Love my New VZ Monaro. Some Comments

[GH1967]

I've had my Devil Yellow Monaro for 2 days. It's everything I expected and more. I'm seriously in love with it :D

Last night I showed my mate who used to own a Mercedes SLK 230. My VZ has just about everything his SLK had and more (minus the collapsable roof) and I paid half of what he did. Plus I have 4 seats to his 2 and my car is more powerful. The moral to the story: BUY AUSTRALIAN! We make great cars.

Now for my own opinions on the VZ Monaro. Please keep in mind I'm just Joe Average driver and not particularly "into cars" as such.

What I love: The burbling sound. The comfort. The look. The power. It's just sheer driving pleasure. I find I'm already looking for longer ways home so I can spend more time in it.

What I don't like: It's thirsty, but I knew that before buying it. The sound system is disappointing (this is the biggest disappointment). The electric seats move slowly. I didnt like the number plate covers; they detract from the look (I took them off). There's a bit of a blind spot at the rear if you're like me and turn your head and look back before moving into a left lane. Finding my comfortable seat level is hard because I'm 6'3" and my head clears the roof by about 1cm. I find I'm getting a sore neck.

The only slight problem I've noticed so far is the dodgy paint job around a few of the parking sensors which can easily be fixed.

Overall I give this car 99%! I absolutely love it. The only thing I'm really down on is the car stereo. It's a pity such a sports car doesn't have a sound system on par with the image and quality of the Monaro.

By the way, is there a VZ car club or any cruises planned? I bet that would turn a few heads if people saw a bunch of us burbling down the highway!

[bigdongers]

congrats on the Monaro. Shes a sweet car indeed.

Just a question, didnt you notice the blind spots and sore neck when you test drove it?

The stereo can be fixed with some speaker upgrades or maybe a headunit upgrade if you are so inclined.

[kryten2001]

I've had my Devil Yellow Monaro for 2 days. It's everything I expected and more. I'm seriously in love with it :D

Last night I showed my mate who used to own a Mercedes SLK 230. My VZ has just about everything his SLK had and more (minus the collapsable roof) and I paid half of what he did. Plus I have 4 seats to his 2 and my car is more powerful. The moral to the story: BUY AUSTRALIAN! We make great cars.

Now for my own opinions on the VZ Monaro. Please keep in mind I'm just Joe Average driver and not particularly "into cars" as such.

What I love: The burbling sound. The comfort. The look. The power. It's just sheer driving pleasure. I find I'm already looking for longer ways home so I can spend more time in it.

What I don't like: It's thirsty, but I knew that before buying it. The sound system is disappointing (this is the biggest disappointment). The electric seats move slowly. I didnt like the number plate covers; they detract from the look (I took them off). There's a bit of a blind spot at the rear if you're like me and turn your head and look back before moving into a left lane. Finding my comfortable seat level is hard because I'm 6'3" and my head clears the roof by about 1cm. I find I'm getting a sore neck.

The only slight problem I've noticed so far is the dodgy paint job around a few of the parking sensors which can easily be fixed.

Overall I give this car 99%! I absolutely love it. The only thing I'm really down on is the car stereo. It's a pity such a sports car doesn't have a sound system on par with the image and quality of the Monaro.

By the way, is there a VZ car club or any cruises planned? I bet that would turn a few heads if people saw a bunch of us burbling down the highway!

Yeah the stereo does suck a bit, but that's not hard to fix!

[bigdongers]

oh yeah and dont for get to post some pics here or in this thread http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=33601

I am deciding on colours for my VZ monaro and its pretty much down to Turismo and Yellow since the red interior is no longer available. Seeing yours may help me decide :)

[GH1967]

oh yeah and dont for get to post some pics here or in this thread http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=33601

I am deciding on colours for my VZ monaro and its pretty much down to Turismo and Yellow since the red interior is no longer available. Seeing yours may help me decide :)

Re the stereo, I recall reading a thread here awhile back saying it was a big job to change it (and quite expensive)> If anyone can give some reasonable-cost suggestions on how to get better sound I'm all ears.

Bigdongers I will take pics soon. I got my windows tinted on Saturday (Solace at Blakehurst have a $295.00 special on,; unbeleiveable price). The dark tinting contrasts superbly with the yellow.

