2007 Holden SS-V Ute (Manual) First Steer
November 6, 2007 by Matt Brogan
2007 Holden SS-V Ute (Manual) First Steer
It’s been quite a lead up to the release of Holden’s much anticipated VE Ute. CarAdvice has had spy pictures and reader information for months now, but until Karl’s review on Friday, getting a drive was almost impossible.
Now though, we’re all getting a shot, and for my first steer I had the SS-V with a six speed manual gearbox finished in a very sinister Phantom Black metallic and shod with tough five spoke 19” alloys, just to see how it rates against Karl’s auto.
In my humble opinion, the Tremec T56 manual is a far better box than the six-speed auto. The ratios are well spaced for laying down every last one of those 270kW and allows for incredible in gear acceleration from any of the first five gears.
Sixth is more about easy cruising and fuel economy, but will allow enough pull if you’re not too hurried. The box is easy to master with a short throw shifter making a small flick of the wrist all that’s required to swap cogs.
The clutch has that certain V8 feel to it, I’d be disappointed if it didn’t, but is by no means heavy or cumbersome with excellent springback weighting and responsive feed back feel through the uptake point. Infact the whole driveline feels exceptionally well sorted and brings a huge grin (and a little chirp) through every quick shift at the top of the tacho.
Utilising (no pun intended) Holden’s all new Linear Control Suspension, with 53:47 weight distribution, the Ute feels more like driving a car than most sedans do, and with its more compact lay out, suspension intrusion in to the load area is minimal.
A direct acting stabilizer bar and lowered ride height promotes flat, sharp handling and ensures none of VE’s superb handling characteristics are lost. Power is put to the ground cleanly which keeps cornering sharp, centred and surprisingly neutral.
The SS-V Ute is a drive that inspires confidence. Tough yet comfortable with seemingly endless V8 grunt on tap, this Ute is a big boy’s toy any self respecting Aussie male would want in their garage.
Red Hot Leather seats and dash inserts with matching instrumentation and a full list of interior features and make the SS-V a workhorse worthy of a spot in even the classiest of stables.
Many thanks to our good friends at Preston Motors City for the loan vehicle.
Matt Brogan
Print it: 
I love it – a performance car with a big boot. How could you not want one of these.
You’re right Tony, it feels like a Coupe with a tray and goes like a bat out of hell. Love it!
Not bad, but that red dash and interior has put me off…enough to make you blush..
Ha! Don’t be too put off Woz, thankfully it’s optional :)
The power of option is always a bonus…
Looks great in black,who on earth would order RED INTERIOR!
Looks like a bordello!
I actually quite like the red interior, but was put off from the reflection it gives off onto the window in direct sunlight, quite off-putting.
Manual is the winner, the auto seems pretty undecided, but then again I haven’t really driven an auto box that I was impressed with, other than the N-CVT boxes in the older Nissan Micras! Unlimited speed gearbox!
“In my humble opinion, the Tremec T56 manual is a far better box than the five speed auto”
The what? That’s a _six_ speed auto in the V8s… and Karl’s test vehicle if that’s what you are comparing it to.
…back to the AFL website for you, Matt!
Typo fixed
Nice Maroon leather seats – yes, Red leather dash – NO
Haha, I also drove the ute today!! How’s that for unusual coincidence.
The auto wasn’t bad, but I think Holden have a way to go before matching the ZF.
Though, hands down best ute I have ever driven, didn’t have the red interior in the one I drove, does look a bit off – the interior doesn’t feel nowhere near as tacky as it looks in that pic you have. I’m actually kinda partial to that steering wheel, it’s much nicer than the VT series.
It handles far, far better than the VZ, economy is pretty good and the cab is way bigger than the VZ though the tray is smaller I’d say. Steering has definitely been improved from the last Holden ute I drove, turns in much better. Styling wise I don’t like the rear tail lights and the front bar could be better (maybe use the G8’s ?), but a definite improvement from Holden.
Great work this time Holden!!!!
