Big V8s here to stay
12 Aug, 2008
104 Comments 
Once lunch was over, it was time to head back, being so surprised by the fuel economy figures of our initial journey, I decided that surely, I was taking it easy. The journey home was changed slightly to include driving through a 20km patch of mountain road at pace, followed by the same trip home via the Bruce Highway.
There and back, 386km. Average speed? 50.3km/h. Average fuel consumption? 13.5L/100km. Would I rather pay the extra $30 not to be in a Prius? Absolutely.
If your missus is telling you to not even consider the V8 for the next family car, send her a link to this article. Tell her that having a V8 might cost an extra $30 a week, but since when did an additional $30 a week become so bloody important?
Aren’t we all suppose to be enjoying our lives a little more these days?
When did driving become just a thing that we do. Surely we can still have fun behind the wheel!
On average you will spend more than two weeks a year in your car and let me tell you, from someone who tends to spend about 2 months a year in cars, you’d want those two weeks to be more interesting than starring at an energy meter with a Prius Owners Club sticker on the rear window!
Besides, if an extra $30 a week means enjoying your drive, then do yourself a favour, with fuel prices actually going down, don’t give up on your V8 dream.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Alborz, you hit the nail on the head! These are great cars that are affordable to drive AND affordable to run.
Most of my friends have hobbies that cost them money regularly (some are football fans for example) and I would never try to tell them that they are spending their money badly. Yet people post on this forum saying V8s are dead or rubbish like that.
There will always be V8’s because there will always be car enthusists willing to buy them.
Holden knows this, and thank heavens for that!
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Maybe it was the inflated tires that saved you so much fuel…
Here is an idea, attach a tube to the exhaust pipe and run it back into the car - I’ll do the same in an hybrid car and we will see who has to exit their vehicles first.
This type of journalism is pure ignorance. Bring on the fire….
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Ra, you’re missing the point entirely.
How about this one? Let’s have one truck carry all your food from the market gardener to your local shop.
Now get 100 hybrids to carry the same load. How much more fuel are they going to use? A helluva lot more, I’m telling you.
Horses for courses my son. There’s a place for all kinds of cars.
Don’t be so ignorant.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Yeah nail on the head, but a pirus is much cheper to buy than a V8, id rather go with a NANO car lol :) Kidding!! Mostlikly a XR6T!
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Ra,
Clearly you’ve tested the “exhaust into the car” on yourself already.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Marc,
Do you do your food shopping in a truck? I must be missing your point at least.
Horses for courses my son.
Don’t be so ignorant.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Nice article Alborz. A neighbour bought the SS-V not long ago. Beautiful car. If you can afford it, why not?
Being a fellow Brisbanite, I couldn’t agree more about the right lane hogs. Even with 4 lanes going to the Gold Coast they still can’t keep left. It’s one of my pet peeves.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Those fuel economy figures are very impressive, in all honestly, do the 6 cylinder commodores really use much less?
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I dont care that they in the right lane i care that they drive 20km’s an hour in the right lane, bloody hell speed up u chicken crap or get out of the way. I think its time to bring on european driving next time u see someone hogging the right lane, blink ur lights at them and beep. Thats why people drive like wankers here, because there is no pressure from anyone everyone is too scared that guy in front of you might be a serial killer. So lets start blinking our lights and tuting our horn and the guys in the right lane, i know i will be.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Hey Ra, quit being an ignorant hippie and face the facts! Your ‘loveable’ Prius is NOT the answer, infact it’s probably one of the worst cars anyone can possibly buy.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
If the sound turns you on then spend some money and get a performance exhaust. If you want something to have heaps of go add a turbo to it. If you want to won a V8 then go and buy one. Make sure you keep it is A1 condition otherwise when you have had your fun and try to sell it you will get zealch for it.
I have owned an A9X and GTHO. Great fun if you have the to spend. But the world is changing and so are the new performance cars and they seem to be coming from Europe not the States.
To me one of the nicest cars I have ever driven was a VH SLE with a 4.2 V8. And if your willing to look you can get something like this for 4 grande.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
They will be here to stay until the Federal Government introduces laws and regulations on emissions!
I wouldn’t be surprised either, with all the debate about carbon trading anyway.
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August 12th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I completely and wholeheartedly agree with this article. Great work Alborz. If $30 a week is important go for an efficient car then (I’d go diesel over an ugly, uncomfortable and compromised Prius) but if not don’t give up on enjoyment. Most people have hobbies and most hobbies probably cost more than $30 a week. Just about everyone spends money where they don’t have to just because it makes them feel better.
