I drove a VFII SS-V Redline

[Cobra]

Okay, so many here have probably driven them and some even own them. I guess my thoughts may not be new or original, but I figured those who haven't might be interested in an impartial view of the Lion's final local interation.

I have to say, I was surprised. The LS3 challenged my perception of the chevy small block. I have driven several LS1s and a VZ SS sedan equipped with an L76 and found them rubbish. Sluggish, unresponsive and unrefined.

When I put the foot down I expected much better than the previous model Holdens I've driven. I expected the LS3 to have some decent grunt in terms of low end torque. I wasn't sure what to expect up top, but I wasn't expecting it to be a screamer.

So, much to my surprise and disappointment, I found that the pick up from a 5km/h rolling start was underwhelming. However, what I didn't expect was the rush all the way to the redline. It hammered up top - revved hard and freely.

The car itself is great. Well refined and you feel like you're doing 20km/h less than what you're travelling. Seat-of-the-pants off the line cannot be erroneously perceived, but once in motion you appreciate just how quick this thing moves when the revs build. Looking at the speedo, you think, "wow, this thing is actually quick!

Compared to my '09 FG XR6T, this thing is definitely a generation ahead dynamically. Having said that, and to be fair to my old girl - she's clocked up 261K on the odo while the SS had only travelled 11k! So yeah, mileage aside, the SS felt sharp when turning in, the steering precise and the suspension solid but supple over crap suburban roads.

I still think my Turbo would have it over the quarter mile... just! The mid range torque of the turbo would take some beating! The LS3 is no mug, though, producing every single one of those claimed 304 kilowatts, and then some!

I'm a Ford man through and through, but it was awesome to have the keys of the enemy handed to me for an hour or so.

The golden days of the Aussie V8 muscle car are over. So, whilst I'll always hate Holden as the arch rival, in the context of what this car is and represents - it nails the brief and deserves to be respected for what it is; a fantastic Australian car, the likes of which we'll never see again.

[MITCHAY]

I think where the Redline models shine is in handling and braking. I took my mates VEII for a run and it felt really good. I was really surprised how good it was for a large car considering my daily is a WRX.

Then he cammed it and S/C and it became a beast. So a LS3 is a far better base to start with

[blue sleeper]

Was that auto or manual Cobra?

I hate to say it Mitchay but a WRX needs even more revs than a LS3......

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by blue sleeper

Was that auto or manual Cobra?

I hate to say it Mitchay but a WRX needs even more revs than a LS3......

Yes obviously, it's a 4cyl

My point was the Redlines handle really good and have V8 power.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by MITCHAY

I think where the Redline models shine is in handling and braking. I took my mates VEII for a run and it felt really good. I was really surprised how good it was for a large car considering my daily is a WRX.

Then he cammed it and S/C and it became a beast. So a LS3 is a far better base to start with

It braked very well! But then, so too do Falcons when they're equipped with Brembo brakes.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by blue sleeper

Was that auto or manual Cobra?

I hate to say it Mitchay but a WRX needs even more revs than a LS3......

It was auto.

[Burnout]

Bil bought one of the last LS3 SS wagons a few months ago, it goes pretty good, although I didn't like the rear end handling that much.
He flew up to Cairns and was picked up by the dealer, driven to Athaton to collect the car.
He drove it down to Emerald, the Longreach, Barcaldine, Charleville, then in on the Warrego to Dalby and up to Yarraman.
The big surprise for him was the fuel economy. It went really well, at cruise. He doesn't lay the boot in very hard, so I haven't had it at wot yet.
Every couple of weeks he blows the spiders off it and has a drive.

[pwr4ce]

My brother bought one of the last SSV-Redlines - Black, 6sp manual.

I got the chance to take it for a good drive - great car, plenty of power from the LS3, handled great, rode well, nice finish and plenty of tech for the day.

At the same time I had a FGX XR8 6sp manual - apart from the engine my poor old FGX was povo in comparison.

Congratulations to Holden for loosening the purse strings on the outgoing model and making it something special !!

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by pwr4ce

My brother bought one of the last SSV-Redlines - Black, 6sp manual.