[GH1967]

congrats on the Monaro. Shes a sweet car indeed.

Just a question, didnt you notice the blind spots and sore neck when you test drove it?

The stereo can be fixed with some speaker upgrades or maybe a headunit upgrade if you are so inclined.

No I didn't. The test drive was about 15 minutes. The blind spot isn't that bad and I'm sure I'll eventually configure my seat for optimum comfort.

From what I've read speaker upgrades for the Monaro is a complicated exercise.

[Febs]

By the way, is there a VZ car club or any cruises planned? I bet that would turn a few heads if people saw a bunch of us burbling down the highway!

Congrats on the purchase!
There was a big LS1 cruise yesterday (http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=40515), and we're looking at doing a Go Kart day/cruise later in the year. :)

Keep an eye on the NSW forum if/when you get validated.

Cheers,
- Febs.

[OzJavelin]

Great to hear you are a happy owner! I'd *love* a Monaro .. maybe in a few years.

BTW: If you want a little "perspective" on blind spots, go the a Falcon GT show and ask someone with a XA-XC Falcon coupe if you can sit in the drivers seat. Have a good look out the windows and see how much you can see ... you'll think the visibility on your Monaro is so good it's a convertible!!!

[NickS]

I went on the cruise yesterday and in about 6 hours of driving didn't on the stereo once. The sound of 15 LS1's in full song sounds better than anything that can come out of the stereo ... no matter how much you spend !!! I would skip the stereo upgrade and get an exhaust and edit instead :D

Head room isn't a Monaro strong point, but seems to be compromise most people are pretty happy to live with. Congrats. on the purchase and may you have many happy kms ahead :thumbsup:

[OLS108]

LS1 powered cars come with a stereo ?????? i got 5.7 reasons not to listen to the back street boys in my car :D . congrats on the perchase mate, i hope you enjoy it as much in a year as you do now.

PS use the search and look for EDIT, you know you want too. ;)

[Dacious]

Re: seating. It can be hard to find a 'sweet spot'. Be sure you know from the manual you how to set the memory function, or if you use the spare fob to unlock, you'll lose your settings!

As to the stereo - if the same as a VY Series III:

Look in the boot. On the left, unclip the push-in trim buttons along the top of the boot liner or slide your had down inside carefully and towards the front the left rear guard. Inside looking down from the top, you will see the power/sub amplifier mounted on a bracket, angled away from you.

If you reach in and run your hand towards the front (away from you), feel carefully and you will feel a knurled wheel on the front edge.

This controls the input gain of the amplifier. Stock, they come on a centre detented position. If you carefully twiddle it 'righty-tighty', as per doing up a normal right hand thread clockwise, the stock stereo will sound less uninspiring. I found leaving mine about halfway between the centre detent and fully-right sounds pretty good, no distortion or speaker farting, but a great improvement in clarity and definition along with volume. The speakers aren't the most efficient, but also they're far from terrible.

If you dial in too much gain and run it too flat-out with doof-doof music, you will get the amp cutting out due to overload protection.

Once the ECU 'learns' over a week or two, the car will get stronger and run better with better economy. Also, you'll find the motor loosens appreciably each 5,000k you do and feels stronger, more willing to rev and gets more economical, as well as sounds better. Plus the gearshift loosens and improves and you get used to the slow steering and the car starts feeling chuckable.

See, we told you once you get a Monaro, it's hard not to feel a little superior! :D

There ain't noting wrong with Commodores, but the Monaro is a bit special. It looks like a lot of money until you buy it, but when it sits in your driveway it feels like you stole it.

[mad_monaro]

Nice job on the purchase mate - I have an earlier model, now with a VZ bonnet, and I am aboslutely obsessed. :D

I got my stereo upgraded to a very nice Apline unit. Sounds a lot now. I can take a pic and email it to you if you want - just IM you email.

With head room, I know what u mean. I am 6.4'' and just fit in. Its when u find that perfect seating position, that the height will not be a problem.

Enjoy the Monaro mate, and if you are anything like me - you are stuffed, this is only the being of the love affair!

