Holden V8 Sales Sizeable Increase

csv8 · 15-07-2009, 04:57 PM

AFTER THE SHOCK-WAVES of the global financial crisis hit, followed by a world oil price that first fell but has since marched skyward, many tipped that the days of the big Aussie V8 were numbered.

Not so, apparently.

Last month, Holden sold a sizeable 1682 V8-powered vehicles - the best monthly sales figure since November 2004; an achievement Holden attributes to its new fuel-saving Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation system.

The AFM system shuts down half of the engine’s eight cylinders during highway cruising and prolonged deceleration, and Holden claims that it can save up to 1.0l/100km off the fuel economy rating of a car equipped with a non-AFM engine.

AFM is currently only available on cars fitted with an automatic transmission, however with the majority of Holden V8s being optioned with a slushbox, thats no big issue.

With 6570 Commodores and Statesmans sold last month, V8 sales accounted for 25.6 percent of Holden’s large-car sales. The Australian automaker’s bent-eight models have always been popular, but last month’s numbers are a solid improvement over the 20 percent share those models usually command.

It’s such an improvement that inventory for V8-equipped Commodores and Statesmans is running low. Demand is steadily outstripping supply and Holden’s order books are 50 percent fuller than the same time last year.

In a world increasingly fixated on alternative fuels, hybrid motors and super-compact city cars, V8 enthusiasts are still prepared to open their wallets to capture the singular joy of a V8 on song.

With Holden’s AFM technology now delivering considerable fuel-efficiency and emissions gains, it seems the V8 will remain a powerful force in the Australian industry for a good while yet.

Again FORD has lost the plot and dropped the V8 from the G Series ! Just like they did in the 80's. When will FORD learn !!! my comment

Powdered Toast Man · 15-07-2009, 05:01 PM

The fact that the Holden (Chev) V8 is bloody good in the VE and the V6 woefully bad probably helped things along.

mcnews · 15-07-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

The fact that the Holden (Chev) V8 is bloody good in the VE and the V6 woefully bad probably helped things along.

I would say so, the Commonwhore V6 has to be about the worst engine currently in production. It is an abomination.

Bossxr8 · 15-07-2009, 06:01 PM

I seriously doubt wether AFM had anything to do with higher V8 sales, it does bugger all.

Smoke Pursuit · 15-07-2009, 06:09 PM

AFM did nothing for sales...

They lost power and gained stuff all in fuel consumption...

V8 sales were up because of the investment allowance and company directors updating their lease cars, no doubt Fords V8 sales were up for the month aswell however Ford really need a G8E model...

ltd · 15-07-2009, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bfiipursuit

AFM did nothing for sales...

They lost power and gained stuff all in fuel consumption...

V8 sales were up because of the investment allowance and company directors updating their lease cars, no doubt Fords V8 sales were up for the month aswell however Ford really need a G8E model...

I agree with that. Let's face it, the GT-E which is supposedly the next best thing to a G8E is just too bloody expensive especially when compared to the G6E-T. Stick the XR8 motor in a G6E and let the sales decide.

R-Design · 15-07-2009, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

I agree with that. Let's face it, the GT-E which is supposedly the next best thing to a G8E is just too bloody expensive especially when compared to the G6E-T. Stick the XR8 motor in a G6E and let the sales decide.

+1

I think Fords idea is to wait until the Coyote V8 is released before they reintroduce the V8 across the range. I for one, can't wait!

galaxy xr8 · 15-07-2009, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I seriously doubt wether AFM had anything to do with higher V8 sales, it does bugger all.

I believe you and agree that it does stuff all but when Holden market this and the average joe out there hear's about it and believe's it, the sale's will follow suit.
We Can not argue with the fact's, the V8 for the general has sold very well recently.

**Elks** · 15-07-2009, 08:10 PM

You guys are missing the point.

