Author's product rating: 
| Advantages: |
Fast ! Big . Excellent Seats . Few £'s For This Performance . "Blinged" Styling of VXR . |
| Disadvantages: |
Likes to Drink (fuel ! ) . A Bit of a Brute to Drive . Intimidating . |
| Recommend to potential buyers: |
no |
A NOTE ON THE CATEGORY
The eagle eyed amongst you, may have noticed that Ciao are listing the VXR as a 5.7 litre model. The first VXR's imported here did indeed have an up-rated version of the standard 5.7 litre engine, few of these were sold before Holden started shoe horning in the larger 6.0 litre engine, the few remaining new VXR's on sale are the 6.0 model as reviewed here.
WHY A FULFILLED AMBITION?
Before launching into the review proper, which will, for consistencies sake, follow my usual car review format, I wanted to offer a brief explanation of the title.
Some of you may already know that for well over four years, my pride and joy had been a 1999 V6
Vauxhall Omega. Whilst I would never have claimed that car to be perfect, for me, it fitted like a glove. It had real character, was comfortable, and, thanks to its rear wheel drive chassis, fun to drive too. For economic reasons (it had a very high Co2 emissions level) I was unable to replace it with a similar car and choose something entirely different, a new diesel powered Honda Accord.
From its UK launch, I thought of the Monaro as the "ultimate" Omega, its attractive coupe body and huge engine could only, add to the pleasure of driving it surely? Two years ago, when the car was launched, here in the UK, Mrs R and I were hurled around the high speed track at Millbrook by a professional racing driver in a Monaro VXR. He then took us up to 168mph on the banked circuit - that is 270km/hr for those dealing in metric amongst you.
Well at least I had enjoyed the ride of my life in one; after all I would never actually get to drive it myself!
Amazingly, I was wrong!
WHAT IS IT?
Well that is a very interesting question - especially as many people will never have heard of the Monaro! It is a large Australian car, produced by General Motors Holden division in both saloon and coupe bodies. Whilst saloons have been unofficially imported for some years, Vauxhall in this country have commissioned a limited run of the coupes, simply re-badged with the familiar Griffin logo.
After producing a total of almost 500,000 Monaros (most I suspect saloons), Holden ended production of this model earlier this year (2006). A new four door saloon, to be imported here as an Omega next year, is already being built.
The Australians like their cars big, beefy and tough. For those of you wondering if it will fit your garage it is 4790mm long and 1710 wide. It is a spacious four seater with a huge 370 litre boot and a 75 litre (16.5 gallon) fuel tank.
The chassis and several identifiable body parts on this car are actually shared with the Vauxhall / Opel Omega, a model three years out of production in Germany. What are very definitely NOT shared are the engines - Holden shoehorn a rather well known American V8 into these cars, if I tell you that it is also used in the two most powerful versions of the current Corvette range that should provide provenance enough!
To Vauxhall it is an important marketing tool. Having struggled for years trying to shake off their lacklustre image, Vauxhall decided to make a push on the sporting "VXR" badge, or "brand" as they insist on referring to it. This is attached now to each car in the range, however non-sporting that car may be. What they needed was a proper image booster for the VXR brand - Holden's Monaro was a very inexpensive way of achieving this.
WHICH SPECIFIC MODEL?
I actually prefer the smaller (!) 5.7 litre V8, 'standard' version of the Monaro. It is a purer shape without the extra bulges, spoilers and general paraphernalia attached to the VXR model that I am reviewing here. From everything that I have read about its behaviour on the road, I know that I would, on a day to day basis, find it an easier, less demanding car to live with too. Surprisingly, yet tellingly, the racing driver who took us out in that original VXR also passed his opinion that the standard model was a nicer car to drive.
Never mind, beggars cannot be choosers, I can only try the Vauxhall Monaro V8 VXR here, they do not have a standard V8 available unfortunately.
In case you need to know, this one has the full house 6.0 litre engine, attached to a six speed manual gearbox. Big numbers again, it puts out 397bhp (that's power) and more importantly produces 391lbs ft of torque - that last figure being its' twisting power, the indicator of just how flexible an engine is.
