TriShield
05-20-2008, 03:02 PM
PickupTrucks.com Exclusive Sh-Ute-Out!
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/intro.jpg
Photos and Words By: James Stanford Posted: 05-20-08 00:00 PT
© 2008 PickupTrucks.com
Following up on his first drive of the Holden VE Ute and first look at the Ford Falcon FG Ute, we asked our go-to Australian correspondent James Stanford to put both vehicles head-to-head at the earliest possible opportunity. He's come through big time! We hope you enjoy this exclusive comparison of these all new utes!
Australia doesn’t build a V-8 muscle coupe now that the Holden Monaro (sold in the U.S. as the Pontiac GTO) is dead. We don't import the Ford Mustang or the Dodge Challenger, either, but that’s because we don’t need them.
Why? Because Australia already makes some of the meanest rear-wheel-drive two-door performance cars out there. Not only are they affordable, they can carry a shed-load.
The car-based pickup might have died out in the U.S. in the 80s, but it never stopped selling in Australia. And it's getting faster, too.
Holden set a new benchmark last year with its 362-horsepower VE SS Ute, which will cross the Pacific next year as a yet-unnamed Pontiac model (El Camino was a much-mentioned possibility, but it's not looking like that will transfer to reality). Its great rival Ford, however, was not about to lie down without a fight.
Ford hit back with the new FG Falcon lineup, which includes a 362-hp, turbo inline six-cylinder engine and a new 389-hp Boss V-8. The folks at Dunlop better start working overtime.
Ford says there’s no plan to bring the Falcon to the U.S. anytime soon, but you can bet it will think again if the Holden Ute sells strongly as a Pontiac.
With both the Ford and Holden car-based pickups costing between $4,700 and $6,600 less than their sedan counterparts, these light haulers are especially popular with young blokes who can’t quite afford a sedan and don’t need more than two seats.
Both the Ford and Holden utes are identical to their sedan siblings from the A-pillar forward. They also feel much like the sedans from inside the cabin, apart from there being a bit more road noise.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes2.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes9.jpg
There’s only room for two people, but there’s a reasonable amount of space behind the seats. Thanks to an in-depth test, PickupTrucks.com can confirm that this is more than enough room for a slab of 24 stubbies (beer bottles) behind each seat. Depending on where you position your seat, you can fit several slabs of lager in the cabin’s storage area. You can also fit a couple of overnight bags or several bags of groceries -- or so we’re told.
Following the FG Falcon sedan, the Ute version has been given a major upgrade. It has a leaf-spring rear suspension, as opposed to the Holden Ute, which has a fully independent coil-sprung setup.
Ford stuck with the leaf springs because its ute is more of a workhorse than the Holden. Its base model can carry 2,734 pounds, which is 983 pounds more than the Holden, and can tow 5,071 pounds, which is 1,984 pounds more than its rival.
The tables are turned when it comes to the sporty models, though. Thanks to its big wheels and sport suspension setting, the Falcon XR8 Ute can only carry 1,190 pounds in the tray, compared to the 1,316 pounds that the Holden SS can haul. Towing is still in the Falcon's favor. The XR8 can pull 5,071 pounds (same as the base Falcon) while the SS is limited to 3,527 pounds.
Up front, the FG Falcon has a new double-wishbone suspension setup with two lower ball joints, which Ford calls Virtual Pivot Control Link. It uses a mixture of aluminum and high-strength steel, which saves 48.5 pounds.
The FG Utes now run ZF Sachs monotube shock absorbers front and rear, which is an Aussie first. The Holden Ute uses a MacPherson strut front suspension setup and twin-tube shock absorbers, but it’s fully independent, and its coil-sprung rear end is a definite advantage. Both utes comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, while 19-inch rims are optional.
Both the Holden SS and the Ford XR8 are longer than the sedans on which they’re based, which opens up more room in the tray. The XR8’s wheelbase also grew 0.35 inches compared to the previous model, now standing at 122 inches overall, while the tracks edge outward by 1.19 inches and 1.38 inches, front and rear, with both measuring 62.3 inches. In comparison, the SS has a wheelbase of 118.5 inches and front and rear tracks of 62.7 inches and 63.3 inches, respectively.
