VE Commodore named best Australian car

[Nikked]

Not many fans of this decision...(taken from Street Machine's Share of the article...)

• How much did it cost holden to buy that?
  
• Hope they aren't talking about quality.
  
• No way in the world mines rubbish !
  
• Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
  
• For 2.17 billion dollar govt investment it would want to be good...
• Why did ford only get 1.1???
  
• Wheels favoring a GMH product? Thats brand new information.
  
• I would say he is getting some good bonus's and smoking some hardcore crack!!
  
• worst holden i have ever owned trading it for a nissan

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by smoo

As for the VE being the only clean sheet Aussie designed car ever, how about XA, EA, BA?

BA is an evolution of AU.

Originally Posted by xr gr8

Lets not forget the VE was holdens "billion dollar baby"
R&D was massive......iirc three times that of the FG!
......still don't rate it though.

I believe their "billion dollars" covered the sedan, wagon, ute, Statesman and (ridiculously) the marketing budget. FG was just the sedan and ute with no marketing budget and it didn't have to be designed for LHD.

[Auslandau]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Clearly they gave this list the wrong title, it should have been "significant".

Agree ..... and if they did then it would have to go to the Terri for many reasons. Despite its few flaws in the early years it is now one of the best all rounders, born at the right time, Australian designed and powered by an Australian engine. It is very complete. It is nowhere near as bad as some say with many just listening to the loud absolute minority.

...... and for the VE lovers out there ...... please don't come onto a Ford site and then whinge that the Ford fraternity have a bias towards Fords? THAT gets a bit weird.

And yes .....I think some mags are running out of stories! What better way to get people talking!

[MyForce6]

I'm assuming wheels mag forgot about this?

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=47129


Also I always thought the Ford Falcon was totally Australian designed and made?

[BHDOGS]

typical wheels ******** ford rules foreverrrrrrrrrrrrr yeh number 1 number 1 whoop whoop

[flooded one]

falcon utes a better car then holden ute. something the AU-FG utes have over the VE ute. load capacity!!!

[flooded one]

Originally Posted by MyForce6

I'm assuming wheels mag forgot about this?

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=47129


Also I always thought the Ford Falcon was totally Australian designed and made?

but holden is Australian says all my holden loving mates that buy opel styled commodores

[arronm]

We have EF, AU, 2 x BA2, BF, BF2, and a VE and for an everyday car I would choose the VE. BUT Im a ford man.

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

BA is an evolution of AU.

Yup, and XA was a reskinned XY and EA was an evolution of the X series chassis.

List seems reasonable except for the Monaro, I would probably have slotted the L34 Torana in its place.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by arronm

We have EF, AU, 2 x BA2, BF, BF2, and a VE and for an everyday car I would choose the VE. BUT Im a ford man.

Of course you would, it's a generation ahead of the B series Fords you own.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

Of course you would, it's a generation ahead of the B series Fords you own.

Yep true I have only had a short time in an FG. Would have to drive them back to back. But I do luv the VE.

That said the BF I drive is 2008 and the VE came out in 2006.

[GCRXR6]

[QUOTE=Kieron;4701807]Yup, and XA was a reskinned XY and EA was an evolution of the X series chassis.

Nothing like an x chasis.

[GCRXR6]

Originally Posted by MyForce6

I'm assuming wheels mag forgot about this?

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...rticleID=47129


Also I always thought the Ford Falcon was totally Australian designed and made?

It was from the XA onwards ... don't tell anyone though

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

There was a lot of misinformation being spread at the time of FG's introduction. Many were expecting a BF re-skin based on some comments made by the then yank president of Ford Australia- turns out the only element carried over was the rear suspension which itself was only ~5 years old at the time. 80% new isn't a re-skin.

Ford Australia has a history of evolving platforms (that they designed in the first place) and that shouldn't be held against them just because Holden went from using an ancient recycled Opel platform to finally designing their own as part of a larger GM global rear drive platform plan that was ultimately abandoned. Sure, given its export program the VE could be called a more significant car overall as it showcased Australian engineering talent in the (at the time) largest car market in the world.

But the "best" Australian car is the FG Falcon, it won every review against the VE. The turbo FGs in particular- nothing has come close to them since they were introduced. It was probably a mistake on Wheels' part to use the word "best"- you simply cannot label the VE "better" than FG when your own reviews rated the FG as the better car of the two. Clearly they gave this list the wrong title, it should have been "significant".

Well thats pretty much what I said in my earlier post. Which is "best" between the VE and FG? They're so close it doesn't matter. Interesting points on the FG's "newness" - the caliber of the FG really is testament to the skill of Ford Australia. But the VE is more "Significant" simply due to the amount of money spent on it, its export program, it spawned the Camaro, etc... Who knows what would have come of it all had it not been for the GFC and soaring Aussie dollar. Regardless of how good either of them are, the FG has done nothing to showcase Aussie skill beyond our shores.

Originally Posted by Auslandau

Agree ..... and if they did then it would have to go to the Terri for many reasons. Despite its few flaws in the early years it is now one of the best all rounders, born at the right time, Australian designed and powered by an Australian engine. It is very complete. It is nowhere near as bad as some say with many just listening to the loud absolute minority.

Yeah all very good points, and it could have gone number 1 but at the end of the day its still based on the Falcon and is only sold in Australia so I guess thats why the VE edged in front of it.

Originally Posted by Auslandau

and for the VE lovers out there ...... please don't come onto a Ford site and then whinge that the Ford fraternity have a bias towards Fords? THAT gets a bit weird.

Of course we're all biased towards Ford to a degree, but so many on here take it too far. Its more about Australian design talent and ingenuity than some irrelevant Holden vs Ford argument for me.

Originally Posted by smoo

As for the VE being the only clean sheet Aussie designed car ever, how about XA, EA, BA?

Out of those 3 examples the EA is by far the biggest update, but even it was heavily based on the XF. The BA wasn't even a re-skin, it shared its doors with the AU!

[Kieron]

XA sat on the US derived XY chassis using US derived engines, brakes, transmissions and diffs. Styling was modelled on the US Ford 'Coke bottle' styling and if memory serves, was penned in a US design studio staffed with Aussies though?

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

Well thats pretty much what I said in my earlier post. Which is "best" between the VE and FG? They're so close it doesn't matter. Interesting points on the FG's "newness" - the caliber of the FG really is testament to the skill of Ford Australia. But the VE is more "Significant" simply due to the amount of money spent on it, its export program, it spawned the Camaro, etc... Who knows what would have come of it all had it not been for the GFC and soaring Aussie dollar. Regardless of how good either of them are, the FG has done nothing to showcase Aussie skill beyond our shores.

I'm sure the FG impressed a few kiwis though

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by GCRXR6

FG a reskinned BA? ... you really are tranquilised.

Having stripped both to bare metal, yes Ford really did their homework with FG.
Apart from rear suspension, the only things in common: BA front/rear seats fit into FG Floorpan, the FG dash frame still utilises the 2002 BA mounting points on the floorpan and firewall, thermo fans in engine bay are BA/BF items. The FG's lower steering column shroud is a BA item. Every other panel, module and fitting was a new design.

[mik]

The fg and the commy are both great cars, at least it's not an import getting the award.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by Eldubayu

Totally agree. Teri are awful quality wise (the first ones, at least), and BA was the defib Ford needed after the AU heart attack.

And how the hell did the Charger get in there, they were right up there with the Leyland P76 in handling and poor fit. The steering was like a PS3 game, absolutely no feel.

VE is deserved winner .................. Although the cynic in me suggests that Holden (GM) advertises a lot in Wheels Mag.

What are you talking about???? The HQ Holden shouldn't be in there for rotten handling, rotten braking, rotten acceleration, rotten fuel economy, and serious rust issues. The Charger was a hell of a car, nothing like a P76. Don't know what you're talking about awful quality with a Territory. Have you actually owned one???? Mine has been no trouble at all. Go back and drive your Prado.

[EVLKNEVL]

Originally Posted by stevz

Seriously, this Holden vs Ford rubbish is well and truly in the past, its Aussie vs Imports now.

Who invented that rule? Are people not free then, to choose what they support and what they don't?

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by EVLKNEVL

Who invented that rule? Are people not free then, to choose what they support and what they don't?

