Supercharged HSV? - Part 4

[duke5700]

Well there you go, maybe this guy runs a NJCLSX style engine dyno

680HP easily Luke. Got a mate who works for the team and with recent airbox revisions the power has improved

They were making 650HP pre aurora days after all

[Ratsmow]

Gotta agre w ith ya duke about getting off the corner having been involved in karting myself. If you don't get it right it can make a good engine look bad at the end of the chute, and vice versa. Same principles for any form of circuit racing. This is one of the hardest things to teach a kid when trying to find speed, they say my motors no good and you say get the corner right and the speed will come.

[Vulture]

Those rev limites seemed suspiciously like there werent there on that run that would explain the 10s 1/4 times lol Instead of 7500rpm maybe 8500

You could well be right there. Apparently those engines are happy well over 7500 for prolonged periods. Aren't the NASCAR engines happy above 9000 for a whole race? The only reason we are not making 800hp in the Supercars is due to the rpm limit (as I understand it).

[mjrandom]

Driving to work this morning I took note of the cars around me that were around the same sort of cost as the GTS and a few a bit higher. Couple of higher specc'd E class and S class Mercedes. BMWs etc. Some Rangies, Sports and HSE Discos. Even a 200 series Sahara. And you know what? I decided that of all I looked at there was no place I would prefer to be. Even for nearly double the money. Well done HSV.

I experimented a little with torque vectoring over the weekend. Very interesting. I have driven and bogged my fair share of tractors and years ago at uni had access to an off road buggy with turning brakes. While the vectoring is nothing like that severe or abrupt it is still noticeable. To be honest it feels like the steering has ramped up several levels and you get more steering for the same input without the understeer that usually comes with turning in hard. I can see some drivers steering hard then rolling off the lock as the car turns on the inside rear and rotates more quickly than expected. I really think it is going to take a lot of practice and a big leap of faith to use it at full noise on the track. Especially if you go in on trailing throttle.

[GTSLOVER]

For the same price as the New GTS you can import a ZL1 camaro and convert it to RHD. I am not talking about buying one from a conversion shop that they have imported and placed their markup on. You can import your own through them under the RAWs legislation and simply pay them to convert to RHD and have compliance and certification done ready for rego.

I know which one would turn more heads and which would hold its resale better in the short and long term. Not having a go at anyone, just the VF does nothing for me, both the Holden and the HSV look too soft. The Camaro on the other hand still has the muscle car mean look in my opinion.

My biggest dilemma is figuring out which way to go, I need a Chevrolet Silverado or Dodge Ram but want a Camaro or Challenger as well but can only pick one. Decisions decisions. Pretty good decision to have to make though. Lol. Just my 2 cents anyway.

[macca_779]

For the same price as the New GTS you can import a ZL1 camaro and convert it to RHD. I am not talking about buying one from a conversion shop that they have imported and placed their markup on. You can import your own through them under the RAWs legislation and simply pay them to convert to RHD and have compliance and certification done ready for rego.

I know which one would turn more heads and which would hold its resale better in the short and long term. Not having a go at anyone, just the VF does nothing for me, both the Holden and the HSV look too soft. The Camaro on the other hand still has the muscle car mean look in my opinion.

My biggest dilemma is figuring out which way to go, I need a Chevrolet Silverado or Dodge Ram but want a Camaro or Challenger as well but can only pick one. Decisions decisions. Pretty good decision to have to make though. Lol. Just my 2 cents anyway.

Lol your dreaming if you reckon you can get a ZL1 here, pay taxes and convert it for $100k. If it were that cheap, I would of brought a CTS-V years ago

[mattnsw]

Driving to work this morning I took note of the cars around me that were around the same sort of cost as the GTS and a few a bit higher. Couple of higher specc'd E class and S class Mercedes. BMWs etc. Some Rangies, Sports and HSE Discos. Even a 200 series Sahara. And you know what? I decided that of all I looked at there was no place I would prefer to be. Even for nearly double the money. Well done HSV.

