Question about Monaro/GTO

[5point7]

Okay, so GM brought over the Monaro to the states as the GTO. The Monaro existed in OZ for some time, as far as I understand.

The sales were pretty low and GM got feedback and people wanted hoodscoops and dual exit exhaust for the U.S. GTO, as well as more power. Now, why did they put the hood scoops and dual exit on the Manaro as well, if it wasnt having a hard time selling the way it was? Or did they plan on putting them on anways before they decided to in the states?

So did GM just add the hood scoops, dual exit exhuast and LS1 because they wanted it that way for the US?

[GTS_300_Coupe]

I'm guessing because the GTO and the Monaro share the same body, whatever the GTO has done to it, the monaro will follow suit and vice versa.

Main reasons the Monaro doesnt sell in high numbers is because its an expensive car over here in Australia (around the $65,000 mark) and also our automotive market is alot smaller than the American one.

[5point7]

Just doesnt seem fair, they change the Monaro in OZ because AMERICANS want it that way :(

We are "borrowing" the car from you, we should change it when it arrives here.

[GTS_300_Coupe]

Yeah I know. Actually most Aussies dispise those scoops. Kinda of destroyed the front's cleanliness.

Thats not the biggest problem though, the next Monaro will most likely be designed and manufactured in America for the American market so basically Pontiac have hijacked our car.

[forrestd]

the monaro sells in very low numbers down here, something like 3% of all commodore based sales. the original plan was to ditch the munro by now. Perhaps it is still going mostly due to USA prospects. Holden will sell 3000 munros and 4x as many GTO's in a year.

i wish I could buy a munro for as low as you guys are paying, unfortunately we're slugged almost double versus those rebate adjusted GTO bargains. Personally the 05 styling is not really to my taste, we prefer our cars a little understated, but I would get used to it pretty damn quick at GTO prices. If you look back in time (60's monaros and other aussie muscle cars) you'll realise the US was a major influence from the beginning, we've had scoops before..

check out these links

http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_6087/article.html
http://www.realper4mance.com/events/wsid_12012005/ wsid_12012005_154.jpg
http://gm.wieck.com/forms/gm/previewpage?007927

[5point7]

Interesting, I see the American Influence in those cars. I think most younger people here appreciate the understated look of OUR gto, but the old folks (who could afford the sticker on a GTO here) like the old looks w/ scoops ect.

I want to come to OZ on Vacation, how are the Kowala's? :)

[VYSHSV8]

Furry as usual and the bloody wooley jumpers(kangaroos) are a pain in the butt gotta keep dodging them at night in the country last commodore hit 9 of the buggers= 3 front end rebuilds, then a bloody Toyaota Landcriuser made my 4 door sedan a 4 door Hatchback, decided to sell it and let some other poor bugger have it and buy a new ls1 commodore yippee now i can hit the bloody animals at 250km/hr+ oh well if i right the car off at least my insurance will bring me a new to try again HAHAHA

[Ford Falcon driver]

Yeah I know. Actually most Aussies dispise those scoops. Kinda of destroyed the front's cleanliness.

Actually, a lot of people like the scoops. It's kind of a return to the stying on the 60, and 70s Monaros and Ford Hardtops, both a which had scoops on some models. Also the VZ Monaro has a forceful look that makes the VT-VY look, well, soft and anonymous, kind of a simply 2 door Commodore...

I think people have, over the past few years, simply gotten used to the Monaro's stying being very subdued. If it had scoops from the beginning, nobody would have noticed or cared.....With its rapidly declining sales the Monaro needed a change

[auzzie]

i think the only disapointing thing about the new monaro is the relocation to the US spec fuel tank... it greatly reduces the boot space and is a shame.

i was disapointed when i heard that the GTO was going to get hijacked by the states... not just because i felt it was our car and thus we should keep it. But also because i see what was once a beautifull car like the GTO turning into some mustang and well thats just not what a monaro is suposed to be... But now i hear production of zeta aint going ahead in the US soo either the monaro will die never losing sight of itself or we will keep building the model.

Hmmm now the new styling well im 50/50 its more agresive and makes it stand out more but to me that was part of the originals appeal. I don't want a plastic fantastic like a firebird or a skyline i like real cars that look tough without all the look @ me factor. Then again i do like the ass and think the car needed a facelift.

Id love to see this car live on but only if it can remain true to itself.