Road Test
Vauxhall VXR8
Test Date Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Price When New £35,105
Verdict
The VXR8 picks up where the tearaway Monaro left off, except with a welcome dose of maturity; the four-door body is more usable, the clutch lighter, the chassis balance more sophisticated and the interior more befitting a £35k car. Except you can’t domesticate an Aussie bruiser that easily. For all the improvements, the VXR8 remains a rough diamond; the clunky gearbox, crude damping and poor visibility are reminders the VXR8 still has a lot to learn in refinement terms. While we can live with most of these compromises, the rear axle judder under braking does give us cause for continuing concern.
Yet despite the odd rough edge, the thirst and the fact that despite the huge engine and meaty soundtrack it isn’t that quick, it’s difficult not to fall for the big Vauxhall. It deserves praise, because what it’s not short on is character. Sometimes that matters more than ride quality or interior plastics.
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