just test drove a CTSV f150 raptor & Taurus SHO

[steve.zissou]

So I put on my bull sheet hat and hit the car yards in Texas for a day while I was in town and test drove a few cars. I will never admit what I had to do to get these drives but let’s say it wasn’t straight forward and the raptor was almost impossible to get (but I was persistent and used my assize charm with great success

Cadillac CTS V (550 hp supercharged 6.2 V8) a Ford Tarus SHO (4x4 turbo charged 6) and a ford F150 raptor. - Tough way to spend a day.

The Cadillac CTS was real nice - inside and out. Luxury is a step up from anything ford or Holden make here. It was quite cosy but I am 6'5 - but I still fit - Just - it was a 2 door
I really wanted to test drive a manual but could only get an auto. It hammered. Stock HSV or FPV would feel plain slow. The big bore v8 is smooth and effortless and as the boost builds it is crazy fast. The roads in the US are pretty crappy (cement) and this thing held it together very well. It’s also a smaller car and it felt a lot more nimble than a commodore or falcon. A FPV V8 would be close in a straight line after a tune but this does the high speed stuff so much better - and the luxury is in another level (vented seats blew my farts right out the window and cooled my but to exactly 72 deg f). You could pick one up for about $60 grand and that would be hard to walk away from. For me though, it’s too refined. I like a bit more rawness - a manual version and better exhaust would help and you would never feel like you made the wrong decision.

The ford Taurus SHO was easier to get hold of. There were plenty around and they go for about $40k. The first thing that hits you is the size, it looks small. T me it looks smaller than a mondeo. I could fit in side it but I would describe its space as efficient. Definitely smaller than a falcon or commodore. These are auto only and 4x4 - not my cup of tea. It certainly went fast and had a heap of torque, Freeway on ramps you just put the hammer down and it gripped and blasted well past 100 mph very quickly. Interior was more like the falcon. But unfortunately there was little fun factor - no getting it sideways or doing a fishtail launch from the lights (they don’t have Nanna (I mean hoon) laws over here. It’s sort of like half Subaru liberty b4 and falcon G6e. Unfortunate I don’t think an exhaust or anything else would help this car. I am sure some people like it but it’s not for me - unfortunately I think ford fans will be mucho disappointed if they give Aussies the Taurus.
It’s also worth noting that they just ran some ridiculously cheap financing deals for the Taurus SHO, so cheap that many dealer staff took it up.
Finally I get to the F150 raptor.
You know how we look at f150’s in Australia and think they are stupidly big. Well after you drive one, you think all other cars are stupidly small. It is like driving in a lounge room – in a good way and being 6’5 I was in heaven. I really was awesome to sit in - makes my falcon feel like a civic. It was also very luxurious and had a bunch of toys – quite high tek.
It probably wasn’t as fast as the other s but it felt fast, very fast and twice the size. Imagine if they made a army tank and then took it to HSV or FPV. It was just so different to anything else I have ever driven. I only drove it on the side roads and HWY (no off road unfortunately) and it was a blast. It was an auto but not too bad. Give it a loud exhaust and it was be awesome. Grip was massive, you could do squeelies on take off but its 4x4 with torsen front diff and lockable rear. Its hard to describe but this thing was awesome. The back seats had more room than a falcon and still had a tray bigger than a falcon.
For me, the choice would be easy the f150 raptor – its just so awesome and you’ll smile every time you look at it, get in it, start it , drive it, go 4x4, and getting out of it.
The only time you’ll not like it is when you fill it up – I think it got something like 18l/100 – but that would be worth it. If they sold this in Australia for about 70-80 grand (was $60k in the US) you would sell thousands.
By far the stand out was the F150 but the CTSV was cool in a M3 kind of way. Taurus is OK but the standard models are crapola (FWD yuck) you could do worse but they sure be no falcon irish).
Photos may come (I need to do some editing to protect the dealers and my own lies). The sales men were really good about the test drives, can you imagine what would happen if you did 250 kmh on a test drive in australia – the ctsv was a blast and the salesman kind of encouraged me to give it some stick after I told him about my 750hp falcon ute - he knew all about falcons (both turbo 6’s and 5ltr s/c) and HSV also.
Fun times (also did some hog hunting out of a helicopter with a assault rifle – now that was really fun)

[DBourne]

I went for a bike ride.. I think your day wins..

[Motorbreath310]

Didn't know the new CTS-V's could be had in a manual. The last shape was made in RHD, why not this one? How awesome would that be?

[stang65]

I want to be like you when I grow up.........Damm I`m45 next week look like it`s too late :-(

[GTP534]

I'm at work. You just brightened my whole day!

You should get a job for Drive; that farts line had me in stitches!!

[chevypower]

Haven't driven a Raptor, but I really like them! Yeah with a 6.2 V8 petrol, 4.11 axle ratios, and BFG A/Ts, it's not going to be a Prius, but I am sure it put a smile on your face! (unlike a Prius).

My test drive speed record was 125 mph (200km/h) in a new Hyundai Sonata turbo. With the dealer sitting in the back!

[1TUFFUTE]

GREAT write up bro...your not helping my infatuation with F150 Raptors either I WILL OWN ONE ONE DAY

[Dash_XR]

Great write up mate, completely the opposite of what I thought the SHO would be.

[flappist]

The SHO is sort of a twin turbo AWD Cortina.......sounds like fun

[Cobramad]

Originally Posted by flappist

The SHO is sort of a twin turbo AWD Cortina.......sounds like fun

More like a twin-turbo AWD Cortina XLE!!

[mik]

Road test bucket list .