IN WHAT CAPACITY AM I REVIEWING THIS CAR?
As a petrol-head satisfying an ambition perhaps? Well yes, there is a lot of truth in that! Even as a lottery winner it is not a car that I could see myself going out and buying, although, I could do a lot worse!
I am driving it in exactly the capacity that Vauxhall intended that I and many others should do here at this (Company Car in Action) event at Millbrook. Today the hat on my head is that of Fleet Manager, I test drive a Monaro and place a huge order for Corsa's and Astras on the strength of it……well that's their ambition anyway!
COSTS
This is going to be very difficult. It is not going to be a cheap car to run all round, but just what do you compare it to in terms of running costs? It is a unique proposition. V8 muscle cars are few and far between on the English market - the more sophisticated (mostly German) V8 offerings are all vastly more expensive, both to buy and run.
Insurance is going to be one of the major expenses here, both Monaro models are in group 20 - the most expensive car insurance group that there is.
PURCHASE COST 8 / 10
£36,995 (£29,995 for the 5.7 litre), may look like a great deal of money to spend on a car carrying a Vauxhall badge and I would have to agree with that. However, looking at the performance and sheer 'presence' of the Monaro, there is nothing below £50,000 that can compare. As already stated my money would go on the £30,000 standard model, at that price something of a bargain……only read on……
……DEPRECIATION!
THE OPTIONS GAME: 10 / 10 or "How much do I need to spend to make it habitable?"
Nothing, Nil, Zero, £0.00. That is what you will have to spend on options. There are none, just the two models and they come equipped with every convenience that you could wish for.
DEPRECIATION 5 / 10 - Always the biggest running cost.
I have good news and BAD news. As I am reviewing the Monaro VXR as a new car choice, the bad news first - and it is VERY bad. Due to that badge, and a traditional wariness of V8's in the motor trade, this car suffers from huge depreciation. Vauxhall have had problems selling the limited run that entered the country and have discounted the Monaro from new. At three years old the "book" informs me that a £36,995 VXR will be worth 46% of that value, or £17,000. My opinion is that the book is going to be optimistic in this particular case.
The good news? Buy a second hand one and, like any V8, the Monaro will be something of a motoring bargain. A two year old one for around £20,000 looks like one heck of a lot of car for the money.
FUEL ECONOMY 5 / 10
I am not going to kid you on that a 1750kg, V8 6.0 litre coupe is going to be economical at the pumps. However, it is not going to cost as much to fuel as you would expect, especially if you use it mostly for motorway cruising. Big American V8's are extremely unstressed performers and with a very high 44.3mph per 1000rpm top gear ratio, on a motorway, the Monaro is literally only motoring at just above tick-over speed. The engine is so flexible that first third and sixth gear will take you just about everywhere; less gear changes equal less fuel consumption.
On a motorway you are going to get about 25mpg, around town though, expect the worst, that being single figure mpg returns.
SERVICE & MAINTENANCE COSTS 8 / 10: are you going to make the dealer rich?
No, actually you are not! In terms of servicing and replacement parts, this is going to be the cheapest car of this performance to run, and by a big margin at that. Again, thank the Corvette engine - it is bombproof - has to be, Americans do not expect to service cars, or even top up the oil.
You may however, have a job finding a Vauxhall dealer actually authorised to service your Monaro. Whilst Vauxhall have advertised this car widely, they are only selling it through a limited number of "Performance" dealerships - not all of these will offer brilliant service either.
Let the "fun" begin! You want to know what this car is like to live with and to drive and be driven in…….
THE EXTERIOR:
STYLING 7 /10: A very subjective category here.
I have already mentioned that I prefer the purer, standard, Monaro. Add a set of chromed alloy wheels and blacked out windows to the VXR and unfortunately it is a ready made pop video star.
In our lounge here at home, we have on display a 1/18th scale gold Holden Monaro. It has no wings, no spoilers, no cuts in the bonnet. I look at it daily and never tire of doing so. It is a classic in the making.
