And the V8 dilemma begins... Buying new with limited options.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Polyal

I have never seen a mummy driving round in a gs, plenty of families with ss's though. We laugh at AFM et al but it helps get the deal done.

True... Holden sure seems to know its customers so much better than Ford know theirs.

[prydey]

just go buy a XR6T. that is your only option if you want to stay blue, but don't want to fork out for a v8. apart from the noise, it is probably better than the SS in every way.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by b0son

True... Holden sure seems to know its customers so much better than Ford know theirs.

[Shonky.]

Originally Posted by prydey

???

I agree with the comment. I reckon AFM would be much better at saving sales than fuel

[gtxb67]

it seems to me that you only need to answer one question

are you a ford man or a v8 man

you do not want ford's v8 or turbo 6 so your only options are to choose either a blue car or a v8 powered car

if you choose the v8 option, hopefully your interest in v8's will last long enough to keep you interested. the gm v8 would want to be good to accept an inferior car

[fourl6]

As mentioned, have you looked at the Chrysler 300C? the brand new model has just been released although the only V8 option is the SRT8 at 66k. there is another cheaper V8 model coming next year (according to Car Advice)

[Bossxr8]

You want a V8 but one that doesn't go too fast.

So what's the point???? Just buy a 6 then.

[FG50T]

Fact 1: The GS is far from 'sound barrier warping velocity'.

Fact 2: You will not get a VE SS with AFM under 16L in city use I've tried and I failed.

Fact 3: A GS with options ticked is IMO nicer than a SSV

Fact 4: Holden do have much better run out deals.

[FTE]

If your a Ford man and not Holden, dont buy the SS. Look for a low km FG XR8 or 5.4l FG GT and you wont be disappointed. If you have your heart set on a V8 you will wait and find the right one. Dont kid yourself that all secondhand cars are bad, because not all new cars are good.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by b0son

True... Holden sure seems to know its customers so much better than Ford know theirs.

Ford has customers?

You want the feeling of being pushed back in your seat, but without breaking traction or sliding into the nearest tree.

Ever thought about turbo diesel? It pushes you back in your seat, feels like you're going fast as, 10 seconds later you crack 60km/h

I personally reckon sounding like a truck is tough

BMW 123d is extremely powerful for what it is, small car Focus size but 2L twin turbo diesel engine with 150kw @ 4000 RPM and 400nm @ 2000 RPM with a 6sp manual, its even RWD, you'll pick up late model ones for around $40K. Same engine size but 50kw more power and 60nm more torque, 0-100 in 7 flat seconds so its no slouch, to boot it even uses two tenths of F/all fuel, around 6L/100km.

[zoomie]

Originally Posted by I8hsv

Maybe just get one of those v8 sound things u plug into your lighter socket and be done with it problem solved

Yeah then buy a Australian built holden cruze and bingo both bases covered

[b0son]

Originally Posted by FG50T

Fact 3: A GS with options ticked is IMO nicer than a SSV

The price isnt, and thats before discounting, run-out deals etc.

[falconnut]

why not just get a v8 crate from usa or local and get a decent gearbox and whack that in? Surely cheaper than buying a v8 ss?

[BaraFGXR6]

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated but i think some are having issues with comprehension.

All those saying in favour of the GS - New = 50k for a great engine and not much more. Yeah i could option it up and make it awesome, but then we are looking at more $$$ for things that should come with an FPV.

I also couldnt give a flying **** about fuel economy. Will be going manual which is no AFM anyway.
And diesel... holden cruze?
Glad we can maintain maturity whilst speaking about an option for a v8 that dosnt have a supercharger on it (which has been covered in several threads why there are people that want a v8 without a blower on it).

Time and time again i here people on here complain about why Ford is loosing customers and that people arnt buying falcons. Im a bloke like many who wants an affordable v8 Falcon that Ford do not sell. Granted the 290 did not do well but there were other reasons for this that we really do not need to go into.

According to most on here this is my fault as a consumer and Holden is smoking crack at offering v8 at a decent price.

Crate motor would mean a new diff and alot of extra money and reliability concerns which is what has swayed me from modding the crap out of my xr6 to hit stock ss/xr8 levels of power.

300c is also out as i would rather buy an Australian vehicle.

[Shonky.]

I don't understand this thread.

The answer is GS/GT or SS/R8.

I don't really understand why you don't want a supercharged car, but if you don't the answer is an SS or derivative of the same.

I reckon you'd get one for $39 driveaway, too easy

[zoomie]

Its funny how the SS/SSV is rated so highly yet when my wifes friend went for a drive in my F6 today she commented on how comfortable it is and how nice it was to drive compared to her late 2011 Redline edition SS....