[TC200six]

You're right about the visual appearance of the Taurus, I've seen the current gen Tauruses in real life on the streets in traffic and they don't look any bigger than a Falcon at all. I guarantee our resident "experts" have never seen one in the flesh in their lives.

[Cobramad]

All I read about the current gen Taurus suggested it was significantly larger than the current Falcon/Territory..
Would love to see one up close, especially the SHO AWD, as it may be a supplement for our Ghia Turbo.

[1TUFFUTE]

isn't it heavier by a margin tho?

[DJM83]

There is a couple of silver raptors near where I live, big doesn't describe them.

[TC200six]

Originally Posted by 1TUFFUTE

isn't it heavier by a margin tho?

AWD Taurus is 1,903 kg and Falcon is 1,704 kg.

[Bossxr8]

Taurus is actually Fairlane size, much bigger than Falcon. That it's interior is smaller than the Falcon speaks volumes about how poor a design it actually is.

[2011G6E]

The info on the Cadillac CTS is good to know...we've looked at renting one of those if we can organise our US trip later this year.

A Raptor sells for $60,000 in the USA? There's no damn way in the universe that will sell in Australia for 70 to 80 grand...think more like $100,000+. Look at all the businesses that bring in ordinary Silverados that sell in the states for twenty or thirty, and sell them here for over a hundred as quickly as they can convert them...

That's one thing I hope the missus can put up with in the states...I plan on visiting some dealerships and having a good poke around...

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Taurus is actually Fairlane size, much bigger than Falcon. That it's interior is smaller than the Falcon speaks volumes about how poor a design it actually is.

Yeh they are HUGE, a whole 7 inches longer than a FG sedan but still 6 inches shorter than a FG ute.

A tow bar sticks out about 7 inches as does a bullbar.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

The info on the Cadillac CTS is good to know...we've looked at renting one of those if we can organise our US trip later this year.

A Raptor sells for $60,000 in the USA? There's no damn way in the universe that will sell in Australia for 70 to 80 grand...think more like $100,000+. Look at all the businesses that bring in ordinary Silverados that sell in the states for twenty or thirty, and sell them here for over a hundred as quickly as they can convert them...

That's one thing I hope the missus can put up with in the states...I plan on visiting some dealerships and having a good poke around...

When it costs 30-40k to convert a modern vehicle you have to expect the price rise will be significant, but if they were being build in rhd form then obviously the excuse for such a massive increase isn't there.

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by chevypower

Haven't driven a Raptor, but I really like them! Yeah with a 6.2 V8 petrol, 4.11 axle ratios, and BFG A/Ts, it's not going to be a Prius, but I am sure it put a smile on your face! (unlike a Prius).

My test drive speed record was 125 mph (200km/h) in a new Hyundai Sonata turbo. With the dealer sitting in the back!

I have a horrible feeling that I am living in the wrong country. Modern Australia sucks on so many levels, more so if you are a car enthusiast.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

I have a horrible feeling that I am living in the wrong country. Modern Australia sucks on so many levels, more so if you are a car enthusiast.

Lol grass is always greener....

Move to the states, land of the cheap as chips muscle cars and trucks, super sizes meals (and people) and a minimum wage half Australia's....

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol grass is always greener....

Move to the states, land of the cheap as chips muscle cars and trucks, super sizes meals (and people) and a minimum wage half Australia's....

If getting a decent job in the workforce in Aus means you only get to keep half (less if you factor in all the extra taxes pm fuel, etc), minimum wage really doesn't mean all that much.

[Franco Cozzo]

You're right about the "trucks", its like they stick a recliner in front of the pedals and dash, my Sierra has those "captains chairs", a seat which is padded up big time and has this little arm rest which comes down.

Its like driving a couch.

Perfect for a fat bastard like me.

I think Dodge announced they're considering selling the new generation RAM here in 2015?

[rancidpunx]

I would love to trade the Ranger on a Raptor. $140k here in Oz converted.

[EDManual]

When our dollar a few years back was just half the us dollar, or minimum wage was the same.really makes no difference. $7 an hour when everything is half the price of here right now is the same as here. Cheap houses, cars, food. All les than half price compared to here. Now the us minimum wage doesn't look any worse than here does it? ??

[satria]

I couldn't care less if we don't get any of those cars, I'd rather Australia get rid of the stupid hoon laws!

If we can't have that though I'll take the raptor or the caddy thanks, along with those RRP's

[malazn mafia]

Originally Posted by satria

I couldn't care less if we don't get any of those cars, I'd rather Australia get rid of the stupid hoon laws!

If we can't have that though I'll take the raptor or the caddy thanks, along with those RRP's

We can thank the likes of Milton Morris and Harold Scruby for the nanny states we live in. Amazing what impact one or more narrow minded paranoid individuals can wreak on the media and politics in this great country of ours, thanks to the apathy of the general populace, complete contrast to the yanks...

[2011G6E]

Of course (my favorite subject), they could just drop Australias virtually unique requirement that all new cars be only RHD and stop disallowing people from driving unconverted newer model cars on our roads...

But anyways, we considered hiring a pickup trurk, but there's nowhere for the luggage to be kept securely. We did think briefly maybe a big SUV? Then we saw the Cadillac CTS at another rental place...yes please.

[Moby Vic]

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Taurus is actually Fairlane size, much bigger than Falcon. That it's interior is smaller than the Falcon speaks volumes about how poor a design it actually is.

You can blame Volvo for that. The biggest problem with the SHO interior is a gigantic center console. You literally feel like you're sitting in a barrel while driving it.

The Police Interceptor version doesn't have the console, however, and uses a column shifter (American police prefer column shifters for some reason).