Gts-r

[Racer 20]

I'm looking at the article right know. On pg. 88 it says "Price as tested $41,000."

[Chris]

So it does

I now remember, it was in Car and DRiver, a short little thing (they didn't even drive it) I think it was a Commodore. Same difference, and it would be $30000.

[Thunda Downunda]

The reason GM won't import current Holdens to the North American market is primarily because of the rear-mounted fuel tank - apparently GM edicts demand the tank be mounted forward of the rear axle, not so much to prevent fires as to forestall US lawyers. The new Holden-Sigma platform (eg Cadillac CTS) has a repositioned tank, but with that already in production in the US, Holden exports to America are unlikely. Australians get the Sigma in a few years, hopefully with different styling to the CTS. Also Holden doesn't have any excess capacity, with only one car plant (plus a separate underutilised engine plant) which is already being triple-shifted for a max output of about 150,000 units per annum. Check out the GM Middle East website for existing Chev-badged Holden exports.

Of note Holden announced they will manufacture Gen 3 V8s from 2003, also an all-alloy V6 as well as the export dohc 4. The Monaro coupe will be exported to the Middle East too, and needs to be, as local demand is sure to wane. A HSV GTS 2-door is definate, btw the GTS engine is imported direct from Callaway Engineering.

'Downunder' (sorry about the similar nick, mate) is right, although similar visually to a Catera, Holdens are a quite distinct design to it from the floorpan on up.

[Downunder]

No probs Thunda. The more aussies here the better

[primera man]

Originally posted by Downunder
No probs Thunda. The more aussies here the better

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!! ....lol

j/k...nice to see ya here

[Downunder]

The invasion beigins :bigsmirk:

[primera man]

Originally posted by Downunder
The invasion beigins :bigsmirk:

....isn't there enough of us kiwi's in your country already....heheheheh....our invasion started a long time ago !!!!!

[Downunder]

So you are people are those illegal imagrants on the news

[primera man]

Originally posted by Downunder
So you are people are those illegal imagrants on the news

LOL....Thats us :finger: :finger: :finger:

[Thunda Downunda]

Hey thanks for the welcome!

What do you guys reckon about that Caddy CTS, which I guess is the basis for the next Holden? Looks like a block of flats to my eye.

For all those HSV fans, may I inject a hint of tastelessness by asking if Tom Walkinshaw is of those perennial batchelors, you know the kind of, er, man who is never destined to sleep with a woman? On the TV he sure sounded lispy to me.

I've never owned an HSV but I did once buy a new VK Group A
96 kph in 1st, 6,200 rpm in top, not bad for its day... ah, memories!

[primera man]

You just cant beat that sound of a V8 going through the gears to its rev limit each time..........makes the hair on ya neck stand up.

[Thunda Downunda]

Yeah, you're right there, Primera Man.

Any personal V8 favorite as regards sonics? My old VK had the 3 inch exhaust and sounded grouse, really mellow.

A friend of mine leases a VT Gen 3 SS 6 speed, alas dead-quiet but the damn thing does 160 in 3rd ... with THREE gears left to go!

[primera man]

I'm from the old school......Holden HQ ...350 Tunnel Rammed chev...used to mainly drag race it till i sold it (should never have parted with it ).

Would love one of the new HSV's, but at $100,000.00NZ for a new one is way out of my league.

[Thunda Downunda]

I agree, hard to justify the $$

Where I live the WRX reigns supreme, or pretends to:

A mutual friend has an old Q'ey, pretty average in the body, chocolate brown etc, but with a fairly stock 454 and glide. A nice usable streetster though, and he put it together for a mere A$5,500.

Recently I watched him go against a razzed-up STI Sube, you know big bucks and with all the gear and more, and MAN it was no contest - the Q'ey just ATE it!

[primera man]

...chalk one up for the "old school".

Tell me dude.....i've just had a work mate come back from a holiday in Aus and he tells me that the Ford's are doing better in the sales and marketing then the Holdens.
He said he saw more Fords then Holdens.
He was in Both NSW and Qld for 6 weeks.

How true is this ????