I got the chance to take it for a good drive - great car, plenty of power from the LS3, handled great, rode well, nice finish and plenty of tech for the day.

At the same time I had a FGX XR8 6sp manual - apart from the engine my poor old FGX was povo in comparison.

Congratulations to Holden for loosening the purse strings on the outgoing model and making it something special !!

I haven't driven a Miami equipped Falcon before. How did you find the LS3 in comparison to the Miami 335? I'd expect the Miami to wipe the floor with the LS3. As you've said though, the rest if the car, perhaps not so...

[pwr4ce]

Originally Posted by Cobra

I haven't driven a Miami equipped Falcon before. How did you find the LS3 in comparison to the Miami 335? I'd expect the Miami to wipe the floor with the LS3. As you've said though, the rest if the car, perhaps not so...

I think the Miami has it - it was a quick car and plenty of juice on tap. I think the LS3 made a nicer noise though. Saying that I now have a mustang with a coyote engine. It’s amazing!

[Sioso]

I test drove an automatic blue VF2 SSV Redline demonstrator and was really expecting it to be better than what it was.
I read every single article written on them and they all mentioned how good they sound with the Baillie tip, I was expecting something a lot louder.
I even pulled over and was looking if there was a button or setting I needed to push to get it to sound better.
The ride was also very different to what I expected, it wallowed around quite a bit on change of direction and yet had a brittle low speed ride - like it was softly sprung but had 60psi in the tyres.
I was 90% sure I was going to buy one ( I was after a red manual one) but after the test drive I changed my mind.
I don't think it sounded anywhere near as good as the 335 GTP I used to own.
It may also have something to do with what you're used to - I was jumping out of my tuned Golf R which was over 300kg lighter.

[Express]

The stock Redlines sound awful in my opinion.





.

[5.8]

From my experience if you watch the speedo on the VF 2 SS it tells you you are accelerating quickly and going fast, but you just don’t feel it. They have half sorted the heavy nose under steering issues that the previous models had but they still feel heavy. I still think the auto box lets them down, as I reckon they have since the first of the L series motors. Interior wise and gadget wise they are miles ahead of the FGX, just depends what you want.

[xeeclipse]

Do you really want to know what a VF or FGX handles like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z-8DmaWSIM

[fordomatic]

I had an LS3 with full bolt ons and a cam, I thought it was gutless compared to my XR6T. Was not a fan of it besides the sound.

Even with over 300rwkw it wouldn’t come near a Miami either

[arronm]

I have VE and VF. VF is miles ahead of the VE. Redline is a great daily but needs a few mods to unleash the extra power it has. Just cant compete with the hit of the turbo.

I would own one in a heartbeat.


Magnificent Machines they really are.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by arronm

I have VE and VF. VF is miles ahead of the VE. Redline is a great daily but needs a few mods to unleash the extra power it has. Just cant compete with the hit of the turbo.

VE is junk, I had a VE Clubsport, was not a fan at all, cheap interior, rattles galore, heaps of common issues, big and heavy. VF seems like a vast improvement compared to VE. LS3 was a huge letdown too, expected much better

[fgpsi]

Never understood why Ford people hate Holden and vice versa. They were both the pride of Australia! I have always liked them both.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Cobra

I haven't driven a Miami equipped Falcon before. How did you find the LS3 in comparison to the Miami 335? I'd expect the Miami to wipe the floor with the LS3. As you've said though, the rest if the car, perhaps not so...

Quicker, yes, wipe the floor.. No.. In direct comparison... My redline V My Cousins FGX XR8 - both stock, both manual, both orange (lol) The reality is there isn't that much in it... The LS3 is an interesting engine. The harder you rev it the better it goes...in Holden tune (304kw) it SO detuned.. They really should have sold them with the 340kw HSV tune which would have been a better comparison.. But I digress...

But other than that the Redline runs rings around the XR8.. Handles and drives better, sounds better (subjective I know) better equipped and more comfortable...

The difference is the fact that ford had already given up and expected the team to release the FGX with no budget... Holden made an effort and spent the $$$ on the VF2 to send it out on a high and you can see that...

