I went to Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 and my first encounter with one of these was when I was walking across the road from the beach to the apartment me and my family were staying in, and one of these flew past making *the best noise* I've ever heard. Bright green, probably brand new.
HA - almost a 'real' ute - a V8 - fun to watch. Even higher HP versions with the supercharged 6.2 are available. Have a nice day all. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.
yeah my mate has one of the last Maloos with the HP upgrade......damn thing just about peels the skin from your face. His is his daily driver, and is a work ute.....we regularly drive 4.5 hours to his farm and the time just flies the ute is so much fun to drive.
@Nik Gnashers That's a little disingenuous of you - you fail to mentiont that it's a _turbocharged_ 6 cylinder. And you're still only makings 250kW and 500Nm - this Maloo comes in at 307kW and 550Nm. Sounds like you're making less power _and_ less torque in your little Beemer. fastestlaps.com/models/bmw-m140i
I bought my SSV ute new in 2008 as a Xmas present to myself. I thought I would keep it for a couple of years and tick the V8 box on the bucket list... I still drive it daily.
Ahh yes, having already experienced multiple rides in a friend's '09 VXR8 over here, I share your enthusiasm and helpless gfwarring at the ridiculous noise, turn of speed, torque, everything, interior is slightly cheap n modern but that becomes instantly irrelevant when you pull away... The noise is just the best! Certainly no replacement for displacement, when it sounds that good...
Oh Ian, what have you done to me. I hate excessive power, I hate low profile tyres, and I truly despise over firm 'sports' suspension. But I absolutely adore this Maloo. That noise is intoxicating.
Same engine as my Monaro, love these. Once you’ve tried a V8, nothing is the same again. Driving an HSV in the UK is a real treat as they are so rare. That crazy laugh and the smile on your face never goes away :). Thanks for another great video.
Had one of the first of the LS3 6.2 Maloo's in 2008. Ran it 18 months and sold it at 24,000kms. 3rd set of rear tyres :). Silly Silly car it was, didnt even have a payload figure for the tray. It was soooo much fun. I loved it and would buy another one again now they are 12 years old. In the day, they were quicker than an M5 and could brake faster than a Ferarri with their massive brakes
A car like that is perfect for the recently retired. Loads of space for the endless runs to the tip with a lifetimes rubbish collection, then a sporty journey home with room to hide the firkin of ale to be stored in the garage!
Glad you got into a HSV E Series II. You can't compare it to the VU that you've been driving. remember that you're looking at a 7 year gap between the two & the tech in the E Series II shows how far we've gone. I noticed (like all HSV owners I know) that you didn't have the stereo on. Who needs it when you can listen to that engine all day long. Glad you loved it!
It's purple. It's a ute with a light back end... It has a v8 and a load of power and noise. Guaranteed absolute hoonery straight out the box! And watching them race is amazing, and terrifying (they fly rather well!)
These are now very wanted. A rare W1 supercharged Maloo on auction is now up to $507,000 with 28 days to go. My brother's friend has been offered twice what he paid for his more powerful than this Maloo. A landmark yesterday being the last day of Holden on 31/12/2020. RIP Holden 1856-2020.
These were re badged as Vauxhall Maloo's just before GM decided to say goodbye to the brand. I think it was the last mad Australian fun imported to the UK. I have had the same V8 experiences in America in a rental Dodge Challenger RT and a Mustang GT. Both made you grin like a child when you put your foot down on the loud pedal.
Bloody ell fire.. That was brilliant.. 🤪 I love how cars like this can go from being so calm and peacefully quiet... To Warp 9 with a fabulous V8 soundtrack! Shame we couldn't get cars like this in the UK. Bonkers but great fun all the same..
Pretty sure you got the saloons and coupes (Clarkson apparently put his back out when driving a Monaro VXR a little too enthusiastically), but they're not quite as bonkers as the ute variants.
