Clarkson writes review on his experience in an FPV GT.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Lol coming from the guy with "93 ED" in his name.

ED Falcon, the pinnacle of the automotive industry, right?

If I had the money the replace the old girl I would.... what's that got to do with you being an expert on the Falcon's chassis dynamics?

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by My poor XF

He is an entertainer that can drive, i enjoy his show but I don't give a rats backside what he or anyone else thinks about our cars.

Any purchase decision of mine won't be based on what he says or thinks and if anyone made a decision based on his comments then their an idiot.

True. But for most the people in Britain or english speaking Euro's, who think they can trust what he says.... he has told them our GT is a joke.

That's great if like us they think "Oh well that's his opinion...", but I often find myself agreeing with Clarkson on things.

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

I'm not talking about the GT specifically. Anything that man says about a car is considered gospel.

No I haven't driven the GT. But's it's the same car with a V8 plonked in it. Although heavier in the front.

But Big Damo wouldn't know a good car if it ran over him.

Probably not the smartest thing to say they will hunt you down.
I was referring to the V8 Kia actually, you knocked someone for liking it but you have only seen a pic like everyone else.
Anyway i couldnt care what he thinks of the GT im not going to buy one. And as i said if were going to, his review would be the last id read.

[divine_afg]

"It was a big ask because the base engine comes from a Mustang and it has asthma. To try to insert a bit of ephedrine, it is now fitted with a supercharger and an intercooler, which means you get lots of grunt. So much that every time you set off you “lay a couple of darkies”. People cheer when you leave a skid mark like this in Australia"

It Doesnt have an Intercooler, he has no Idea what he's on about.

[2011G6E]

Mind, coming from Europe where even some larger Mercedes Benz sedans are ordinary family cars and therefore expectations are higher, you can understand where he's coming from...

[vztrt]

I posed the question a while back what would the reaction be if he bagged the GT...got my answer.

I expected him to hate the looks as he seems to think all the ugly cars are nice looking....

[ea90gl]

"Review" sounded more like a winge about the country then a brief winge about the GT with some incorrect facts chucked in. Anyone else heard of Australia Fords turbo V6?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

If I had the money the replace the old girl I would.... what's that got to do with you being an expert on the Falcon's chassis dynamics?

That means you don't point fingers at people.

I wasn't talking about the Falcon's "chassis dynamics" I was referring to the whole package, the rest of it which sucks besides engine and drivetrain.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

That means you don't point fingers at people.

I wasn't talking about the Falcon's "chassis dynamics" I was referring to the whole package, the rest of it which sucks besides engine and drivetrain.

The engine is part of the drivetrain. Hence why it is called the "drivetrain"

If you agree with what he said... then you think that the GT is too soft, too heavy, too whatever. I don't recall any mention of what interior shortcomings. Just looks and handling. But this is coming from the same person who loved the VXR8?

So you weren't commenting on what it offers on value, but how it performs.

EDIT: He did comment on the interior. Apparently it's made of Cellophane?

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Probably not the smartest thing to say they will hunt you down.
I was referring to the V8 Kia actually, you knocked someone for liking it but you have only seen a pic like everyone else.
Anyway i couldnt care what he thinks of the GT im not going to buy one. And as i said if were going to, his review would be the last id read.

No one has except the blokes tuning it, some of which don't have drivers license if I recall correctly.

I just found it funny, someone who could agree with what Clarkson has written here, but say they'd have a V8 Kia.

[SumoDog68]

I for one never understood fanatical following of any car brand. If say Holden makes a piece of crap Holden fanatic will buy it.
Great for car manufacturer , such loyalty.
I generally buy whatever i can afford and fullfills given criteria so owned many different makes and models.
Current Falcon has lots going for it but styling is not great in particular mid and rear section of the car.
Now some will say what a hell am i doing on Ford forum ?
I am on many aussie car forums and this one is one of the best :-) great discussions and lots of knowledge.

[Buntz]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I personally love the look of the Falcon... just not a fan of any FPV that doesn't have an E in it's name. But some people like the garish, balls 'n' all look.

[Fordman]

I guess what he says has an element of truth. And yet my dream car is still a GT.

Also its an I6 jezza.

[Iggypoppin']

Entertaining read but if you consider yourself a car reviewer(JC), maybe you should review the bloody car, not nitpick the shortcomings of our country. A few small paragraphs at the end with very little technical insights or proper explanations does not a good review make.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by Iggypoppin'

Entertaining read but if you consider yourself a car reviewer(JC), maybe you should review the bloody car, not nitpick the shortcomings of our country. A few small paragraphs at the end with very little technical insights or proper explanations does not a good review make.

Our unique Fauna a shortcoming... which took up the first three paragraphs about the car?

I will agree with Ford and Holden extremists who punch eachother. But that is tame compared to their own football Hooligans. Yes.... Aussie rules is lame. It's no wonder people call it GAYFL. As for our nanny state. We copy pretty much whatever their government does.

Hmmm... I'm starting to dislike Clarkson. I may stop buying the magazine. Good thing I didn't subscribe.

[XRtowcar]

Sorry, your taking Jeremy Clarkson seriously?
The GT is good value for money out here.
As good as it could be though? Probably not.
And Jeremy get to drive all the worlds best cars.
Wouldn't think it would compare to a AMG Mercedes S class 6.3.

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by XRtowcar

Sorry, your taking Jeremy Clarkson seriously?
The GT is good value for money out here.
As good as it could be though? Probably not.
And Jeremy get to drive all the worlds best cars.
Wouldn't think it would compare to a AMG Mercedes S class 6.3.

Dont forget... he's comparing it to the Commodores he's driven here and back home in England.

[XRSIKS]

Guys, come on, At least he drove one!....

It's Clarkson... he HATES EVERYTHING! :P I'm very proud to be a Ford man, knowing that he has driven one just makes me a little bit more so

Think of him as a food critic, THEY hate everything too, but they also have an image to keep!

[Iggypoppin']

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Our unique Fauna a shortcoming... which took up the first three paragraphs about the car?

I will agree with Ford and Holden extremists who punch eachother. But that is tame compared to their own football Hooligans. Yes.... Aussie rules is lame. It's no wonder people call it GAYFL. As for our nanny state. We copy pretty much whatever their government does.

Hmmm... I'm starting to dislike Clarkson. I may stop buying the magazine. Good thing I didn't subscribe.

Sorry I missed a bit I was meant to write, they are shortcomings in his opinion, not mine.
I could not understand why he dwelled on completely non car related stuff for most of the article. Don't get me started on the things we could say about his country. Shocking weather, violent males who fight almost to the death over football(I get passion for your team, I don't get why you would need to fight about it, the players don't care), shockingly expensive fuel prices, freezing weather, let's not keep going on shall we? If I was asked to review a car, I'd actually review it, not the country of it's origin.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Well.... yes. If you can fall in love with a Commodore, and not a Falcon... then there is clearly something wrong.

ROFL, He's got you pegged....."In every other country in the world people may like the brand of car they drive, but not so much that they would punch someone in the face for driving something different..JC.."

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

True. But for most the people in Britain or english speaking Euro's, who think they can trust what he says.... he has told them our GT is a joke.

Considering the type of cars they can buy there they probably would get quite a chuckle out of it..... They sell AMG's BMW's and Jag's here. How many GT's do they sell in Europe?

[Buntz]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

ROFL, He's got you pegged....."In every other country in the world people may like the brand of car they drive, but not so much that they would punch someone in the face for driving something different..JC.."
Considering the type of cars they can buy there they probably would get quite a chuckle out of it..... They sell AMG's BMW's and Jag's here. How many GT's do they sell in Europe?

And for how much do they ask for these cars?

I know you can buy a V6 XF apparently for 30000 pounds. But just how bare bones are we talking?

I know the GT is no AMG, M division, or R contender. It's clearly not meant to be. But he even put it below a Commodore... A COMMODORE. Doesn't that get anyone riled up?

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Would his opinion stop you buying one?
I really dont think he would be influential for a car that cannot be bought in the UK. Im sure the people in the red corner are using his 'review' as ammo.
If it were me and i was an average Joe buying a RWD performance sedan i wouldnt give one iota what JC said to be honest.
Im a very Avid fan of JC aswell but still i wouldnt care.

