The car actually has Monaro quality, which, according to the magazines is quite good. In fact, they say it is the best appointed car to come out of Chevy and most of GM. The seats are suposed to be amazing and the leather, very good. As for the styling, I'll agree with you that it is rather bland.

 

I cant wait to race a GTO at the drag strip, its really gonna FUNNY.

 

21/32, and GM is still lying with those numbers. Seeing as the grand am (that uses the 4t45 instead of 4t65) get 20/29. but the gearing is taller, so maybe 20/30 is realistic with the 3400.

 

Honest - I've never gotten under 24 mpg. I've only gotten above 30 once, but I can get 28 or 30 on the longer trips.

On the other hand, it won't be paid off for another two and a half years and it doesn't have a tachometer so I can only guess at the RPMs. I can afford to replace it if it falls apart, but I'd rather save my money for my midlife crisis car :D. I don't push the car very hard at all.

Maybe the loaner you got was poorly tuned. Maybe your girlfriend took advantage of the fact it was a loaner car and floored it at every stoplight .

 

The gearing is taller. I test drove the 2001 Malibu before I bought the Impala. The Malibu felt faster, but the back seat was too small and the crash test rating was poor.

 

Mmm - it will be f@cken funny alright, and you will be on the receiving end.

You talking stock v's stock?

The stock LS1 powered Monaro's and Commodore's (the sedan) will just crack a 13 second quarter, if they are very lucky.

These are detuned compared to the LS1 they put in the GTO.

I have had plenty of races with my mates and their LS1's. In fact I was a ring in in my '8 at a private LS1 day.

The RX-8 will get a better 60', and might even win the race to 1/3 or 1/2 track distance, then the power of the V8 will just drive staight by you. I know. I have experienced it. And I have been an LS1 owner as well.

Why is pushrod = old technology? I have pictures of DOHC engines from WWII aircraft. Does that mean DOHC is old technology as well??

Get a grip. Exotic does not mean reliable. We have a 24 hour race here that the Monaro (albeit with a 427 CID version) has won the last couple of years. Most of the exotic competitive Ferraris and Lambo's etc. break and drop out - often early on.

The build quality of the GTO and the other Holdens is very good. They are very comfortable and enjoyable cars to drive. Speaking from experience, here.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Now how can I argue with such a well-reasoned, descriptive, insightful criticism? I'm dazzled by your eloquence.

 

Baller,

I never said all the GM products are good. I never said the fit/finish/interior was world class, but I did say the build quality of the Australian built Holden products, such as the GTO, is very good.

Outback?? Try not to get personal, mate. I gave an objective view, based on actual experiences. I don't think ownership of a primarily military vehicle is representitive of GM products. You categorize all GM vehicles based on your bad experience with one vehicle that is totally unrelated to the vehicles in question. GM has lots of brands, built in many different factories in different parts of the world.

Are you going to say all cars that use metal chassis and body panels are crap just because F1 uses carbon fibre? I'll be immature for one moment, and suggest that F1 cars are not even street legal or roadworthy. Your comparison is flawed.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Why would you use F1 cars as an example of technology. Production autos are much more advanced than any race autos. If you don't know this then you don't know jack squat about autos.

If the GTO engine sucks so bad then I wonder why the new LS2 engine has a significant specific power to weight advantage over the Mazda Renesis? Or why are there so many peeps replacing their blown 50,000 mile FD RX-7 engines with LS-1 engines? Or why the 400 hp LS-2 engine is more fuel efficient than any other 400 hp engine in the world? I really hate to see how the new Z06 engine will compete in about 18 months.

 

First of all because of the compromises used to make the Renesis. Remember they scaled it down from what it could be to make the car more conservative. I wonder if a titanium and ceramic tri rotor turbo Renesis would stack up against an LS-1 or 2. That would make it a bit more expensive, because the Renisis has a low cost of labor, that is an advantage of the rotary engine. I don't know anybody w/ a FD RX7 that has replaced their rotary w/ a LS1. The tuneability and fun is what makes the RX7 better than a corvette, IMO. As of the LS engines they are some of the best engines ever made, I give the car props for that. But i don't care how good the engine is when the transmission goes on me 3 times as on a previous gm car. It only lasted 50k mi. The expensive repairs were more expensive than just buying a new reliable car. Oh yeah well the GTO is vintage muscle car, it only goes strait. I think that it has a solid rear axel even . Well lets just say that the suspension is extremely obsolete. Give me the price difference a coumparably equipped 8 and GTO and i will b able 2 make the 8 faster.

 

Take it easy Hymee,
I'm just jacking ya.

 

Hey Baby..........
WTF........production autos are more advanced than F1...I think not

 

take it easy there Baller, you're losing here big. watch how you tread, stop being so hostile.

fwiw, it's true that production automobiles are far more advanced.

 

F1 cars are the most advanced in the world period.......

 

While I agree it is not state of the art, the Holden Commodore, Monaro and the Pontiac GTO all share the same independant rear end.

Some of my mates have 11s LS1 powered VX & VU Commodores, and I have not got under a 15.0s run in the '8. Admittedly I might not know how to drive Hehehe. Considering the base car costs between 35 - 50k, and the RX-8 costs 60k here, then they already have a start. Granted, these are cars spec'ed lower then the GTO. The closest GTO equivalent here (Which is a HSV GTO Coupe, BTW) is 80k.

Some pics:

Holden Commodore SS:


Holden Monaro:


HSV GTO Coupe:


BTW - How much does a RX-8 and a GTO cost Stateside?

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Stateside, a base GTO costs a couple thousand more than my MT Grand Touring and 6CD Player. I believe that a comparibly equipped GTO would b about 35-37k.

Base price of RX8- 27k. Got mine for about 29k
Base price of GTO I think it is around 32k.

 

Baller, if you disagree about something that is fine, but the name calling and hostilty has to stop.

 

Patton also said if everyone is thinking alike the no one is thinking!

I have N0 hostilty against anyone.......Well maybe the Ex-wife

Sorry!!!!

 

No Hymee you can't drive.

 

Richard. Amazing. How are you old pal?

You must have had been listening when I said about the stock LS1 cracking the 13's! Yes - I was talking about you - how could I forget! And now you are famous around the world!!!

So - your first post, on the RX8 forum, and it is a wise crack, with no contributions to technical knowledge or anything otherwise useful. It has to be the real Richard!

Good to see you migrated your trademarks to this place. Just a few more posts and you will be able to put one of those great mug shots up for the world to see.

Cheers,
Hymee.

 

Not bad. :D
Yup, famous. Who'd a thunk it 20 year ago?

OK. Tech knowledge:

1. Mags look better painted black.
2. A stock LS1 (with painted mags) will always beat a stock RX8 (with or without painted mags) over the 1/4 mile.
3. A loud exhaust is ALWAYS better than a quite one.
4. Dogs noses are wet and cold so they don't burn other dog's bums when they sniff them.

 

You forgot the reason why turds have tapered ends...

 

So your *** doesn't slam shut.

 

Word for word!

 

That would be "****" over here in God's Own. :D