RE: Driven: Vauxhall VXR8 Maloo
Discussion
" "Strewth mate, that's a beaut ute!" called out a wandering Australian tourist. Or would have done had we seen any Australian tourists or, indeed, if Aussies actually spoke in such stereotyped tones. Which we didn't. And they don't."
They do you know. Haven't you ever seen Crocodile Dundee???
They do you know. Haven't you ever seen Crocodile Dundee???
I own of these in the same yellow. It is a wonderful machine you can carry a pallet of shop stock or a ride on mower in the back with the performance of a Ferrari. Mine is a slightly lesser model which has to manage with only 380bhp but cost me the equivalent of 24,000 GBP which is a bargain by anyones judgement. It is such fun to drive to work especcially with the traction control turned off I dont mind the 20mpg.
Find a written off Saff Cosworth and a rust free Ford P100. Transfer the juicy bits, spend some dosh on tuning goodies and you will have a deadly missle at a fraction of the cost and the curb weight.
Seen it done for under 5 grand. Having been in one with 'JUST' 300 BHP i can testify it was devastatingly quick and as tail happy as a dog with an itchy bum!
Seen it done for under 5 grand. Having been in one with 'JUST' 300 BHP i can testify it was devastatingly quick and as tail happy as a dog with an itchy bum!
I love these things - particularly the notion of a V8 commercial vehicle - but lets step back a moment. Does anyone else wonder if there might actually be a market in the UK and other countries for a properly viable commercial version of this with something like a 170hp 4 pot (petrol or tractor juice), poverty-ish base spec and a 20k price tag? Something cheaper to run, better to behold and similarly capable of hauling loads to all of those L200s and the like that tradesmen are often seem in... I really do think that Vauxhall's commercial vehicle people ought to look into it - the engineering wouldn't be extensive and I am sure that the GM parts bin could make such a vehicle in a financially viable fashion while giving Holden an export product to bolster its case for continuation of its RWD platform.
Surely my logic is flawed otherwise this would already be happening??
Surely my logic is flawed otherwise this would already be happening??
Yes, these are the staple for Aussie tradies, as much a symbol as a usefull tool.
I know of several 'enhanced versions' twin turbo 5.7 litre, 7 litre and a fully stealth, tidy looking VE ute packing an 8 litre LS engine, for better towing torque, you understand.
And of course there is the Ford equivalent, with either 5.4 litre V8 or turbo 4 litre straight 6.
I know of several 'enhanced versions' twin turbo 5.7 litre, 7 litre and a fully stealth, tidy looking VE ute packing an 8 litre LS engine, for better towing torque, you understand.
And of course there is the Ford equivalent, with either 5.4 litre V8 or turbo 4 litre straight 6.
Gee with some of you it is getting embarrassing to have to admit our British heritage.
Some approval, but so many have no desire to be the fastest electrician/carpenter in the west, or north south or east. Then someone suggests you get them & stick some wheezy 4 pot in them. Please, we could never allow that. We'd have to stop all GM exports to you if you started doing that. The shame would be unbearable.
Holden do a 6 in them. It's only a little 3.6L V6, but it's almost enough to drag the tools to the job, if you're not embarrassed by the cyclists passing you that is.
If you want a ute with a 6 in it, Ford in Oz do a better job. They had enough sense to stick a turbo on their straight 6. The son in law got one. If he dumps the tools out Saturday morning, before he goes out to the strip, he can get 14 second quarters out of it, so almost man enough. With a chip they get well under that too.
You lot need to talk to your Ford branch over there, you might be able to get a few of these decent tradesman's vehicles, if you try hard enough.
Some approval, but so many have no desire to be the fastest electrician/carpenter in the west, or north south or east. Then someone suggests you get them & stick some wheezy 4 pot in them. Please, we could never allow that. We'd have to stop all GM exports to you if you started doing that. The shame would be unbearable.
Holden do a 6 in them. It's only a little 3.6L V6, but it's almost enough to drag the tools to the job, if you're not embarrassed by the cyclists passing you that is.
If you want a ute with a 6 in it, Ford in Oz do a better job. They had enough sense to stick a turbo on their straight 6. The son in law got one. If he dumps the tools out Saturday morning, before he goes out to the strip, he can get 14 second quarters out of it, so almost man enough. With a chip they get well under that too.
You lot need to talk to your Ford branch over there, you might be able to get a few of these decent tradesman's vehicles, if you try hard enough.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff