wheels-380vrx v bfxr6 v vzsv6, Falcon wins

**Falcon Coupe** · 25-10-2005, 05:56 PM

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=45935

Quote:

Originally Posted by LS1Forum

found this on another forum.

The latest issue of WHEELS arrived today and there’s a few reviews of interest. First is the first drive of the BF and the next is a comparo between the BF XR6, VZ SV6 and the 380 VRX. For those who can’t be bothered reading through everything I’m going to say, put simply, the BF thrashes both and the 380 appears to be a huge disappointment.
Author: Nathan Ponchard.
Styling:
"First impressions don’t bode well. Outwardly the 380 VRX resembles Mitsubishi’s take on a Camry… American-esque blandness and bulbous behind."
They give the SV6 the OK, nothing flash but it’s far from ugly, and they describe the BF as remaining "universally attractive and unisexually appealing"
Inside:
"Slide into the 380 driver’s seat and initial disappointment prevails again. The steering wheel is unattractive…" While they describe the dash top as "funky" the plastic is "hard and doesn’t match any of the other equally hard interior plastics." They go on to say that the speakers look cheap and there’s no "surprise-and-delight features." While they’re on bagging out the 380, they mention that the air-vents can’t be turned off, the steering wheel can’t be adjusted for reach, p/window buttons and stalks are from the Lancer.
"The Commodore’s controls are actually more tactile, clunky ventilation dials apart, while the Falcon interior is in another league again. The Ford’s classy ambience and impressive attention to detail make the Holden’s cabin look dated and flair free."
Steering and ride:
The 380’s steering "impresses for both its accuracy and well-weighted progressiveness when turning away from straight ahead." "For such a big front-driver, the 380 displays excellent poise and even feels noticeably more wieldy than the decent-handling Magna." They praise the refinement and ride quality along with the seats. It’s remains competitive with the "class leading" BF while being well ahead of the VZ. "The Falcon has a firmer ride than the 380, but it’s impressively damped, has better body control, and is far more polished than the stiff Commodore." The only negative with the Falcon is the steering which is "too sensitive in it’s off-centre response" Nothing new with the VZ, it’s acceptable but not class leading.
Engine and transmission:
The Commodores 3.6L and 5-speed auto are OK, although behind the BFs. "The BF six feels smoother, sounds sweeter and mates superbly with the virtually flawless (optional) transmission." The 380’s V6 wasn’t bad either, although nothing to get excited about.
They go on to say that the Falcon has the best rear seat and the most useable interior room. The Falcon is again praised for having the largest boot.
In closing, the Falcon wins easily and they even suggest that it warrants a genuine comparison with European sedans worth several times more.
Falcon XR6: 4.5/5 stars
380 VRX: 3.5/5
Commodore SV6: 2.5/5
Fuel:
XR6: 13.2L per 100km
380: 13.5L per 100km
SV6: 13.0L per 100km

Performance times
XR6: 7.2 seconds and 15.3 @ 151km/h
380: 8.5 seconds and 16.2 @142km/h
SV6: 7.7 seconds and 15.6 @ 149km/h

This 6 speed auto seems to have woken up the Falcon, it's faster than the Commy even with with the weight disadvantage.

GTP 320 · 25-10-2005, 06:00 PM

Good write up and a good result for Ford.
Cheers John

Dave_au · 25-10-2005, 06:03 PM

Motor didn't speak as foully about the 380 as wheels did - although that is not a compareo.

I'll read it for myself before I pass judgement on just how bad it is for the 380 - but that exert doesn't sound too good.

The Monty · 25-10-2005, 06:06 PM

Doesnt the sv6 have 190kw? Thats not all that much faster 0-100 than the AU. I Know its a bit but for a new car with that much power, it doesnt seem all that impressive.

EFFalcon · 25-10-2005, 06:10 PM

yeah SV6 has 190kw and a 5 speed auto.
those times are damn good from auto 6's!

**Falcon Coupe** · 25-10-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monty

Doesnt the sv6 have 190kw? Thats not all that much faster 0-100 than the AU. I Know its a bit but for a new car with that much power, it doesnt seem all that impressive.

XR6 has a torque advantage, this is what would push it past the sv6 in acceleration, the extra gear would help too.

XR6 : Max. Power: 190kW @ 5250rpm 6 speed auto
Max. Torque: 383Nm @ 2500rpm

SV6 190kw @ 6500 rpm 5 speed auto
340 @ 3200Nm rpm

M14A-Mclaren · 25-10-2005, 06:12 PM

I wouldn't have thought they'd give the Commodore such a low rating after reading the above.

Steffo · 25-10-2005, 06:13 PM

I must say, the 380 looks dissapointing. If I owned say, a TJ Magna Sport VR-X with the 163kW 3.5litre V6 and five-speed auto, there's nothing about the new 380 (or TL for that matter) that would prompt me to stay with Mitsu.

I liked the TJ/TJII alot, TL was ugly, 380 is bland but not ugly, interior is ok except for that ghastly wheel... but basing it on an American car is asking to fail. Look at the Toyota Avalon.

Wasn't the Magna based more on a Japanese design?

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

This 6 speed auto seems to have woken up the Falcon, it's faster than the Commy even with with the weight disadvantage.

That would be why the Falcon is the better car. From articles I've read, the BF has been refined and it's meant to be a great drive.

Funny reading some of the responses of the Holden boys. One guy hated that his SV6 isn't better than the XR. He could have realised that, when he saw the back of the VZ.

4Vman · 25-10-2005, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

http://www.ls1.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=45935

This 6 speed auto seems to have woken up the Falcon, it's faster than the Commy even with with the weight disadvantage.

