We've heard the video links we refer to in the videos are not showing on mobile. In this case it was our review of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 7:10 Until we can work out why it's showing on desktop and not mobile, we will pin comment with the link here. Mercedes-Benz S-Class review- ruclips.net/video/MrU9fD7-m7Q/видео.html
lol you are a liar aren't you Australia did invent the ute with the Ford 1933 Ford ute coupe you showed, was designed by Australian Louis Brandt Ford Australia Aussie designed it. Earlier ute you claim was a pickup truck, ute is a one piece unibody car bed design, pickup is seperate bed cabin..
@@WayneKerr69420 Not bitching lil girl and was not a mistake it was bad journalism like a lot do in these videos. Some have no clue on true history and just spout BS misinformation.
We in Sunny South Africa have been fortunate enough to have had a limited run of these great vehicles, called Lumina here , from about 2005 to 2012 and they have already achieved collectors status here and are escalating in Price at about 15% per annum. I run a series 2 2006 6litre SS UTE in Diamond Black metallic with only 103,000 kms... on the clock which is factory stock except for a set of loud pipes and this is a real head turner over here. I fully endorse the comments of the tester. This is a highway cruiser par excellence and can easily see off many modern "sports" sedans and hot hatches in the stoplight grand prixs'.This is a vehicle from a time when life was a lot better than today and they will never make em like that again. I love my UTE.....
Totally agree with you. It's a stunning car, I own a sedan ssv V8, I luv this machine and it's very easy to fix, and if we'll maintained by or give it a regular service jeeerrrr it will be just live.
@@sizwenduduzow7139 Here in Aus, the SS has material seats, a basic stereo, basic speakers, and a basic gauge cluster. The SS-V has leather, nicer stereo with screen (can add reverse camera easily), MUCH better speakers and nicer gauge cluster.
over here in Oz, I have a HSV Maloo, 2014 model. I love my ute, as chucking about in it wearing shorty shorts and a cork hat with nothing else on and a slab of VB in the boot, accadacca coming from the speakers, I feel like the very embodiment of Australia. that"s a bloody excellent feeling.
The Commodore ute is the only modern ute where the body is cast as one piece. With any other manufacturer, they construct the tray separate and bolt it to the body leaving ugly gaps. Respect for the design.
One of many reasons I love the VE and even VF designs. It's just amazing to look at. I do like the Ford Falcon utes, especially the FG and FGX with the mustang looking grill. But the panel gap is just offputting
Fantastic review mate. I thoroughly enjoyed it, Thankyou. I have a VE SS-V ute 2010 6sp manual and just ticked over 200,000km, daily driven and it still purrs nicely. Fuel usage around town is about 13-15/100, but on freeway is 8-10/100. Wifey has a VE SS Sportswagon 2009 Auto and about 210,000km, daily driven on short trips 15-20km/100, on freeway for weekend getaways, we see 8-12km/100 fully loaded. Both religiously serviced between 5-10,000km semi-synth virgin base, and the biggest issue we had is both had slight rear main seal leak. changed both and all good. There is a slight tick on startup which means the lifters are on their way out. All suspension is stock on both except for kings springs on my ute and aftermarket engine mounts. I Love'em.
I always wanted a VE ute, but was out of my price range. Ended up with a SSZ ute that’s been my daily for 5 yrs. Got a few K’s on it, but she is mechanically great and still a real head turner 💜💜😊
A bit of trivia. A Chev v8 that was used to pump water here in...central Oz...arrived to our stores. It had laboured for, get this - 43000 hours. So imagine driving at say 1200-1500 rpm at more or less 100km/h, this engine had done time wise on a highway the equivalent of over 4 million kilometres. Now your mind will boggle. Not even the piston rings were changed. Change of oil every 300 hours, custom made multi stage air filtration system, some gaskets replacement, water pumps and pulleys. Major service 10,000 hours. The motor that replaced it? A Chev v8 from Mexico that cost $5.5k Brilliant 👏
I love it when a reviewer of Commodores just straight up acknowledges that if its got 8cylinders it spends more time sideways than straight and narrow lol
As a life long Ford man i bought one of these a year ago ( SSV Redline ) after owning 2 XR8 utes i gotta say it is WAY better than the ford utes independent rear makes it handle like a dream mine has had a small fortune thrown at it bushes, coilovers the works. It is by far one of the best cars i have owned and compares not to badly with the Porsches or Mercedes ive owned in the handling department.
@@SkiRacingOz Holden utes are good for 500Kg from memory and how often do you put 1 tonne in the back of a ute even the dual cab owners get around towing trailers for that! I bought mine for two reasons i needed a ute to carry things and i wanted a "sports car" , the office of war and finance said i can only have one car so this is the best of both worlds without all the compromises !
@@RavenSL65 yes but if you put 500 kg in the fordit will handle it a lot better than the Holden and it’s a whole lot more economical and easier to get around with stuff in the tray than a trailer, I feel ford should have offered a coil irs version though and Holden a leaf spring offering just for more customisability
@@SkiRacingOz I think holden did offer a 1 tonne but not many sold as everyone was moving to dual cabs like the hilux and amarok, Being a ford man i wish ford would have offered an irs ute, but they never did and leaf springs dont handle well.
I own a white 2008 Pontiac G8 (Commodore VE) with only 77K miles (124Km). I use it as my every other day driver & I love it. It gets attention almost everywhere it goes, & I get offers to sell it several times a month. It is a shame Holden & Pontiac are gone! A G8 Ute sitting next to my G8 sedan was in the planning stages when Pontiac was cancelled. Saturn was another great brand in the United States that was cancelled the same time as Pontiac. Hello from Phoenix Arizona USA!🔥
What a brilliant review, one of the best reviews I've seen and very thorough good job. I'm a Falcon man myself and own a FG XR6 Turbo and absolutely adore it and love it, lately I've grown a lot of appreciation for Commodores (especially VE and VF) they are great cars and as you stated these modern diesel utes etc are just so boring in comparison. I'd love to see a review on the FG Falcon.
