Sydney Motor Show

[simon.w]

Anyone else get to the Sydney motor show last week?

Highlights:

SS with the "Ecoline 6L" cylinder deactivation (to be released next Feb). Down on power, up on economy. Just couldn't bring myself to make that power sacrafice for a claimed 1 litre per 100 gain!

HSV GST 40th Anniversary ... HK Monaro-ish stripes... painted on, which is a much better option than the vinyl stick-on track stripes on the VE (my are peeling for the second time)

HSV Clubsport Wagon - nice!

Caddy concept coupe - based on the new CTS sedan which was also on display. (They were only showing the V6 version)

Interesting to note that Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and BMW were not there... sign of the times. Funny thing though... I noticed Audi, but didn't miss the others until someone told me next day. Euro's are just not my bag baby! Yeeaahh!

[CSP]

Interesting to note that Mercedes, Audi, Porsche and BMW were not there... sign of the times.

Not really but with so many motorshows all over the world these days, not all manufacturers go to all of them every year.

Has been that way for a while.

[Aggro_VE]

This year was the quietest I have seen not surprisingly when the above companies were non-attendees but it was very quiet! I took couple of pics haven't uploaded them as yet. This year just wasn't the same! Wanted to see production version of Torana, yeah yeah I know the story, BUT I can still dream.

[simon.w]

Not really but with so many motorshows all over the world these days, not all manufacturers go to all of them every year.

Has been that way for a while.

Guess I'm used to the very smaller Adelaide motorshow, that has always had Mercedes and Audi...BUT... from memory they are represented by the dealer, not the manufacturer ... which you can do when you only have a couple of dealers in the region.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Manufacturers swap between Melbourne and Sydney shows. If they're not at the Sydney one, they'll be at Melbourne. Then the year after they'll swap. It costs huge money to have those stands/displays so you can't blame those manufacturers that do have a smaller market in this country.

Also, the VE should ditch the L98 and bring in the L99 with DOD instead DOD still reduces power, but even with DOD its still 298kw

[VSTrev]

I got to the show on Sunday. It was great to see the Coupe 60 and the W427 in the flesh.

I thought the show was pretty crap to be honest - we walked through the place in about 1 hour.

Shannons auctions were very interesting. Fascinating to see a beautiful Charger go for $30000, and a Ferrari Testarosa was sold for $105000, but a Torana A9X was passed in at $125000 (reserve $140000). Some really beautiful old cars were put under the hammer - i wish i had the money to throw at these things.

[CSP]

DoD is pointless on a V8.

[1991_Vn2nV]

DoD is pointless on a V8.

In what way? Anything that helps sell a few cars doesn't seem pointless to me. Reducing the sticker mileage on a car can definitely help sell some vehicles. Theres alot of people out there that worry about the economy of a V8 and will look to high output 6 cylinders (i.e. XR6 Turbo or similar). It doesn't have to appeal to the mainstream V8 buyer to be relevant.

[RayLamp]

In what way?

Doesn't DOD kick in when you are at cruising speed? V8's chew a lot when you accelerate etc - the best time to experience a V8! When you are at cruise speed, the V8 is pretty good on economy now. DOD won't help all that much then. I'd say its a great marketing tool only.

[1991_Vn2nV]

In what way?

Doesn't DOD kick in when you are at cruising speed? V8's chew a lot when you accelerate etc - the best time to experience a V8! When you are at cruise speed, the V8 is pretty good on economy now. DOD won't help all that much then. I'd say its a great marketing tool only.

It won't have much of an effect on the highway, but driven sensible it should help around town. Small amounts of fuel add up. Thats why it makes a difference to the sticker mileage (which should help sell cars). Whether it does much in real world conditions is debatable (it would help but the question is: how much?).

[CSP]

In what way? Anything that helps sell a few cars doesn't seem pointless to me. Reducing the sticker mileage on a car can definitely help sell some vehicles. Theres alot of people out there that worry about the economy of a V8 and will look to high output 6 cylinders (i.e. XR6 Turbo or similar). It doesn't have to appeal to the mainstream V8 buyer to be relevant.

