Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Vauxhall VXR8

The endearing V8 burble of the Monaro engine is countered by its thirsty fuel economy

Vauxhall Monaro VXR8

Since last month’s Bank Holiday-long honeymoon getting to know the VXR8, the following three-and-a-bit weeks have been a lot less exciting, largely involving a daily schlep around London.

On the open road one of the revelations about this car is that it feels surprisingly wieldy, but the same is remarkably true in town. As it rumbles down urban rat-runs, the Vauxhall doesn’t feel like the big old bus you might expect, and thanks to a long wheelbase and tight damping it’s even pretty good over speed bumps.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The only poo in the soup is… well, you can probably guess this bit. It’s to do with petrol. Just out of interest, I zeroed the computer before an eight-mile cross-town trot from my place in North London to the BBC offices out West and at the end of the journey the VXR reckoned it had averaged 10.6mpg. Ouch. The properly calculated juice-sluice for the month is a bit better than that. But only a bit.

Yet as I sit at traffic lights feeling the V8’s tickover torque gently rocking the whole car on its springs, I’m learning to focus on why the VXR8 makes me smile, not why it’s slowly cleaning me out. But then, with all thoughts of fuel bills set to one side, the real problem with using a piece of kit like this in the city becomes apparent: it feels caged and restless.

Running Costs

Date acquiredMay 2008
Total mileage1410
Costs this month£0
Mileage this month524
MPG this month14.5
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Used Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR (2019) – Mk7’s soft sendoff still bests any Mk8
Golf GTI TCR
Reviews

Used Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR (2019) – Mk7’s soft sendoff still bests any Mk8

Quick and composed on road or track, the Golf GTI has talents we miss, even if it didn’t sparkle when new
13 Feb 2025
Ill-conceived government legislation will kill the UK car industry
Porsche Taycan charging
Opinion

Ill-conceived government legislation will kill the UK car industry

The car industry and legislators cant meet in the middle and find a compromise soon enough
13 Feb 2025
New Jaguar GT seen on the road: 1000bhp production car prepares to launch Jag’s new era
Jaguar 2026 front
News

New Jaguar GT seen on the road: 1000bhp production car prepares to launch Jag’s new era

Jaguar’s new electric GT continues testing ahead its late-2025 reveal
7 Feb 2025