djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
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Sold my old Vectra VXR in August last year, to help fund a house purchase. Regretted ever since, as on reflection, I probably could have kept it... 
Skip everything from there; house bought, engagement, new job blah blah.
With losing the Mazda 6 Sports Tourer company car, I needed to sort out replacement transport - doing 50 miles a day commuting dictated that I needed to get something that was relatively sensible on fuel, relatively practical in lieu of losing the large estate car, comfortable enough for racking up the miles, reliable enough to not worry too much, and relatively cheap to repair should anything need attention over time**...
A couple of weeks of searching on Autotrader, eBay etc, saw me find an advert that was missing some rather 'vital' information within the headings, only seen buried into the description of the car. I sat on the advert for a few days, as I was looking at another identical looking car around 1/2 the distance away from me, however I was drawn in to the AT advert - the description was perfect; the car had pretty much everything I could have wanted, it looked to be good, it was pretty much the ideal choice, and the price was extremely reasonable.
So, I made the call, 1 week after it was advertised, it was the first call the private seller had received (shocking) and after a chat, we booked a viewing for last weekend. A rather long drive semi-north to Aylesbury in the rain, and I completed the necessary/recommended checks, had a ride out in it (couldn't drive it as my work insurance didn't cover me to drive other vehicles) and promptly negotiated some money off and left a deposit. As my Gf and I were on our way out to a wedding reception in central London that day, we couldn't take it with us, so agreed to pick it up a week later...
Yesterday, we went back to Aylesbury, and within 20mins of arriving, I was heading home all excited.
Anyway, enough chat, here it is;
2006 Vauxhall Monaro 5.7 CV8.....
Supercharged. 
 IMG_4249 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4241 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4238 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4242 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4246 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4237 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4235 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4233 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4231 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4228 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4229 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
 IMG_4250 by Dave Gritt, on Flickr
Spec is as follows;
2006 Holen/Vauxhall Monaro CV8
5.7 LS1 V8
Harrop 112 Supercharger/Intercooler - 9psi Boost
Wortec/Powerflow Exhaust System
K&N Intake
LS7 Clutch/Flywheel kit
Ripshifter
AP Racing Brakes - 6pot Front/4pot Rear inc. braided Brake Hoses
Pedders 'Low' suspension kit
Pedders Drop Links
Pedders Quickrack kit
Monkfish 'Road Response Pac'
Monkfish 'Rear End Pac'
'Holden Design' rear Spoiler
Monaro VXR style rear light clusters
Sony aftermarket HU
Dyno print out from a couple of years back show it at 485hp with a big old chunk of torque.... It pulls, pulls, pulls and then pulls some more. Also, that whine...
It also has had an LPG conversion ~5yrs ago, of which I am generally unsure - it runs fine on it, other than a slight change of engine tone it feels no different atall. However, LPG adds a wedge to the Insurance... I am going to see a specialist about the disabling/removal of the system, ie what is involved, cost etc; after this I will consider my options.
It cost me £69 to fill with Tesco 99 today, from as good as empty (15miles on the Trip Comp) which is really not that bad. It does get through it some though - probably be good to get 250 miles to a tank with sensible driving. The attraction of the supercharger means it will rarely achieve that. 
It has had a frankly crap install of Audio equipment - 2x Amps, a Sub, a pretty crap Sony HU and some questionable wiring in between... I have already removed the Sub & Amps and made some wiring repairs/rectifications but it's still not complete. I will be looking for an OEM Headunit over the coming months as it will be far easier and more suited. This work is in progress now.
I was also given a pair of Wortec backboxes, as the previous owner had some Powerflow boxes installed to the remainder of the Wortec system - I am going to 'overhaul' the Wortec boxes as they have the ability to add in electric cut-out valves to be fitted to them which will allow switchable exhaust volume - why you ask, because it is currently fucking loud, and it drones horrifically at 1100-1400rpm, ie right where the revs sit when you are curising at ~70mph in 6th.
