Bye bye Holden?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 23rd March 2012, 15:37

Originally Posted by Woodman

commodores and falcons are dinosaurs, why spend billions backing up a product that really shouldn't be on the market anymore.

I beg to differ. I love having a rear wheel drive 5.7L SS Ute to haul my dirtbikes round with. Nothing is more fun to drive.

**Woodman** · 23rd March 2012, 15:43

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I beg to differ. I love having a rear wheel drive 5.7L SS Ute to haul my dirtbikes round with. Nothing is more fun to drive.

Don't disagree with you but the world has moved on and anyway from what I hear the latest Commodore v8's will have trouble passing the NZ emission tests for new cars. Petrol prices are also an issue, and yes I know that if you idle along in top gear at 100km/h then a v8 fuel consumption is ok, but then if you gonna do that then why buy one.

**steve_t** · 23rd March 2012, 15:45

Originally Posted by Woodman

Don't disagree with you but the world has moved on and anyway from what I hear the latest Commodore v8's will have trouble passing the NZ emission tests for new cars. Petrol prices are also an issue, and yes I know that if you idle along in top gear at 100km/h then a v8 fuel consumption is ok, but then if you gonna do that then why buy one.

Time to get a Prius

**Crasherfromwayback** · 23rd March 2012, 15:53

Originally Posted by Woodman

Don't disagree with you but the world has moved on and anyway from what I hear the latest Commodore v8's will have trouble passing the NZ emission tests for new cars. Petrol prices are also an issue, and yes I know that if you idle along in top gear at 100km/h then a v8 fuel consumption is ok, but then if you gonna do that then why buy one.

Petrol prices don't really worry me. I walk to work every day and only use the ute when it's needed. They're just nice and lazy...plenty of power to pass whatever the fuck is in the way, and as roomy/comfortable as a sporty sedan to drive for long distances.

**JimO** · 23rd March 2012, 17:46

Originally Posted by 98tls

Still gives me the shivers remembering a conversation with an old fella i had sold a GLXI Cressida to a few years earlier for huge $ new when he wanted to trade it on a new one.

i remember the conversation where the salesman wanted me to take a 30k haircut on my hilux

**Indiana_Jones** · 23rd March 2012, 18:09

Hmmmm government hand/bailout?

where have I seen this before?...

oh yeah lol

-Indy

**slowpoke** · 23rd March 2012, 22:34

Originally Posted by Woodman

whats wrong with front wheel drive?

You've obviously never tried towing anything up a dirt or wet tarmac hill. Front wheel drive cars have trouble getting up my 400m gravel driveway by themselves and have absolutely no hope with a trailer.

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I beg to differ. I love having a rear wheel drive 5.7L SS Ute to haul my dirtbikes round with. Nothing is more fun to drive.

Amen brother!

Originally Posted by Woodman

Don't disagree with you but the world has moved on and anyway from what I hear the latest Commodore v8's will have trouble passing the NZ emission tests for new cars. Petrol prices are also an issue, and yes I know that if you idle along in top gear at 100km/h then a v8 fuel consumption is ok, but then if you gonna do that then why buy one.

I think you are hearing bullshit. If Corvettes/Mustangs/Camaro's etc with the same engines as their Aussie counterparts can pass the ultra strict California emissions reg's then NZ emissions tests are a piece of wee's.

The world has moved on from what? Wanting to tow their boat/caravan/trailer? Wanting effortless power? Wanting something that sounds good? Wanting to emulate their V8 Supercar heroes? Wanting cheap performance? Wanting plenty of room for a family? Wanting decent handling dymanics? I don't think so.

I towed my large (4.5m long by 2.7m tall) bike trailer from Invercargill to Picton in one stint after the Teretonga NZSBK round. It was a bloody long day and never in my life have I been so glad to have 450hp and 700Nm at my disposal. No stress, no can I/can't I overtaking or worrying about holding up traffic, just instant grunt and effortless cruising even with a decent load. Absolutely the right tool for the job (car, not me).

I'm no big Commodore/Falcon fan but having been there and done that there's not a helluva lot to compare value-for-money-wise when looking at alternatives.

**scumdog** · 24th March 2012, 11:56

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Petrol prices don't really worry me. I walk to work every day and only use the ute when it's needed. They're just nice and lazy...plenty of power to pass whatever the fuck is in the way, and as roomy/comfortable as a sporty sedan to drive for long distances.

My take on it too.

And you can shove front-wheel drives where the sun don't shine...

**Crasherfromwayback** · 24th March 2012, 12:57

Originally Posted by slowpoke

You've obviously never tried towing anything up a dirt or wet tarmac hill. Front wheel drive cars have trouble getting up my 400m gravel driveway by themselves and have absolutely no hope with a trailer.

.

Tell me about it! A mate and I got stuck over in Long Gully Station after a trail ride when his poxy FWD car couldn't get us up the hill on the way out.

**avgas** · 24th March 2012, 15:06

Originally Posted by Woodman

Had the misfortune of driving a Viva a few weeks back and it was friggen terrible. Possibly the worst car I have ever driven. It has done a few ks but bloody hell it was bad.

My words of advice would be to avoid the following then:
Ford Telstar
Ford Lazer
Anything with the word morris in it
Mitsubishi Mirage of any year
Toyota Starlet of any year
Ford Focus Manual

and probably countless more I have forgotten to mention. Never said the Viva was high on the list......but the holden one seemed the best of the 3 countries. Mate has also mentioned that the Holden Monaro drove better than the GTO.

The Buick equivelent of the Viva was quite horrible though. So probably should be in that list somewhere. But then again what do you expect in China. Even the Euro's over there are shit.

While we are on the note of RWD cars. Anyone else pissed off that Hyundai don't sell any of there RWD cars here? Because all the FWD cars are shit. Here is hoping Toyota/Subaru and Kia get their RWD cars here soon. Sucks not having any sub-3.5L RWD cars.