VZ SS and LS2 owners, if you had your time again...

[crisso]

Guys,

I am new around here, but certainly not new to Holdens. Although I am a HUGE Holden fan, I am currently on leave and shooting around town in an XR6T. The time has come to start looking at my upgrade options and nothing short of a V8 will suffice.

So, my questions are:

To LS2 owners - If you had your time again, would you go HSV without hesitation?

To VZ SS owners - if you had the money, would you go HSV or stick with the SS?

The dilema I find myself in is I would want a Clubsport R8, but I can't see the value. If I throw $55k at an SS, 3000kms down the road, I could spend the extra that I would have spent on a clubbie on an APS TT setup and kill anything that lines up at the lights :)

hhmmm or I could just stay in the T, so confused.

Any feedback would be welcomed.

crisso

[V82xist]

I suppose it all depends on what you really want.
I've seen a totally stock auto VZ Clubsport pull consistant 13.3s at Willowbank on a hot night with traction control left on. So if you don't want to mod a car and have an awesome bit of kit it's probably your best bet cause later when LS2 edit comes out etc. you'll be able to get that also and have a cutting edge package. If you want to build the fastest thing you can for your $ right now then you'd be better off getting the SS and go through the numerous go fast options. That leaves your T to last as from talking to a fair few T owners they just don't seem to be as cost effective as the LS1s i.e. they cost more to mod and need a lot more maintenance and brake more transmissions etc. A modded T will be harder to sell later and from what I've heard use a fair bit more fuel than the LS1 & LS2.

I'd take the R8.

[VOGUE]

HIGH BUDDIE IVE HAD A VX SS WENT FROM THAT TO A VYR8 NOW TRADING IT IN ON VZR8.ONCE YOU HAVE A HSV YOU ALWAYS WANT A HSV JUST REMEMBER A TAXI WILL ALWAYS BE A TAXI IMAGINE IF YOU TURBO A 6LITRE.REGARDS HAPPY HSV OWNER :cool:

[HSVMAN]

If you have the money? There is simply nothing in the "new" price bracket that will come close to the LS2. I love driving my VZSS but then I hop in an LS2 and there's no comparison :D

[dpac]

ONCE YOU HAVE A HSV YOU ALWAYS WANT A HSV :

Couldn't agree more. I just sold my Senator and bought a Vy s pack, and am ready to sell it. The things you get with HSV are heaps better IMO It's a whole package.

If i were you i would keep the XR6T for a while until you know what HSV do e.g HSV get the 6.2 and SS get the LS2, then i would consider the SS. Hmmm LS2 SS Ute M6

or wait a another year Hmmmm LS7 SS AWD UTE :lol:

[BlueVZSS]

I am happy with my choice of a VZ SS. I number of things influenced my decision:

1. I think that it is a reasonable compromise between performance and features. A few nice to haves in the interior, not too heavy compared to Fords and others and the last (maybe) edition with the LS1. There has been 7 years of performance development in the aftermarket space, so lots of options for upgrades and of course the PCM can be edited now;
2. Cheaper insurance than some other options with comparable performance;
3. The VE Commodore will be out next year and spending a lot now on a different option like a HSV concerned me a little. I must admit to being very tempted by a Clubby but a got a very good deal on a demo VZ SS so the difference was all of a sudden significant. I could have afforded either and even a VZ Monaro is a good option if you don't need 4 doors or a boot :booty:

You need to weigh up what you want out of the vehicle and make you decision based on that. I figured that I would get a VZ SS now and then get into a VE Series II or next model when I got rid of the SS. Always avoid buying the first model in a new car if you can. ;)

[nols1yet]

Just a small side note. Seeing how holden are making the SV6 and SV8 look the same as the SS, i would not be surprised if they continued to shoot themselves in the foot by making the VE SS look and act basically the same as a CLubby, forcing HSV to take some drastic measures in the designs of their cars.

[SV8VY]

HIGH BUDDIE IVE HAD A VX SS WENT FROM THAT TO A VYR8 NOW TRADING IT IN ON VZR8.ONCE YOU HAVE A HSV YOU ALWAYS WANT A HSV JUST REMEMBER A TAXI WILL ALWAYS BE A TAXI IMAGINE IF YOU TURBO A 6LITRE.REGARDS HAPPY HSV OWNER :cool:
Dude take the caps button off as this is refered to shouting on any forum

[jed55]

As an ls2 owner it's a no brainer, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Just clicked over 7k now and its feeling stronger all the time.