I can understand you saying that as a proud owner but outside of the power/performance, the GTS is not even close to the league of some of those vehicles.
Next you'll be saying if you spend 30 grand on mods the GTS will match their high end tech and gadgetry.
The GTS has the common everyday luxury items expected of many Jap and cheap Euros and little of the serious high end stuff.
Do a bit more research on what some of these cars have hidden in them and then you'll understand why high end buyers will still bypass the GTS regardless of how quick it is.

[team illucid]

For the same price as the New GTS you can import a ZL1 camaro and convert it to RHD.

I thought you no longer have to convert to RHD for safety reasons?.

So many American cars and mobile homes I have seen in the last few years are still LHD and no longer appear to even display the caution LHD sign they used to.

[Pickles]

For the same price as the New GTS you can import a ZL1 camaro and convert it to RHD. I am not talking about buying one from a conversion shop that they have imported and placed their markup on. You can import your own through them under the RAWs legislation and simply pay them to convert to RHD and have compliance and certification done ready for rego.

I know which one would turn more heads and which would hold its resale better in the short and long term. Not having a go at anyone, just the VF does nothing for me, both the Holden and the HSV look too soft. The Camaro on the other hand still has the muscle car mean look in my opinion.

My biggest dilemma is figuring out which way to go, I need a Chevrolet Silverado or Dodge Ram but want a Camaro or Challenger as well but can only pick one. Decisions decisions. Pretty good decision to have to make though. Lol. Just my 2 cents anyway.

Have you driven a Camaro? Just asking, because IMHO, the driving position is absolute rubbish, nowhere near as driver friendly as the GTS. Very high dash & low roof, like looking through a "tank Driver's" slit, is how I've heard it described, and I agree. And geez, our VZ GTO was a bit awkward to access the rear seats, but nothing compared to the Camaro, where ya've gotta be virtually a Contortionist to get in & out.
Nothing wrong with the drivetrain of course, however I believe the GTS would be a better car to drive, & would certainly be quicker & more driveable around any twisty bits.
Cheers, Pickles.

[mjrandom]

I can understand you saying that as a proud owner but outside of the power/performance, the GTS is not even close to the league of some of those vehicles.
Next you'll be saying if you spend 30 grand on mods the GTS will match their high end tech and gadgetry.
The GTS has the common everyday luxury items expected of many Jap and cheap Euros and little of the serious high end stuff.
Do a bit more research on what some of these cars have hidden in them and then you'll understand why high end buyers will still bypass the GTS regardless of how quick it is.

You have completely missed the point of my post. For what the GTS is I prefer that to any of the other 'things' I could have bought with the same money. I weigh up what I get with the GTS which includes how it drives, the tech, the performance etc and against my criteria none of the other things comes close. Since there are few GTS demos and I don't recall you on the list for a GTS have you been in any of the new GenF HSVs? Not interested in getting into a debate since it is my money and my choice but I think you should really take the time to suss out the new machines. For the record when I replaced my 4wd earlier this year a Rangie Sport was on the list of options. It didn't cut it. I want to use my 4wd as a 4wd and not be concerned about bush pin striping or getting sand inside or any of the other things that would bother me with a Rangie. I also spent a big chunk of last year testing M3s and C63s and deciding to wait for the GTS. I am glad I did. Perhaps go for a drive in an M3 with 4 big people on board and then find someone to do the same for you in a GTS. Then you might understand where I am coming from.

As for turning heads I am over that and I know I am in the minority but the Camaro doesn't do much for me other than being the donor of some nice bits.

[CalaisBoy]

Perhaps go for a drive in an M3 with 4 big people on board and then find someone to do the same for you in a GTS. Then you might understand where I am coming

Mate, I absolutely agree with this. I do lots of long distance driving. After having had a range of European cars in our family I can absolutely say they did not come close in terms of long distance comfort for big blokes and/or families. This is even more true if you get off the main motorways.

[Jag530G]

I thought you no longer have to convert to RHD for safety reasons?.

So many American cars and mobile homes I have seen in the last few years are still LHD and no longer appear to even display the caution LHD sign they used to.

You can still convert to RHD but rules have been freed up regarding driving LHD cars in Australia, I saw an LHD '57 Chev a few months ago on the road. Performax is a company up here that does importation and RHD conversions for Corvettes, Camaros, Silverados etc.

