VF Commodore revealed - Official details and pics - Part 3

[steve_t]

What conditions that are unique to Australia cannot be simulated or replicated anywhere else in the world?

Roos running out in front of you, koalas dropping from trees Jokes

Sorry to hear you're receiving angry PM's. I guess it could be considered better than sledging the crap out of you on here... meh.

I guess most of us just like the idea of supporting local industry and maintaining jobs for locals. Heck, I'm not even Australian and I'm only supposed to be nice to you lot on Anzac day but even I wouldn't like to see the demise of Australian manufacturing. You say it's not sad, it's just business but that being the case, business is sad

[Plenty]

What conditions that are unique to Australia cannot be simulated or replicated anywhere else in the world?

Our roads are definitely unique, that's why the $250,000 BMW or AUDI handle like shite on our roads because they are so used to the smooth Euro roads.

The Commodore and Falcon are also tested worldwide, evidenced by the VF ute at the 'Ring'. I have also seen photos of them in Switzerland, NZ and in our alpine areas!

I'm not intending to be rude in my replies to you so don't take offence, i'm just questioning where your basing your opinion, you drive an old LS1 which could mean late 90's to early 2000's so how are you in a position to judge a car you have never really spent time in? A VE is soooo far ahead of your VT/VX it's not funny and there is not much out there to compete with it in terms of size, dynamics etc.

[Jamolad]

Rumor has it the new falcon will get slimmer headlights and no more separation between xr and normal range.

If 2014 Falcon is anything close to this Aston Martin-ish prediction over on AFF, then I reckon they have no need to separate the XR as this looks plenty sporty enough to me: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...&postcount=426

Weird thing is, the front of that is full of sharp straight lines that are now meant to be out-of-date compared to the softer curves of recent models, yet I reckon that looks horn. I'm no Ford fanboi, but that front would make the VF front look very 'soft'.

Will be interesting to see if 2014 Falcon looks anything like that.

[Evman]

All markets go through booms and busts, as an employee, you should be relying upon yourself rather than relying on an employer for security, plenty of former employees here who set up their own businesses and interests

LMAO. What exactly are you saying? That a) all Holden employees should quit and start their own business so that they can have a "secure job", because small business is totally secure. b) If Holden shuts down manufacturing, then they should all start their own businesses, because small business is totally secure, especially when several thousand start up at the same time in the same area. c) Full-time employment is not secure, but starting a small business is. d) Because some people have successful small businesses that means everyone has what it takes to do the same.

Any of the above/combination? Or am I reading you wrong when you say that employers aren't reliable and everyone is better off starting their own business. Everyone.

[Marco]

What conditions that are unique to Australia cannot be simulated or replicated anywhere else in the world?

In global terms it's relatively unusual to drive long distances at high speeds over poor quality roads, and moreso in hot weather. The US drive long distances over well-made freeways; the Euros think 50km on a well-made freeway is a gruelling long distance drive; I suspect there isn't a whole lot of long distance driving happening in Japan or Korea either (why would you - just take the fast train instead).

But this is less and less relevant to modern Australia as people get out of the cities less in their cars (more likely to fly somewhere on holidays now).

[Jag530G]

If 2014 Falcon is anything close to this Aston Martin-ish prediction over on AFF, then I reckon they have no need to separate the XR as this looks plenty sporty enough to me: http://www.fordforums.com.au/showpos...&postcount=426

Weird thing is, the front of that is full of sharp straight lines that are now meant to be out-of-date compared to the softer curves of recent models, yet I reckon that looks horn. I'm no Ford fanboi, but that front would make the VF front look very 'soft'.

Will be interesting to see if 2014 Falcon looks anything like that.

That 'shop of the 2014 Falcon certainly has a VF style bonnet, which seems to be popular on many different makes of cars around the world, first pioneered by Jaguar. Have a look at the bonnet of the Ford Fusion in the wiki-link below, I suspect the 2014 Falcon will closely resemble the new US Ford Fusion (US version of the Mondeo basically). The Fusion will give a pretty good idea to the slim line headlights they are talking about and the Aston style grille.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Fusion_(Americas)

Have to ask though, just how certain is the 2014 restyle of the Falcon??? Struggle to believe the business case for paying for a major restyle of the Falcon actually got approval (or could yet be cancelled). I could imagine a bit of money being spent on the Terry but the Falcon at 700 cars a month now, and who knows how many they'll sell in a year's time???

Cheers, Matthew

[mrtockley]

I agree with a lot of the comments on here in regards to the necessity of an Australian car for Australian conditions. Most car makers test and adapt steering and suspension settings for our Shit roads. Mazda, Toyota, Hundai etc all tune their cars for our conditions. Any decent car maker does hot and cold weather conditioning so it's not like It was 40 years ago when some euro cars used to Shit themselves in our heat. Anyone who says that an Audi, BMW or Mercedes handles like crap on our roads obviously hasn't been in one. The only thing the VF has going for it is the price point. The interior is nice but other than the feminine exterior, it's basically a VE with a few new bits of tech. Not enough for my money..

[Brett240]

As far as I know the drink holders are now bigger.



There is no transmission option for wagon they all get auto. Read the gm media link I posted earlier.

i hope that GM link is just a typo. other 3rd party links ( you would think GM would be more reliable ) have stated Evoke/Calais only. It will be a major drama for a lot of people. I dont even want a commodore unless its a manual wagon. lets hope HSV at least do one.

