New vs Old: VE Commodore SS-V vs VZ Commodore SS

[mikmak]

In case anyone missed it, I got married recently. My boss was nice enough to let us use his cars, both of which I have coveted since i started with the company (Well technically he only got the VE a year ago).




Part 1: 2004 Holden Commodore VZSS GenIII 5.7L V8 6M RWD

I picked up the VZ, the day before the wedding. Carefully backing it out of the bosses garage was a nail biting experience as clearance was about 3 inches either side. It had been professionally detailed that morning and the last thing I wanted was a nice big gauge out of the Impulse blue paintwork. So there I was, sweating away in tasty blue leather sports buckets. They were supremely comfortable and the seating position was as ideal as I could have hoped.

As I rolled out of the driveway, I familiarised myself with the heavy clutch and an ease of takeoff that you only get from big cubes. Shifting to second, it became obvious that the action was really pushing around some heavy duty machinery. It was nice and firm though weight of the stick and long throws mean you would have to be well versed and very commited, before launching this beast into any tarmac battles. Instead, I relaxed and rolled on the impressive though not intimidating wave of torque, revelling in the mildly deep rumble of the throttle blips as I downshifted from 3rd to 2nd. Flexing the ankle on the exit of corners failed to create too much trouble as I had kept the traction control on for my entire custodianship. Let's not forget that this is the bosses car.


The interior was well presented. Familiar panels and shapes were lifted by tasteful and sporty application of upmarket materials and colours (leather door inserts, silver touches to the wheel and shifter, as well as more detailed and colour coded instruments).
The biggest lift came from the excellent seats. The leather was glove soft and even though this example has done over 78,000kms, showed no signs of significant wear.


Another interesting point about the gearbox, is the moonshot gearing for 6th. I really couldn't see how it was useful in Oz. Its too tall for the track and really only good for cruising above maybe 150. It may be more appropriate for use in its export market (ME) but its one thing that Holden should have tackled. They had plenty of time as the GenIII and T56 Tremec have been in service since around 1999.



The Monday after our wedding, I had to return the vehicle. Before hand, I took my lovely new bride for a moderately spirited (in her eyes) tango through the hills. Even though I had driven her in the VESSV (more on that later) only 2 days ago, she still asked if the boss was interested in selling the VZ which is much more attainable for us at the moment. Unfortunately it's not on the market yet, though he is looking at getting another VESSV because he likes the new green. I'm guessing that would push the VZ to the bottom of his garage so there is hope still.


Now for the main event.

Part 2: 2006 Holden Commodore VESSV 6.0L V8 6M RWD

I only got a brief in this rocket ship, but let it be known that I treated it with the utmost respect and care. After the ceremony, I took the helm
with my best man as co-pilot and my brand new wife in the back seat with her bridesmaid.
I have to say that I was more than excited to drive this car though when the time came, I was obviously more smitten with
my blushing bride. Still, sitting in those leather seats (flatter and not as comfortable as the VZ) and kicking over the latest generation of my favourite car makers hero model, was an event to savour.

My head, still swimming with freshly released endorphins, was flooded with a deep loud rumble of the top option quad sports exhaust, struggling to contain concussive reverberation of the fire within. The clutch and shift were immediately compliant. Unlike the last generation, this shift was short, accurate and fluid, with an excellently weighted third pedal, basically disowning any relationship to its only slightly older brother. The interior was from another planet. Fit and finish were stellar, the lighting of the instruments purposeful and the view ahead was utterly intoxicating. It seriously took all I had to gently climb up the hill from the wedding venue, without putting my foot through the firewall.


The road from my wedding to my father inlaws house (where the photos were taken) is a 20 minute mix of thrilling corners and torque hungry hill climbs through rolling macadamia and pineapple farms. It was a perfect setting (and one that I am extremely famialr with) for loosening the collar. I didn't really want to but at around 1800 rpm the bellowing exhaust creates an unnatural cabin resonance that would really annoy me if i had to live with it day to day. So I dropped a cog and it disappeared...along with my dad who was following in the VZ.

