Prospective Monaro owner with a few questons

[Big_Rich]

Hi all. I'm currently driving a Honda Civic Type-R which is now at the point where it's not going to get any quicker with a 4 grand outlay on forced induction. I figured if I save that cash, put a bit more towards it and sell the civic, I can get a nice Monaro

I've been looking around at them for a while and I'm sure I read somewhere that the "one" to have is the 5.7 VXR with 380 bhp rather than the newer 400bhp 6.0 VXR because some suspension/styling changes on the newer 6.0 weren't all that good? I can't remember where I read it.

Obviously, in an ideal world I'd get the VXR500, but as I'm only 23, I'd imagine insurance would be a b1tch!

Any buying advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rich

[Gelf VXR]

Big_Rich said:

Hi all. I'm currently driving a Honda Civic Type-R which is now at the point where it's not going to get any quicker with a 4 grand outlay on forced induction. I figured if I save that cash, put a bit more towards it and sell the civic, I can get a nice Monaro

I've been looking around at them for a while and I'm sure I read somewhere that the "one" to have is the 5.7 VXR with 380 bhp rather than the newer 400bhp 6.0 VXR because some suspension/styling changes on the newer 6.0 weren't all that good? I can't remember where I read it.

Obviously, in an ideal world I'd get the VXR500, but as I'm only 23, I'd imagine insurance would be a b1tch!

Any buying advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rich

The suspension was softened on the 05 VXR, to cater for the USA market, which can be easily upgraded, it also has a smaller boot due to the fuel tank relocation behind the rear seat, again to meet USA standards.

The 05 VXR has the body kit and is easily recognisable and features in magazines and on TG and such like. The 6.0 LS2 engine is the next generation engine with better cooling characteristics of the previous 5.7 LS1. The VXR500 is a super charged LS2.

Insurance is group 20 for all models if I remember correctly

Edited by Gelf VXR on Sunday 24th June 14:34

[slackalice]

Big_Rich said:

Hi all. I'm currently driving a Honda Civic Type-R which is now at the point where it's not going to get any quicker with a 4 grand outlay on forced induction. I figured if I save that cash, put a bit more towards it and sell the civic, I can get a nice Monaro

I've been looking around at them for a while and I'm sure I read somewhere that the "one" to have is the 5.7 VXR with 380 bhp rather than the newer 400bhp 6.0 VXR because some suspension/styling changes on the newer 6.0 weren't all that good? I can't remember where I read it.

Obviously, in an ideal world I'd get the VXR500, but as I'm only 23, I'd imagine insurance would be a b1tch!

Any buying advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

Rich

First things first!

Just make sure you can get an insurance first, my insurance company are adamant that NO one under the age of 25 are allowed to drive the car under any circumstances, and I transfered the insurance from a cerbera that my 21 year old son was allowed to drive!!!

So have a shop around first, then go for it, you will love the expiriance.

[Big_Rich]

Already checked with them. My CTR is insurance group 17 and I paid £840 at my last renewal. Assuming I don't make a claim between now and November, I'll have an extra years NCB and I've been quoted £937 for the 6.0 VXR.

I don't mind paying upto a grand. Anthing under 4 figures and I'm happy.

[VXClubby]

Mate, if you can afford it, I would go for the 6 litre. The insurance shouldn't be much more if anything.

With the bigger engine you have more power potential should you go for a stroker, cam/head or FI in the future.

[slackalice]

Big_Rich said:

Already checked with them. My CTR is insurance group 17 and I paid £840 at my last renewal. Assuming I don't make a claim between now and November, I'll have an extra years NCB and I've been quoted £937 for the 6.0 VXR.

I don't mind paying upto a grand. Anthing under 4 figures and I'm happy.

You are a lucky boy, now go to the classifieds and buy the best that you can afford, Oh s**t I hope my son does not read this thread.

[Big_Rich]

Just done a quote for the VXR500.... £1160... tempting!

It's so hard finding one to test drive. There's none in any of the VX dealerships within 40 miles of me. The closest one on Auto Trader is 54 miles away and that's only the 2004 non-VXR. No quicker than my car atm.

[VXClubby]

You might want to have a readup of this thread here.

www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=74722&highlight=l76

www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=69029&highlight=l76

I think the 6 litre monaro has the L76/98 rather than the LS2 found in HSVs.

Edited by VXClubby on Sunday 24th June 16:01

[crisisjez]

Big_Rich said:

Just done a quote for the VXR500.... £1160... tempting!

It's so hard finding one to test drive. There's none in any of the VX dealerships within 40 miles of me. The closest one on Auto Trader is 54 miles away and that's only the 2004 non-VXR. No quicker than my car atm.

This is the second time in 2 days iv`e done this post.

Have a look at Tilers car in the classifieds section, real value for money!!!!! (No I don`t have anything to do with the car)

Welcome to the forum by the way.

[Island boy HSV]

Just to clarify the variants

From the FAQ's

Monaro Variants

Basically, over the past 2/3 years, there are 4 variants of the Monaro.