The XR8 (and the FGX as a whole) IMHO is by NO means a bad car... Im still adamant that I will own a Sprint 6 one day...The VF2 SS/SSV/Redline is just Better...

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Never understood why Ford people hate Holden and vice versa. They were both the pride of Australia! I have always liked them both.

Same here.

I've owned both red and blue since the late 60's (currently red).

The big news is... there's no difference.

Whatever advantage one might have in one area, the other will have in a different area.

Next model along, rinse and repeat.

Both great marques.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Never understood why Ford people hate Holden and vice versa.

It's called rivalry.

Otherwise we'd all be driving around in the same useless piece of crap of a socialist country.

Good competition is good.

[Cobra]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Never understood why Ford people hate Holden and vice versa. They were both the pride of Australia! I have always liked them both.

Because the rivalry extends well beyond these machines being consumer items. Racing and passion builds it. It's not really "hatred" but it's fun tribalism.

I'm a passionate Ford man and would never buy a Holden for that reason alone, but I can like and respect individual models. The VF I drove was a very decent car.

[tranquilized]

Originally Posted by fordomatic

VE is junk, I had a VE Clubsport, was not a fan at all, cheap interior, rattles galore, heaps of common issues, big and heavy. VF seems like a vast improvement compared to VE. LS3 was a huge letdown too, expected much better

You're not wrong in that the VF was a vast improvement over the VE, but don't forget they are the same generation car. It was the VE that cost Holden $1 billion to develop, and where you can see that is the chassis. There obviously wasn't much left for the interior... VF corrected that and other issues, but is fundamentally the same car. Exactly the same chassis, same size, fractionally lighter but not without it's own issues.

[fordomatic]

Originally Posted by tranquilized

You're not wrong in that the VF was a vast improvement over the VE, but don't forget they are the same generation car. It was the VE that cost Holden $1 billion to develop, and where you can see that is the chassis. There obviously wasn't much left for the interior... VF corrected that and other issues, but is fundamentally the same car. Exactly the same chassis, same size, fractionally lighter but not without it's own issues.

mmm i'd have my VY Clubsport back any day over the VE, felt a lot more raw and less heavy, nimble i suppose. I modded the LS1 so when I got the LS3 modded I thought it'd feel a lot stronger than the LS1 did but it didnt, i think that came down to weight. I've only sat in a VF LS3, not driven one, so i can't comment on that front.

I'm a Ford tragic but I have no issue owning Holdens. The VY Clubsport is my second favourite car i've ever owned. I can appreciate a nice car from any make.

[fgpsi]

But only bogans would not buy a Holden because of the stupid racing rivalry thing

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by fgpsi

But only bogans would not buy a Holden because of the stupid racing rivalry thing

I don't think that is correct.

I know a fella who was a senior public servant here in Bris (Director level - now retired) who reckons he couldn't be paid enough to own a Ford.

He is an enthusiast - has a '68 Monaro and the first of the XU1's as well as a couple of old Chevs in his stable.

Not a bogan but as someone above said more into the rivalry. He grew up in a GM household and sees no redeeming features for Fords.

All good as far as I'm concerned but as I said to him he has cut himself off from some very nice cars because of his one-eyedness.

Obviously same applies to those on the other side of the fence.

Me... I liked 'em all

[Poetic Justice]

My work has had a few LS3 SS's through in the past 6 months and have been given the keys to them. The standard one is good, especially after you've driven LS2.
But drive one with an exhaust or any mods and it is 100% better.

[pwr4ce]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I drove vf2 ss auto and manual



Then drove fgx xr8 auto and manual all on same day



I thought manual there wasn't much in it xr8 and as.



The auto xr8 was considerably quicker than all



The auto as was slowest of the lot.



I thought the vf ss was a better car in every way except engine

Yep - I think the FGX was all about the Miami engine. Unfortunately the rest of the package was a bit ordinary compared to the redline

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by Fiji

I didn't think neither car came in orange. Octane was discontinued with FG

Sure your not comparing previous gen cars?

MY17 ssvr come in a colour called ‘light my fire’ orange.. I own one, it’s metallic...

The fgx is Mercury... so it’s really gold I suppose.