AFM allows the Mr Average to get his V8 past the Mrs. I know of a Holden dealership that ordered up to the point where the big boss nearly had a heart attack, V8's all gone. Yes it (AFM) is a useless gimmick but if it sells cars....

**PepeLePew** · 15-07-2009, 08:56 PM

Giveaway pricing also helps. Can't believe what you can get for your $ compared to my old VX now.

4Vman · 15-07-2009, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elks

You guys are missing the point.

AFM allows the Mr Average to get his V8 past the Mrs. I know of a Holden dealership that ordered up to the point where the big boss nearly had a heart attack, V8's all gone. Yes it (AFM) is a useless gimmick but if it sells cars....

Till she see's the fuel bill and smells BS...
If sales have spiked because of AFM the spike will be short lived because its ineffectiveness will soon become apparent to everyone, i think sales have spiked for natural/seasonal reasons like end of financial year deals/cash spends, and lets face it, V8 commodores are popular again.

**Elks** · 15-07-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4Vman

Till she see's the fuel bill and smells BS...
.

Too late 4Vman, the new salary sacrifice SSV is home in the driveway and she wont see the fuel bill it's off at the lease company..

Think about how the majority of these cars are sold. It's not 1985 anymore

Thankfull · 15-07-2009, 09:47 PM

Apparently Australians are the worst dressers in the World when it comes to clothes.

Their taste in cars is not much better, there never has been a Commodore good enough that I would purchase it over a V8 Ford....mind you Im old school...as in Holden backing down in V8 form altogether on the race track in the face of the GTHOs

Commondore ? sorry no way....never.

Falc'man · 15-07-2009, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elks

You guys are missing the point.

AFM allows the Mr Average to get his V8 past the Mrs. I know of a Holden dealership that ordered up to the point where the big boss nearly had a heart attack, V8's all gone. Yes it (AFM) is a useless gimmick but if it sells cars....

Spot on.

I strongly agree with Powdered Toast Man. With massive discounting and a V6 that is a major failure it's not too hard to see why the V8 is selling. Elks hit the nail on the head... "honey, it runs on 4 cylinders!!" would have no doubt been said by every potential holden buyer to his other half.

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Again FORD has lost the plot and dropped the V8 from the G Series ! Just like they did in the 80's. When will FORD learn !!! my comment

Maybe they should drop the G6ET and reintroduce the Barra230.

GK · 16-07-2009, 12:04 AM

They've just got a whole new market for their crummy V6 so what's it matter if sales of that engine drop a little at home!

GK

Ibrox90 · 16-07-2009, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

I seriously doubt wether AFM had anything to do with higher V8 sales, it does bugger all.

Thats BS how can shutting down half the engines capacity not do sumthing.

The only commodores i see now in adelaide are all SS packs

While i understand its a FORD Forum, its getting pretty ricdiculous and rather Juvenile. Everytime a Holden comes up even if it is the "Dogs bollocks" AKA Top . its sledged regardless of how good it is.

How many of you can actually put ur hand up and provide a FIRST HAND opinion on THIS holden V8.

GK · 16-07-2009, 12:31 AM

Ease up mate.

There was a very good long range test done on a few V8s up the Hume a while back, and Holden's glory package hardly did much at all. It was a shallow improvement (providing it was driven at 90kmph) on a normal V8.

I guess us being Ford fans just makes it that little bit easier seeing through the hype of the holden advertising machine! LOL!

GK

**PepeLePew** · 16-07-2009, 12:38 AM

Yes but if it added up to half the fuel consumption then it'd truly be something. What's even Holdens claim 1l/100 or the like and it does bugger all except under cruise conditions. It's a better selling tool than ownership experience.

Nobody claimed Holdens V8 isn't a good jigger. But their marketing machine is even better.

banarcus · 16-07-2009, 11:44 AM

My question is: what is a "big Aussie V8"? Nothing Australian about the GM V8 is there but it certainly performs.