I've not driven a Maloo but I've had a ...spirited ride in a mate's VE R8 a few years ago, and I've driven my current workmate's VF SS wagon (with the same LS2 + 6spd auto), and I completely understand the silly grin and hoots of laughter every time you give the throttle a shove - it's surprising how inventive one can be in finding places to launch it. By the way, a British motoring journalist called Chris Harris (I don't know if you've heard of him) drove an HSV VE Maloo some years ago; he quite enjoyed the experience too. [edit] Correction: Harris tested a VF Maloo [/edit]
@@BTW... hey, he can work out of whatever vehicle he wants to. Just because every other electrician on earth uses a van with space to store ladders, parts and tools.
The exhaust sound (music!) of the engine is simply dripping with horsepower. Gorgeous engine, and a remarkable car. Very nice video - thanks for sharing!
The real brilliance of the VE platform design was that all 13 variants could be produced on the one assembly line with each unit being able to be totally different to those adjacent on the line. I did a lot of filming for Holden, often at their test track, and the VEs all had brilliant handling. I think the VE Caprice was the best car produced by GM anywhere in the world at the time.
Imagine one of these in Aberystwyth ! You'll have to trade your t shirt in for a "Only milk and juice come in 2 litres" one! Good to see you having fun, Ian. Cheers!
I love how Australians still value strong colours. The rest of the world is all white, grey and silver. Look back at videos of the US in the 50's, 60's and 70's and it was great colours too.
We lost that when Ford and Holden stopped producing vehicles here. The only real option for adventurous colours these days are from the likes of Audi, which isn't really the same. Even Mazda, who used to be almost as adventurous as the locals, seem to have lost the plot colour-wise.
Thing in the middle that does stuff... Brilliant !!!! In Anglo-American speak that's basiclly a Corvette pickup then ? Nice to hear a whole new bunch of Hubnut superlatives (and a demonstration of the brake linked tuna bite delivery system.....)
We need a ‘Power, More Is More’ T shirt now! I love the fact you couldn’t stop grinning all the way through. What a car, colour and everything! Brilliant. Great video. Cheers, Ian
Nothing silly about an Aussie Ute mate. I wish we had one of these when me and my wife visited Australia back in 1998 , that would've been fantastic on our road trip , we ended up with a Toyota Seca. ... (corolla) ..... gotta love Aussie cars ! 👍
Dash mats were a 'must have' item back in the day, although improvements in UV protection and plastics (along with Aussies changing over the cars more often than they used to) seems to have made this redundant. I was always partial to the bogan equivalent: a bar mat draped over the top of the dash.
For those that might be interested, that purple is THE classic Holden colour, harking back to the classic purple Holdens of the seventies. The perfect colour for this vehicle.
The super rare W1 supercharged Maloo on auction sold for $1,050,,000 yesterday. Big news on TV and all other media in Australia yesterday. The HSV build date plate of 29/12/2017 might have helped, being a few months after the other last Holden. A Holden sedan with the standard spec V8 but the highest VIN plate claim to being last went for $750,000 at the same auction. Such is the local attachment to Holden before it was destroyed.
Was pleased to note that you gave that ute's mechanicals time to warm up before driving off. The average Aussie bogan usually sits in the driveway on a winter morning while they rev the shit out of the poor, cold engine with no top-end oil, leaving the gears and diff stone cold. As my 1960s Rover user manuals advised: Start the car and immediately drive off gently, thereby warming the entire drivetrain at once.
Oh I’ve been waiting for this... I want one of these sooooooo much, just because... pretty much exactly what you portrayed here! The whoop-whoops, the grin, the respect it demanded at times (commentary halt)... and yet you still managed to find time to admire a Matiz in true Hubnut fashion. Was the phrase ‘chalk and cheese’ ever more applicable? Easily straight into my top 5 fave videos Ian. Thank you SO much 👍🏻
The 6 litre are very smooth., and I dread to think what things would be like without Traction Control. As they say" If you are worried about Economy, you are missing the point".