I asked why she (and her husband) didnt get one of these and she replied that her husband wanted the SS cos its faster than any turbo ford, was of higher quality and Holden is a Australian company....
That comment right there made me just shake my head and walk away and then look at my F6 and go IF ONLY he knew....

[BaraFGXR6]

Originally Posted by shonkymofo

I don't understand this thread.

The answer is GS/GT or SS/R8.

I don't really understand why you don't want a supercharged car, but if you don't the answer is an SS or derivative of the same.

I reckon you'd get one for $39 driveaway, too easy

Best price iv got is just over 38k drive away for a manual SS ;)

I made the thread just to add to the awareness of the issue i find myself in. I apologize if people feel like they have wasted 10 minutes of their life reading what i have to say but given that this is a car forum i really didnt think people would have an issue with the topic. We all joined this forum to discuss fords no? Perhaps i will bring over my archery or hunting talk here for a more engaging conversation.
I posted to have more of an optional discussion for those that have the time or want to contribute. I dont remember holding knife to throat and demanding people reply or asking for ridicule. Not aiming this just squarely at you shonky so sorry if it comes of that way.

If what i say is sacrilegious to some then simply dont post and ignore the thread. Hard i know, but the old saying of "if you dont have nothing nice to say" sort of rings true here.

Is it so hard to accept that not every rwkw or 10th of a second counts to some people that want a v8?

Lets consider the SS and the 315 (or even a demo 315) can be had for the same price.

The supercharged car is awesome in may ways but a burden in some. All that power on tap at an instant is very fun and equally very easy to goto licence shredding limits. I would much prefer a slightly less crazy engine that does not tempt me at every second or is very easy to speed in but still be an 8. Or are you telling me that every single 290 owner is now inadequate as there V8 is no longer cutting edge.

While the 290 and SS are by no means slow or underpowered, i kinda like how they are a bit of a nugget compared to the 315 in the engine department. And they sure as hell are still a step up from my 6.

But at the end of the day a 12k price difference is still a 12000 dollar price difference for an engine that really is a bit much for the street (it really does make the Holden feel slow). It is a bit hard to justify all that extra money for an engine that i feel i can only use 50% of.

Thanks again to all those that replied in good faith

[Kieron]

Originally Posted by nuthin' fancy

The fact that Holden can build a busines case of offering a V8 taxi and Ford cannot is a clear indication that there is no long term support for the falcon platform.

I'm not sure it as easy as that though. Ford introduced the XR6T as well as continuing the XR8, the XR6T was the better seller.

FG comes along, Ford still have both but with the V8 engine change coming up, the business case to spend $$'s on a N/A XR8 presumably wouldn't stack up, after all it pinches sales from the XR6T so a low end SC5.0 in the GS which was already developed for the GT was a cost effective way out.

I'n glad the OP found that manual FG XR8's are pricey still, I have one sitting in my garage which will stay - quite likely to be one of the last Ford Falcon V8's

[Elks]

Originally Posted by flappist

The reason why there is not a N/A V8 falcon is simple.

....

The 5.0 Coyote is a great engine 411hp and good fuel economy.

The factory that makes the Coyote engine is flat out producing for the F150 & Mustang. F150 is more profitable and therefore Mustang production is limited. In the environment where FoMoCo cant build enough engines for Mustangs, building 5,000 engines for us in the antipodes seems unlikely until a change in the suppy vs demand occurs.


Forget the idea of an N/A 5.0 in the short or even the medium term.

The T6 is wild in it's power delivery, and much loved for that. So no surprise your Mrs found it a handful. I said earlier the Miami is docile, there are Miami GS's for $50k, and less for demos. 5.4 Modulars are mostly late 30's and high 20's to late 30's for an XR8. All are fine cars and better than an SSV.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by BaraFGXR6

Time and time again i here people on here complain about why Ford is loosing customers and that people arnt buying falcons. Im a bloke like many who wants an affordable v8 Falcon that Ford do not sell.

the reason ford don't sell them is quite simply, whether you choose to believe it or not, you are NOT one of many. you are a very small minority.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by prydey

the reason ford don't sell them is quite simply, whether you choose to believe it or not, you are NOT one of many. you are a very small minority.

So what actually happened to all those people that brought V8 Falcons historically? They just vanish into thin air...a whole segment?

Id be interested to see the history of Falcon V8 sales vs total market V8 sales and see how the decline happened and perhaps why..thats the issue.

Perhaps its a combination of many factors which all boils down to Ford not reading the market well enough. And dont sit here and tell me they are doing everything right, that they want low production and high profit, thats a cop out.

