of is also a nice looking version of the GTO especially the wheels!
motomk
moosepig said:
That is until........A vauxhall dealer gets hold of it
Bit of an unfair generalisation, I'd say. It depends which Vauxhall dealer you deal with. I've used two in Southampton over the years; one (Picador) has never been anything less than 100% professional, competent, knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and enthusiastic (hey Graham, free plug for you there mate!). The other one thought a Monaro was a van. Nuff said.
Ok lets start with the vx dealer up in the north east i went to......nackered the stereo and wouldnt sort it out properly.....
Or the one i took my omega to for servicing religiously (in bucks) the intervals and the cambelt blew my engine to pieces......guess what...no support from vx at all....
Or theres always the one I took it to and they said it was the cambelt making a noise (this was after the last exploded engine), took it to an independant tracked down to the aircon pump...
The amount of cash my omega elite cost me over the years, i could and should of bought a bm/merc etc
The dealers are just dunderheads that should just stick to selling shopping cars...
HSV's kick butt, aussie mates really rate them, i do...but as i said, once vx gets their mitts on it....well lets see.....
EH*ROB said:
[quote] but in truth, Holden is Vauxhall. Everything else they sell you can buy - Barina (corsa), Astra, Vectra etc.
We call the Vectra a Holden, you can call the Monaro a Vauxhall. Nuff said.
G'Day FestivAli,
We have had this argument before, I Have NOTHING against Vauxhall as it's GM, but Vauxhall don't make cars, they may assemble some cars but all their cars are re-badged Opel.
That will get more reaction.
Rob.[/quote]
Look, fair enough. But to my knowledge, they make the Vectra in Liverpool, so for that I'd argue more Vauxhall than Opel. And whilst some might say that it is heresy to badge a Monaro as anything other than a Holden, I'm purely arguing that surely it is better to keep all your cars in the one stable, badge wise than to have all these different brands in the same showroom. That said, do you think VXR sounds better than HSV? 'VXR - I just want one?' Doesn't have the same ring...
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