FGXR6T vs. VFSS

[usernametaken]

Smashes it to 100 and seems to win hands down as a driver's car, but the VF wins overall (mostly due to FG interior tiredness)

http://theage.drive.com.au/new-car-c...530-2nd5z.html

[Alan D Segal]

Falcon gets better drift angles so tsuchiya would like it better on the touge. Speaking of Japan and drifting, if that reviewer wore yellow I think he'd look like pikachu.

[Rob 351]

After reading that, is their anyone out there who paid 52 plus on road for an XR6 turbo?
& secondly, the new SS is almost 1/2 a second slower to 100 k's! I don't think it's measurable how much Australian Ford fans are going to miss THAT engine!
It is a gem!

[GQ_Smooth]

Still bodes well for the resale values of the XR6T. Personally surprised how well it compared to the VF, surprising comments regarding the transmission though.

[joolz]

I love the Holden Cruze steering wheel in the SS!!

[block58]

Sounds like the upcoming Falcon interior upgrade is much needed, I imagine the door trims will be staying but the dash will get a major overhaul, which should once again bring it above the Commodore in all areas.

[Brazen]

The Ford looks a lot better

And what is with those shocking Commodore wheels, and the front grille being gloss black but the rear mat black???

[lucas2]

Good to see a balanced review. The turbo looks a lot tougher imo than the SS

[cool65]

Originally Posted by joolz

I love the Holden Cruze steering wheel in the SS!!

The SS wheel has flat bottom, so.. it must be for the flat headed holden drivers

[Rodge]

Retail price on the XR6T needs to be cut immediatly to $41,990 to match the SS.

[Trump]

This:

It’s six-speed auto is well mated to the force-fed engine, but it’s not as refined as the similar gearbox in the Holden which has a nicer and more mechanical feel when used in manual mode and smoother shifts under heavy loads.

made me laugh quite heartily

[mcnews]

Why does that make you laugh? Have you driven a VF? Remember the ZF is approaching a decade old...

[Rob 351]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Retail price on the XR6T needs to be cut immediatly to $41,990 to match the SS.

$39,990 atm Rodge. Like I said earlier, 52 for the XRt, don't think so!

[Trump]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Why does that make you laugh? Have you driven a VF? Remember the ZF is approaching a decade old...

Unless Holden have gone to ZF for the auto in the VF range, there is nothing in the GM Powertrain catalogue that comes close to the decade old ZF 6 speed.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by Rob 18

$39,990 atm Rodge. Like I said earlier, 52 for the XRt, don't think so!

Okay...yeah, that's where they need to be. Interesting that the SS used a bit less fuel than the XR6T. 13.5 L/100 km's is pretty good for a V8 car that's driven under the hammer on review, especially for a new tight motor. Probably 5.5 seconds on a dry track Rob and the usual 5.1-5.2 for the XR6T, I'd say.

I'd definitly put myself in the "Doubting Thomas" camp regarding any Holden gearbox being better than the ZF.

[turbodewd]

Originally Posted by lucas2

Good to see a balanced review. The turbo looks a lot tougher imo than the SS

A review isnt meant to be balanced, its meant to factually record its findings. If its a landslide in one direction it should say so.

Theres no way the ZF gearbox can be less refined than the GM offering. Its already smooth as smooth can be. Perhaps GM has caught up.

[mcnews]

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Unless Holden have gone to ZF for the auto in the VF range, there is nothing in the GM Powertrain catalogue that comes close to the decade old ZF 6 speed.

Have you driven one? What are you basing your expert assessment on?
That is not the first time in recent memory I have seen the Commodore's Auto review better than the Fords. We are not in BF any more you know, things might have move on...

[Trump]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Have you driven one? What are you basing your expert assessment on?
That is not the first time in recent memory I have seen the Commodore's Auto review better than the Fords. We are not in BF any more you know, things might have move on...

I have actually. Is it better than the self shifters in the VE's , certainly. Is it better than the ZF, in my opinion, no. It lacks the smoothness of the ZF and still hunts a bit (although nowhere near as bad as the auto in the VE SS).

Having said that, I'd buy a manual VF SS. Functionally, the interior accoutrements are way better than whats in my FG XR6T, and I love the lower seating position.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by mcnews

Have you driven one? What are you basing your expert assessment on?
That is not the first time in recent memory I have seen the Commodore's Auto review better than the Fords. We are not in BF any more you know, things might have move on...