Whether we like it or not Ford at the moment build great cars that they can afford, GMH do the same but seem to build cars that people want. They listen to the market and adapt, and until Ford sell cars in the same volumes then I simply wont expect that Holdens policy is not the correct one. They have the runs on the board and seem to play the game better at the moment. The announcement of the platform being even more global now is a classic example...whats Ford doing again?

IMO the Commodore and Falcon are moving to more of a niche product, the I6 is great but does everything just ok. No one really aspires to a Falcon 6 and its fuel economy is good but not great..its stuck in no mans land. So if your going to spend the cash on a sporty Falcon then having an affordable V8 is a powerful option.

It gives the "normal" buyers a sense of superiority, like "hey look at me, I can afford to own a large V8 sedan as a family car". Sounds stupid but its true. Miami is just to much for the XR8 brand IMO...its a perfect GT/FPV choice though but given recent events perhaps it wasnt such a genius move after all.

They did what they did and we have what we have, does that mean we have to sit back and accept without atleast being able to talk about options or wants..of course not. There would not be much discussion around here if that was so...just alot of back-slapping.

[zoomie]

I bet if holden bought out a turbo 6 that offered as good or even better performance and economy over there GM powertrains supplied V8 in the SS and then made the V8 HSV only there loyal supporters would sit around and flog themselves silly telling people how good there turbo 6 is and how its the future....

While ford people just sit back and ***** and moan... Yes ford probably should have a V8 option/model in there range but they dont so FPV filled that spot but unfortunately at a price premium just like it would be if HSV was the only way to get a V8 commondore.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by zoomie

I bet if holden bought out a turbo 6 that offered as good or even better performance and economy over there GM powertrains supplied V8 in the SS and then made the V8 HSV only there loyal supporters would sit around and flog themselves silly telling people how good there turbo 6 is and how its the future....

While ford people just sit back and ***** and moan... Yes ford probably should have a V8 option/model in there range but they dont so FPV filled that spot but unfortunately at a price premium just like it would be if HSV was the only way to get a V8 commondore.

yes, you will probably find v8 sales starting receding in 2002 with the advent of a potent turbo 6. same performance, similar or better economy, cheaper to register in many states.....

holden don't offer a performance alternative so of course their v8 sales will be better. many bought v8's because the standard 6 was so bad.

also, the GS isn't a lot dearer than what the xr8 used to be.

to me its the ones who were never going to buy one that make the most noise. when there was one, it wasn't good enough. now that there isn't one, there's all these people that would buy one if there was one.

[galaxy xr8]

I can probably understand to a certain degree the OP's point about the price difference on such vehicles and option list, but what has me lost for word's is the mentality that the GS with a S/C is in somewhat a mean's to go out and speed/hoon or what ever just because it has a S/C but yet the 6L in the SS makes a driver more docile ?.

That I am afraid to say is driver attitude it has nothing to do with the car.

[jpd80]

Now that Ford is less preoccupied with fleet sales of its Falcon, it may start looking at more engine options that private buyers like...

[Franco Cozzo]

Well if you're adamant on a V8, but don't want it to be powerful, it has to be an 8, price is considered.

Buy an EL Fairmont Ghia with a V8?

[irish2]

Get the 6T. I'm a V8 man so I keep an old school 8 for the weekend, but the rush from the 6T is unbelievable. It also allows you to give it a good squirt without attracting much attention. The guys in SS's look the other way when they see that little turbo badge so theres no need for traffic light duels.

[FTE]

Originally Posted by zoomie

I bet if holden bought out a turbo 6 that offered as good or even better performance and economy over there GM powertrains supplied V8 in the SS and then made the V8 HSV only there loyal supporters would sit around and flog themselves silly telling people how good there turbo 6 is and how its the future....
.

VL turbo anyone? still one of the most sort after commodores around

[TMC]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Even in cornering ability ?
SUVs and station wagons are different propositions :-)

Territory's handle a lot better than you would at first think. They do not handle like a 2 tonne vehicle. They handle way better than a Prado or Patrol. An AWD Territory grips like all hell, whereas in comparison an XR6 given a boot full in the wet will slide everywhere.

[EB#]

BarraFG, it seems to me that if you really have a liking for the Boss FG XR8,
then take some time to find a used one that fits the bill. If down the track it
needs some work, then fix it and make it great, make it your own! I reckon a
well maintained V8 should give 100's of thousands of km and great motoring in
it's lifetime.....

As you know, an 09 FG XR8, manual with 60Kkm on it could be had for $28K....
Way cheaper than a brand new SS !

Forget what is allegedly sensible or the best value for money ! Buy the car you
really want is my advice !

All the best with your research and ultimate choice for the 8 banger !