Also, some additonal 'Supercharged' badges have been added, I am not a fan, it is intended to bin these, however the one on the dash looks like it may have been superglued on... FFS.
One other immediate change, is a set of reg plates - these have bottom line slogans saying 'Rear Wheel Fun' - pretty ghey TBH, in the bin.
I bloody love it already.
**sensible old Diesel 'daily drive' in progress, TDCi Focus a likely contender...
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Ian W
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Registered: 8th Nov 03
Location: Wirral, Merseyside
User status: Offline
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Nice buy!
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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You are my new best friend on here. Not sure why but reading this line by line I just had a feeling it was a monaro ha.
I love mine and never get bored of it, a shame everything is so expensive for them but they're lovely cars. Wish I went for a supercharger because the noise will be even more addictive. Think I saw you post this on ph the other day, didn't realise you were a cs member.
Lovely colour by the way, nicest for the cv8.
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
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Oh and get those wortecs fitted. I have them and they're easily the best mod, don't even bother with the volume adjustments because you'll want it even louder. You'll love it so much more than a powerflow.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by kennySRi
Think I saw you post this on ph the other day, didn't realise you were a cs member.
I haven't seen this on PH yet, although I am on there and have been scouring the forums for a couple of weeks - this is on there, from the owner before last, so 5+ years back!
It'll get posted there later anyway...
I knew someone else here had one, I have wanted one for years, settled for the Vectra first time I had the opportunity and then though fuck it this time round, got the GFs green light (amazing what you can get away with for a few weeks after buying a ring ) and got it bought.
A friend with a Monaro VXR has been helping with the search so some credit goes to him too.
Oh, and I got this for a decent wedge under £10k too. Mental.
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Think it might of been on Facebook that I saw it, definitely saw someone buy the same colour supercharged one.
The cv8s are under 10k but to get a supercharged one for that you did well. I've got a ls2 vxr and was going to keep it standard to help it keep its value but always planning on AP brakes and decat/headers lol.
PH is the best for advice although there's literally no tutorials online for anything because seems everyone just takes their cars to monkfish to get fixed or modified and the fact they're rare doesn't help.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by kennySRi
Think it might of been on Facebook that I saw it, definitely saw someone buy the same colour supercharged one.
PH is the best for advice although there's literally no tutorials online for anything because seems everyone just takes their cars to monkfish to get fixed or modified and the fact they're rare doesn't help.
Yeah, I posted on the Monaro group last night after I got it, so probably me. Ha
PH is good for these, though I wonder how many DIY jobs are overlooked due to people thinking they need to go to Monkfish or Walkinshaw for literally everything....I did loads to the Vectra that forum users suggest wasn't do-able without visiting a 'specialist'.
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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They really do feel the need to take it to monkfish all the time. I might end up taking mine there to keep the decent service history up to date and obviously buy parts from but I'll do all the work myself.
I do wish that I found a car with your mods because at the time I didn't realise how expensive everything is. 2k for brakes, 1.5k for the headers, 800 for the ls7 clutch, 1k for the pedders, all stuff that I want to buy. For the price you've paid it's an absolute steal lol.
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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Nice car. Wasn't sure on the colour at first but it's growing on me... just get rid of those awful plates and you're away 
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SteveoBC
Premium Member
Registered: 22nd Feb 07
Location: Bucks
User status: Offline
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Saw on fbook Dave, looks the dogs danglies, always had a soft spot for these, great choice
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nathy_87
Member
Registered: 14th Aug 08
Location: West Mids. Drives: koda Fabia VRS 5J
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Awesome car gritt. Nice colour too, usually see these in Red, Yellow, Black, so it's nice to see it in a different colour.
quote:
Originally posted by djgritt
One other immediate change, is a set of reg plates - these have bottom line slogans saying 'Rear Wheel Fun' - pretty ghey TBH, in the bin.
I'm guessing that's what the RWF stands for on the actual plate then :faceplam: bit chavvy as you say as per the supercharged badges, otherwise very nice.
