HSV Advice

[VS 5.0]

but you couldn't mistake either of those for an SS-V or SS-V Redline.

Aside from enthusiasts, would most people know the difference ?

Appearance wise is only the sticker pack ?

 

[Forg]

Aside from enthusiasts, would most people know the difference ?

Appearance wise is only the sticker pack ?

Well the sticker pack is the only way the non-anorak can tell what it is, isn't it?
Director doesn't have Calais badging and Motorsport doesn't have SS-V badging ... do they?

 

[Derekthetree]

I reckon your test-drive list needs to include (in no particular order):

• VF2 SS-V Redline (I reckon currently ~$65k, insurance ~$1k/yr which I'm deriving from my $50k-insured VF1 costing us ~$650/yr)
• Gen-F Clubsport (very similar to the above, insurance may be a bit more)
• Gen-F2 Clubsport (I reckon around $100k, insurance ~$1600/yr based on tml678's cost)
• Gen-F & Gen-F2 GTS (unsure on cost, will be from VF2 pricing for higher km's to more than Gen-F2 Clubsport)
• A manual & an auto SS-V Redline or Gen-F Clubsport, to compare (I think this will let you decide whether you want manual or auto for either of these LS3-powered cars)
• A manual & an auto in any Gen-F2 car or any GTS (as this will tell you whether you want a manual or auto in the LSA-engined cars)

In your search you might come across other alternatives which might suit ... eg. the HSV Senator, which was supposed to be their luxury car but is still very capable in terms of funs & fasts.

This list is good and resembles my one at the time.

VF2 redline and Gen-f clubby are very comparable, and noticed lots in a back to back test. Mine was a touch more than a redline, but the induction noise made it for me, less fake sounding than the redline. Plus seats are much nicer and I could get an interesting colour.

As previous, I wanted manual, so only test drove one auto, just to check.

I didn't even test a LSA engined car, mainly because they were just that little too high a price, but also I dislike a supercharger whine. It would undoubtedly be much faster, but my LS3 is plenty fast enough for Aussie roads, and Victorian policing.

Find some test drive options and have fun

 

[VS 5.0]

Well the sticker pack is the only way the non-anorak can tell what it is, isn't it?
Director doesn't have Calais badging and Motorsport doesn't have SS-V badging ... do they?

How many non-anorak wearers would notice those differences ?

 

[Derekthetree]

How many non-anorak wearers would notice those differences ?

Shame there are none here to ask

 

[tml678]

but also I dislike a supercharger whine.

Ironically, the complete lack of whine is one of the complaints of LSA owners, myself included. Even when you're really up it, you have to strain to barely hear it.

 

[lmoengnr]

I thought about an LSA Maloo when I ordered the Magnum.
Then I remembered how much trouble an LS3 Maloo got me into......

 

[vr304]

Ironically, the complete lack of whine is one of the complaints of LSA owners, myself included. Even when you're really up it, you have to strain to barely hear it.

You could get more of that with intake and boost upgrade mods couldn’t you?

 

[tml678]

You could get more of that with intake and boost upgrade mods couldn’t you?

Doubt intake would make a difference, but boost via a smaller SC pulley would help.

Kinda sucks because the smaller 5.0 Miami in the last XR8 makes a great noise.

 

[Forg]

How many non-anorak wearers would notice those differences ?

What I was maybe failing to clearly say was that the non-anoraks would need to look at the car to see what it was, because they wouldn't already know ... and without Calais or SS-V badges they would only have the Director or Motorsport Edition stickers to indicate what the car was.

Actually some Googling now tells me Director replaces the C A L A I S lettering with D I R E C T OR, and MSE doesn't seem to have any badges at all.