The tray dimensions are similar, with the Holden’s being ever so slightly larger. It measures 72.56 inches long and 46.2 inches across the axle between the wheel arches. The Falcon Ute’s tray is 1.19 inches shorter and 1.3 inches narrower between the wheel arches.
If you have to haul really big stuff, though, the Falcon can be ordered as a cab-chassis version, which can be fitted with a flat “tinny” tray for wide loads. Most customers take the standard Styleside Box steel tub. The Holden Ute used to be offered as a cab-chassis and even as a four-door crew cab, but those models didn’t sell strongly and thus were both dropped for the VE program.
Both the Holden and Ford utes can be fitted with a soft tonneau cover that uses a snap-lock sealing system. If you’re worried about having your tools stolen when you nick into the pub, both Holden and Ford offer hard, lockable tonneau covers.
When you enter a pub, the first question you’ll likely be asked is, "What’s under the bonnet?" In the case of the Falcon Ute, the base models have a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder. This engine, which is unique to Australia, will go away in 2010 when Ford sources a Duratec V-6 from the U.S. The inline-six has a cast-iron block and a twin-cam head, and it generates a respectable 262 hp. Ford also offers a turbocharged version of this engine that pumps out 362 hp and 393 pounds-feet of torque from just 2,000 rpm all the way up to 4,750 rpm.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes10.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes14.jpg
Falcons fitted with the turbo inline-six are faster than the V-8s, but a lot of people won’t drive a ute unless there’s a big bent-eight under the bonnet. To them, driving a boosted six-cylinder is like owning an electric chainsaw: It might do the job, but it’s just not right.
The XR8’s V-8 engine, which earns the Boss tag, is a one-of-a-kind mutant. Ford Australia’s tuning arm, Ford Performance Vehicles, raided the Ford U.S. parts bin, then threw in some parts of its own to make something that could match the General’s 6.0-liter V-8 that's in the Holden’s engine bay.
FPV takes the cast-iron Triton V-8 block and 32-valve cylinder head components used for the Mustang Cobra R, plus Ford U.S. crankshaft, rods and flywheel, then sources its own camshafts, valves, pistons, extractors and manifold. The result is a hand-built power plant that pumps out 389 hp at 5,750 rpm and 384 pounds-feet of torque at 4,750 rpm.
Holden's Ute is available with a V-6 and a V-8. The base engine is a 241-hp, 3.6-liter Alloytec V-6, which is a GM design but is produced in Australia. When it comes to the V-8 engine, Holden pretty much takes the Gen 4 V-8 straight out of the crate from GM Mexico and drops it in.
The 6.0-liter V-8 is a 90-degree unit that delivers its 362 hp at 5,700 rpm and 391 pounds-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It has an aluminum block, but doesn’t bother with any of those fancy overhead camshafts, getting along just fine with pushrods.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes7.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes8.jpg
The SS Ute runs an Aisin six-speed manual standard, while a GM-sourced six-speed automatic is available. A new six-speed Tremec gearbox is standard for the XR8 Ute, while a ZF six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The German-sourced ZF is a top transmission that’s used in some high-end machines, including top-dollar BMWs, Maseratis, Land Rovers and Jaguars – not bad for a humble ute.
The Falcon XR8 Ute with the ZF auto costs $37,617 ($39,490 in Australia), while the SS Ute with the six-speed auto is $39,999 ($41,990). The Holden Ute comes standard with electronic stability control, whereas the Ford has to make do with traction control. It will get a stability system by the end of the year, at which point the price is expected to rise slightly.
In many ways, comparing Ford and Holden utes is irrelevant. For many, it doesn’t matter how good the different models are, they’re either a Ford or a Holden buyer, which largely depends on what their Dad drove. In Australia, changing between brands is about as common as changing your gender. Neither happens very much.
V-8 utes are almost predominantly the domain of men, but their customers do display the rather feminine trait of worrying a lot about the color of their vehicles.
