Monaro v TVR Cerbera

[plug]

Hi, I currently own a speed six Cerbera but due to changes at work I may have to sell it and my partners car, so we will have only one car, I love the look of the Monaro but I would like some views from people on here on how they compare.

[sjc]

I had a V8 Cerby (by far the best TVR I had out of the 4 I owned) and I now have an HSV GTS-R that I've had from new and isnow sadly for sale in the classifieds.(3 years is the longest I've ever kept a car so that should say something). I bought the HSV new just over 3 years ago because I wanted/needed the following. V8, manual, 4 seats, 4 doors and something that was involving, fun and different(like a TVR). To compare it with the Cerbera is a little difficult but I'll try.
The Cerbera is quite a bit quicker ( even though my car is the 410BHP version)fantastic looking(imho),great noise, more focused and is probably the only TVR I would think about going back to but I'm scarred by all the probs I had with the 4 cars.
The HSV is nearly as much fun,more balanced handling (for me) way more comfortable, nearly as good looking ( in a different way) more toys, rarer, cheaper to run and 100% MORE RELIABLE! and I love it. You get 95% of the Cerby thrills with none of the downsides.I'm sure most of the above would apply to the Monaro but you'd probably want the VXR version ( no offence anyone) coming from a Cerbera.
Hope this helps a bit.

Hope it helps a bit

[V8HSV]

I'd buy it, one of vthe best examples for sale - period

[sjc]

Well thanks very much Will!

[rocket]

I've owned a 4.2 Cerbera for the last 4 years, but have recently been considering a change as it's getting a bit tight in the back for the kids.

The replacement has to be good looking, fast, V8, relatively rare, more practical than the Cerb and modern (Mrs Rocket won't go for 60's muscle). Doesn't give much choice really does it:
Ferrari 456GT - can't afford it.
Masser 3200GT - reliability/running cost concerns.
2005 Mustang - LHD only, beautiful face, ugly bum.
BMW M5 - Hmmm...Beemer.

That only leaves the Monaro, which so far, ticks all the right boxes. So yesterday, spur of the moment decision, I took one out for a test drive, and was very impressed! The result....the Cerb is now up for sale, and I'm saving my pennies for a trip back to the Vauxhall garage.

I unfortunately couldn't get to the recent Ace Cafe meet, but I was wondering whether Holden/Monaro owners meet regularly (I'm in Essex).

Thanks,
Rocket (future Monaro owner)

[sjc]

I'm in Essex! (Little Baddow) and I know of at least 2 other HSV's in the south of the county.

[plug]

rocket, have done the same as me then, I went and test drove a monaro saturday lunchtime, my cerb is now up for sale as well, good luck with selling your car, what monaro have you got your eyes on?

[rocket]

Hi Plug, yep, I saw your post and your car in the ads. Is your thought process for favouring the Monaro similar to mine?

Obviously I'd really like a VXR, but can't really stretch that far. So I'll be after the CV8, preferably in silver. It will need a sports exhaust though...my only gripe about the one I drove was that it was very quiet. I'm not yet focusing on a particular car; my sensible head says to sell the Cerb and the family saloon first, before aiming for a specific Monaro. But then again Mr. Sensible Head doesn't always win does he?!

Good luck with yours too, let us know how you get on.


sjc, I'll keep my eyes open on here for details of any meets and try to get along even if I don't have a car by then.


Cheers,

Neil

[anonymous-user]

rocket said:

I unfortunately couldn't get to the recent Ace Cafe meet, but I was wondering whether Holden/Monaro owners meet regularly (I'm in Essex).

Rocket - I'm in Essex (Stansted) not far from Castle TVR! My car is the same as the one you're looking for - a silver CV8 Monaro, with the Linden stage 2 and sports exhaust. I've also fitted AP brakes and the 'ripshifter' short throw gear change. If you want to meet up some time, I'll show you around the car.

[rocket]

Hi GSE, thanks for that. I don't get to Castle's too often (which is a good thing, because visits like that tend to be expensive!) but if I am going to be in the area, or if there are any HSV gatherings I'd like to see/hear your car.

Meanwhile, a few questions....

Have you got the sports exhaust as listed in the Vauxhall brochure, or are there other alternatives?

Does the sports exhaust just alter the noise, or does is there any performance increase (thinking about insurance).

Also, does the stage 2 conversion make much difference to your insurance?

Cheers,

Neil

[dan_the_man]

Sports exhausts are bound to add a little bhp, however the stage2 is more involved, it includes nice big stainless headers (manifolds) plus the stainless pipes and also a cold air intake and revised MAF sensor. I believe most cars that have had the stage2 have also been decatted to help airflow even further.

GSE's car produced 350rwhp with just these simple bolt on upgrades, but the printouts show it's well within it's performance envelope and there is the potential for a further 20 or so horses by tuning it to work more efficiently with these bolt on goodies.

To be honest, with mine I really had to have more noise and the little bit extra that it cost to have a full stage2 upgrade is well worth it, it's taken the power to at least equal what the standard 05 VXR will produce and it sounds so nice.

Insurance is no big deal, the cars have that much power that we don't pay over the odds when we add more, check out the insurance threads for quotes.

I have a baby on the way and my other 1/2 is pressuring me into maybe selling my Blue Stage2 Monaro so if blue is your colour then it maybe worth getting in touch

[plug]

I have got first baby on the way (due in June), so with the g/f going on maternity leave and some changes at work meaning I have to buy and run a van from now on, it means we can do without running a second car as the cerbera was only my toy for the weekends, and the g/f can't drive it.
I had the same thoughts about the exhaust noise it was far too quiet so I will be looking to spend some (hopefully lots) of money on upgrades. So as soon as the cerb sells I will be looking for a Monaro I would like Black or red, but I would seriously consider a yellow one.

[sjc]

Dan the man and Plug,many congrats on your pending arrivals.(The babies not cars!) Just one thing though, a 2 door car can be a pain in the backside when trying to get newborn/very young children in/out, even if access to the rear is quite good as in the Monaro. Even now with our kids at 3 and a half and 2, my wife wouldn't consider it yet.With mine having 4 doors it's been a God-send and I would be keeping it if it wasn't for having to get an estate for work.

[n2hsv]

I,m also in Essex near Burnham on Crouch. Had my GTS-R for nearly a year now and has been great fun and definately a head turner. Go for it. Plenty of room for the kids also and my three are 19,16 & 14.

Try the Black Lion in Witham every third Wednesday of the month. You'll find both HSV and Monaro supporters there.

Chris

[n2hsv]

Correction- Should be the "Red Lion".

[rocket]

Thanks Chris, will make a note of that. Will come along once I get the car....or maybe even before...

Cheers,

Neil

[sjc]

Hi Chris, didn't realise it was you, had a chat at the November Red Lion meet.