And Ra “Bring on the fire..”? Burning things is bad for the environment. Please go back to eating your weeds and driving your crappy Prius. Leave the rest of us to actually enjoy life.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Hybrids are not the answer Ra. They create far more damage to the environment during the manufacturing process than regular cars. Have you thought about where all the zinc for the batteries come from? If you are realy worried about fuel consumption, you should consider a small capacity diesel. you will go further per tank and the money you save on purchase price can go towards first generation hydrogen and electric vehicles when they become avaiable. Prius’s are nothing more than a cynical stop gap “solution” from the marketing departments of car makers.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Marc Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
“How about this one? Let’s have one truck carry all your food from the market gardener to your local shop.
Now get 100 hybrids to carry the same load. How much more fuel are they going to use? A helluva lot more, I’m telling you.”
I can understamd the example above but yet I see so many V8 drivers, driving to work alone. Yes we do need big trucks to handle big loads like the one mentioned but you don’t need a V8 to drive one person in the morning to work.
“There’s a place for all kinds of cars.”
There is a place for all cars but implement a tax system that works on the CO2 emissions of cars and we have a different story.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
I agree Tony M. The light and compact VH SLE with inherent Commodore handling and the sweet blue 4.2 v8 motor was a good combo.
Amazing what fuel injection and computer engine management can do for the efficiency of a v8.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Ra, i don’t think this ‘type of journalism’ was an attack on your precious hybrids. All it is saying is that some people would prefer to pay more, to drive a fun, interesting car. And Alborz was showing us, that in the real world, the fuel economy figures on the SS arn’t bad at all.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Just as well Ra’s name is only two letters, or he’d be unable to cope.
Sounds like TP’s new name. He used to call himself ToyotaPaul, but clearly the stupid pills have taken effect and he’s unable to spell such a long name any more.
Even Paulo seems to have swallowed the CO2 bullsh!t.
Doesn’t matter what we do to the atmosphere in Aus, take a look at the Peking skies and see what they are doing. Aussie emissions 1 billion fold at least.
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August 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
First of all…..Ra your a dead set moron!!!
Alborz…..i agreed with you completely and for those that must have the running costs of a Priarse all they have to do is run it on LPG, and they’ll have the best of both world’s!!!
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I get the drift Alborz. I reckon people have lost touch with cars in general and take them for granted.
An extra $30 bucks a week, yeah sure, sounds affordable!
We’ve already seen peak oil production - around the year 2005, which means we are now driving downhill in a two and a half tonne Landcruiser with failed brake lines. With world oil demand increasing & availability decreasing anyone with an active braincell can figure out it’s not going to last for much longer.
Do you think it’s a wise idea promoting a vehicle that in a couple of years isn’t going to be using just $30 more, but instead $80 more? Or maybe even $120? Who knows…
I drive a new V6 sports car that averages a very poor 14l/100km and even I am having a few second thoughts (and regrets) about the whole situation.
Just a thought…
Oh, and keep left people! If the speed limit’s too scary, leave the car & take the bus.
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I completely understand but why a big V8? I get the point but you dont need that much power to have alot of fun. What about the Passat R36? Lotus Elise? Porsche 911? And Ra, you shouldnt be driving a Prius. They have nickel in the batteries and thats terrible for the environment.
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Also CarAdvice, speaking of Holden, why havnt you listed a story about the fact that Holden is now listing a different Barina on thier website?
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Well glad to know there are so many opinions out here… First up KUDOS for bold review (especially in today’s times)… But I’d choose a Jap Car (made in Japan eg. Honda Accord Euro) over this Big Aussie Junk… Fuel wars aside… its all about Quality… I’d say the same about Ford too… Its crap and I’d ask everyone to AVOID IT… Only corporates have no brains to buy these big bulky gas guzzlers for their reps/employees.. Im very happy to take cash equivalent from the company and drive my Euro around!! BYE BYE Ford and Holden!!! In the same words… Prius sucks too… Germans or Pure Japs rule!!
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
James, if its only about quality for you, why didnt you buy an Audi?
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Oh and one more thing 9.1L/100km will always be less than 13L/100km… Pure Genius….ain’t it!!
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
i already do drive accord euro my friend…
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
That’s a great idea… Go and buy a computer engineered Barina, that acheieved one of the lowest crash ratings in euroNCAP history.
Instead of showcasing the new models Holden is releasing, maybe someone should focus on the fact that they are sourcing most of their cars from GM Daewoo and destroying their brand image and resale values for existing customers.