What a Vehicle, always wanted to drive or even own a Monaro. Swap this for Foxanne! This is the ultimate sleeper, 99.9% have no idea what's under the bonnet.
Hi All, you should do the luxury long wheel base Statesman sedan btw , at @ 15:50 you reach the national speed limit while still in in first gear in drive Your 2001 VY ute is based on the prior 1997 to 2006 VT-VY-VZ commodore - call it gen 2 of the larger cars fairly similar overall. Holden tend to make annual facelifts and more serios changes about every 5 years 1979 - 1988 VB-VC-VH-VK small body all holden engines. , the final VL having the nissan 6 engine and also the holden 5.0 308 V8 1988 - 1996 VN-VP-VR-VS Saw the first big body and the introduction of the 3.8 buick based V6- Also my favorites as they are a better car for large people and the front doors are more "squarish" onthe top of the frame giving more head room and the windscreen is further ahead 1997-2006 VT-VX-VY-VZ Second generation of the larger cars, VT series 1 had holden V8's reduced to 4.9 litre and 304 cubic inch VT Gen 2 the holden V8 was gone and replaced with the 5.7 Chev Gen 3 LS1 engine Finally the VE and VF the final redesign and basically this ute Each major change holden would say basically "listened to customers, redesigned everything, upgraded , more safer etc etc" Personally my first commodore was a VL, then traded to a VP , then a VT, at the same time my eldest got his license and he was given my weekender a VB 23 V8. My work car which i later purchased from the company was a 2002 WH Statesman V6 supercharged( based on VX ). After that car i replaced it with a 2007 WM Statesman ( VE based ) which i still have and is now in semi retirement as the cruiser and weekender Regards George
Technically the VE was a clean sheet design, not based on the Opel R-platform that all previous Commodores, VB-VZ were based on, it was not an update or refresh. The VF was a major, and welcome refresh of the VE, the best were the ladt, so they say.
Interesting point you made about the last generation being the one with the most Australian input. The other contender for that title would be the HQ series, which also started with a relatively clean sheet. Not sure which would take the title.
Probably looked down on now by the lead foot fraternity, but the recipe once to improve that first and second ratio Ute traction ,was to add one 40 kg bag of Portland Cement to the load deck ahead of the rear axle line.
Wow, Ian. What a beast of a motor. I could just see you hooning up and down the valleys of Wales in that. I think, musically, your Uke should be renamed Yute as a tribute!! 👍🏼
Nice! I know how much I enjoyed the power of the SV6 VF Commodore Black Edition I hired in QLD a couple of years back. It must be hilarious with more power and less car!
I must say I love Australin cars you must have had the best experience with them. Hope you are keeping safe and I am looking forward to seeing more content
"It has things that does, errr stuff" oh that made me laugh out loud Ian! Brillian . I've had such an arge to own a Ute/pickup or as they are known back home in Sarf Afreeeekaaa - a Bakkie. There's only me and the Chihuahuas to worry about so such a vehicle would be ideal. Loving the purple! Any loud colour is a winner with me though. Great review of a very characterful and appealing car!!
Ian discovers a beastie of a car. Decides to have a cup of tea afterwards, tradies who usually drive these utes have a cold one (a VB beer ) after driving them ,sometimes doing burnouts just to show off to their mates
Nah mate, the tradies are that well paid nowadays, they only drink boutique beers with odd sounding names, fine wines and cognac. VB is only drunk nowadays by poor people like Dentists and Accountants and the like. In fact Aussie tradies generally drive Amaroks and Ford Rangers as they appreciate the smooth drive and can have confidence that their fine crystal drinking vessels will still be intact for the end of day or 2:30pm after work drinkies.
It's often referred to as the Tradie's (trades person) Mercedes! Holden / Ford made "premium sports" versions if their standard ute's (pickups) to appeal to more cashed up tradied who wanted a car they have a bit of fun with on the weekend. It's also a tax write-off for the tradie.So it makes it a more "affordable " car to own.
