Editor’s letter
GLENN BUTLERYour favourite child
Imagine you’re the person
charged with deciding the
historic last car to come off
Ford’s Broadmeadows or
Holden’s Elizabeth production
lines. Which model, bodystyle
and spec do you choose?
Holden’s decision is easier,
but not easy. Possibly the ute,
with an Australian-made
3.6-litre V6, even though the
SS V Redline sedan is the
brand’s flagship.
Does Ford pay homage to
the ute, or the Territory, or
go with Ponch’s pick for the
sweetest Falcon ever, the
XR6 sedan? Or its flagship
performance sedan? Glad I
don’t have to decide...BET I’M NOT THE ONLY PERSON STRUGGLING WITH THIS DILEMMA RIGHT NOW.
DO I BUY A NEW CAR OR NOT? SHOULD IT BE A FORD OR A HOLDEN... FALCON
OR COMMODORE... SEDAN, WAGON OR UTE? I CAN’T EVEN DECIDE WHICH
ENGINE: TURBO SIX OR V8?
Unfortunately for Ford, I don’t like the driving
position. The driver’s seat sits too high, a cardinal
sin in my book. I could investigate having it
lowered, or replaced with a slimmer base, but then
it’s no longer authentic. And if I swing over to
Holden’s camp I don’t need to; the Lion’s command
centre is spot-on.
That little mental journey, captured in just
400 words, comes after two months of pondering.
Sure, I could have got there in an hour, but my
mind doesn’t work in black and white. With every
negative comes the question: How much of an issue
is it, really? Couldn’t I live with it? The Ford’s too-
high driver’s seat is a good example.I don’t want a sedan or wagon. It’s a ute for me,
Australia’s two-door sports car. Plus, it suits me – no
kids, one dog, a love of the outdoors, and going
fast. So it has to be a Ford, right? As we all know,
the Blue Oval invented the ute in Australia back
in the ’30s. An XR6T with the most Australian
performance engine ever. Less than $40K, too...
So how bad is that driving position, really? And
will I regret not plumping for a V8 soundtrack?
If I’m honest, I may not buy anything. And that
may be the biggest regret of all.Time is ticking. The End of Days for Aussie
metal is coming. Buy quickly or regret at leisure,
and forever...
But which one? Not an easy decision for a bloke
who’s both Blue and Red.
When I really started thinking about this a couple
of months back, I knew just one thing – it won’t be a
Ford Territory. With vast apologies to Geoff Polites,
Russell Christophers, Trevor Worthington and the
hundreds of other hugely talented Ford people
behind this brilliant vehicle, I don’t want an SUV.
It won’t be an HSV GTS sedan, either, even
though it’s Australia’s speed king; Bauer doesn’t pay
me well enough. Nor any other HSV, though our
Clubbie Sportwagon long-termer is tempting. So,
Ford Falcon or Holden Commodore?
Do I go sports luxury with a Falcon G6E Turbo?
It’s one seriously quick and effortless cruiser
thanks to that sledgehammer six-cylinder – a
grandfather’s axe first cast in the late-1950s.
Refined, room for four adults, big boot and five
seconds to 100km/h for $47K.
Its Calais V cross-town rival asks $7K more for the
6.2-litre V8, which delivers similar performance and
a sportier drive. But then if I’m splurging that kind
of cash on what is such a discretionary purchase, I’d
go sportier again and consider the SS V Redline.
That brings into consideration the supercharged
XR8, which has more power and torque than its
naturally aspirated rival. Such a shame it can’t
translate that advantage into real-world supremacy,
not even with the XR8 Sprint’s wider, stickier hoops
(before Ford fans roast me, read our epic Road &
Track battle starting on page 62).
I could fit aftermarket rubber to address part
of the issue (the rear suspension simply isn’t as
competent), but that way leads to madness; first the
tyres, then shocks and springs, then bigger brakes,
maybe a little extra boost...
I’ve had two months of pondering, but my
mind doesn’t work in black and white
@wheelsaustralia 9