just about decided on my new ride...

[hsvgtscoupe]

Hmmmmmm... it's a lot easier to decide what Holden or HSV you want when you are in the UK! Way too much V8 RWD fun to choose from over here! 1st it was gonna be a VE Maloo but the rear view is just a bit OTT in my opinion. The SS V Holen ute is a much tastier option but they are EVERYWHERE.. GMH must be struggling to keep up with the demand as they certainly look the biz and would be a very tasty modified car. (might get one to tinker with in 2 years when they are 50% cheaper!)

So.. the saga went on, I nearly settled on a very nice white VE HSV R8 but the insurance was getting a bit toey over the very tasty mods... black GTS 20" alloys.. full zorst, remap and a virtually re-built N/A 6.0l that punches no less than 430BHP at the wheels!

In the end it looks like I'm going for a VE Calais V so stepping back from HSV for the 1st time in a while - for the soap dodgers unfamiliar with the Oz Holden range, that's a V8 Holden Commodore with a bit of luxury comfort thrown in. This one is Feb 07 plate and is nicely run in at about 15K miles. It's already got lower sports susp & HSV Grange rims (I'm getting them painted black (thanks Tiler!))and will be off to the boys at Walky for a new zorst, remap & diff. All up should set me back about £22K so I reckons it's a pretty tidy motor. Give it a year and if I'm still happy with it I'll be going down the stroked or S/C route and getting trusty AP's up front to pull it up!

Anyway guys... I'll keep you posted but here are some of the pix of the car as it is now... Ciao 4 now.

J

[motomk]

Very Nice, hsvgtscoupe , Did the emails arrive?

Has that subtle look, has all the go fast bits but all the comfort bits too!

[hsvgtscoupe]

motomk said:

Did the emails arrive?

Many thanks mate.. the owner of aformentioned white R8 was very helpful indeed.. would have jumped into buying his car - simply awesome - insurance and finance companies were having a few heart attacks re the mods though so I just had to pass

[jimb0]

I like the look of that

[Raggyman]

I like my new car loads!!! Very sexy beast... So when can I expect it to start turning up here in bits and pieces?
Love it..

[ringram]

Nice mate. But what is that slushy paddle all about?

[hsvgtscoupe]

ringram said:

Nice mate. But what is that slushy paddle all about?

Yeah... that was the only negative. Beggers can't be choosers and all dat jizz!

[monkfish1]

A Calais with an auto mate? You must be ageing a bit

Still, very cool nonetheless. You didn't waste any time did you?

Edited by monkfish1 on Thursday 19th June 11:40

[anonymous-user]

Is it just me, or does it look like a VW Passat?

Sorry!

[tim the pool man]

Just you I think, just looks like a Calais to me

[Well_Fans]

gsxr750steve said:

Is it just me, or does it look like a VW Passat?

Sorry!

hadn't noticed but now you mention it........I'd still rather have a Calais, new Passat's a pile of dog poo in comparison to the older versions for reliability.

[hsvgtscoupe]

gsxr750steve said:

Is it just me, or does it look like a VW Passat?

Sorry!

I reckon the rear view is similar style to the VW... maybe more the Phaeton or wotever its called than the Passat (bit big to look too much like a passat!)

I might chuck some VW badges on the back just to wind up Bimmer drivers when I blow them at the lights

seriously though it's fairly easy to see that GMH have had a fair crack at the BMW/Audi saloon market over here with the VE Calais V.. it's a much harder ride than the Calais barges of old and far more sophisticated on the handling/saftey/gizmos front.

I know that in the UK they pitch the Aussie V8 models more at the "bang for your buck" punters but I'm sure that if they launched the Calais V in Vauxhall guise it would have quite a wide appeal in the 5 series/A6 sector.. it really is a "euro sports saloon" when you get behind the wheel.

J

[hsvgtscoupe]

Picked up the new ride last week.. Got the windows tinted up, had the VE HSV Senator wheels re-done in Black and the lads at Walky have had "a bit of a play". Very happy with it, now just waiting for my new reg plates to arrive in the post. Only thing left to do is pee off all the badges and get the boot and front grill badges black chromed (too hard/costly to remove them )

cheers

J

Edited by hsvgtscoupe on Tuesday 15th July 02:16

[V6 JDT]

That looks the dogs bo£££cks!!

[JamesK]

Very nice

[JamesK]

Very nice

[wolfracer]

(IMHO if you squint) Still looks like a passat when the plastic wheel covers have come off.
Sorry but not my cup of tea!
{added}(this is probably because my neighbour used to have one (a passat!) with the wheel trims missing.....)

Edited by wolfracer on Tuesday 15th July 10:59

[rmmackfc]

Looks like a beast

[motomk]

Bit radical with the wheels there! But it actually doesn't look too bad at all!
Are the badges exy? or do you have to get a whole grill? ahh just answered that as I found a quote I had lying around...front grill was $55. The back Lion badge was $11. Was for an SS mind you.

[nick2punt]

just being honest but wheels looked better as they were IMO