I think he is trying to say its not 1977 anymore, Ford, GM, and Chrysler make the same type of car and come from the same country.
Silly to hate each other.

Hate the Japanese and VW and others they are fighting.

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Hate the Japanese and VW and others they are fighting.

Why? VW, for setting the build quality benchmark? Japanese (and Korean) cars for setting the value for money benchmark?

Who cares where a car is made? Judge the product, not the origin.

[MethodX]

Originally Posted by NX74205

Why? VW, for setting the build quality benchmark? Japanese (and Korean) cars for setting the value for money benchmark?

Who cares where a car is made? Judge the product, not the origin.

Where the car is made or what brand it is is everything.
Its the car culture we all follow.
Or else go drive white camry's

Hate japanese for copying everything and taking food out of the mouths of western workers. reason enough.

[EVLKNEVL]

Originally Posted by MethodX

Where the car is made or what brand it is is everything.
Its the car culture we all follow.
Or else go drive white camry's

Hate japanese for copying everything and taking food out of the mouths of western workers. reason enough.

I don't hate any of them. What a waste of energy, hating a vehicle factory.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by NX74205

Why? VW, for setting the build quality benchmark?

Is that meant to be a joke?


VW's reputation for quality and reliability is woeful, perhaps you should do a google search and see the long list of owner complaints. Give me a Commo/Falcon any day.

[Nikked]

Titanic thread has just hit the iceberg...

[MyForce6]

From a mate of mine:

Lol at the imported crate motors that Holden resorted to in manufacturing the "greatest Australian made car in history". The VE was such a great car that it forced Holden Aus to hold their hands out for a "few" Australian Government bailout dollars at the taxpayers expense. What Commodore or HSV would do a 12 second quarter mile off the showroom floor......NONE! The FG XR6T, G6ET, FG F6, and any Miami blown FPV will destroy a standing quarter mile in the 12 second bracket straight off the showroom floor. The current Falcon/FPV is a more refined vehicle/drivetrain package. Lol at the NSW Highway Patrol VE SS Commodore that got its **** handed to it by a NSW Highway Patrol FG MK2 XR6T at a dyno comp the other day. The XR6T pulled a healthy ~220rwkw, while the SS pulled a laughable 184rwkw. Pathetic! And it's no wonder that these muppets at Holden Australia are too gutless to hand their flagship HSV over to any motoring reporter for a comparo against any FG FPV.

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by flappist

1 HQ Kingswood

They obviously forgot that when the GM bosses came out here in 71 they were shocked at how bad the HQ's handling was, even though it was their best selling holden ever.

[TMC]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

They obviously forgot that when the GM bosses came out here in 71 they were shocked at how bad the HQ's handling was, even though it was their best selling holden ever.

On the plus side, you could fix a HQ with a bit of fencing wire and a hammer. I remember the 202 HQ my sister had. The harmonic balancer always needed hitting back towards the motor before it worked it's way off the engine. There was no bolt for it onto the crankshaft, just press fit. Then it drove the accessories off the harmonic balancer, not a pulley bolted to the inner ring. This meant the outer ring used to slip around on it's bit of rubber, then you didn't have a clue where the timing mark went in relation to TDC. If you tried advancing the timing it didn't even run, it would just stall.

In comparison my 75 XB V8 was refined.

Why wasn't the XB Falcon in there. That would have been Fords biggest selling Falcon. I think they sold something like 560000 of them, but I could be wrong.

[stevz]

Originally Posted by TMC

On the plus side, you could fix a HQ with a bit of fencing wire and a hammer. I remember the 202 HQ my sister had. The harmonic balancer always needed hitting back towards the motor before it worked it's way off the engine. There was no bolt for it onto the crankshaft, just press fit. Then it drove the accessories off the harmonic balancer, not a pulley bolted to the inner ring. This meant the outer ring used to slip around on it's bit of rubber, then you didn't have a clue where the timing mark went in relation to TDC. If you tried advancing the timing it didn't even run, it would just stall.

In comparison my 75 XB V8 was refined.

Why wasn't the XB Falcon in there. That would have been Fords biggest selling Falcon. I think they sold something like 560000 of them, but I could be wrong.

XB sold nowhere near that, I don't think the HQ even sold that many. IIRC the highest selling Falcon was the XF.