Big V8s here to stay
August 12, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
Big V8s here to stay – A Road trip with a Holden Commodore SS
- by Alborz Fallah
In today’s climate of rising petrol prices, the media can’t help itself but to constantly run story after story of a father of two giving up his big V8 for a small Toyota Prius. Unfortunately, mainstream media have consistently failed to realise a few critical things. The most important being that cars are not all suppose to be objects to get us from A->B, some of us actually like our cars to have some character.
For this week’s adventure I decided, I’d had enough of “Fuel Prices Hit the Hip Pocket” stories and wanted to prove not only to myself, but to all of you out there, that there is still a place for big traditional Aussie V8s in today’s world of volatile fuel prices.
To do this, I first needed a V8. Holden volunteered the Commodore SS, equipped with a monstrous 6.0-litre, 270kW and 530Nm of torque engine. It seemed the ideal choice to do a reverse fuel economy story.
Next, we needed a destination, being in Brisbane, beaches are aplenty, but the Gold Coast just wasn’t going to cut it, so we headed towards the Sunshine Coast (Budrim and Mooloolaba in particular). First things first, pull over, and fill’er up all the way.
$84 got 52L of 91 RON fuel and the trip computers were reset to zero before we headed off.
Google Maps said the journey consisted of roughly 80km of inner city driving (From Brisbane’s east onto Gympie road) plus 140km of highway driving (Bruce Highway), a reasonable balance of both conditions. Peak our traffic times were picked to further emphasis the inner-city fuel consumption.
Holden says the 6-speed automatic SS Commodore (our test vehicle) will manage 14.3L/100km for a combined city and highway cycle. A little more than the Prius, sure, but a lot more fun too.
Literally as we pulled out of the service station there was an accident up ahead, which meant our first 25 minute delay. This gave me some time to get to appreciate the Commodore a little more.
The formula is still essentially unchanged, big V8 at the front driven via the rear-wheels. Lots of fun, lots of noise, great big smile on my face. Can I live with it? Why not!
You know I just had a thought… “Prius must be the most admired car in the world” – seems like most journalists love to compare almost every car with it..
Well kudos to Toyota Marketing!
As for the extra 30$ a week, well I can appreciate that for some thats just loose change, if at all.
I see the point with “hybrids are not the answer”, but they are a step towards a solution, wether it be hybrids, or electric it has sped up the process of getting more fuel efficient cars, that and also the price of oil does help with this.
Enjoyed the article and it looks like you enjoyed the run in the big stomping V8. Long trips are the V8’s forte – easy overtaking and turning hills into molehills. Hopefully there will be a place for such vehicles for a long time.
Unfortunately, the small minded and prejudiced, as witnessed on some of the comments above, seem to be proliferating as to the acceptableness of such vehicles in the current climate.
Ra,
I think you must be nauseous from all that exhaust smoke.
Cars like the Prius shouldn\’t even have a color option, cause people who buy cars like that have gotta be just as boring.
No matter how much the price of fuel is, once you get behing the wheel of that GEN-4 6.0L V8 (hopefully soon to be upgraded to the LS3 6.2L V8) all your attention is consumed with wonder as to what the hell is happening under that hood……..!!!!
To each their own all the way, but before you try it out don\’t be so quick to judge.
Alborz,
This was a very good review and it has only added fuel to the burning desire to buy the SS. Thanks and keep up the excellent work.
Sheldon
Ra….It’s your choice entirely….BUT…start saving for a new battery pack…..NOW!