Whichever side of the debate one takes here we know Ford are moving to the Mk2 version of the ZFHP26 gearbox known as the ZF HP28 next year which according to ZF offers substaintial improvements in a number of key areas incl shift times below the threshold of human perception...
http://wardsauto.com/news-amp-analys...p-transmission
Even if Holden have caught up, (which I seriously doubt and would have to experience for myself to believe), it won't be for long.

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by block58

Sounds like the upcoming Falcon interior upgrade is much needed, I imagine the door trims will be staying but the dash will get a major overhaul, which should once again bring it above the Commodore in all areas.

In saying that, they also said

While the Falcon’s interior is simpler than the Commodore’s, its finish is more consistent and some of its materials, such as the subtle piano black/carbon fibre trim, brushed alloy-look highlights and its plastics, are nicer to touch.

So it's not all bad.

I do know GM worked hard to improve the shift quality and overall 'friendliness' of the 6 speed auto, but when the 201X Falcon arrives, it will bring the Gen II ZF with it which should shade any VF automatic.

So what I take from that review is that whilst the VF SS is good, the FGII XR6T has its measure in all but a few areas which are a given for its age.

[Rodge]

^^ Yeap, its not all one sided and when the 2014 G6ET comes out with blind spot, adaptive cruise control, the new gearbox and hopefully one or two other improvements, it'll be game on compared to the V8 Calais-V.

[BlueOvalPrint]

Originally Posted by Rob 18

$39,990 atm Rodge. Like I said earlier, 52 for the XRt, don't think so!

I just went to the Ford website to get a price for the XR6T (no Lux pack) for regional NSW/ACT: RRP $51,565! But then I clicked the "or see latest offers" button next to it: $39,490 with 5 years/200000km warranty. Pretty confusing, and if someone got sticker shock at the first price they could write a XR6T off their shopping list pretty fast.

The other issue is having to dig into the site to find that price, I guess it's too much to ask for FoA to actually advertise this special on TV/radio/newspapers/ it own website front page...

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by Rodge

^^ Yeap, its not all one sided and when the 2014 G6ET comes out with blind spot, adaptive cruise control, the new gearbox and hopefully one or two other improvements, it'll be game on compared to the V8 Calais-V.

Well - I don't know about adaptive cruise, but it should have the rest of it. Plus a few other unexpected things.

[dimka100]

Yep people have been saying that for years, The falcon RRP pricing is just plain stupid!

As for the reviews I do agree with them, the Falcon interior is most definitely showing its age, if I was in the market this year instead of last year the SS would get my vote.

Also people don’t forget that this is only a base SS spec, the V adds more kit, and the Redline really takes performance more seriously with much better suspension, wider rear tyres, brembo brakes … Ford really does not have anything comparable unless you look at FPV.

I am however massively disappointed at Holden for selling the much better car in the USA for a lot less $$$. They get the 6.2, more interior kit, and all for much less than the Redline asking price … there no better way to say than FU Holden!!!

[Brazen]

A different review that talks about the Commodore transmission

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/566...lian-road-test

There’s one area, though, in which the VF positively shines: the automatic transmission. It is now every bit as good as a ZF - this auto is very impressive.

With its rapid response to kickdown (in normal or sport mode) and its unflappable selection of the right ratios for the conditions, it is a true revelation to the Commodore.

Manual downshifts are extremely quick and done with a delicious rev-matching blip that does a good impersonation of a DSG. Upshifts are slower, of course, but the way it slurs from gear to gear is a delight.

[barra240t]

XR6T/G6ET my fav Falcons of all time.

I love the popping on gear change, ahhh

[BossBrand]

The plain SS looks so camryish.. yuck
New interior in the lovely FG shape and we'll have a winner (till 2016 that is)

[blackf6]

$39,000 for an FG2 xr6t! wow

[damo6]

having recently stepped out of an auto ve ss i can say for certain that even at 10yrs old the ZF box absolutely ***** all over anything GM have, the auto box going into the VF i'm pretty sure wont be much better.auto boxes have never been a stellar feature of GM..and i love my fg turbo BTW,my ss ute would match it performance wise but my ute was not stock-tuned,pipes,cai etc.. so in std form the ss doesnt have a chance from my experiance considering the VE and VF share identical outputs.

[XtRmn8]

Yes the ZF in my FG XR6T is smooth but the ********** diff bush clunk ruins it all!!