Americans have kind words for Holden Commodore
May 6, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
The Pontiac G8 and G8 GT have now done the rounds of the American motoring world and by nearly all accounts, it’s well received. Americans love their muscle cars and the SS Commodore has delivered the goods.
Here is a small sample of what some of the American journalists have said about Australia’s own SS Commodore:
– All in all, this is the best-performing sedan in the segment. — David Thomas, Cars.com
– Obvious cheap-outs are absent. A soft-touch plastic skin with a high-tech mesh pattern covers the upper dash and looks classy, as does the fine-weave headliner. — Aaron Robinson, Car and Driver
– What you might not expect is the car’s European sport sedanlike ride and handling balance. We don’t throw BMW analogies around lightly, but the G8’s ability to make haste on twisting tarmac while coddling its passengers in commendable comfort is genuinely Bimmer-like, faltering only in the brake pedal’s undue softness.” — Edmunds.com
– It has to be the performance bargain of the year. $31,845 for a big, powerful, quick, V-8-powered rear-wheel-drive sedan that’s light on its feet and fun to drive? What’s not to like? No, the mileage isn’t great if you drive around with your foot in it all the time, and the exterior design is only marginally acceptable, but the car is definitely worth serious consideration if you want real performance for under $32,000. — Peter DeLorenzo, Autoextremist.com
Great news for Holden and GM and perhaps some incentive for Ford to explore an export program for the recently launched FG Falcon XR6 Turbo and XR8?
Print it: 
Ford are only going to export the FG as far as New Zealand because it was not engineered for left hand drive.
The truth is that both VE and FG should be used as the basis for new US-made sedans for GM and Ford. If the decisions had been made six years ago the (former) US giants would be looking at far brighter futures, but it’s probably too late now.
Pontiac G8 is only a ‘test sample’ to gauge its acceptability to American buyers. It’s being sold at a loss and Holden doesn’t have the production capacity for a serious export program in a market of that size.
It makes perfect sense for Ford and GM to use the Holden and the Ford as the basis for their next gen RWDs but im not sure whether Ford US, especially, has the gumption to suck it up and hand it over to Oz…
Who is the journo that wrote the last sentence – should be shot for not knowing that it is IMPOSSIBLE to export FG to the USA.
The Captain has explained why. No need to excite the dweebs that still think that could happen.
What? FG was designed for easy conversion to LHD should it be required – just look at the symmetrical dash design for a start. Head Office put the knockers on that idea, but there’s no reason AFAIK that FG couldn’t be built in LHD form.
Snerd, it’s more than the dash design, it’s everything from the position of the steering rack to a new wiring loom and everything in between, and if the decision is not made at the start of the program it’s a big and complex job to re-engineer it for LHD after the event. It would never be economic for the small number of units they would sell (at a loss) in the US. Better to build the LHD version over there in the first place, but give it a good whack with the ugly stick at the same time or the yanks won’t buy it.
Captain,
Yep a production LHD needs to start early in the design process, like the FG was. Only in later stages was the LHD developement shelved. That is why the new Ford Aus CEO is pushing the LHD export with head office stateside, because he knows the LHD is mostly there already.
But yep i don’t understand the yank journos comment “exterior design is only marginally acceptable”. This is not an Omega. (which I’m already over). Mind you, the Pontiac nose is not a real good look in the metal.
Whether the Ford FG and or Holden VE is exported (I know about the Pontiac) it would only be a “Neesh” market. Small numbers only. The big killer might just be the price of petrol which might sound the demise of the BIG V8.
By the way, why do American design people destroy what is generally a good nose on the VE Commodore?
Agreed Tony M, however I do like the lack of large rear spoiler.
While Ford Oz has denied LHD exports of the FG to the US, there’s still speculation that the chassis will be used as a basis for future American models. Besides, Ford USA needs to replace the long, boring Crown Victoria, its sole remaining RWD sedan.
The G8 is looking great in American soil, with better stuff for less than what we can get here. But the Pontiac ute, which doesn’t have any 60s heritage, might just head the same way as the GTO.
Anti-Spam word ford. Ha!
The ford falcon doesnt look american enough so they wont like it. The commodore on the other hand has nice styling with a hint of yankiness!
Um………..well done Holden!
^True Duck, but considering there “current” RWD large-car vehicle is the Crown Victoria made in 1798, I’m sure Ford US would be very happy with the Falcon.
That comment about exterior design WTF?
Despite his Italian heritage De Lorenzo has taste in his Rs.
Makes u wonder how they fluked classics like Corvette and Mustang.
the fg IS ‘design-protected’ for LHD
The FG wouldnt sell overseas… it wont even sell in Aus…fugly and unrelaible. What exactly does it have going for it… apart from blind fairy supporters?
Duck,
i dont think its a compliment to say the yankies will like the VE styling but not the FG, because it is well renowned that yankies taste in vehicles comes from their rear.
falcon and commodore designs/platforms should invade the US.
the VE is currently testing the water for the public response.
i agree with captain,
it would be better to build both the falcon and commy over in the US for their customers.
i have been saying for ages that they should simply take our aussie recipes over their and build them in the same economic climate as they will be selling them in order to reduce pressure from exchange rates etc.
also as mentioned, australia wouldnt be able to supply the large scale demand of vehicles to service the US.
and thirdly,
they also have to consider jobs over in the US, in the same way we have to here. they cant just shut down their facilities and take full imports coming from OZ, because that would kill plenty of jobs.
(and no, we dont want them coming here to work)
Quote TP: The FG wouldnt sell overseas… it wont even sell in Aus…fugly and unrelaible. What exactly does it have going for it… apart from blind fairy supporters?
This coming from someone who apparently thinks the Aurion and Camry are better looking than an Aston Martin.
The comment about “blind supporters” is a bit like the Pot Calling the Kettle Black TP
FYI TP most people on this site aren’t really interested in Blinds or any other soft-furnishings… Their main interest is Cars
Andrew M I agree with you in relation to building the Falcon and Commodore in the USA [and possible even Europe] inoder to meet their demand..
The same way BMW have their main factory in Germany for Local demand and satellite plants in America mainly to supply demand in the USA and South Africa for demand in the southern Hemisphere etc
Then Holden and Ford would have the capacity and be able to expand their range to include Capri/Escort; Torana; Sandman and Coupes etc.
Again the same could happen here and overseas..
Of course they will think its a good car – look at the crap they have been producing for 20 years.
Its the best of a very bad lot.
How is it that I can travel to the States and for LESS than a base model Commodore costs in this country, its country of manufacture, I can buy the uprated SS version, with facelift and additional cost added?
Before some of you bang on about exchange rates just think about the strength of the Aussie over an extended period and its recent record levels.
Sold at a loss to test the waters? I don’t think so, Monaro tried that and it sank without a trace.
Its not consumer spending that causes inflationary pressures and interest rises, its corporate overpricing.
“Americans have kind words for Holden Commodore”
Aussies have MANY words for Holden Commodore : crap, s#&^,
heap of junk, crum-o-dore, crap-o-dore ect. ect.
“now donkey, you’re going the right way for a smacked bottom” – Shrek
To be fair – it’s not a bad car, the VX & VY’s were but they have made massive improvements.