Even taking into consideration my own familiarity of the road, I had no problems at all with the A-pillar (as has been mentioned in other reviews). In fact I felt quite the opposite. Never have I been so in command of a motor vehicle. There was no need to feed in further input when chasing apexes as the inside tyre was already there. There was no need to anticipate throttle inputs because when you think about it, it's already happened. Linking together corners was so effortless that I could savour the very reason I was there.

A phenominal car on a winding road, two dear friends and my beautiful wife;

Although it pales in comparison to that moment when you give your life to someone you love so dearly, this was truly an event that will live with me, as another perfect part of what was the most perfect day.

[BBDOS CV8]

These boxes like a rev, Mik. When you nudge the limiter in first it qoes to second like a knife through butter with a much softer action. You have to be a little more deliberate with the 2-3 shift to find the gate cleanly. There's Vokswagen Golf GTi in Brighton still smarting from my snap 1-2, where he holeshotted me off the line (AWD/DSG) when I spun the rears and bounced off the limiter, but his went to second earlier and my snap shift saw me walk past past his door. After second he lost interest......... The clutch is heavish though. I didn't pick on him, he picked on me twice when I got a roll on him first time.

As far as the moonshot gearing, it is for the flat. The SS like mine has a 3.46 rear and 0.5:1 top. On the open road or any moderate hill it will romp up with no problems, and is one reason why my car regularly returns 8l/100km on a legal 100-110km/hr cruise on cruise control. Mind you, the Munro is a bit slipperier than the 4-doors, which seem to use 0.5-1km/100 more in the same conditions.

Best consumption? Last year coming home from Mt Gambier in coolish condiitions on a heavily-patrolled holiday weekend in the early morning, I drove home without using cruise. I pulled into the driveway with over 1/3rd tank showing left after 475km. Worked out to 7.6 l/100km when I filled. That's 30.95USmpg or 37 ImpMPG. It is easy to beat cruise control, because you can anticipate hills by edging up speed before and feathering the throttle sooner before the crest.

Now, it would be fairer to average it both ways, because from Ballarat-Melbourne it is basically rolling downhill with the throttle closed for 50km. Going the otherway up through Rockbank and Gisborne, it will pull top at 105 but feels like it doesn't like it so I put it in fifth until I'm up the worst bit. I still think it would beat 8l/100km overall.

When low-flying on the Dartmoor-Digby road between Hamilton and the border, at 140km/h the car will go up anything in top @2,500rpm and returns exactly 10L/100km or US 24/Imp 28mpg according to the instant readout.

Apart from split Adventra coil covers replacing the turtle and a GTS smoothbore MAF pipe my car is stock as a rock - even tyres.

PS: Your missus is a cracker, you lucky basket!

[mikmak]

Yeah, I did notice that it responded well to extra berries. To be honest, although the VESSV was otherwordly, it was like an amusement ride. Certainly plenty of fun, but with ESP on, it didn't really need a wrestle and I love to wrestle The VZ felt more like I was taken to task. There was involvement in the new boy, but it was somehow homogenised to the point of not needing to really commit yourself within the realms of public roads anyway.

Standing side by side, the generation gap is clear. Driven back to back so is the challenge. I'd get the VE for the family, but on my own, I think I'd rather wrestle the old dog.

...though maybe the 05 6.0 VZ

[zetaman]

http://www.evolutionendshere.com.au/video/

If you haven't looked at the above website the chapter "Detailed Features" compares driving a VESS-V Ute with, and without, the active safety features. Pretty much makes high speed driving idiot-proof and worth the look.

And congtrats on your big day...

[377Z]

Is anyone in a position to compare tendency for axle tramp on take off on the VE in comparison to the previous gen? I had a 2004 GTO & it was unbearable. I'm hoping they designed it out with the suspension geometry.

[mikmak]

You're taking off in third.