It's sad we have lost the essence of Australia with loss of these cars. I'm one of the few that will have either as I wanted another xr6 turbo ute but settled on a immaculate SSV 6ltr ute as the Ford has in a turbo gone to high for me in price. Keep up the excellent content mate 👍
@@jacquelhigginz4496 nah mate a barra 325 turbo with overboost up to 480 horsepower and just regularly making 436 hp would flog ur 90s Nissan unless u have got something more modern unless u mean a Gtr u might be have a chance but yea I love all three of these cars so no hate btw
Holden’s and fords have always been about the same in power, acceleration, top speeds etc but as someone that has owned and driven both through the years I’ve always found that fords float over the rough roads whereas the Holden’s were a bit rougher. Ford in the country, Holden in the city.
It’s funny you say that as I have owned and love both but the Ford definitely feels more smooth and planted on rougher country roads in my honest opinion
The Ford would last longer, the commodore will out perform the Ford on a track day, the under steer in a falcon is terrible due to the long cast engine over hanging the front, same goes for turbo vs v8, driven and seen it constantly on Qld raceway
@@paulmcintosh5589 the Holden’s usually do much better due to much larger tyres. As far as the engine is concerned they are in exactly the same position as the Holden’s. The 5.4 modular v8 being iron block and with quad overhead cams sits higher raising its centre of gravity so they went to the Miami 5.0 all alloy and lowered its centre of gravity. As far as the rear tyres, fords rear suspension did not allow wider tyres for the rear. That’s what the R/spec did. A slight change to the rear suspension allowed slightly wider tyres but still nowhere near as wide as the commodores. With stiffer suspension and wider tyres and with an old pushrod v8 with a lower centre of gravity, the commodore handles slightly better but has to give ground to the better aero of the Ford.
It's sad to see Holden manufacturing and production shut down. No more Ford/Holden rivalry which was a huge part of my childhood. As a Ford owner, I hope we get them back on the road in the future because they're awesome cars.
You have to blame the Abbott government, they stopped all subsidies for car manufacturing in Australia because it was uneconomic but then dropped the Australian dollar from $1.10 US to $0.70 US making it economical to manufacture here but by then the companies had gone. What is really stupid is that with the supply of Lithium that Australia has for batteries it will now be shipped overseas, not trying to blame the Libs as Labor are just as bad very very shortsighted.
@@bbkingwasthegreatest711 ypu can blame all the b#tches that prefer to buy those rubbish european cars and jeeps instead of home made quality. Now they would rather spend 100k on bmw or mercs and then they find out the pain of fixing them over and over and the cost for even second hand parts are expensive and have to be imported in. But Australians rubbished our own thinking they were less class. How fake Australia has become.
@@bbkingwasthegreatest711 well when we sit on a massive supply of coal and uranium it makes any government fucken short sighted at least Labor as less pork barrelling and corruption
Over a period of 3 or so years I used to drive both Fg Xr6 and Ve Sv6 company cars long distance 4000-6000 klms a month. The falcon was the pick for me, just more comfortable long distance, seats seemed much more comfortable in falcon and seemed more powerful when over taking trucks, vehicles on long country roads. The falcon was surprisingly cheaper to run long distance too. The commodore had many blind spots, I also noticed dash rattles in the commodores. Personally prefer commodores from the 90s.
Picked up a SV6 wagon a couple of weeks ago. One of the last VEs made a 2013 VE Z series LFX in the colour alchemy with 90k kms. Coming from an AU falcon I love it. So much more comfortable and way quicker. And apparently the timing chain problem was fixed in the LFX motors.
I hired a falcon xr 6 once during a holiday in oz. Got to say j really enjoyed it. Made a great family cruiser. We did a lot of miles and it was great. Seemed to suit the roads.
Feud aside, let’s just agree that the two Aussie giants are great in their own ways, Ford or Holden, they both have their ups and downs haha. And that’s coming from a Ford boy who grew up around Holdens and HSVs
Great vid! I’m in Sydney and drive a 2012 SV6 manual sedan, fully stock. It makes a great daily driver because I can fit all the kids in the back but when I’m alone I can put my foot down and it always brings a smile to my face! I average about 9.7L /100km with mixed driving. I’ve previously owned VN and VP autos but the manual is so satisfying to drive! The XR6 in this video also looks like a great car!
I own a vz clubsport ls2 6spd and what a car it is !! Completely stock, Coming from the backround of owning both fg xr6 amd ve sv6 i definitely have to say the ford is definitely more comfortable on longer trips but is more thirsty, sv6 on the other hand great for hwy driving good fuel economy , also the interior is much more ahead then the fg. But both are great Australian cars !!
I have an FG 2011 FG , awesome straight car only done 102000 km. Hunter Valley . Just had a new tail shaft put in. The interior roof covering coming off! That’s all. Love it !! Viper colour.
I have a 2007 SV6 sedan, and while I'm aware of the timing chain issues, I've never had a problem, and I've had it since almost new, going on 16 years now. Best car I've ever owned. Love it.
XR6 got the best engine ever produced in Australia 🇦🇺. I have XR6 and it has done 290k.. and still running with no problems.. But sad to see they're discontinued...
Loved the review. Been a ford man since day 1. I can admit that Holden always seemed to have that edge over the fords though. From streets to track. They also pinched all our good drivers in the v8s.
@@reeceeyles9924 Lead the way?? The Holden Commodore still ran ONLY pushrod engines all the way up to the early 2000's 🤣. It's only ohc engine was the RB30 Nissan motor. This coming from a SS owner too..
@@darianistead2239 I don’t think they lead the way when it comes to engineering, but when it comes to sales and racing, yeah, they were usually one step ahead.
Great review mate. I would buy either one of those two over an entry level BMW, Mercedes or Audi in the same class. You just can’t go wrong in Australian conditions.
Totally agree. The 'premium' badge shouldn't fool anyone either; we don't get the same cars that Europe gets. BMW 3 series? Built in South Africa. Mercedes C class? Built in South Africa. The Audi A4? China or India, depending on where you are. I have no problem buying a car built in any one of those fine countries, but I do have a problem with paying a "Made in Germany" price for it. Give me a built-in-Australia Falcon or Commodore any day of the week for $$$$$ less. How much of a chump would you feel to hand over $70k + for a bog standard 3 series, then find out it was built in South Africa? I grew up in the UK, where German cars are everywhere. I've had a couple of Golf GTis, M3s, fast Audis, and a Porsche Boxster S. Never had a Merc, because they are so fucking unreliable. I now have a late model BF XR8, and it is the perfect car for Australia. Sorry, Yuppies and soccer mums. You can keep your German badge snobbery.
@@themancuniancandidate2744 I’ve owned V8 Commodores (WN,WM2 Caprice, VE SSV/SS wagon, VE Calais V V8, etc) and I currently a 2011 BMW 323i E90 LCI that was built in South Africa. The quality is far superior to any Commodore I owned and is better than the quality of the BMW/Mercs/Audis of today. Nothing has fallen apart and everything is still in tack and all the parts are still like new. The Mexican built cars like the Equinox/Q5 don’t seem great though from what I’ve seen.