Oh Callum thanks so bloody much. We might just have an XR6 Turbo ute review around the corner for you too! It's booked in and will hopefully go live in the next few weeks.
@@ReDriven To be honest I think you guys should review a Falcon sedan too, the seda IRS rear end is definitely more refined and better handling than a ute.
I had the S2, thunder, loved it, came with all the SSV stuff like info 19” rims partial leather etc. just didn’t like the missing info screen they took out and put in vents! Couldn’t sell it back then for much better than half Pprice now would be worth a fair bit! Same as my VL Calais in immaculate cond, got peanuts for it.
I have owned a completely factory spec 09 SSV and it was a magnificent ute. Sold it with 135k on it and wish i still had it as i upgraded to a VF which has far more tech in it but it just doesn't feel the same quality as the VE. The VF has just clocked up a 100k on it and now i have no idea of what to replace it with as i don't want a 4x4 diesel shit box.
I like the VF, in my opinion the VF sv6 was built alot better than the VE. I work on cars everyday as a car detailer, the quality of the VF feels so much better. But I still love a VE.
It's easy to see the bogan commodores... 1/ lowered 2/ stupid rims and tyres 3/ OTR intake. It's like a bogan playbook for stuffing your commodore and killing all resale. And lowered ones with stupid rims drive like shit but the bogans look so cool....but only to other bogans.
I just bought a VE SS UTE with 108,000 km to add to my other SS’s. I am 57 & really enjoy it. It’s really simple if you want to have a spirited drive keep the steering wheel straight. My favourite model is the VZ SS which I also have, in my opinion it is the best looking Commodore ever. It’s LS1 engine with headers, OTR, sports exhaust & tune is amazing. My first V8 was a VP SS which I still own, it had its 30th Birthday this year. I have others but that will do for today.
Well played by the keeping them all and not jumping from one to another to another like I did.... stupidly (in hindsight). Should have put them all in a garage on the property and rotated instead.
I got VE SS ute end of last year such a beautiful ute just needs work but bought that way can build arghhh im jealous mate. I had VK SS and VP calais I sold before the big boom in pricing and only got $2K for VK and 3K for VP both worth over 20,000. Well VK SS actually around 40K😢 But love my VE SS V8 going to do full cams and exhaust, special custom leather interior and repaint & few other things. But big thing and saving for is hopefully next year get the harrop supercharger 😍🔥 Any recommendations when building VE Ute's? Anyone? Any thing I have to look out for or best places to buy & get parts or things to do. Let me know. Anyway good luck on your collection after done VE SS will look for VK again treasure hunting 😅
It'd be nice if people could stop putting ridiculous money on them. I've got one, but it's probably staying with me until the grave. Cannot buy a good one cheap anymore.
yea i just saw on marketplace and carsales here in Melb recently, cheapest v8 holden in decent condition is about $25k. People just love these cars and see them as collectables or classics
2009 G8 owner w/90k ... Canadian Winter is hard on a vehicle so I garage it in winter. Problems w/ the V8's was not mentioned. Displacement on Demand IS a problem with these resulting in the hydraulic lifters that deactivate to get stuck and wear the followers on the cam lobes. This is a shame when you consider the LS motor was supposed to be near bulletproof. Would LOVE to buy a UTE but good quality copies of these are hitting near to $100k with import charges.
Awesome review mate. I found a LHD Chevrolet Lumina SS (based on a VE SS), 2008 model 6sp manual with 15,000km on it. It hadn't moved since 2009 and it was a complete barn find here in Dubai. It still had the original tyres from 2008 on it. Put some 6 piston brembos on it, BC racing coilovers, HKS Oil Cooler, OTR intake, headers, straight piped exhaust and a tune on it. Also i did the interior in alcantara so it looks way better. I updated all the lights, screens and electronics to 2021 stuff so it runs so smooth now and is way more comfortable, while still being a really fun car to drive. So happy with it as my weekend car. Impossible to find manuals here so I'll be keeping this for quite some time.
I've got the 2012 SS Wagon, the only reason I got it over a XR6T is the fact it's a wagon. Such a dying breed of a car body type and I always love a wagon, just so damn practical
100%!! Also biased owning a VZ Senator, and also had a VY Clubsport before that. VY-VZ’s aren’t so chunky and oversized, and all models in the VE were high production numbers.
I wish I had this Sick Ute! Sadly, I live in the US, so I don't have access to it nor the money to buy a modified left-hand drive version of it. But I do have the next best thing, a 1990 Chevy Caprice! Durable like an Aussie car mixed with a Russian Lady Riva!
Come on dude- the yanks had the pick up and Lew Bandt developed the first Ute in Australia. There is a difference, just look at the late model Falcon and commodore, the falcon is a pick up whilst the Holden is a Ute.
Your correct, the name ute has been “Modified” to the extent that they call any cab chassis a “Ute” these days, the word ute is just a shortened slang of the original “Coupe Utility” where the sheet metal of the load bed was part of the structure of the car and on a sedan car based design, and any of the so called “Utes” with a seperate load bed/tray is technically Not a Ute but should be a “PickUp” BA to FG’s included also when GM-H introduced the HQ Holdens they had the HQ utes and marketed their Cab Chassis versions as “One Tonners” Not as “Utes” and the public never referred to them as a “Ute” either now they call everything from a twin cab Hi-Lux a “Ute”
I hate commodores but love vs so much i have 2 5.0 litre utes and and a ss sedan. Lol. Was always a kingswood and torana with chev in em kinda guy. The vs looks the best out of all bommadores and after vs they became heavy turds with more things to go wrong. New com engine in vs well now thats alot of fun
I owned a manual VZ Thunder . I loved my ute so much I was never going to sell it . Did something I've done maybe a thousand times and on a cold damp early morning ... wrote it off . I value my vehicles and wasn't being stupid but ... it's got buckets of power and not enough tyre on the rear . Makes me sad every day for missing it .