Oh and another thing. I'll get burnt for this. What is bad about the Holden V6? Due to the generous gearing from the automatic, the V6 actually goes pretty good especially down low(I drove a factory LPG version too). Sure it's not an enthusiasts engine of choice, but it is a very capable motor for the car it is in. I truely believed what I read here about it until I actually drove it and what is often stated here about it is pretty much BS.

What I will say is that the VE wiring gremlins are alive and well.

PoweredByCNG · 16-07-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by banarcus

Oh and another thing. I'll get burnt for this. What is bad about the Holden V6? Due to the generous gearing from the automatic, the V6 actually goes pretty good especially down low(I drove a factory LPG version too). Sure it's not an enthusiasts engine of choice, but it is a very capable motor for the car it is in. I truely believed what I read here about it until I actually drove it and what is often stated here about it is pretty much BS.

I agree with you. Provided that you get a good sample, the Alloytec V6 engine is more than a capable performer. The 340Nm of torque offered by this engine (maximum) is among the highest in the industry. It is a willing revver too - topping out at around 6700rpm or so. IIRC, the final drive ratio on a VE Omega/SV6 is 2.92:1 and the same on a Falcon is 3.23:1. This means that the Falcon is geared shorter from the factory, giving a false impression of extra engine power.

Regards,
Dave

Wally · 16-07-2009, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GK

Ease up mate.

There was a very good long range test done on a few V8s up the Hume a while back, and Holden's glory package hardly did much at all. It was a shallow improvement (providing it was driven at 90kmph) on a normal V8.

I guess us being Ford fans just makes it that little bit easier seeing through the hype of the holden advertising machine! LOL!

GK

It will be interesting to see what actual long term users report. I don't put much stock in published figures, neither factory nor car mags. I have been running my trip computer for nearly three years now and it shows 12.8l/100 average on the 6.0. That corresponds pretty well with actual fuel bought and klicks travelled.

Wally · 16-07-2009, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoweredByCNG

I agree with you. Provided that you get a good sample, the Alloytec V6 engine is more than a capable performer. The 340Nm of torque offered by this engine (maximum) is among the highest in the industry. It is a willing revver too - topping out at around 6700rpm or so. IIRC, the final drive ratio on a VE Omega/SV6 is 2.92:1 and the same on a Falcon is 3.23:1. This means that the Falcon is geared shorter from the factory, giving a false impression of extra engine power.

Regards,
Dave

The gap between the six and eight is very noticeable. That doesn't mean to say the six is poor, just the eight is a great driver's package. The Ford six does pack some wallop in the low range revs, which most of the older straight sixes did, but whereas others adopted new geometry to overcome emmissions, the guys at Ford did a sterling job rejigging and titivating while keeping a decent displacement. You only have to have owned a Taurus to know that the Duratech might have had the numbers, but it wasn't a scrap on the grunt of the straight six.

ltd · 16-07-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Maybe they should drop the G6ET and reintroduce the Barra230.

Wow, that might even sell ever so slightly better than the BF2 Fairmont Ghia V8, Ford would love it if it sold in those record breaking numbers

:

Crazed · 16-07-2009, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

Wow, that might even sell ever so slightly better than the BF2 Fairmont Ghia V8, Ford would love it if it sold in those record breaking numbers

:

Have you seen how many V8 Calais and Calais V there are around? trust me Ford would love some of that action.

Swordsman88 · 16-07-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PoweredByCNG

I agree with you. Provided that you get a good sample, the Alloytec V6 engine is more than a capable performer. The 340Nm of torque offered by this engine (maximum) is among the highest in the industry. It is a willing revver too - topping out at around 6700rpm or so. IIRC, the final drive ratio on a VE Omega/SV6 is 2.92:1 and the same on a Falcon is 3.23:1. This means that the Falcon is geared shorter from the factory, giving a false impression of extra engine power.