We only got this first as a G8 sedan for Pontiac (which GM killed after 2009), and then as the Chevrolet SS, then that was killed as well. Corvette engine, Brembo brakes, hence the very quick deceleration. The dash is so reminiscent of the Pontiac G8 of the same year this was built, but we never got that color here in the US! I honestly like a transmission you can downshift, especially an automatic, when going down steep hills or in winter, to use engine braking, although drivers today are such idiots, the reason why they run off the road when inclement weather hits. Another brilliant video !
Coming soon Ian's new channel - "Hoon Nut"!
Driving around in a souped up V8 6 litre hoontastic ute... "Ohhh! Orange Daewoo Matiz there!" the most Hubnut thing ever.
I went to Adelaide, South Australia in 2005 and my first encounter with one of these was when I was walking across the road from the beach to the apartment me and my family were staying in, and one of these flew past making *the best noise* I've ever heard. Bright green, probably brand new.
Cannot hit the like button more than once!! Has more pull than a 15year old with a stack of playboys!
Superb analogy 😁
Ian, absolute power corrupts absolutely!
Lord Acton's famous quote. He never met Hubnut or saw an HSV Maloo....but he just knew.
HA - almost a 'real' ute - a V8 - fun to watch. Even higher HP versions with the supercharged 6.2 are available. Have a nice day all. CHEERS from AUSTRALIA.
Almost a real ute? BULLSHIT! This IS a REAL DINKI-DI RIDGEY-DIDGE UTE!
yeah my mate has one of the last Maloos with the HP upgrade......damn thing just about peels the skin from your face. His is his daily driver, and is a work ute.....we regularly drive 4.5 hours to his farm and the time just flies the ute is so much fun to drive.
@@markb3146 LOL I have slightly more power in my little M140i hatchback, from it's tiny little 6 cylinder......
@Nik Gnashers That's a little disingenuous of you - you fail to mentiont that it's a _turbocharged_ 6 cylinder. And you're still only makings 250kW and 500Nm - this Maloo comes in at 307kW and 550Nm. Sounds like you're making less power _and_ less torque in your little Beemer.
fastestlaps.com/models/bmw-m140i
@das wright be surprised if the bimmer even makes it to 200k.
I bought my SSV ute new in 2008 as a Xmas present to myself. I thought I would keep it for a couple of years and tick the V8 box on the bucket list... I still drive it daily.
It's a Corvette with a gigantic boot.
At least some one knows blown and Brembos nice in the dry.Used to beat a 930 600hp up a hill or straight road
yeah, literally a c8.
Ahh yes, having already experienced multiple rides in a friend's '09 VXR8 over here, I share your enthusiasm and helpless gfwarring at the ridiculous noise, turn of speed, torque, everything, interior is slightly cheap n modern but that becomes instantly irrelevant when you pull away... The noise is just the best!
Certainly no replacement for displacement, when it sounds that good...
What a treat, a second Ute video to watch in one week, perfect video to watch here on a Thursday night in NZ!
Oh Ian, what have you done to me. I hate excessive power, I hate low profile tyres, and I truly despise over firm 'sports' suspension. But I absolutely adore this Maloo. That noise is intoxicating.
I had the 5.7 litre Gen III SS version. That creamy torque is utterly addictive.
Same engine as my Monaro, love these. Once you’ve tried a V8, nothing is the same again. Driving an HSV in the UK is a real treat as they are so rare. That crazy laugh and the smile on your face never goes away :). Thanks for another great video.
