Do these apply to the HSV Series 1.. The cheapest I see around (Which still aint that cheap in NZ lol) are the 2006/2007 model's
Yep I'm not gonna make friends discussing why any Commodore is below par on an enthusiast's forum, but mate the first E Series HSV were mind-blowing like nothing else when they were released, in the U.K. (VXR) and Middle East (CSV) good examples of the E1 model are an investment, realising way more than purchase price. More so would be the case if HSV were released in US where the closest thing is the up-spec G8 GXP which is a hot collector's item.
But for savvy Kiwis (oxymoron?) and here there are several factors at play which belie the fact that it is part of the first production run of the Zeta platform, with lots of new systems and a transitional engine design that, whilst highly lauded for being used in the Corvette, doesn't compare to the plain vanilla Holden L76 with bolt-ons. Technically the LS2 as per E1 is the first of the GenIV but with half the features, namely L92 rectangle ports, 58x reluctor (timing) and the e38 ECU.
So yeah, there's a reason they are cheap here and in NZ where we got the later improved E2 & E3 (and facelift F1 & supercharged F2) but worth noting above that overseas markets put these cars in the highly collectible class.
The e40 ECU is rare, primitive, and comparatively unsupported with aftermarket software, the cathedral heads are old school, and parts are ridiculously expensive and rare. Great value but terrible investment in markets which saw later versions. Performance-wise the LS2 was OK matched to the previous model HSV, but there's more up front than the 10 extra killer wasps of the Mylar boot badge per later models which help this two tonne Tess to really make the grade vs Hot Holden.
