Anyone driven an SS ute?

BFYOOT · 17-12-2013, 10:30 AM

Gday all,
My faithful ute (BF XR8) is getting to the point where im seriously thinking about trading for a new ute. Ive had a look at the GS ute, but they are a bit pricey new and not too many good 2nd hand ones around unfortunately. I love the V8's so Im considering looking at the enemy, in particular the SS ute. Price and appearance look pretty good. Has anyone driven one, especially in comparison to the ford/fpv utes? Any suggestions?
Cheers

Trump · 17-12-2013, 10:45 AM

SSV Redline ute is a good bit of kit...

(I feel dirty now, need to shower and scrub).

johnydep · 17-12-2013, 11:05 AM

Got my SS-V yesterday afternoon. What do I think about it

It is an amazing piece of machine. Smooth, quiet, comfortable, handles, power. I couldn't get the smile of my face, and I reluctantly garaged it for the night.

Negatives - A pillar is large and can obstruct vision on tight right handers. The iLink takes a bit of getting used to.

Would I buy another - yes!

Trump · 17-12-2013, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

Got my SS-V yesterday afternoon. What do I think about it

It is an amazing piece of machine. Smooth, quiet, comfortable, handles, power. I couldn't get the smile of my face, and I reluctantly garaged it for the night.

Negatives - A pillar is large and can obstruct vision on tight right handers. The iLink takes a bit of getting used to.

Would I buy another - yes!

Redline?

johnydep · 17-12-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loud_Noises

Redline?

No. I like my comfort. The SS-V is firm enough for me.

lucas2 · 17-12-2013, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnydep

Smooth, quiet, comfortable, handles, power.

Agreed, I can only talk about the VE, but it's a nice ute to drive and sounds good with a proper exhaust. The auto can be a little hesitant and sluggish, but still performs well. It's fast, but didn't quite put a smile on my face like the FG XR6T did.

I would buy one.

johnydep · 17-12-2013, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucas2

Agreed, I can only talk about the VE, but it's a nice ute to drive and sounds good with a proper exhaust. The auto can be a little hesitant and sluggish, but still performs well. It's fast, but didn't quite put a smile on my face like the FG XR6T did.

I would buy one.

The auto has been reprogrammed, and it is noticeable. In D the up and down shift timing is perfect, feels very well sorted. Haven't given it a good blast in Sport yet.

Yeah, the exhaust is a bit on the quiet side unless you blast it. But the insulation is so good the exhaust sounds quieter than it really is.

big_landau · 17-12-2013, 12:14 PM

I have driven a ss thunder ute with the 6.0L engine, went realy well like a drink but. if your not worried about fuel nothing wrong with them.

blk6t · 17-12-2013, 01:16 PM

Owned a SSV Ute, liked it apart from the auto but apparently the autos are very much sorted out now.

The big wins for me over the Ford ute is cabin layout and proper compartments behind the seats and plenty of room unlike the old VY/VZ utes. The Holden utes in my opinion ride better than the Ford, absorb more over bumps and through the bends with the IRS. Plus the Holden utes look good, I think better than the sedans.

Performance is good, lots of torque for a NA 6L V8, it's no supercharged Ford V8 but it still does a good job.

For a good run around V8 ute, you can't really look past it. When I looked, the Ford utes were more expensive, less tech and standard equipment and for some reason the FG utes don't do a lot for me.

The only sweetener Ford offers is the 6T...

b2tf · 17-12-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big_landau

I have driven a ss thunder ute with the 6.0L engine, went realy well like a drink but. if your not worried about fuel nothing wrong with them.

No different to a BOSS........

Yellow_Festiva · 17-12-2013, 02:14 PM

Brother just got one. Go like a cut snake, way too quiet! Needs a deep throaty exhaust.

He hates the ute cover, just clips into place, bit like a zip lock bag.

His first mods will be exhaust, tune and a hard cover I believe.

Express · 17-12-2013, 03:27 PM

I’ve owned two VE UTES a SSV and now a SS.

Both with 4 into 1’s, 100 cell cats, 3 inch twin exhaust, OTRCAI, tuned, running on 20x8.5 and 20x10 and dropped on their guts with Kings SSSL springs and short shocks.

The first was an auto and after the tranny was tuned it ran very well (the VF has had an updated tune compared to the VE).

My current SS is a manual which makes for a fun car.

They both handle well and have the comfort of an equivalent Commodore sedan excepted my current SS has SSSL HD springs and I'd never go the HD's again, the car tends to skate a little through the bends.

Both easily make enough power to spin the wheels through 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

The VE is bare boned compared to the kit in the VF.

.

devilcv8 · 17-12-2013, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

He hates the ute cover, just clips into place, bit like a zip lock bag.

It's better than looping an elastic strap down to a hook. Best time to fit the cover when new is on a hot day. Layit out and let it get hot then back, then sides.

Yellow_Festiva · 18-12-2013, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devilcv8

It's better than looping an elastic strap down to a hook. Best time to fit the cover when new is on a hot day. Layit out and let it get hot then back, then sides.

Fitting isn't the issue, it fitted up well right from new, I guess the fact it was hot helped. I think my brother was getting at the fact if you loaded anything that protruded above the tub the cover would be useless. I guess the hooks and elastic loops were a bit more forgiving in that respect.