@@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760 as I said, I have no issue with buying a South African built car. My wife is South African so it’s not like I have a problem with the place. I just object to paying a made in Germany price for it
Good video as always mate. Firstly, off the top of my head the LFX V6 (VEII and up, like in the video) doesn't have the timing chain issues as the LY7/LLT (VZ/VE). Secondly, the description says Ecotec when it should be Alloytec. Ecotec were the 3.8L V6's
I changed my timing chains on our sv6 a year and a half ago and when I took the old ones out they were thin by design, when I purchased the new timing chain kit the new chains were thicker and had a extra link in it , so I’ve had no problems with it since and I highly recommend if your considering buying a sv6 ensue / ask if the timing chain has been done because you will be very happy you did, ps the kit comes with new tensioners, chain guides , and gaskets and a updated chain . 👍🏼😊 We had 170/180k on the car at the time of our change over .
I honestly couldn't choose between either. The first ever car I bought when I was 13 was an EA S pack, but come from a Holden family and have personally always preferred Holden's (I've always thought they look better inside and out, found them easier to work on and personally found them more reliable than a Ford). I've owned a lot of Falcons and Commodores, both 6 and 8, manual and auto, and gas and fuel. I'll always pick a Holden but I still love my Falcon's and always will.
Great review mate, I’ve always loved a hot 6. A manual Mitsubishi Magna is a quick thing too. Around 7sec to 100km with a stock 3.5. And 6sec with the popular 3.8 engine swap from the Mitsubishi 380
Ross, you do excellent reviews man. Your presentation is great. I think your number one for car reviews in Oz on TH-cam. Keep up the good work and don’t change the formula, it’s spot on.
Good vid and comparison. 👍 Even though I'm a Ford guy... those Commodores have much better interiors, and the wagons are way better looking than the Falcons.
The interiors being better varies from model to model. AU interior is better made than the VT, BA interior beats out VY but it's personal opinion for the VE vs FG. The late model Falcons especially feel it in the interior. Compare a FG-X to a VF and it's a night and day difference. I personally don't like anything about the VE though from looks to interior
@@liltamai I've got an AU XR8 ute. One of the reasons I went older was for the interior. And also the Windsor engine. All I see is 'taxi' in the BA and FG interiors. 😆
@@allan-shephard the BA interior is one of the worst interiors in a falcon for sure. I work on at least 5 cars a day and so many of the BA's have the handle on the interior door ripped off. The FG is okay I recon, seating position is the worst out of all Falcons made though. The seats way too high up so it feels like driving a truck and the steering wheel doesnt telescope high enough to stop me hitting my hands on my knees at full lock. AU'S are my favourite driving falcon for sure, especially the IRS models with a manual. The seating position is great and the handling is precise but not overly sporty and rough
@@rwd323 every time I pull a VE handbreak lever I cringe inside a little at how much the plastic creaks. It's such a terrible design all round. What makes it worse is how much force you have to use to pull it up or put it down, making the horrid plastic sounds even worse. I swear Holden made it as bad as possible on purpose
Nah the SIDI LLT still had timing chain stuff. The SIDI LFX is where it had no issues but still has the carbon build up and faulty PCV valve as a result of being a direct injection engine. Still love my sv6 tho :)
The biggest reason the Commodores in N/A SIDI 3.6L form (auto for auto) are generally quicker than a comparable Falcon isn't only down to power/torque but the Commodores get away with a great final drive of around that 3.23 - 3.27 range (can't remember exactly), where as the same 6sp ZF falcon has to overcome a ridiculous 2.73 final drive ratio which really hurts them, yes they have the linear torque band, but it'd be interesting to see a ZF N/A falcon with friendlier 3.23 - 3.27 final drives respectively. Because i reckon it would change the overall driveablity & possibly improve fuel economy. Both 6sp auto's have very similar gearing (1st through 6th) with minor differences.
I have a zf bf with 3.23 gears out of a btr bf and can confirm even na they go very hard with just a better diff gear ratio. With the diff, catback, cat and a tune gets vf’s by 2-3 car lengths and keeps pullin
@@mitchelltodd8089 I'm putting 3.23/3.27's in my G6E soon. Just gotta find a good donor LSD diff to get rebuilt. Because i know how hard they pull with much better gearing yet still uses similar fuel on the freeway.
Good review. It's actually very refreshing to see reviews on nice but affordable cars that the average Aussie can comfortably buy. Under 7 seconds to 100 is decent and quick enough to have fun in without losing your licence. But for me it would have to be a manual, even though finding the 6cyl commodores and falcons can be super rare
Hi Ross. Thank you, that was a fantastic review. I definitely agree with you in choosing the Barra over the V6. The Barra as you know, is bulletproof and has more potential in future modifications. I love the torque of a large, straight 6 engine. In regards to my vehicle, well its quite obvious that I am Barra fan. I have a 2004 BA series 2, XR6 Turbo, with a 6 speed manual. I am located in Adelaide South Australia. Keep up the great work, and may your channel grow and grow.
My daughter had an FG XR6, and it was an absolute Lemon, it got exhausting with her calling me all the time, saying something else has gone wrong with it constantly 🤯 it spent more time at the mechanics, than in her driveway!
They are both great cars and I would take any of these over a FWD Crossover... Personally though, I would pick the SV6 if the car has been maintained properly and for the looks but I would pick an XR6 for tuning purposes... Also, what is your new daily driver and when is that video coming out?
Falcon all day long Jon ...I took a VE SS owner home one day in my FG XR6 who I'd bought an old Honda Accord run around off .. His wife owned an SV6.. All sorts of timing issues they'd had with it he told me .. Whilst he loved his V8 SS he said the ride , acceleration , the ZF 6 speed auto, the handling etc of my car especially on a very twisty and hilly local pass on the 50 km trip really impressed him .. He actually was genuinely impressed by my Falcon ... My diff bushes are still perfect by the way...Yet another awesome video ..
Honestly sad aye. Other countries government help our there car manufacturers when they were in need. Holden was struggling so gm pulled the plug and what did the aus government do....0.
The problem goes back to the late 90's. Federal, state and local governments fell for the global warming bulldust and started buying four cylinder vehicles that were not made in Australia. In the 70's, 80's and 90's, the biggest fleet buyers for Ford and Holden was the government. After 2000, the governments in Australia reduced the number of Australian vehicle purchases to the point of zero. This is what killed off Commodore and Falcon. Ford and General Motors looked at the lack of sales and it wasn't economical to continue producing vehicles that were selling such small numbers. If the sales were still strong, then we would still have a car industry in Australia.
The two greatest problems these two makes had was 1) limited RHD market, 2) each new model was developed to compete against its predecessors, not their competition from overseas. Hey, I'm in the market for either of their V8 utes right now.
The fact these platforms are dead is a real loss for those that enjoy a powerful rear-wheel drive vehicle with dynamics and comfort that punched WAY above their weight. Snobbery, ignorance and shallow trends killed them off.
I've had my FG G6 (50th anniversary) for just over 10yrs now, and it's still a pleasure to drive. But it really needed that LSD they gave the XR6. Even with the wider 245 tyres that it came with (and sticky rubber), breaking traction is all too easy and frequently ruins the fun. Interesting 0-100 times, they generally do an easy 6.5 with the ZF and premium fuel.
@@RossReviewsau Purely your chosen roads, big downhill slope for the sv6 and the FG had to go uphill 1% grade. On flat road they'd be very close, I'd still say the sv6 with it's 210kw would have the win but.
My mate and I have a Ute SV6 and my XR6 sedan, we always launch at green lights and the Barra does pull just a little bit harder from 0 than the SV but otherwise their pretty matched (remember the Ute has a massive weight reduction in the back)
The VE/VF SV6's are a totally different beast to previous alloytecs. These are totally new engine, no timing chain issues and have some serious punch compared to the old sv6's which were slower than the 3.8L ecotecs. There supercharger kits now available for the SV6 easily push the power up and past 300rwkw making it quicker then some 8's and in less than 10k with stock internals.
