Old/New VXRs...............
Discussion
Just reading up on an article by the Clarkson who says that the older VXR is a bit more 'raw' than the newer one, as the set up is a bit more firm.
Is it just that the newer one has slightly softer springs/damper set up ?
Is there anything else different like steering feel/assistance which backs up his statement ? I know the other differences like the famous boot and engine, etc, so this is just regarding the driving experience and what made him say this.
Is it just that the newer one has slightly softer springs/damper set up ?
Is there anything else different like steering feel/assistance which backs up his statement ? I know the other differences like the famous boot and engine, etc, so this is just regarding the driving experience and what made him say this.
porrohman said:
Hi Simon, he also says on top gear that the 6.0 Vxr doesn't even produce 300 bhp which is b*ll*x. From the owner of a 5.7 VXR my advice would be go for a 6.0 as late as you can. You get twin pipes, nostrils, nicer wheels , more power as standard and I think the steering is also improved. Sod the boot size.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A5F5uUO2oU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A5F5uUO2oU
Further review from the press(can't remember which, sorry)
Vauxhall Monaro VXR (2005-2007 model)
By Richard Aucock
June 14 2005
I will admit, I was not expecting to like it. The Monaro VXR looks big, brutal and an unashamed in-your-face bruiser, as different to a delicate sports car as can be.
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR
You enter through a heavy door and sit on seats set comedy-high, facing an enormous steering wheel. Where’s the Vauxhall brochure? The clutch, which must be pressed down before it’ll start, is muscle-man heavy. How much is a VX220? Then the starter whirrs, the engine barks into life and all is forgiven. Err, what VX220… Any car which fires up with such a bang, rocking the car from side to side before sending subcutaneous tremors through the cabin, can’t fail to rouse a rush of petrol to the head. It’s a colossus that bellows and rumbles, and popping the monster-feeding, benostriled bonnet reveals why – there lies a 6.0-litre Corvette V8. Yes, you read that right – the previous 5.7-litre block was deemed not quiet enough. 400bhp to a man, 390lb/ft of torque, and a tickover rumble menacing enough to worry dogs. Not to mention BMW’s 343bhp M3, Mercedes’ 367bhp CLK 55 AMG, even Porsche’s 355bhp 911 Carrera S...
Power to the people
Power to the people
Acceleration to 60mph? 5.2 seconds. Top speed? Now here’s the headline – at 180mph, it’s faster even than the crazy Lotus Carlton, the car all the tabloids bayed to be banned. Funny times when even a 180mph Vauxhall doesn’t rouse the placards, but then, it could also be a measure of Vauxhall’s slow but steady acceptance as maker of some intriguing performance cars. The VXR brand is the zenith of this; the greatest performance at great-value prices, a brief the Monaro range-topper fills to a tee. £37k? You can’t even get a leather-clad Mercedes CLK 320 for that. But those dogs are still cowering, so to relieve them you must first relive the days of lead-iron clutches and muscle-shaking gearboxes. Some serious mechanical hardware is demanded to withstand all that twisting force, and you know it every time you swap one of the six ratios. Luckily, all that twisting force means you don’t often have to.
Even in first gear you can feel the enormous spread of force almost straight from tickover, and if you’re on it your passengers will be pinned to their seats, sustained right up until you lose your nerve.
First Drive: Vauxhall Monaro VXR
It really is staggeringly powerful, a face-distorting thrill normally only experienced in theme parks. All the time accompanied by the most delightful V8 roar that you just know would spit flames from its exhausts if it could. It’s the chase in Grease, in surround sound. The Monaro is unavailable as an auto, but it certainly is systematic and hydromatic, John. But, as we reported in our original test, the Monaro is an Australian coupe based on a saloon car, so surely it can’t offer such delights through corners? Well, the VXR has been endowed with chassis mods as well as extra grunt, successfully so. Stiffer springs, gas dampers and 19-inch wheels clad in steamroller rubber (plus the limited slip differential), all mean that while it’s still an exceedingly fine-riding car and a soothing cruiser, it’s also game through the bends too. Not with an Elise’s (or VX220’s) delicacy, and some may find the rear roll-on oversteer unsettling, but it has phenomenal grip for you to lean on hard, and composure that belies its weight.
Besides, corners are merely holding stations before you unleash all that power again – before the real fun starts all over again.
Interior, economy
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR - interior
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR - interior
BMW and Porsche-driving passengers won’t feel short-changed when they relax and poke about the interior though, for it’s certainly plasticky in places. But the overall impression, with its towering but accommodating leather seats, climate control, brilliant Blaupunkt stereo and gorgeous green and white instrument illumination, is positive – it’s so well stocked, you feel you really are getting a tremendous amount for your money, even before you consider the five-decade heritage of the LS2 engine. Incidentally, you can monitor its state more closely via the dash-mounted auxiliary dials, which set the VXR apart from the standard car. We’ve waited this long to mention fuel economy because it may not be the drama you’d think. It’s never going to be frugal at under 18mpg combined, but stellar gearing means 1,800rpm in sixth when cruising on the motorway, and we saw just under 30mpg after a steady cruise.
In an Audi S4, by way of contrast, it’s near-impossible to crack 25mpg. Of course, such gearing means it’s also possible to lose your licence in second gear, saving even more on fuel bills. But even when being sensible, the Monaro is a pleasing car. The ride is exceptional, motorway cruises are fuss-free with danger-evading power always instantly there, and the high seats do at least mean visibility is helpfully clear. A supercar you can use every day, which sells for everyday prices. The fact that it sounds terrific, does the easiest and most dramatic burnouts, kicks its tail out on command with the traction control off, demolishes almost everything you’ll ever encounter and gets even diesel Freelander drivers talking to you at petrol stations only adds to the mystique.
You may think you won’t like it, but take our word for it, a drive in this amazing Vauxhall should quickly change your mind, warts and all. It wears its heart on its sleeve and is proud of it, earning you respect you never thought possible from a car wearing the Griffin badge. Like it? I loved it.
Vauxhall Monaro VXR (2005-2007 model)
By Richard Aucock
June 14 2005
I will admit, I was not expecting to like it. The Monaro VXR looks big, brutal and an unashamed in-your-face bruiser, as different to a delicate sports car as can be.
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR
You enter through a heavy door and sit on seats set comedy-high, facing an enormous steering wheel. Where’s the Vauxhall brochure? The clutch, which must be pressed down before it’ll start, is muscle-man heavy. How much is a VX220? Then the starter whirrs, the engine barks into life and all is forgiven. Err, what VX220… Any car which fires up with such a bang, rocking the car from side to side before sending subcutaneous tremors through the cabin, can’t fail to rouse a rush of petrol to the head. It’s a colossus that bellows and rumbles, and popping the monster-feeding, benostriled bonnet reveals why – there lies a 6.0-litre Corvette V8. Yes, you read that right – the previous 5.7-litre block was deemed not quiet enough. 400bhp to a man, 390lb/ft of torque, and a tickover rumble menacing enough to worry dogs. Not to mention BMW’s 343bhp M3, Mercedes’ 367bhp CLK 55 AMG, even Porsche’s 355bhp 911 Carrera S...
Power to the people
Power to the people
Acceleration to 60mph? 5.2 seconds. Top speed? Now here’s the headline – at 180mph, it’s faster even than the crazy Lotus Carlton, the car all the tabloids bayed to be banned. Funny times when even a 180mph Vauxhall doesn’t rouse the placards, but then, it could also be a measure of Vauxhall’s slow but steady acceptance as maker of some intriguing performance cars. The VXR brand is the zenith of this; the greatest performance at great-value prices, a brief the Monaro range-topper fills to a tee. £37k? You can’t even get a leather-clad Mercedes CLK 320 for that. But those dogs are still cowering, so to relieve them you must first relive the days of lead-iron clutches and muscle-shaking gearboxes. Some serious mechanical hardware is demanded to withstand all that twisting force, and you know it every time you swap one of the six ratios. Luckily, all that twisting force means you don’t often have to.