Express · 18-12-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Fitting isn't the issue, it fitted up well right from new, I guess the fact it was hot helped. I think my brother was getting at the fact if you loaded anything that protruded above the tub the cover would be useless. I guess the hooks and elastic loops were a bit more forgiving in that respect.

Hint: If you look at the underside of the soft tonneau cover on a VE UTE, you'll see the elastic robe with hooks that connect to the edge channel around the tray. They're hidden away during normal use.

The tonneau cover is also adjustable at the cross front bar. It has 3 stages of adjustment to tighten or loosen the cover though leaving it in the sun for a little while is also a good trick.

.

johnydep · 18-12-2013, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Express

Hint: If you look at the underside of the soft tonneau cover on a VE UTE, you'll see the elastic robe with hooks that connect to the edge channel around the tray. They're hidden away during normal use.

The tonneau cover is also adjustable at the cross front bar. It has 3 stages of adjustment to tighten or loosen the cover though leaving it in the sun for a little while is also a good trick.

.

The VF is the same.

chriso89 · 18-12-2013, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Fitting isn't the issue, it fitted up well right from new, I guess the fact it was hot helped. I think my brother was getting at the fact if you loaded anything that protruded above the tub the cover would be useless. I guess the hooks and elastic loops were a bit more forgiving in that respect.

Fg ute has inner clips on elastic rope on the inner of the ccover so you can still use it with protruding loads - I guess ford engineers are a little bit more intuitive lol.

fgpsi · 17-12-2013, 03:45 PM

Why not look at a used FPV GS 5.0 ute or FG F6 ute? Or even an FG Xr6 turbo ute.

More bang for buck imo. Also, the fact that the VF ute has the same behind as the VE is a massive turnoff for me. The front just doesn't suit the aged back. Only thing it has over the FG's I mentioned is interior.

nstg8a · 17-12-2013, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgpsi

Also, the fact that the VF ute has the same behind as the VE is a massive turnoff for me. The front just doesn't suit the aged back. Only thing it has over the FG's I mentioned is interior.

Lol, whereas the fg, other than some pumped wheel arches is basically the same tray as a '99 au...

Fords laziness is most evident in the utes. I think they've only had two different tailgates between 1972 and now...

stevz · 17-12-2013, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol, whereas the fg, other than some pumped wheel arches is basically the same tray as a '99 au...

Fords laziness is most evident in the utes. I think they've only had two different tailgates between 1972 and now...

Yep.... VF ute rear end only dates back to 2007 (6 years)

XD-XH utes had the same rear end from 1979-1999 (20 years)

monte.b · 17-12-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Lol, whereas the fg, other than some pumped wheel arches is basically the same tray as a '99 au...

Fords laziness is most evident in the utes. I think they've only had two different tailgates between 1972 and now...

Why change something that works fine ,they are a ute ,ment for carrying loads ,if you want a sports car buy one

nstg8a · 17-12-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monte.b

Why change something that works fine ,they are a ute ,ment for carrying loads ,if you want a sports car buy one

Who said anything about sports cars?

monte.b · 17-12-2013, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nstg8a

Who said anything about sports cars?

Well thats what holden utes are ,one bag of cement in them and they hit the ground

Kometes · 17-12-2013, 07:05 PM

I've got my FG XR8 ute for sale, shoot me a PM if you're interested

monte.b · 17-12-2013, 07:15 PM

jees what is this the bloody holden ute forum ,everybody has a holden ute ,wow ,well ill tell you what ,put a load in the back and see how good they are ,,they are really a sedan with the back cut off ,can you believe coil springs in a ute rear ,but i guess the good thing about them you can put a chev badge on them and look like a real tool cause they have a chev throw away engine in them ,buy a real ute mate a FORD ,its ok im only taking the **** out of you ,i thought id better say that cause there seems to be no sense of humor on this site lately

jimmyxr6t04 · 17-12-2013, 07:38 PM

Whilst not a ute, i just came from a WM series II Caprice 6L V8. It went hard enough, and had heaps of luxuries, but the holden V8 doesn't even compare to the immense driving pleasure of the 5.0 coyote engine!

I was hoping that the lack of features in the GT was made up for with the impressive motor, and i'm pleased to report that yes, the engine has made up for it all!

I'd go the GS for the motor alone. Just depends how much you want a change of scenery i guess.

Chopped · 17-12-2013, 08:06 PM

Gee, who would have thought that a 335kw (375kw) SC V8 was more enjoyable than a 270kw NA V8

**PepeLePew** · 17-12-2013, 10:07 PM

Rephrasing the OP's question

'Give me a opinion on the VF SS ute if you've driven one'

Things are wandering a tad.....

Mk II · 18-12-2013, 08:35 AM

Can't comment on the ute, but my VF SSV Redline sedan is by far the best car I have ever owned. While a little expensive for what you get if you think it is too quiet you can get the dealer to drop the W310 pack in it, has an awesome note to it.

duaned · 18-12-2013, 09:32 AM

+1 with the above. I have a VF SS (sedan) now and it's a fantastic bit of kit. Certainly better than the FG in all areas, and it should be. I haven't driven a VF Ute yet (I hate utes)
but I would the ride would be just as good as the sedan or perhaps a little more bouncy.