Had one of the first of the LS3 6.2 Maloo's in 2008. Ran it 18 months and sold it at 24,000kms. 3rd set of rear tyres :). Silly Silly car it was, didnt even have a payload figure for the tray. It was soooo much fun. I loved it and would buy another one again now they are 12 years old. In the day, they were quicker than an M5 and could brake faster than a Ferarri with their massive brakes
A car like that is perfect for the recently retired. Loads of space for the endless runs to the tip with a lifetimes rubbish collection, then a sporty journey home with room to hide the firkin of ale to be stored in the garage!
Glad you got into a HSV E Series II. You can't compare it to the VU that you've been driving. remember that you're looking at a 7 year gap between the two & the tech in the E Series II shows how far we've gone. I noticed (like all HSV owners I know) that you didn't have the stereo on. Who needs it when you can listen to that engine all day long. Glad you loved it!
Whenever I'm feeling a bit down, this video always picks me up. Thanks, Ian!
It's purple. It's a ute with a light back end... It has a v8 and a load of power and noise.
Guaranteed absolute hoonery straight out the box!
And watching them race is amazing, and terrifying (they fly rather well!)
These are now very wanted. A rare W1 supercharged Maloo on auction is now up to $507,000 with 28 days to go.
My brother's friend has been offered twice what he paid for his more powerful than this Maloo.
A landmark yesterday being the last day of Holden on 31/12/2020.
RIP Holden 1856-2020.
These were re badged as Vauxhall Maloo's just before GM decided to say goodbye to the brand. I think it was the last mad Australian fun imported to the UK.
I have had the same V8 experiences in America in a rental Dodge Challenger RT and a Mustang GT. Both made you grin like a child when you put your foot down on the loud pedal.
The slogan " I just want one " becomes apparent after driving one
Also, there is a hidden symmetry on the dashboard shots, very pleasing.
That handbrake copped flack for its action, but you can see the intent, design-wise!
Bloody ell fire.. That was brilliant.. 🤪
I love how cars like this can go from being so calm and peacefully quiet...
To Warp 9 with a fabulous V8 soundtrack!
Shame we couldn't get cars like this in the UK. Bonkers but great fun all the same..
We did get these with Vauxhall badges for a short time before GM sold Vauxhall off.
You guys got the vxr8 which is of the same era as the vu he talks about, not quite as silly but very close :)
Pretty sure you got the saloons and coupes (Clarkson apparently put his back out when driving a Monaro VXR a little too enthusiastically), but they're not quite as bonkers as the ute variants.
Had an encounter with an HSV GTS the other day ,the induction noise through the supercharger was outstandingly loud like an air raid siren
I've not driven a Maloo but I've had a ...spirited ride in a mate's VE R8 a few years ago, and I've driven my current workmate's VF SS wagon (with the same LS2 + 6spd auto), and I completely understand the silly grin and hoots of laughter every time you give the throttle a shove - it's surprising how inventive one can be in finding places to launch it. By the way, a British motoring journalist called Chris Harris (I don't know if you've heard of him) drove an HSV VE Maloo some years ago; he quite enjoyed the experience too.
[edit] Correction: Harris tested a VF Maloo [/edit]
Harris also owns a 2CV. ;-) Sound chap.
i love these so much. Ute and Single Cab Short bed pickup trucks are some of my favorite style of Utility vehicles !
Ah, the top-end boganmobile. Primary uses: casual street racing; fatal car accidents; propping up fuel prices; trips to Maccers.
And I work out of it every day
CUBoganmobile, that is. NOT a 'working man car' at all.
@@BTW... hey, he can work out of whatever vehicle he wants to. Just because every other electrician on earth uses a van with space to store ladders, parts and tools.
@Aussie Pom fair enough.
A work car is tax deductable!
The exhaust sound (music!) of the engine is simply dripping with horsepower. Gorgeous engine, and a remarkable car. Very nice video - thanks for sharing!
There is always a point for a big, beefy engine. Down unter they understand that very well. What a fun car!
Gotta love the sound of a proper, grunty V8!!
