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The car in question is a 2007 Commodore Omega from Thrifty car rentals. It has just over 15,000km on the clock. It is part of our family until my wife's car comes back from the panel beaters.
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My first impression of the car was clouded by the fact that they delivered it 2 hours late and so I was late for work.
Anyway, the car seemed noisy compared with my Berlina, and the handling seemed really sloppy. A quick stop at a servo showed that the right rear had about 12psi in it, so I pumped them all up to 38psi and the handling and ride improved dramatically.
The rear window is really small, and most of the view in the rear view mirror seems to be pillar. It did not take long to get used to though.
I know this is the base model, but the plastics seemed dull and hard, and look like they would attract dust. Now after a few days I am getting used to it, but I like the VY interior much better.
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The run to work (about 15km in suburban traffic) was uneventful, and I could have been driving just about anything.
To add some spice, I took a lunch break the next day up Mountain Highway from The Basin to Olinda. This is a nice windy mountain road about 10km long, where I spent many a night driving to put my kids to sleep when they were babies – they liked the car and usually went to sleep when all else failed.
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This was my first experience with ESC (electronic stability control). From the reports I had read, Holden had done a good job of the integration of the ESC. I would have to agree. The Omega, sitting on 15 inch steel rims, high profile tyres and with standard suspension, wallows a lot more that my car (17s, 45 profile & FE2) yet my speed up the hill was faster in the VE.
The ESC is most obvious as the car starts to understeer. As the nose starts to plough into a corner, you can feel the outside front corner of the car dip slightly as that wheel is braked to pull the car into line. If you had FE2, it would not be obvious at all.
On the way back down the hill, I gave the brakes a bit of a workout, they were fine at the bottom with no fading. I would not have expected anything else, my VY’s also do the road with no brake problems.
Today, I parked in a paddock with about 10 other cars. I had no idea where the back or even the sides of the car were when I was backing out. Blind spots jumped out everywhere.
So this is it so far. A really excellent drive (once the tyres are pumped up), but in Omega trim there is no way I would be swapping my 5 year old Berlina for it. I would love to do the same thing in a VE Berlina.
Footnote - For what we pay for this car in Australia WHERE IT IS MADE(USD$34,500 including air) you guys get a G8 GT with Sunroof, Premium and Sport packages plus $2,000 in your pocket. YOU ARE GETTING A BARGAIN !!!!
Likes
Dislikes
My first impression of the car was clouded by the fact that they delivered it 2 hours late and so I was late for work.
Anyway, the car seemed noisy compared with my Berlina, and the handling seemed really sloppy. A quick stop at a servo showed that the right rear had about 12psi in it, so I pumped them all up to 38psi and the handling and ride improved dramatically.
The rear window is really small, and most of the view in the rear view mirror seems to be pillar. It did not take long to get used to though.
I know this is the base model, but the plastics seemed dull and hard, and look like they would attract dust. Now after a few days I am getting used to it, but I like the VY interior much better.
The run to work (about 15km in suburban traffic) was uneventful, and I could have been driving just about anything.
To add some spice, I took a lunch break the next day up Mountain Highway from The Basin to Olinda. This is a nice windy mountain road about 10km long, where I spent many a night driving to put my kids to sleep when they were babies – they liked the car and usually went to sleep when all else failed.
This was my first experience with ESC (electronic stability control). From the reports I had read, Holden had done a good job of the integration of the ESC. I would have to agree. The Omega, sitting on 15 inch steel rims, high profile tyres and with standard suspension, wallows a lot more that my car (17s, 45 profile & FE2) yet my speed up the hill was faster in the VE.
The ESC is most obvious as the car starts to understeer. As the nose starts to plough into a corner, you can feel the outside front corner of the car dip slightly as that wheel is braked to pull the car into line. If you had FE2, it would not be obvious at all.
On the way back down the hill, I gave the brakes a bit of a workout, they were fine at the bottom with no fading. I would not have expected anything else, my VY’s also do the road with no brake problems.
Today, I parked in a paddock with about 10 other cars. I had no idea where the back or even the sides of the car were when I was backing out. Blind spots jumped out everywhere.
So this is it so far. A really excellent drive (once the tyres are pumped up), but in Omega trim there is no way I would be swapping my 5 year old Berlina for it. I would love to do the same thing in a VE Berlina.
Footnote - For what we pay for this car in Australia WHERE IT IS MADE(USD$34,500 including air) you guys get a G8 GT with Sunroof, Premium and Sport packages plus $2,000 in your pocket. YOU ARE GETTING A BARGAIN !!!!
Likes
- When you ‘wink ‘the indicator, it flashes 3 times
- The ESC is subtly restrained
- Power is more linear than the old V6
- The key remote locking is simpler
- The radio steering wheel controls are nice, although they have a mind of their own
- The remote rear view mirror controls are better
- The hidden boot hinges are nice
- The HVAC controls are easier to use than my climate control
Dislikes
- There is no clock when the ignition is off
- The key goes into the ignition at a weird angle – I still fumble it each time I put it in
- The key light ring does not illuminate the key slot
- The auto trans lever feels like something from a Madcatz game steering wheel
- The damn seat belt warning bell comes on as soon as you start the engine – Mine chimes after about 20 metres of driving.
- There is no locking petrol cap – WTF ??
Did you work out the bluetooth?