Hey my 2012 sv6 goes 0-100 in 7.5 seconds is this ok? shouldn't it be getting there in 6.5 like the one in the video? its auto and was filled with unleaded 91 at the time
@@pu4e1 i really hope so, i even tho it means nothing, ive been overthinking this and thinking something is wrong with the car, has 90k kms on it and bought it last week
Well i have a VE series 1, got to 396,000 kms before i replaced the timing chains. Pretty happy with this car and I want to keep it. If the motor goes in the future, i will just replace it.
Straight six anyday. Nissan and Toyota gave up on their Legendary engines. Then came the BARRA smashing all types of six cylinders out of the park. When it comes to V8's, well 2017 R8 Holden.
SV6 should've stood for(supercharged V6) and ford should've made a FG xr6 wagon would've looked mint. Anyways great review mate thumbs up 👍🇦🇺🍻 and remember I own a cammed six litre, 3" full exhaust system with 3.5"quad tips 2008 wm Caprice from cazzer d Victoria, just saying.
Overall falcon has less power more torque allowing it to reach higher speeds at low rpms and sv6 has more power less torque you gotta push it in order to reach higher speeds
Fair but the Falcon’s weigh bout 55KG more if u compare both in sedan spec with Auto transmissions so it’s really a pick em’, dynamically Holden’s got way more advanced ride and handling and had far more advancements engineering wise over the last few gen’s before they where killed off so it’s really a question of do u want a Barra ? Or a Better car ?
I'm a Holden bloke myself....... owned quite a few v6's, cammed a few v8's etc...... I currently got 2 v6's atm...... But I know them inside and out, full SPS flashing, tuning, the works...... mechanically. That said I've never touched a Ford or a Barra and always been very interested in looking it over, I notice the thermostat looks like the easiest thing to replace if I am right it's on the top left etc.... It seems like a decent engine, tuning wise....... I don't own one, have looked at the ECU side of things.... very different to the GM layouts.
The timing chain problems were most prevalent in early model VE's, mainly between 2006 and 2008 so these chains should have been delt with by now, some later models have had issues but in general, if the car has been well-serviced it shouldn't be too big of a worry but just something to keep in mind. it is also a good idea to service them every 10k rather than 15k noted in the book
Wait what does Ross mean "unfortunately"? I know I'm late to the party, but if anyone's reading this, why is aftermarket suspension bad? I dunno heaps about cars, but I'm looking to get my 06 Ford Fairmont BF Mark II lowered a bit with coilover suspension. It's in beautiful condition, only 117,000km. I recently got 18" aftermarket alloys but I wanna go up to 19" with the lowered suspension. Not crazy low just sensible low like that Holden wagon. I know the ride is gonna be stiffer, but how bad is it really on Sydney roads with all the speed bumps everywhere? Is it not worth it?
For me it's the Barra all the way. The hardest thing I ever had to do was sell my beautiful FG XR6 to get something bigger to carry the stuff I need to carry so I settled on a Ford Territory. That way I still have a Barra under the bonnet and ZF6 in the middle. I can't wait to have enough money to buy another FG XR6.
Nailed it. But then, I'm a life-long, dyed-in-the-wool Fordphobe 😊 The saddest thing is the loss of both cars, AND the Barra with the tooling being packed up & shipped off to the USA. The rivalry continues in my house, Ford-v-Holden 👍
Wow sv6 wagon goes good! I’ll need that tune box for mine buddy!!! I’ve got a fg xt Falcon which I’ve done up a bit and I live in Christchurch New Zealand. I have all the turbo parts I’m just about to do it and then sort a tune.
As far as straight line handling goes, one of the magazines did a manual comparison between SV6, XR6 and Aurion something. Quarter mile results were; Aurion 14.1 SV6 14.4 XR6 14.9 Pretty stunning from the Toyota, even the SV6 equally a gtho and the Barra was quicker than any stock old school gt except the ho.
I don't know if it's true (and I don't care either; I just like the story), but I was told by a mate whose dad was a Ford engineer that when they were working on the Barra engine it was nicknamed Project Seagull, because they were designing it to shit all over everything else
Once upon a time I had the ve sv6 wagon. Took it around Australia with the family for 3 weeks on the road and I must say. It was spacious, comfortable and tough as nuts 🔩. Not one problem with it before I swap it with my current v8 ssv vf sedan. Wonderful car.
Nice review, just want to add your draggy from the sv6 was going downhill at a high negative slope which invalidates the run. The FG ZF6 was directly opposite, going 1% grade uphill. The difference in times can easily be attributed directly to this, I'd love to see them tested on a flat road at the same time, but fully understand it's nearly impossible to find 2 stock examples willing to play ball :)
Yes the good old Aussie shootout Ford vs Holden a war that's been raging since the dawn of time Johnny lol,both built tough & very similar in power,but there can only be one winner & that in my book is the Ford,because I have one with the ZF box & in 5yrs I haven't had to spend a cent mechanically speaking she's so reliable it's amazing,that's why when I was looking to buy a car I ended up choosing the Ford over the Commodore & I'm more than happy with my decision,great review mate I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Yep, I had an Aurion Presara before I changed to an XR6 and that thing felt so effortless. The interior was gorgeous too. Even though the Aurions are FWD I still find myself browsing for them on carsales 😅
Fords are always better in overall reliability, but we are now getting close to a time where most people just won't understand the Ford vs holden rivalry.
Another great vid mate, I appreciate your work. A Power Gate would be awesome for my 04 ba xr8 ute 5 speed manny, I'm in Baxter Vic. Looking forward to the next one bud 👍
It's a no brainer. No 6 cylinder engine is better than the Barra simple. They are without question the best and most solid built engine out there and I have a L98.
The SV6 is a nice looking wagon and has the better looking interior in my opinion. But the XR6 in manual would be my choice between the two. My Jeep Cherokee SRT 6.4L Hemi with CAI and Borla exhaust would definitely benefit from a performance tune LOL Shout out from Canberra!
I always felt Ford should have done a Sportswagon type deal. I had a V6 Adventra before my FG, and the extra room was great (just had the wrong badge on it), and also drove a Sportwagon for a bit, was great carting the Junior Arsehats around. The FG is cramped in the back ala B Series which is a bummer and the interior aas out of date before it left the factory; the Ford suspension also is a bit "meh", floaty and comfy (even in XR6) compared to Holden.
I've owned a VE 2012 sv6 LFX first gen had it 3 years, absolutely loved it will be sad to see it go shortly after i just purchased a brand new nissan navara in manual as well. had to stick with the manual however the commodore has been touched it ran 6.3sec 0-100 from stock when i bought it, have touched the engine with cats, and mufflers, cold air intake, bigger injectors and tuned made 205rwkw, got my quickest time of 5.3sec 0-100 which is pretty good however she is out of commission with a cracked piston in cylinder 1. but found a 2016 LFX with 100,000kms going for $2.200k which will be dropped in and sold shortly. but non the less it was a beautiful car to own, being triple black, lowered on sssl springs around, was complimented on by many cops and people about looking like a mint ss, original motor only did 160,000 kms, bought it bone stock with 120,000kms. I do love the fg's have such a great engine, just mainly the aesthetics that put me off and the fact manual sedans seem to way more rare then commodores in manual
Had a SV6 Thunder manual, fun car but the lack of low down torque in that engine made it a difficult car to drive, everyone who hopped in it would stall it first time. It definitely had a powerband around 3500 - 4000 rpm, it would almost lurch forward once it hit that sweet spot.
