Hey NA Thunder,

I don't agree with you there....you may be right that the VY SS "feels" like it packs more punch than the XR8, but I can assure you it doesn't. At least not in my experience. I have driven both...my mate owns one as well, and I ended up buying an XR8 after driving both. From my experience they both go hard, and I am yet to be out muscled by any VY SS...the difference is that the suspension setup is soo good on our Falcons that you just don't feel like you are going as fast as you are. The power delivery is much smoother, and when you hit about 4000-4500 revs the things just take off.

You Turbo guys have got to agree that the Falcon is a significantly better engineered vehicle to the Commodore.

Agreed.. totally.. from the suspension tuning, to the interior design - not to mention the engine design.

Does anyone have any info on the new HFV6 for the Commodore? To my understanding it will be in 3.6 and 3.8 Litre variants, and has a max power figure of 190kW. I'd like to see what rpm they produce maximum power. My bet is that the Barra 182 will produce it at a lower rpm.

As we know, power= torque*angular velocity(basically rpm).

So if the Barra 182 engine spun 500 rpm more, it should (in theory) make more power - and I have no doubt, the 182 engine is capable of a lot more. After all, Ford dont want to release the BA and then have nowhere to go for BAII.

Edited July 2, 200422 yr by Ford_Power

Hey NA Thunder,

I don't agree with you there....you may be right that the VY SS "feels" like it packs more punch than the XR8, but I can assure you it doesn't. At least not in my experience. I have driven both...my mate owns one as well, and I ended up buying an XR8 after driving both. From my experience they both go hard, and I am yet to be out muscled by any VY SS...the difference is that the suspension setup is soo good on our Falcons that you just don't feel like you are going as fast as you are. The power delivery is much smoother, and when you hit about 4000-4500 revs the things just take off.

You Turbo guys have got to agree that the Falcon is a significantly better engineered vehicle to the Commodore.

You're right JoeG, I love the XR8, don't get me wrong and if I could afford it, I'd have one, chip it and would have one hell of a beast. Would even be tempted to throw a vortech on it and watch out

Mate, we are all intitled to our opinion. I'm trying to not sound, (Ford, Ford, Ford), so I thought I'd throw in the comment. See, it provoked a response I have only been in a XR8 once. It was a dealor demo model and it was only a newbie so hmm, not as punchy as one that has done more kms. It just seemed to be less punchier on take off than the SS Commodore (new, a mate just bought it).

I'll bet London to a brick that the VZ HSV has a bonnet bulge.

I agree with Wayne about the SS having more punch then the XR8, you only have to look both cars quarter mile times and 0 - 100 times to work that out. SS is easier to mod to with EDIT software.

As stated above, expect to see 260 kw + out of the SS, making it 15 kws faster again then its VY II cousin (which will beat a stock xr8 down the quarter mile).

I just hope Ford is going to surprise us with a new Box and a bit less weight.

I think it will sell very very well, now that GM have got rid of that Buick boat anchor and put a good engine in there..

Don't write off the car at all. The VY was written off as being ugly but it is still selling well, even with that horrible engine.

The S will be a great buy for the money against the XR6 which has had the niche to itself.

The SS will push the envelope against the XR8 which leaves the XR6T in a bit of a hole.

The XR8 is going to struggle. It is too fat, it is branded XR8 but doesn't capitalise on the 'BOSS' brandname and is too similar in appearance(wheels etc) to the other XR's (no clear delineation between models)

I predict that the VZ will be an absolute sales success and Ford are going to have their butt's kicked because they haven't done enough to capitalise on the BA.

If they have Plonky they are keeping some good secrets, but I agree the Expensive Daewoo boys will have us again like a few years ago unless Ford has some fabulous plans other then suspension tweaking and new trims!

The next few months are going to be very interesting for the Australian car industry with Expensive Daewoo and Ford revamping both models its going to hurt Mitsubishis unsucessful Magna even more.

the grill is off the sst concept car

I predict that the VZ will be an absolute sales success and Ford are going to have their butt's kicked because they haven't done enough to capitalise on the BA.

l predict that your prediction is spot on, the next Late model camira is going to wipe the floor with the BA2 IMO. Ford come out with a good car and closed the gap. they have since let quality slip and failed to market the BA effectivley, although that's been their weakness for years. l reckon the next HSV models, when they gain the LS2, are going to be awesome.

I also know that the Police in NSW have been making lots of complaints about the XR series for HWP duty. The XR's are being replaced hand over fist with the Series 2 SS due to a lot of guys not being confident in the way they handle.

Admittedly they are too soft and floaty which makes them uncontrollable.

I personally don't have a problem with the car because my driving style suits the car ( very smooth with deliberate use of the wheel, accel and brake) but it is a technique tthat requires a lot of discipline and practice.

The SS is an easy car to drive very fast as it is much more forgiving in general but it is also easier to lose and not recover from. The threshold on both is very high.

Speaking with Fleet, it is apparent that due to the ordering of SS's to replace current XR's, Ford have been warned that they need to do a proper Police Pack with hard nosed suspension, similar to the SS, or they stand to lose a big contract and street cred.

I'm very sorry to hear this but I must admit that they were warned and quite frankly, the suspension settings are not up to scratch for general HWP work.