I'm really surprised at the ecotec V6

[Solone]

I recently acquired a ecotec V6 (got someone out of some financial trouble). It's a vt2 acclaim auto in great cond with low km.

I added this to my stable of cars consisting of a 230rwkw modded vt2 ls1, a 400+rwkw supercharged falcon and a ba falcon 6 with full exhaust and tune.

My existing stable offers pretty spirited performance. So for a stock ecotec to join the stable is going to feel like the ugly sister. A tough gig.

I've owned a vs ecotec v6 before and my dad still owns it. The vs doesnt feel as responsive anywhere but they are the same motor?? But this vt2 acclaim seems to have very spirited performance. It's in no way quicker than any of my cars above but it's very responsive and dare I say it fun to drive. Anywhere to about 80% throttle it feels very very responsive, it's only at full throttle you realise it's a stock v6, at full throttle my other cars make short work of it but at low to moderate throttle the ecotec v6 is still plenty fun and way more performance than is ever needed day to day.

The vs commodore seems to hold onto higher gears when hitting the throttle which makes it feel less responsive. In the vs commodore you really need to give the throttle a decent shove to have it kicks down. but the vt2 feels much more willing to kick down to a lower gear and charge away even with just a whiff of throttle.. This is also in economy mode both being auto boxes. The vt2 also feels more snappy off the line and more torquey. It's like they run more timing advance???

We have had the vs ecotec from new and it seems to always have driven this way. The vt2 acclaim just feels faster. But they are the exact same spec motor??

All in all those who own an ecotec v6 can hold your head up high, plenty of performance. Fun drive. I have it for sale but I'm liking it more and more every time I drive it.

[macca_779]

Cool story bro...

[itsme4g63]

V6 means more space for a big turbo in the bay :)

[Wonky]

I've only driven 2 Ecotec V6s, both auto VTs and they were both slugs, even for V6. One was my parents' Acclaim and even after I blew the granny dust out it was still a slug.........

[feistl]

I've thought the same, my sisters VX Berlina feels very quick off the line with partial throttle. I'm almost wondering if the stock throttle body is too big, or if the butterfly drive ratio is too fast? Either way I do see what your talking about.

[Solone]

I've thought the same, my sisters VX Berlina feels very quick off the line with partial throttle. I'm almost wondering if the stock throttle body is too big, or if the butterfly drive ratio is too fast? Either way I do see what your talking about.

There also seems to be a difference to the vs commodore with same motor.

[Scottn1au]

We used to own a VT with the Ecotec v6. I thought it went well and I enjoyed driving it. Ended up selling it to the step son for his first car who thrashed the life out of it in the end and put a dent in every panel.

[Woodchukka]

I had a VS with an Ecotec V6. Felt good at lower RPM's but wheezy as an asthmatic sparrow higher in the revs.

[Marco]

Aren't these things known for being good at low to medium revs but then running out of puff at the top end - sort of like hitting a wall? Perfectly suited to the job of powering a big, heavy sedan that isn't driven enthusiastically though. Most "Mum and Dad" Commodore owners aren't into 6500rpm upchanges, they're into just cruising around comfortably.

[feistl]

Yep, perfect for the target audience.

[CLUBRED]

My dads VN Berlina V6 (obviously non-ecotec) felt quicker off the mark (and sounded better in my opinion) over his VS Ecotec V6, our VT SC V6 was a dog mostly but economy was great and the SC whine had a bit of appeal to it.

[zorro]

Until these things hit 3000rpms start shaking, wheezing and make no more power til redline yeah I suppose are a little responsive. Super long gearing hurts them too

Most fun I had with one had a converter, 4.11s and a spooled diff. Subsequently the same car ended up with a 600hp 2jz in it.

Cheap car means cheap eBay ghetto turbo MUST make its way to the engine bay.

[Jag530G]

My dads VN Berlina V6 (obviously non-ecotec) felt quicker off the mark (and sounded better in my opinion) over his VS Ecotec V6, our VT SC V6 was a dog mostly but economy was great and the SC whine had a bit of appeal to it.

Long time ago now, but I'm sure I read in Wheels back when the VN was released that the 125kW V6 produced 90% of maximum torque at just 1200rpm. Plus the early VNs had a pretty aggressive throttle response, not linear at all. Hence the jack rabbit behaviour. Holden gradually got the throttle response under control by the time the VS Ecotec rocked up. The other thing to bear in mind is that the VNs were bloody light cars. The VN V8s could do 0-100 in low 7s, by the time of the VS it was low 8s, Holden strengthened the body shell from the VP onwards to give it some sort of crash safety, downside being the weight gain. Base VN was 1311kgs, base VS was 1385kgs.

Cheers, Matthew

[macca_779]

Long time ago now, but I'm sure I read in Wheels back when the VN was released that the 125kW V6 produced 90% of maximum torque at just 1200rpm. Plus the early VNs had a pretty aggressive throttle response, not linear at all. Hence the jack rabbit behaviour. Holden gradually got the throttle response under control by the time the VS Ecotec rocked up. The other thing to bear in mind is that the VNs were bloody light cars. The VN V8s could do 0-100 in low 7s, by the time of the VS it was low 8s, Holden strengthened the body shell from the VP onwards to give it some sort of crash safety, downside being the weight gain. Base VN was 1311kgs, base VS was 1385kgs.

