Whats a Holden ??

[lawrence1]

Hmmm I think that most of the people in the Northern Hemisphere dont know just what happens down under.
Holdens HSV leg produces a vehicle that is more than just a serious contender for anything on the continent.

I was lucky enough to park my butt in the new GTS Monaro the other day at my local HSV dealer. This 300kw (read 400hp) peice of engineering is incredible. Who cares about excessive electronic gadgetry - this is a drivers car, a car that you can tinker with on the weekends (sorry the carbs are gone ( .... ) take the (small) family out in, and next weekend race it at the clubs track day with speeds in excess of 250km, off the showroom floor. We are so fortunate here not to have to worry about expensive fuel and forced insurance and are able to just enjoy the flavour of the ground-tearing power and performance that these vehicles offer.
Holden Rocks !

[Pelo]

AMEN TO THAT BROTHER! FEEL THE POWER!

[sjc]

quote:

Who cares about excessive electronic gadgetry - this is a drivers car, a car that you can tinker with on the weekends take the (small) family out in, and next weekend race it at the clubs track day with speeds in excess of 250km.

The very reasons I bought mine, and the UK HSV Monaro is apparently due very soon.

[jamieheasman]

The only trouble with HSVs are they weigh far too much and have the same interior as all the other rep-mobiles. For the price of the GTS it's just not special enough. If I was in the market for an HSV I'd pick up any other 5.7 V8 (Calais or SS) and tweak the suspension, brakes and engine. It would be just as quick (if not quicker) and would save you a LOT of money. Better still just import a used TVR from the UK and forget about the HSV. I've still to find one that will hold a candle to my Chimaera in a straight line and that's with the bogo 4.0litre back in it!

[pelo]

Thats so true Jamie - an SS with a remus exhaust and ECU change can put out 250kw, making it the same price and performance as a clubsport without the extrovert looks. The interiors are so boring, people have been complaining for years about the boggo steering wheel.
A 4ltr chim can beat a 340hp clubbie... hmm.
Chim: 230hp/1060kg=216hp/t
Clubsport: 340/1700=200hp/t
GTS: 400/1700=235hp/t
Griff 500: 300/1070=280hp/t
Jeez really puts things in perspective! But for a large sedan its damn good you have to admit. How much would it cost to import a car from the UK?

[sjc]

Look at my profile and you'll see I have experience of both; i.e. 4 TVRs, 1 HSV. The HSV, (once I needed 4 seats) was for me the only saloon that offered a similar involving drive. It handles better than any of the TVRs I had, sounds nearly as good, is better built and even rarer. The TVRs are quicker from the 500 upwards ( not sure about top speed though) and I loved every minute of every one , other than the Tuscan. At the end of the day though you can't really compare a lightweight 2 seater sportscar with a 4 door saloon!

[apollo]

In my experience there are cars that are good on paper and cars that inspire total confidence, communicate with the driver and allow him to cream statistically superior cars - that's an HSV.

[jamieheasman]

Just let me say I'm a fan of HSV and Ford (dirty word for HSV owners) for still have the balls necessary to build cars like the Clubsport and XR8.

I can't believe anyone who has owned a succession of TVRs, especially a Cerbera and a Tuscan can even compare an HSV to a TVR in terms of handling! It's like comparing a 747 with a jet-fighter. I've been out on track (Pukekohe and Taupo) with these cars and I just ran rings around them (with the exception of Brennan's SS - 700bhp aparently - but that's another story). Admittedly this was with my 5.1litre installed but it was in the corners and under braking where I gained on them so much, which is a suprise because I've got the weediest brakes fitted to a modern TVR (240mm front!) and standard suspension.

Holden and Ford are both bringing (brought) out new versions of their best sellers and Ford even looks to have a modern suspension set-up! The interiors have finally caught-up with the 21st century (one of my real pet-hates about HSVs) and the Ford XR6 Turbo looks an almost exciting prospect.

I'm going to sell the Chimaera soon and I'll be importing a used Cerbera from the UK. I've got two little girls and it will mean we can go out as a family (when the cars not in the garage being worked-on ;-)). I'll also enjoy taking those GTSs apart on my way to work too!

By the way an HSV in the UK would be like a TVR here - very exclusive so I can see the appeal. To a certain extent I think you can compare TVRs to HSVs too as they're both in the same ball-park price-wise (especially used) and they are bought by the same people. You very rarely see an HSV around Auckland with more than the driver inside I can tell you!

Anyway, if nothing else it gave you HSV guys something to talk about didn't it? ;-)

[sjc]

Jamie, the fact you were quicker in the corners could simply be that you were a better driver. I've found the HSV to be more forgiving,more stable on 'B' roads far less twitchy and hence I can cover ground just as qiuckly. As I said I loved the TVRs and seriously considered another Cerbera when I needed 4 seats. 2 things put me off, probably not enough room and the attitude from the factory towards my Tuscan probs. I couldn't give a toss what the dash/interior looks like(admittedly not the last word in design but the seats are fantastic) and it's probably about as quick as my original 4ltr Griff which ain't bad for a big saloon.



>> Edited by sjc on Monday 21st October 20:39

[jamieheasman]

Fair comment. Basically I guess what you're saying is the Holden is a lot less taxing in order to get from 'A' to 'B' quickly?

I don't think I was necessarily a better driver than the HSV drivers, but the track shows up road cars for the wobbly blamanches they really are (TVR included).

Have you seen the interior of the newer Holden Commodores? They're much more up-market and far less American.

Does your HSV have the Coulson seats?