Regards,
Dave

Final drive on 5sp/6sp auto falcons is 2.73:1 dave, 3.23 for 4sp auto. If you compare first gear ratios as well with the commodore (which has a 3.27 final drive on 4sp auto) the falcon is usually taller of the two. For the SV6 for example final drive in the 5sp auto is 2.92..so comparable to the ford but the first gear ratio for the holden is 3.42, the fords first gear ratio (5sp auto) is 3.22. While the ZF 6sp has a 'launch gear' with a first gear ratio at a very short 4.17, it doesn'st always use it unless you drive more agressively with throttle or start up up a steep hill etc.

While the alloytec isn't the worst engine ever made (or even on sale right now) the FG (including recent fuel burn/emissions improvements) exposes it as as quite inferior to the Ford I6. Combine with generally accepted inferior gearboxes doesn't help matters. Sure it revs out more than an I6, but not by all that much and doesn't sound all that good doing it. I was amazed at how Ford has continued to improve the revability of the I6 when FG came out....it revs quite cleanly and smoothly right up 5500rpm + which is great when you consider how it used to sound in older models.

I think Holden has done reasonably well to make reasonable torque lower down but compared to an I6 it is no comparison in my view. I dont' for the life of me know why Holden fans (or even just car nuts generally) think the alloytec is even halfway to what Ford has achieved with the barra onwards I6s. For me it is one of if not the major thing holding the VE back as a car. without DI the alloytec is not even worth considering IMO. It is this issue as much as anytying else that has so many V8 commodores going off the dealer floor. I recon if you foudn out the % of V6 commodores going to private owners it would be pretty poor indeed....almost equal to v8s. So in effect private sales only its 50:50 - get the V8 or give the car a miss i think.

SSbaby · 16-07-2009, 12:50 PM

Holden’s V8 sales have always hovered around the 20-25% mark (of total volume). That includes pre-AFM history.

It's not exactly news.

Ratmac · 16-07-2009, 03:12 PM

Just cause AFM is not great right now doesnt mean that it cant be developed further in the future to include more conditons in which it can activated.
The fact is holden brought it out as currently it can provide some fuel savings.
It doesnt matter if it is huge or small, either way it is progress and progress requires work.
Its out there now so there going to be able to test and develop it further, and one day it may give a huge saving which would be great and then other makers can use similar technolodgy, at least if it does fail they have given it a go and they can chalk it up to another lesson learnt.

4Vman · 16-07-2009, 03:16 PM

AFM is pure marketing BS, sorry but its proven to NOT work in any measurable way in real world every day conditions, if people are stupid enough to buy it based on the hype, or have had the wool pulled over their eyes they'll quickly see it has no + effect at the bowser or on their hip pocket, its "popularity" will be short lived because as we all know, bad news travels allot faster than good....
Any savings seen on the current auto powered V8's come from a loss of performance and power output..

ltd · 16-07-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazed

Have you seen how many V8 Calais and Calais V there are around? trust me Ford would love some of that action.

You did read the part where he was talking about the 3 valve 230kw motor didn't you? I hope you did, because a calais V was able to trounce the pants of a fairmont ghia with a 230kw V8. Now that ford has ostensibly replaced that engine with a more powerful and much more useable torque turbo 6, Ford is trouncing the calais.
No, I stand by what I said, a 290kw XR8 motor in a G6 would be a good thing; a 230kw motor bad.

Smoke Pursuit · 16-07-2009, 04:45 PM

In the luxury v8 market timeslips mean very little, but comparing a 230 kw v8 to a 270 kw v8 and you lose..

On the other hand a 290 Kw G8E would be very popular in comparison to a 260 Kw AFM V8 Calais.

We have a VE Calais 6 Litre due for replacement but my old man refuses to trade it, A) Because hes already got a 270 kw Turbo Territory F6X and doesnt want a G6ET with the same motor and B) the new Calais with AFM has less power, therefore it would be a downgrade to replace his current 6 Litre.

If Ford on the other hand offered a G8E then he would be buying one now.