Farewelling the Aussie Commodore
We’re saying goodbye to the Aussie Commodore the only way we know how, writes David Linklater.
Meet our new long-term test vehicle: the Holden Commodore SSV Redline. Know what you’re thinking: they don’t make those any more.
You’re absolutely right: the last Aussie-designed-and-built Commodore rolled off the line on October 20.
But it’s a few months until we’ll see the new Europeansourced version in showrooms, and we reckon this is a good chance to enjoy a last blast in a vehicle that’s been an integral part of Australasian culture since 1978.
Having said that, I’ve never actually owned a Commodore myself.
So now seems like a good time to enjoy summer in the last and, arguably greatest, Aussie Commodore ever made.
Quite literally the last, because the final car to roll off the line at Holden’s Elizabeth factory was a Redline.
And you can still buy one. At the time of writing, Holden New Zealand had 200 examples of the SS in stock.
Get yours now. I’ve got mine. Both the standard SS and SSV Redline get the same EX-HSV 6.2-litre V8 with 304kw/570nm.
That’s a handy 139kw more than that 94 VR SS could muster – or enough to power an Astra RS all by itself.
But the latter steps up with full FE3 sports suspension (trackready according to General Motors’ global designation for such things), 19-inch wheels with mixed-size tyres (245/40 front and 275/35 rear) Brembo brakes allround, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure warning and some interior bits and bobs like Bose sound system, leather trim elements and a slightly more tricky multi-function display in the main instrument panel.
Our car also has the black roof, an $800 option.
Total $77,290, which is a lot for a taxi or an absolute bargain for one of the most accomplished V8 muscle sedans ever made.
It’s a serious piece of machinery, but the intention is not to compete for the 2017/18 Traffic Light Championship or hit the national track-day circuit.
There’ll be some ‘‘enthusiastic’’ driving for sure, but this is a longterm test and it’s really about using it as an everyday car and creating some Commodore memories.
It’s really early days and we’ve only covered 300km of mostly motorway miles, which is why the fuel consumption average is not the least bit alarming at 11.2 litres per 100km.
Give it time.
The first official duty for the Redline was to take my 11-year-old from Auckland city to Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in North Waikato for an afternoon of family karting fun.
The karting was as excellent as the drive. Perfect.