Cheers, Matthew

VN SS 5 Speed with the live axel rear end made it the best 5L of the lot. So should of kept mine

[whitels1ss]

VN SS 5 Speed with the live axel rear end made it the best 5L of the lot. So should of kept mine

Yeah, I agree with you
I remember my first time driving a VP Series II SS 5 speed manual with IRS after the VN SS and hating the axle tramp it had.

[macca_779]

Yeah, I agree with you
I remember my first time driving a VP Series II SS 5 speed manual with IRS after the VN SS and hating the axle tramp it had.

Yep the live axel was so much more entertaining to drive

[whitels1ss]

Yep the live axel was so much more entertaining to drive

Yeah the old VN SS was just a great fun car to drive in it's day, they even sounded good:yup::burnout:

[Ausmartin1]

My VXII's been absolutely fantastic, always felt zippy from new I really do not need a V8 unless I was to carry a back seat full of passengers and needed to tow something then yes you would certainly feel a need for it.

Rarely these days do I get to experience the old 30 years ago traffic conditions with good drivers so as to really appreciate a good powerful car.
Lets face it on my commute to and from work it probably wouldn't take much longer time wise on a pedal bike in this clogged nanny state.

Pushing similar models with V8' I feel the V6 does a better handling job up and down twisty mountains - why?
Main reason it's lighter up front and the engine is nicely set back.

It's won Ward's Best engine awards numerous times, it is an excellent V6 pushrod unit - but in my opinion it does NOT like LPG conversions prefers petrol hands down.
(It's not the smoothest or hi tech but it's a great little durable work horse if properly looked after)


Yes engines and even cars do vary
- even from the so called Asian quality brands - remember test driving a demo for father which was a slug and the one we got delivered felt like it had more than twice the power on delivery pickup and has been perfectly amazing that way for over 10 years.

So with all the so called quality control etc. there is the odd dud that feels noticeably different with any brand, however In the case of the Ecotec 3800 series, I know GM continual refined it, so it's no surprise that latter ones perform better even though the may "look" the same from the outside. Typical Harley Davidson type approach on that model engine over the years. Americans hated in the past clean sheet ground up designs .... towards the end of the cycle it has it's merits.

[bozodos]

I even thought my VN 5.0 was fast, until it got annihilated by a bolt on RB20DET lol.

Ecotecs are good for skids and shopping carts, also never seem to die despite whatever abuse / lack of servicing. Agree with the low/mid torque, no top end comment, the mrs has a VX V6 and it's like that to drive. Quite amazing actually the difference in driving feel between a stock V6 and my VZ, even pre modification.

VN V6s with the intake restrictor removed were all the rage when I first got my licence, most people grew out of them fairly quickly though!

Would definitely own over an Alloytec powered car.

[Swordie]

Ecotec has it where you need it. I'm very happy with mine. On the highway it's quite economical for a big car.

[Micks]

Ecotec were a very good engine & agree probably more reliable than the newer V6's.
I owned three of them 2xVS & 1xVT found they lose their puff when loaded or towing :(

[Solone]

Ecotec were a very good engine & agree probably more reliable than the newer V6's.
I owned three of them 2xVS & 1xVT found they lose their puff when loaded or towing :(

They do lose a bit when fully loaded but so do most cars. Their 0-60km/h performance is great, also very responsive crusing

[VL Executive]

My parents own a 1998 VT I Berlina Ecotec, With 150,000 km on it. And for a 6 cylinder its pretty good really. Its mostly used for highway runs, and returns 9.3 lts /100 km. It has more than adequate power for the job it does, From standing start, they get going quite well. And when you need to overtake it has good response. Pull out, mash the pedal, it kicks back and goes resonably hard and does not take it long to get to 140 - 50 km/h if you keep up it during an overtaking manouvre. Its no LSx V8, but still holds its own. They have always been a torquey engine in the lower rpm range, and you drive them that way. No point fogging them to the limiter in the high rpms.

I like the old Ecotecs, and prefer them over the early VZ - pre SIDI VE alloytec V6's

[zorro]

For the record we threw an ecotec in a triton single cab and ran a 15.7 at willowbank with the standard triton open diff and exhaust. Could of bettered the time with LSD, tires, exhaust and converter but would of not been the point if the conversion.

[Micks]

They do lose a bit when fully loaded but so do most cars. Their 0-60km/h performance is great, also very responsive crusing
Hardly noticeable in the eights!

[redvxr8clubby]

I would agree about the reliability, the only real problem I had in 13 years with my VS II ecotec was the rear main seal. Not sure I'd go along with the ecotec economy being good. On the highway it was virtually no different to a VX LS1 auto. That said even the 3.6 SIDI VE 6 speed auto on the highway I would say would only be about 15% better than a LS1. I think the ecotec power wise was not bad in a VS sedan, but notably slower in a VY wagon for example - my work VY wagon 2003 to 2006 weighed in around 2 tonnes with work stuff in the back, so a big weight difference to my own unladen VS sedan.