VZ Commodore Info?

[babyjb]

Does anybody have any info, or web pages to visit, on the VZ series (is that what it will be called?)? I'm thinking of getting an R8 near the end of the year, but would wait a bit longer if the VZ is just around the corner. Will the next R8 be better than the TS50? Is the current R8 better than a TS50? I saw a recent magazine that placed the TS50 in front - just.

[Downunder]

It will be called VY. The HSV's are looking at getting around 270kW standard.

The ford does have a better chassis but the holden isnt too far behind. Also it depends if you want to modify the car? If so the LS1 is the go as you will be able to get close to 300kW with just bolt ons. If the VY HSV's gets an updated engine maybe over 300kW will be achievable. The fords engine is at the end of it's cycle and the only other way to get more power is to go internal and/or give it forced induction.

[Thunda Downunda]

Interesting Q & A ..

Sorry, no web-sites or VY info from me, but my 2c worth says of the current models TS50 is now very competitive against R8 in every way .. except perhaps looks and public opinion. Maybe the latter will wake up by the time you re-sell, but previous Tickfords have taken a hammering on the resale. Then again look at the depreciation hit Holden-engined VT V8's took after the LS1 appeared ..

However, look deeper as a 'driver's car' as opposed to being saddled as a junior Mark Skaife :aug2: and T-series Falcons impress.

Notably more precise steering, better chassis & handling - as mentioned above - and shifter. Although the Windsor (historically it's the final rendition worldwide of this multiple Le Mans, Bathurst etc winner) is being PHASE-d out after a 40 year heritage - who knows, that and T-series rarity may ultimately help resale? - it's still a wonderfully charismatic powerplant. Better torque, nicer note that the 'Dore and also individually hand-assembled in Melbourne with goodies like Yella Terra heads etc is hard to ignore.

FoMoCo's upcoming (is it October?) replacement 'modular' OHC V8's apparently aren't as exceptionally torquey as Windsors, nor is the LS1 for that matter.

Finally, a mate's LS1 SS cost 'only' $1,200 to insure - I wonder how these 'tuner' cars compare with that, and each other?

ps: So it's the VY huh, not VU? Thanks for that and lets hope during the Clipsal 500 this weekend that supa-shnoz-Skaife goes hard .. into the fence, that is ..

[Downunder]

Yep VY it is, cause the VU is the Ute.
I hate skaife also . Too much of a control freak

[Thunda Downunda]

dammitdammitdammit !!

he won the 1st :zx11pisse

man those HRT cars are fast .. almost a second a lap
where's the parity?
(where'd they hide the nitrous?)

maybe tomorrow Faulkner might try hitting Skaife - instead of the wall as per usual
I couldn't stand another year like last :coolguy:

[Jimster]

I hear that the VY will replace the Opel Omega in Europe- which I think is pointless because the Commodore is built on an Omega platform and it will be little more than a facelift

[Thunda Downunda]

I hear that NZ will one day become a state in Australia - which I think is pointless because NZ is built on the Tasmanian platform and will be little more than a liability

[Downunder]

I can't stand HRT anymore. My fav team is Larry Perkins Racing.
Go the Enforcer

[Jimster]

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda
I hear that NZ will one day become a state in Australia - which I think is pointless because NZ is built on the Tasmanian platform and will be little more than a liability

Over my dead body it will :finger4: Everybody knows that 99% of NZers (Including most of parliment) laugh at the thought

But seriously I hope the next Commodore will show us all that Australia is capable of making more than just badges

[Thunda Downunda]

quote from Jimmy_11_cars
Everybody knows that 99% (etc)

Fair enough Jim .. and I hope you were as amused by my riposte as I was by your well-aimed post.
As for 'Federating' NZ, despite those 99%, the collective fear of BOTH our countries is that NZ will evolve into such a basket-case economically it may prove imperative .. and inevitable

Which neatly leads me into your 'car badges' reference:
Look, frankly the US to a great extent virtually controls and decides the fate of auto-industries in all English-speaking countries, including OZ, the UK & Canada - with perhaps protectionist India being the exception. But FYI the OZ automotive industry exported well over NZ$5 billion in 2000 (up over 30% on last year, with similar growth predicted) the majority being NEW badges attached to NEW cars. 15% went to Kiwi-land (don't choke).
You make great cheeses tho ...
Contrast this with New Zealand where I'm told the major auto industry is importing used ~ read second-hand ~ japanese cars .. apparently many of which are previously stolen contraband

.. and I am in awe of your descriptor of our auto industry (which includes Falcon btw) as making "just badges". Is that really the way you 'thunk'?