Also got a Falcon Ute now got to clean the inside whole thing it was a mess inside it is now looking so good the interior looks great, it drives so smooth looking forward to getting it on the road.
I’ve got a VE Series 2 in exactly the same spec except sedan, honestly I don’t find the low down torque an issue, I find it’s still really meaty down low and has a massive wallop of power once you get above 4k. It’s one hell of a motor for a V6. One thing I’d wanna say, the VE Series 2’s made after 2011 have the LFX motor, which doesn’t suffer nearly as many timing chain issues and was also the same motor as the VF S1/2. They can have issues with poor servicing, but mines done about 205k and I haven’t needed chains, it’s still on its originals. Just good servicing and having a bit of care for the car. Don’t do oil changes every 15k like they tell you to, every 10k is best. They go super hard, and there’s a big aftermarket scene out there for them. Not as big as Barra, but it’s still pretty big and you can still make some really incredible power gains without losing much reliability.
The wagon has the LLT 3.6L with 210kw (crack) where the chain issue was fixed. Previous models like the LEO and LY7 has the chain issues and weaker box
great video mate, ive also got a ve sv6 and i love it. live in perth but have to travel for work, and it handles the country roads just as well as the city.
Never really cared much for either car. Having spent a fair bit of time under the bonnet of both, I prefer the Falcon. I felt they had that little bit better build quality, better motor by far. The alloytech V6 is a shitter in comparison. Between XR6t/XR8/SS, I don't think you could pick a bad one, they're all good performers. The worst part was the 1B it took to retool the Holden plant and develop the VE in the mid 2000s then shutting the place down.
I have always felt that the Commodore was a little quicker than the Falcon. I also think that, if towing, the falcon comes into its own. I have spent some cash on my BA XR6 because I don't know what I would replace it with.
even though i'm a Ford man we actually needed Holden to keep Ford Australia honest because look at whats happening, Holden goes under and now Ford are trying to shove way over boosted tiny 3 and 4 cylinder cars at us, if you have a Barra or an Intech KEEP it!
I've got an FG XT looking for a couple of mods but don't wanna kill the daily, had an EL wagon not too long ago and damn it was good to drive, definitely recommend the e-series for reviews. I'm from Tatura Victoria
Oh my days man , not all the alloytech v6’s had issues. Only the earlier ones. The LFX only had oil burning issues that’s all, timing chain fuckery was gone with that engine which is why they kept it in the VF
Stock fg barra are rated at 195kw on 91 octane fuel. 205kw with 95 and 210+ on 98. So it depends on what fuel you're using. Years ago, when they were new I remember wheels or drive magazine tested them and Toyota aurion down the 1/4 miles. All 6sp auto and sv6 were dead last. The fg xr6 1 second faster with the aurion v6 in between them.
If you were over here in Brizzy, I could hook you up with a drive in a Bone STOCK 2013 VE SV6 factory manual that's got now approximately 310k on the clock, and still drives like new.
Had a 2009 fg xr6 falcon with barra 110,000 kms motor pouring oil from head, gearbox blew up $6500 to fix ( no way ) bought a 2012 ve series 2 ute sv6 better fuel economy more power no oil leaks, just make sure you service it every 6,000 kms with good engine oil and filter ( no timing chain issues at all )go the holden even though i have always been a ford fan
It's sad we have lost the essence of Australia with loss of these cars. I'm one of the few that will have either as I wanted another xr6 turbo ute but settled on a immaculate SSV 6ltr ute as the Ford has in a turbo gone to high for me in price. Keep up the excellent content mate 👍
selling an xr6 turbo ute black 450 hp 11k in sydney msg me
It's the public who didn't want them anymore ...
Which model?
@@shackleton274 ba
@@joepowell7025 it's the price of manufacturing? The public loved the Commodores and falcons..
Barra all the way for me haha. But lot of respect for our brothers in commodores. Aussie cars rule.😎😎😎
That’s it eh! I love em both even more now
Same but I agree completely with ur comment
Us kiwis roll around in skylines and shit on both those cars
@@jacquelhigginz4496 nah mate a barra 325 turbo with overboost up to 480 horsepower and just regularly making 436 hp would flog ur 90s Nissan unless u have got something more modern unless u mean a Gtr u might be have a chance but yea I love all three of these cars so no hate btw
Aussie cars *ruled.
Holden’s and fords have always been about the same in power, acceleration, top speeds etc but as someone that has owned and driven both through the years I’ve always found that fords float over the rough roads whereas the Holden’s were a bit rougher. Ford in the country, Holden in the city.
It’s funny you say that as I have owned and love both but the Ford definitely feels more smooth and planted on rougher country roads in my honest opinion
Yeah that’s why the bush is filled with old commies and all the Ef au etc are gone
@@costagiourtis2531 nah mate, they’re still running around the farm watching the dunny doors rust. Thats why you don’t see them in the bush.
The Ford would last longer, the commodore will out perform the Ford on a track day, the under steer in a falcon is terrible due to the long cast engine over hanging the front, same goes for turbo vs v8, driven and seen it constantly on Qld raceway
@@paulmcintosh5589 the Holden’s usually do much better due to much larger tyres. As far as the engine is concerned they are in exactly the same position as the Holden’s. The 5.4 modular v8 being iron block and with quad overhead cams sits higher raising its centre of gravity so they went to the Miami 5.0 all alloy and lowered its centre of gravity.
As far as the rear tyres, fords rear suspension did not allow wider tyres for the rear. That’s what the R/spec did. A slight change to the rear suspension allowed slightly wider tyres but still nowhere near as wide as the commodores.
With stiffer suspension and wider tyres and with an old pushrod v8 with a lower centre of gravity, the commodore handles slightly better but has to give ground to the better aero of the Ford.
It's sad to see Holden manufacturing and production shut down. No more Ford/Holden rivalry which was a huge part of my childhood. As a Ford owner, I hope we get them back on the road in the future because they're awesome cars.
You have to blame the Abbott government, they stopped all subsidies for car manufacturing in Australia because it was uneconomic but then dropped the Australian dollar from $1.10 US to $0.70 US making it economical to manufacture here but by then the companies had gone. What is really stupid is that with the supply of Lithium that Australia has for batteries it will now be shipped overseas, not trying to blame the Libs as Labor are just as bad very very shortsighted.
@@bbkingwasthegreatest711 ypu can blame all the b#tches that prefer to buy those rubbish european cars and jeeps instead of home made quality.
Now they would rather spend 100k on bmw or mercs and then they find out the pain of fixing them over and over and the cost for even second hand parts are expensive and have to be imported in.
But Australians rubbished our own thinking they were less class. How fake Australia has become.
@@bbkingwasthegreatest711 well when we sit on a massive supply of coal and uranium it makes any government fucken short sighted at least Labor as less pork barrelling and corruption
They were good aussie cars but they died because they just flogged rebaged crap like the craptiva and others.
Over a period of 3 or so years I used to drive both Fg Xr6 and Ve Sv6 company cars long distance 4000-6000 klms a month. The falcon was the pick for me, just more comfortable long distance, seats seemed much more comfortable in falcon and seemed more powerful when over taking trucks, vehicles on long country roads. The falcon was surprisingly cheaper to run long distance too. The commodore had many blind spots, I also noticed dash rattles in the commodores. Personally prefer commodores from the 90s.
