Vauxhall Monaro (2004-) Review

Overview

• Next: Reliability and Quality

Behaviour like this should definitely be encouraged. It's fair to say that Vauxhall's product range isn't the most exciting in the world. The VX220 is entertaining, and the new Astra's pretty good, but the company - quite understandably - does most of its business selling ordinary cars to families and fleets.

Not with this, though. This is the Monaro, a throbby V8-engined coupé nicked from General Motors' Holden range sold in Australia. Only 300 a year will make it to the UK, which is less to do with the car's merits, and more to do with the fact that it's a £29,895-£36,995 Vauxhall that does 15 miles to the gallon if you're lucky. But envy those 300; they're getting a special car indeed.

Vauxhall offers two versions of the Monaro in the UK; the 'standard' model, upped to 354 bhp/369lb ft for 2005, and the VXR, now giving 398 bhp/391 lb ft, as well as having a faster-ratio steering rack, modified suspension, noisier exhausts and a full lairy body kit. The 2005 Monaro VXR features the 'small-block' 6.0-litre V8 which is also used in the new C6-series Chevrolet Corvette, replacing the last-generation models' 5.7.