Thing is thought mate, 99% of people that buy a V8 don't give a flying **** about how much the petrol for it is going to cost.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Thing is thought mate, 99% of people that buy a V8 don't give a flying **** about how much the petrol for it is going to cost.

Yeah thats true. But the way I see it, is that those people are going to buy a V8 regardless. The V8 market for Holden is very small, the only competitor really is the Falcon... And lets face it, its only available in the XR8 (not like Commodore where you can get SS, SS-V, Calais-V, Statesman, Caprice, plus the Wagon variants) and its not competitive with the L98. The 290kw output is probably the best draw card of the Ford V8. Theres the Chrysler 300C as well, but its a very small share of the market, uses heaps of fuel and is getting rather old now.

Its new buyers that Holden will want to entice. Those that are currently looking at XR6 Turbo's etc. instead of the V8 because they don't want to fork out for the 'fuel'.

[CSP]

The V8 market for Holden is very small

Since the VE's release in 2006, both Holden and HSV have posted RECORED sales of V8s.

[Bravotwozero]

Since the VE's release in 2006, both Holden and HSV have posted RECORED sales of V8s.

I don't know. Maybe 25% of sales would constitute a small amount.

[CSP]

Regardless of the amount sold, record sales means the market for Holden/HSV V8s is bigger now than it ever has been in the past.

[Bravotwozero]

Regardless of the amount sold, record sales means the market for Holden/HSV V8s is bigger now than it ever has been in the past.

Indeed it is. But Dylan simply stated that V8 sales were small. Whether they're selling in record numbers or not isn't really relevant to what he said.

[CSP]

And I agree with that... My point is basically that DoD is nothing more than a marketing gimik to entice people who would otherwise not buy a V8 based on their fuel consumption.

Sorry - I thought that was obvious.

[Bravotwozero]

And I agree with that... My point is basically that DoD is nothing more than a marketing gimik to entice people who would otherwise not buy a V8 based on their fuel consumption.

Sorry - I thought that was obvious.

Ah ok my bad. Missed the DoD bit.

[Full Spectrum]

From what i was reading about dod, It says up to 1l/100 saving, But at cruising speeds even more. Now all you need is a saving of 5 liters over a tank, And thats 5 more into the car longer. Long term more driving which is what we all want.
But they still need diesel engines fast. I'd have one with 240kw 600Nm running better then a 4 cylinder.

[Astranomical]

Anyway, back on the original subject, I went, actually put aside two days in my Sydney trip to go to the motor show. Overall, it was good, they had some interesting concepts there for sure. I got dibs on the Mazda Taiki and Nissan Mixim.

It was strange though that Audi was a no-show, especially since Volkswagen (who owns Audi) and Skoda had an entire HALL to themselves!!!!! In fact, apart from the R8 on display out the front, from the show you'd think Audi didn't exist.

[Low_VX_Taxi]

Waste of friggen money! It would have been more interesting going to "Auto Alley" and seeing the same cars (aside from the few concept cars which you couldn't touch or sit in anyway!!!)

Was pretty disapointed in Holden this year.... not even a little showbag that at least ford had....

Bentley were also missing...sucks cause the Bentley sales persons are usually very friendly and take the time out to talk about the cars with us even though there is no friggen way I could afford one~

The much hyped Ferrari California was absolute POO id rather the Testarossa at the Shannons Auctions anyday! Obviously designed by a blind woman as it had very few Ferrari esque features and honestly looked like a Hyundai sports car.....

Was surprised with the TRD Aurion, very nice interior and cabin, shame about the whole FWD and no manual though.....

I thought the show was pretty crap to be honest - we walked through the place in about 1 hour.

Yeh we did it in two, including smoko (for my mate) and food/water break....

[jettaboy]

motorshow was veeeery ordinary this year, and ive heard it will now be on every two years alternating with melbourne?