I s’pose you think the reason that country towns are full of fords and holdens is because all country people are retarded? So you’re a bigot as well as an idiot…

I used to live in the city too. I was a jap-car freak. Over the years I’ve had everything from a Datsun 1600 to a Toyota Camry, with a number of different Lancer’s as well. I used to love (all of) those cars when I was a city kid.

When I moved to the country I noticed two things. Jap cars fall apart on bumpy country roads. No, really, they do. Take a Mitsi from the show room 300k north of Melb and you will be rattling away before journey’s end. Fact. Had it happen. The whole back-end of my Camry nearly fell off when I first drove north. Then it cost $900 to fix. Hmmmm; that’s economical….lol

Then there’s fuel consumption. These jap cars all use a LOT more fuel when you load them up. Put a trailer on the back and forget it – instantly sluggish, costly to run and dangerous when a roo jumps out in front of you.

Ford or Holden; it doesn’t matter – they both DON’T fall to bits on country roads; DON’T use any more fuel when loaded up and DON’T cost nearly the same to service.

Moral: if you live in the bush the big aussie ‘bogan’ cars actually make a whole lot of sense!

VE – OK, I have no real manufacturer preference and just buy the most suitable product for me.

And No Name do you hate the VE?

First of all, why would any V8 owner bang on about fuel enconomy. You’d get more respect saying, I like my V8 for the grunt, the noise, the torque. Crapping on about V8 Fuel consumption is about as relevant as a Prius owner talking about performance. Get over it.

“but try pulling a boat in your Aurion and its lack of torque and see how you go?”

Right, so the VW Touareg with something like 750nm of torque pulls a jumbo jet. (http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new_cars/touareg) But an Aurion with 336nm of torque can’t pull a boat. What boat did you have in mind? HMAS Kanimbla or the QEII?

“The SV6 or SS V8 are now the last two shortlisted”

Really, I doubt very much that anything other than Holden+Commodore were on your shopping list. Maybe your should try the Epica?

The Mercs, AUDIs and Beamers at the top leave the best from Holden for dead in all aspects,

but you have to remember, it is a comparison based on price, and for the price, the luxury commodores are a good car, but I wouldn’t go comparing them to Ferraris!

Dunno about the last part as I havent thoroughly been over a ZR6 interior but the SINGLE black panel you refer to is hardly something to be knocking the whole car for, its their to divide it up abit… and its not like there isnt enough storage room in other places, there are a few in the centre console and surrounds. Anyway each onto their own, if that is all you have to say about the car then it must be decent… because their is a page long list of things I could say about the VE!

QUOTE = The “Avalon” was Toyota’s “next big rival”, too wasn’t it, and didn’t that take off! Have a look at the articles for that and the ones for the Aurion are very similar. Same story, same end result. You can’t just rebadge a Camry, put a few do nothing spoilers on it and call it a sports car.

Not really… the Avalon is completely difference – firstly its styling was very bland, it had the exact same engine as the Camry only weighed MORE, it didnt offer much more if anything over competition, its range was very limited in appeal etc. These are all points addressed in the Aurion.

QUOTE = As for the fuel economy comment – have a look at what I actually wrote. Did you fail to read the “for a V8″ part I added? I was well aware that when I bought a V8, just like when I bought the 2.0 litre Turbo WRX, that fuel was going to be a factor. 500km around town for a tank of regular unleaded in the V8 ute, and recently a return trip to Newcastle from Canberra got me 790kms before having to refill. Sure, there is better fuel economy around, but try pulling a boat in your Aurion and its lack of torque and see how you go?

How many V8s have you driven for more then just a weekend to determine it had good fuel economy compared to others? And yes I knew, I played on words… because fuel economy and V8 dont go well in the same sentence!

QUOTE = Sure, there is better fuel economy around, but try pulling a boat in your Aurion and its lack of torque and see how you go?

Ive towed small boats with a Camry before which has 260Nm of torque… no troubles. The Aurion is rated for 1600kg I believe (that would be braked… which large boats that weigh anywhere near that usually are)… and 340Nm in a car that weighs less then the competition is hardly a lack of torque! Not gonna say its better then a V8 or a Falcon… but your not towing a boat 24/7, if you take a boat out on weekend the Aurion is sufficient.

I test drove it, I know what I saw, I am entitled my view… and that was it!

No blank panels? Cast your eye down to the bottom of the tinny sounding grey plastic stereo in the ZR6 and you will see one 15cm x 8cm panel where obviously “something” is designed to go. Surely they could have turned this into a sunglass holder or something? Then you might look to the right of the steering wheel and you will see a few more where “options” for the Presaro (complete with 1970’s woodgrain finish” is designed to go.

Sat Nav? $2500+ for that “option pack” and a sunroof, albeit one with a cheap manual sliding cover that in the car I test drove got stuck due to its inability to slide back straight is well worth it, especially considering Toyota’s own Aurion brochure admit that their Sat Nav is limited to “Major Capital Cities” and “Primary Roads”. Well worth the money huh?

Just remember that the Holden Camira was also “Car of the Year” once too, so I agree, these articles have no credibility. Much like me according to you. :)

The “Avalon” was Toyota’s “next big rival”, too wasn’t it, and didn’t that take off! Have a look at the articles for that and the ones for the Aurion are very similar. Same story, same end result. You can’t just rebadge a Camry, put a few do nothing spoilers on it and call it a sports car. Especially not with the bicycle like tyres they seem to have ofted for.

As for the fuel economy comment – have a look at what I actually wrote. Did you fail to read the “for a V8″ part I added? I was well aware that when I bought a V8, just like when I bought the 2.0 litre Turbo WRX, that fuel was going to be a factor. 500km around town for a tank of regular unleaded in the V8 ute, and recently a return trip to Newcastle from Canberra got me 790kms before having to refill. Sure, there is better fuel economy around, but try pulling a boat in your Aurion and its lack of torque and see how you go?

You will probably question my credibility again, but that’s cool. You are the one driving the “Aurion” after all, so I guess I could question yours too along with the other drivers on the road who see your overpriced Camry with “Sportivo” wings… :)

You could say the same about the Space Shuttle, exactly what is deemed excellent?

“Besides, I am sure my young daughter will much prefer being dropped off to school in a Holden VE ”

Yeah right :)

If i said to my daughter, what do you think beemer M3 or RS4? The answer would be. The red one daddy.