The real brilliance of the VE platform design was that all 13 variants could be produced on the one assembly line with each unit being able to be totally different to those adjacent on the line. I did a lot of filming for Holden, often at their test track, and the VEs all had brilliant handling. I think the VE Caprice was the best car produced by GM anywhere in the world at the time.
Imagine one of these in Aberystwyth ! You'll have to trade your t shirt in for a "Only milk and juice come in 2 litres" one! Good to see you having fun, Ian. Cheers!
I love how Australians still value strong colours. The rest of the world is all white, grey and silver. Look back at videos of the US in the 50's, 60's and 70's and it was great colours too.
We lost that when Ford and Holden stopped producing vehicles here. The only real option for adventurous colours these days are from the likes of Audi, which isn't really the same. Even Mazda, who used to be almost as adventurous as the locals, seem to have lost the plot colour-wise.
Sadly the beigists have taken over .
There is nothing silly about a 420bhp Ute..there is something good fun, and unnecessary, but not silly. In lovely condition too
definitely one of my fave car reviews ive seen on this channel, that colour is just stunning :)
Arise, Sir HoonNut! Brilliant stuff.
"Can I keep it?" is probably the highest praise you can give a car.
Thing in the middle that does stuff... Brilliant !!!! In Anglo-American speak that's basiclly a Corvette pickup then ? Nice to hear a whole new bunch of Hubnut superlatives (and a demonstration of the brake linked tuna bite delivery system.....)
Or an El Camino in its ultimate form...
Speaking of Corvettes, they used the Maloo (heavily modified) as a test mule for the C8
We need a ‘Power, More Is More’ T shirt now! I love the fact you couldn’t stop grinning all the way through. What a car, colour and everything! Brilliant. Great video. Cheers, Ian
Nothing silly about an Aussie Ute mate. I wish we had one of these when me and my wife visited Australia back in 1998 , that would've been fantastic on our road trip , we ended up with a Toyota Seca. ... (corolla) ..... gotta love Aussie cars ! 👍
That moment when the brakes are so good the car gives you lunch.
This video is pure gold! I hold a smile the entire video! Love it!
I've already seen this one but I'm watching it again...because I can
The carpet on the dash is to stop it cracking because of the sun
& the reflection of the dash on the screen, too
@@sean640307 We had those dash pads on our last two vehicles. Highly recommend!
Dash mats were a 'must have' item back in the day, although improvements in UV protection and plastics (along with Aussies changing over the cars more often than they used to) seems to have made this redundant. I was always partial to the bogan equivalent: a bar mat draped over the top of the dash.
For those that might be interested, that purple is THE classic Holden colour, harking back to the classic purple Holdens of the seventies. The perfect colour for this vehicle.
@Tone. lol, yeah, but I was thinking this
images.app.goo.gl/r2fXEUndiEBdECYd6
I seem to recall there was a purple Sandman in the soap opera 'Neighbours' many years ago...
Ballarat is beautiful, as is all of that central Victorian region.
The super rare W1 supercharged Maloo on auction sold for $1,050,,000 yesterday.
Big news on TV and all other media in Australia yesterday.
The HSV build date plate of 29/12/2017 might have helped, being a few months after the other last Holden.
A Holden sedan with the standard spec V8 but the highest VIN plate claim to being last went for $750,000 at the same auction.
Such is the local attachment to Holden before it was destroyed.
That looked so much fun ... the sound was amazing
The entire trip was probably worth it just for the sound of that LS2 alone!
12:12 "Level Up! Australia - Unlocked!"
....... and hubnut gives the Ute back to Brad with NO FUEL!!! Priceless...........
Was pleased to note that you gave that ute's mechanicals time to warm up before driving off. The average Aussie bogan usually sits in the driveway on a winter morning while they rev the shit out of the poor, cold engine with no top-end oil, leaving the gears and diff stone cold.
As my 1960s Rover user manuals advised: Start the car and immediately drive off gently, thereby warming the entire drivetrain at once.
Stunning colour. Love this thing.