I love my G8! I have a White 2008 G8, with only 77K miles on the clock currently. It gets looks everywhere it goes, & I get offers for it a couple times a month. Hold on to it!👍 Hello from Phoenix Arizona!🔥
I just bought one a week ago (March 2024), 2011 VE Series II with 71,900km's on the clock spotless all original condition Heron White with a genuine Holden hard-cover on it. Paid $33k for it but I figure that's reasonable maybe slightly high but I am happy with it. Still even has original exhaust system on it.
@@Gurp2yeah I do they think you want to race them or they want to show you how good their car is. I don’t bother with them I know there’s a lot cars faster than the SS these days
I bought last year a series 2 2010 SS wagon with 212k on the clock- and I must agree it still drives and handles beautifully no matter the conditions. The power delivery as well, definitely lazy yet also surprising sometimes, especially when the passengers aren't ready for it 😉
The US invented the pick up truck but not the ute. Ford Australia invented the coupè utility (ute) where a sedan car front has a tray incorporated as part of the body. All Hilux's, D-max, triton, navara etc, etc are not utes but pick up trucks...the only utes are falcon, commodore, chrysler/valiant, kingswood, fj and a few imports here and there that copied the initial Ford Australia ute design.
Ask the same question in 20 yrs, if you should have bought one? And the answer is yes. I’ve got a VF SS in the garage, and am glad to have one, and it’s the best part of my week, taking it out for a drive through the bends on the weekend.
2009 Ss ute, L98 manual. 370 000 k, was still running, vibration from exedy clutch so pulled it to rebuild. Only issue I've had was a leaking oil sender. My lifetime car!
....the Aussie sport cars. Two doors, two seats and room for fishing rods, a dirt bike, a swag, esky, bbq and the cattle dog 🐕 ....and missus...in the other seat. 😉
As a New Zealander I have the benefit of not being on Aussie dashcams and being painted with that 'idiot bogan brush'............................................ Instead I'm on NZ dashcam fails, and I've been painted with that 'bloody fkn nuisance' brush instead🙂
I used to drive a lot of SV6s in the last model as work rentals. Such a shame, they felt as good as a euro car (particularly steering feel versus an XR6) It was like they refined ever thing to near perfection then dumped it.
This is the first time I have watched this channel and I found it honest and informative without dragging on about incidental crap. I thought it was great ...then when the bloopers came at the end - it got me unexpectedly - I haven't laughed that hard in ages! well done!
I own a ve ss commodore ute with 92 k on the clock , never misses a beat and goes like a rocket, i grew watching brocky win the mountain some 10 times and the holden commodore to me is always a winner
I have a 2009 VE SS Sedan which I have owned for the past 8 years. It spends most of it's time locked in my back shed nowadays but I take it out for a run every few weeks. It has been a brilliant car and I love it to bits. It's a 6 speed auto which I swore I would never buy, but as soon as I drove it I was hooked. There's no way you will change gears as fast as this thing can. It was originally an unmarked NSW Highway Patrol car which worried me at first but it has never missed a beat. It has almost 180k on the clock and still drives like new.
I bought a VS V8 S Pack ute about 5 years ago. I paid 4 grand for it and I just wanted a cheap ute for general ute type use. Nowadays just about every time I take it somewhere, someone wants to buy it. I ain't selling it though. No point. I'd just have to find another one.
I've got a 2010 ss ute with 140k on the clock. All I've had to do is lifters and timing chain. It's copped a bit of abuse and the clutch and diff are still minty.
Legend!! Huge fan of the vf models and also senators 😍 never had a chance to drive one as I am from the states but if ever given the opportunity I would jump on it, great review.
my favourite commodore is the one I have: the 2014 HSV Maloo, which was worth every bloody cent, simply because, "I just want one." that and it's fun to mess with foreghners by driving around with no shirt on in a cork hat and shorties in a ute, because it's funny.
Dunno bout the ute but I have a 2011 series 2 VE SS Commodore sedan in Karma Blue, bought it full exhaust/intake 20 inch Simmons rims, lowered, perfect condition with 148000 Kay's (now haha) and I absolutely love it! Cam plans are coming, hopefully supercharger kit later and it's a lifer car that's for damn sure!
My son owns a 2005 MALOO in mint condition with every factory option and has been offered twice what he paid for it . This is also the case for his Kingsford ute which is a highly modified example of the marque . People smarter than me are already buying clean stock versions of any model Holden ute and storing them as an investment . Look at the prices being achieved for two door Monaro's and Toranas .
Had a 2008 VE SS series 1 manual sedan, absolutely loved it, It handled beautifully, Interior design could have been better for the billion holden spent developing it, on a drive to the south coast with 4 people in the car, aircon on, and in 6th gear, got 9.6 l/100 !!!
Great video! I did have a question however about the SS models. How does the AFM go in terms of saving fuel and noise when driving in suburban areas? Currently have a VE series 2 Omega in the same color and it is amazing to drive. Not quite as much power and the Sv6 or SS variants but still a breeze to drive and goes when I need it to. Still looks amazing even with the standard body panels. Eventually I will look to possibly moving onto a VE Sv6 or SS or possibly a VF if theyre not too pricey in the coming years. Fingers crossed!