This pretty much.

If I wanted to buy an FPV I would have pretty much made my mind up without having to go and read one of his pious rants.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by divine_afg

"It was a big ask because the base engine comes from a Mustang and it has asthma. To try to insert a bit of ephedrine, it is now fitted with a supercharger and an intercooler, which means you get lots of grunt. So much that every time you set off you “lay a couple of darkies”. People cheer when you leave a skid mark like this in Australia"

It Doesnt have an Intercooler, he has no Idea what he's on about.

I doubt he's driven a Coyote Mustang, probably only the previous 4.6 which was asthmatic.
He's right about the handling though, FPV need to do so quality suspension tuning. Whats their obsession with making them so soft and wallowy, its supposed to be the sports version FFS. If you want ride comfort buy a G6.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Zing, he basically backed up what I said about the Falcon in general, good engine and drivetrain wise, rubbish everything else.

Agreed.

I tried the new Ford Falcon FPV Boss 335 GT when I was over there and it struck me that someone had spent a few quid on the engine and then nothing at all on anything else. I’m told this is how it should be when you are upside down. Which you will be if you try to make it go round a corner.

Yep, they spent a whole lot of $$ developing the engine and transmission but spent stuff all getting the power to the ground properly. I have to agree with him on this. FPV have come up short.

So it’s quite gruntsome in a straight line, but it is too big, too soft and too heavy to be remotely good at anything else. And inside, you get the impression everything is made from Cellophane. My snorkelling suit felt more robust.

Yep again, great engine but the rest is a let down. Cheap and nasty interior that shows the base model donor for 70k+? No thanks. Only Subaru do it worse with the STI.

[Road_Warrior]

I wouldn't say it is cheap and nasty...that is just not true. However the interior fit and finish does not stack up to what you would expect for that sort of money. They need to put more effort in to the high series interiors.

Even the BA interior you couldn't really classify as being 'cheap and nasty' despite it quite clearly being inferior to the FG (and other cars of the time)

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

I wouldn't say it is cheap and nasty...that is just not true. However the interior fit and finish does not stack up to what you would expect for that sort of money. They need to put more effort in to the high series interiors.

Even the BA interior you couldn't really classify as being 'cheap and nasty' despite it quite clearly being inferior to the FG (and other cars of the time)

No, for a car that costs that much it is nasty. I'm sorry.
Even when I had a XT and a XR8 I expected average but not what was delivered.
FPV and Ford for that matter need to look at their product and see, are they really offering value for money? While having a 335kw V8 is awesome, not everyone just wants a big engine and lots of power. People spending that kind of money expect refinement and value for money. Power isn't everything, the whole package is what the GT should be.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

I'm not talking about the GT specifically. Anything that man says about a car is considered gospel.

Are you sure? I read his commentary (like most people) to get a laugh. He wouldn't know what a good car was if it ran him over. His bias is blatant and he makes no excuses for it. His article spent 90% of the page bagging Australia (most of it being correct - well, except for the poofters part) and 10% bagging the GT - some of which may be warranted and some personal opinion.

As far as I can see, his opinion on cars is seen the same way as his approach to reviewing them - a joke.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

But he even put it below a Commodore... A COMMODORE. Doesn't that get anyone riled up?

given Australian sales numbers obviously hes not the only one to think along those lines...


maybe try opening both eyes?

falcons arent perfect, commodores arent the claptraps we wish they were.

[Road_Warrior]

Well...that's pretty much what I said. I'm not making any excuses for FPV because yes they do need to offer more (remember when the FG was released and the FPV's had BF rims) but at the end of the day it's based on a volume selling fleet car - it's not going to be able to avoid those roots unless it is a completely different clean sheet design and then you're talking a whole new cost bracket.

[xisled]

You have to remember Clarkson drive many cars, all types and different price ranges. I agree with him the GT has a great engine, but the way it handles and feels is pretty average. For the money the car is good. I would assume a lot of people in this post would have never driven a car such as an Audi R8, now that has power and handles. If you ever driven a car that sticks to the ground and has power, you would understand why he says what he says.