Looking to come back to the fold

Looking to come back to the fold

Author
Discussion

ls3steve

Original Poster:

1,188 posts

177 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Hi all,

After a very long time away and after selling my '09 plate VXR8 (the black one with green bits on it if you can cast your minds back that far) i am finally looking to come back to the big ol V8 brutes.

Looking around on Autotrader, i see the majority are 2007,2008 Auto boxes, with the odd manual kicking about. Having had a manual previously, i am thinking of going manual again.. but wanted to get peoples opinions on them, i did hear that a gearbox remap was possible and improves things ? (this was going back a number of years)

So with the sad departure of Monkfish, i understand that my very local specialist is TopCats, and semi local, Walkinshaw (being near to Oxford), i checked their site and they have those troublesome control arms in stock, so that's worth knowing.

anyway.. just wanting to pop my head in the door and let you all know im on the hunt for a VXR8 again.. and giving the current availability on the market, will be an LS2 Auto (would love a LS3 manual with a Wortec.... and green bits. ARRGH I MISS MY OLD CAR)


Cheers guys n gals

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Good luck mate, share a pic when you get one!

leigh1050

2,389 posts

171 months

Monday 30th September 2019
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Nothing wrong with an auto!smile

Lincsls1

3,416 posts

146 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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I have no experience with the VXR8 however...
If the car is going to be a daily drive, especially with plenty of stop/start work then I would definitely consider the auto. If the car is going to be a weekend, sunshine car then I'd probably lean move toward the manual this is especially so because of the type of car they are. It can be fun blipping the throttle at will, deliberately using engine braking to slow causing the overrun pops n bangs!... something most autos aren't good at.

SturdyHSV

10,206 posts

173 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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ls3steve said:
Hi all,

After a very long time away and after selling my '09 plate VXR8 (the black one with green bits on it if you can cast your minds back that far) i am finally looking to come back to the big ol V8 brutes.
wavey

Definitely remember the car (and forum name), welcome back smile

I've got a manual Monaro and an auto Ute, it's an older box in the Ute (2003) and I think I'd echo as above, if it's going to be a daily, having used both for a while in the same commute, the auto is sort of lazier and gives a more relaxed, wafty driving style that's better suited to daily use but no match for fun.

Personally the Ute is hilarious fun, but on almost every drive I have at least one moment where I wish it was a manual, even commuting, whereas the Monaro I've never wished it was an auto in over 8 years (including commuting currently)


Janosh

1,745 posts

173 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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Welcome back mate.

I had a Monaro and now have an auto R8 and would recommend the auto for 98% of driving.... but it has benefitted from several remaps!

Make sure you have the engine / box done by Luis Sola, mine was previously running Wortec maps and the difference is night and day! The box feels at least a generation more modern!

mfp4073

1,976 posts

180 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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Janosh said:
Welcome back mate.

I had a Monaro and now have an auto R8 and would recommend the auto for 98% of driving.... but it has benefitted from several remaps!

Make sure you have the engine / box done by Luis Sola, mine was previously running Wortec maps and the difference is night and day! The box feels at least a generation more modern!
I've heard this a few times now so how come a tune by Luis Sola is better than a Wortec tune?
My understanding was that Wortec were pretty much state of the art with such things, but I do appreciate that things have moved on since I had my car tuned.

RipGMH

285 posts

64 months

Tuesday 1st October 2019
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mfp4073 said:
I've heard this a few times now so how come a tune by Luis Sola is better than a Wortec tune?
My understanding was that Wortec were pretty much state of the art with such things, but I do appreciate that things have moved on since I had my car tuned.
Isn’t Luis Sola currently in Oz? He’d be benefitting from learning tuners there.

Wouldn’t Walkinshaw be more reliable as the UK arm of HSV?

Janosh

1,745 posts

173 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2019
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mfp4073 said:
I've heard this a few times now so how come a tune by Luis Sola is better than a Wortec tune?
My understanding was that Wortec were pretty much state of the art with such things, but I do appreciate that things have moved on since I had my car tuned.
I can’t comment on why the gearbox tune is so much better other than he is continually developing the tune. My car is much smoother to drive, so much so that it was the critical upgrade that’s made me keep it long term.

The same applies to his engine remaps, they’re done from scratch on a RR, so absolutely bespoke to your car.

stevieturbo

17,459 posts

253 months

Wednesday 2nd October 2019
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mfp4073 said:
I've heard this a few times now so how come a tune by Luis Sola is better than a Wortec tune?
My understanding was that Wortec were pretty much state of the art with such things, but I do appreciate that things have moved on since I had my car tuned.
Same reasons any tuner might be better than another.

Competence, ability, experience.

Why might one person be better than anything, in any field ?