Autoweek tests the Holden Monaro: Tomorrow's Pontiac GTO from Australia

[NFS4]

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=coverstory&loc_code=index&content_code=09579140

 

[kazeakuma]

Hmm. As an Aussie myself I was looking forward to this car (my friend has a fully restored 1962? HK Monaro). It's a bit of a shock to see it potentially going over to the states.

 

[ElFenix]

holden GTO v. DEW98 mustang, BRING IT!

 

[RedRooster]

That's about the classiest car in that class you're gonna see. I love the styling. Those will fly off the lots if they can get the design over here without losing anything.

 

[b0mbrman]

Lutz is tearing it up, isn't he?

First the Solstice, now this?

 

[DaLeroy]

Go the Aussie cars!!!

Personally, I think the 4 door Commodore looks heaps better....Also, I hope they build them here and ship them over to the US. That way the build quality will still be the same as down here. (read: fantastic quality!)

 

[Jeffwo]

I got the screensaver off the Holden homepage for the Monaro here.

I like this car. First exciting new car for me in a while.

Jeff

 

[KamakaziRcr]

It's a great looking car, but Holdens are pretty low on the reliability mark in Aussie. I only hope GM builds it better for the US and hope they don't put a Pontiac branding grill on it, like the older Grand Am looking one I saw in Motor Trend.

 

[DaLeroy]

<< It's a great looking car, but Holdens are pretty low on the reliability mark in Aussie. . >>



Gotta any info to back that up? I'm not a real Holden supporter, but as far as I'm aware, they are are reliable car, especially the newer models. Interior build quality is heaps better than that plasticy Mustang we have that was sent over from the US. Panels didn't line up on the outside, bits creaked and groaned in the inside. Very dismal indeed.

 

[KamakaziRcr]

<<

<< It's a great looking car, but Holdens are pretty low on the reliability mark in Aussie. . >>



Gotta any info to back that up? I'm not a real Holden supporter, but as far as I'm aware, they are are reliable car, especially the newer models. Interior build quality is heaps better than that plasticy Mustang we have that was sent over from the US. Panels didn't line up on the outside, bits creaked and groaned in the inside. Very dismal indeed. >>





Autozine Holden reviews

Holden Commodore:
"While the V6s feels inferior to foreign competitor?s multi-valve V6s, the V8 offers sports car performance at a low price, that makes the Commodore so special.

Compare with European and Japanese cars, Commodore is not renowned for refinement. The suspensions do not iron out bumps as well, the pushrod engines feel harsher, the cabin trimming looks as cheap as the car actually is, poor fit and finish of plastic parts in cabin, and poor grade of plastic too. Space and comfort, however, are superb. Benefited by the extra size, it has plenty of room front and rear. Seats are big, soft yet supportive. The size of boot is no less impressive.

The bottom line is : being the best-selling family sedan in Australia, Commodore has done very well to suit Australia's needs as well as to give European and Japanese car makers a lesson. The best family sedan it may not be, but it reminds us what is driving fun. Sometimes sacrificing refinement for driving fun is worthy, especially when the rest of the world is overcrowded with refined cars. I just hope the globalisation of car industry will never spread to Australia. "

Holden Monaro:
"The interior is disappointing for looks and build quality. Once again, the hard-plastic dashboard is carried over from Commodore, just adding fake aluminium decoration. In the positive side, it has plenty of space front and rear, because the car is actually very big.

Performance and space are what the Monaro excels, but it has too many flaws - a sticky 6-speed manual, an old 4-speed auto, weak brakes and poor brake feel, undesirable interior, poor quality ... most disappointing, it does not offer more excitement than the Commodore, which is a fatal fault for a coupe."


Like I said, great performer, but lack of refinement and questionable reliability. The Commodore was basically a Opel Omega, which was handed down as a Cadillac Cetera, which wasn't praised very much in the USA, especially for its lack of refinement and reliability.

 

[AndyHui]

Reliability is a real problem for the Holden Commodores. Choice Magazine (blech....don't like their reviews) gave it 3rd last rating out of 30 cars available in Australia in terms of overall reliability. Then again, the Ford Falcon didn't do much better either.

Cheap interior on the Commodore? Give me a Statesman any time...

 

[psteng19]

It actually looks good... almost too good to be a GM product.
But it still retains the cheap plasticky GM interiors from the looks of it...


<< but rather it?s black plastic being black plastic. Now that?s refreshing. We?re told, though, that Australian plastics are unlikely to pass American cold-weather tests, so the Monaro?s interior won?t be the GTO?s. >>


I didn't know it could get worse than what GM currently makes

<< Whaddya say to a sexy- looking coupe with 5.7 liters and 302 horsepower of V8 oomph, capable of getting to 60 mph in less than 6.6 seconds with a superbly tuned, rear-drive chassis? What if it cost less than $30,000? >>


I'd say, "Gimme a sexier-looking coupe with 3.5 liters and 275+ horsepower of V6 oomph, capable of getting to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds with a skyline derived, rear-drive chassis. AND yes, it will cost less than $30,000