will £12k buy me anything worth having?

[pidsy]

thinking of changing my e46 M3 for something else and my search has led me towards this sub forum.

I'm more about sound with a car than speed or power. so the obvious answer is a big V8!

will £12k get me something nice or will i just be asking for trouble?

any thoughts or comments are more than welcome. looking through the classifieds, there are a couple at around my budget but i really know nothing about these cars.

[Wyld Stallyn]

Welcome to Our Madhouse

If it's Sound You are after, You'll NEED to get one with an uprated exhaust (at least cat back).

The OE Peashooters are Whisper quiet.

[liner33]

http://www.elitecar.co.uk/used-cars/vauxhall-monar...

Elite have a couple of Monaros around 12K , I've not bought a car from them but had a good chat on Saturday and seems like a good guy , why not drop him a line ?

[willisit]

pidsy said:

thinking of changing my e46 M3 for something else and my search has led me towards this sub forum.

I'm more about sound with a car than speed or power. so the obvious answer is a big V8!

will £12k get me something nice or will i just be asking for trouble?

any thoughts or comments are more than welcome. looking through the classifieds, there are a couple at around my budget but i really know nothing about these cars.

£12k will get you plenty - although if it's a coupe (Monaro), get a VXR as a CV8 won't be much more powerful than the M3. You'll get "noise" but speed? Not so sure on that; the M3 is pretty quick and will certainly handle better than the Monaro as well (I've got a Monaro - had a couple of E46s).

[Janosh]

You have PM

[pidsy]

thanks guys, ive heard of Elite but was looking for some positive reviews.

CV8?

sorry, i need to do a lot of reading up on these - coupe/4 door, engine sizes etc.

is there an owners club for these which you recommend? or a decent site to do some reading up on the models, pros/cons of each?

[Janosh]

pidsy said:

sorry, i need to do a lot of reading up on these - coupe/4 door, engine sizes etc.

is there an owners club for these which you recommend? or a decent site to do some reading up on the models, pros/cons of each?

You've found it!

Take a look at the FAQ's and sticky threads, loads of information there

[blue666uk]

willisit said:

£12k will get you plenty - although if it's a coupe (Monaro), get a VXR as a CV8 won't be much more powerful than the M3. You'll get "noise" but speed? Not so sure on that; the M3 is pretty quick and will certainly handle better than the Monaro as well (I've got a Monaro - had a couple of E46s).

Bearing in mind, most have been modded in some way, and a mildly modded CV8 has all the power of a 6.0 VXR. It's more a case of whether you want the full on body kit or not.

[scoobyslayer]

You can have my monaro VXR for 12k if you want ;-)

[willisit]

blue666uk said:

Bearing in mind, most have been modded in some way, and a mildly modded CV8 has all the power of a 6.0 VXR. It's more a case of whether you want the full on body kit or not.

Yes, of course - the FAQs are worth a read as well.

Things like suspension (pedders) and brakes make a huge difference to a stock Monaro. Recently I have seen a few stock cars pop up on ebay and the like, so I guess it is really worth knowing what these mods do (and cost) before driving anything.
VXR8s, the 4-door saloon, are a better drive out of the box. Styling is in the eye and all that, so practicalities being what they are, may be a better bet. I quite like my old tank being what it is - noisy and fun, if not a track toy. She'd need quite a few ££££ spent before I did that!

[Dave3166]

Welcome to the forum.

Loads of info on here, ask away fella.

Where do you live, maybe you can have a chat to an owner & probably a ride out in something.

As long as they are not to far from you obviously

[pidsy]

well, this has been the friendliest welcome to a sub forum ive had!

im in Stanmore, NW London - but more than happy to travel to have a look around and chat to someone knowledgeable.

i havent seen any VXR's up for budget - most ive come accross seem to be older 2004/5's

is that about right?

[Dave3166]

London, hopefully someone may post if they are near you, to far from me, i'm in Hythe, near Southampton.

I`ve got a VXR8 (4 door) Red6.2 with Wortec Cat Back, love it, the Sound, the Grunt etc etc.

I take it you're after a 2 door VXR, suppose you've looked on Auto trader, a few on there around your budget.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

January 24th, Australia Day, Ace Cafe, London. A few of us on here will be there, why not come along, introduce yourself, have a chat & look round.

[Dave3166]

Here is a guide to the various models that there are, buying tips, what to look for etc.

Maybe of some help to you

Enjoy.

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-buying-guide-co...

[ArnieVXR]

Hi,

The question has been answered many times before, but rather than hope you can find the relevant threads (scattered over the years) I'll get the ball rolling. Others will chime in, I'm sure.

