Gen F HSV GTS Review, 0-100 in 4.4s

[AGS302]

Originally Posted by Lardman

Well that makes sense considering the competitor to the running gear in the current GTS is what the ZL1 Camaro runs - designed to compete with the GT500 Shelby 'Stang, which a GT is somewhat a tier below I feel. (In terms of complete package and what it's designed to do).

Realistically KPM's 500hp package would be what you'd want to use as a comparison platform. Even with the R-spec.

Ford Australia needs far more than $200 in promises to redev the falcon. They need international interest in it.

KPM's package is 500kw not HP and comparing factory tuned vs aftermarket is like comparing apples and oranges.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I don't really care what the GTS can do, I'm not going to get one but kudos to HSV for producing it.

I love my R-SPEC; best car I've ever owned and gives me a thrill every time I drive it!!

Yeap I feel the same as you Jim.

[Lardman]

Originally Posted by AGS302

KPM's package is 500kw not HP and comparing factory tuned vs aftermarket is like comparing apples and oranges.

The Shelby GT500 'stang is offered by the factory but essentially it's handed off to the mob at Shelby to spruce up.

It's not apples and oranges when you look at the technical spec and what they're meant to do, along with a rough costing. Then look at how much comfort suffers (not much at all between the KPM pack and the GT500 pack). KPM's is at the flywheel too, GT500 is underrated massively from factory, so I'm going to assume them very equal. Then you look at the widened track from both packs, the suspension upgrades, etc. Seems comparable to me.

Just because something is done 'aftermarket' doesn't mean it can't be compared. If you really want a vague comparison between the KPM500 pack, then grab a Henessy tuning pack for the ZL1 and use that.

[Alan D Segal]

Originally Posted by Lardman

Just because something is done 'aftermarket' doesn't mean it can't be compared. If you really want a vague comparison between the KPM500 pack, then grab a Henessy tuning pack for the ZL1 and use that.

Wouldn't the Hennessy-tuned ZL1 best be compared against a Hennessy-tuned GT500, since they offer products for both cars?

[TMC]

Originally Posted by PepeLePew

Many of you were but some of you weren't around when we lived through the power starved times when Aussie built cars were good for a yawn. Happy times we're in, enjoy them and lets not nitpick. These are our last hurrahs. For now.

Badges are becoming irrelevant, wallow in the sun while we can

I totally agree with this. In the late eighties, early nineties, many dreamed of a big Chevy V8 in a Commodore as the asthmatic red, blue black sixes and over hyped underpowered Holden V8's were just so boring unless you did a ton of work. Now look what we've got. Enjoy it while it lasts. Soon we'll have 4 cylinder diesels with electric engines, diesel electric cars. Sighhhh.

[flooded one]

just read in top gear there review of the GTS. they estimate a 0-100km/h time in 4.5 sec. I wonder when or if we will see a time faster then. 4.5 seconds and or a faster time then 12.6sec. cause all this estimate **** just seems too tell me this thing isn't any faster

[Rodge]

Jaguar claim 0-100 of 4.9 seconds for their 375kw SC XFR yet Autocar N.Z. recently achieved a time of 4.6 seconds using proper Vbox timing quipment running 95 Octane fuel.

0.3 seconds under Jaguar's claim, something you'll die never seeing this in regard to any HSV, if anything their times are consistently about 0.3 seconds optimistic compared to what people actually achieve.

430 Kw's yeah right, on Mickey Mouse's dyno

[flooded one]

and its also funny. people think that because its producing 430kw at the flywheel, its going too be making that at the wheels. I reckon it would be making about 310kw mark at the tyres personally.

[Grunter]

I wonder how they respond to tuning?

I can say for mine, that in photos the GTS looks kind of strange, but white in the flesh, not to bad at all.

[SLVR GT]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0fqU8X4Atc

[GTP534]

I've seen a couple of VF Clubsports; both were all black with the black wheels.

Looked OK to me. One guy gave me the thumbs up as I drove past him in the R-Spec at a tee intersection. I gave him a wave in acknowledgement.

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I've seen a couple of VF Clubsports; both were all black with the black wheels.

Looked OK to me. One guy gave me the thumbs up as I drove past him in the R-Spec at a tee intersection. I gave him a wave in acknowledgement.

Totally agree, like them in the flesh, even like the tacky gauges inside.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by GTP534

I've seen a couple of VF Clubsports; both were all black with the black wheels.

Looked OK to me. One guy gave me the thumbs up as I drove past him in the R-Spec at a tee intersection. I gave him a wave in acknowledgement.

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Totally agree, like them in the flesh, even like the tacky gauges inside.

I can recommend a great place where you guys can buy yourselves a bloody good seeing-eye dog

[EDManual]

That caddy didn't do much with a tune?
Looks like my little triumph tr7 now i can get some grip in 1st and 2nd is still faster than a gts to 100 ;-) can't wait to see one in my mirror!

[Rob 351]

Didn't do that much without a tune either. Are you sure that is the same spec engine they are running in the new GTS??? Can't be surely....

[GQ_Smooth]

Originally Posted by Rodge

I can recommend a great place where you guys can buy yourselves a bloody good seeing-eye dog

No accounting for taste, I like the look of AU2, AU3's I also like the TW Magna's. A guide dog wouldn't be a bad idea sometimes.