Yea cheap plastics have wrecked most of the more modern Australian cars
Picked up a SV6 wagon a couple of weeks ago. One of the last VEs made a 2013 VE Z series LFX in the colour alchemy with 90k kms. Coming from an AU falcon I love it. So much more comfortable and way quicker. And apparently the timing chain problem was fixed in the LFX motors.
Well au is older 😂
Yep, & when that Alloytec throws a chain & bends all the valves, just grab the Intech outta your AU & chuck that in 👍
@@lancecooper4646 he literally said it was an LFX lol, the timing chain issue plagued alloytech was phased out after series 1
@@lznrmi ohhhhh so they've gotta twin row roller chain in em like the Intech ?? That's good to know thanx 👍
change the oil every 5000kms, The issue is with the PCV valve and the timing chain was just a symptom.
I hired a falcon xr 6 once during a holiday in oz. Got to say j really enjoyed it. Made a great family cruiser. We did a lot of miles and it was great. Seemed to suit the roads.
Feud aside, let’s just agree that the two Aussie giants are great in their own ways, Ford or Holden, they both have their ups and downs haha. And that’s coming from a Ford boy who grew up around Holdens and HSVs
Great vid! I’m in Sydney and drive a 2012 SV6 manual sedan, fully stock. It makes a great daily driver because I can fit all the kids in the back but when I’m alone I can put my foot down and it always brings a smile to my face! I average about 9.7L /100km with mixed driving. I’ve previously owned VN and VP autos but the manual is so satisfying to drive! The XR6 in this video also looks like a great car!
cheers marty! glad you enjoyed it.. both are def aussie legends and equally great :)
I own a vz clubsport ls2 6spd and what a car it is !! Completely stock,
Coming from the backround of owning both fg xr6 amd ve sv6 i definitely have to say the ford is definitely more comfortable on longer trips but is more thirsty, sv6 on the other hand great for hwy driving good fuel economy , also the interior is much more ahead then the fg. But both are great Australian cars !!
I have an FG 2011 FG , awesome straight car only done 102000 km. Hunter Valley . Just had a new tail shaft put in. The interior roof covering coming off! That’s all. Love it !! Viper colour.
I have a 2007 SV6 sedan, and while I'm aware of the timing chain issues, I've never had a problem, and I've had it since almost new, going on 16 years now.
Best car I've ever owned. Love it.
Thanks for sharing
XR6 got the best engine ever produced in Australia 🇦🇺. I have XR6 and it has done 290k.. and still running with no problems..
But sad to see they're discontinued...
Loved the review. Been a ford man since day 1. I can admit that Holden always seemed to have that edge over the fords though. From streets to track. They also pinched all our good drivers in the v8s.
Misinformed perhaps?
@@scorpiuswireless1 they usually lead the way I think we can all agree
@@reeceeyles9924 Lead the way?? The Holden Commodore still ran ONLY pushrod engines all the way up to the early 2000's 🤣. It's only ohc engine was the RB30 Nissan motor.
This coming from a SS owner too..
@@darianistead2239 I don’t think they lead the way when it comes to engineering, but when it comes to sales and racing, yeah, they were usually one step ahead.
@@reeceeyles9924 Sales yeah, racing not at all. Neither cars in race form resembles their production counterpart
Great review mate. I would buy either one of those two over an entry level BMW, Mercedes or Audi in the same class. You just can’t go wrong in Australian conditions.
Totally agree. The 'premium' badge shouldn't fool anyone either; we don't get the same cars that Europe gets. BMW 3 series? Built in South Africa. Mercedes C class? Built in South Africa. The Audi A4? China or India, depending on where you are. I have no problem buying a car built in any one of those fine countries, but I do have a problem with paying a "Made in Germany" price for it. Give me a built-in-Australia Falcon or Commodore any day of the week for $$$$$ less. How much of a chump would you feel to hand over $70k + for a bog standard 3 series, then find out it was built in South Africa?
I grew up in the UK, where German cars are everywhere. I've had a couple of Golf GTis, M3s, fast Audis, and a Porsche Boxster S. Never had a Merc, because they are so fucking unreliable. I now have a late model BF XR8, and it is the perfect car for Australia. Sorry, Yuppies and soccer mums. You can keep your German badge snobbery.
@@themancuniancandidate2744 I’ve owned V8 Commodores (WN,WM2 Caprice, VE SSV/SS wagon, VE Calais V V8, etc) and I currently a 2011 BMW 323i E90 LCI that was built in South Africa. The quality is far superior to any Commodore I owned and is better than the quality of the BMW/Mercs/Audis of today. Nothing has fallen apart and everything is still in tack and all the parts are still like new. The Mexican built cars like the Equinox/Q5 don’t seem great though from what I’ve seen.
@@marnuscoreyempanadaslooseb6760 as I said, I have no issue with buying a South African built car. My wife is South African so it’s not like I have a problem with the place. I just object to paying a made in Germany price for it
Good video as always mate.
Firstly, off the top of my head the LFX V6 (VEII and up, like in the video) doesn't have the timing chain issues as the LY7/LLT (VZ/VE).
Secondly, the description says Ecotec when it should be Alloytec. Ecotec were the 3.8L V6's
I have a LFX ve, one of the best cars I have ever owned mo issues and currently at 189,000kms
Banger of a video! Well done man. The circular polariser made a great positive difference.
Definitely helps eh! Thanks for the tips brother.. still got lots to work on tho😅
I changed my timing chains on our sv6 a year and a half ago and when I took the old ones out they were thin by design, when I purchased the new timing chain kit the new chains were thicker and had a extra link in it , so I’ve had no problems with it since and I highly recommend if your considering buying a sv6 ensue / ask if the timing chain has been done because you will be very happy you did, ps the kit comes with new tensioners, chain guides , and gaskets and a updated chain . 👍🏼😊
We had 170/180k on the car at the time of our change over .
I honestly couldn't choose between either. The first ever car I bought when I was 13 was an EA S pack, but come from a Holden family and have personally always preferred Holden's (I've always thought they look better inside and out, found them easier to work on and personally found them more reliable than a Ford). I've owned a lot of Falcons and Commodores, both 6 and 8, manual and auto, and gas and fuel. I'll always pick a Holden but I still love my Falcon's and always will.
Great review mate, I’ve always loved a hot 6.
A manual Mitsubishi Magna is a quick thing too. Around 7sec to 100km with a stock 3.5.
And 6sec with the popular 3.8 engine swap from the Mitsubishi 380
been waiting so long for this! great vid mate
Ross, you do excellent reviews man. Your presentation is great. I think your number one for car reviews in Oz on TH-cam. Keep up the good work and don’t change the formula, it’s spot on.
Thank you 🙏
Good vid and comparison. 👍 Even though I'm a Ford guy... those Commodores have much better interiors, and the wagons are way better looking than the Falcons.
The interiors being better varies from model to model. AU interior is better made than the VT, BA interior beats out VY but it's personal opinion for the VE vs FG. The late model Falcons especially feel it in the interior. Compare a FG-X to a VF and it's a night and day difference. I personally don't like anything about the VE though from looks to interior
@@liltamai I've got an AU XR8 ute. One of the reasons I went older was for the interior. And also the Windsor engine. All I see is 'taxi' in the BA and FG interiors. 😆
@@liltamai especially the VE handbrake lever
@@allan-shephard the BA interior is one of the worst interiors in a falcon for sure. I work on at least 5 cars a day and so many of the BA's have the handle on the interior door ripped off. The FG is okay I recon, seating position is the worst out of all Falcons made though. The seats way too high up so it feels like driving a truck and the steering wheel doesnt telescope high enough to stop me hitting my hands on my knees at full lock. AU'S are my favourite driving falcon for sure, especially the IRS models with a manual. The seating position is great and the handling is precise but not overly sporty and rough
@@rwd323 every time I pull a VE handbreak lever I cringe inside a little at how much the plastic creaks. It's such a terrible design all round. What makes it worse is how much force you have to use to pull it up or put it down, making the horrid plastic sounds even worse. I swear Holden made it as bad as possible on purpose
The SIDI SV6's don't have timing chain issues. The Alloytec SV6's had them but they only made 195kw as the SIDI made 210kw.
