Looking for a Ute/Maloo

[Fatboy]

Hi Everyone,

I've had a hankering for a V8 pickup for a few years now, and really like the look of the Commodore Ute/Maloo (since I first saw one on Pistonheads news page years and years ago). I am finally in a position to be able to buy one, and have a few questions I hope you can help with - I've had a good read through the FAQs and the forum, apologies if I've missed something that's always getting asked!!!

These are pretty rare - I normally prefer Manual over Automatic, but there not being many up for sale I'm wondering if I should consider a good auto (Elite Car Co have a very nice looking auot one at the moment!) - what's the auto box like, is it pretty quick to change and smooth? (I had a BMW 750 that had a cracking auto box, and had a hire chevy impala with a bloody awful auto box, just wondering where the HSV one lies)...

What's the payload? I've found a few places with the towing capacity listed as 1600kg, but not the payload (found some forum posts on Aussie forums saying about 500kg) I wouldn't be using it primarily as a load lugger, but I move stuff around from time to time as I'm doing my house up so wondering what the capacity is...

Are there any known problems unique to the Ute version, or is it just a case of the same mechanicals as the Monaro/Commodore/VXR8?

Finally, anyone know where to look for them other than Pistonheads, Autotrader and Ebay?

Cheers,

Fatboy

[GaryNoGrip]

I think the one at elite has sold, but don't hold me to that, would imagine most ute owners are part of or know someone on here so only a matter of time till you have a pm if one is coming up for sale soon.

[ARAF]

I'll try and answer as much as I can, and I'm sure others will be along to add or put me right.

Elite sold their Maloo soon after it came in. A very good, low mileage example. GaryNoGrip doesn't seem to know what he's doing with his SSV Ute at the moment, so maybe a message will let you know if he's really looking to get something else.

The payload of the Maloo is only 350kgs. It's a lifestyle vehicle, rather than a serious load lugger. The Holden Ute has a 750kg payload. The main difference between the two used to be that the Ute has a brake bias valve activated by the rear suspension whereas the Maloo didn't. Not sure if that is the case for the latest ones.

You need to drive both, to see if you like the gearboxes. The manual is quite a slow action. We have a 6 speed auto (after having a 6 speed manual in our VXR8) and prefer the auto. It really is down to personal choice though, and I don't think either are slick on a European level.

We've not found any specific problems with ours, which is very similar to the VXR8s, apart from the fact that ours has DOD on the engine, which will soon be removed to make it more like a standard LS2/LS3.

Good luck with your hunt, and welcome to our little part of Pistonheads - though you may need to be patient. It took us three years off and on to get ours - waiting for circumstances to be right as well as a vehicle available.

[GaryNoGrip]

I'm pretty sure only a charged vxr8 is going to temp me away now araf, my yearn for a German v8 again has gone since we have spent 2k already on the misses AMG! Simple oz v8 the only way forward now

[ARAF]

GaryNoGrip said:

I'm pretty sure only a charged vxr8 is going to temp me away now araf, my yearn for a German v8 again has gone since we have spent 2k already on the misses AMG! Simple oz v8 the only way forward now

Gary's finally got a grip.

[GaryNoGrip]

Wouldn't go that far!

[Fatboy]

Thanks Guys,

Am I right in thinking that the manual will be a Tremec T56?

I'm up in Cumbria, so will have to travel quite a bit to try out a few - I tried a manual VS ute (with the Holden V8) a couple of months ago, and really quite liked it, just needed a bit of work I didn't have time for.

I'll keep searching Autotrader/Pistonheads/ebay and see what comes up - is there a big difference between the earlier third generation (like this one) and the later 4th generation ones ( like this)

Cheers,

Fatboy

[ARAF]

Fatboy said:

Thanks Guys,

Am I right in thinking that the manual will be a Tremec T56?

I'm up in Cumbria, so will have to travel quite a bit to try out a few - I tried a manual VS ute (with the Holden V8) a couple of months ago, and really quite liked it, just needed a bit of work I didn't have time for.

I'll keep searching Autotrader/Pistonheads/ebay and see what comes up - is there a big difference between the earlier third generation (like this one) and the later 4th generation ones ( like this)

Cheers,

Fatboy

The last one is a VZ, so still on the old platform. This is the latest platform

[raving]

[raving]

[raving]

[Fatboy]

raving said:

That is absolutely gorgeous - love it

[raving]

Sold it few months back it was nice & it went in a matter of hours

[preciousmetal]

raving said:

That's a nice looking one Gary

[ARAF]

preciousmetal said:

raving said:

That's a nice looking one Gary

Tow bar too!

[two4oneuk]

Fintraymotors.co.uk in Aberdeenshire had one 6 months ago. No longer on the stock list but the list is not upto date as only showing 10 cars and there is a load more. Might be worth phoning. Mike the owner loved it and wasn't sure if he was going to sell it or not.

[GaryNoGrip]

Fatboy said:

Thanks Guys,

Am I right in thinking that the manual will be a Tremec T56?

I'm up in Cumbria, so will have to travel quite a bit to try out a few - I tried a manual VS ute (with the Holden V8) a couple of months ago, and really quite liked it, just needed a bit of work I didn't have time for.

I'll keep searching Autotrader/Pistonheads/ebay and see what comes up - is there a big difference between the earlier third generation (like this one) and the later 4th generation ones ( like this)

Cheers,

Fatboy

Amazed that the first one hasn't sold yet tbh, seems like a well modified ute, but depends on whether that's important to you, the other is auto and lpg, both are wrong in my eyes as a muscle car but just my opinion

[Fatboy]

I definitely prefer manual gearboxes to autos, but with rare cars you can't always be that picky

What are they like on fuel? - can't be any worse than my old BMW 750

[ARAF]

Fatboy said:

I definitely prefer manual gearboxes to autos, but with rare cars you can't always be that picky

What are they like on fuel? - can't be any worse than my old BMW 750

Our average is about 21mpg, but I did see 34mpg once.


This one need saving.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Holden-Thunder-SS-Ute-20...

Edited by ARAF on Saturday 30th August 21:29

[GaryNoGrip]

My average is 23mpg, but smaller engine and probably lighter but don't quote me on that as it is a bit longer