Monaro size comparison
Discussion
Its generally considered that the Monaro is a large car, certainly back in 2004 when it came over.
Just thinking that relatively speaking its not so large anymore and its 1600kg weight is also becoming more average when looking around at the latest family hatchbacks and saloons.
Wonder how long it will be before it actually becomes 'dainty' on the road. Another 10-20 years? Seems almost bonkers to suggest but I was coming down the road and towards me came an old Rover SD1, considered a very large car in the 70's.
It looked almost puny, certainly dainty compared to the 'Mini' in front of it and dare I say it the Picanto behind!
Just thinking that relatively speaking its not so large anymore and its 1600kg weight is also becoming more average when looking around at the latest family hatchbacks and saloons.
Wonder how long it will be before it actually becomes 'dainty' on the road. Another 10-20 years? Seems almost bonkers to suggest but I was coming down the road and towards me came an old Rover SD1, considered a very large car in the 70's.
It looked almost puny, certainly dainty compared to the 'Mini' in front of it and dare I say it the Picanto behind!
Funny I was thinking the same thing the other day. That said my VXR just and I say just fits (by about 2') into a council garage.....at 16ft long exactly the Monaro is still a big car in my opinion. In terms of weight I'd agree at just over 1.6 tonnes its not a porker by today's standards. The thing that surprises me about the Monaro is its width as it's not actually that wide in proportion to it's length (I feel a joke coming on ha ha)
Yeah when you think it shares a lot of the Omega designs and that was classed as an executive large car, I have the 3.2 elite with everything in it and yes comfy but compared to today's insignia and mondeo it is no bigger and they were classed as family saloons. Both my omega and my monaro don't look that wide compared to them although when you park either of them in a carpark they always stick out as they are long.
Maybe it's just that a lot of new cars are porky SUV's these days, they are all packed with gadgets and safety equipment which adds weight and bulk.
You have to remember that the Monaro was based on a 1997 Commodore that was in production at the time.
The Monaro used the VT Commodore chassis with a few mods, Holden chopped 100mm off the back end, took 40mm out the roof, raked the windscreen back a few degrees, and added 150 mm in length to the doors. Job done.
When the Monaro came to the UK I did think they looked impressively massive on the roads, but not so much these days. Maybe it's just as owners you get used to car.
I have say I don't think Monaros are that heavy, although I wouldn't like to get run over by one...I'm sure the Mustang, Camaro and certainly the Challenger are quite heavy in comparison.
All in its a good size, not too big which might make it ponderous to drive, and not too small, would anybody want a small Muscle car?
That's my 2p worth.....
You have to remember that the Monaro was based on a 1997 Commodore that was in production at the time.
The Monaro used the VT Commodore chassis with a few mods, Holden chopped 100mm off the back end, took 40mm out the roof, raked the windscreen back a few degrees, and added 150 mm in length to the doors. Job done.
When the Monaro came to the UK I did think they looked impressively massive on the roads, but not so much these days. Maybe it's just as owners you get used to car.
I have say I don't think Monaros are that heavy, although I wouldn't like to get run over by one...I'm sure the Mustang, Camaro and certainly the Challenger are quite heavy in comparison.
All in its a good size, not too big which might make it ponderous to drive, and not too small, would anybody want a small Muscle car?
That's my 2p worth.....
Edited by mfp4073 on Sunday 10th February 13:07
1,600kg is optimistic, I've removed a little over 50kg or so from the car and with a full (near as possible) tank and no driver it weighed 1682kg on monkfish's corner weight scales, so despite the weight loss it was still heavier than the quoted curb weight which is supposed to include a 75kg driver 
That was a disappointing phone call
I was aiming for 75kg, tried to be conservative with weight estimations and such, larger items I weighed by weighing myself on some scales, then weighing myself again holding the item, so not exactly scientific but it gave me an idea anyway!
(Negative figures are where I've added weight again)
The manual seat mounts are in white because they were done after the weigh in. I've also probably missed out a few bits by now, one piece carbon fibre driveshaft is lighter than stock, the poly engine mounts were slightly lighter I imagine, but anyway, point is, it's save to assume a an LS2 Monaro is 1700kg at least
The point still stands though, when a hatchback is 1,500kg, the Monaro isn't the lard arse it first appears!
That was a disappointing phone call
I was aiming for 75kg, tried to be conservative with weight estimations and such, larger items I weighed by weighing myself on some scales, then weighing myself again holding the item, so not exactly scientific but it gave me an idea anyway!
(Negative figures are where I've added weight again)
The manual seat mounts are in white because they were done after the weigh in. I've also probably missed out a few bits by now, one piece carbon fibre driveshaft is lighter than stock, the poly engine mounts were slightly lighter I imagine, but anyway, point is, it's save to assume a an LS2 Monaro is 1700kg at least
The point still stands though, when a hatchback is 1,500kg, the Monaro isn't the lard arse it first appears!
99PBATR said:
Funny I was thinking the same thing the other day. That said my VXR just and I say just fits (by about 2') into a council garage.....at 16ft long exactly the Monaro is still a big car in my opinion. In terms of weight I'd agree at just over 1.6 tonnes its not a porker by today's standards. The thing that surprises me about the Monaro is its width as it's not actually that wide in proportion to it's length (I feel a joke coming on ha ha)
Lucky you!I had to extend my garage last summer as it wouldn't fit in! And in previous years it housed quite comfortably a Rover MGZT, Mazda 6 saloon, 300zx LWB and a 3000GT all with a little room to spare!
Things we do for these silly lumps of iron!
To be fair the first garage I managed to find to rent wouldn't fit it in. Second one just....To get mine in is a struggle, so I have padding on the walls to save me hitting the doors. I have a tennis ball on a string that once it moves, I know I have 1' to spare behind. To get out is fun as I need to slink up and out of it and if I was a porker, I'd never make it out of the car in my garage 
I was only having this conversation about car sizes and weight only a few days ago. I ran an sd1for a few years and had a small drive so I had to have a block in place for the rear wheels so when the wheels hit the block I knew I was a few inches from the house and I could shut the gates properly from pavement towards the car again leaving a few inches;I later upgraded to last model line cavalier Sri only to find that the gates when closed touched the number plate at the front. Also a friend recently purchased a ford escort rs2000 and I was surprised at how narrow it is so it makes sense now that when parking in parking spaces you have trouble getting out of the car nowadays as these parking spaces were designed to take the size of car likes my friends escort! Put a series 1 Range Rover against a brand new Range Rover and the series 1 looks like a frontera sport
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