Boot

[jdh1]

Can anyone tell me whether the loss of boot space on the new model VXR also extends to the 'basic' 5.7 car?

[count duckula]

I think they had to move the fuel tank to meet USA regs so would guess they are the same.

Malc

>> Edited by count duckula on Monday 20th June 12:27

[uk hsv]

[quote]Can anyone tell me whether the loss of boot space on the new model VXR also extends to the 'basic' 5.7 car? [/quote]

both 2005 CV8 Monaro and 2005 VXR have the petrol tank behind the seats.............

[Lotus Carlton]

I've just given a 2005 Monaro back to Vauxhall after a loan of a press car. Both models have the smaller boot which is a serious limiting factor and my only downer on the car.

[Bundaberg]

from what i've heard from friends the '05 monaro doesn't handle as nice as the '04 because of the changes made to meet US regs the main moan being that the fuel tank sits right over the axle making it swing the arse like a pendulum on twisty roads & that the suspension feels a little bit softer i may be very wrong & others may say the '05 is a nicer car maybe someone here has tried both & has an opinion.

[dan_the_man]

Bundaberg I have read something similair, possiby in EVO magazine, something along the lines of the baffles in the tank don't do much to stop the fuel swilling around and changing the balance mid corner due to the extra height of the tank, producing more of a wallowing feeling.

Simple solution is to drive it on no more than 1/4 tank

[Bundaberg]

simple solution is to stop the yanks interfering & mucking up a perfectly good car just so it suits their needs i mean what do they know about proper performance cars? they grudgingly acknowledge that the car was designed & built in oz & they have a manual box as an extra cost option! I don't think the US spec car looks as nice either & the spec sheet doesn't read as nice 17" wheels?!

[jdh1]

Thanks for the info'. Shame, because I like the look of the newer car, but the loss of boot space (who wants a car that big with no boot?) and the effect on handling is putting me off.

Handling thing isn't a problem for most Americans of course because they only come to a corner about once a fortnight.

[caspy]

Having driven both cars in the wet, i think more is being made of the handling issue than is reality. The car has diff damper set ups and a lighter block. The inference on handling was from Top Gear magazine (not sure if anyone else concurred), Autocar suggested that the new car felt better than the old. To 99% of drivers i imagine there is no discernable difference. I certainly wouldn't preclude one because of one testers opinion and preference.

We are talking degree's of good here not degree's of bad.

IMHO

[EH*ROB]

Well-said caspy,

I'd be happy with either car and the argument about the boot, well why do you need a big boot when you have 6.0L's up front. Plus that boot is still bigger that most buzz box boots anyway.

Sorry I don't like that Muscle Car because the boot is to small, Come One.

[stu harris]

There is no change in the handling characteristics due to fuel tank to boot location. Top Gear made a comment to this and so far no one has mentioned be it here or in the Southern Hemisphere. In the same report it mentions a sloshing noise of the fuel moving around. Again we've not heard it on Monaros we're running....but they have to criticise something I suppose.

Boot space , you lose 35% vs old car. Everyone agrees its a pain but its still not a small boot.

Stu

[A57 HSV]

Appreciate the boot statement Rob, most of the time many people don't need much space at all. However, having a coupe that can double up as a reasonably practical family car is a great(& rare) bonus. Anyone with kids will tell you the amount of c**p you have to haul around on holiday for example. If I had an 05 Monaro it would have to stay on the drive when we were on a motoring holiday.
I guess golfers would have a similar problem.
The 04 Monaro could be an only car for many people.
My wife has an addiction to the classic Saab 900 T16s.
This 3dr hatch also has a huge boot, which mean't that she could keep her addiction happy & still lug around a baby, it's buggy etc. etc.
I think it's a real shame that the Monaro has lost this sometimes valuable string to its bow.

[EH*ROB]

[quote]
Boot space , you lose 35% vs old car. Everyone agrees its a pain but its still not a small boot.

Stu[/quote]

Exactly Mate.

[featherfoot]

Sorry Lads,
I know it's boring but I bought one of the last 04 models (05reg) cars because of the size of the boot.

I notice a couple of people on this forum selling cars because of little ones expected/arriving.

This is my main car, and whilst my wife has a kiddie van, we also want to be able to use mine as a family car too.

Anyone who says that it's not what the car is about-true - but it was the compromise that worked for me

[rocket]

Bundaberg said:

....they grudgingly acknowledge that the car was designed & built in oz....

Just out of interest...

Is the Pontiac version built in Oz too?

Also, I understand that about 500 Monaros will be imported to the UK during 2005. Does anyone know approx how many are sold in Oz each year, and how many are sold as Pontiacs in the US each year?

[EH*ROB]

Surly the boot is big enough for the Little one mate, ha ha only joking,

Thats a fair coment mate, if you want it as a family car, just saying it still has more room than most cars.

Depends what you use it for.

I also have 3 children, 2 Teenagers, so I will be going for the 4 door when I get back to Aus. Then when they start to leave home & find a new Taxi service, I would be able to get a Monaro & not have to wory about 4 seats or smaller boot.

Then again I have always liked the 4 Door Sedan & may stick with that.

[A57 HSV]

[quote]
Then again I have always liked the 4 Door Sedan & may stick with that.[/quote]
4 dr HSV has to be one of the best ever allrounders: Family Taxi, Motorway Cruiser, Supercar Performance(with mods.), Great Handling (for its size), Reliable, Cheap To Run & for me a business car that doesn't have the flashy image of some of the German marques. Plus the huge boot.
As I keep saying, can't find a direct replacement!

[EH*ROB]

[quote]

Just out of interest...

Is the Pontiac version built in Oz too?

Also, I understand that about 500 Monaros will be imported to the UK during 2005. Does anyone know approx how many are sold in Oz each year, and how many are sold as Pontiacs in the US each year?
[/quote]

All the Monaro’s ( re-badged Vauxhall’s & GTOs) are built at the Elizabeth Plant in Adelaide South Australia.

2,656 Monaro’s were sold in Australia last year compared with 13,569 GTOs in America.

Stu could tell you about the Vauxhall Figures

[EH*ROB]

[quote][quote]
Then again I have always liked the 4 Door Sedan & may stick with that.[/quote]
4 dr HSV has to be one of the best ever allrounders: Family Taxi, Motorway Cruiser, Supercar Performance(with mods.), Great Handling (for its size), Reliable, Cheap To Run & for me a business car that doesn't have the flashy image of some of the German marques. Plus the huge boot.
As I keep saying, can't find a direct replacement![/quote]

Agree mate !

[stu harris]

2004 models , 60 VXR , 230 CV8
2005 models , 140 CV8 , 355 VXR

Stu