Omigod. my knees are knocking I am just a big softie for anything with a v8 in front and RWD. I used to have a Triumph TR7 V8 with a rally exhaust system on and that was a brilliant soundtrack, but the neighbours did not agree.

Very Very Very nice....

Wow...

I like them both but I prefer the Monaro over the VXR8 just on looks alone.

On the whole Holden Vauxhall discussion... Over the years there have been Astra's, Corsa's, Tigra's, Zafira's and Vectra's sold in Australia all under the Holden badge and as they are both owned by GM I guess this is to be expected that we get the odd Holden badged up as a Vauxhall over here and vice versa. It's also not like Vauxhall are trying to hide the fact that these are Aussie cars either.

This is the equivalent model over here:

Holden New Zealand - Commodore SS V-Series - Key Information

The spec is not identical but the engine's the same, and have you seen the cost?

66,690.00 NZD = 24,123.13 GBP

(plus on-road costs of maybe $700)

Given that shipping my Skoda here cost GPB1500, someone's making some money somewhere!

Yeah the treasury.. twice over.. import tax and vat... no doubt! :(

Still I'm not jealous.... MUCH!

The only problem is I still can't afford one!

By the way in comparison, a new Octavia vRS petrol with all of the options is $49,995 (NZD)

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that price includes 12.5% GST (sales tax)

The only problem is I still can't afford one!

By the way in comparison, a new Octavia vRS petrol with all of the options is $49,995 (NZD)

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that price includes 12.5% GST (sales tax)

Nahh.. me neither... nice to dream though...

That makes the Octy about

That looks very nice indeed. Wonder if it is based on the Caddy CTS or STS platforms?

Test drove an old shape VXR, absolutely excellent car. Have an Omega that has been more relaible over its 112,000 miles than my Fabia has over 60,000. Can't see why there is so much Vauxhall bashing going on? Perhaps some have not the energy to think for themselves so just let Clarkson do it for them?

The Astra and Vectra are viable alternatives to the competition at all price points. They drive differently to the competition, but the Astra VXR in particular gives the raw hot hatch hit that the competition generally lack. New Corsa is said to be a good drive too. VXR version of that would make a good school car on LPG / dual fuel. Mind you, they already have a recall out on Corsa D for lower arm replacement. Sound familiar?

As for the Monaro, what competition is there?

Chris

That's a very nice saloon. I hate chuffing Vauxhalls but I love Holden's for some reason. (Could it be the mental application of mahoosive V8 and RWD?) I'd have one tomorrow if I could afford it.

I like it BUT prefer the older Monaro though. With the new car coming out the used price of the Monaro will drop even quicker and be even more of a bargain.

I like the look of the VXRS and it might suit my needs in a couple of

years from now.

Just out of interest, why do you have a Skoda?

I had one as a hire car, and it was way more impressive than anything else that meets my minimum size and economy requirements. Specifically, faster than expected, more econonomical, more comfortable, and more confidence inspiring on a twisty road.

The two vauxhalls I had were nothing but trouble for me, hence the dislike of the brand. The new shape vectra SRI understeered worse than any car I've ever driven and the astra estate I had was for ever breaking down.

Similar feelings about Astras and Corsas. Add to the comedy levels of understeer that the only way of determining that they were understeering was by looking at the difference between where they'd been pointed and where they were going...

On the whole Holden Vauxhall discussion... Over the years there have been Astra's, Corsa's, Tigra's, Zafira's and Vectra's sold in Australia all under the Holden badge and as they are both owned by GM I guess this is to be expected that we get the odd Holden badged up as a Vauxhall over here and vice versa. It's also not like Vauxhall are trying to hide the fact that these are Aussie cars either.

Exactly, Holden are selling Astras and Tigras right now. But this is blatently a rebadged Holden and is kinda similar to Ford selling something like a rebadged F6 Typhoon here

I like the VXR8 hopefully I will be able to get one I am in need of a new car. Hope they havent let down on the quality of the Vauxhall spares though, my old astra lasted years without any problems even though I bought it quite old.

Exactly, Holden are selling Astras and Tigras right now. But this is blatently a rebadged Holden

Well yes.. and they make this quite clear in the press release :confused:

Well yes.. and they make this quite clear in the press release :confused:

i was agreeing you, and trying to comment on the whole "it's a vauxhall"/"it's a holden" hoo-haa between ken and shifty...why f*cking bother...

We get Holden Astras and Vectras. The old Holden Barina was a Vauxhall Corsa but the new one is a rebadged Kia. The next Vectra here will be a rebadged Kia too - cheapskates

Sorry, correction, they're Daewoos not Kias!

i was agreeing you, and trying to comment on the whole "it's a vauxhall"/"it's a holden" hoo-haa between ken and shifty...why f*cking bother...

aahh i wasn't quite sure what you where getting

OK OK

Let's all agree:

It's a Holden.

Holden is an Australian company owned by GM.

In the UK it'll be badged as a Vauxhall.

Some people don't like Vauxhalls, and feel compelled to spell it strangely to get their point across.

No more to say, really. Let's get back to discussing whether it's a desirable car in its own right or not

It is! (well I like 'em!)

I think the monaro is a amazingly good car for 35k vxr 500 36k, i mean you cant argue that its not good looking nor that its not slow or cant go round corners.

It does all this for less than a second hand M3.

As for the vxr8 not as nice in my opinion.

By the way Vauxhall is in Name only due to OPEL being the actual manufacturer,

even though some are built in uk its only England,Scotland, Wales worldwide that have Vaux on the cars, Even Ireland has Opel,

Vaux would have been axed many years ago if the public didnt want the name to be lost like bedford brand did.

And to make things worse Pontiac have monaro under GTO brand

and the price??

£17k yes you read right 17 bloody thousand equiv pounds

thats half the uk and ausie price even thou its built in australia shipped to US and then re-badged, with all new front end, and been converted to left drive.

That is cheaper than the new bottom spec vrs

And before someone says No Way yes Way as sat in it on holiday in a dealer in florida. Couldn't believe my eyes

Those Dame Yanks

By the way Vauxhall is in Name only due to OPEL being the actual manufacturer,

even though some are built in uk its only England,Scotland, Wales worldwide that have Vaux on the cars, Even Ireland has Opel,

Vaux would have been axed many years ago if the public didnt want the name to be lost like bedford brand did.

NI has Vauxhall too.

Ok so Scotland/Wales/england/Northern Ireland