What you save on fuel with the AFM model you will pay back in getting either a rebuild with AFM Delete kit, or failed lifters replaced with AFM delete kit installed.
Yep, I had a failed lifter in my L77 engine at 95,000km, VE Series 2. Removed and replaced with a new LS3 for not much more than a rebuild would have cost. If you can get a non-AFM car you'll have more reliability long term.
I purchased a series 2 with AFM 85k stock standard. Did my research and have decided that fresh oil and filter every 5000k should keep the lifters in good nik, wait and see. As for economy, town driving and giving it a squirt occasionally 400k from a tank, premium fuel only. I found driving it in sports shift mode seemed to suit where I live and I get slightly more than in normal drive mode. As for “common” VE faults, abs sensors, harmonic balancers, oil pressure switch (when this fails it stops AFM from working) replace it with genuine, aftermarket ones are crap, a mate has replaced 4! One thing with AFM models, upgraded exhausts will make it sound like a truck when operating! Hope this helps.
Love my VE ss ute, not a bogan but use it as a daily driver, getting a respectable 9.8 km per 100km on a recent trip from Brisbane , Melbourne, Adelaide and back. Love it so much fun to drive.
![NOSFERATU - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters December 25](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nulvWqYUM8k/mqdefault.jpg)
We've heard the video links we refer to in the videos are not showing on mobile. In this case it was our review of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class 7:10
Until we can work out why it's showing on desktop and not mobile, we will pin comment with the link here. Mercedes-Benz S-Class review- ruclips.net/video/MrU9fD7-m7Q/видео.html
lol you are a liar aren't you Australia did invent the ute with the Ford 1933 Ford ute coupe you showed, was designed by Australian Louis Brandt Ford Australia Aussie designed it.
Earlier ute you claim was a pickup truck, ute is a one piece unibody car bed design, pickup is seperate bed cabin..
@@nedkelly9688 quit bitching it was a mistake
@@WayneKerr69420 Not bitching lil girl and was not a mistake it was bad journalism like a lot do in these videos.
Some have no clue on true history and just spout BS misinformation.
We in Sunny South Africa have been fortunate enough to have had a limited run of these great vehicles, called Lumina here , from about 2005 to 2012 and they have already achieved collectors status here and are escalating in Price at about 15% per annum. I run a series 2 2006 6litre SS UTE in Diamond Black metallic with only 103,000 kms... on the clock which is factory stock except for a set of loud pipes and this is a real head turner over here. I fully endorse the comments of the tester. This is a highway cruiser par excellence and can easily see off many modern "sports" sedans and hot hatches in the stoplight grand prixs'.This is a vehicle from a time when life was a lot better than today and they will never make em like that again. I love my UTE.....
Totally agree with you.
It's a stunning car, I own a sedan ssv V8, I luv this machine and it's very easy to fix, and if we'll maintained by or give it a regular service jeeerrrr it will be just live.
Hi Herman I'm also from South Africa, I'm planning on getting a Lumina what's the difference between the Lumina SS and the Lumina SSV.
@@sizwenduduzow7139 Here in Aus, the SS has material seats, a basic stereo, basic speakers, and a basic gauge cluster. The SS-V has leather, nicer stereo with screen (can add reverse camera easily), MUCH better speakers and nicer gauge cluster.
now I know why us Aussies luv youse... ha so you reckon its a Sunny SA ha ha ha... Good day mate and God bless
over here in Oz, I have a HSV Maloo, 2014 model. I love my ute, as chucking about in it wearing shorty shorts and a cork hat with nothing else on and a slab of VB in the boot, accadacca coming from the speakers, I feel like the very embodiment of Australia. that"s a bloody excellent feeling.
The Commodore ute is the only modern ute where the body is cast as one piece. With any other manufacturer, they construct the tray separate and bolt it to the body leaving ugly gaps. Respect for the design.
One of many reasons I love the VE and even VF designs. It's just amazing to look at. I do like the Ford Falcon utes, especially the FG and FGX with the mustang looking grill. But the panel gap is just offputting
Cast,interesting?
The design wasn’t Holden’s 😂😂😂😂 the commodore wasn’t even Australian 😂😂😂😂
@@Bertholemu Yes it was?
@@Bertholemuso who designed Holden Ute? Opel? GMC? Settle down, you are not the next up-and -coming Jeremy Clarkson 😂
Fantastic review mate. I thoroughly enjoyed it, Thankyou.
I have a VE SS-V ute 2010 6sp manual and just ticked over 200,000km, daily driven and it still purrs nicely. Fuel usage around town is about 13-15/100, but on freeway is 8-10/100.
Wifey has a VE SS Sportswagon 2009 Auto and about 210,000km, daily driven on short trips 15-20km/100, on freeway for weekend getaways, we see 8-12km/100 fully loaded.
Both religiously serviced between 5-10,000km semi-synth virgin base, and the biggest issue we had is both had slight rear main seal leak. changed both and all good. There is a slight tick on startup which means the lifters are on their way out. All suspension is stock on both except for kings springs on my ute and aftermarket engine mounts. I Love'em.
I always wanted a VE ute, but was out of my price range. Ended up with a SSZ ute that’s been my daily for 5 yrs. Got a few K’s on it, but she is mechanically great and still a real head turner 💜💜😊
A bit of trivia. A Chev v8 that was used to pump water here in...central Oz...arrived to our stores. It had laboured for, get this - 43000 hours.
So imagine driving at say 1200-1500 rpm at more or less 100km/h, this engine had done time wise on a highway the equivalent of over 4 million kilometres.
Now your mind will boggle. Not even the piston rings were changed.
Change of oil every 300 hours, custom made multi stage air filtration system, some gaskets replacement, water pumps and pulleys. Major service 10,000 hours.