Not to mention marketing vehicles which may ‘pass’ test requirements, but I’m betting Mark Reuss wouldn’t be caught dead in one in a crash… Or maybe he would come to think of it!
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
James,
Are you aware that the Honda Accord Euro’s that we get are made in Thailand and NOT Japan?
Australia has a free trade agreement with Thailand which is one of the reasons the Accord Euro is better value than it was a few years ago. Nice car too.
Speaking of “Euros” did you know that most of the BMW 3 series cars the come to Australia are made in South Africa?
Or that Porsche Boxsters are (were?) made in Finland?
Lastly did you know a V8 Commodore is a LOT more fun to drive than an Accord Euro?
No? Oh well, never mind… Enjoy your granpa-mobile :-)
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Good article,the mainstrem media(the ABC)helped kill Mitsubishi in oz by reporting(doomsaying)its dimise, for “5 years”(diving customers away in droves and look what happend even the good 380 could not save it)before they finished up here in Oz.The top brass at Mitsubishi were livid with the ABC and last week 7 or 9 reported(doomsaying)how Ford lost $12.7 billion in the USA then Quickly moved to another story,they didn’t say that GM lost $15.5 million.More doomsaying,maybe Ford Oz should watch out.
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August 12th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Thats not too bad… i might just upgrade from a 6 to a V8 purely for the exhaust note! I would pay an extra $30 just to sit in a v8 rather than a prius… screw the prius. Whats $30? an extra 3 fast food meals? Save ya self some fat and hence improve your life and put it in the fuel tank.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
i know alot of people who are quite happy to spend a heck of alot more then $30 a week on their smoking habbit, yet never ever stop whinging about the price of fuel… people need to put things into perspective!
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
excellent article. $30 is a fairly big overstatement, drive the car efficiently and dipping under 12L/100km is achievable. of course you don’t get to feel the thrust of the 6.0 V8 as often though.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I guess it comes down to image at the end of the day…do you want to drive a V8 Commodore and be considered a Westie Bogan?
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I didnt mean that we should all go and buy crappy (and still butt ugly) barinas Milsie, I just meant that the stories not up yet.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
My next Car will be a 99-02 series 8 RX-7 Type RS, If I look around hard enough I can probably pick up a good example for around 25K these days. Not a 6ltr V8, but a 1.3ltr rotary twin turbo isnt know for its fuel efficiency which makes it very relavent to this article.. I totally agree with you Alborz, us car enthousiasts have better things to worry about than fuel costing an extra $30 or so dollars a week, the greenies probably spend an extra $60 on buying natural and organic products on ther weekly gracoary shopping…
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Skybreak the euro’s are made in japan, it’s the normal accord which is made in the land of pingpong balls. euro wouldn’t be a bad drive either.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
**i mean grocery shpping lol, blasted typo’s
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
The last time I looked your so called fuel efficient, made in Japan Honda Accord V6 was beaten in a comparison test right here on CarAdvice by none other than a locally built heap,the Ford G6E. Imagine, an Aussie car that offered more features,better economy, performance and dynamics and comparable build quality to your beloved Honda and did I mention 5 star safety rating and better styling inside and out.
James, I prefer Aussie, thanks very much.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Last time i drove a V8 SS Auto, in peak hour traffic from Doncaster to Pakenham, not caring a stuff about economy, I got 11.8l per 100km.
Last V6 Calais i drove, Doncaster to Euroa, 8.2l per 100km.
Yes i sell these cars, there not the best cars on the market, but to drive every day there fantastic.
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August 12th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
My brother gets low 10 litres per 100ks from his VE SSV Ute driving from Kalgoorlie to Perth which I thinks pretty good {then again its needs to be when it cost him $110 to fill it} ,hes coming down this weekend and leaving me the keys for 10 days so Ill be interested to see what I get out of it round town,got to be better than 17.8l per 100 that I use to get out of the BA GT and BF GT Cobra I use to drive.
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August 12th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
James just to let you know Honda Accord Euro is made in Thailand not Japan.
I am not saying it is a bad car but I think we have to give some respect to local sedan as well.
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August 12th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I remember Wheels Magazine recorded approx 22.5L/100Km with the Turbo Territory - when it was first released
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August 12th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
To all the Euro and Japanese lovers.
Sure it may cost us a bit more in petrol to run our locally built RWD sedans with their low tech engines compared to what you get from your imported FWD sedan with its high tech 4 or 6 cylinder engines
However; we save more money than what you do when it comes to repairs amnd maintenance etc particularly when the car is out of warranty
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August 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Good story Alborz. Theres nuthin like a big aussie V8.
