Friday 27th February 2004

Pick up Time?

Ozzies get treated to more V8 fun - what about us Brits?

---

This week's Melbourne Motor Show sees Holden churning out more sleek looking, V8 powered pickups. Whilst the Australians revel in tree stump pulling torque and gorgeous burbling exhausts, we Brits are left with a mundane crop of Jap imports.

With Vauxhall finally conceding to bringing in the Monaro V8 Coupe, it's time pressure was applied to GM to open their eyes to the success that they could have with the rest of Holden's range in the UK.

With the pickup a regular tool of the self-employed, and also a toy or status symbol for many, the lack of choice in the UK remains a frustration for many.

There's no doubt that petrol prices are partly to blame with diesel being the fuel of choice but nevertheless there are many who lust after the machinery down under.

Holden's have just revealed their SST Stepside Custom Pickup concept at the Melbourne Motor Show. The 300bhp V8 powered vehicle is very much aimed at the enthusiast. Style is as important as substance with its 19 inch wheels sporting 35 profile tyres. If only...

Holden's tuning arm HSV haven't been idle either. They've produced the HSV Avalance. This 'Extreme Utility Vehicle' (XUV) gets four doors, five seats, a load bay, four wheel drive and a 5.7 litre V8. Perfect family transport!

[cotty]

Why do manufacturers insist on making STEPSIDE pickups I thing they look horrible why cant they just let the line of the car flow from front to back, an example of wich is the Ford Sieara(?spelling) based P100 which I thought had a really nice shape, lowered with some big wheels and a cossie engine ......lovely





>>> Edited by cotty on Friday 27th February 13:27

[Lotusacbc]

Not bad looking, but it looks like a Mazda 6 from the front, and the red one looks like a pontiac sunfire from the front. How si that possible?

[dinkel]

I saw this before . . .

[v8thunder]

Never really understood performance pick-ups myself (except the Chevy El Camino SS ), but this one looks pretty good.

Then again, it's no surprise they haven't brought it over to the UK - Who'd want it?

Please can we have the Monaro though! The Astra Coupe just isn't a good enough replacement for the Calibra and we need to show the Yanks that we've got an equivalent to the Camaro as well.

[rpguk]

I think the appeal of pickups is really picking up in the uk (no pun intended!) Everywhere I go I see those Mitsubishi L200's.

The top one reminded me of a sierra pickup when I first saw it.

[phase90]

You guys need the Dodge SRT-10 or the Ford Lightning. True pickup truck styling and around 500 HP to boot.

[sinner]

bring em on! at last a real motor aI can run on low tax through the business. shame i DON'T live in the land of the tinny. range decisions made in Europe drive me crazy.

[ozzie dave]

This is the kind of Cr#P we have to put up with , they come with a kelpie dog & a carton of XXXX beer - (i dont think you can get them without those . I hate them with passion .

Dave Ingerson
Brisbane OZ

[PetrolTed]

Fair point Dave, but us Brits have no fun utility vehicles. We'd love some V8s!

[Peter_Ross]

The grass is always Greener guys. I'm almost salivating at the thought of seeing and sitting in a Noble in Melbourne in 2 days time, and you want a what ! A bloody holden Ute. God help us. Vive le difference..... Cheers from Sydney Australia.

[thirsty]

ozzie dave said:

This is the kind of Cr#P we have to put up with , they come with a kelpie dog & a carton of XXXX beer - (i dont think you can get them without those . I hate them with passion . Dave Ingerson Brisbane OZ

My My ..... how do you really feel about it??

The good thing about cars is there seems to be something for everyone. I personally like these car/truck hybrids. However, they would never do very well here in the USA. All the soccer moms need something the size of a full size lorrie to make the milk run.

[jagsy]

Think about it, you're at the lights in a pick up. hot hatch pulls up along side - who's going to win????

[ozzie dave]

I think I should take a photo ouf a Ute inthe city here - its a Roller thats been put onto a 4 x 4 chassisand given a tray back - its owned by a building company here - I'm sure someone must whant it!

[PascalBuyens]

Dave,

Guilty as charged: I want one... Actually, make that two, I'd love to have the HSV GTS Coupé, but I don't think I can ever get my hands on one of those over here in Belgium. Shame, as I do think they're awesome

[PomBstard]

Can't stand these things - utes, pick-ups, soft-roaders, lifestyle vehicles, the marketing department's wet dream. I know where they come from, but I don't understand the appeal. From the front it looks like a middle managers car, yet I'm confused as its gone past because the back looks like a pick-up... The ute really is the mullet of the car world. A cunning combination of being all smart and business-like at the front, whilst letting it all hang out at the back. The styling never works IMO, it always looks heavy-handed.

The suspension must be a compromise - these are work horses remember, some rated at carrying up to a tonne in the back. And a V8 is just showing off. Great for the traffic light GP, but so what?

And the stuff in the UK is mostly based on US-style utes, chunky off-road trucks so big that you look like a pin-head behind the wheel. Oh yes, I'd love a Hummer, please. Jeez, lets have some cars that are fun to drive, that you don't need a truck licence for and that don't need a V8 just to get to the next set of lights.

Feel better now. Nurse, my medication...

[dejoux]

All the current VY commodores look worse than the VX commodores they replaced and this is no exception. Idont understand the rear at all and the front is as boring as the rest of the range.

In australia they even have a racing series for these. They call them Brutes


I can understand where they are coming from but theyre nothing to get too excited about

[dinkel]

dejoux said:

(...) In Australia they even have a racing series for these. They call them Brutes [pic] - I skipped the pic guys, c'mon, this is hilarious [/pic]

[Newromancer]

How about a Pickup-Convertible!!!

[dinkel]

Newromancer said:

How about a Pickup-Convertible!!!

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=63&t=84733

[Peter_Ross]

That'd be a boat wouldn't it.

PS Sat in the Noble tonight at the Melbourne motor show. Can't drive it yet as it has to pass compliance etc. I'm impressed, but not with the Aust. price (mainly a government taxation / duty issue I think) nor the 1 yr warranty.