Motor Journalists need to get real......

[timmyq]

Hi All,
My first venting post! After having my beautiful VZ SS for nearly a year of light footed granny driving, had a mate who can actually drive the thing take me for a ride the other night... Now from the reviews I read of my car, the "motor is too powerful for the chassis", the "gearbox is awful, gear ratios all wrong" & "it handles like an old car which is what it is, being the last on the VT platform", etc etc... I expected my mate & I to be thoroughly disappointed with some spirited driving.. Well, the car handled corners with aplomb, the manual gearbox is smooth & very easy to use, clutch is light & even at higher speeds it felt extremely tight & I felt very safe!
My point, yes maybe compared to a Ferrari or a $200K Merc my car is a "dinosaur" as it had been described, but for little old me this is a fun, powerful & safe car that puts a smile on my dial every day I drive her.
Some journos need to get real & write reviews for the masses, not just the automotive snobs that rate a car on how many valves per cylinder it has & how it handles on a race track. My 2c worth... :soap:

[planetdavo]

Motoring journo's can be snobs, but a lot of what they say about VZ is true.
It was at the end of development, and sorely needed development or replacement. VZ will feel like perfection compared to a VN for example, but compare to the competition, and really, BF Falcon in many ways was a better car. The old chassis/suspension is why most people only get 20,000 kms out of their tyres.
It was replaced with VE, which is a MASSIVELY better car.

[iamhappy46]

A true driver knows how to extract the best from the car, that is probably why you felt safe. Finding and exploring the limits is what journalism is about, to report the news.

The suspension is far from perfect as it was also designed for mum's to drop kids at school. The gearbox can be better, just look at the dual-synchro available for smoother shifting in other brands ;)

Also, think about why so many people on this forum are upgrading suspension/bushes/brakes/tunes because although the car is quite capable, there are inadequacies that are easily addressed.

That said, I know a few journalists like to preach a bit.

[muttley383]

Who cares what others say about the type of car you drive.
If you are happy with the way it drives and performs then that is all that matters.
It also depends on what you are comparing it to and what you have owned previously.

[PBoB]

Who cares what others say about the type of car you drive.
If you are happy with the way it drives and performs then that is all that matters.

My thoughts exactly mate, if you like it and enjoy driving it, then f**k the journo's and their opinions!

[CS1234]

I can understand your frusterations, but that's what their job is, same as what the guys on Top Gear and 5th Gear do.
As per the previous emails, most people change suspension, brakes, clutch
and so on and so on, but if your happy with the car then who cares what anyone else thinks.

[flamed]

Sounds like your happy so what else matters?
As has already been said big improvements can readily be had for a small outlay. just make sure you are the one enjoying the car its much more fun than being a passenger!