These prius wankers are full of it. Prius is just a marketing excercise for toyota and so celebs can feel good about themselves. By the time they mine the zinc ( and other harmful battery components) and ship it to the manufacturing plant and then ship it to the sale destination, much more greenhouse gases have been produced. To keep Greenhouse gases low your better of buying a locally produced V8 or I6. Clarkson has proved that the priarse isnt fuel efficient as its made up to be.
Speaking of Fuel shortages the north pole is melting which means an oil and gas bonanza will soon be happening.
In the mean time nothings better than filling up my XR8 with 98RON, driving hard and having effortless acceleration, a complete exhaust symphony and a grin from ear-to-ear whilst experiencing pure motoring enjoyment.
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August 12th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Good stuff Alborz. I can’t say i’m an advocate for guzzlers but your principle is sound. Do us a favour and do the same trip at same speeds in a Prius, that’ll sort out the critics hopefully.
RA - you might not have seen it but on Top Gear they drove a Prius flatout round the TG circuit followed closely by an M3. The prius returned 3mpg (I think) less than the M3.
Bear in mind a 2.0 litre diesel could have done the trip saving $60 over the SS. Sorry couldn’t resist it.
Long live the V8 (if you like that sorta thing).
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August 12th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
James,
are you talking about the same Accord Euro which achieves worse real world fuel figures that the falcon??
bring on performance LPG models i say….
what do you say Carl???
**awaits excited reply**
seriously though,
im right with you on that carl.
ive heard results of an SS commodore on duel fuel which dynoed a few more KW’s than when run on petrol.
how about some sort of story along those lines CA???
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August 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Had to do a few ks round town today, about 70 odd, and the GTI returned 8.3l/100 for the day. Not bad given it’s barely run in with 600ks total.
It’s a bit weird, the way the DSG works in normal mode - at 60ks it’s in 6th gear when you are just poodling around in traffic; it changes up below 2000rpm.
But there are many reasons why you should choose the car you want - one of the main reasons is that we live in a society where regulation does not yet dictate what butter we buy or what car we buy, even if the damn greenies think they should be able to dictate to us petrolheads.
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August 12th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
How the hell does everything on this site end up being compared to a Prius? There is a place for hybrids - it is in cities. That is why almost all european makers are looking at hybrids - new golf etc. Holden themselves are looking at it for the commmodore. I’ve had a v8 bmw - average in the city but amazing efficiency cruising between capital cities. Hybrids make sense in dense cities. Low speeds and stop start are where they work best. Each to there own - if you want to drive one fine, your choice, if not thats fine too.
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August 12th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Andrew M, if i didn’t know any better i’d think you were taking the mickey out of me BUT i know you like LPG just as much as i do and let’s not forget Frugal One and his bench seats!!!!!LOL
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August 12th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
What’s the point of going mainly highway, we know that the big V8 engine has to barely work there, so you should get some pretty good fuel economy figures.
The fact of the matter is, where it counts, in the city, they tend to have pretty appalling fuel consumption, and regardless, smaller engines actually still get better highway fuel economy, although the difference is probably in the order of magnitude less than 1L/100km.
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August 12th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Carl,
all jokes aside,
im still banging my head against the desk trying to figure out why more time hasnt been spent on LPG, and making it more main stream.
the only ones that rubbish it seem to be the uneducated ones.
did you hear the latest on fords LPG???
they are saying that the E-Gas models will receive DSC at the start of next year.
that has to mean for DSC to be able to work, it must be at least a sequential vapour injection system.
im trying to find out more
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August 12th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
No Name, well done. There is a place for both. The Prius and other small capacity petrol, diesel or hybrids can use as little as 1/3 the fuel in a congested urban enviroment compared to a big V8. That doesn’t mean that they’ll be better or as much fun on the open road as a big V8/V6 ect. At the end of the day buy the car that best suits YOU. If you want a V8 so be it, but don’t ridicule those who choose a SUV or hybrid or diesel or scooter if that best fits their needs.
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
That 2nd comment at 7.45 wasn’t the real No Name I assure you of that. I’ve never owned a V8 BMW. And I’m not a hybrid supporter just yet as they offer no green credentials & financial incentives over a small diesel engine.
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
Not to take anything away from the SS, but some of the worst ‘Brisbane’ drivers always seem to be in Commodores; otherwise that was a great marketing campaign for the SS, well done CA.
