Vauxhall VXR8

[Ferrer]

...or the Holden for brits.

Why can't we, continental europeans, have fun...?

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Oh yes I LOVE YOU GM!

Another well-priced muscle car with an average interior and Neanderthal driving characteristics... gotta love 'em

[IBrake4Rainbows]

The VE is hardly a neanderthal driving experience, as MSN and Cyco will attest.

You guys have been spoilt. getting aussie cars. it's better than you deserve

[2ndclasscitizen]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

...or the Holden for brits.

It's better than that, that's not a Holden, it's a HSV. In this case, the Clubsport R8, 6ltr LS2 V8, 307kw, 6spd, massive AP Racing brakes, 275 rear tyres.

[Ferrer]

Great, but the rear spoiler has to go...

[Wouter Melissen]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Great, but the rear spoiler has to go...

It needs more stickers though!

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

You csn't buy one though, so don't worry about it!

And it IS Neanderthal compared to the more delicate pieces of machinery it is likely to be compared to. It's not a bad thing- it's brash, loud, and a bundle of fun. Think of the VXR8 as a primary colour, simple and designed to please, compared to the BMW M3- a secondary colour, a piece of technomachinery.

[motorsportnerd]

Originally Posted by IWantAnAudiRS6

You csn't buy one though, so don't worry about it!

And it IS Neanderthal compared to the more delicate pieces of machinery it is likely to be compared to. It's not a bad thing- it's brash, loud, and a bundle of fun. Think of the VXR8 as a primary colour, simple and designed to please, compared to the BMW M3- a secondary colour, a piece of technomachinery.

I don't think it'll be compared with the M3. And only really patriotic Aussies would compare a VXR8 (or a HSV) here is the equal of a BMW M5, Audi RS6 or Mercedes E500 in pure outright terms. But as soon as value for money is added to the equation, the Holden looks pretty good. The VXR8 will be a good match with other cars in the same price or lower price brackets (Subaru WRX STi, Mits Evos, Golf R32), while being a value for money alternative to the high performance sedans.
I haven't driven this version of the Holden - only a base six cylinder version you guys won't get. As IB4R mentioned, I can say that the chassis dynamics are very solid. Up to very high speeds. The six cylinder doesn't have the grunt to exploit the chassis like the V8s. The handling limits of the six cylinder Commodore are so high that when combined with the relative lack of grunt, the six-cylinder car is actually a little boring to drive on the road within normal speed limits. The only real issue I have with the Commodore dynamically is that the steering is too light for my tastes. But that's not a serious criticism. Most professional Aussie motoring journalists think the steering has just the right balance between lightness and feedback. I'm sure the V8s are better anyway.

[crisis]

Originally Posted by IWantAnAudiRS6

You csn't buy one though, so don't worry about it!

And it IS Neanderthal compared to the more delicate pieces of machinery it is likely to be compared to. It's not a bad thing- it's brash, loud, and a bundle of fun. Think of the VXR8 as a primary colour, simple and designed to please, compared to the BMW M3- a secondary colour, a piece of technomachinery.

Its a mans car. If you wanna drive around in a Ford Focus or a Golf GTI and think you have a sport car fine! Plenty of girls do!

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Originally Posted by crisis

Its a mans car. If you wanna drive around in a Ford Focus or a Golf GTI and think you have a sport car fine! Plenty of girls do!

My point precisely unless you're trying to burn me, in which case bite me and we'll have a guitar showdown to find the loser...

[crisis]

Originally Posted by IWantAnAudiRS6

My point precisely unless you're trying to burn me, in which case bite me and we'll have a guitar showdown to find the loser...

I will loose the playing contest but my guitar looks cuter!

[IBrake4Rainbows]

The Commodore Calais V has been compared to some marvellous pieces of German Engineering (BMW 550i, Mercedes E430) equivalent cars in engine size and general features. the car trounced the BMW, and was only marginally behind the Mercedes.

All for 1/2 the price. Sounds like a bit of a bargain to me. and to cap it all off you don't have to cop jokes about it being a blunt instrument, because while it can do things like that, it's also far more capable.

10 bucks says TG take this thing round the Nurburgring

[IWantAnAudiRS6]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

The Commodore Calais V has been compared to some marvellous pieces of German Engineering (BMW 550i, Mercedes E430) equivalent cars in engine size and general features. the car trounced the BMW, and was only marginally behind the Mercedes.

All for 1/2 the price. Sounds like a bit of a bargain to me. and to cap it all off you don't have to cop jokes about it being a blunt instrument, because while it can do things like that, it's also far more capable.

10 bucks says TG take this thing round the Nurburgring

The Omega was a fantastic piece of engineering, but because of the badge people were put off. Similar formula, but GM have learnt now- hence the lack of a slightly plusher model being available.

I'm not surprised that it trounced the BMW, as making the perfect car (the E39) was too much for them, so they raped it. Ther fact it came close to the Merc surprises me, but Merc's build quality of late may lay testament to that. And if it's an Aussie magazine, you can expect some margin of bias to come into it- no matter how professional they are. They do it in Britain with German cars, you know.

And on the subject of that- I don't know about the 'Ring, but it'll definitely get on the programme. We love cheap, fast speed. A shame there isn't much that's really cheap here.

[motorsportnerd]

Originally Posted by IBrake4Rainbows

The Commodore Calais V has been compared to some marvellous pieces of German Engineering (BMW 550i, Mercedes E430) equivalent cars in engine size and general features. the car trounced the BMW, and was only marginally behind the Mercedes.

All for 1/2 the price. Sounds like a bit of a bargain to me. and to cap it all off you don't have to cop jokes about it being a blunt instrument, because while it can do things like that, it's also far more capable.

10 bucks says TG take this thing round the Nurburgring

Wheels magazine compared the Calais V with the BMW 550i and Mercedes E500 and said that the Calais V was better than the 550i regardless of cost and while not as good as the E500, it was much closer than it had any right to be.
Motor magazine compared the HSV Senator with the Audi S6 and Mercedes E63 and thought that it compared favourably - though gave the nod to the E63.

[Ferrer]

Mercedes-Benz E430?