SS vs XR8 and the winner is......

[MercurySilver]

only 4 pages?
shesh, i wouldve lost that bet

[Dave R]

With all this talk about the Falcon's sub-par seating, I actually took my VF and FG for back to back drives today specifically to compare the seating position (what else do you do on a Sunday arvo?). I really don't see what all the fuss is about. They're both super comfortable and easy to find a good position for spirited driving. They just do it differently. I'm well over 6 ft too.

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Holden's great marketing at play, the VE wasn't a billion dollar baby, the VE models R&D costs PLUS plant & equipment upgrades including new presses etc came to a Billion dollars.
Has anyone really ever been told how much was actual car and how much was plant and equipment upgrades. Plus VE gestation was unusually long as they considered options from sharing existing platforms to finally going it alone on a clean sheet.

I don't know how true it is, but back in '06 I remember reading that the initial VE marketing budget was also stuffed into the billion dollar figure.

[Sorted]

Originally Posted by graphicgoose

My mate has a VF SSV ute and he jumped in my car the other day and I asked him about the seating position and he said "Yeah, you sit higher...but it's not uncomfortable or anything."

And that is FACT right there ....

[XR Martin]

They need to revive this ad

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by Adrenaline

With all this talk about the Falcon's sub-par seating, I actually took my VF and FG for back to back drives today specifically to compare the seating position (what else do you do on a Sunday arvo?). I really don't see what all the fuss is about. They're both super comfortable and easy to find a good position for spirited driving. They just do it differently. I'm well over 6 ft too.

I'm 6'5" and the FG seating is woeful. I have to have my seat back gangsta style so my head doesn't hit the roof, then the steering wheel sits in my lap. In it's defence i have to do this in a lot of cars.

My old clubsport was great though, nice and low, felt like i was driving the car, almost seating like the WRX which is great also. I feel [the FG takes away from my driving experience, i don't feel like im "driving" the car if that makes sense?

Anyway, im a minority as im quite tall, but the VF and VE definitely have superior seating position for me.

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

They need to revive this ad

image

They can just for ***** and giggles. But the sales war is already run and won. The commodore is likely to sell 4:1 and advertising won't bring any friends over for falcon, and it ain't necessary for sales.of the XR8.
Those who buy one will know what they have purchased, they don't need any advertising. XR8 is clear winner here in this category where Braun over brains is the criteria.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

I'm 6'5" and the FG seating is woeful. I have to have my seat back gangsta style so my head doesn't hit the roof, then the steering wheel sits in my lap. In it's defence i have to do this in a lot of cars.

My old clubsport was great though, nice and low, felt like i was driving the car, almost seating like the WRX which is great also. I feel [the FG takes away from my driving experience, i don't feel like im "driving" the car if that makes sense?

Anyway, im a minority as im quite tall, but the VF and VE definitely have superior seating position for me.

That's basically how I drive the FG as well, seat back and steering wheel all the way out which creates a bit more leg room under the wheel. I really don't mind it but it's a personal thing I guess.

[arronm]

This is how you get leg room under the wheel.

[arronm]

Look ford mustang getting it. Just not for AUS

[SensationFG8]

And this is how you purchase the best currently available aussie V8

[arronm]

Yep thats the new XR8.

This is what you look at inside. I hope they change at least something before I get mine in 2016.

Now not being to familiar with FGs, dont flame me if its the old model as I really dont know the differance.

No flat bottom wheel.

[GTP534]

Originally Posted by SensationFG8

And this is how you purchase the best currently available aussie V8

image

I reckon it looks great!! Got that Falcon Bird of Prey look about the front.

To me, although I do like this colour, Smoke is the best colour for it, Smoke is Smokin!

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by arronm

Look ford mustang getting it. Just not for AUS

image

So that's the 2015 Mustang ?

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by arronm

Do you think anyone will order it in green

Hey, just noticed guy is driving on the wrong side. This isnt an AUS car. What the hell is it........ I thought it was the G6

image

Do some research, it's a Taurus ....

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

Correction, it needs a ROI twice as much which it hasn't.

Fair point, but how do you know this is the case?

[kypez]

Originally Posted by richo77

And its that thinking that has led local Ford manufacturing to the predicament it is in today.

If the XR8 pretended to be a Euro luxury car, it has lost its purpose. The G6ET is the luxury car with the 8 way seat adjustments, etc.. XR8 is a muscle car. The reason Ford is where it is today is because people dont want muscle cars. They want "refined euro quality" cars. Australia's car culture has changed. But I digress.

XR8 is a muscle car. I also dont understand everyone crying foul about the XR8 vs SS comparison, the SSV (which is the same price as the XR8) has the same engine as the SS and same tragic gearbox. This was about grunt, the SSV wont keep up to it either! They didnt compare handling and braking in the test.

[arronm]

Originally Posted by Barraxr8

Do some research, it's a Taurus ....