OVERALL BUILD QUALITY AND FINISH 6 / 10 Does it look as though it was slung together?
There are some rough edges. The Australians have different priorities and expectations in their cars, big fast and strong yes, technically advanced and well finished, no.
SAFETY 8 /10 If it comes to the worst, how well are you and your family going to come out of it.
Equipped with a full set of airbags, plus dynamic stability aids and of course ABS, I have rarely felt so safe driving a car. That partly comes about due its hugely 'solid' feel on the road, it is difficult to explain this but the Monaro gives you almost the sense of travelling inside a building rather than in a car!
THE INTERIOR:
ERGONOMICS 7 / 10 Before I can start the engine and drive away I need to feel at home in the "working environment". The relationship between the controls and how I, the driver, am able to instinctively operate those controls is, all important. This for me is make or break, before I drive a car, if it does not instinctively "feel" right in this department then I will never like it or ultimately buy it.
This for me was probably the most surprising aspect of the Monaro. The ergonomics were unexpectedly good. This may stem from the car not having been converted to right hand drive, like us the Aussies drive on the left.
Being a coupe you do sit rather lower in the car than in a conventional saloon, but thus seated the Monaro presents you with all the controls you need, easily to hand. The instruments, whilst lacking the sophistication and style of modern European or Japanese cars, are nonetheless extemporarily clear - just as well once you discover just how FAST this car goes!
VISIBILITY: 7 / 10 Does the sporting nature of the car compromise visibility?
Another surprise here. One thing that I have always disliked about "proper" sports cars is their compromised visibility. In order to drive quickly, in safety, I need the best possible vision. Apart from the slightly tunnel like, distorted, view through the rear view mirror - thanks to the domed shape of the rear window, all round visibility was no worse than on my own Honda Accord, the door mirrors offered a particularly good field of view.
No complaints either about the standard Omega windscreen and wiper set up, not that I would have the nerve to go fast in the rain in one of these mind you!
SPACE: 9 / 10:
Due to the raised central portion in the rear seat, a fifth passenger could only really be a child. For four big adults the Monaro provides space to lounge on long journeys. The lowered seating position allows plenty of head room too and the interior width of the car is very commodious for those of broad shoulder.
The boot is also massive and regularly shaped. This must be just about the most practical muscle car, certainly none of the (much more expensive) German V8 offerings are anywhere near as accommodating all round.
STYLE 5 / 10:
Workmanlike rather than attractive sums this up. You are not paying for the last word in interior design here, the dashboard and general interior style are more akin to the 1980's.
MATERIALS, FIT & FINISH 8 / 10: Aussie tinnie or English gent?
In some senses the Monaro turns out to be an odd "curate's egg" of a car. Having noted the dated interior styling, one is also aware that the materials used here, whilst simple in concept, are actually of very good, hard wearing quality.
There is nothing wrong with the interior fit and finish either, in our hard worked company demonstrator, there was not a creak or rattle to be heard. This was the second VXR that I had experienced, the first was equally solidly screwed together.
One other point of note here is that all four seats are extraordinarily comfortable, my maximum speed run was in the rear seat of the Monaro, it was just as comfortable as in the front seats - no mean feat in a coupe.
We were also impressed with the quality of the rouched leather on the seats, not sure why this should have been a surprise in an Australian car, but it was.
AUDIO & CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMS 6 / 10: Strange grouping?
Nobody is going to buy a Monaro VXR for its state of the art stereo. On the other hand, in Australia, obviously, the climate control is a top priority.
Unusually in this day and age, in the central console are two completely separate (green) display screens for the climate control and stereo and trip computer. Both are large and very clear to read and, unlike the one in any European Omega, the climate control is simple to use and highly efficient.
ON THE ROAD……..
……Time to start it up and to offer you a driving assessment.
NOISE, VIBRATION & HARSHNESS 6 / 10 Silk purse or sow's ear?