[40RDT]

I wouldnt get too caught up in those dyno figures they seem abnormally low for a cts-v, they do run low 12's high 11's on the quarter.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/06/...er-mile-video/

[Chopped]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvKj6dVAQz8

http://www.topgear.com/au/car-news/h...-burnout-viewa

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by 40RDT

I wouldnt get too caught up in those dyno figures they seem abnormally low for a cts-v, they do run low 12's high 11's on the quarter in perfect conditions with very wide section ultra sticky Michelin Pilot Super sports tyres.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/06/...er-mile-video/

Fixed that for ya

[40RDT]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Fixed that for ya

Yes factory tyres and?

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Fixed that for ya

Manufacturers are free to choose whatever tyres they deem best fit for the car. Any one can choose them and hey if they're that good then Ford should have too

[Rodge]

All I'm saying is Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Dunlop Sport Maxx's are not an equal match and one of the reasons for the said vehicle runnig the time it did is the use of best possible tyres. Of course if some of the SC 335 owners fitted 285 section Michelin tyres to their cars, you think the 12.3's might come down a bit...

Of course FPV could fit tyres that cost $1,000 a corner to replace but do you really think that would make owners happy come replacement time...

But yes, yes, yes, the terminal velocity of 188 k.p.h. does indicate the LSA has some decent grunt too, are all closet GM lovers happy now ?

[40RDT]

Are Michelin Pilot Sports really $1000 each?

[40RDT]

Btw the video I posted was to give everyone an idea of what the GTS may be capable of seeing they have similar specs to CTS-V not to try and bag the GT.

The GT would be close to those times also it were running the same tyres

[TS50AU]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Of course FPV could fit tyres that cost $1,000 a corner to replace but do you really think that would make owners happy come replacement time...

It would make me happy!

I priced Sport Maxx 275/30/19 at Bob Jane late last year and the guy turned the screen around to show me because he didn't think I'd believe him. Price listed was $1460 EACH.
On those grounds the michys are a definite option come replacement time as I will save a grand at one end of the car...

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by 40RDT

Btw the video I posted was to give everyone an idea of what the GTS may be capable of seeing they have similar specs to CTS-V not to try and bag the GT.

The GT would be close to those times also it were running the same tyres

I believe they would be very close to that. I know McNews paid just on $A3,000 for a set of 4 Michelin Pilot Supersports but only two were the wider rubber like the poster above mentioned and the other two were the standard 245/35/19 for the front tyres.

Its all very well to fit fancy wide rubber but yeah replacement costs can make people's eye's water.

OTOH just for the sake of real world comparison I just scored an amazing deal on a full set of new 245/35/19 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2's for $999 which are very highly regarded tyres. Tyre sizes / brands can make a huge difference to replacement price !!

If I was asked for $4,000 right at the minute for replacement tyres that would be bloody annoying.

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by Rodge

Of course FPV could fit tyres that cost $1,000 a corner to replace but do you really think that would make owners happy come replacement time...

That's up to the owner to decide what tyres they replace them with.
its not a standard family run about, it is a performance sedan with a price tag that would indicate the owner should be able to afford maintenance of the vehicle. On the other hand if they don't want the OEM tyres on the car and find others then so be it. Hell my Focus came with Continentals that retailed for $700 a tyre, didn't make me upset I just chose a different brand and compound.

You can't blame a manufacturer for choosing a tyre that best suits their car. All car companies do it.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by TS50AU

It would make me happy!

I priced Sport Maxx 275/30/19 at Bob Jane late last year and the guy turned the screen around to show me because he didn't think I'd believe him. Price listed was $1460 EACH.
On those grounds the michys are a definite option come replacement time as I will save a grand at one end of the car...

Ouch mate, that's seriously OTT you're welcome to that wider rubber. Look what I just paid for a full set of 4 tyres for my SC GT-P and that was Kiwi dollars = approx $A870

You can't blame a manufacturer for choosing a tyre that best suits their car. All car companies do it.

I'm not blaming the manufacturer, you're mis-interpreting what I said. All I'm saying is that Michelin Pilot Super Sports and Dunlop Sport Maxx's are not an equal comparison and that if you shod a SC FPV with the more expensive and wider rubber you'd probably see the 12.3 seconds people are often getting with their stock SC FPV's running pretty avergae 245/35/19 rubber come down a bit.

Look at it another way, I'm saying the selection of MPSS rubber helps the CTS-V get the number it did, albeit it seems that was a GM sponsored you-tube clip. Simple logic suggests a number (12.3) that's been repeatably hit by a large number of stock SC 335 owners is probably more likely to be realistic and repeatable than a one-off sponsored by GM Where did they hide the super high octane fuel again

[Danny]

Originally Posted by 40RDT

Are Michelin Pilot Sports really $1000 each?

Yep,

I bought them for my RS Megane after the OEM ultra short life Continental CS5P's decided to last about 15,000km.

I bought mine from Tirerack USA though, so paid about $1200 for the set landed in AU. They are a phenomenal tyre. Absolutely fantastic, worth every penny I paid for them, and are wearing extremely well so far. Arguably still a good tyre even at the Au "gouge me please" prices.

[GQ_Smooth]

Wish I had that kind of money to spend on rubber.

If the GTS in the review was a genuine spec car (not a production special), it's still faster than an R-spec (which it should be considering it's a generation ahead, with a global performance engine, not a locally developed add on done on a very tight budget). I'm of the opinion the Miami is better value proposition, but overall the LSA is (rightly) a superior power plant.