Mr T
11th April 2006, 06:59 PM
I was looking for the story on the VE from last week and found this >>> http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=11368&vf=2&bg=32&pp=0 <<< so be careful, what you write on here may be taken and used in a news article.
VE Commodore story sparks debate
Glenn Butler
Tuesday April 11 2006
Drive’s exclusive story on Holden’s new VE Commodore fired internet chat sites into action and sparked speculation about the crucial new large car. </B>
http://img.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2006/04/11/11veFollw_leadimage.jpg
Nothing sparks Australian opinions more than a new Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon.
And drive.com.au’s Holden VE Commodore exclusive last week (VE Commodore secrets revealed (http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=11333)) certainly ignited a volcano of voices on popular automotive chat sites, including LS1.com.au and FordForums.com.au.
LS1.com.au is a site frequented by Holden fans, and takes its name from the code for Holden’s 5.7-litre V8 engine.
Last week our VE Commodore story and pictures was one of the most popular postings in the forum.
advertisement http://campaigns.f2.com.au/image.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=drive&cat=news&adspace=300x250 (http://www.opelaus.com/forum/) advertisement
The overall response to the vehicles pictured in drive.com.au’s exclusive images was positive.
"If those images are on the money, that is one hot looking rig," wrote VXSS_series1, while Angelo_XLR8 delivered a somewhat backhanded complement to Drive’s renderings: "I think we will all be surprised at how good these things will look when unveiled."
A number of fans picked up European cues in the vehicle’s design. "From the computer generated pictures we must have moved Australia to Europe," commented bok1, while ReMiXLooks noticed a Holden Astra influence around the front.
Many delved deeper than the superficial, commenting on mechanical details of the VE Commodore.
Forum user martoss got straight to the point: "Weight gain of 130 – 140kg and not a huge power increase … This can't be a good thing! Looks like the new brakes will be needed."
Forum participants across the way on FordForums.com.au were, not surprisingly, more critical of the new VE. They too understood the significance of the car, both for Holden and for Australia.
"VE initiates some big changes for Holden," writes Iphido. "I think the Statesman is going to be the biggest thing. It’s going to be larger, nearly totally unique and well kitted out … It’s going to destroy the Fairlane/LTD, and take the battle right back to the [Chrysler] 300C."
Iphido went on to point out areas in which the current generation BF Falcon would need to catch up.
"VE will have some tangible advantages … curtain airbags, more powerful engines, newer body etc.
BossXR8 agreed that the Statesman would be more significant as an export model in future.
"Holden haven't worked over the Statesman to do well in Australia, they will never sell more than a few hundred per month, they have designed it to sell in the Middle East. Long wheelbase cars are dying a slow death here."
Posts on the FordForums site were less receptive of the VE’s European look, ToxicXR noting "a little too much European flair. It’s beginning to look like a Mazda 6 or a Honda Accord".
In JEM’s opinion the car is "bland and uninspiring. Simple as that. I was hoping for something that would get me excited, but it is a letdown so far".
Like their counterparts on LS1.com.au, FordForums users were interested in the VE’s two major issues: the wait and the weight.
"I'm more interested in the reasons for the VE delay", wrote DrSmith. "You can bet the current VZ was never meant to have the new 6.0L V8 - and what effect will the cost cutting bring about? Power to weight ratio on the VE will be interesting."
VE Commodore story sparks debate
Glenn Butler
Tuesday April 11 2006
Drive’s exclusive story on Holden’s new VE Commodore fired internet chat sites into action and sparked speculation about the crucial new large car. </B>
http://img.drive.com.au/drive_images/Editorial/2006/04/11/11veFollw_leadimage.jpg
Nothing sparks Australian opinions more than a new Holden Commodore or Ford Falcon.
And drive.com.au’s Holden VE Commodore exclusive last week (VE Commodore secrets revealed (http://www.drive.com.au/editorial/article.aspx?id=11333)) certainly ignited a volcano of voices on popular automotive chat sites, including LS1.com.au and FordForums.com.au.
LS1.com.au is a site frequented by Holden fans, and takes its name from the code for Holden’s 5.7-litre V8 engine.
Last week our VE Commodore story and pictures was one of the most popular postings in the forum.
advertisement http://campaigns.f2.com.au/image.ng/Params.richmedia=yes&site=drive&cat=news&adspace=300x250 (http://www.opelaus.com/forum/) advertisement
The overall response to the vehicles pictured in drive.com.au’s exclusive images was positive.
"If those images are on the money, that is one hot looking rig," wrote VXSS_series1, while Angelo_XLR8 delivered a somewhat backhanded complement to Drive’s renderings: "I think we will all be surprised at how good these things will look when unveiled."
A number of fans picked up European cues in the vehicle’s design. "From the computer generated pictures we must have moved Australia to Europe," commented bok1, while ReMiXLooks noticed a Holden Astra influence around the front.
Many delved deeper than the superficial, commenting on mechanical details of the VE Commodore.
Forum user martoss got straight to the point: "Weight gain of 130 – 140kg and not a huge power increase … This can't be a good thing! Looks like the new brakes will be needed."
Forum participants across the way on FordForums.com.au were, not surprisingly, more critical of the new VE. They too understood the significance of the car, both for Holden and for Australia.
"VE initiates some big changes for Holden," writes Iphido. "I think the Statesman is going to be the biggest thing. It’s going to be larger, nearly totally unique and well kitted out … It’s going to destroy the Fairlane/LTD, and take the battle right back to the [Chrysler] 300C."
Iphido went on to point out areas in which the current generation BF Falcon would need to catch up.
"VE will have some tangible advantages … curtain airbags, more powerful engines, newer body etc.
BossXR8 agreed that the Statesman would be more significant as an export model in future.
"Holden haven't worked over the Statesman to do well in Australia, they will never sell more than a few hundred per month, they have designed it to sell in the Middle East. Long wheelbase cars are dying a slow death here."
Posts on the FordForums site were less receptive of the VE’s European look, ToxicXR noting "a little too much European flair. It’s beginning to look like a Mazda 6 or a Honda Accord".
In JEM’s opinion the car is "bland and uninspiring. Simple as that. I was hoping for something that would get me excited, but it is a letdown so far".
Like their counterparts on LS1.com.au, FordForums users were interested in the VE’s two major issues: the wait and the weight.
"I'm more interested in the reasons for the VE delay", wrote DrSmith. "You can bet the current VZ was never meant to have the new 6.0L V8 - and what effect will the cost cutting bring about? Power to weight ratio on the VE will be interesting."