I love the red interior! All cars used to offer variety like this. When I was a wee 4 year old, the Holden salesman delivered a brand new white 1968 Belmont station wagon to our home and, yes, it had bench seats made of bright red vinyl. Our neighbour had the equivalent sedan with light blue vinyl.
When VB Commodores came out with a soft grey interior option, I thought, “hey, that looks classy”.
28 years later, grey is still with us.
The red dash looks good, something that Ford can learn from. The Tremec 6speed is better than GM’s 6-Speed Auto.
Again Holden appear to be copying BMW and Mercedes as they offer/have offered the Black and Red combo as part of their “Individual” series.
I have seen a number Euro cars [mainly SLKs] with the same treatment.. I’ve also seen it on a Bugatti Veyron – However Red and Black are Bugattis “traditional” racing colours.
I wonder how it would look with an Atomic [green] interior
^^come on, like every manufacturer in existance at some stage has offered a red/black sports interior for their cars, hardly an issue to bag holden on- at no stage did they say they invented the concept
I’m not bagging Holden.. the fact that I’m imagining it with an “Atomic” interior indicates that I don’t mind it in Red.. because it’s different; individual.
Just like BMW – and if BMW offer it; it can’t be that bad.. can it Missile?
I like the blue dash in FPV it looks real cool at night…..
I don’t care what car that interior would be in…..its too loud for ME!
I agree with old cars having red interiors but there retro looking .My girlfriend has just bought a 66 GT Fastback .RED ON RED ! Chrome and shiny red vinyl yep works….bright red dash……..wonder what you will think of it when it fades to pink???
Yep it can…….I have an individual blue exterior and blue interior! but it still has a black crash pad and the normal red lights not dials. It looks like youve used a donor car that was red and ripped the interior out of it…..doesn’t match anything! Gee I would hate to see the guys house inside who would buy that!
Everything old becomes new again. I see chrome returning as a tail lamp surround/garnish, just like on this ute. Where will it end? Probably with lashings of the stuff on the dashboard, just like the old days. And when it happens, it won’t be retro, it’ll be the new modern, just like the resurgence in round headlights and tail lights these last few years.
It seems like that idiot by the name of ‘GhisGT’ is a regular Holdenwoo fan here that changed it’s name to insult going ford because he to gutless to use his own name to him.
Just admit it GhisGT, you’re a complete idiot.
‘Driving-Fords-Is-like-XXX’, seems you’re just another one-eyed Ford fan with an IQ less that anything that should ever be allowed even remotely near a motor vehicle.
Do you even realize your not using your own name? Do me a favor; look up the word ‘hypocrite’ in the dictionary ’cause you obviously have no idea.
Just admit it to yourself ‘Driving-Fords-Is-like-XXX’, if you really think driving a Ford (or ANY motor vehicle for that matter) is like sex (I’m assuming that’s what the XXX is for), then you seriously need to get a new girlfriend, boyfriend or give that hand of yours a real good rest tiger.
It’s time to put down the XBOX hand controller, grab the old piggy bank and start washing a few cars. One day you will have your L’s and by that time I hope you would have found a little something along the way called maturity, you and your mate ‘Going Ford, is the Going Thing’.
PS. You are getting better at your use of the apostrophe, but just a free tip. Where you have written “changed it’s name to insult…”, you really didn’t need one jammed up in there. It’s neither showing abbreviation, nor ownership/possession.
Does anyone know if a dirt bike fits in the back now that the tray is shorter?? Cause you can’t really leave the tailgate down ‘cos it has the numberplate bolted to it!!
Hey Brad,
Depending on the bike, it’ll fit on the diagonal with gate shut – just. If the bike is a full size trail / dirt carried straight on, or you’re carrying more than one, it will not.
Holden provide rails that clip in to the tray to hold bikes on too (straight on), which is a great idea. I guess they didn’t think through the fact of number plate placement – I made the comment to Holden when I picked it up (as I also ride).
Anyway, hope this helps….