I would award the VXR 9 for the sheer depth and quality of the sound that it does make. Those of you used to the deep, strong, burble of a big bore American V8 will feel at home in here. I am not used to that sound and found it quite addictive.
It is never loud, always relaxed, the power delivery is creamy smooth and in terms of the engine itself the word harsh could never be used.
Such a shame that the same could not be said for the rest of the driving experience!
Maybe crude would be the best way to describe the action of the clutch and gearbox. Understandably, in view of the engine and weight of the car, both of these components need to be strong. Holden appear to have engineered them to be strong in the sense that such components would be in a tractor. The action of changing gear, and indeed of coordinating the clutch movement to it, take more physical strength in this car than in any other vehicle that I have driven. On a long motorway journey this would be of little consequence, driving in town, or on country back roads, this is a brute of a car to drive - very tiring indeed.
PERFORMANCE 10 / 10 Sh*t off a shovel or a constipated tortoise?
Sh*t was my exact oath the first time that I accelerated the Monaro VXR down a short straight piece of road. You are literally thrust back into the deep leather seat, it hits 60mph in 5.3 seconds and is by a long way the fastest car that I have ever driven. The second fastest (in case you were wondering) was a 1994, 911 Porsche.
And there lays a highly interesting comparison. The Monaro, in VXR form at least, is all about sheer brutal speed, neck snapping acceleration (it has the brakes to match) and super high speed cruising.
Drive from A to B on the same country route and I would arrive much sooner, and in far more comfort, in the Porsche, the slower car. It is just so much better engineered for ordinary, every day driving in the UK. In Australia, on home territory, I have no doubt that the tables would be reversed in favour of the Monaro.
RIDE & HANDLING 6 / 10
This very much feels like a last generation chassis. It certainly grips the road very well, even at highly illegal speeds (legal here at Millbrook) although you can hear and feel the suspension working quite hard at all times.
The steering is a bit of a let down, feeling slightly woolly and over light, the system on my V6 Omega gave far more feedback and was more enjoyable to use. This for me was probably the final nail in the Monaro's coffin as a driving experience. For my taste, a really good car has a well matched fluidity to the weight of all the primary controls. That the clutch and gearchange are so very heavy and the steering so light, for me compromised the Monaro seriously as a true drivers' car.
The ride quality really reflects the meaty handling. It feels solid and well damped, but on the roads and multitude of different surfaces at Millbrook never really settled to offer a ride that could be described as comfortable. Again, the standard car with less harsh suspension settings would probably prove more satisfactory.
CONCLUSION - Would I buy one myself and would we want to drive it to Poland in a day?
Here comes the crunch, sometimes it really is better to leave an ambition unfulfilled. Maybe I am going soft in my old age, maybe after all, the Monaro just was not what I was expecting it to be, but for my taste it required far too much effort to drive.
In some senses it is a great car. Regrettably however, it is so compromised, partly one suspects due to the use of last generation technology, that no, I would not purchase one, new or second hand, nor would I dream of driving to Poland in a day in it - a feat that we achieved last month in our humble diesel powered Honda Accord.
FINAL SCORE: 121 / 170 - 71.1%
Of all the many car reviews that I have written, this one has in all truth disappointed and saddened me the most. I approached this car with a deep sense of excitement as the key went into the ignition. On hindsight I now really rather wish that my ambition had stayed unfulfilled……
……sometimes the dream can be so much better than the reality!
Whilst none of the following cars are in any way comparable in market position, price or appeal to the Monaro, in order to give some perspective to the points score, here are my other recently reviewed cars based on identical scoring criteria:
ALFA ROMEO 147 1.9JTD Lusso (5 Dr) 67.8%
HONDA ACCORD i-CTDi Saloon 80.0%
HONDA JAZZ 1.4 SE CVT-7 (Automatic) 74.7%
SAAB 9-3 TiD Vector 68.2%
VAUXHALL MONARO VXR 71.1%
VOLVO S60 D5 SE 70.6%
Display pictures
In red it looks even more intimidating - "ours" was black. |