What's to be had:

• Holden VT to VZ variants - basically year-on-year variants from 2000 to 2005, all looking a bit like Vauxhall Omegas. Come in 4-door saloon (Commodore), 4-door pick-up (Crewman), 5-door estate, 2-door coupe (Monaro) and 2-door pick-up (UTE)
• Holden VE and VF variants - dramatically revised from VT to VZ models, running from 2006 onwards, all looking like the VXR8. Come in 4-door saloon, 5-door estate, 2-door pick-up
• HSV variants - Holden Specialist Vehicles - Bit like M,AMG or RS variants of the German offerings
• Engines - V6 models - naturally aspirated or supercharged. V8 models - 5.7 LS1/LS6, 6.0 LS2, 6.2 LS3, 6.2 LSA (supercharged)
• All cars are imported - some officially (like the Vauxhall badged ones) and some personally

For your money

• For £12K and less you'll be looking at V6 and V8 Holden VT to VZ variants. You'll need at least £14K to get into a VE. VFs are very recent and cost over £40K
• I'll assume you're NOT after a V6...so you'll be looking at 5.7 LS1 and 6.0 LS2 motors with around 333-400hp depending on stock specification.
• Most variants are exceptionally rare personal imports (this doesn't mean they're valuable), so best ask again if you actually find one
• The 4-door saloons are a little more common, so you may find the following for sale: Holden Commodores, HSV Clubsport, HSV GTS (UK) and HSV GTS-R (UK). The last two are genuine UK-supplied vehicles.
• The 2-door coupe is where you really need to be looking. These are the Vauxhall Monaros. The CV8 is the 'entry level' spec (which is still good). The VXR is essentially the HSV variant of the CV8
• 2-door pick-up - Holden UTE - These are all personal imports. They are sought after, so end up being a bit more pricey that the Monaro equivalents
• Modified cars - Lots around, as OEM components wear out and most owners are keen to customise. Most owners are very sensible, so the work is properly done. Ask about a specific car, as someone on the forum will probably recognise it

On the road

• Old school (1990s) grand tourer best describes driving a VT-VZ
• Fast? Yes, but really only get going above 70mph. Expect some hot hatches to hang on in there when driving enthusiastically. Expect your M3 to feel just as quick as any stock car with the exception of a VXR.
• Okay on the track or strip, but are really not best suited to competitive driving
• Generally well respected by other road users, regularly earning appreciative 'nods'
• Bit thirsty - mid-teens to high-twenties mpg
• Big, comfy, spacious (boots small from 2005 onwards, due to relocation of fuel tank). Rear seats are a pain to use in the Monaros, due to movement of front seats on electric motors
• Brakes on CV8s are a bit small for enthusiastic drivers

What to look out for

• These are all getting old, so just about everything you'd normally check on an old car
• Most importantly, though...
• Corrosion - no under-body protection on these Aussie imports. Pay attention, especially to chassis rails, sills (hidden by skirts), strut tops (inside), wheel arches, etc.
• Sticky gear changes/rough sounding gearboxes - failed spigot bearings will write a gearbox off
• Corrosion (again) - brake pipes - mine have just burst
• Engines that don't sound silky smooth - they're not as bullet proof as you might imagine (expect some piston slap, though)
• Boots must open on the remote, key, glove box button and/or emergency release behind the headrest. You don't want to go drilling that boot lid now, do you?
• Generally scruffy cars - I've got a thing about fixing up bangers. There's no point with these cars. Buy the nicest you can find. The price differential isn't worth going cheap.

Running one

• Use this forum
• Find a specialist to service it (like Monkfish) rather than Vauxhall (who'll think you have a Movano)
• Get your used parts from a specialist (like Gary - 'raving' on this forum)
• Use this forum

Modifications

• Slippery slope to poverty
• Turbos and superchargers are the slippery slope to a blown engine
• What other car can be modified to push 1200hp, run the quarter as quick as a Veyron or pull over 200mph four up over a mile and a bit???
• Best bargains are to be had with the tastefully modified cars (brakes, suspension, poly bushes, quick shifter, quick rack, intake, cam, exhaust (noise!!!) and headers)

My advice - A nice, low miles Monaro VXR with a good history and a decent exhaust system

Edited by ArnieVXR on Monday 21st December 16:11

[raving]

pidsy said:

thinking of changing my e46 M3 for something else and my search has led me towards this sub forum.

I'm more about sound with a car than speed or power. so the obvious answer is a big V8!

will £12k get me something nice or will i just be asking for trouble?

any thoughts or comments are more than welcome. looking through the classifieds, there are a couple at around my budget but i really know nothing about these cars.

Probably picked the worse time to buy one as prices are well high especially due to traders commanding pis**d prices & trying to sell any old ste

If you like the V8 sound & owning something a little different go for it but build quality & handling compared to the M3 are well behind

Buy private and get a deal ,check for , rads leaking , air con compressors seized , gearbox chatter & crunching , diff pinion leaks , clunks in drive train , buckled wheels (like chocolate),gear oil leaks on tail housing ,centre prop rubbers,corrosion esp on top of front chassis legs & radiator support panel etc etc

[blue666uk]

And of course having said all that, and given a good list of points to look out for, be prepared to wait for the right one, as they get under your skin and the good ones tend to get held onto........

[jameshsv]

pidsy said:

well, this has been the friendliest welcome to a sub forum ive had!

im in Stanmore, NW London - but more than happy to travel to have a look around and chat to someone knowledgeable.

i havent seen any VXR's up for budget - most ive come accross seem to be older 2004/5's

is that about right?

if your in no rush why not come along to australia day at the ace cafe January and have a look around the cars in greater depth.

[FoxdieUK]

Shame your budget can't stretch a little more, I'm currently selling my rather nice sounding VXR8 for £16.5k

[pidsy]

thank you for the continued answers and help - Foxdie, that is a lovely car. i can stretch my budget a bit, but not that much unfortunately.

i really do like the look of the VXR8 but i think i'll get a rough one even if i stretch towards 14k.

the red one linked on autotrader earlier is very nice - just needs some noise added to it.

the Ace Cafe meet sounds like a good one to attend - im only 15 mins away so will make an appearance (in my non Australian M3)