Sorry if repost. The ESP on the G8 appears promising.

http://wheels.carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?ArticleID=2113784&TabID=501060&Alias=wheelsau

Summary please...

Wheels Magazine,

With traction control on, the Commodore (at least in comparison to the SRT-8) allows enough juice to the pavement to get a decent launch with the A6. According to the article, despite having more power, the SRT-8 was not faster than the SS-V to 62 mph or across the 1/4. However, the SRT-8 is quicker from 50 mph to 75 mph. From what I recall, the SRT-8 is at about 108 mph across the 1/4. I doubt the SS-V holds off the SRT-8 for that long. However, the good news is that the traction control on the G8 appears promising. :D


Straight from the article in pertinent part:

"With stability control on – that’s right, on – the Commodore hunkers down and spits out a 5.8/13.9 run. It really is as easy as that. Such is the user-friendliness and responsiveness of the drivetrain. It surely can go lower, but today there are other cars to test, so its time to move on.

First to the Chrysler. The Hemi engine is of the same pushrod genre as the L98, just with plenty more of all the good stuff. Yet the SRT8 is no quicker to 100km/h, or across the 400m, than the Holden. That’s because the time is not quite as easy to extract. Stability control is too intrusive to be left on, yet it’s all too easy to go up in smoke with it off. Good run or bad, this drivetrain still makes a fantastic noise, bellowing through the gears, backfiring majestically on the one-two flat-knacker change. Gotta love it, just gotta love it.

The Chrysler’s immense ability is best shown by its 3.1sec 80-120km/h overtaking figure. By now truly hooked up, it’s 0.4sec faster than the Holden and 0.6 ahead of the GT."

Lets also mention that the Holden had the worst gas mileage, and did not get high marks for the brakes or the automatic transmission, Holden did say that they are still in the final stages of calibrating the transmission, so that may improve. They also said the digital voltage and oil readouts were VERY cheap.

But the ultimate summary was that it won :D

What about Handling?

Handling..............

In short the SSV totally annihilated both challengers. The Ford Falcon GT came in at 2nd and the SRT8 was nowhere to be seen.

do they have a price range for the car and what motor was this test done in?

SSV was priced at around 53k, Ford at around 63k and the SRT8 at around 71k.

thats in australian currency right?

thats in australian currency right?

Must be because the SRT-8 is around 40K and we do not have this Ford GT in the USA.
And although I can do the conversion the cost of vehicles is different in different countries but here we go...

53,000 Australian Dollar = 41,162.4 US Dollar
63,000 Australian Dollar = 48,928.9 US Dollar
71,000 Australian Dollar = 55,142.1 US Dollar

This is the conversion rate as of Today.

http://www.oanda.com/converter/classic

$53000 AUS = $41162 US Commodore
$63000 AUS = $48929 US Falcon GT
$71000 AUS = $55142 US 300C SRT-8

Our SRT-8 really costs $43195 MSRP

So on a crude percentage basis going from how much more the SRT-8 costs in Australia (28% more), our SS-V equivalent Pontiac G8 would cost $32158. Its a reference at least. Not bad at all for a rough estimate on price.

yea i was figuring it would be priced about 25,000-35,000 here since the GTO was about 30k-35k

I'd actually consider buying a Falcon if they sold em in the US. Ford has a bunch of cool cars that they wont sell here (the new Mondeo and the Euro-spec Focus for instance.)

I've heard the SRT8 complaint numerous times...basically dumping what should have been an awesome engine/driveline into a luxobarge that wasn't tuned for said performance. With traction control off, it smoked the tires and couldn't get decent grip, with it on, it limited engine RPM's to the point where the engine couldn't get up to peak power.

At least that's the way I understood it.

If the G8 comes over with decent chassis tuning (which it sounds like the Commodore already has) it should be a proper sport sedan.

I've not heard that overall...ones I've seen run low 13's to high 12's at the track. Most are very low 13's. Hooking up on street tires is always a problem once you have a car that can turn those times. Especially in a non traditional sport only car like a vette, etc...


I've heard the SRT8 complaint numerous times...basically dumping what should have been an awesome engine/driveline into a luxobarge that wasn't tuned for said performance. With traction control off, it smoked the tires and couldn't get decent grip, with it on, it limited engine RPM's to the point where the engine couldn't get up to peak power.

I've not heard that overall...ones I've seen run low 13's to high 12's at the track. Most are very low 13's. Hooking up on street tires is always a problem once you have a car that can turn those times. Especially in a non traditional sport only car like a vette, etc...


I have the exact opposite experience. SRT8's are very difficult to get launched properly and the average SRT8 driver sucks. Have yet to lose to one out on the street and their numbers at Epping last year were almost all in the upper 13's to low 14's. Most of the super fast SRT8 #'s are seen on forums like this by bench racers.