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Doesn’t seem to matter what car advice does.. always seem to cop some flak from the armchair experts, most of which have never even driven the vehicles in question, infact i’d say all of them haven’t.
Alphabetta77 - way to prove you barely even read the article buddy! As the article clearly states Alborz intentionally went through peak hour through the city and took trip computer readings after the city peak run, the figure was 12.4l per 100km which is a very long way from appalling! Also if you know brisbane then you would know gympie road is a shocking peice of road during peak hour, my lancer struggles to better 10l/100km through that section at peak hour so 12.4 is exreemly impressive for a car with twice the cylinders and three times the capacity of my little lancer!
I wish people would get to grips with the content of the article before they start running their mouths like the ignorant twats that they are
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
and evora the worst of the brisbane drivers i can assure you are driving 4wd’s and high end (50k+) euro cars. But then i guess if you keep telling yourself that its only commodore drivers then i guess thats what your gonna see. i mean really as 1 specific brand of car attracts bad drivers.. don’t be a dill.
Also mate Alborz merely used the SS as an example, as clearly stated in the article, he never made this an SS specific article so don’t try and accuse him of marketing holden. This is a site, lets not forget, that rated the commodore LAST in the 4 car coparison.. yeah really biased!
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Every car comparison/review is marketing, why else would manufacturers supply the cars? I am not accusing CA of Bias. As for everything else Richo, you are entitled to your opinion, and as I don’t care a bit for yours, I don’ care if you don’t care for mine ;)
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Ah nothing like a Holden vs Toyota comparison to boost up your visitor count to the website and jack up the asking price to advertise on your site eh?
But seriously, I have a non turbo 4 cylinder petrol auto medium that uses more fuel around the city than your V8 on test - I feel ripped off!!! Can’t wait to read your upcoming review on the SSV sportswagon, maybe I can convince the Mrs. that it won’t eat up that much petrol… :)
Long live performance cars - whether they be V8 or turbo.
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August 12th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
atleast i back up my opinions with a bit more then innuendo Evora…
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August 12th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Here here Hans! i now look out the window at my lancer and think.. shoulda got a V8! lol seriously though i don’t know why people try so hard to put performance car drivers down. So what if we happen to love fast cars and also happen to think our aussie engineers do a great job making cars, why does that make us bogans like some of the halfwits on this site try and suggest? The ironic thing is that Top Gear always give the Holdens a good review, and when the VE variant of the vauxhall VXR was launched in the UK all of the UK motoring rags also gave it a very fabovourable write up!
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August 12th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Nave, just to let you know Honda Accord Euro is made in Japan, not Thailand. The bigger Honda Accord is made in Thailand. Make sure you know your stuff before you start correcting others, you idiot.
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August 12th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Would have been great idea if thay had filled the tank after the run to work out perfectly how much fuel was used .AS we all know there trip computers have always been inacurate.Still though i know there not to bad for a v8 as my mates have fords and holden v8s
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August 12th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
If you guys think the fuel economy of Holden’s V8 is good now, wait ’til they release D.O.D. on the V8
Displacement on demand will make these figures look like gas guzzlers
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I’m still waiting for the release of the BMW 3 Series “Jap”.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:33 am
I don’t think trip comps are too bad may be 5% max difference. My vectra often says 33.5mpg then topping up says 34.2mpg. Also pumps can be incorrect (yes I know they are calibrated) explain to me how somedays when I fill up my Pug it takes 72 litres some days and 75 others when the tank needle don’t move.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:37 am
Big-Jim - “Speaking of Fuel shortages the north pole is melting which means an oil and gas bonanza will soon be happening.” haha you tool, if that happens you wont need a car anymore, you’ll be wanting a boat!.
Back to the article, it focuses on the consumer, sure if someone can afford and dreams of v8 he will get one, regardless of his income whether 50k or 150k a year. same goes with HiPO jap imports or 4wd’s, it may be impractical from a day to day perspective but if it brings a smile to their face or boosts their ego then they’ll buy it.
But… in regards to the big v8, the demise will be in the hands of regulations regarding to the environment, as the world goes into overpopulation, theres a moral and sustainability obligation by countries to curb emissions. Car manufacturers will continually be bombarded by smaller and smaller emission targets and eventually a petrolv8 would become a no hoper and will need to be museumised. Sure you can say China pollutes more than Australia, but as a well developed nation its our responsibility to lead by example, and im sure China is playing catching up as they progress through the industrial age… and will embrace any carbon saving technology they can get their hands on.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:38 am
I’m going to argue for both sides.