The utes loaned to us certainly challenged the eyeballs, with colors so bright they’d be at home in a Skittles commercial. We don’t even know how to describe the color of the Holden SS Ute, and its official name -- Crunch -- is no help whatsoever. Let’s call it a bright metallic mustard.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/intro.jpg
Photos and Words By: James Stanford Posted: 05-20-08 00:00 PT
© 2008 PickupTrucks.com
Following up on his first drive of the Holden VE Ute and first look at the Ford Falcon FG Ute, we asked our go-to Australian correspondent James Stanford to put both vehicles head-to-head at the earliest possible opportunity. He's come through big time! We hope you enjoy this exclusive comparison of these all new utes!
Australia doesn’t build a V-8 muscle coupe now that the Holden Monaro (sold in the U.S. as the Pontiac GTO) is dead. We don't import the Ford Mustang or the Dodge Challenger, either, but that’s because we don’t need them.
Why? Because Australia already makes some of the meanest rear-wheel-drive two-door performance cars out there. Not only are they affordable, they can carry a shed-load.
The car-based pickup might have died out in the U.S. in the 80s, but it never stopped selling in Australia. And it's getting faster, too.
Holden set a new benchmark last year with its 362-horsepower VE SS Ute, which will cross the Pacific next year as a yet-unnamed Pontiac model (El Camino was a much-mentioned possibility, but it's not looking like that will transfer to reality). Its great rival Ford, however, was not about to lie down without a fight.
Ford hit back with the new FG Falcon lineup, which includes a 362-hp, turbo inline six-cylinder engine and a new 389-hp Boss V-8. The folks at Dunlop better start working overtime.
Ford says there’s no plan to bring the Falcon to the U.S. anytime soon, but you can bet it will think again if the Holden Ute sells strongly as a Pontiac.
With both the Ford and Holden car-based pickups costing between $4,700 and $6,600 less than their sedan counterparts, these light haulers are especially popular with young blokes who can’t quite afford a sedan and don’t need more than two seats.
Both the Ford and Holden utes are identical to their sedan siblings from the A-pillar forward. They also feel much like the sedans from inside the cabin, apart from there being a bit more road noise.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes2.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes9.jpg
There’s only room for two people, but there’s a reasonable amount of space behind the seats. Thanks to an in-depth test, PickupTrucks.com can confirm that this is more than enough room for a slab of 24 stubbies (beer bottles) behind each seat. Depending on where you position your seat, you can fit several slabs of lager in the cabin’s storage area. You can also fit a couple of overnight bags or several bags of groceries -- or so we’re told.
Following the FG Falcon sedan, the Ute version has been given a major upgrade. It has a leaf-spring rear suspension, as opposed to the Holden Ute, which has a fully independent coil-sprung setup.
Ford stuck with the leaf springs because its ute is more of a workhorse than the Holden. Its base model can carry 2,734 pounds, which is 983 pounds more than the Holden, and can tow 5,071 pounds, which is 1,984 pounds more than its rival.
The tables are turned when it comes to the sporty models, though. Thanks to its big wheels and sport suspension setting, the Falcon XR8 Ute can only carry 1,190 pounds in the tray, compared to the 1,316 pounds that the Holden SS can haul. Towing is still in the Falcon's favor. The XR8 can pull 5,071 pounds (same as the base Falcon) while the SS is limited to 3,527 pounds.
Up front, the FG Falcon has a new double-wishbone suspension setup with two lower ball joints, which Ford calls Virtual Pivot Control Link. It uses a mixture of aluminum and high-strength steel, which saves 48.5 pounds.
The FG Utes now run ZF Sachs monotube shock absorbers front and rear, which is an Aussie first. The Holden Ute uses a MacPherson strut front suspension setup and twin-tube shock absorbers, but it’s fully independent, and its coil-sprung rear end is a definite advantage. Both utes comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, while 19-inch rims are optional.
Both the Holden SS and the Ford XR8 are longer than the sedans on which they’re based, which opens up more room in the tray. The XR8’s wheelbase also grew 0.35 inches compared to the previous model, now standing at 122 inches overall, while the tracks edge outward by 1.19 inches and 1.38 inches, front and rear, with both measuring 62.3 inches. In comparison, the SS has a wheelbase of 118.5 inches and front and rear tracks of 62.7 inches and 63.3 inches, respectively.