The motor that replaced it? A Chev v8 from Mexico that cost $5.5k
Brilliant 👏
I love it when a reviewer of Commodores just straight up acknowledges that if its got 8cylinders it spends more time sideways than straight and narrow lol
As a life long Ford man i bought one of these a year ago ( SSV Redline ) after owning 2 XR8 utes i gotta say it is WAY better than the ford utes independent rear makes it handle like a dream mine has had a small fortune thrown at it bushes, coilovers the works. It is by far one of the best cars i have owned and compares not to badly with the Porsches or Mercedes ive owned in the handling department.
Yeah but the fords having leaf springs and live axel in the rear mean they have a one tonne payload, the Holdens are utes yet they can’t carry shit
@@SkiRacingOz Holden utes are good for 500Kg from memory and how often do you put 1 tonne in the back of a ute even the dual cab owners get around towing trailers for that! I bought mine for two reasons i needed a ute to carry things and i wanted a "sports car" , the office of war and finance said i can only have one car so this is the best of both worlds without all the compromises !
@@RavenSL65 yes but if you put 500 kg in the fordit will handle it a lot better than the Holden and it’s a whole lot more economical and easier to get around with stuff in the tray than a trailer, I feel ford should have offered a coil irs version though and Holden a leaf spring offering just for more customisability
@@SkiRacingOz I think holden did offer a 1 tonne but not many sold as everyone was moving to dual cabs like the hilux and amarok, Being a ford man i wish ford would have offered an irs ute, but they never did and leaf springs dont handle well.
@@SkiRacingOz Nobody buying these vehicles these days care too much about that.
I own a white 2008 Pontiac G8 (Commodore VE) with only 77K miles (124Km). I use it as my every other day driver & I love it. It gets attention almost everywhere it goes, & I get offers to sell it several times a month. It is a shame Holden & Pontiac are gone! A G8 Ute sitting next to my G8 sedan was in the planning stages when Pontiac was cancelled. Saturn was another great brand in the United States that was cancelled the same time as Pontiac.
Hello from Phoenix Arizona USA!🔥
What a brilliant review, one of the best reviews I've seen and very thorough good job.
I'm a Falcon man myself and own a FG XR6 Turbo and absolutely adore it and love it, lately I've grown a lot of appreciation for Commodores (especially VE and VF) they are great cars and as you stated these modern diesel utes etc are just so boring in comparison.
I'd love to see a review on the FG Falcon.
Oh Callum thanks so bloody much.
We might just have an XR6 Turbo ute review around the corner for you too! It's booked in and will hopefully go live in the next few weeks.
@@ReDriven To be honest I think you guys should review a Falcon sedan too, the seda IRS rear end is definitely more refined and better handling than a ute.
I’m Ford man too and have 2011 XR6 non turbo ,but still very quick car.
@@ReDriven so howd ya go with that FG review? Id love to see the FG xr8 ute review.. clearly the direct opponent to this VE SS ute.
Will always have a soft spot for the V8 ute, despite it's image. Great review.
VE series 2 for sure is my fav, VF headlights ruined it
I had the S2, thunder, loved it, came with all the SSV stuff like info 19” rims partial leather etc. just didn’t like the missing info screen they took out and put in vents! Couldn’t sell it back then for much better than half Pprice now would be worth a fair bit! Same as my VL Calais in immaculate cond, got peanuts for it.
I remember watching the top gear boys throwing one of these around their track in the UK, and they absolutely loved it,
Clarkson famously summed it up by saying if you want a fun, reliable GM product? He said go to Australia & buy a Holden…
Just bought one this weekend. 110k kms bone stock with the 6spd. No regrets
Huge congrats mate. - AK
How much was it bro? And please share the specs
I agree mate just got one last Monday 2009 ss ute bone stock, 100,000km absolutely love it
I have owned a completely factory spec 09 SSV and it was a magnificent ute. Sold it with 135k on it and wish i still had it as i upgraded to a VF which has far more tech in it but it just doesn't feel the same quality as the VE. The VF has just clocked up a 100k on it and now i have no idea of what to replace it with as i don't want a 4x4 diesel shit box.
I like the VF, in my opinion the VF sv6 was built alot better than the VE. I work on cars everyday as a car detailer, the quality of the VF feels so much better. But I still love a VE.
Corvette running gear with a ute body on top don't get much better ay counts .
It's easy to see the bogan commodores... 1/ lowered 2/ stupid rims and tyres 3/ OTR intake. It's like a bogan playbook for stuffing your commodore and killing all resale. And lowered ones with stupid rims drive like shit but the bogans look so cool....but only to other bogans.
Mines lowered with otr 20s and full exhaust. Wat car have u got mate ?
just bought an 07 VE SS Ute 6 speed manual L98 atomic green bone stock immaculate condition 135k kms such a nice car to drive
Hows the tech? Not too good. That's the best tech there is, none!
I just bought a VE SS UTE with 108,000 km to add to my other SS’s. I am 57 & really enjoy it. It’s really simple if you want to have a spirited drive keep the steering wheel straight. My favourite model is the VZ SS which I also have, in my opinion it is the best looking Commodore ever. It’s LS1 engine with headers, OTR, sports exhaust & tune is amazing. My first V8 was a VP SS which I still own, it had its 30th Birthday this year. I have others but that will do for today.
Man what are your other ss's besides the vp, vz and the new ve ss ute? I love em as much as you do
So
@@aussiegruber86 bit cut there matey?
Well played by the keeping them all and not jumping from one to another to another like I did.... stupidly (in hindsight). Should have put them all in a garage on the property and rotated instead.