Firstly, people who want big V8’s generally have the money to afford the petrol and are willing to buy the petrol.
Secondly, if someone only needs a car to get from a to b, why not get a I4 such as the Mazda 6, Toyota Camry, and Ford Mondeo. These cars and some in its class may not be the best handling or the most powerful, but they do what people need them to do, get from point A to point B in relative comfort.
And on the production of the Prius producing more pollution than it saves, i don’t know how much more is produced, but it may depend on how much the battery is used to power the car? For someone in bumper to bumper traffic all the time, the Prius would be of more value than someone who does a lot of freeway driving.
If you want a car with a lot of power get a car with a big V8 or equivalent, if you want a car which can handle get a small nimble car.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Joober - in the grand scheme of things personal transport, ie cars, accounts for very little of the worlds pollution. Cars are an easy target, but its industry who are the real problem with regard to emissions, i think thats a fairly well established deal.
Car emissions just aren’t that bigger deal, they are just a soft target for greenies.
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August 13th, 2008 at 1:17 am
Richo, why should the biggest polluters be targeted. If all polluters are targeted, then the problem will be fixed quicker.
For example, in submarines, if you get rid of the loudest noise, there will be a new loudest noise. If they reduce the volume of all the noises, then the submarine will get quieter quicker.
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August 13th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Sorry noname it was a cut and paste error and hit the enter key before scolling up to see it.
Have to disagree though. Small diesels are not ideal city cars. A hybrid diesel maybe, (VW is trialing a golf diesel hybrid at the moment) but the slow speeds in heavy city traffic do not allow the very equipment that are there to make them “greener”. Particulate filters - such as that equiped to the vw group of cars require a minimum temperature to work effectively. City driving can stop this from occurring and can clog them rapidly. This puts the engine into limp home mode.
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August 13th, 2008 at 8:26 am
I drove a Subaru Liberty before and a 2L turbo petrol GTI Golf now… I understand the love of all cars… each to their own I say! One day I might even own a V8… maybe a tiny diesel for commuting and a V8 wagon for family and an track day Lotus. Good article guys.
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August 13th, 2008 at 9:25 am
I don’t know if v8’s are getting more economical, but i remember when the LS1’s were first released, heaps of people were complaining about 17-18L/100km fuel consumption, and to get even close to the 14, you would have to absolutely baby it.
Considering the VE’s are heavier, with an even bigger engine, they seem to be alot more economical.
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:21 am
Guys, Accord Euro made in Japan… Regular Accord made in Thailand….
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Anyways… Holden is just pure crap vehicle… take HSV427 for example the only people shelling out $150k would be Bogans with attitude problem….. $150k for exhaust note??? Dude definitely go for Audi RS4… will Kick Holden’s a$$ any day!!!
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Hey James,
I don’t need some freak over the internet telling me how super dooper their Accord Euro is.
I would rather eat a plate of glass than to trade in my SS for a Euro.
It’s called 11-second quarters… but I wouldn’t expect you to understand.
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:45 am
GhisGT, my friend… It ain’t always about 11-sec quarter… if you notice I have NEVER mentioned accord euro is quicker than SS… talked about Build Quality & Fuel Efficiency… Im also saying on the same note that Ford is horrible as well… so I understand you love to drag on highways (and possibly loose your lic & blow a hole in your wallet doing so..)
Dont worry a day will come when V8’s will be removed from every major manufacturers list of commercially produced vehicles… (Its already happening)…
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Im a V8 guy, to me you just can’t beat the sound a thumping, huge V8 makes, it truely is music to my ears. I think a V8 on LPG would be the way to go for a person like my self, performance, the sound and relatively cheap to run….as long as the price of LPG stays down, (which it probably won’t). Car manufacturers should be getting serious about LPG, and start designing their car bodys so that they can accommodate LPG tanks with out compromising so much cargo space, thats the one thing that has stopped me converting my car to LPG, I ill loose too much cargo space.
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I have a Accord Euro ATM, and i can’t wait to get rid of the piece of shit..im trading it in 2 months time (2.5 yrs old) for a Ford FPV F6.
Im sick of having to have to Rev the hell out of the little thing just to pickup any decent speed or overtake someone.
Anyway if you boys want real fun, buy a fast motorcycle and get your Knees down through some fast corners..now thats fun.
Good article though..and nice real life comparo
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Agree Richo, its not the biggest polluter and should not be singled out. Though… any form of mitigating polluters is a positive, cars are yep soft targets because there is more leeway on consumers to adapt to a different technology, whereas its just harder to convert industries to go green because of all the implications that comes with it, whether its affecting margins, productivity etc.