The tray dimensions are similar, with the Holden’s being ever so slightly larger. It measures 72.56 inches long and 46.2 inches across the axle between the wheel arches. The Falcon Ute’s tray is 1.19 inches shorter and 1.3 inches narrower between the wheel arches.
If you have to haul really big stuff, though, the Falcon can be ordered as a cab-chassis version, which can be fitted with a flat “tinny” tray for wide loads. Most customers take the standard Styleside Box steel tub. The Holden Ute used to be offered as a cab-chassis and even as a four-door crew cab, but those models didn’t sell strongly and thus were both dropped for the VE program.
Both the Holden and Ford utes can be fitted with a soft tonneau cover that uses a snap-lock sealing system. If you’re worried about having your tools stolen when you nick into the pub, both Holden and Ford offer hard, lockable tonneau covers.
When you enter a pub, the first question you’ll likely be asked is, "What’s under the bonnet?" In the case of the Falcon Ute, the base models have a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder. This engine, which is unique to Australia, will go away in 2010 when Ford sources a Duratec V-6 from the U.S. The inline-six has a cast-iron block and a twin-cam head, and it generates a respectable 262 hp. Ford also offers a turbocharged version of this engine that pumps out 362 hp and 393 pounds-feet of torque from just 2,000 rpm all the way up to 4,750 rpm.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes10.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes14.jpg
Falcons fitted with the turbo inline-six are faster than the V-8s, but a lot of people won’t drive a ute unless there’s a big bent-eight under the bonnet. To them, driving a boosted six-cylinder is like owning an electric chainsaw: It might do the job, but it’s just not right.
The XR8’s V-8 engine, which earns the Boss tag, is a one-of-a-kind mutant. Ford Australia’s tuning arm, Ford Performance Vehicles, raided the Ford U.S. parts bin, then threw in some parts of its own to make something that could match the General’s 6.0-liter V-8 that's in the Holden’s engine bay.
FPV takes the cast-iron Triton V-8 block and 32-valve cylinder head components used for the Mustang Cobra R, plus Ford U.S. crankshaft, rods and flywheel, then sources its own camshafts, valves, pistons, extractors and manifold. The result is a hand-built power plant that pumps out 389 hp at 5,750 rpm and 384 pounds-feet of torque at 4,750 rpm.
Holden's Ute is available with a V-6 and a V-8. The base engine is a 241-hp, 3.6-liter Alloytec V-6, which is a GM design but is produced in Australia. When it comes to the V-8 engine, Holden pretty much takes the Gen 4 V-8 straight out of the crate from GM Mexico and drops it in.
The 6.0-liter V-8 is a 90-degree unit that delivers its 362 hp at 5,700 rpm and 391 pounds-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. It has an aluminum block, but doesn’t bother with any of those fancy overhead camshafts, getting along just fine with pushrods.
http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes7.jpg http://www.pickuptrucks.com/IMAGES/2008/comparisons/shuteout/utes8.jpg
The SS Ute runs an Aisin six-speed manual standard, while a GM-sourced six-speed automatic is available. A new six-speed Tremec gearbox is standard for the XR8 Ute, while a ZF six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The German-sourced ZF is a top transmission that’s used in some high-end machines, including top-dollar BMWs, Maseratis, Land Rovers and Jaguars – not bad for a humble ute.
The Falcon XR8 Ute with the ZF auto costs $37,617 ($39,490 in Australia), while the SS Ute with the six-speed auto is $39,999 ($41,990). The Holden Ute comes standard with electronic stability control, whereas the Ford has to make do with traction control. It will get a stability system by the end of the year, at which point the price is expected to rise slightly.
In many ways, comparing Ford and Holden utes is irrelevant. For many, it doesn’t matter how good the different models are, they’re either a Ford or a Holden buyer, which largely depends on what their Dad drove. In Australia, changing between brands is about as common as changing your gender. Neither happens very much.
V-8 utes are almost predominantly the domain of men, but their customers do display the rather feminine trait of worrying a lot about the color of their vehicles.
The utes loaned to us certainly challenged the eyeballs, with colors so bright they’d be at home in a Skittles commercial. We don’t even know how to describe the color of the Holden SS Ute, and its official name -- Crunch -- is no help whatsoever. Let’s call it a bright metallic mustard.