Comments on: 2009 Holden Commodore SS V8 AFM – Long Term Update

By: louise

louise — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:37:06 +0000

we just brought our second manual ss and thay have been pretty good on the fuel, depending how you drive them. also own a older xr6 auto, we find it about the same on fuel but it drives like a slug

By: Karl

Karl — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:35:13 +0000

So true, people should just learn how to drive.

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:07:32 +0000

Sounds like no AFM (V8 Auto) has been put on gas anywhere
in Australia!
The governing body must approve it first, so we need a
gas conversion company to test their own car first
to ensure it will work, I guess just turn the AFM off?
Cheers Joe.

By: VE Manual

VE Manual — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:08:17 +0000

I own a manual VE SS and consistently get 11.4 to 12.4 L/100Km fuel consumption, and on longer trips will dip into the 10s. Thing is, I owned an SV6 prior to the SS and the fuel economy was not a lot better. As for driveabilty its chalk and cheese, the SV6 is a nice car but its geared too high and hasn’t the torque to deliver the goods.
The SS delivers smooth effortless power and is a joy to drive.

By: Its a good thing..., really

Its a good thing..., really — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:05:25 +0000

Its excellent. I drop 1lt/100 and it goes like the wind!

By: UteMan

UteMan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:44:18 +0000

I have brand new SS ute with AFM (1800km on clock) around town driving (Brisbane traffic) I average 12.2l/100km and on the highway (cruise control on at 100kmh) I get 8.3l/100km compare to my previous ute (BA XR8) which averaged 15.1 and 14.1 under the same conditions. The other thing I like about the SS ute is that driving around town (idle to 3000 rpm) it has better throttle response (get up and go) then the XR8 had.

By: ROADHOG

ROADHOG — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:07:30 +0000

Can someone tell me the point of AFM?
It doesn’t appear to work very well.
If you want good fuel economy buy a Toyota Aurion.
7.8L/100km at 110 km/h,tank average, 4 adults with luggage, over 1600km, and not on a multilane freeway.
If you want grunt, but an SS commodore and forget the AFM.

By: Ryan P

Ryan P — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:32:14 +0000

seems this thread is a flop nothing updated at all. seems you are just as disapointing as Holden’s new AFM

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:04:18 +0000

Im with the Cupid Stunt.

a conclusion must be due around now.

it would be a bit corny if they released it on australia day (tommorrow)

By: 6 litre since 07

6 litre since 07 — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:00:48 +0000

I have owned a SS commodore auto since mid 07 bought new and have never had such bad fuel economy as i keep reading about even to the point i have refueled it and driven it like it was stolen then and only then does it get into the high 16,s but as road conditions and traffic get in the way the economy soon drops back to normal at mid 12,s.I have just returned from a 2700k trip from Adelaide to Melbourne via the great ocean road throughout Melbourne and the Dandenongs and home via Nhill driven to enjoy not economise and returned 11.2 average speed 72kph

By: Cupid Stunt

Cupid Stunt — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:34:25 +0000

Whats the latest on this Behemoth CA. I’d be interested to see what the consumption is like.

By: Daytona

Daytona — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:13:33 +0000

I think i will wait until a few more KM are under the belt before i pass serious judgement. But from the outset, those fuel numbers are humdrum for Holden. Sounds like manual SS’s will increase there sales somewhat and suddenly Fords 5.4 is looking more competive if a V8 is what you must have.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:48:19 +0000

The only engine Holden build for Saab is the 2.8 V6 Turbo in the 9-3 Aero

By: Duck

Duck — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:45:28 +0000

^^^^^^^^^^Yeah, Holden build the petrol engines for the Saab 9-3, I’m pretty sure.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 05:07:01 +0000

Wheelnut Says:

What makes the poor performance of the AFM SS even worse is that the engine in the TT-ID Saab that Car Advice are also testing is built by the Holden Engine Company.

Ahhh wrong. The TTiD engine in the Saab is a joint venture engine by Opel & Fiat.

By: Yianni

Yianni — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:05:53 +0000

So they’ve limited the power/torque output and also added AFM to the engine and the fuel consumption is still crap?

Geez this is a real disappointment. If this engine is fitted as standard then it would be complete rubbish in performance.

0-100 in 6.43s is ridiculously slow. I honestly hope they rethink their strategy with this engine and maybe offer it as an option only so people wanting a V8 Commodore with proper performance can still get one.

The V8 commodore is all about performance so dumping this engine at standard in the car is pointless.

By: topdog

topdog — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:52:43 +0000

Yeh seems like a waste of time for nothing realy.And looks like thay were even trying to drive it easy to get good figures and on top of that the car is as slow as some good non turbo sixs

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:08:01 +0000

What makes the poor performance of the AFM SS even worse is that the engine in the TT-ID Saab that Car Advice are also testing is built by the Holden Engine Company.

Which makes you wonder if Holden build fuel efficient 6 cylinder engines for other car companies such as Saab [and Alfa Romeo].. why is it that Australians have to wait for it to be in the Commodore

Holden should offer the Twin-Turbo / Diesel 6cyls ASAP.. and not focus as much on AFM which appears to be a flop

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:52:06 +0000

I also agree with Toms comments in relation to the awesome performance of the FG XR6-T.

I too am a Holden fan; and I have always believed that if I had to buy a 6cyl it would definetely be a Falcon.
Because its easier to extract more power from an inline 6 than it is a V6 and still maintain balance etc.. power to rival a V8.
I think one of the worst decisions Holden ever made was to ditch the inline 6 [from the VK VL] in favour of the V6.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:43:23 +0000

I think AFM is a w–k because if you drive a V8 “properly” you can achieve close to the fuel efficiency of a 6 cyl without the ECU having to deactivate cylinders etc..

It’s really just a marketing ploy by Holden to make some of their customers feel/believe that they are doing something good towards the environment.. similar to those who drive a Prius

Not only that but those who buy an SS with AFM can say “my car has AFM” and therefore; because it has the optional extra/unique feature [compared to a regular SS] their car must be better and so improves their “image”