Review: Vauxhall Monaro VXR 6.0

[Perian]

http://www.topgear.com/jsp/individua...Number=05.html

[powervette]

PONTIAC GTO IS A PONTIAC GTO
"VAUXHALL MONARO VXR 6.0" doesn't work for me.

[Redcoat]

actually, the Pontiac GTO is a Holden Monaro - as im sure you know! It just gets an update to match the US spec.

made in Oz, like all your Poncho GTOS

[johnd89]

I like the twin dual exhaust and rear spoiler.
0-60 in 5.7??!? I remember it was faster than that...

[Carguy]

Well they are (((KILLING ZETA NOW))) so I would say bring that version of the GTO over here now as a Chevelle SS. Then do less expensive versions with a 325HP version of the 5.3L V8 with a 240HP 3.9L V6 in the base cars. Offer it in cpe/sdn and wgn body styles as a full line of Chevelles. BRING BACK SOME REAL RWD CHEVIES!!

[powervette]

Originally Posted by Redcoat

actually, the Pontiac GTO is a Holden Monaro - as im sure you know! It just gets an update to match the US spec.

made in Oz, like all your Poncho GTOS

I mean that if I was a U.K citizen I would prefer driving a Pontiac not a Vauxhall which is just an Opel.

[Redcoat]

to be honest...if you asked 99% of British people about "American cars" they would laugh at you...they are all seen as being awful - and the rent a cars people get in florida dont really help their opinions.

consider that most people rent small cars - cavaliers etc - and how a "small car" is the usa tends to be much cheaper and nastier than the european equivalent (where a Cavalier sized car is really 3 steps above entry-level!) and the quality is really lacking.

Vauxhall isnt exactly a shining brand here - its the car you are GIVEN to drive by your company when you cant choose, rather than a car you choose yourself - but until Chevy and Cadillac establish American cars as anything other than jokes here (yes - we have fans of classic muscle cars etc but they arent exactly the majority) i dont think the time is right for Pontiac!

[Ghrankenstein]

In my career, as recently as today, I've met many naturalized Europeans, Middle Easterns, Africans, and Asians who are on their second and third American vehicle, and are not only pleasantly surprised, but very happy with them.

Many more of these customers, of course, don't realize that their Toyotas, Hondas, and BMW's are made here, or that their Volkswagens are made in Mexico, or that their Suzukis and Chevy Aveos are made in Korea.

This whole global thing is messing with my mind. Better eat another one.

[powervette]

Originally Posted by Redcoat

to be honest...if you asked 99% of British people about "American cars" they would laugh at you...they are all seen as being awful - and the rent a cars people get in florida dont really help their opinions.

consider that most people rent small cars - cavaliers etc - and how a "small car" is the usa tends to be much cheaper and nastier than the european equivalent (where a Cavalier sized car is really 3 steps above entry-level!) and the quality is really lacking.

Vauxhall isnt exactly a shining brand here - its the car you are GIVEN to drive by your company when you cant choose, rather than a car you choose yourself - but until Chevy and Cadillac establish American cars as anything other than jokes here (yes - we have fans of classic muscle cars etc but they arent exactly the majority) i dont think the time is right for Pontiac!

I want everything best for GM.
I would love the perception of U.S-car to be changed in Europe.Because people simply don't know anything about U.S cars.
GM's policy is wrong-they want to sell the U.S-built Sky roadster as Opel/Vauxhall,I am sure it will be a very reliable car.But every customer will think it's German-it's an Opel.
Maybe they should sell Sky with a big printed sentence "MADE IN U.S.A"

[Redcoat]

Originally Posted by powervette

I want everything best for GM.
I would love the perception of U.S-car to be changed in Europe.Because people simply don't know anything about U.S cars.
GM's policy is wrong-they want to sell the U.S-built Sky roadster as Opel/Vauxhall,I am sure it will be a very reliable car.But every customer will think it's German-it's an Opel.
Maybe they should sell Sky with a big printed sentence "MADE IN U.S.A"

To be honest - when matched against European cars, a lot of US cars would still to really, really badly. Yes - there are some excellent exceptions. However, give the average euro a softly sprung, heavy, FWD, automatic car and they wouldnt like it...even if it has SC3800 power.

the change at GM is slow on a geological scale...

as i said - i think American cars will do much better in Eastern europe than western.

[Proetus]

Originally Posted by Redcoat

to be honest...if you asked 99% of British people about "American cars" they would laugh at you...they are all seen as being awful

Ford has 3 of the top 6 selling cars in the UK, including the #1 Focus (#3 Mondeo, #6 Fiesta). Are the Fords sold in the UK not considered 'American'?

[69nova]

Oh yes GM, bring in this car and re-badge it as a Chevelle. Maybe you can sell 120 cars per month. Everybody criticizes GM for being slow but I think that they are still smarting from the "disappointing" GTO sales.
You want to hear a joke? A guy buys a Jaguar for big bucks and has a ton of problems. How about Mercedes great reliability record? And to back this up, all i need to do is quote Consumer's Reports.

[johnd89]

Originally Posted by Proetus

Ford has 3 of the top 6 selling cars in the UK, including the #1 Focus (#3 Mondeo, #6 Fiesta). Are the Fords sold in the UK not considered 'American'?

I think that those 3 they are considered british, not "american".

on the other hand, I believe every british wants a real american car... only that they can't afford!
there even the pathetic rustang gt is considered a monster-go figure!

[Redcoat]

As a Brit - i love (good) American cars, especially the new Mustang, Vette, I even think the new Charger will be cool once they decide on the styling (how many new noses do they seem to be launching on that platform!?!)

however, 90% of my countrymen look at me as if i just suggested they buy a Yugo.

Even a LOT of petrolheads see american cars as sloppy handling, no road-feel gas guzzling monsters compared to the popular turbo AWD japanese cars, low-volume Brit sportscars and Euro hot hatchbacks. Unfortunately, most Brit opinions are formed by rent a cars and prejudice.

more depressingly, they are not exactly out of the ball-park when you look at rent a car fleets...

I think if popele were given Cobalts and Chargers by Avis, people might warm to the appeal of american cars (until they had to fill a V8 car up over here!) - but at least there would be the some aspiration to American cars.

And Ford GT? pathetic? LOL.

[johnd89]

Originally Posted by Redcoat

As a Brit - i love (good) American cars, especially the new Mustang, Vette, I even think the new Charger will be cool once they decide on the styling (how many new noses do they seem to be launching on that platform!?!)

however, 90% of my countrymen look at me as if i just suggested they buy a Yugo.

Even a LOT of petrolheads see american cars as sloppy handling, no road-feel gas guzzling monsters compared to the popular turbo AWD japanese cars, low-volume Brit sportscars and Euro hot hatchbacks. Unfortunately, most Brit opinions are formed by rent a cars and prejudice.

more depressingly, they are not exactly out of the ball-park when you look at rent a car fleets...

I think if popele were given Cobalts and Chargers by Avis, people might warm to the appeal of american cars (until they had to fill a V8 car up over here!) - but at least there would be the some aspiration to American cars.

And Ford GT? pathetic? LOL.

well, you more thean anyone that part of the world have a long love story with the v8 engine. if you would get a westfield v8 (rover, it's true...) everyone would envy you!
yeah, wrx and evo's are cool and fast, but nothing beats the throttle response of a big v8. BIG v8 (that's where the 4.9 is pathetic and the 6.0 ls2 is really a monster)!