Googled Fg-x colours and that came up. All those cars look similar so dont blame me, and only noticed something was wrong when driver was on the wrong side.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by kypez

If the XR8 pretended to be a Euro luxury car, it has lost its purpose. The G6ET is the luxury car with the 8 way seat adjustments, etc.. XR8 is a muscle car. The reason Ford is where it is today is because people dont want muscle cars. They want "refined euro quality" cars. Australia's car culture has changed. But I digress.

And that's why there's an SSV Redline ... luxo-oriented sports sedan. Holden don't need to do anything with the engine, they know that more people want luxo than muscle. It massively outsells HSV, and dealers are discounting the crap out of Clubbies to no avail. Ford did the right thing not pointlessly throwing money trying to cobble together a few gadgets. Well priced, and only lands the punches it needs to. People shopping for SSV's and XR8's want different things.

[uniacidz]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

Basically park them on the same flat ground and get some measurements from floor to sill, floor to seat base, floor to bottom of wheel, floor to dash, floor to top of door opening, and both bottom and top of window opening. Any number you can compare that will help compare the actual seating heights.(oh and not just the actual heights, anything that makes you FEEL like your sitting lower or higher. Gap between dash and roof lining or a pillar size for eg)
Don't forget XRs or sports models may have slightly diff suspension heights. I'm sure if it's factory a suitable number can be found to correct if that's an issue.

Ok, now i do not have the latest cars to compare.
But happy to provide measurements on what i had and currently have.
No access to newer models anytime soon, someone else will have to help in that department.

All measurements in millimeters

Old EL XR6 (car is dead, long gone but have these measurements)
Head to Roof - 50mm
Bottom steering wheel to leg - 30mm

VX SS 2001 (current)
Head to Roof - 180mm
Bottom steering wheel to leg - 60mm

Other Measurements VX SS
Floor to Roof - 1000mm (front of windscreen roof lining to floor)
Bottom Seat Base (where back rest meets base) to Roof - 960mm
Inner of front Seat(where base meets backrest) to Floor Firewall(under accelerator) with seat along rail at furthest back position - 1240mm
Steering Wheel to Floor - High setting Point - 434mm
Steering Wheel to Floor - Low Setting Point - 373mm
Steering Wheel width - 380mm
Floor to sill - 58mm
Floor to Seat Base (rear bottom) - 110mm
Floor to top of dash - 750mm
Floor to top of door opening - 950mm
Floor to bottom of window - 640mm
Floor to top of window - 1300mm
Top Dash to Roof (angled measurment) - 360mm
Pillar A to B - 900mm
Pillar B to C - 920mm
Boot Depth - 1100mm
Boot Width - 1650mm
Rear Seat Belt extended length - 1400mm
Front seat belt extended length - 1800mm

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by b0son

Fair point, but how do you know this is the case?

The obvious would be based on the inability to keep manufacturing here and continually rack up loses while receiving government cash, grants, incentives and offsets equivalent to it's opposition companies combined similar receipts. The not so obvious is my contact in the treasury dept. of the company.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Dr Smith

The not so obvious is my contact in the treasury dept. of the company.

Wouldn't you need to have contacts in both companies to conclude one model had a better ROI? Profit/loss doesn't tell the full picture. For one, Holden made TWO cars at a loss, how do you know how much loss is the Commodore's fault?

[Dr Smith]

Originally Posted by b0son

Wouldn't you need to have contacts in both companies to conclude one model had a better ROI? Profit/loss doesn't tell the full picture. For one, Holden made TWO cars at a loss, how do you know how much loss is the Commodore's fault?

Maybe. As to which made a greater loss it's not hard to pick the Commodore. The Cruze wasn't exactly a Holden design and wasn't the program most effected by exports being cancelled thanks to GM US.

[Fordman1]

Originally Posted by arronm

Look ford mustang getting it. Just not for AUS

image

That's not the new Mustang interior.

[SensationFG8]

You are right SS buyers do want something different, they want to be last...

[duaned]

Originally Posted by SensationFG8

You are right SS buyers do want something different, they want to be last...

FOOL!

[SensationFG8]

We're allowed to have our fun while XR8 is on top, we've had months of people droning on about the SS this or GTS that. Now it's our turn, XR8 wins in the areas that matters for a muscle car, pretty simple.

The SS is now the inferior performance car and the reviews are all pretty much in agreement there. If you want to cheer for the SS there is always the ls1 forums, I'm sure they'd love it.

[responsef6]

SS
Second Sucks

Actually what's more relevant

Second Slower

[LoudPipes]

SS
Still Selling

[Bent8]

I have been waiting for these reviews because I just knew Holden's 6.0 would have no chance against the Mighty Miami.

380kW vs 260kw and I'm not even going to bother mentioning the difference in torque output... how embarrassing for Holden right now...

Who cares if the XR doesn't have useless gagdets like lane departure assist, it has the looks, it has real V8 power and of course the most important part, it sounds like thunder!

We might even see the XR8 being compared against some Euro muscle at some point...

I gotta say, I have never been more proud to own an XR8!

[Wretched]

Considering the XR8 is essentially a GT R spec I wouldn't have expected it to be outperformed by a lowly SS.