[Edited on 19-09-2016 by nathy_87]
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by nathy_87
quote:
Originally posted by djgritt
One other immediate change, is a set of reg plates - these have bottom line slogans saying 'Rear Wheel Fun' - pretty ghey TBH, in the bin.
I'm guessing that's what the RWF stands for on the actual plate then :faceplam: bit chavvy as you say as per the supercharged badges, otherwise very nice.
Yep. I don't mind the V8 RWF plate as a whole, tbh I may just sell it on if it is 'worth' anything and put mine on instead.
However, the slogans have to go. Sharpish. Plain plates are far, far better.
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willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
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looks nice but whats with all the shit mods, this has all the call signs of a elderly person modifying a car 
Look forward to the updates Daaaave
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by willay
looks nice but whats with all the shit mods, this has all the call signs of a elderly person modifying a car
Seller was 56, and gave a demo of the 'sound system' with some old rock music.
Owner before that appears to have also been a 'mature' one too.
Anyway, now I have it, it really will be subject to some shit mods!
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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That's good that it's supercharged, are they all?
Hard to think of other reasonably new motors that are, apart from my good old MINI.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by kz
That's good that it's supercharged, are they all?
Nope.
Would normally just be a 5.7 NA - earlier ones were ~330hp, later like this were ~350hp
The only 'official' Supercharged UK Monaro was a very limited edition VXR500 - a 6.0 VXR, charged to ~500hp.
The newest VXR8 model, the current one (a 'Gen-F' type) is Supercharged as standard. 
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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The 6.0 are 400 bhp so make 500 with the supercharger. Is a very common thing for monaros. It's not the power that I would want but that whine to the already awesome v8 sound.
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VrsTurbo
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Jun 10
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by kz
That's good that it's supercharged, are they all?
Hard to think of other reasonably new motors that are, apart from my good old MINI.
Jags, range rovers, lotus.
Off the top of my head
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willay
Moderator
Organiser: South East, National Events
Premium Member
Registered: 10th Nov 02
Location: Roydon, Essex
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by djgritt
quote:
Originally posted by willay
looks nice but whats with all the shit mods, this has all the call signs of a elderly person modifying a car
Seller was 56, and gave a demo of the 'sound system' with some old rock music.
Owner before that appears to have also been a 'mature' one too.
Anyway, now I have it, it really will be subject to some shit mods!
BINGO
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DaveyLC
Member
Registered: 8th Oct 08
Location: Berkshire
User status: Offline
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Proper car! 
I notice its a 2006 are you getting hit with the Rape TAX ? 
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ShEp
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 05
Location: Dingwall, Highland
User status: Offline
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I believe the rape tax is reduced when running LPG. so maybe not yet?
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by DaveyLC
Proper car!
I notice its a 2006 are you getting hit with the Rape TAX ?
It's over £200 a year less for VED than my Vectra was, and then a further £10 (ish) cheaper than normal due to the LPG....
It missed the rate change by ~1wk
Even if it was the higher band, I wouldn't have been fussed TBH. it would have only been around £15p/a more than the Vectra anyway, and that wasn't an issue.
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kennySRi
Member
Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Never heard of cheaper tax for lpg? I'm paying the £505 or whatever it is now but never knew I could reduce it with the lpg.
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kennySRi
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Registered: 12th Nov 10
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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Just been reading about it and not really worth it for £10 a year less, would expect a much better saving than that.
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djgritt
Premium Member
Registered: 1st Nov 07
Location: Dorset Drives: Focus ST / Hyundai i20N
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It is a crap discount tbf.
But then, typical robbing bastard Taxation comments aside, they don't offer a huge discount to put people off of declaring a dual fue car to reap a reduction in the cost when they only ever use one fuel.
Personally, I'd rather see VED binned off and all taxation put on fuel instead, therefore I wouldn't be paying for the car when it's not in use etc, and would when I am out using it via the tanks of Super Unleaded it drinks.
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