The tuna's just an outback tachograph
Oh I’ve been waiting for this... I want one of these sooooooo much, just because... pretty much exactly what you portrayed here! The whoop-whoops, the grin, the respect it demanded at times (commentary halt)... and yet you still managed to find time to admire a Matiz in true Hubnut fashion. Was the phrase ‘chalk and cheese’ ever more applicable? Easily straight into my top 5 fave videos Ian. Thank you SO much 👍🏻
The 6 litre are very smooth., and I dread to think what things would be like without Traction Control. As they say" If you are worried about Economy, you are missing the point".
What a Vehicle, always wanted to drive or even own a Monaro. Swap this for Foxanne! This is the ultimate sleeper, 99.9% have no idea what's under the bonnet.
I've never seen one of these in Neighbours :-)
Graham French nope, only those police cars. But there’s been ute’s in home & away though
Hi All, you should do the luxury long wheel base Statesman sedan
btw , at @ 15:50 you reach the national speed limit while still in in first gear in drive
Your 2001 VY ute is based on the prior 1997 to 2006 VT-VY-VZ commodore - call it gen 2 of the larger cars fairly similar overall.
Holden tend to make annual facelifts and more serios changes about every 5 years
1979 - 1988 VB-VC-VH-VK small body all holden engines. , the final VL having the nissan 6 engine and also the holden 5.0 308 V8
1988 - 1996 VN-VP-VR-VS Saw the first big body and the introduction of the 3.8 buick based V6- Also my favorites as they are a better car for large people and the front doors are more "squarish" onthe top of the frame giving more head room and the windscreen is further ahead
1997-2006 VT-VX-VY-VZ Second generation of the larger cars, VT series 1 had holden V8's reduced to 4.9 litre and 304 cubic inch VT Gen 2 the holden V8 was gone and replaced with the 5.7 Chev Gen 3 LS1 engine
Finally the VE and VF the final redesign and basically this ute
Each major change holden would say basically "listened to customers, redesigned everything, upgraded , more safer etc etc"
Personally my first commodore was a VL, then traded to a VP , then a VT, at the same time my eldest got his license and he was given my weekender a VB 23 V8.
My work car which i later purchased from the company was a 2002 WH Statesman V6 supercharged( based on VX ). After that car i replaced it with a 2007 WM Statesman ( VE based ) which i still have and is now in semi retirement as the cruiser and weekender
Regards
George
Technically the VE was a clean sheet design, not based on the Opel R-platform that all previous Commodores, VB-VZ were based on, it was not an update or refresh. The VF was a major, and welcome refresh of the VE, the best were the ladt, so they say.
Interesting point you made about the last generation being the one with the most Australian input. The other contender for that title would be the HQ series, which also started with a relatively clean sheet. Not sure which would take the title.
👍
No. I said I wanted TUNER modifications!! Been looking forward to this, none of the disappoint.
Ian you have your own Ute, Foxanne.
The first ute in Aus was a coupe ute small rear seat for kids.Fairly common in Fords into the 50,s.Maybe not factory but it worked.
I love that you loved this so much. :)
“I’ve become a hooligan.”
What a V8 beauty amazing car Ian brilliant video
Just love it, such a ridiculous car but such fun.
Probably looked down on now by the lead foot fraternity, but the recipe once to improve that first and second ratio Ute traction ,was to add one 40 kg bag of Portland Cement to the load deck ahead of the rear axle line.
You only get this sort of car in Australia, so you've got to do it! Who wouldn't given the chance?
Depends what else is available to test drive. That or a Land Rover - I'd go for the Land Rover !
And New Zealand.
That colour is incredible
Wow, Ian. What a beast of a motor. I could just see you hooning up and down the valleys of Wales in that. I think, musically, your Uke should be renamed Yute as a tribute!! 👍🏼
Never heard Ian laugh like that before..@23.59..