04 CV8 - Standard Holden Monaro with Gen III LS1 5.7 V8
04 VXR - HSV take the above and tweek the brakes, power, suspension plus sportier looking
05 CV8 - As 04 but the boot space has been drastically reduced as the petrol tank was relocated to behind the rear seats to meet US safety regulations
05 VXR - Again, small boot, but now has the Chevvy Gen IV LS2 6.0 V8

One notable point is that it is well documented that the CV8 brakes (both 04 and 05) hare shockingly poor for the power of the car. The VXR has much better brakes but both versions can be further upgraded to High Performance Racing Brakes.

Oh, and finally, there's the VXR 500 - This is a special & limited edition of the 05 VXR with a Harrop Supercharger strapped to it... Very nice indeed

[Gelf VXR]

VXClubby said:

I think the 6 litre monaro has the L76/98 rather than the LS2 found in HSVs.

Edited by VXClubby on Sunday 24th June 16:01

No definately an LS2

[Big_Rich]

The 6.0 facelifted VXR's seems to hold their price much more than their 5.7 counterparts. Are the 6.0 LS2's really worth the extra cash? Seems a lot for the sake of about 20-30bhp and a smaller boot

[Gelf VXR]

Island boy HSV said:

Just to clarify the variants

One notable point is that it is well documented that the CV8 brakes (both 04 and 05) hare shockingly poor for the power of the car. The VXR has much better brakes but both versions can be further upgraded to High Performance Racing Brakes.

Same goes for the 05 VXR, Ive just had new front discs and pads after 9K miles under warrenty. They have bedded in now, but they still fade pretty quickly as they did previously.

One thing to note, the bad vibration that I was expierencing under moderate breaking when I first got the Ro with 7K on the clock had completeley disappeared by the time she was booked in to have them changed. They did have some heat cracks, so I was reluctant to confess and vauxhall had already approved the warrenty work.

I think one of two things had happened, the discs weren't warped, there may have been an uneveness of the pad material transfered to the disc, over time and more use, they sorted them selves out. Or this which I think is more likely, the brake fluid had boiled in the callipers, the brake fluid had been changed out of courtessy on a previous warrenty service, when my clutch master resevoir was found to be contaminated with black sludge. It was only after this that I noticed the vibration was no longer apparent.

My advice to anyone with brake vibration problems is to get the brake fluid changed before concluding that the discs are at fault.

[Gelf VXR]

Big_Rich said:

The 6.0 facelifted VXR's seems to hold their price much more than their 5.7 counterparts. Are the 6.0 LS2's really worth the extra cash? Seems a lot for the sake of about 20-30bhp and a smaller boot

They hold there price better because they are the face lift model, depends whether you want the attention of driving the model that you see on the cover of magizines or featured on Top Gear.

There is no substitute for cubic inches!

Boot space, now thats another matter, I never bought mine to do the grocery shopping in lol.

[Big_Rich]

How well do the two engines respond to "mild" tuning?

I've gone a bit mad with my current car and spent the best part of 4 grand messing about with it. Don't think I'd take it to that extent with a Monaro, but it'd be rude not to sort out the breathing and exhuast mods... and maybe a remap. What sort of figures do you get from basic mods?

[Gelf VXR]

Mines totally stock, but I can tell you if you want to start thinking bout modding then be prepared to spend more than 4K.

Suspension 1.8K
Brakes 2.3K
Exhaust and remap 3.2K
Super Charger 6.5K

[Big_Rich]

Lol, over 3 grand for a remap and exhaust? How does that work then? Mind you, thinking about it logically, you gotta buy 2 manifolds, 2 downpipes, 2 centre sections and 2 backboxes.

[mackie1]

Exhaust and remap for £3,200 will include the tubular headers too which are about £2k on their own. For just a catback system and remap it's more like £1,600 but that includes a cold air intake mod too.

PS. What's the spec of your current car?

Edited by mackie1 on Sunday 24th June 18:56

[Big_Rich]

4-2-1 DC Sports Race Manifold (Decat)
Unsilenced Supersprint B-Pipe
Magnex Twin 3" Backbox
AEM CAI V1
KPRO ECU
Polyurethane Engine Mounts
Tarox G88 Disks
Mintex Xtreme Pads
Goodridge Braided Steel Brakelines
DOT 5.1 High Temp Brake Fluid
Honda Jazz Washer Jets

First time at Santa Pod I ran a 14.5 @ 98.88.

[-Z-]

Are you, in fact, me? Also 23 and switched from the CTR to the Monaro.

I think I read that Mackie 1 has/had one? As well a magicgreg, might give the monaro bikers club a run for their money

I went for a 6.0 because:
a) A part of me would always have regretted not doing so.
b) Have always disliked assymetrical exhausts on cars

I wouldn't worry bout the chav element getting hold from your other post, simple reason there just aren't enough cars, less than 400 added to the fact that no one makes body kits! If the worst it suffers is hand painted wheels and some plastic badges we've got away lightly.

Edited by -Z- on Sunday 24th June 22:59