[Devil CV8]

Just a question, didnt you notice the blind spots and sore neck when you test drove it?

test drive...who the fluck test drives a monaro befoe deciding to buy one. I purchased my series 1 devil yellow without even sitting in it. just took it off the showroom floor. I had crawled all over a few at the motor show, and drooled all over the concept car... but test drive.....purchase decision did not need a test drive.

[VZSS250]

Congrats GH, there's no doubt we're priviledged in australia. Only the americans have it better with the Corvette being both a weapon and affordable. Sure Europe has the super weapons, but they're for the super rich.

BIG question:

What made you choose the monaro over the 6.0 litre clubby?

They are both the same price and I'm sure a lot of people are struggling over this question at the moment.

As for the stereo, why doesnt holden offer a premium sound option the way Ford does with the XRs? Its about time they did. Though I love the stereo in my VZ SS. Spose i have low standards.

[Speedy Gonzales]

Not only do the Yanks have better cars, the Vette, the Firebird, Camaro, Stang, Viper and the GTO which comes with the LS2 std and costs only 31k AUS :mad:

[xcapee]

my 2 cents.. if you want to listen to the stereo, wind up all the windows, it sounds much better... i think commodore sedens (owned VT SS and now VZ SS) have really bad resonance with windows down. From what i sensed in mates monaro, it is the same. Wind up the windows, close the sunroof and the music is much better quality... now if you want the 5.7Litre rumble, turn the darn stereo off and down the windows!

[Senator05]

GH1967, congrats on the purchase. I've got one on order (Odyssey) and it should be in the driveway at the end of the month. As for the test drive, I'd recommend it to anyone who has a choice in what they buy. My Munro will be driven by the girlfriend as much as by me. An extended overnight test drive highlighted that the ergonomics of a manual in VZ Munro wasn't ideal for my 5'1" partner, so I'm buying my first ever Auto after 12 Manuals :confused: She's worth it though... I think. ;)

[SteveK]

Yeah the stereo does suck a bit, but that's not hard to fix!

Yes, turn it off and listen to the engine instead. :lol:

In all honesty, I find I am turning off the radio or my favorite CD for that very reason. I'm driving to work in the morning, usually a 30 min drive and think "I haven't heard the engine in a while". Sound system off, natural aspiration on. :drool:

Steve

[plonkerchops]

BIG question:

What made you choose the monaro over the 6.0 litre clubby?

They are both the same price and I'm sure a lot of people are struggling over this question at the moment.
.

to coin a well used phrase ( well for me.... :D )
ummmm....no... :D
Im not struggling at all , GH1967 made a great choice, sure the Clubby has the grunt with the LS2...but it certainly doesnt have the looks or style
( IMHO of course ) or class of a 2 door coupe ...Id certainly choose the Monaro myself without blinking an eye :cool:

[Maverick]

As to the stereo - if the same as a VY Series III:

Look in the boot. On the left, unclip the push-in trim buttons along the top of the boot liner or slide your had down inside carefully and towards the front the left rear guard. Inside looking down from the top, you will see the power/sub amplifier mounted on a bracket, angled away from you.

If you reach in and run your hand towards the front (away from you), feel carefully and you will feel a knurled wheel on the front edge.

Dacious - dude you have my full and total respect if this even partially works. :eek: I was going to post that I couldn't find the amp and ask for more details. But have since found it.

If anyone else is also searching - it starts about a foot from the rear of the car and is position between the outer skin and in strengthening frame (were the two lining clips about a foot in attach). Actually it's just below the lower (or middle) of the 2 visible clips a foot back and as Dacious said on the left hand side. Haven't tried it out yet (don't want to disturb the neighbours at 12:30 ish) but have turned it up some.

