Potential Monaro owner.......

[skinnyman]

Howdy folks. First off, some background.

Currently got a 2015 Focus ST, but the finance deal ends in June, and the wife now has a battle bus for kid duties (we have a 3yr old and a new born), so this has allowed me to potentially move the ST on and get something a little more exciting before I inevitably end up in a Ford S max or similar, enter, the Monaro. I've had a soft spot for these for years, and an hour spent on Youtube listening to various exhaust setups just furthers the desire.

So I've started tentatively looking, at first I assumed the later VXR was the one to go for, newer/bigger = better, but it seems the earlier VXR's are where its at, with the larger boot and comparative performance to the later models. I haven't ruled out a non VXR model, however I don't like the look of the earlier CV8's, much prefer the newer ones, but then this comes back to the small boot scenario. I guess I really have 2 questions.

Firstly, If I was to purchase a modified CV8 (say, the yellow one in the classifieds) that has had mods such as AP brakes, coilovers, ripshifter, remap etc, would a VXR bring anything to the party that a car like this was missing? Seeing as how the major differences between the CV8 and the VXR has been addressed with the modifications? The list of modifications to a car like this run way into the thousands, and the VXR's seem to command quite a premium over the CV8's.

Secondly, in unmodified form, are the CV8's worth a look? Or is it worth holding out and paying the premium for the VXR's?

Lastly, is there anyone with a Monaro, of any variety, in the East Midlands sort of area, that wouldn't mind me taking a look around theirs? It's not the kind of car I can pop down to Car Giant and take a nosey around, and I don't want to waste the time of an active seller by going to take a look just for interests sake when I'm not in a position to buy yet. Basically I want to get a feel for the car, and get some feedback from an owner, before I actively start looking to buy. (not hoping to test drive someones btw, don't worry)

Cheers for any help

[skinnyman]

I do think I'd need to buy one already modified, to a degree, if I head over to the fish website and note down everything id want (coilovers, Wortec, AP brakes, ripshifter etc etc) it quickly mounts up to £5-6k, and if I had £15k to splash on a VXR and then another £5k in mods, tbh I'd just go out and buy a Lexus ISF from the start.

One question, can the switchable valve mod be added to a pre-existing wortec system? I love the noise, but working a 3 shift pattern I don't think my neighbours would. Some days I leave @ 5:30am, other days I come home @ 4am.

[skinnyman]

So that's an 05 VXR, with the wortec, uprated suspension, AP brakes & a rip shift kit, and it doesn't get used enough, next question, when are you selling......

[skinnyman]

Oooohhh I like that colour, small boot CV8?

As for budget, without trying to sound too smug, I haven't really got one, I'd rather fit the budget to the right car, rather than find a car to fit a budget.

[skinnyman]

Is it my monitor, or does the first one look like a gunmetal grey, and the second one has a greenish tint?

[skinnyman]

That's a really nice colour. I guess as well as being super rare it's also only available on the later small boot models too?

[skinnyman]

Why am I finding small boot 05 plates and big boot 06 plates? Were the Australians just not very consistent with things?

[skinnyman]

Well I think, purely based from online research, I want a small boot (CV8z is correct?) One. I much prefer the look over the earlier models, and I'll just have to live with the smaller boot, but then is use the wife's car for the heavy lifting tasks anyway. Shame that 90% of the cars for sale are the earlier models. I've also noticed that alot of the VXR models for sale seem to have front bumper alignment issues.

[skinnyman]

Final few questions guys, I promise, just trying to get as much information as possible before I venture out for viewings as I don't want to go to any until I'm 100% happy in what I'm looking for, don't like wasting people's time.

I've read that they're very comfy on longer journeys, but what are they like around town? On rubbish 30mph potted roads? Also, what are the comfort levels like once you start fitting coilovers/suspension kits? And does anyone have a photo of the smaller boot? Trying to gauge if our unnecessarily large 'travel system' will fit, as that will determine what I buy (so says the wife).

[skinnyman]

Cheers, ah yeah I see what people mean about the smaller boot now, thats pants for the size of the car, but won't put me off.

The nicely modded yellow one in the classifieds has sold now, me & my bloody dithering!! It had every mod I'd wanted and more! Guess it's a waiting game now.

[skinnyman]

I'm in Derby, I should probably update my profile.

