New Manaro/GTO sucks! (story)

[GTO]

Went with my brother today to the dealership. He’s into muscle cars and me
rally type cars. So we went to the dealership today to have a look since he
wants a new car later this year.

Got to say, God were we unimpressed and my brother loves the Manaro. I
couldn’t believe it, how crappy the build quality was. This was after we went to the Subaru dealership and I recommend the Liberty(legacy) 3.0-R B Spec and GT. He doesn't get excited by Subarus, fair enough since he likes muscle cars.

After being molested by Holden car salesman, only left us alone when I said
we wanted to turn it into a track car so he can have a chance to beat my
stock WRX. lol

Immediate faults we saw, in the show room!
-Roof way too low, we aren’t that that tall but we only had 2’’ of
headspace, anyone over 6 feet can’t fit into the car.

-Door rail/roof, way to close to your head, it was 1’’ away from my head, a
sharp turn and you’ll get a nasty smack to the head.

-Boot, to meet American safety requirements the put the fuel tank in the
boot! Less than 50cm depth. And the fuel tank has some REALLY cheap covering that was coming off, it looked like a really badly built 12’’ sub box was put in there, not flat, just a cheap stick on covering in a weird shape?!
The Liberty wagon space is like a flat bed ute of space in comparison + a
luxary cabin!

-Speaker wiring in the boot, because of the weird shape tank you can see
exposed cable.

-Boot hinge, come off, so that the boot closes off axis and squeaks.

-Accelerator pedal, it swivels up and down, so when you tap the gas a little
at the bottom or top of the pedal all you do is move the pedal.

-Intierior quality, the seats are ok but compared the Subaru Liberty
premium, like comparing the Holden to a new BMW or Benz!

Now we didn’t even turn on the car and drive it yet, I shudder to think what
is badly designed mechanically!

At least with the Liberty 3.0R or GT premium, all up $60K, you can see where
the money went, you know you will not be disappointed in any aspect and like my rexy, it will keep surprising you because of how well its built and clever
design.

Small things but for total cost around $70,000 all up for the Manaro, geeeze

I so apprecite my car that much more after this experience!

Proud owner of a Subaru MY03 WRX wagon!

[dingo]

First of all its spelt 'Monaro' and not 'Manaro'......and as far as I know they cost about $60K not $70K
I guess the obvious thing to do is not buy one if you and your brother were not impressed - get a Ford

[sads]

Monaro is a great car with great looks and if you look at the number of them on the road their must be somthing good about them 8)

[styla21]

Originally Posted by sads Monaro is a great car with great looks and if you look at the number of them on the road their must be somthing good about them 8)

Just because there are many on the road Sads, doesn't mean it must be a good car. It is built to a price point, which allows the Monaro to attain a 'sportscar' status - when it is really just a commodore with two doors.

If he is prepared to spend $70k on a Monaro - maybe he would consider a late M3, a late S4, or even the Ford Typhoon?
Also, i know how you feel about the pedal feel. I have a VZ calais, and the pedal is mounted into a bolt in the center of the pedal and unless your foot is pressing in the very center the only thing that moves is the plastic. That means no go. I always thought i was the only one to notice - glad you pointed that one out.

[dingo]

If I had $70K to spend I would be looking at an STi, Evo VIII or a 350Z - among either new or nearly new cars

Originally Posted by styla21 .......or even the Ford Typhoon?

and have the clutch fail on you?

[GTO]

@sads-Plenty of Kia, Proton, Hyundai on the roads too and Britney Spears is popular too.... As styla21 said its really a two door commadore that expensive.

@dingo-$70 all up b/c, $61K base price + $5K on-roads, insurance, some options, and holden have some stupid paint protection and rustproofing as a option that $2k, its fken stupid. A car should have clear coat and rust proofing from factory not some rip off AFTER you agreed to buy the car, another reason why I turn against Holden, its soo scummy like their salesman, so damn cheap.

The F-6 Typhoon last I heard had its production halted, yeah the clutch. Appraently Ford are going to Germany to the same company that do the transmission for Jag and Astin Martin to get it right. Ford simply never, appart from the GT-40 i think they're junk.

@styla21, yeah the peddal i though that was such a stupid idea to the point of being dangerous. How the F*** you suppose to heel-toe with a flimsy plastic pedals?! "Holden-wise" enginnering right there.

Yeah Dingo, 350Z might be the next car we look at close up, personally i like the from what I've seen of it. Yeah i suggested a second hand M3, he isn't into EVO's or STi's

[nthfinity]

well, i have sat in a Monaro/GTO.... not driven it

but, i'm 6' 2" and i have plenty of headroom. pedals in it felt fairly firm, and the rest i cant argue with

[sikx5]

HA!!.......u see my point...remember that long argument we had a while ago...POS holden!!!