Fingers are crossed and thanks heaps Dacious

Maverick

[OzJavelin]

Not only do the Yanks have better cars, the Vette, the Firebird, Camaro, Stang, Viper and the GTO which comes with the LS2 std and costs only 31k AUS :mad:
I don't understand what this is in reference too? The bit about Australians making great cars? Without getting into an international arguement (and derailing this thread):
1. Vette: great sportscar but two seater only
2. Firebird, Camaro: gone .. the American consumer let them be taken away
3. Stang: cheap bang-for-buck .. but small, two-door only
4. Viper: see Vette
5. GTO: see Holden Monaro
I'd think the closest thing in the USA you can compare most local Holden/Fords to is the Chrysler300, the RWD Caddy (and upcoming Buick derivative?), etc .. oh .. and the antiquated RWD Ford/Mercurys. Probably the Caddy STS (or whatever it's called) is the closest in size/handling/performance, and I'm sure it's not US$31K is it?
You're comparing apples with oranges. Americans seem to want "speciality" vechicles, not "universal" ones? Want a sporty two-door to cruise the "strip"? Buy a Mustang. Want a utility to cart rubbish to the dump? Buy a Dakota pickup. Want a wagon to carry the kids and junk? Buy a Suburban. Want a 4x4 to go bush? Buy a Jeep.
Australians (up to recently) liked vehicles which could do a little of each. Our cars tend to be very good for traversing our landscape and acceptance within our social environment. We like the fact you can buy an SS wagon, take the kids to sport with all their junk, tow a boat on the weekend, yet still peel off 14sec quarters ..

My 2cents

[ Oh .. I'm not "anti-American". Current fleet is '69 AMC Javelin, '69 Dodge Phoenix, '70 Plymouth Fury 'vert .. previous vehicles included '68 Impala SS coupe, '68 Pontiac Safari wagon, etc, etc ]

[Knight Phlier]

I just did a speaker upgrade (Doors and rear parcel shelf in the clubby) and it sounds so much clearer - not louder but less distortion when you put the sound up. You can now put the sound up to 90% and still have reasonably clear sound, no distortion, whereas before I could only go upto about 65-70% without distortion before. I couldn't believe that Holden put in such a crap set of speakers!

Doing the install takes time. It isn't that hard - you need to take off door trim to get too the speakers in doors, and you need to take out the back seat to get to the parcel tray speakers. Taking out the back seat is ALOT easier then I thought it would be, it took me about 20 minutes to take the rear speakers out.

[Mimo]

Totally agree on the stereo side of things as it was the only thing I changed, immediately on mine, with a new head unit, 12” Sub and Amp in the boot. I’m now looking to replace the factory speakers for which I was quoted around $450 installed by the local Strathfield car radio store. They did a really nice professional install on the first upgrade so I’m more than happy to have them take the second stage.

I’d post some queries in the audio section of the forums and do a few searches also. I recall the VZ stereos looking rather custom made in terms of integration in to the dash so perhaps leaving the head unit well alone would be good. I’d look into upgrading the factory speakers and perhaps install an additional amp to drive the rear shelf units, which will free the head unit to power the remaining speakers.

Note the rear wall speakers near passenger’s knees appear to be real buggers to replace if you are doing it your self. Nothing as easy as the sedan ones.

On the purchase side of things I was also one of those nutters that bought the car without ever seeing it in the flesh. All I saw was the prototype back in 1997 at the Sydney Motor Show and didn’t take a test drive. Having owned a 1997 VT 5.0L 4spd for four years I thought the Monaro would be worlds ahead in performance and comfort. The Monaro totally exceeded my expectations so I’m very happy with the purchase.

Congrats on your purchase and may you enjoy it for many years to come.

[Speedy Gonzales]

I don't understand what this is in reference too? The bit about Australians making great cars? Without getting into an international arguement (and derailing this thread):
1. Vette: great sportscar but two seater only
2. Firebird, Camaro: gone .. the American consumer let them be taken away
3. Stang: cheap bang-for-buck .. but small, two-door only
4. Viper: see Vette
5. GTO: see Holden Monaro
I'd think the closest thing in the USA you can compare most local Holden/Fords to is the Chrysler300, the RWD Caddy (and upcoming Buick derivative?), etc .. oh .. and the antiquated RWD Ford/Mercurys. Probably the Caddy STS (or whatever it's called) is the closest in size/handling/performance, and I'm sure it's not US$31K is it?
You're comparing apples with oranges. Americans seem to want "speciality" vechicles, not "universal" ones? Want a sporty two-door to cruise the "strip"? Buy a Mustang. Want a utility to cart rubbish to the dump? Buy a Dakota pickup. Want a wagon to carry the kids and junk? Buy a Suburban. Want a 4x4 to go bush? Buy a Jeep.
Australians (up to recently) liked vehicles which could do a little of each. Our cars tend to be very good for traversing our landscape and acceptance within our social environment. We like the fact you can buy an SS wagon, take the kids to sport with all their junk, tow a boat on the weekend, yet still peel off 14sec quarters ..

