blackSRi
15th February 2006, 07:53 PM
http://www.carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,18154906-27286,00.html
Holden Tigra
15 February 2006
Robert Wilson
There was a time when the four words, small, Holden, sporty and coupe could have made knowledgeable car enthusiasts snigger, or at least arch their eyebrows. They knew there was no such thing.
Back then a Holden sportscar was a snorting, fire-breathing beast – the Monaro GTS 350 or a Torana A9X were examples of the breed in its prime.
How the world changes. In 2006 it's goodbye Holden Monaro, hello Holden Tigra.
Not even Holden dares suggest the Tigra is any sort of replacement for the Monaro. A customer too late for the last of those muscular and macho V8 coupes is not going to be contented with a 1.8-litre folding metal roof runabout. But to many buyers a convertible with the convenience and security of a metal roof is irresistible, no matter what sort of car lies beneath it.
Folding metal roof convertibles are not our favourite type of car here at The Australian. Like many technologies that promise the best of all possible worlds, the reality can fall a little short of the dream. The complex roof folding and storage mechanism takes space out of the boot but adds weight to the car and rain sealing is not always the great leap forward over a well-sorted cloth roof you might expect. Nor is body rigidity, despite a solid roof. They're not cheap either, making for expensive little cars that can be slower, clumsier and more cramped than they should be.
So the Tigra did not find a warm welcome in our office. But it was so eager to please that after a week we had to admit it's one of the better examples of its type.....
read more at http://www.carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,18154906-27286,00.html
Holden Tigra
15 February 2006
Robert Wilson
There was a time when the four words, small, Holden, sporty and coupe could have made knowledgeable car enthusiasts snigger, or at least arch their eyebrows. They knew there was no such thing.
Back then a Holden sportscar was a snorting, fire-breathing beast – the Monaro GTS 350 or a Torana A9X were examples of the breed in its prime.
How the world changes. In 2006 it's goodbye Holden Monaro, hello Holden Tigra.
Not even Holden dares suggest the Tigra is any sort of replacement for the Monaro. A customer too late for the last of those muscular and macho V8 coupes is not going to be contented with a 1.8-litre folding metal roof runabout. But to many buyers a convertible with the convenience and security of a metal roof is irresistible, no matter what sort of car lies beneath it.
Folding metal roof convertibles are not our favourite type of car here at The Australian. Like many technologies that promise the best of all possible worlds, the reality can fall a little short of the dream. The complex roof folding and storage mechanism takes space out of the boot but adds weight to the car and rain sealing is not always the great leap forward over a well-sorted cloth roof you might expect. Nor is body rigidity, despite a solid roof. They're not cheap either, making for expensive little cars that can be slower, clumsier and more cramped than they should be.
So the Tigra did not find a warm welcome in our office. But it was so eager to please that after a week we had to admit it's one of the better examples of its type.....
read more at http://www.carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,18154906-27286,00.html