It all comes down to want you want from your vehicle. For a drag star or dyno queen I would get an sv8 and bring on the mods. For a quick, nicely kitted daily driver then the HSV is the way to go IMHO.

My daughter has a vy2r8 with catback exhaust and edit and is pretty damn strong, but driving it after my ls2 it feels doughy and soft.

As V82xist said, a bog stock auto ls2 runs 13.3 consistently and I imagine that the cost of modding a VZ SS up to that performance level (engine, brakes, suspension, drivetrain, etc.) would bring it close to the cost of a clubby anyway.

In the end, whichever way you go, you will have a nice ride. :)

Cheers, John D

[Clint]

Crisso
BlueVZSS pretty much sums it up. What a dillema to have!
I've had my VZ SS just on 3 months and love it. Having owned a VTII R8, the VZ is pretty much sorted today. I think the HSV badge gives you that little bit more passion as opposed to the Holden badge. Jeez if your pockets can stretch to the LS2, man go for it. The comments from LS2 owners are wild.
My situation is that I use the car as a daily driver. I visit customers for work, leave it parked on the street, park it in city car parks, park it at the airport etc and I used to stress every time I had to leave it anywhere. I dont mind as much now as there are more SS's on the street and they get lost with the SV6/SV8 look as well.
But with the VE getting close, do you wait for a well sorted VZII or pick up a VZ? Most people would say stay away from a new model - VN, VT, VE, until the Series II release.
As JED55 says, you will be happy with any of the choices!

[BEN 189]

Crisso, i think you should listen to your heart (and your mates) and buy a V8, doesnt matter if it is a 5.7 or 6 litre, as long as you come back to the mighty Lion, we will be happy!

[gasguz]

Go the HSV if you have the money, nothing worse than spending your hard earned folding stuff, only to have that little bit of regret down the track. Even worse is pulling up to the lights next to the car that you were going to buy, and thinking "that could have been me". But seriously buy what you want to. I can tell you that in my garage is parked a VX SS M6 with a phat exhaust, dumped on its guts and big stereo, right along side a VX2 R8 A4 pretty much stock except for glass roof and sat nav. The poor SS sits there like the ugly relo from the bush that no one talks about. The poor thing does not get treated the way it should. Considering it would hose the R8, and is more fun to drive.

They have the best slogan ever, I JUST WANT ONE....
ps, anybody want to buy a SS :lol:

[crisso]

Thanks lads, love your feedback.

In reality, I probably cannot afford an R8 Clubsport, but it has some extras that are not present on the standard Clubsport.

Maybe a Maloo R8 would be the go

haha

thanks again, certainly something to think about.

Chris

[SSFreak]

JUST REMEMBER A TAXI WILL ALWAYS BE A TAXI

I hate this. They're used as police cars too. BMWs and Mercedes are also used as taxis in some countries. Will they always be just taxis as well?

[ROARZ]

The dilema I find myself in is I would want a Clubsport R8, but I can't see the value. If I throw $55k at an SS, 3000kms down the road, I could spend the extra that I would have spent on a clubbie on an APS TT setup and kill anything that lines up at the lights :)

Mate, this is exactly what I did. I bought the VX SS brand new, enjoyed it as it was, and then just spent the money I saved from the HSV model (and a bit more) on upgrading the SS. Now, I certainly can't complain about the package I have ended up with. Having driven around with Maverick in his V2 S3 Monaro, I can tell you the package as it comes from Holden is pretty sweet on it's own. Sure, it's a LS1, but let me tell you that there is PLENTY to be extracted from a LS1 right now if you want to go that route. There are dealers that will honour your warranty from day one if you get mods done by specific tuners prior to delivery too... I which case, you can have your SS cake and eat it too...

Given your last post on budgets, if you want to get a new V8 now, go the VZ SS now, and consume the menu of upgrades at your regular services over the next three years. You will be happy. Only tip I would throw in is to ensure you tick off the premium options when you order your SS to ensure it's fully loaded with "comfort" goodies prior to delivery...