Nah the SIDI LLT still had timing chain stuff. The SIDI LFX is where it had no issues but still has the carbon build up and faulty PCV valve as a result of being a direct injection engine. Still love my sv6 tho :)
The biggest reason the Commodores in N/A SIDI 3.6L form (auto for auto) are generally quicker than a comparable Falcon isn't only down to power/torque but the Commodores get away with a great final drive of around that 3.23 - 3.27 range (can't remember exactly), where as the same 6sp ZF falcon has to overcome a ridiculous 2.73 final drive ratio which really hurts them, yes they have the linear torque band, but it'd be interesting to see a ZF N/A falcon with friendlier 3.23 - 3.27 final drives respectively. Because i reckon it would change the overall driveablity & possibly improve fuel economy. Both 6sp auto's have very similar gearing (1st through 6th) with minor differences.
I have a zf bf with 3.23 gears out of a btr bf and can confirm even na they go very hard with just a better diff gear ratio. With the diff, catback, cat and a tune gets vf’s by 2-3 car lengths and keeps pullin
@@mitchelltodd8089 I'm putting 3.23/3.27's in my G6E soon. Just gotta find a good donor LSD diff to get rebuilt. Because i know how hard they pull with much better gearing yet still uses similar fuel on the freeway.
regular oil changes and there is not a problem with holden timing changes every 4k is a must do
Good review. It's actually very refreshing to see reviews on nice but affordable cars that the average Aussie can comfortably buy.
Under 7 seconds to 100 is decent and quick enough to have fun in without losing your licence. But for me it would have to be a manual, even though finding the 6cyl commodores and falcons can be super rare
Thanks mate 😁 more to come
Both beautiful Aussie cars. There both quick. Sad to see not made anymore.
Amen brother 🇦🇺
Hi Ross. Thank you, that was a fantastic review. I definitely agree with you in choosing the Barra over the V6. The Barra as you know, is bulletproof and has more potential in future modifications. I love the torque of a large, straight 6 engine. In regards to my vehicle, well its quite obvious that I am Barra fan. I have a 2004 BA series 2, XR6 Turbo, with a 6 speed manual. I am located in Adelaide South Australia. Keep up the great work, and may your channel grow and grow.
My daughter had an FG XR6, and it was an absolute Lemon, it got exhausting with her calling me all the time, saying something else has gone wrong with it constantly 🤯 it spent more time at the mechanics, than in her driveway!
If they are not looked after all cars can be that way
They are both great cars and I would take any of these over a FWD Crossover... Personally though, I would pick the SV6 if the car has been maintained properly and for the looks but I would pick an XR6 for tuning purposes...
Also, what is your new daily driver and when is that video coming out?
It makes me sad that we do not have these cars manufactured here in aussie anymore.Great video buddy.Keep them coming.
thanks Sam more on the way
The VE chassis was just developed so much more than the later falcons one, but both always had so much character in there own way
Yup both are great 👍
You should do a review of the FG Xr6 turbo vs the VE V8 as they both have roughly 270kw each .
Holden guys will cry too much coz its "not fair" that one has forced induction 🤣🤣
@@kers225abk2 haha yes true that , even though they both have almost the exact same KW & Torque figures lol
@@evil2rs Forced induction will always beat an na at the same power and including ford understating their power, you already know what the result is.
Just do a comparison on the VE SS and the FG XR8. That way no-one can complain about NA/Forced induction.
on paper the XR6 turbo is faster..... BUT dose not have that V8 roar
Falcon all day long Jon ...I took a VE SS owner home one day in my FG XR6 who I'd bought an old Honda Accord run around off .. His wife owned an SV6.. All sorts of timing issues they'd had with it he told me .. Whilst he loved his V8 SS he said the ride , acceleration , the ZF 6 speed auto, the handling etc of my car especially on a very twisty and hilly local pass on the 50 km trip really impressed him .. He actually was genuinely impressed by my Falcon ... My diff bushes are still perfect by the way...Yet another awesome video ..
Wife must’ve had the early VE sv6’s. Respectfully they are dog arse compared to the late model series 2.
This is going to be a good one to watch, 2 of my favourites
XR6 should eat an Alloytech alive, because you know the Barra Engine was built to have performance while being able to last quite a long time.
Great review, sad both are gone...rest in peace Aussie history
Rip Aussie cars🥲🇦🇺
Honestly sad aye. Other countries government help our there car manufacturers when they were in need. Holden was struggling so gm pulled the plug and what did the aus government do....0.
The problem goes back to the late 90's. Federal, state and local governments fell for the global warming bulldust and started buying four cylinder vehicles that were not made in Australia.
In the 70's, 80's and 90's, the biggest fleet buyers for Ford and Holden was the government. After 2000, the governments in Australia reduced the number of Australian vehicle purchases to the point of zero. This is what killed off Commodore and Falcon. Ford and General Motors looked at the lack of sales and it wasn't economical to continue producing vehicles that were selling such small numbers. If the sales were still strong, then we would still have a car industry in Australia.
The two greatest problems these two makes had was 1) limited RHD market, 2) each new model was developed to compete against its predecessors, not their competition from overseas.
Hey, I'm in the market for either of their V8 utes right now.
The fact these platforms are dead is a real loss for those that enjoy a powerful rear-wheel drive vehicle with dynamics and comfort that punched WAY above their weight. Snobbery, ignorance and shallow trends killed them off.
I've had my FG G6 (50th anniversary) for just over 10yrs now, and it's still a pleasure to drive. But it really needed that LSD they gave the XR6. Even with the wider 245 tyres that it came with (and sticky rubber), breaking traction is all too easy and frequently ruins the fun. Interesting 0-100 times, they generally do an easy 6.5 with the ZF and premium fuel.
It is such a shame eh🇦🇺🥲
I was surprised the ZF didn’t match the 6.5 as the sv6 but to be fair I tried multiple times 😅
Economic globalism killed them off.....expecting a country that pays their workers a decent wage to compete with countries that pay workers sweet FA.
@@RossReviewsau Purely your chosen roads, big downhill slope for the sv6 and the FG had to go uphill 1% grade.
On flat road they'd be very close, I'd still say the sv6 with it's 210kw would have the win but.
My mate and I have a Ute SV6 and my XR6 sedan, we always launch at green lights and the Barra does pull just a little bit harder from 0 than the SV but otherwise their pretty matched (remember the Ute has a massive weight reduction in the back)
Love this comparison review. Keep up the great work 👌🏼
Thanks man😆
The VE/VF SV6's are a totally different beast to previous alloytecs. These are totally new engine, no timing chain issues and have some serious punch compared to the old sv6's which were slower than the 3.8L ecotecs. There supercharger kits now available for the SV6 easily push the power up and past 300rwkw making it quicker then some 8's and in less than 10k with stock internals.
Hey my 2012 sv6 goes 0-100 in 7.5 seconds is this ok? shouldn't it be getting there in 6.5 like the one in the video? its auto and was filled with unleaded 91 at the time
@@rileyjohnson5997 6.5-6.7 seconds is the claimed 0-100km. If you used 98 could do the trick + good tires.
