VXR8 First Impressions
Discussion
First 250 miles under the belt of the new Silver beast and very impressed, Great ride, supurb grip and the best brakes I've ever used. Lovely light clutch and a slick gearchange all make it easy to live with. loads of rubber necking admirer's on the way to central london yesterday say's something I guess.
The car feels very mature, all grown up compared to a tuned Monaro, obviously. At speed and generally it's very quiet, even though the gearing is lower (doing about 36mph per 1,000 rpm). Loads of space, the kids loved that and it great to have a boot again, so all in all, a truly great car, BUT:-
To make it even better it needs steriods, it needs a huge chest wig and more aggression to make it a car you really want get in, blip the throttle and drive like your lovers husband is chasing you with your under crackers in his hands. For me, it needs to be more irresponsible, loud and in your face. THE ANSWER :-
As a minimum a remap and a freer sounding noisier cat back exhaust, and I think lowering springs to make it sit on the road more aggressivly, (need to get them fitted to really report on the ride, watch this space) this'll absolutley transform the car can't wait till Monday.
The car feels very mature, all grown up compared to a tuned Monaro, obviously. At speed and generally it's very quiet, even though the gearing is lower (doing about 36mph per 1,000 rpm). Loads of space, the kids loved that and it great to have a boot again, so all in all, a truly great car, BUT:-
To make it even better it needs steriods, it needs a huge chest wig and more aggression to make it a car you really want get in, blip the throttle and drive like your lovers husband is chasing you with your under crackers in his hands. For me, it needs to be more irresponsible, loud and in your face. THE ANSWER :-
As a minimum a remap and a freer sounding noisier cat back exhaust, and I think lowering springs to make it sit on the road more aggressivly, (need to get them fitted to really report on the ride, watch this space) this'll absolutley transform the car can't wait till Monday.
I visited my local Vauxhall VXR dealer today to pick up my fuel filter. Once I pulled up the first guy I spoke to said 'ooh a Holden SS, you don't see many of those' 
Blimey a Vauxhall dealer that knows what a Holden is and more to the point knows the models 
I got talking to the parts guy that in turn took me to the sales guy who was really cool and easy to get on with and without the heavy handed sales pitch. My local dealer has just had two VXR8's in, an auto and a manual. The manual has been sold but we had a look at it as it was just being PDI'd. In Impulse blue I must say it looked really good, but apparently Phantom Black is the quicker colour 
What really suprised me is that their performance mods are done by Walkinshaw Performance who I have never heard of. The prices are favourable too; off my head is was something like:
Full SS (catback) exhasut - £800
Supercharger fitted with intercooler - £6995
Brake Upgrade but with Walkinshaw written on the calipers not AP - £1800
Suspension Lowering Springs - £250
So get your VXR and tick all the boxes except the blingers should come to circa £10K. What else on the market can offer 535hp fully loaded for £45k? Very impressed.
Just finishing my vat returns and looking at the strength of my contracts make me wonder how much of an extra push I would have to go to to run one as my company car. The future road fund licence pricing is strangley the only thing which is causing me upset - 'tis the principle you know
The only other thing which looked 'wrong' was the height of the doors compared to the glass area - it reminded me of trousers upto your armpits, although the car was slightly raised on the four poster ramp at the time.
It's got my heart beating
Blimey a Vauxhall dealer that knows what a Holden is and more to the point knows the models I got talking to the parts guy that in turn took me to the sales guy who was really cool and easy to get on with and without the heavy handed sales pitch. My local dealer has just had two VXR8's in, an auto and a manual. The manual has been sold but we had a look at it as it was just being PDI'd. In Impulse blue I must say it looked really good, but apparently Phantom Black is the quicker colour What really suprised me is that their performance mods are done by Walkinshaw Performance who I have never heard of. The prices are favourable too; off my head is was something like:
Full SS (catback) exhasut - £800
Supercharger fitted with intercooler - £6995
Brake Upgrade but with Walkinshaw written on the calipers not AP - £1800
Suspension Lowering Springs - £250
So get your VXR and tick all the boxes except the blingers should come to circa £10K. What else on the market can offer 535hp fully loaded for £45k? Very impressed.
Just finishing my vat returns and looking at the strength of my contracts make me wonder how much of an extra push I would have to go to to run one as my company car. The future road fund licence pricing is strangley the only thing which is causing me upset - 'tis the principle you know
The only other thing which looked 'wrong' was the height of the doors compared to the glass area - it reminded me of trousers upto your armpits, although the car was slightly raised on the four poster ramp at the time.It's got my heart beating
I was at Picadors this morning and got to drive the silver one - thanks guys.
My impressions are;
Inside is much better than the monaro - much more modern. The handbrake I think works well, especially when it is down (off). Seating position I felt high and with the car parked next to a cv8 Monaro the waist of the car is much higher than the Monaro. Personally I felt it was like being in a SUV.
