Originally Posted by iansoutham
Sorry, but Dojj is not talking rubbish here. I actually WORK for a Vauxhall dealer (not the mate he is talking about though) and get to drive ALL the new cars when I want, including the Monaro VXR. Out of all the VXR range, the Monaro is the most "fun", although repair bills will be high, especially transmission and engine bills, the Vectra VXR is by far the best overall, the Zafira VXR is "different" and the Astra VXR is utter crap. Have you even tried reversing one and looking out of the rear window? It is a bloody porthole, not a window, it DOES torque-steer on anything but the most smooth road surfaces (like a racetrack, but how many people only drive on tracks instead of roads). It is a CHAV-mobile, aimed @ CHAVs. It is like the Focus RS in my opinion (all brand names and built to sell to "boyracers"), and I hate the Focus RS (sorry to all FRS owners in advance)
Yes, I am Ford @ heart, I have been working with and around them since I was 4 years old (well over 25 years now) and I would still buy a Monaro over a Falcon for example (just as proof that I am not biased towards Fords, although a GT500 Mustang might sway my decision
).
Riiiight, why woud the monaro have hih maintenance bills? its an unstressed standard ls2 engine?? certainly going to last a lot longer than ANY 2l 4 pot turbo.
The transmission likewise is pretty bulletproff unless you abuse it?
The only issue I see is tyres and petrol tbh cos its a big fast car, like any big fast car.
I find it interesting youd swap one for a gt500 'stang tho, which while being a nice looking car is a total abortio of a design utilising technology first employed int he horse and cart to get around corners. It really is a SHOCKING car.
Your feelings on the particular market sector into which the astra and focus fall is interesting, but largely irellevant to this discussion im afraid, and if the worst you can come up with is "the rear windows too small" then go and buy a people carrier, as ALL modern mid size hatchbacks are pish by comparison to those of yesteryear.