Organza

* While there's no danger of mistaking a VY for a VX2, beneath the look little has changed. The key points are; steering hardware has been retuned, front suspension compression has been retuned, the body structure beefed up, front PAB and load limiters are standard across the range.

* In one swipe of his crayon Simcoe has added an aggressive new edge to the Commodore, taking to its familiar curves with angle grinder and tin clips.

* The edgy new front and rear pressings combined with different combinations of headlight, tailight and bumper treatments - makes VY a very different looking Commodore

* Holden, obviously sick of reading that Commodore's steering isnt as good as Falcon's attended to the criticism chasing the "elasticity out of the system".

* Given a relatively nimble chassis for something that weighs more than 1700kg's the SS steering is keenly directional and the handling responsive. Beefy brakes too. VY's suspension and steering changes may be subtle but together with bigger wheels and high spec tyres they mean the SS bundles through curves better than ever. Mind you the steering gets a slightly jelly centred feel over bumps and ripples but thats at over 180 clicks on the proving ground banked bowl.

Things they liked

1. The new steering wheel - new design is a vast improvement.

2. New rear vision mirrors

ADZ351

not much new to like... huh

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There's no substitute for cubic inches!

The Fonz

'Bloody favoritism' as in Monty Python I might say. Wheels seem not to say a word wrong about it as if Mr Hammburgler is dropping multiple 50 dollar notes in their lunchboxes. They don't say that nothing much has changed from the 97' VT really in chassis dynamics and the motor. If Ford was to hypothetically release a AU IV say with the same mods that Holden did with the VX they'd can it. Atleast Motors a tad less biased well anyway in my opinion they've got pretty pictures but apart from that Wheels and Motor can decorate the dunnycan floor. You gain a feel of a car by test driving it and any who the hell is going at 180kmph?
Is Wheels encouraging irresponsible driving amoung idiot Commidorre drivers- likerly.

Rastus

This little snippet interested me. Wasn't the SS supposed to be a light weight compared to the up and coming BA XR8 and XR6 for that matter?
1700kg...Mmmmm

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Russell.
1971 XY Fairmont - 351 Cleveland. I've gone full circle!

Organza

That's what Wheels stated ..... over 1700 kg's.

They may have it wrong .... they have one or two details on BA wrong in the story.

CurrenZS

if VY wins car of the year over BA then there is no doubt about them being biased. plus if VY doesnt wind coty, it'll be the first major model change that didnt win. i think VB, VN, VR and VT won, althou VY isnt really as a much of a change as the other models listed? i dont think BA has any real competition for COTY, it has to win. if the Impreza can win im pretty sure BA will take it out

falkon

Lets hope there's a new Subaru Liberty Wagon being released this year...

jemmex

Given that Wheels mag has a history of NOT giving COTY to Falcons (since the XR/XT wasnt it?) and given the gushing they have been doing over the new Camry. I predict Camry will be COTY, unless they do something bizarre like the year they gave it to a top-of-the-line super-expensive Mercedes. (Anything to avaid a Falcon!)

Besides we already KNOW Toyota "bought" Wheels mag, last month the cover and partial articals in return for sales (=$$$)

MInd you last time they gave COTY to Falcon was in the time of theXR/XT i believe... now we got Falcon XR and XTs again heheheheheeee

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DR XR

Any performance times for any VYs?

MintEAFalcon

Just picked up my copy. Not one from what I have read so far...