LastV8?
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2016
- Messages
- 309
- Reaction score
- 364
- Points
- 63
- Location
- Gold Coast
- Members Ride
- MY17 VF2 Redline
When I was a young boy I was fascinated by V8s, the big American imports (Customlines, Chevys, Plymouths, etc) and even Trucks because they sounded good and represented power (there's no substitute for cubes). Now there are plenty of substitutes with different technologies. I always wanted a V8 but never in the budget. Then they were almost killed off in the 70s due to fuel prices. So when it came time to trade in the family VN Wagon in 1995, we took a V8 Commodore for a run and were wrapped in the smoothness and effortless drive. I said to my wife that this may be the last chance to buy a V8 due to changing times and dwindling demand. So my first V8 was a VR Clubsport. Insurance costs killed that after 2 years ($3000 to renew) so the VSII Statesman filled the bill as flying under the radar. Happy with that until the Billion Dollar Baby was born - the best Holden for years (IMO) and AFM sort of justified the fuel issue for the 6.0l V8, popularity soared and insurance companies weren't scared anymore (maybe because older people bought them?). The trouble with Commodores is, like most Holdens before them, they are cheap to maintain (compared to the imported 'Holdens' which wear out disc rotors, cam chains, and everything else mechanical as soon as warranty expires) and built to last - hence lower turnover. So now I have bought my truly last V8 - sports car performance that can double as a family car (especially the wagon) and it probably is a dinosaur relegated to those of us who remember the past (and probably sadly missed by fleets and Police etc). Current generations are more fascinated by electronics and gadgets (and the Commodore does have some) but few of them will be showing their mates what's under the hood or starting it up for them. So I am not going to have a go at you, everything has changed and will continue to do so - what would be the point of developing a self drive V8 for instance?To zero and Cuda, and all Holden fans here,
It's unfortunate that Holden has to shut down their last manufacturing plant, but people are just not buying the big Aussie car any more. From their first cars produced in the 40s-50s, there were around 5-6 manufacturing plants around Australia. Holden was down to one in Elizabeth, Ford had one in Broadmeadows, and Toyota had one in Altona. The fact that both Holden and Ford struggled to sustain the big 6/V6/V8, meant that the manufacturing had to close. They were producing 140,000 cars a year at one stage, now down to 20,000 Commodores in 2017. The government had a big part to the closures, as they did not compensate enough for them to stay open, but countries like Germany and USA have to compensate for car manufacturing to remain. Toyota did not have an issue with production, so why did they announce closure similar to Holden, and manufacturing will also cease by end of 2017.
Please don't get me wrong, I love the big Aussie Holden and I am saddened with the closure of Holden's last manufacturing plant. I have had big Holdens in my family for years, from EH Special, HQ Kingswood, HZ Kingswood SL, VR Berlina, and finally a VFII SS-V Redline (my first V8 ever.) My wife states that our VR Berlina was the best car she has had in our family. Now she drives a Mazda CX-3 because that suits her (size/style), and many people have choices with buying smaller cars or SUVs or smaller family cars. There are a lot more choices today than what there were 30-40 years ago.
I'd love for the big muscle car to go on for a long time, but choice means we can add 2 cylinders or subtract 2 cylinders. Ok have a go at me and state the V8 should last forever
