Top Gear glowing reviews of the Supercharged VE and the R8 Maloo

Rodp · 03-08-2009, 08:24 AM

The 'Bath' Hurst special R8 supercharged Vauxhall, sounds absolutely wicked. Whining supercharger and one of the best V8 notes I've ever heard.

They punted the Maloo around the track which equalled a time of a rather surprising vehicle.

I don't think they've ever had anything but nice things to say about any of the HSV's that have been exported to the UK.

martyauxr8ute · 03-08-2009, 08:31 AM

should get jezza to run a few laps at the mount when the tracks closed. see what he's really made of!!

fordOwner · 03-08-2009, 10:35 AM

Surely somehow they can get the boys to drive a new Turbo6 or V8 FG sedan or Ute on the UK show.
I wonder what the difference between costs would be to ship a falcon over there and give it to the Top Gear guys to play with for a 5-10minute one off stint in the near on globaly broadcast show compared to producing a 30 second advert with all the usuall costs of production, agents, airtime etc which will be shown to Aus/NZ for only a few weeks.
The big thing "marketing wise" for Ford is that once they hand a car over to them they have no controll over what is said about the car.

Rodp · 03-08-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordOwner

Surely somehow they can get the boys to drive a new Turbo6 or V8 FG sedan or Ute on the UK show.
I wonder what the difference between costs would be to ship a falcon over there and give it to the Top Gear guys to play with for a 5-10minute one off stint in the near on globaly broadcast show compared to producing a 30 second advert with all the usuall costs of production, agents, airtime etc which will be shown to Aus/NZ for only a few weeks.
The big thing "marketing wise" for Ford is that once they hand a car over to them they have no controll over what is said about the car.

I don't think you'd get them that interested in a production car that they can't buy there locally (or at least in Europe).

No doubt they would heap glowing praise on an F6 but the only reason they've only test driven a number of HSV's over the years is because HSV exported them and Vauxhall slapped a badge on its butt.

Not a fan of the white GTS with the black stripe though but holy crap that car sounds horn.

Wally · 03-08-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordOwner

Surely somehow they can get the boys to drive a new Turbo6 or V8 FG sedan or Ute on the UK show.
I wonder what the difference between costs would be to ship a falcon over there and give it to the Top Gear guys to play with for a 5-10minute one off stint in the near on globaly broadcast show compared to producing a 30 second advert with all the usuall costs of production, agents, airtime etc which will be shown to Aus/NZ for only a few weeks.
The big thing "marketing wise" for Ford is that once they hand a car over to them they have no controll over what is said about the car.

I agree with you. It would probably be cheaper to ship a couple over there and let them destroy both, compared to producing an advertisement. The viral marketing would be invaluable.

Airmon · 04-08-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordOwner

Surely somehow they can get the boys to drive a new Turbo6 or V8 FG sedan or Ute on the UK show.
I wonder what the difference between costs would be to ship a falcon over there and give it to the Top Gear guys to play with for a 5-10minute one off stint in the near on globaly broadcast show compared to producing a 30 second advert with all the usuall costs of production, agents, airtime etc which will be shown to Aus/NZ for only a few weeks.
The big thing "marketing wise" for Ford is that once they hand a car over to them they have no controll over what is said about the car.

More likely because it would be a small fraction of the Australian population who actually watch Top Gear UK, the fact that the car is only sold in Australia makes the advantages of it being on a Globally aired program redundant, and because it would be a 5-10 minute stint shown Once on air rather then a 30 second advert shown dozens of times over a period of several weeks on several channels. That and the majority of Ford buyers couldn't care less about how the car goes sideways.
It would be pointless for Ford to send their cars to the UK just to be on top gear. Only chance would be if Prodrive ever decided to import a few into the UK.

AWD Chaser · 03-08-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodp

The 'Bath' Hurst special R8 supercharged Vauxhall, sounds absolutely wicked. Whining supercharger and one of the best V8 notes I've ever heard.

They punted the Maloo around the track which equalled a time of a rather surprising vehicle.

I don't think they've ever had anything but nice things to say about any of the HSV's that have been exported to the UK.

Yeah, that ticked me off that he couldnt pronounce bathurst proper...

martyauxr8ute · 03-08-2009, 12:52 PM

maybe cheaper to fly him here in october and let him drive the gt on a real race track. he can really do some skitin' then, and we get the extra promotion.

JG66ME · 04-08-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kia Chaser

Yeah, that ticked me off that he couldnt pronounce bathurst proper...

How did he pronounce it, I didn't see the show.

Given that Bathurst is named after the Earl Bathurst, an English family, I would suggest that it is we that most likely pronounce it incorrectly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Bathurst

Matty4 · 04-08-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JG66ME

How did he pronounce it, I didn't see the show.

Given that Bathurst is named after the Earl Bathurst, an English family, I would suggest that it is we that most likely pronounce it incorrectly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_Bathurst

I suspect you're right.
Funny how at home I give my kids a "barth" every night, but they race at "Bathurst" (sounds like an "a" not "ar")

They pronounced it "Barthurst"

Archilino · 03-08-2009, 02:34 PM

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/02/v...and-hsv-maloo/

Crazy review, good to see they love the aussie cars.

GK · 03-08-2009, 03:18 PM

Great review, great drivers cars.

GK

martyauxr8ute · 03-08-2009, 04:55 PM

the boys really give em a work out and the times are right up there. but yeah, someones gotta get that pronunciation sorted. 'baffist'.