@@pu4e1 i really hope so, i even tho it means nothing, ive been overthinking this and thinking something is wrong with the car, has 90k kms on it and bought it last week
@@rileyjohnson5997 its absolutely fine by the sound of it, but hows the economy? Did you get your mechanic to check it over pre purchase?
@@pu4e1 They went through a series of safety checks and went in for a service the day I bought it so I would assume so'
Well i have a VE series 1, got to 396,000 kms before i replaced the timing chains. Pretty happy with this car and I want to keep it. If the motor goes in the future, i will just replace it.
they are great cars! gotta love both
Straight six anyday. Nissan and Toyota gave up on their Legendary engines.
Then came the BARRA smashing all types of six cylinders out of the park.
When it comes to V8's, well 2017 R8 Holden.
When it comes to V8s the SC Miami is the top dog
I bought a 04 BA Xr6 second hand 170'000ks drove it the length of NZ with 4 people and a full boot solid as a rock didn't even burn any oil.
they love it bro
SV6 should've stood for(supercharged V6) and ford should've made a FG xr6 wagon would've looked mint. Anyways great review mate thumbs up 👍🇦🇺🍻 and remember I own a cammed six litre, 3" full exhaust system with 3.5"quad tips 2008 wm Caprice from cazzer d Victoria, just saying.
Another great comparison Jon. Up the battle of the P plate cars! 5000th view this video is pumping. Cant wait to see an update on the F6
Thanks mate! Sorry I’ve been away for a while.. will be back at it hard very soon
Cheers Nolsey mate
Overall falcon has less power more torque allowing it to reach higher speeds at low rpms and sv6 has more power less torque you gotta push it in order to reach higher speeds
Fair but the Falcon’s weigh bout 55KG more if u compare both in sedan spec with Auto transmissions so it’s really a pick em’, dynamically Holden’s got way more advanced ride and handling and had far more advancements engineering wise over the last few gen’s before they where killed off so it’s really a question of do u want a Barra ? Or a Better car ?
Pretty much summed up👍
Ummm a wins a win. Ford lost. As always.
I'm a Holden bloke myself....... owned quite a few v6's, cammed a few v8's etc...... I currently got 2 v6's atm...... But I know them inside and out, full SPS flashing, tuning, the works...... mechanically. That said I've never touched a Ford or a Barra and always been very interested in looking it over, I notice the thermostat looks like the easiest thing to replace if I am right it's on the top left etc.... It seems like a decent engine, tuning wise....... I don't own one, have looked at the ECU side of things.... very different to the GM layouts.
We need to manufacture again. A new era.
100%🇦🇺🥲
The timing chain problems were most prevalent in early model VE's, mainly between 2006 and 2008 so these chains should have been delt with by now, some later models have had issues but in general, if the car has been well-serviced it shouldn't be too big of a worry but just something to keep in mind. it is also a good idea to service them every 10k rather than 15k noted in the book
FK yeah Aussie cars all the way. Gone for now but not forgotten ❤
AUSDM 😤🫶
Wait what does Ross mean "unfortunately"? I know I'm late to the party, but if anyone's reading this, why is aftermarket suspension bad? I dunno heaps about cars, but I'm looking to get my 06 Ford Fairmont BF Mark II lowered a bit with coilover suspension. It's in beautiful condition, only 117,000km. I recently got 18" aftermarket alloys but I wanna go up to 19" with the lowered suspension. Not crazy low just sensible low like that Holden wagon. I know the ride is gonna be stiffer, but how bad is it really on Sydney roads with all the speed bumps everywhere? Is it not worth it?
For me it's the Barra all the way. The hardest thing I ever had to do was sell my beautiful FG XR6 to get something bigger to carry the stuff I need to carry so I settled on a Ford Territory. That way I still have a Barra under the bonnet and ZF6 in the middle. I can't wait to have enough money to buy another FG XR6.
Great review I would take the commy any day. Actually really good engines if you keep up the maintenance
I was really impressed with her eh
Flynn Ferguson any engine is really good if you keep up the maintenance.💯✌️
Nailed it. But then, I'm a life-long, dyed-in-the-wool Fordphobe 😊 The saddest thing is the loss of both cars, AND the Barra with the tooling being packed up & shipped off to the USA. The rivalry continues in my house, Ford-v-Holden 👍
they both are amazing machines at the end of the day, both do somethings better than others.. it was a great rivalry :)
Wow sv6 wagon goes good! I’ll need that tune box for mine buddy!!! I’ve got a fg xt Falcon which I’ve done up a bit and I live in Christchurch New Zealand.
I have all the turbo parts I’m just about to do it and then sort a tune.
What transmission is in it? The 5 speed?
@@rwd323 6 speed man
Why aren't you stalling them up and launching them properly on the acceleration tests?
As far as straight line handling goes, one of the magazines did a manual comparison between SV6, XR6 and Aurion something.
Quarter mile results were;
Aurion 14.1
SV6 14.4
XR6 14.9
Pretty stunning from the Toyota, even the SV6 equally a gtho and the Barra was quicker than any stock old school gt except the ho.
The V6 Aurions are surprisingly quick, but do weigh a lot less than both the falcon and commodores
The auction has less power loss through the drive train , being front wheel drive , and a little lighter
Yeah both good cars but I'd pick the SV6 Sportwagon
Fair call for sure bro
Yep, there's a reason Ford & BMW stuck with the inline six, so much smoother and reliable with dynamic balance and fewer parts.
you should do an ecotech versus a barra
Why
@@Flying_GC Why not
I don't know if it's true (and I don't care either; I just like the story), but I was told by a mate whose dad was a Ford engineer that when they were working on the Barra engine it was nicknamed Project Seagull, because they were designing it to shit all over everything else
Once upon a time I had the ve sv6 wagon. Took it around Australia with the family for 3 weeks on the road and I must say. It was spacious, comfortable and tough as nuts 🔩. Not one problem with it before I swap it with my current v8 ssv vf sedan. Wonderful car.
Thanks for sharing! good stuff n nice trade ;)
Nice review, just want to add your draggy from the sv6 was going downhill at a high negative slope which invalidates the run.
The FG ZF6 was directly opposite, going 1% grade uphill.
The difference in times can easily be attributed directly to this, I'd love to see them tested on a flat road at the same time, but fully understand it's nearly impossible to find 2 stock examples willing to play ball :)
Yeah, 0-100 in 6.5 for an SV6 is awfully quick.
@@alstound Yeah i'd have to agree, i've got a 2011 SV6 VE and my times are usually in the 7s range and that's with Michelin pilot sport 4S on
I did do this test multiple times with the same outcome…
@@RossReviewsau on the same stretch of road? Just saying the draggy result isn't valid and the slope favours the sv6.
Yes the good old Aussie shootout Ford vs Holden a war that's been raging since the dawn of time Johnny lol,both built tough & very similar in power,but there can only be one winner & that in my book is the Ford,because I have one with the ZF box & in 5yrs I haven't had to spend a cent mechanically speaking she's so reliable it's amazing,that's why when I was looking to buy a car I ended up choosing the Ford over the Commodore & I'm more than happy with my decision,great review mate I thoroughly enjoyed it.
We all know an Aurion is quicker but this isn't the place to mention it.