[Jimster]

Originally posted by Thunda Downunda
quote from Jimmy_11_cars
Everybody knows that 99% (etc)

Fair enough Jim .. and I hope you were as amused by my riposte as I was by your well-aimed post.
As for 'Federating' NZ, despite those 99%, the collective fear of BOTH our countries is that NZ will evolve into such a basket-case economically it may prove imperative .. and inevitable

Which neatly leads me into your 'car badges' reference:
Look, frankly the US to a great extent virtually controls and decides the fate of auto-industries in all English-speaking countries, including OZ, the UK & Canada - with perhaps protectionist India being the exception. But FYI the OZ automotive industry exported well over NZ$5 billion in 2000 (up over 30% on last year, with similar growth predicted) the majority being NEW badges attached to NEW cars. 15% went to Kiwi-land (don't choke).
You make great cheeses tho ...
Contrast this with New Zealand where I'm told the major auto industry is importing used ~ read second-hand ~ japanese cars .. apparently many of which are previously stolen contraband

.. and I am in awe of your descriptor of our auto industry (which includes Falcon btw) as making "just badges". Is that really the way you 'thunk'?

Well Commodore- Omega platform, Buick/Chevy Engines and running gear (But Aussie tuned in the case of HSV) with Aussie badges Stling and Supspension

Falcon-I am pretty impressed by the Falcon- only problem is that some of the running gear is from te origional-from 40 years ago

But still the Fords and Holden's are very popular among our cops and taxi-drivers and fleet-leasing markets.

Although RE the imports: The only stolen imports taht come here are Mercs Beemers and Jags and not many at that and in April pre-1994 imports will be banned from our shores, which I am all for.

Although there has been a surge in sales on European viechles due to a shitty NZ$ vs Yen but nice NZ$ vs Euro rate

[Thunda Downunda]

Oz has 4 car manufacturers and over 200 major automotive component, tooling, design and engineering firms - creating more than mere badgework.

Interesting info on the imports. May I ask the negatives of pre-1994 imports, and why you support banning them?

Overall, Falcons prove to be the most durable passenger car sold here - generally better than so-called winners like Mercedes, Toyota etc. Fleet, cop & taxi owners buy 'em for a reason after all. For example taxi owners here regularly report 700,000+ k's easy, then only an (inexpensive) head reco and on to one-million+ from one engine, diff etc. Solid units. Exporting natural-gas Falcon taxis to places like Hong Kong etc is worth a mention.
But apart from amazingly using identical engine bore-spacing as the original 1960 144cid Falcon (!) and perhaps using rear semi eliptics on wagon/ute (which is no bad thing, as about 70% of all Falcons are fitted with towbars) i can't see any usage of 1960 running gear - or detriment in doing the above, for that matter

[replicant_008]

noticed the dialogue so I thought I'd butt in

The pre-1994 imports don't pass the current frontal impact regs so no more are to be imported (there's a complete glut of them at present as the importers brought in boatloads before the deadline). The imports have brought the average age of cars down since they became commonplace. (although the last time I was in Oamaru I decided it was the place Hillman Avengers, Vauxhall Chevettes, Holden Toranas go to die - and we won't comment on Gore).

The WOF inspection regime is also now very strict on rust which will hopefully rid the world of the really sick puppies. Pity there's no emission rules other than > 10 seconds of visible smoke (yes that's the test!) - and maybe there will be less of the diesels which are poo-brown from the crap out of the exhaust...

The other thing about long term costs of running a Falcon is that the Watts Linkage rear end (and the Hotchkiss rear end in the 'wagon) also doesn't have camber change or vary in toe-in under load. The trailing arms on the back end of a 'dore toe-in and have a lot of camber change with loads. This manifests itself as faster wear on the inside of the rears - especially in the older HSV/SS models. The toe control arms (a la Lotus Carlton) help but even the wishbone IRS on the back of a Falc (whilst better than the trailing arms) has a higher wear rate than a watts linkage rear end.

PS I can't see a Federation either - we can't even get open sky rights to Australia, sell chocolate, grapes or apples there.

[replicant_008]

One other thing... someone could describe the Commodore as an Omega platform, contains modified Buick or Chevrolet power train but I think the sum of the parts is less than the finished product. It's a good value for money car built to seat 5 comfortably and to a price of around USD 15,000. Show me anyone else who can do that.

You could look at a Maserati 3200 GT and say it uses Ferrari engines and the automatic's out of a Falcon or an AC Cobra which used a Ford small block and a velly British sportscar body! Both are pretty amazing cars and the 'dore and the Falc' are - I can't think of anywhere that can build such roomy, solid cars for the pesos.

On the other hand some of you note that I drive one of the new Mondeos - so I must be a Euro-phile huh? Well, just because I choose to drink Shiraz tonight with my dinner doesn't mean I can't enjoy a few cold beers with the lads after footie tomorrow. Same with the Commodore and the Falcon - driven both and like 'em both too.

[P Stewart]

From what I have heard, the VY will have a 5-Speed auto standard and the interior centre dash will be sikmilar to the current Magna.

I hate HRT too.