Even in first gear you can feel the enormous spread of force almost straight from tickover, and if you’re on it your passengers will be pinned to their seats, sustained right up until you lose your nerve.
First Drive: Vauxhall Monaro VXR
It really is staggeringly powerful, a face-distorting thrill normally only experienced in theme parks. All the time accompanied by the most delightful V8 roar that you just know would spit flames from its exhausts if it could. It’s the chase in Grease, in surround sound. The Monaro is unavailable as an auto, but it certainly is systematic and hydromatic, John. But, as we reported in our original test, the Monaro is an Australian coupe based on a saloon car, so surely it can’t offer such delights through corners? Well, the VXR has been endowed with chassis mods as well as extra grunt, successfully so. Stiffer springs, gas dampers and 19-inch wheels clad in steamroller rubber (plus the limited slip differential), all mean that while it’s still an exceedingly fine-riding car and a soothing cruiser, it’s also game through the bends too. Not with an Elise’s (or VX220’s) delicacy, and some may find the rear roll-on oversteer unsettling, but it has phenomenal grip for you to lean on hard, and composure that belies its weight.
Besides, corners are merely holding stations before you unleash all that power again – before the real fun starts all over again.
Interior, economy
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR - interior
New Vauxhall Monaro VXR - interior
BMW and Porsche-driving passengers won’t feel short-changed when they relax and poke about the interior though, for it’s certainly plasticky in places. But the overall impression, with its towering but accommodating leather seats, climate control, brilliant Blaupunkt stereo and gorgeous green and white instrument illumination, is positive – it’s so well stocked, you feel you really are getting a tremendous amount for your money, even before you consider the five-decade heritage of the LS2 engine. Incidentally, you can monitor its state more closely via the dash-mounted auxiliary dials, which set the VXR apart from the standard car. We’ve waited this long to mention fuel economy because it may not be the drama you’d think. It’s never going to be frugal at under 18mpg combined, but stellar gearing means 1,800rpm in sixth when cruising on the motorway, and we saw just under 30mpg after a steady cruise.
In an Audi S4, by way of contrast, it’s near-impossible to crack 25mpg. Of course, such gearing means it’s also possible to lose your licence in second gear, saving even more on fuel bills. But even when being sensible, the Monaro is a pleasing car. The ride is exceptional, motorway cruises are fuss-free with danger-evading power always instantly there, and the high seats do at least mean visibility is helpfully clear. A supercar you can use every day, which sells for everyday prices. The fact that it sounds terrific, does the easiest and most dramatic burnouts, kicks its tail out on command with the traction control off, demolishes almost everything you’ll ever encounter and gets even diesel Freelander drivers talking to you at petrol stations only adds to the mystique.
You may think you won’t like it, but take our word for it, a drive in this amazing Vauxhall should quickly change your mind, warts and all. It wears its heart on its sleeve and is proud of it, earning you respect you never thought possible from a car wearing the Griffin badge. Like it? I loved it.
granada203028 said:
2005 - 2007, LS2 etc he is talking about the 6.0.
180 is quite fanciful. The gearing isn't right to even get close to that. Autocar only got approx 160 which of course is surely fast enough and academic here in the UK.
Did they change to sixth on the test. If you leave it in fifth the 5.7 vxr will go quicker than that , not much more but 162 mph @5800 rpm before you have to change. Drive line calculator.180 is quite fanciful. The gearing isn't right to even get close to that. Autocar only got approx 160 which of course is surely fast enough and academic here in the UK.
http://www.roversd1.nl/sd1web/wheelcalc.html
mm6 gear ratios
Gear ratios:
First: 2.66 45mph
Second: 1.78 67mph
Third: 1.3 92mph
Fourth: 1 120mph
Fifth: 0.74 162mph
Sixth: 0.5 a theoretical "whopping" 240mph if you had about 1000bhp
Reverse: 2.9
I dont know the ratio's of the mm12
Edited by porrohman on Saturday 7th February 09:57
M12 used in the VXR6.0 is 2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1.00, 0.84, 0.57. I'm sure max speed was in 5th.
All ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster.
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
I guess owners with mega power by the way of 12psi supper chargers or turbos can get to max speed in 6th.
All ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster.
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
I guess owners with mega power by the way of 12psi supper chargers or turbos can get to max speed in 6th.
[quote=granada203028]M12 used in the VXR6.0 is 2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1.00, 0.84, 0.57. I'm sure max speed was in 5th.
All ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
4th is my favourite gear, and the 5.7 VXR'S party piece imo. Drop down into it at the national speed limit, Floor it, and stand by to watch everything get very small in the mirror.
All ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
4th is my favourite gear, and the 5.7 VXR'S party piece imo. Drop down into it at the national speed limit, Floor it, and stand by to watch everything get very small in the mirror.
Edited by porrohman on Friday 6th February 21:17
granada203028 said:
M12 used in the VXR6.0 is 2.97, 2.07, 1.43, 1.00, 0.84, 0.57. I'm sure max speed was in 5th.
All ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster.
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
I guess owners with mega power by the way of 12psi supper chargers or turbos can get to max speed in 6th.
5.7 Vxr ratio 1st 2.66 45mph 6.0Vxr ratio 1st 2.97 45mphAll ratios bar 4th are therefore lower, 5th particularly so, so the 6.0 will run out of revs. So yes the 5.7VXR is more optimally geared and may genuinely be faster.
The short 5th looks to me to be a problem for the VXR8 also. I swapped the MM6 ratios for the M12 in my 05 CV8. Over all the M12 is much better for sprinting but 5th is poorly judged being too close to 4th leaving a gap to 6th. I often miss 4th out changing down and only briefly use it going up. The old MM6 5th was fine. I don't think you can mix the parts!
I guess owners with mega power by the way of 12psi supper chargers or turbos can get to max speed in 6th.
2nd 1.78 67mph 2nd 2.07 64mph
3rd 1.3 92mph 3rd 1.43 93mph
4th 1 120mph 4th 1 133mph
5th 0.74 162mph 5th .84 159mph
6th 0.5 240mph 6th .57 235mph
5.7VXR@ 5800 rpm 3.7 diff 6.0VXR@6000 rpm 3.4 diff
The 5.7 VXR will be quicker in 4th gear from around 80 mph to 120mph. If top speeds are achieved in fifth gear the 5.7Vxr will also come out tops. Not that you would ever be able to prove it.
Edited by porrohman on Saturday 7th February 10:32
Well, I currently have 10-11K burning a hole in my pocket but I've still to sell another car that puts me into the 15-16K bracket. I like the look of the one owner Red VXR 05 plate but can't help think its a little too rich ? 14K maybe in the curret climate ?
I don't mind some extra miles on it as I don't do many myself, especially if it brings the price down !!. Don't get me wrong I'm not after the bargain of the century just a 'value for money' car.
I don't mind some extra miles on it as I don't do many myself, especially if it brings the price down !!. Don't get me wrong I'm not after the bargain of the century just a 'value for money' car.
SimonV8ster said:
Well, I currently have 10-11K burning a hole in my pocket but I've still to sell another car that puts me into the 15-16K bracket. I like the look of the one owner Red VXR 05 plate but can't help think its a little too rich ? 14K maybe in the curret climate ?
I don't mind some extra miles on it as I don't do many myself, especially if it brings the price down !!. Don't get me wrong I'm not after the bargain of the century just a 'value for money' car.
You should get a good one for 15k, I dont think that prices will fall much lower than they are at the moment, so now is the time to buy.I don't mind some extra miles on it as I don't do many myself, especially if it brings the price down !!. Don't get me wrong I'm not after the bargain of the century just a 'value for money' car.
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