I got VE SS ute end of last year such a beautiful ute just needs work but bought that way can build arghhh im jealous mate. I had VK SS and VP calais I sold before the big boom in pricing and only got $2K for VK and 3K for VP both worth over 20,000. Well VK SS actually around 40K😢
But love my VE SS V8 going to do full cams and exhaust, special custom leather interior and repaint & few other things. But big thing and saving for is hopefully next year get the harrop supercharger 😍🔥
Any recommendations when building VE Ute's? Anyone? Any thing I have to look out for or best places to buy & get parts or things to do. Let me know.
Anyway good luck on your collection after done VE SS will look for VK again treasure hunting 😅
I have a 2010 VE SSV sedan, have owned it for 11 of its near 12 years and love it as much as I always have. Can't go wrong with these cars 💖
It'd be nice if people could stop putting ridiculous money on them. I've got one, but it's probably staying with me until the grave. Cannot buy a good one cheap anymore.
yea i just saw on marketplace and carsales here in Melb recently, cheapest v8 holden in decent condition is about $25k. People just love these cars and see them as collectables or classics
should you buy one? if you have a fluoro vest, pull cones &dropped out of primary school then YES you should buy one
You can service them no issues, unreal torque/ power and reliability for days/ absolute Icon and I’d have 100 of these before anything else.
2009 G8 owner w/90k ... Canadian Winter is hard on a vehicle so I garage it in winter. Problems w/ the V8's was not mentioned. Displacement on Demand IS a problem with these resulting in the hydraulic lifters that deactivate to get stuck and wear the followers on the cam lobes. This is a shame when you consider the LS motor was supposed to be near bulletproof.
Would LOVE to buy a UTE but good quality copies of these are hitting near to $100k with import charges.
This channel definitely deserves more subscribers!! Very practical videos mate.
Ah thanks so much Farhan. - AK
Awesome review mate. I found a LHD Chevrolet Lumina SS (based on a VE SS), 2008 model 6sp manual with 15,000km on it. It hadn't moved since 2009 and it was a complete barn find here in Dubai. It still had the original tyres from 2008 on it.
Put some 6 piston brembos on it, BC racing coilovers, HKS Oil Cooler, OTR intake, headers, straight piped exhaust and a tune on it. Also i did the interior in alcantara so it looks way better. I updated all the lights, screens and electronics to 2021 stuff so it runs so smooth now and is way more comfortable, while still being a really fun car to drive.
So happy with it as my weekend car. Impossible to find manuals here so I'll be keeping this for quite some time.
Thanks so much Brendan. - AK
Do a video on it dude I'd love to see it!
@@tonyv5202 hey mate not really my thing, but you can see it on my Instagram its just under my name.
These ve’s are bulletproof, service them every 5,000km and they will never die
My VZ SS ute is in very good condition.LS1 with 250000 on it. Daily drive for years now. Solid unit.
Kinda devo that Holden is no more. That’s a part of my childhood gone forever. Anyway, years aside, the vy-vx shape still looks hard to this day.
I've got the 2012 SS Wagon, the only reason I got it over a XR6T is the fact it's a wagon. Such a dying breed of a car body type and I always love a wagon, just so damn practical
The wagon may be a dying breed, but the ute is officially extinct. I’ll keep mine on the road for as long as I can.
I’m lucky to have the VE HSV HOLDEN MALOO. BIIIG LS3. It’s a beast. Sooo much power.
Those are so rare, and highly collectible now; LSA engine just like in my ZL1, innit mate?
The main Problem must be the 100 km/h speed limit and shit roads
Never was a big fan of the VE, but I’m a bit biased due to owning a VZ SSZ, always preferred vy-vz
Never sell that VZ SSV mate! Or if you do, call me first! - AK
That makes 2 of us
100%!! Also biased owning a VZ Senator, and also had a VY Clubsport before that. VY-VZ’s aren’t so chunky and oversized, and all models in the VE were high production numbers.
Vz vy are the best commodores hands down
vzs are lighter and look way more aggressive
I wish I had this Sick Ute! Sadly, I live in the US, so I don't have access to it nor the money to buy a modified left-hand drive version of it. But I do have the next best thing, a 1990 Chevy Caprice! Durable like an Aussie car mixed with a Russian Lady Riva!
Come on dude- the yanks had the pick up and Lew Bandt developed the first Ute in Australia. There is a difference, just look at the late model Falcon and commodore, the falcon is a pick up whilst the Holden is a Ute.
Your correct, the name ute has been “Modified” to the extent that they call any cab chassis a “Ute” these days, the word ute is just a shortened slang of the original “Coupe Utility” where the sheet metal of the load bed was part of the structure of the car and on a sedan car based design, and any of the so called “Utes” with a seperate load bed/tray is technically Not a Ute but should be a “PickUp” BA to FG’s included also when GM-H introduced the HQ Holdens they had the HQ utes and marketed their Cab Chassis versions as “One Tonners” Not as “Utes” and the public never referred to them as a “Ute” either now they call everything from a twin cab Hi-Lux a “Ute”
Vs is my personal favorite Commodore model, however I do appreciate all models of Commodore
I hate commodores but love vs so much i have 2 5.0 litre utes and and a ss sedan. Lol. Was always a kingswood and torana with chev in em kinda guy. The vs looks the best out of all bommadores and after vs they became heavy turds with more things to go wrong. New com engine in vs well now thats alot of fun
I owned a manual VZ Thunder . I loved my ute so much I was never going to sell it . Did something I've done maybe a thousand times and on a cold damp early morning ... wrote it off . I value my vehicles and wasn't being stupid but ... it's got buckets of power and not enough tyre on the rear . Makes me sad every day for missing it .