[gottacatchup]

Originally Posted by nthfinity well, i have sat in a Monaro/GTO.... not driven it but, i'm 6' 2" and i have plenty of headroom. pedals in it felt fairly firm, and the rest i cant argue with

I'm 6'3" and i fit in the BACKSEAT of the GTO with plenty of headroom, i dunno what you're talking about there.

[GTO]

Originally Posted by gottacatchup Originally Posted by nthfinity well, i have sat in a Monaro/GTO.... not driven it but, i'm 6' 2" and i have plenty of headroom. pedals in it felt fairly firm, and the rest i cant argue with I'm 6'3" and i fit in the BACKSEAT of the GTO with plenty of headroom, i dunno what you're talking about there.

The backseat is fine b/c your sitting back. When you sat in the driver side did you set it up for you though? Correct height and reach? We couldn't find if there was a height ajustment for the seat, that could of been our problem. Still it really felt short on roof height, plus you couldn't see much above the car. Usally that isn't an issue but with mountain driving/twisties when the car is going down a steep hill towards an steep uphill you need to see whats ahead and not ducking down under the dash to get a look.

Originally Posted by sikx5 HA!!.......u see my point...remember that long argument we had a while ago...POS holden!!!

LOL yeah, I still like them for what they are but not for the ludicrous amount of money their asking $30k all up not $70K!!! Also this is after having my WRX for a year now, I can say that the build quality and overall design is IMO is quite primitive, espically since its an "Austrailan car", it should be affordable to normal austrailans and safe, which it isn't due to its mass and being RWD.

[gbg]

Cars are pretty expensive in Australia, aren't they? 70 K AUS means some 50 K US dollars, and with that money in america I think one can buy better cars

Is there any australian site similar to edmunds.com that shows prices of cars there?

seems like my host family in adelaide will have a civic at best... oh boy, and I thought that I had the chance to see a V8 in the garage of my australian family

[Pokiou]

lol i love my japanese cars.. my 1991 model nissan 180sx has better interior and better engine and driving and techonology and everythign else u can throw at it then the damn titanics(monaro) !!!!!


Pok

[dingo]

Originally Posted by GTO LOL yeah, I still like them for what they are but not for the ludicrous amount of money their asking $30k all up not $70K!!!

$30K for a Monaro? Then what would a Commodore Executive cost - $15K?

Originally Posted by gbg Is there any australian site similar to edmunds.com that shows prices of cars there?

http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/porta...opDefault.aspx

Originally Posted by Pokiou lol i love my japanese cars.. my 1991 model nissan 180sx has better interior and better engine and driving and techonology and everythign else u can throw at it then the damn titanics(monaro) !!!!! Pok

thats debatable :roll:

[GTO]

Originally Posted by dingo Originally Posted by GTO LOL yeah, I still like them for what they are but not for the ludicrous amount of money their asking $30k all up not $70K!!! $30K for a Monaro? Then what would a Commodore Executive cost - $15K?

yeah, I just think its too steep for that car, its a car built here for Australians, as they try to push the it as an "Austrailian car", its just too expensive. Espically when the Liberty GT and Liberty 3.0R B-spec is cheaper, you get; a boot, full luxuary trim, McIntosth 13 speaker stero (it sounds awesome!), moonroof, AWD and the B-spec has Blistein suspention as standard. As well as the ballistic performance, realibilty, safty, and top resale value.

I'm not saying the GTO is a completely aweful car, it isn't (I like teh 03-04 models) but for what their asking is too much. To be fair however, their asking $40K all up for a Toyota camery, so an extra $20K for something that isn't the worlds most boring car IMO its getting reasonable from that point of view. Still the RX8 is $4K less, 350Z $5K more, STi $4K less.

To be honest, I'm coming from the view that I said $30K for my 1 year old WRX, so everything seems that much more expensive.

However thats not the point, its what gets you excited isn't it? and what makes you happy. My brother is still set on the Monaro, probally an 03-04, he said simply that the Liberty is the smart choice by far but it doesn't excite him

Originally Posted by dingo Originally Posted by Pokiou lol i love my japanese cars.. my 1991 model nissan 180sx has better interior and better engine and driving and techonology and everythign else u can throw at it then the damn titanics(monaro) !!!!! Pok thats debatable :roll:

Agreed

[sads]

I do agree with you guys that the Monaro is to pricey for what your getting like most Aus cars but in reality like alot of coupes out there they always have and always will cost more then cars in the regular line up.