You can convince a person to fork that extra 5k on their car purchase but can you convince in the same manner for a company to lose $50mill??
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:54 am
For those who got the “Money” to waste, of course a Ferrari would be great, but for those with a much tighter budget, and extra $30 a week would means extra $1560 a year! In the time of a volitle enconomy, who knows if you can survive your job for another day? Many businesses are losing money, who knows you won’t be the next target of retrenchment? An extra $30 a week now, can mean $15600 in 10 years, plus the money you save on purchasing a “less” enthusiastic car, plus interests, you can do the maths and see where the savings can do to your life. Of course we all like a great fast car, but i think everyone should have a part in the society. If you can use that $30 a week on donation (which is tax deductable), you would make a difference in this society. STOP thinking about just “yourself”, but think about others, it will make everyone’s life much happier !
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August 13th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Like all the other astute punters have said -
SS V8 on LPG = GameOver
WINxWINxWIN!
Cheers
F-0
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August 13th, 2008 at 11:59 am
No Money! - For those of a tighter budget they can play GT4 / Need for speed and drive their dream cars there lol.
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August 13th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
The guys over at TMR posted fuel consumption of 16.7l/100km in city driving and 14.2l/100km on the highway when testing the SSV Sportwagon
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August 13th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I just purchased a SS-V M6. First day I had, i put the wife, two kids and a bootful (and I’m serious, it was chockers and had a heavy port-a-cot in there) and we went on a trip to Bundy from Brisbane. Including some spirited squirts when the wife and kids were asleep, I was very happy with a return of 12.5. Around town has been a little higher but at the end of the day, I’m filling up the same amount of fuel than my old 3.2 V6 Vectra but just a day or two earlier. Oooooohhhhhh scary.
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August 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
“The guys over at TMR posted fuel consumption of 16.7l/100km in city driving and 14.2l/100km on the highway when testing the SSV Sportwagon”
Ha ha, clearly the people at Car Advice don’t drive their V8s hard enough! Man up, Alborz!
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August 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
i’m sick of all these bloody internet warriors like James coming out and saying that what HE has chosen to do is the only right thing and everyone else are idiots or bogans. Mate go take the pole out of your ass and let people buy whatever the hell they damn well want!
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August 13th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Editor in chief of “inside line” said pontiac G8 (ssv for the uneducated)is the best car GM currently sells in america, i think thats worth a pat on the back for holden.Now if only FoMoCo in US would see the light and give the falcon a passport.
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August 13th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Falcodore i saw that, and thats a big call given that the new for 2008 cadillac CTS is by all accounts a fantastic motor car
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August 13th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
As i said in the other thread, the 2009 chevy comaro with its 6.2ltr V8 and 6 speed auto acheives economy of just 11 ltrs per 100km, which for such a large V8 is astonishing. And thats in a car that is only 40kg lighter then a VE commodore. That really is impressive
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August 13th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Sorry! believe it or not its actually 10.2ltr per 100km that chevvy is claiming for the 6.2ltr V8 auto comaro. Astonishing
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August 13th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Ra Says:
August 12th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Maybe it was the inflated tires that saved you so much fuel…
Here is an idea, attach a tube to the exhaust pipe and run it back into the car - I’ll do the same in an hybrid car and we will see who has to exit their vehicles first.
This type of journalism is pure ignorance. Bring on the fire….
are u serious
really
like really
i dont recall toyota using the marketing campaign “u can safely do stupid things like stick a tube on ur exhaust and feed it back into the car”
realy
do u realise ur stupidity
we are talking about driving cars here
sure some ppl only want to get from place to place
but some of us have fun driving
i dont feel like getting fked up on hybrid fumes
mind u it wud prolly take a petrol fummed fked up brain to ever get me to buy a hyrbid
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August 14th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
BOOYAH!!!
Game-Set-Match
“The results of an independent quality survey conducted every six months for car makers have never been made public. Until now. RICHARD BLACKBURN reports in this Drive exclusive.
European and Australian cars consistently lag behind their Asian competitors in quality, according to confidential industry figures obtained by the Herald.”
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August 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
The Prius, especially in the city, is no more economical than a small Japanese 4 cyl. Because the entire time you’re accelerating, you’re using the petrol engine, it’s only when you’re cruising that you save any fuel at all.
People are off their rockers if they think a Prius is going to save the planet.
