SS Crewman

[RobboXR6T]

Hi guys,

It has been ages since I've been here so I've missed a heap of discussion. Sorry if this has been discussed before.

I'm looking at buying an SS Crewman. Does anyone here own one or know much about them? It is hard to find any performance details on the net other than the usual specs such as torque and kW.

I'm currently driving a BA XR6T, standard 240kW, 5 speed manual. It goes very well and I enjoy driving it. I need a ute for work and also have kids to ferry around occasionally so the Crewman is perfect. I'm a petrol head too so to drive a V8 again will be great.

Thanks in advance.

Robbo

[ACT_Cross8]

I need a ute for work and also have kids to ferry around occasionally so the Crewman is perfect.

If the kids are over about 12yo, forget it.

[RobboXR6T]

Is that right? So much for calling it a Crewman then. Maybe it should have been called, Sidekick & 2 Dwarves. I have a 12 and a 10 year old. Long trips out of the question then? Looks like the wife might be getting a new car too. Shite !!!!!

[daabido]

Just take them when you go for the test drive. Five minutes around the block and two deformed backs later, you'll be convinced...

As an added bonus, you can sue Holden for the kids' physio!

[C4B]

As far as the back seats in a Crewman go, you wouldn't want to sit in them for a drive from Brisbane to Sydney, but I've had heaps of adults in the back of mine, and the biggest complaint is that the backrest on the seat is very "vertical".

Let's face it. Anyone that sits in the back of your car isn't very high on the totem pole, so what they think of the seats really doesn't matter. ;)

[ACT_Cross8]

Personally, I've never travelled anywhere in the back of mine, I always drive ;) . The problems are the near-vertical seat back (agree with C4B), plus if you slide the driver's seat forward far enough to give a tall-ish backseat passenger enough leg room, you have to drive with your knees around your ears if you are around 6 foot yourself.

Sure, take it for a spin and see what the kids reckon. They won't be 10 and 12 forever though, and certainly won't get any shorter :rolleyes: . Still the best car I've ever owned though :D :cool:

[RobboXR6T]

Thanks for the info guys !!!

[DEVOJET]

I had four adults in mine on a trip from the Gold Coast to Mackay and didn't get too many complaints. I regually go on trips with 3 or more adults in the car to go jetsprint racing. I'm sure the kids will be fine just get the DVD player option. If you get the manual I would suggest getting the diff ratio changed to 4.1:1. I went from a manual XLS 6 cylinder falcon to the SS manual and was very dissapointed with the gear ratios. It struggled towing my 700kg boat of the mark. the 4.1 diff ratio makes a huge difference if you are going to be towing or carring loads. The lower diff ratio also makes it much easier to drive around town and makes 6th gear useful. I never used 6th before I changed the diff.

[SS-Dan]

Ive got an VZ SS Crewman, and similar to DEVOJET I tow an enclosed bike trailer around to races. My kids are only 8 & 4 and have no probs in the back even on long trips. Before I got the crewman we used to take my wifes SS sedan. The Crewman is much better for us because of the room in the rear(ute bed), id hate to be doing the same thing with a Jap 4d ute.
Devojet- Im hearing your comment about the gearing, You have to doing over 120 before you can use 6th with a trailer on the back. I was thinking of puting in 3:46 gears ,anrt the 4:11 to low ? what rpm's are you doing at 110 ?
Cheers Dan

[chevypower]

you would be silly not to at least wait a month and have a look at the new Navara crew cab with the 200kw V6, leather seats etc- will be out next month, then if you choose the Crewman still, well you at least compared it with the best of the rest. I would skip the Thailand built Hilux SR5, but would still prefer it to the Crewman

[DEVOJET]

SSDAN, you don't want 3.46 gears as that is what my VY came with standard. the 4.1 gears are great and are not too low. in first the crewman gets off the line much easier and 6th is usable at 100kph even when towing and the back loaded up. they make the car much nicer to drive. when towing on a long trip the fuel consumption went from 16l/100 down to 13.5l/100. in 6th at 100 it sits on about 1800rpm I think. check out the Diff reveiw thread there is heaps of info there. The only down side of the 4.1 diff gears is that they are a little noisier than the other ratios but if you turn the radio on you can't hear them.

[v8 ute]

I have an auto SS Crewman, lowered, with 3.73 gears twin 2 1/2" exhaust and mafless tune, it goes great and tows very well. I average 11.4L/100km and 15L/100km when towing my 1 tonner.

I have had plenty of adults in the back some for upto an hour and they don't think it's all that bad.
My kids spend upto 2 hours at a time driving in the back and they don't complain (they wouldn't dare ;) )

It's the most practicle vehicle I've owned, you can tow 2.5 tonne, carry 5 people, throw an engine in the back and it's nice to drive.

I've also taken out the middle headrest for better rearward vision, lowering the ride height helped too.