[C4B]

So you don't think an Australian-built car designed specifically for Australian conditions is worth the exercise? I guess the bean counters agree with you and that's why Commodore is due to end 2016. A bit sad if you ask me, but I guess it's the way of the world

The first part of your comment is the most telling..... "designed specifically for Australian Conditions".

The fact is Australia has shocking roads.... And yet the current crop of cars "Designed specifically for Australian Conditions" have 17" wheels on a Berlina, 18" wheels on a Calais and 19's on an SS.

These days you'd be flat out getting a late model Commodore up a suburban gutter without taking off the front air dam or bruising a rim.

[Jag530G]

The first part of your comment is the most telling..... "designed specifically for Australian Conditions".

The fact is Australia has shocking roads.... And yet the current crop of cars "Designed specifically for Australian Conditions" have 17" wheels on a Berlina, 18" wheels on a Calais and 19's on an SS.

These days you'd be flat out getting a late model Commodore up a suburban gutter without taking off the front air dam or bruising a rim.

Too right. If you want a car built for "Australian conditions", you buy an SUV...

Cheers, Matthew

[Plenty]

I agree with a lot of the comments on here in regards to the necessity of an Australian car for Australian conditions. Most car makers test and adapt steering and suspension settings for our Shit roads. Mazda, Toyota, Hundai etc all tune their cars for our conditions. Any decent car maker does hot and cold weather conditioning so it's not like It was 40 years ago when some euro cars used to Shit themselves in our heat. Anyone who says that an Audi, BMW or Mercedes handles like crap on our roads obviously hasn't been in one. The only thing the VF has going for it is the price point. The interior is nice but other than the feminine exterior, it's basically a VE with a few new bits of tech. Not enough for my money..

Been in plenty of euros none of which ride the course chip as well as our home made duo. Both the FG and VE are brilliant steerers a level of feel that Audi could only dream of.

You say the VF is just a VE with some tech bits? What is missing that other cars have for he same price point? I don't get that statement at all sorry.

[Plenty]

Too right. If you want a car built for "Australian conditions", you buy an SUV...

Cheers, Matthew

Problems is very few of those SUV's are actually built for our conditions anyway.

[jaykay]

i hope that GM link is just a typo. other 3rd party links ( you would think GM would be more reliable ) have stated Evoke/Calais only. It will be a major drama for a lot of people. I dont even want a commodore unless its a manual wagon. lets hope HSV at least do one.

Taken from Caradvice wesbsite -

The SS and SS V badges are also spread across sedan, wagon and ute. SS manuals are priced from $38,990 for the ute, or $41,990 for the sedan (the latter a $5800 cut from the old SS). The SS Sportwagon is auto only and costs $46,190 before on-roads.

All SS models adopt the carry-over 6.0-litre V8 but otherwise mimic the equipment and options line-up of the SV6.

SS V models range from $42,490 (manual ute) to $49,690 (auto Sportwagon) and bring a raft of extras that include 19-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, integrated DVD, satellite navigation, push button engine start, colour digital instrument display, fog lights and eight speakers.

[mrtockley]

Been in plenty of euros none of which ride the course chip as well as our home made duo. Both the FG and VE are brilliant steerers a level of feel that Audi could only dream of.

You say the VF is just a VE with some tech bits? What is missing that other cars have for he same price point? I don't get that statement at all sorry.

Look at the Mazda 6

[Speedy Gonzales]

Roos running out in front of you, koalas dropping from trees Jokes

Sorry to hear you're receiving angry PM's. I guess it could be considered better than sledging the crap out of you on here... meh.

I guess most of us just like the idea of supporting local industry and maintaining jobs for locals. Heck, I'm not even Australian and I'm only supposed to be nice to you lot on Anzac day but even I wouldn't like to see the demise of Australian manufacturing. You say it's not sad, it's just business but that being the case, business is sad

The roadkill test

No apologies necessary, if you cant voice your opinion in public, that speaks more as to who they are, again, I reiterate and find it interesting that people are angry at customers and not at business.

Australian manufacturing and know how wont go away, it just has to improve. That said, if Mazda want to bid to open a plant in Aus, Im happy to subsidise them as they are building cars people want to buy.

Our roads are definitely unique, that's why the $250,000 BMW or AUDI handle like shite on our roads because they are so used to the smooth Euro roads.

The Commodore and Falcon are also tested worldwide, evidenced by the VF ute at the 'Ring'. I have also seen photos of them in Switzerland, NZ and in our alpine areas!

I'm not intending to be rude in my replies to you so don't take offence, i'm just questioning where your basing your opinion, you drive an old LS1 which could mean late 90's to early 2000's so how are you in a position to judge a car you have never really spent time in? A VE is soooo far ahead of your VT/VX it's not funny and there is not much out there to compete with it in terms of size, dynamics etc.

An LS1 uses less fuel, costs less to service, costs less to modify, carries less unsprung weight and size, has Macpherson strut front end and IRS which can also be adapted to coil overs, also seats 5 and has a full size spare in the boot, explain what are the advancements of the VE over the previous generation?

VE weighs more, uses more fuel, takes up more space on the road, costs more to maintain, 270kw? Most here had 300 or more in 04 and in a car weighing at least 150kg less