In standard trim it felt a very good car and acceleration was 'adequate' although I had been told not to rag it. To me it did not seem that the accelerator had as much room to go down compared to the Monaro. The brakes felt really good - not sure I would upgrade. Going round corners it did not feel quite as composed as my car and would go for it being lowered.
Gearchange is very similar although a ripshifter would improve the throw.
The view out of the back with he huge rear wing would take some getting used to but probably compliments the agressive styling of the car quite well.
I think the car will compete very well against the likes of the M5 and RS4 , in fact anyone with common sense would pick the vauxhall for value for money although the size of the badges could be off putting (huge).
Stepping out of the VXR8 into my Monaro I felt mine had more outright pace and rawness while the VXR8 was more refined and classy.
Very good car - just a shame there is not a coupe as well.
My impressions are;
Inside is much better than the monaro - much more modern. The handbrake I think works well, especially when it is down (off). Seating position I felt high and with the car parked next to a cv8 Monaro the waist of the car is much higher than the Monaro. Personally I felt it was like being in a SUV.
In standard trim it felt a very good car and acceleration was 'adequate' although I had been told not to rag it. To me it did not seem that the accelerator had as much room to go down compared to the Monaro. The brakes felt really good - not sure I would upgrade. Going round corners it did not feel quite as composed as my car and would go for it being lowered.
Gearchange is very similar although a ripshifter would improve the throw.
The view out of the back with he huge rear wing would take some getting used to but probably compliments the agressive styling of the car quite well.
I think the car will compete very well against the likes of the M5 and RS4 , in fact anyone with common sense would pick the vauxhall for value for money although the size of the badges could be off putting (huge).
Stepping out of the VXR8 into my Monaro I felt mine had more outright pace and rawness while the VXR8 was more refined and classy.
Very good car - just a shame there is not a coupe as well.
Just did 300 miles with one small stop. More comfortable and better seats than Monaro, very grown up feel in comparison, more civilised, more accomodating, suprisingly turned quite a few heads!! (red) After stepping out of my Monaro, I thought I would feel it lacked, but genuinely felt very nice. Wing mirrors a little small, and tends to float at speed of undulations, a little inert on the dead ahead. TC is very good, brakes I am bedding in and havent stood on them yet, grip is excellent, rack is quicker, turn in sharper off the straight ahead.
Well my understanding is that the 09 Camaro is based on the Zeta architecture, same as the VE.
There have been comments about Coupe's from Oz. As in watch this space, same as the estate and ute versions which are definate go ahead's.
My personal opinion is that RHD markets will see Monaro's while LHD markets see Camaro's. So I know nothing 100% but its a pretty fair assumption IMO.
There have been comments about Coupe's from Oz. As in watch this space, same as the estate and ute versions which are definate go ahead's.
My personal opinion is that RHD markets will see Monaro's while LHD markets see Camaro's. So I know nothing 100% but its a pretty fair assumption IMO.
Just got back from LeMans in my new red VXR8 (thanks Picador!!). Drive was excellent. Seats great and you really can sit low in it so it feels more racey. Obviously taking things fairly careful plus the weather was not good either.
Got alot of attention at Le Mans but does need the power pack doing asap. Graham, can you sort this week!!.
Let the car bed in then maybe the supercharger will come soon....
Got alot of attention at Le Mans but does need the power pack doing asap. Graham, can you sort this week!!.
Let the car bed in then maybe the supercharger will come soon....
Was down at Picadors on Saturday afternoon and had a good test drive in the VXR8 and am sold on it, the drive is fantastic and to compare it to my Monaro which I drove down and back in was great, straight away found the seat postion which I don't think I ever got totally right in the Monaro.
The drive is fantastic and found no timidness like the Monaro, steering is nicely weighted and the turn in was great, clutch is lighter and the brakes are amazing, mind you it's very BIG compared to the Monaro when you see them side by side, head room is much improved but there again it is bound to be with four doors.
All in all my choice of car 100%, I think it looks the muts nuts and just need the numbers to stack up the right way and I will be on-board very soon I hope.
Question;
Does anyone know yet how much of an improvement the upgrades are ?
i.e. exhaust and re-map, don't need brakes as I think they are AOK, maybe Supercharger later when we know a little more information.
I am quite excited about this car, what an old sado.
The drive is fantastic and found no timidness like the Monaro, steering is nicely weighted and the turn in was great, clutch is lighter and the brakes are amazing, mind you it's very BIG compared to the Monaro when you see them side by side, head room is much improved but there again it is bound to be with four doors.
All in all my choice of car 100%, I think it looks the muts nuts and just need the numbers to stack up the right way and I will be on-board very soon I hope.
Question;
Does anyone know yet how much of an improvement the upgrades are ?
i.e. exhaust and re-map, don't need brakes as I think they are AOK, maybe Supercharger later when we know a little more information.
I am quite excited about this car, what an old sado.
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