Test Drove a VY - Q's?

[WRX]

Hi all.

I am looking at buying a VS - VY V8 ute (I had another thread about that here see bottom of post).

Anyway I test drove a VY SS with 158k's on it. It was definitely down on power compared to my WRP10 Rex which disappointed me. I thought it would be more brutal I guess.

However I was very impressed with the handling and the car felt almost new even with those k's on it. It was a bit overpriced I feel though at $20k. I guess I really just have 2 questions:

1. Are the VY auto SS's all a little sluggish at take off? It had good pull when the revs were up but from a standing start it spun the wheels a little bit but didn't seem that quick. I know the tyres are massive but it just seemed slower than it should be.


2. Does having the manual make it more punchy? I've driven older Holdens and they seemed more torquey.


Thanks for any feedback!

What model should I buy? Looking for a V8 Ute.

[lowvpcal]

well for starters ur rex would be all wheel drive and thats why i spose there wouldnt be as much of the seat in pants feeling. and yea the vy autos are a bit but all the gen 3's were a bit of lemon until they got to around 100kph im not entirely sure why but they just are. and manual would only make it feel more torquey cause of the short gears in 1 and 2 compared to auto

[WRX]

Yeah I am ready to accept the V8 will spin a bit before getting going - I really like the SS utes. My WRX does 4.8 0-100.

I was just disappointed that the V8 needed so much winding up, the turbo I understand needing time but the auto V8 (IMO) kind of killed the whole torque experience. I am interested in what the manual owners have to say. I just want a noisy torquey tank that I can use on weekends, as I only do about 4k a year (city job).

[lowvpcal]

i used to have a vx clubby (255) auto and a friend of mine currently has a vy clubby (285) auto and they felt basically the same except his had more top end but in my old job i got to drive these cars and more day in day out thats how i know what theyre like

[smitheyes]

just sold my vy ss 6 speed manual, getting them of the mark quick takes a bit of practice but the gen 3 is definately no slouch. theyre seriously detuned for australia the best thing you can do is chip and exhaust straight up helps heaps and cheap, being an electronic auto this helps out here also. and wow i cant believe anyone would call a gen3 a lemon obviously not driving them right.

[Freshjivin]

I drive a rexxy and have been looking at buying either a VY or VZ for a while now and i know exactly what your talking about, but after driving my friends a bit more often i've got used to the car and I do feel like it was because of the different style of car that changed the way it performed, now that im semi used to the car i can work it a bit more but i think you just need to drive a few more, or long trips to really get it going

[lowvpcal]

sorry smith were not all professional drivers like your good self but i and a friend had/have a much more uprated version of ur oh so fancy ss..... we both have/had the exhausts by diffillipo, mafless tune, ka&n otr cai, gts 300 throttle bodies i felt a differance but not a whole lot so i bought new 3.7 diff gears and thats where there the biggest impact came from and just to add to the "obviously not driving them right" comment i bought the car just after my 21st and still on my p's im not as awesome as u but all i did i was turn the car on, turn traction control off, select "d" (thats drive) and then mash the accelerator. ive done 3 defensive driving courses also. but hey ur a pro what would i know maybe you could show me how to drive a caprice properly

[smitheyes]

sarcasm much, your the one calling gen 3's lemons IMO their not, maybe they just feel so slow to you cos your drivin around in such awesome mind blowin tyre poppin beasts all the time with all your professional training im sure lil ol me couldnt teach you a thing let alone how to drive my lemon grandpa's car. as for upgrades all i did to the ss was exhaust and tune which IMO opened it up nicely and made it sound a whole lot better, maybe im easily pleased because this is all ive done to my caprice and im pretty happy with it. hell i am gettin pretty old tho.
had a 185 kw 99 rex about 8 years ago and it was a good fun car but IMO too small