Review: Holden SS Ute 6.0L

[JoeT]

Holden SS Ute, Ready For Work In The City

Joshua Dowling
19 April 2006
www.drive.com.au

Holden’s latest Commodore SS ute may be ready to work but its 6.0-litre V8 means its also ready to play.

Trivia: Sales of locally made Holden and Ford utes have dropped dramatically in the past 12 months, overtaken by imported, mostly four-cylinder or diesel utes. The latest SS ute has a new 6.0-litre V8 engine. Yellow is available for the first time on this model. Apparently it's a tricky colour to apply, so Holden fits a plastic liner in the tray to hide any blemishes on the ute floor and charges $315 for "metallic" paint, which covers the cost of the liner.

Holden says: "The Holden SS ute fires up more than just your imagination. Those meaty 17-inch alloy wheels aren't just for show, either. Together with sports suspension, they back up the performance package for outstanding acceleration, braking and controlled cornering."

What it means: Forget fuel economy, that's for sissies and tree-huggers. We've put a really big V8 in this thing and finally given it brakes to match. You know those 17-inch wheels will be off the car in five minutes, traded-in at your local tyre shop for a set of bling 19-inch wheels.

Who's buying it: The young and the young at heart. Tradies who are making good coin and can handle the fuel prices. Has peer approval in spades. Then there are businessmen who like the convenience and comfort of a car-like ute. They're handy for loading zones in the city, too.

Why you'd buy it: Street cred, car-like comfort and refinement, plenty of grunt, good ride and handling.

Why you wouldn't: The V8 is thirsty when exploring its potential. The Ford ute has a roomier cabin. Holden quality can be a bit iffy.

Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and - finally - bigger discs. Side air bags, traction control or electronic stability control aren't available at any price. We'll have to wait at least 18 months for the all-new model before this stuff appears on a locally made ute.

Cabin: If you didn't look in the rear-view mirror, you'd swear you were in a Commodore sedan. There's not much storage space behind the seats.

Engine: The new 6.0-litre V8 has 260 kilowatts of power and 510Nm of torque, and Holden has fitted a stronger clutch. Good spread of power but, to be honest, it's hard to feel the difference between this engine and the 5.7-litre V8 it replaces.

Transmission: The ratios of the six-speed manual have been revised to suit the engine's power delivery but the shifter on the test car was notchy, even by Holden standards.

Handling: Hangs on better than you'd expect thanks to independent rear suspension, good grip from the Bridgestone tyres and well-sorted suspension..

Fuel: The fuel gauge was all over the place (see quality) but by our calculations the 6.0-litre is thirstier than the 5.7, despite Holden's claims it should drink the same or less. We averaged between 15 and 17 litres per 100 kilometres (we think).

Brakes: Bigger than before. Good pedal feel. Less fade. Should have been standard long ago.

Quality: The fuel gauge sporadically switched from full to half full, the plastic mould on the outside of the rear window creaked, both common problems with Holden utes. Quality can be iffy, so be sure to get an NRMA new vehicle inspection before you accept delivery of the car.

Warranty: Three years/100,000 kilometres. Average.

Cost: The price list says $41,490 but don't buy a standard SS ute unless you're getting a hefty discount. Holden has released a special edition loaded with extra gear (pictured). The VZ is in the last year or so of its life, so expect special editions until the end.

Verdict: Tool of trade meets sports car.

Prices and details correct at publication

$1.00 Aust = $0.74 US 19/04/06

[tuxmelvin]

Quality: The fuel gauge sporadically switched from full to half full, the plastic mould on the outside of the rear window creaked, both common problems with Holden utes. Quality can be iffy, so be sure to get an NRMA new vehicle inspection before you accept delivery of the car.

I wasn't aware that Holden's had such a quality problem. Or is this just specific to the utes?

[Squachy]

Originally Posted by tuxmelvin

I wasn't aware that Holden's had such a quality problem. Or is this just specific to the utes?

ive heard of GM's in general having sporadic fuel guages...

maybe its just a GM thing?

[kenman923]

If GM and Ford brought these utes to the US, they could be the next El Camino and Ranchero, respectively.

[ByTheLake]

Originally Posted by kenman923

If GM and Ford brought these utes to the US, they could be the next El Camino and Ranchero, respectively.

Yeah, we've been saying that for years now. I think the window of opportunity is closing, given the rapidly rising fuel prices in the US and the age of these designs.

I think there's room for an El Camino, but perhaps more of a design like the Dodge Rampage concept recently shown in Chicago. There's innovation there ... a FWD package, which provides a low, flat load floor and rear bed (who needs their loads 4 feet in the air??).

If GM brought the Ute to the US today, it would sell okay for a few weeks, then clog the dealer lots as gas prices drift past $3 per gallon.

[91z4me]

Originally Posted by kenman923

If GM and Ford brought these utes to the US, they could be the next El Camino and Ranchero, respectively.

The current Ford Aus RWD platform is not capable of LHD configuration, mainly because Ford US didn't want to take a gamble on bringing those sweet rides here because they thought the public would prefer FWD/AWD Mazda and Volvo based models. Good call Ford US!

Also Ford Aus doesn't export its RWD models overseas like Holden does. That plays a big part in this. It could have been done for a cost and some wanted it done but instead the safer approach was used.

[517]

Originally Posted by kenman923

If GM and Ford brought these utes to the US, they could be the next El Camino and Ranchero, respectively.

Actually, I'd see it as the next SSR - a ridiculous, useless sport truck no one would buy.

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by Squachy

ive heard of GM's in general having sporadic fuel guages...

maybe its just a GM thing?

I've expereienced it in two older GM cars. I've had 2 GM vehicles that once the car got down to about a quarter tank the guage would just bounce around anyway it felt so I always went by my odometer.

[CobaltSScrazy]

Originally Posted by 517

Actually, I'd see it as the next SSR - a ridiculous, useless sport truck no one would buy.

thats what i was thinking, but many ppl said the ssr was not "sporty" enough and "spirited" during driving that it was meant for cruising woodward than being a the drag. maybe this would fix it? (I think this looks better though)

[mucker15]

Originally Posted by kenman923

If GM and Ford brought these utes to the US, they could be the next El Camino and Ranchero, respectively.

I wonder if el camino fans will bash it like crazy saying its not a elkie like they did with the Goat. Before the GTO was here people were calling for it to come here.
I remember reading it magazine articles and in reader write ins.

[Aych Es Vee]

Originally Posted by 517

Actually, I'd see it as the next SSR - a ridiculous, useless sport truck no one would buy.

SS Commodore and XR8 Falcon utes are hardly useless though, they are EXTREMELY common among builders and other tradesmen.

[mucker15]

Originally Posted by 517

Actually, I'd see it as the next SSR - a ridiculous, useless sport truck no one would buy.

It should be much lighter and much more nimble then the SSR. Maybe it wont be north of 40 grand too. Should be different than the SSR scenario.

[chev454ls]

Originally Posted by mucker15

Maybe it wont be north of 40 grand too.

You only have to worry about the price if you are in Australia, since the price is NOT in U.S. dollars.

[mucker15]

Originally Posted by chev454ls

You only have to worry about the price if you are in Australia, since the price is NOT in U.S. dollars.

I meant if it came here, the price in contrast to the price of the SSR not the actual ute. The Ssr was a lot of money when it came out, I think that turned off some potentiall buyers. If the Ute were to come here as the SSR if priced right would probably sell much better than the SSR . How ever I would rather it were called an El Camino.

[517]

Originally Posted by Aych Es Vee

SS Commodore and XR8 Falcon utes are hardly useless though, they are EXTREMELY common among builders and other tradesmen.

Well, that's in Australia, not the US. I highly doubt that Joe Sixpack working construction in the US would give up his Silverado or F-150 for one of these. Different countries and different kinds of people. Moot point, though. I haven't ever heard any rumor that GM is thinking of bring this thing here.