Matt.
well i can only agree had my vs ssv for about a week now & i can only asy it is the bestone yet i have had a vyss,a vzss & the ve ssv is totally different car to drive i luv it & so do alot of other people i talk to as soon as they see it they want to talk about how good it looks i got atomic metallic manual the only complaint was the exhaust was too quite but i have fixed that ripped of both bak mufflers & got 2 hotdogs put in now int sounds like a 6 litre v8,much to the disdain of my wife haha if you are looking a purchasing this vehicle i can only highly recommend it
thanks.
sorry for spelling mistakes
Don’t mind the spelling Dave, it’s awesome to hear from people that actually own one and their thoughts on the car. I hope it brings you many years of happiness mate, oh, and get your Mrs some ear plugs :)
hi guys,
Ive got an VE SS Ute on order (19inch 10 spokes, leather, chrome bar) (end of dec), 6 speed manual (how could you not!) … anway, ive driven a couple of SSV’s, auto … but have not actually sighted an SS standard ute … in looking through various photso and brochures, can someone tell me if the actual tacho and speedo dials are different between the SSV and SS ute? (i dont mean the dash) … most dealers ive spoken to wouldnt know what day it is, let alone the answer to my question (doesnt seem a complex one does it)
In the holden brochure, the photos of the SSV interior appear at night, appear black lit “red” … the SS interior photo is a day time photo and appears silver … one dealer said to me they appear silver in the day, and backlit red at night … but I dont think he actually had a clue.
Also noted the SSV seems to have the “SS” and “V8″ insignias on each dial , aswell as the speedo going to 280km/h… SS does or doesnt?
Certainly cant wait to get mine! Ive reverted to the mindset of a 6year old child whos waiting for santa claus. The old VY is being treated like an ex girlfriend at present!
CHeers,
Brad. (not the other brad posting on here…)
Just got the new SS-V ute in Phontom Black with the orange interior and the six speed manual.
Picked it up on Friday afternoon and drove around for a few hours that night and sat in front of it fri night and got pissed…lol
It is a nice ute to drive and recommend anyone to get one.
Had pictures taken of my ute Sunday night down at St kilda, and a few questions asked of my ute.
It is a pleasure to drive and the grunt behind it rocks.
Brad – I’ve called a few contacts, and no one seems to be able to answer your question. The best I could get was “I’m pretty sure it lights up red”. Glad to hear about your order none the less, you should email us some pics here at CA when you get it.
Glenn – well done on the purchase. Shoot some pics through if you’re able, we’d love to see them. Hope the drinking was done after the driving mate!
Hey Brad try this… would seem SS and SS-V are the same:
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/3356/ssv06ft3.jpg
yeah the utes are pretty sweet. my uncle is getting 1 a green ss v auto ute with hardtop and $2000 sat nav, towbar, leather, it will be 1 sweet ute. he gets it this week sometime. hey does anyone no where the batterys are in the utes because in the sedan they are in the boot, so where are they in the ute..
hey matt, et al, some pics of mine (had it a while, just managed to actually take some pics the other day) Very happy, other than a rabbit taking out a fog light (switched off) at 120km/h knocking it clean out … but gotta christen it somehow, right?
stock SS, 6speed manual, leather options, steering wheel options, sports bar, and 19inch supersport rims (it was taking ages to get it built so i figured i’d have it done how i wanted it…). Pimping stereo of course (windows up, volume down , when at lights before the assumptions let fly!)
Fuel usage is up the crapper as you’d expect. (nice when youre not paying…)
goog im sure you worked it out, but theyre behind the passenger seat in a lil compartment. a little bizaare, but doesnt seem to make a diff.
Check here : http://darb.net/western-australia/theranch/ (down bottom under house piccies)
matt couldnt work out how to email you.
Goog, they would be behind the seats.
Thanks for all the info you guys have given makes me feel even more impatient waiting for mine, I am coming from a BA XR6 ute to the VE SSV, can’t wait till I get it just waiting on a delivery date now hopefully find out a date tomorrow.