I'd dealy love to see the rules be freed up even further such that we can buy LHD cars new just like in the UK where you can buy Corvettes and Camaros new LHD from a GM dealer. You pay higher insurance in the UK for an LHD car but you can drive and register it new and it opens up a whole new range of cars that manufacturers deem unviable to build in RHD.

Cheers, Matthew

[Ratsmow]

Gotta run with pickles, I drove a camaro in Hawaii a few months back and out of the three cars I drove over there it was the most disappointing but the one I was looking forward to driving the most. My cv8z would run rings around it. Driving position , handling ,comfort, and the poor kids in the back seat, they would have showed up Consantino getting in there.

[Vulture]

the GTS is not even close to the league of some of those vehicles.
Next you'll be saying if you spend 30 grand on mods the GTS will match their high end tech and gadgetry.
The GTS has the common everyday luxury items expected of many Jap and cheap Euros and little of the serious high end stuff.
Do a bit more research on what some of these cars have hidden in them and then you'll understand why high end buyers will still bypass the GTS regardless of how quick it is.

I'm confident HSV is not aiming to get the very high end buyers with the GTS. I'd say they are aiming precisely at guys like myself and mjrandom. People who are in their 40s-50s, could spend a little more than $100k but are a bit reluctant and who value the performance-value equation highly. People who don't give a rat's about the biased souls who wouldn't consider an HSV regardless of how good it is. There's something very honest about the GTS. It's not at all pretentious. Guys pull up beside me to have a chat, I know if I was in a Porsche the attitude would be "wanker" - sad that this is the case but such is life. My GTS would absolutely tear my neighbour's Audi to shreds on a circuit but he still thinks the HSV is only quick in a straight line. I might consider the next gen C63, especially if they put that turbo 5.5 in it, but I will be paying at least $70k more for the privilege and not sure I want to stretch that far.

I'm genuinely interested in what high end gadgetry and hidden tech a BMW or Merc of the same price has in them that the GTS doesn't.
OK, the HSVs don't have AWD or DSG gearboxes, nor do they have the engine tech to the point of making big power with low fuel consumption as in, say, the E63 AMG S, but nor can you buy one of those for $100K...
I get the impression that mjrandom could have afforded to step up higher in price point but chose not to. I'm getting a little CLA 45 AMG in December and could have (theoretically) got one $190k car instead of that and the GTS but thought I'd have more fun with the two cheaper cars. The only $190k (or thereabouts) cars that appeal to me would be perhaps a GTR (far too harsh and small inside but what a cracker!), Porsche Cayman S, C63 AMG, or maybe a second hand 911 S. The CLA is similar in price to a GTS give or take. It's smaller, higher technology in terms of engine and gearbox but certainly doesn't have anything the GTS doesn't in terms of gadgets. It doesn't even have adjustable damping or a HUD. The proportional AWD system is high tech as is the 7 speed DSG box and high pressure turbo engine (26psi!) and it's the most aerodynamic production car bar none at the moment. The GTS gets its performance with displacement and low pressure supercharging - but who really cares? I don't think anyone would deny at the high end the Germans have more developed technology - especially with their very efficient turbocharging, better overall build quality, but let's not fall into the Euro snob trap and under appreciate the HSVs.

[GTSLOVER]

You certainly can. You just need to stay away from performax and know the ins and outs of the import process. The trick is to to buy a car that is classed as second hand, ie have someone put the car in their name and then onsell it to you and you then dont pay luxury car tax on it. Luxury car tax is only charged on vehicles classified as new. All american imports converted that are classified as new have the LCT added to them due to including the conversion price in the cost of the vehicle. Most of the conversion places will try to sell you what they already have here. I dont think you would have got a CTS V here. Dont think anyone does Caddy conversions apart from the escalade down here.

It can be Done. You just need to be willing to buy through photos and second person inspections and be willing to wait for the vehicle to arrive and be converted. Trust me I know, I am already dealing with a conversion joint in Brisbane and have quotes and prices for all the vehicles I mentioned. A 2013 silverado loaded with all the good gear I get here landed and converted for 65k. That is a 1500 series not the 2500. I am willing to pay a bit more to get that than the povo pack top of the line crap they are selling here.