Good news!
But then again you'd expect the XR6 to beat the SV6 let alone spank the new magna 380... :hihi:

347_XR8 · 25-10-2005, 06:28 PM

Nuff Said! Falcon wins once again!

clampy · 25-10-2005, 06:43 PM

most interesting is the fuel economy.. falcon does well there considering its weight..

Blue Oval Mopar Man · 25-10-2005, 06:44 PM

Was there any doubt of this outcome !

rag top · 25-10-2005, 06:49 PM

During a discussion with some motoring enthusiasts, the topic came up that holden and ford measure the power output of their engines differently. If the ford engine was measured how holden measure their engines, it would be a higher reading... Anyone else heard something similar???

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '67

During a discussion with some motoring enthusiasts, the topic came up that holden and ford measure the power output of their engines differently. If the ford engine was measured how holden measure their engines, it would be a higher reading... Anyone else heard something similar???

It's the other way around. The ford motor would give a lower reading as they measure the power of the motor without the alt etc..

The Monty · 25-10-2005, 06:54 PM

Yeah I heard that to.

merlin · 25-10-2005, 06:56 PM

great outcome - that 6 speed auto has wacked a big chunk off the falcons acceleration times.

Grechie · 25-10-2005, 07:03 PM

niceeeeeeeeeeeeee go falcon!

XAGSV8 · 25-10-2005, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

That would be why the Falcon is the better car. From articles I've read, the BF has been refined and it's meant to be a great drive.

Funny reading some of the responses of the Holden boys. One guy hated that his SV6 isn't better than the XR. He could have realised that, when he saw the back of the VZ.

Don't worry about him, nothing in his mind will beat his SV6. Have a look at his previous post and 80% of them are completely Ford bashing like a 14 year old would. He's been threatened with a Holiday by the mod's over there for previous posts.

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSWXA

Don't worry about him, nothing in his mind will beat his SV6. Have a look at his previous post and 80% of them are completely Ford bashing like a 14 year old would. He's been threatened with a Holiday by the mod's over there for previous posts.

It's just funny, instead of going on about the bias of the writer. He could have made a comment saying that when both cars have six speed, it would show which car is "better". When people make claims like that (the bias claim), they havent got a clue and it's just sour grapes.

dogwatch2 · 25-10-2005, 07:22 PM

Good to see the Ford 6 auto finally get up and go. Goodbye to the high 1st and 2nd gears that make have made Fords struggle off the mark for the last umpteen years!!!!!! They should make the six speed stndard on all models. Now with a decent exhaust and maybe a flashbox a high 14 sec quarter should be easy, all with good fuel economy. Can't wait to see a turbo auto tested.

SSBUB · 25-10-2005, 07:36 PM

You have to remember your comparing a new model (BF) to another new model (380) to a soon to be outdated SV6...i think a fairer comparison would be to put it to the VE because lets face it, the sv6 isnt exactly new....and no, im not being biased, i hear the alloytechs are crud, i just think the comparison is wrong....either way, it doesnt bode well for missybishy

Bossxr8 · 25-10-2005, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

It's the other way around. The ford motor would give a lower reading as they measure the power of the motor without the alt etc..

It has nothing to do with how they are run, they are both tested with full accesories, they are just measured in different standards.

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSBUB

You have to remember your comparing a new model (BF) to another new model (380) to a soon to be outdated SV6...i think a fairer comparison would be to put it to the VE because lets face it, the sv6 isnt exactly new....and no, im not being biased, i hear the alloytechs are crud, i just think the comparison is wrong....either way, it doesnt bode well for missybishy

Your answer is what I said that guy from the LS1 forum should have said. Because the VZ is an older model. Your not being biased, it's the correct point to make.

XAGSV8 · 25-10-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSBUB

You have to remember your comparing a new model (BF) to another new model (380) to a soon to be outdated SV6...i think a fairer comparison would be to put it to the VE because lets face it, the sv6 isnt exactly new....and no, im not being biased, i hear the alloytechs are crud, i just think the comparison is wrong....either way, it doesnt bode well for missybishy

I do agree with you but they are road testing what is currently available. VE will be released 3 years after BA so hopefully for the Holden people it will be better but you could also say that would not be a fair comparison.

XRated · 25-10-2005, 07:41 PM

Great news. Let's just hope Ford doesn't fall behind the 8-ball again. In saying that, it won't slow down the Holden sales in my opinion, it never did in the past :P

LOL @ Nobby's comment regarding arseholes!!

Bossxr8 · 25-10-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSBUB

You have to remember your comparing a new model (BF) to another new model (380) to a soon to be outdated SV6...i think a fairer comparison would be to put it to the VE because lets face it, the sv6 isnt exactly new....and no, im not being biased, i hear the alloytechs are crud, i just think the comparison is wrong....either way, it doesnt bode well for missybishy

So they shouldn't test the BF until the VE is released?

:

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

It has nothing to do with how they are run, they are both tested with full accesories, they are just measured in different standards.

Yeah and the different standards are one is measured with what the maximum power the engine can output, while the other is more of a conservative output. Holden give more of a conservative output than Ford.

Bossxr8 · 25-10-2005, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

Yeah and the different standards are one is measured with what the maximum power the engine can output, while the other is more of a conservative output. Holden give more of a conservative output than Ford.

Yet they make less power at the wheels than the Fords do, so go figure.

vztrt · 25-10-2005, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Yet they make less power at the wheels than the Fords do, so go figure.

That I didn't know!
Where is holden losing the power?