My 2cents

[ Oh .. I'm not "anti-American". Current fleet is '69 AMC Javelin, '69 Dodge Phoenix, '70 Plymouth Fury 'vert .. previous vehicles included '68 Impala SS coupe, '68 Pontiac Safari wagon, etc, etc ]

Im not saying Aus make crap cars, Im saying that if you are going to buy something that is RWD with 2 doors and grunt, better to buy those since you get more for what you pay for imo

For what its worth, check out the price on this new GTO

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=7244&item=4559425828&rd=1

That price translates pretty darn close to 31k Aus after conversion, there are cheaper ones too.

[Dacious]

Remember Speedy, US prices don't include sales tax which is up to 11% dependent on State (Nevada is 0% due to gaming) or 'title' which is equivalent to on-road costs albeit lower usually and also varies. Plus Monaros bought recently have been down to $50Kish, or around $US30K.

The GTO obviously battled against the perception that $30K was too much for a GM car other than a Cadillac. And the hot version of the 300C is $US41K or about $Oz65K with no discounts due to limited numbers, only available in auto and weighs more than a Statesman. Bet it handles like a barge, too.

Simillarly, a stock Corvette is $US40-ishK, only has LS2, not as good brakes, suspension, fittings etc. Still uses hard plastics like a VB Commodore inside. The LS7 Z06 is closing in on Oz $100K and there's no deals on them, either. In back-back testing with Euro supercars it can straighline some of them: but the vehicle dynamics leave something to be desired.

Our American friends think speed through a slalom and skidpan Gs = good handling, which really only need stiff suspension, quick steering and sticky tyres. That's one of the few places the new Mustang with live rear axle outpoints the GTO in some performance tests. Real world is a whole 'nother matter.

[kryten2001]

Not only do the Yanks have better cars, the Vette, the Firebird, Camaro, Stang, Viper and the GTO which comes with the LS2 std and costs only 31k AUS :mad:

As many have pointed out, it's a different market.

I reckon the Monaro's great value for money, irrespective of what's out there in the rest of the world. Compare it to what else is available here, and you'll see the value.

You can buy the same pair of Levi's in Romania that you buy here in Australia for $5.00.. You reckon that makes them good value for money?.. It's just marketing.

[Marco]

The GTO obviously battled against the perception that $30K was too much for a GM car other than a Cadillac. And the hot version of the 300C is $US41K or about $Oz65K with no discounts due to limited numbers, only available in auto and weighs more than a Statesman. Bet it handles like a barge, too.



I love the Monaro, no question, but I think one of the obstacles to it selling in big numbers in the USA has been its age and therefore, the way it looks.

Put simply, it does look a lot like a 1997 model car – no surprise, given its VT roots. A beautiful 1997 model car, for sure. And in my view, better looking than most 2005 model cars. But in this market segment, where image is everything and its competitors (Mustang, for example) are brand new releases with the latest, up to the minute, edgy styling that is in vogue now, I’m willing to bet that plenty of US buyers didn’t like the looks and didn’t worry about the test drive that would have sold them the car in no time.

Australia has seen the VT and onwards cars on our roads in huge numbers, and loved them. Plenty of time to appreciate how good they look. The US hasn’t, so they get this one-off, orphan-looking coupe and they don’t get it.

Could also be that calling it a GTO when it plainly isn’t and doesn’t have the musclecar looks of the old GTO (one of my favourite cars) didn’t help. If Holden brought in the next Monaro from the US and it was simply a rebadged version of a Pontiac, most of us wouldn’t be happy, after all.

[NickS]

This will probably cop a few flames, but I'd rather pay the extra and live here.
No flames from me, I was thinking the same thing !! Plus you would have to add onto the price of the Pontiac whatever it would cost to get rid of that god aweful front !!