As a G8 owner in the states, everytime you say it's cheap and easy to buy parts makes my blood boil. For it is very far from either of those here. Lol
I love my G8! I have a White 2008 G8, with only 77K miles on the clock currently. It gets looks everywhere it goes, & I get offers for it a couple times a month. Hold on to it!👍
Hello from Phoenix Arizona!🔥
Holden Commedore
Pontiac GTO
Chevorlet SS
Pontiac G8
All lovely machines gone too soon 😢
I just bought one a week ago (March 2024), 2011 VE Series II with 71,900km's on the clock spotless all original condition Heron White with a genuine Holden hard-cover on it. Paid $33k for it but I figure that's reasonable maybe slightly high but I am happy with it. Still even has original exhaust system on it.
Nothing comes close to the Falcon XR 6 Turbo,
@@Alladin-n5j your entitled to your opinion, but as long as their Aussie built
Do you often get tailgated or random people wanting to race you when driving the VE?
@@Gurp2yeah I do they think you want to race them or they want to show you how good their car is. I don’t bother with them I know there’s a lot cars faster than the SS these days
i got one 6 years ago never had a bit of trouble with it and its still going strong ,love my purple ve ss
Awesome mate.
I bought last year a series 2 2010 SS wagon with 212k on the clock- and I must agree it still drives and handles beautifully no matter the conditions. The power delivery as well, definitely lazy yet also surprising sometimes, especially when the passengers aren't ready for it 😉
My vyss ute ill never sell it
The US invented the pick up truck but not the ute. Ford Australia invented the coupè utility (ute) where a sedan car front has a tray incorporated as part of the body.
All Hilux's, D-max, triton, navara etc, etc are not utes but pick up trucks...the only utes are falcon, commodore, chrysler/valiant, kingswood, fj and a few imports here and there that copied the initial Ford Australia ute design.
Ask the same question in 20 yrs, if you should have bought one? And the answer is yes. I’ve got a VF SS in the garage, and am glad to have one, and it’s the best part of my week, taking it out for a drive through the bends on the weekend.
That car does have Bluetooth. You can see the phone icon on the steering wheel.
I have one, 79000kms , no mods except HSV wheels installed by GMH with compliance plate. Love it. I finally got one
😂😂excellent review, gave me a good laugh. I’ve got a stock 2010 SSV black Ute, absolutely love it don’t think I could ever part with it.
Cheers so much Kevo
Yep, I've got a black 6sp ssv g8 pack 1 of 500. Like a sports car that you can put stuff in. 👌
What does your public image have anything to do with buying a car?
I'm glad even a 'car guy' doesn't like reversing these monster trucks lol
If you can work on cars, you should buy one.
If you cant, you should just walk.
Having a ute means never having to take anyone's kids anywhere. Unfortunately you end up taking the rest of their crap places.
2009 Ss ute, L98 manual.
370 000 k, was still running, vibration from exedy clutch so pulled it to rebuild. Only issue I've had was a leaking oil sender.
My lifetime car!
Easy on the bogans mate. That’s Bogsoginy. Apart from that, good review.
Hahahaha just taking the piss mate!
I searched the letters you put together "Bogsoginy" and Google had a fit trying desperately at every dictionary! 😂
@@gangstashots3298 so can I claim credit for inventing a new word?
@@scottyj7132 Might as well.
I got a 2014 vf 6 spd manual push button start push button handbrake 6 ltire its fuckin awsome just needs a super charger! Love it
Life is too short to care what people think about you!
Truth is, these American V8's(GM, Ford) can last for 300k-500k miles with proper care....
....the Aussie sport cars. Two doors, two seats and room for fishing rods, a dirt bike, a swag, esky, bbq and the cattle dog 🐕 ....and missus...in the other seat. 😉
Was that the shortest "what goes wrong?" section ever?
Best fucking car ever until it left Australia production
As a New Zealander I have the benefit of not being on Aussie dashcams and being painted with that 'idiot bogan brush'............................................ Instead I'm on NZ dashcam fails, and I've been painted with that 'bloody fkn nuisance' brush instead🙂
It seems you kiwis managed to dodge all the "hoon" bullshit that is used to bring in more draconian legislation in aus. lucky fuckers
Alternator went in my VE SV6 wagon at 210kms 2 months after I purchased 😭😭😭
I got myself a ve ss thunder ute at the beginning of 2020 with high kms 175000 for 13k and it still drives so Smooth and I love it
That was a good price holy fuck
@@josephsultana5953 I was Lucky for sure
I just want the stereotype that only bogans own Holdens to go away 😂😂
Same mate. It's ruining a great car.
I used to drive a lot of SV6s in the last model as work rentals. Such a shame, they felt as good as a euro car (particularly steering feel versus an XR6) It was like they refined ever thing to near perfection then dumped it.
Yes, ffs, yes
They are going to be worth a bloody fortune. My mum sold her GTS for 28grand and it's worth 300 thousand now
Hold on mate... $300k is an optimistic price lol
I love my VE but the blind spots on the A pillars are ridiculous. Driving my old VX is a lot more enjoyable
Thankyou for making the price go up 10% 🤦♂️😂
This is the first time I have watched this channel and I found it honest and informative without dragging on about incidental crap.
I thought it was great ...then when the bloopers came at the end - it got me unexpectedly - I haven't laughed that hard in ages! well done!
Really hoping there’s a Falcon episode in the works with the Barra Turbo as the example. Miss these cars greatly
I own a ve ss commodore ute with 92 k on the clock , never misses a beat and goes like a rocket, i grew watching brocky win the mountain some 10 times and the holden commodore to me is always a winner
They are great cars! Bogans be damned.