What a machine and thanks for showing it to us. 👍what a (Br)ute!!!
Now, that made me giggle like a 5 year old under the Christmas tree.
Ute‘s for Europe!
What a car! Another excellent video HubNut!
Power, less is more. No!
Oh, I sooo wanted a Monaro. Wife says not. I wonder if I could convince her that a Maloo is just a useful truck? Hhmmmm.
worth a try!
Totally bonkers but you seem rather smitten 😁. Love the colour. It's like my purple Citroën but turned up to 11.
Nice! I know how much I enjoyed the power of the SV6 VF Commodore Black Edition I hired in QLD a couple of years back. It must be hilarious with more power and less car!
"so what you'd expect in a UK pickup is a 2 litre turbo diesel, but this is Australia so what we have here is a 6.2L v8"
A manual gearbox is all that's missing, still an epic machine!
I must say I love Australin cars you must have had the best experience with them. Hope you are keeping safe and I am looking forward to seeing more content
Nice unusual car. Kove the colout, too!
what a way to enjoy the long way home
Watching for the second time with headphones on WOW
They are a complete hoot to drive aren't they! Loved the spin I had in one.
Expecting to see a new t-shirt in the HubNut store: "Power Corrupts", with this car underneath :D
Happy days fella. Gotta love a smile provoking drive.
"It has things that does, errr stuff" oh that made me laugh out loud Ian! Brillian . I've had such an arge to own a Ute/pickup or as they are known back home in Sarf Afreeeekaaa - a Bakkie. There's only me and the Chihuahuas to worry about so such a vehicle would be ideal. Loving the purple! Any loud colour is a winner with me though. Great review of a very characterful and appealing car!!
My ears pricked up when you mentioned Ballarat, my cousin has lived there, Melton and Bacchus Marsh.
I love that Ute wow
Ian discovers a beastie of a car. Decides to have a cup of tea afterwards, tradies who usually drive these utes have a cold one (a VB beer ) after driving them ,sometimes doing burnouts just to show off to their mates
Nah mate, the tradies are that well paid nowadays, they only drink boutique beers with odd sounding names, fine wines and cognac.
VB is only drunk nowadays by poor people like Dentists and Accountants and the like.
In fact Aussie tradies generally drive Amaroks and Ford Rangers as they appreciate the smooth drive and can have confidence that their fine crystal drinking vessels will still be intact for the end of day or 2:30pm after work drinkies.
I don’t drink, but I am a tradie.
HSV used “R8” long before Audi thought of it.
Gordini
No replacement for displacement . Enjoyed.
Your laugh at exactly 24:00 has become my new favorite hubnut sound
It's so enjoyable watching you driving on familiar roads.
Strewth its purple ,right up your street, you got colour,you got power, must be a ute,fun times down under😉👍👍
It's often referred to as the Tradie's (trades person) Mercedes! Holden / Ford made "premium sports" versions if their standard ute's (pickups) to appeal to more cashed up tradied who wanted a car they have a bit of fun with on the weekend. It's also a tax write-off for the tradie.So it makes it a more "affordable " car to own.
Hubnut succumbs to the Sirens song of the V8. Every time you look under a bonnet, it will be "Where is the other bank of cylinders?"
One needed on the hub nut fleet post run with a difference
We only got this first as a G8 sedan for Pontiac (which GM killed after 2009), and then as the Chevrolet SS, then that was killed as well.
Corvette engine, Brembo brakes, hence the very quick deceleration.
The dash is so reminiscent of the Pontiac G8 of the same year this was built, but we never got that color here in the US!
I honestly like a transmission you can downshift, especially an automatic, when going down steep hills or in winter, to use engine braking, although drivers today are such idiots, the reason why they run off the road when inclement weather hits.
Another brilliant video !
In the USA. This car could be easily be made into resurrected Chevy El Camino. Neat car and another great video!
“Copper orange Matiz there.... ooooh”
Classic Hubnut