5.4 GT · 03-08-2009, 04:52 PM

Epic sound.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfGxqBX6Hi0

Can't wait for Coyote S/C

ltd · 03-08-2009, 05:02 PM

Was good to see Jezza having a go.

Matty4 · 04-08-2009, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltd

Was good to see Jezza having a go.

It was actually Hammond having a go.
The "Bathhurst" definately held its own, matching the lap time of the M5!!

The car is actually built by Walkinshaw specifically for the UK market. Top Gear Australia magazine did an article on it recently too..

BFZ Wagon · 04-08-2009, 02:25 AM

Although it was great to see Aussie cars in the UK, This latest episode reminded me on how much it sucks that Holden can send their big woop V8 cars over to the UK but stupid Ford Australia doesn't send their equivalent there. These cars obviously sell over there so I don't see what the problem is with Ford sending cars there.
Good episode though and I guess it's good to see Aussie built stuff getting a good review in the UK.
Their pronunciation of 'Bathurst' was a tad annoying, but then again these are the same people that pronounce Impreza 'Impretza'. There's no T in Impreza.

:
Bring on the Supercharged V8 Ford.

**Bundy** · 04-08-2009, 06:39 AM

I may be onto something here, is it more to do with Wilkinshaw and his tie up with GM that have got aussie holdens in the UK under the Vaxhaul banner, more so then GMH Australia "sending" them there. Maybe we need a FPVUK ministry before the importing of a better product can being.

XR6_190 · 04-08-2009, 08:08 PM

Great to see the Aussie cars (albeit only the red stuff - for now only hopefully) finding favor with the guys at Top Gear, even though I am a massive Ford fan, and usually don't like too much from camp red, I am still proud that they are doing so well overseas. It's kind of like that little brat from next door, that you always have disliked making it big in Hollywood, you would still be proud of the fact that he came from your neighborhood.

As for their pronunciation of 'Bathurst' isn't it simply the differences in the Aussie and pommie accents? I have seen the episode, and wasn't too worried about it, sure it sounds wierd, but their poms, that's how they talk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bundy

I may be onto something here, is it more to do with Wilkinshaw and his tie up with GM that have got aussie holdens in the UK under the Vaxhaul banner, more so then GMH Australia "sending" them there. Maybe we need a FPVUK ministry before the importing of a better product can being.

Umm, I could be wrong, but isn't FPV half owned by the British based Prodrive? or is that not the case anymore?

martyauxr8ute · 04-08-2009, 07:08 AM

yeah was there a sticker saying 'walkinshaw' on top of that supercharger? only got a quick glance and wasn't sure.

zx10 · 04-08-2009, 06:30 PM

I cannot believe that the UK gets a supercharged clubsport and Australia does not. Then they go and call it a Bathurst edition which means bugger all in the UK, but in Australia it is held in the highest regard.

I dont care if your a Holden fan or a Ford fan, as a fan of Australian performance cars I would love that thing to be available here.

vztrt · 04-08-2009, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zx10

I cannot believe that the UK gets a supercharged clubsport and Australia does not. Then they go and call it a Bathurst edition which means bugger all in the UK, but in Australia it is held in the highest regard.

I dont care if your a Holden fan or a Ford fan, as a fan of Australian performance cars I would love that thing to be available here.

It is available from Walkingshaw Performance.

Ghiadude · 04-08-2009, 06:37 PM

A tremendous marketing coup - Ford australia take note. When you finally send it there dont go half arsed - do it once and do it properly.

WASP · 04-08-2009, 06:43 PM

I want a 'Barrthurst'. ..lol

No really it sounds awesome.
Colville

tex · 04-08-2009, 06:49 PM

Great stuff!

Ford, Holden, matters not, it's a great endorcement for an Australian built product.

They are discovering what we always knew, we have locally developed platforms capable of taking the fight up to the Euro snooooooooooooobs.

Love it.

But I do long for one of them to belt an F6

Wretched · 04-08-2009, 09:44 PM

I hated the sound of that Clubsport, the s/c whine was way too overpowering, a slight one is nice but not that. The Maloo sounded a whole lot better.

**data_mine** · 04-08-2009, 10:35 PM

The Maloo, wasn't charged. Just the regular LS3 re get. Although sounds like they get a more 'noteworthy' exhaust than we're aloud.

Green X · 04-08-2009, 10:37 PM

Didn't Ford send a BA XR6 or 8 to Europe cause i remember reading a article in a magazine that showed the falcon sitting in traffic in Paris i think it was and it looked good, it was a 2 page write up!

I also vaguely recall a guy on a US 4WD forum who worked for Ford saying he had seen a Falcon GT under cover in a Ford warehouse in the USA I had put a Photo of one up, he didn't relies it was an Australian car till then.

Dave_au · 05-08-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Green X

Didn't Ford send a BA XR6 or 8 to Europe cause i remember reading a article in a magazine that showed the falcon sitting in traffic in Paris i think it was and it looked good, it was a 2 page write up!

Here's the review by UK's autocar.

EDIT: Wrong link but UK review of Aussie delivered car.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/...-Turbo/232547/

EDIT CORRECT LINK - Autoexpress UK review

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carrevi...xr6_turbo.html

martyauxr8ute · 05-08-2009, 06:58 AM

off the topic a bit but has anyone noticed what a good presenter james may has become in his own right. quite enjoying his 20th century show. on tonight on sbs.