I used to own a VW Corrado, so well versed in having a characterful car with all its shortcomings, I just hope buying a new car last time didn't spoil me, with all its gadgets and comfort, hopefully I'll happily slip back into older car mode again.

[skinnyman]

The black supercharged one on eBay, anyone's on here?

Its a little more than i wanted to spend, but......

[skinnyman]

Lastmin said:

Skinnyman- I just listed mine today.

Was looking at it yesterday, it does look smart, and the Borla exhaust looks interesting, don't think I've seen one over here with it on, US part isn't it? What's the sound like?

I'm still battling with myself over early/late model

[skinnyman]

Is mileage any issue at all with these?

Black LS2 VXR has popped up in classifieds, with 124k on the clock. I'm not overly worried about mileage, but keeping one eye on resale as I'll probably have it for 2-3yrs before having to move on, by which point it will be on 140-150k.

[skinnyman]

True, guess I'm just looking at everything atm. It that one mentioned had say 50k miles I'd be all over it, but then it wouldn't be £12.5k

[skinnyman]

I have a budget for the right car.

If a CV8 with the majority of parts I want on comes up for £11k, then I have the budget for that. Equally if an 30k mile LS2 VXR with everything I'd ever want on comes up for £18k, then I have the budget for that. I don't have to spend my full budget, it's about finding the right car for the matching price.

I'm just impatient I guess, I just need to sit it out and wait, I can run my current car until the time arises.

[skinnyman]

Well must haves (whether on the car at purchase or added afterwards:

Pedders shocks/springs
Wortec exhaust (preferably switchable)
Ripshift kit
AP brakes (if CV8, not so much on a VXR)

Desirables:
LS7 clutch
Road response kit
Headers
Sports cats
Remap
Cam

Now you if look on PH/Autotrader a standard car is around £10k, but a car with a combination of the above is also around £10k. I don't want to spend £10k on a standard car, to then throw a boat load of money at it, if I can wait it out and buy one with the correct parts on I'll do that. The cost of parts can quickly add up to the price of the car (£1.5k exhaust, £2k brakes, £1k suspension etc).

If a nice looking CV8 with suspension, exhaust & brakes comes up for around £11k, then thats acceptable to my requirements & budget, but equally if a low mileage LS2 comes up with all of the above for £18k, thats also acceptable. You could argue I could buy the £11k car and spend the £6k+ on parts to end up in roughly the same position, and you'd be right, but I've still got my ST, so not in a major rush, I can wait it out if necessary.

[skinnyman]

H5V VE said:

Are you completely set on a Monaro? If you go and talk to James at Elite, he has a VXR8 that may tick a lot of your boxes - especially with children in tow.

I did consider them, it would be a hell of alot more practical with the extra doors and large boot, and I could afford one, but I was set on a Monaro from a while ago, they remind me of my old Corrado, a car that has something special about it, a bit of character, I've not had a characterful car for a while. I've owned decent cars, had an EP3 after my Corrado and before the ST, while both great cars there was always something missing, hence the willingness for me to sell the ST after 2yrs. I ended up breaking the Corrado for parts as despite my best efforts the red paint finally started to die, and sorting it was more costly than the car was worth in bits.

Another thing that draws me to the Monaro is the relative lack of depreciation. My man maths tells me that despite the fuel costs owning a Monaro would actually be cheaper over 2yrs than my ST has been over the previous 2, near to zero depreciation over the next 2-3yrs is my excuse for buying one, I'm not sure the VXR8 would work out so well. But it probably something I should look at again.

[skinnyman]

I was thinking about going to that too, my sister is at Chester uni so I've done the run a few times. Plus, my missus & lad are at TWO kids parties that day, which helps with the decision somewhat.

[skinnyman]

As long as I can get an isofix base on one side, and a Recaro Young Sport on the other, I'll be going with a Monaro. Yes a VXR8 might be more practical, but ultimately it's the Monaro I want, plus the VXR8's I've seen that I'd want are £20k+, and at that stage you get into Lexus ISF/M3 sort of money. Small boot not really an issue either, as the youngest is already using a smaller fold up buggy in my car, the massive travel system setup stays in the wifes car.

Also, I thought my finance deal ended in June, it's actually August, so I've bought myself some more time with that. I could get an early settlement figure now, but the plan was always to buy the car from Ford, and then sell it on afterwards.