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August 15th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Oh, and does anyone know if a V8 on LPG would be a loophole for P platers owning V8’s? If a cop pulls you over, because he’s heard a beautiful German V8 exhaust note, and you say “It runs on gas, check if you want” will he still be able to give you a fine?
Cause I’d do that in a heartbeat, and so would many other people my age.
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August 16th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
This is what I do almost every day…
With the tacho needle bouncing from hitting the rev limiter I dump the clutch and laugh and scream but no-one can hear me as I’m drowned out by the fantastic bellow and howl of my BOSS V8 roaring as the rear wheels - with traction control switched off - instantly fry themselves into clouds and clouds of thick white tyre smoke as the rear end fishtails corrected with opposite lock and I grab second gear and do it all over again and I just cannot get the smile off my face….
Usually when I do this it’s at a set of traffic lights next to a Prius.
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August 16th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
If “BIG” B(s are here to stay why are Holden and HSV looking at the option of offering a smaller capacity V8 [expected to be 4-5 litres] for the upcoming VF commodore?
Rumours suggest that it will most likely be the new version of Cadillacs Quad cam north-star V8 [Hate the cars love the engines] which will produce nearly as much power as the Chev V8 - when a supercharger is bolted on and could possibly have DOD.
Ironically The General is looking at going from Pushrods to Cams while Ford are looking at going from Cams to Pushrods
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August 17th, 2008 at 12:45 am
If you covered the entire highway between Darwin and Adelaide with broken glass and rusty nails I’d rather push my BOSS V8 over that entire distance BAREFOOT, complete with bitumen so hot that its melting and feet mangling gravel, kicking deadly King Brown’s, Taipans and Tiger snakes along the way, with no water no map and no beer, with me missus nagging at me the whole way from the front seat while promising to never ever leave me, then me dog gets bored with me slow pace and the missus whingeing like a sunburnt pom after another Ashes loss so wanders off and eats a freshly laid dingo bait and dies in me arms, I’d rather all that bad shit happen…..
….than drive a bloody Prius!
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and Mad Bloody Max,
long may the last of the V8 Interceptor’s live,
Blown or not,
Amen.
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August 18th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Great Article Alborz, EXCEPT your comment about brisbane people being worst in oz..BULLL SHEEET,And That goes for you2 Gift-Ed sorry Guys but i have also been a Brisbanite all my life the only reason the road hogs are here and has gotten worse is because all arrogant now thankyou waving or whatever people have moved up from melbourne and sydney, the most arrogant drivers in australia.
Anyhow about the SS ,awesome points of few. The scare mongering that has been put out by the media about climate change this/that is absolute nonsense. Their is absolute proof from 200 years ago that it has been and was hotter then then now…It is the natural course of this earth. V8’s are here to stay and RA, your an idiot, i guarantee you in 20 years time that the ozone will still be their, the heat will still be up/down(despite the changes in climate emmissions etc etc)
Bring on the V8’s, Great fuel economy can be the same in them as in prius any day, its the way you drive the car, not the car the way it is built..
Later people..
:)
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August 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Sorry Marcos, Alborz is dead right. Queenslanders are the worst by far.
Alborz, In relation to this line…
“Why is it that the left lane in Australia is always the fastest? Yet it’s illegal to undertake?”
It is not illegal to undertake (pass on the left) on a multi-lane road.
Queenslanders do it because they also believe that you must let one in on the freeway (which is NOT a merge but classed as a ‘lane end’: where the driver entering the freeway must make a safe lane-change without unreasonably obstructing traffic).
This (mis) belief then leads to Queenslanders saying “bugger it, I’ll keep right because it’s too hard to let people in every 500 meters (ipswich motorway could have been fixed by shutting off half of the superfluous on-ramps).
Any way back to the point. I noticed you were relying on the dashboard display to back up your story. I have found these on commodores to be Optimistic (if not downright wrong). Did you fill the tank back up to full and post the actual fuel used for your trip? If so what was the actual litres consumed for the piece. Would be interesting to see how accurate your particular SS’ trip computer was before we all make the hoorah for V8’s (which have just as much right to exist as Ssangyong do).
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August 19th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
If you really want to know where the worst drivers in oz are go to grafton in northern nsw, dont know how to use rounabouts,stick to the right hand lane even if the left is completely empty and cannot reverse park to save their lives but they still persist with 45 degree rear to kerb parking! Talk about living in the fifties.
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August 19th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
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.
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August 20th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
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.
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August 20th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
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
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August 22nd, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Ra….It’s your choice entirely….BUT…start saving for a new battery pack…..NOW!
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