Agreed lol.. waiting to test one of them still eh
Yep, I had an Aurion Presara before I changed to an XR6 and that thing felt so effortless. The interior was gorgeous too. Even though the Aurions are FWD I still find myself browsing for them on carsales 😅
@@jonathanhead4105 My brother bought one of the last in 2017. Its noticeably quicker than my 380. That V6 spins like a Swiss watch.
Fords are always better in overall reliability, but we are now getting close to a time where most people just won't understand the Ford vs holden rivalry.
Very true eh🥲🇦🇺
Why a wagon though not sedan.
i couldn't find a sedan! was looking for months
i have a stock standard ve sv6 series 2 6 speed manual sedan and i can say i love it. awesome car comfortable and reliable.
They are great cars eh
LOL 200,000km on the original bushes? My G6E-T would chew them out every 80,000km or so!
Nolathane bushes, do it once and they last forever, albeit a little stiffer ride,👍
Interesting comparo between the two, great review mate!
Thanks mate
This is an adults version of Xbox vs PlayStation 😂
😂😂😂
Another great vid mate, I appreciate your work. A Power Gate would be awesome for my 04 ba xr8 ute 5 speed manny, I'm in Baxter Vic. Looking forward to the next one bud 👍
The LFX don't have timing chain issues man, you know a lot about Barras but not GM engines hahaha, the LFX is actually a good engine
i agree lmao
only GMH engine that snapped timing chains was the alloytec which was only used in the vz/vy's and 06 to 08 ve's to my knowledge
Your right actually I wasn’t aware this has the LFX actually.. late mode VEs did get them I guess
It's a no brainer. No 6 cylinder engine is better than the Barra simple. They are without question the best and most solid built engine out there and I have a L98.
I have to agree 😍✊🇦🇺👌
Churr ma bro
thanks brotha
The SV6 is a nice looking wagon and has the better looking interior in my opinion. But the XR6 in manual would be my choice between the two. My Jeep Cherokee SRT 6.4L Hemi with CAI and Borla exhaust would definitely benefit from a performance tune LOL Shout out from Canberra!
I always felt Ford should have done a Sportswagon type deal. I had a V6 Adventra before my FG, and the extra room was great (just had the wrong badge on it), and also drove a Sportwagon for a bit, was great carting the Junior Arsehats around. The FG is cramped in the back ala B Series which is a bummer and the interior aas out of date before it left the factory; the Ford suspension also is a bit "meh", floaty and comfy (even in XR6) compared to Holden.
I've owned a VE 2012 sv6 LFX first gen had it 3 years, absolutely loved it will be sad to see it go shortly after i just purchased a brand new nissan navara in manual as well. had to stick with the manual however the commodore has been touched it ran 6.3sec 0-100 from stock when i bought it, have touched the engine with cats, and mufflers, cold air intake, bigger injectors and tuned made 205rwkw, got my quickest time of 5.3sec 0-100 which is pretty good however she is out of commission with a cracked piston in cylinder 1. but found a 2016 LFX with 100,000kms going for $2.200k which will be dropped in and sold shortly. but non the less it was a beautiful car to own, being triple black, lowered on sssl springs around, was complimented on by many cops and people about looking like a mint ss, original motor only did 160,000 kms, bought it bone stock with 120,000kms. I do love the fg's have such a great engine, just mainly the aesthetics that put me off and the fact manual sedans seem to way more rare then commodores in manual
I will always be Holden but I will always appreciate a beautiful piece of Australian craftsmanship
Had a SV6 Thunder manual, fun car but the lack of low down torque in that engine made it a difficult car to drive, everyone who hopped in it would stall it first time. It definitely had a powerband around 3500 - 4000 rpm, it would almost lurch forward once it hit that sweet spot.
Also got a Falcon Ute now got to clean the inside whole thing it was a mess inside it is now looking so good the interior looks great, it drives so smooth looking forward to getting it on the road.
I’ve got a VE Series 2 in exactly the same spec except sedan, honestly I don’t find the low down torque an issue, I find it’s still really meaty down low and has a massive wallop of power once you get above 4k. It’s one hell of a motor for a V6.
One thing I’d wanna say, the VE Series 2’s made after 2011 have the LFX motor, which doesn’t suffer nearly as many timing chain issues and was also the same motor as the VF S1/2. They can have issues with poor servicing, but mines done about 205k and I haven’t needed chains, it’s still on its originals. Just good servicing and having a bit of care for the car. Don’t do oil changes every 15k like they tell you to, every 10k is best. They go super hard, and there’s a big aftermarket scene out there for them. Not as big as Barra, but it’s still pretty big and you can still make some really incredible power gains without losing much reliability.
The wagon has the LLT 3.6L with 210kw (crack) where the chain issue was fixed. Previous models like the LEO and LY7 has the chain issues and weaker box
great video mate, ive also got a ve sv6 and i love it. live in perth but have to travel for work, and it handles the country roads just as well as the city.
Never really cared much for either car. Having spent a fair bit of time under the bonnet of both, I prefer the Falcon. I felt they had that little bit better build quality, better motor by far. The alloytech V6 is a shitter in comparison. Between XR6t/XR8/SS, I don't think you could pick a bad one, they're all good performers. The worst part was the 1B it took to retool the Holden plant and develop the VE in the mid 2000s then shutting the place down.
I’ve got an Ed falcon, she’s kicking on with age but love her to bits. Located in Perth
Thanks mate! Up the Fords
Always liked the ED, especially in XR form
Just returned to Australia from uk and had to buy a commodore ozzy all the way
good man!
I have always felt that the Commodore was a little quicker than the Falcon. I also think that, if towing, the falcon comes into its own. I have spent some cash on my BA XR6 because I don't know what I would replace it with.
your on the money according to my testing
even though i'm a Ford man we actually needed Holden to keep Ford Australia honest because look at whats happening, Holden goes under and now Ford are trying to shove way over boosted tiny 3 and 4 cylinder cars at us, if you have a Barra or an Intech KEEP it!
I've got an FG XT looking for a couple of mods but don't wanna kill the daily, had an EL wagon not too long ago and damn it was good to drive, definitely recommend the e-series for reviews. I'm from Tatura Victoria
keep up the work slowly build you viewers - good content like this will always helps.
thanks mate! gonna keep it going :)
The Holden V6 is a engine plagued with issue. Glad to see you found one that doesn’t rattle and throw error codes
I’d always go the barra over a sv6
Oh my days man , not all the alloytech v6’s had issues. Only the earlier ones. The LFX only had oil burning issues that’s all, timing chain fuckery was gone with that engine which is why they kept it in the VF
have liked and subscribed. Perth Leeming, my dad is so wanting a lc79 but at the moment would put it on his Audi to put some more hp in!!
Stock fg barra are rated at 195kw on 91 octane fuel. 205kw with 95 and 210+ on 98. So it depends on what fuel you're using. Years ago, when they were new I remember wheels or drive magazine tested them and Toyota aurion down the 1/4 miles. All 6sp auto and sv6 were dead last. The fg xr6 1 second faster with the aurion v6 in between them.
If you were over here in Brizzy, I could hook you up with a drive in a Bone STOCK 2013 VE SV6 factory manual that's got now approximately 310k on the clock, and still drives like new.
Had a 2009 fg xr6 falcon with barra 110,000 kms motor pouring oil from head, gearbox blew up $6500 to fix ( no way ) bought a 2012 ve series 2 ute sv6 better fuel economy more power no oil leaks, just make sure you service it every 6,000 kms with good engine oil and filter ( no timing chain issues at all )go the holden even though i have always been a ford fan
When I first seen this I was expecting a bias opinion... awesome video man and respect for being honest 🤙
gotta be as honest as i can :)