I have a 2009 VE SS Sedan which I have owned for the past 8 years. It spends most of it's time locked in my back shed nowadays but I take it out for a run every few weeks. It has been a brilliant car and I love it to bits. It's a 6 speed auto which I swore I would never buy, but as soon as I drove it I was hooked. There's no way you will change gears as fast as this thing can. It was originally an unmarked NSW Highway Patrol car which worried me at first but it has never missed a beat. It has almost 180k on the clock and still drives like new.
I bought a VS V8 S Pack ute about 5 years ago. I paid 4 grand for it and I just wanted a cheap ute for general ute type use. Nowadays just about every time I take it somewhere, someone wants to buy it. I ain't selling it though. No point. I'd just have to find another one.
I've got a 2010 ss ute with 140k on the clock. All I've had to do is lifters and timing chain. It's copped a bit of abuse and the clutch and diff are still minty.
bloopers were hilarious! so ozzy........F!!K
Cheers mate!
Legend!! Huge fan of the vf models and also senators 😍 never had a chance to drive one as I am from the states but if ever given the opportunity I would jump on it, great review.
Hey @ReDriven could you do one of these reviews on HSV Maloo’s!!
Cheers
Picked up a 2014 Commodore VF Redline 34,000 KM....Love it and was around the 40K
WTF? A redline at that price? Unfkn believeable….😮
my baby is a Holden VT commodore
Bloody nice Ute 👍🇦🇺👍🇦🇺👍🇦🇺
loved my ve ssv redline .... so much fun on the twisting range headed down the coast
future classic I reckon, great review and amazing scenery - where were you shooting?
100% mate! We shot this at the beautiful Fernbank Farm near Wyong Creek on the NSW Central Coast. - AK
Future? Nah already is.
my favourite commodore is the one I have: the 2014 HSV Maloo, which was worth every bloody cent, simply because, "I just want one." that and it's fun to mess with foreghners by driving around with no shirt on in a cork hat and shorties in a ute, because it's funny.
xr6 turbo review soon?
Al ready on it mate, coming very soon!
Dunno bout the ute but I have a 2011 series 2 VE SS Commodore sedan in Karma Blue, bought it full exhaust/intake 20 inch Simmons rims, lowered, perfect condition with 148000 Kay's (now haha) and I absolutely love it!
Cam plans are coming, hopefully supercharger kit later and it's a lifer car that's for damn sure!
It comes down to the fact that if you have never owned one , or any real ute, than you don't know what you are missing out on 👍👍👍👍👍👍
My son owns a 2005 MALOO in mint condition with every factory option and has been offered twice what he paid for it . This is also the case for his Kingsford ute which is a highly modified example of the marque . People smarter than me are already buying clean stock versions of any model Holden ute and storing them as an investment . Look at the prices being achieved for two door Monaro's and Toranas .
My bf owns a VS 1996 Commodore and does burnouts in them all day. Love the commies
Who pays for the new tires? 🤔
@@gangstashots3298 obviously me 😉 heheh, it was a birthday gift!
Hello what could i get for a Commodore ute v8 su 1997
This channel is great, I was just watching a more recent video and though great if you had done the VE and here it is! Awesome.
Do love a V8 great review keep up the good work.
Had a 2008 VE SS series 1 manual sedan, absolutely loved it, It handled beautifully, Interior design could have been better for the billion holden spent developing it, on a drive to the south coast with 4 people in the car, aircon on, and in 6th gear, got 9.6 l/100 !!!
Haha i love the subtle poke at the owners of these things...i was waiting for it tbh.
You mean bogans? Are those like the U.S. hillbillies or rednecks?
A ute is adapted from using a sedan chassis, this makes utes uniquely Australian.
It does have Bluetooth. My series one SV6 and SSV both have Bluetooth for your phone.
Great video! I did have a question however about the SS models. How does the AFM go in terms of saving fuel and noise when driving in suburban areas?
Currently have a VE series 2 Omega in the same color and it is amazing to drive. Not quite as much power and the Sv6 or SS variants but still a breeze to drive and goes when I need it to. Still looks amazing even with the standard body panels.
Eventually I will look to possibly moving onto a VE Sv6 or SS or possibly a VF if theyre not too pricey in the coming years. Fingers crossed!
What you save on fuel with the AFM model you will pay back in getting either a rebuild with AFM Delete kit, or failed lifters replaced with AFM delete kit installed.
Yep, I had a failed lifter in my L77 engine at 95,000km, VE Series 2. Removed and replaced with a new LS3 for not much more than a rebuild would have cost. If you can get a non-AFM car you'll have more reliability long term.
I purchased a series 2 with AFM 85k stock standard. Did my research and have decided that fresh oil and filter every 5000k should keep the lifters in good nik, wait and see. As for economy, town driving and giving it a squirt occasionally 400k from a tank, premium fuel only. I found driving it in sports shift mode seemed to suit where I live and I get slightly more than in normal drive mode. As for “common” VE faults, abs sensors, harmonic balancers, oil pressure switch (when this fails it stops AFM from working) replace it with genuine, aftermarket ones are crap, a mate has replaced 4! One thing with AFM models, upgraded exhausts will make it sound like a truck when operating! Hope this helps.
Here in the US, these would appeal to people with mullets and wear shorts with cowboy boots. Hard pass
That might be a trend that has already occurred here mate!
What about the Pontiac G8 or chevy SS?
Probably drives a Yaris
Same in Australia.
I love the VE commodore! It was and still is my favourite generation. I am currently fixing a black Holden Calais V-Series 3.6 from 2007.
Love my VE ss ute, not a bogan but use it as a daily driver, getting a respectable 9.8 km per 100km on a recent trip from Brisbane , Melbourne, Adelaide and back. Love it so much fun to drive.
Defeats the fact it's a ute when it weighs near 2 ton like the sedans. Vs ute is the aussie classic and is half a ton lighter