coop

As people know in the trade everyone has a hard time finding competent tradesmen. To make it quick...

Working a fly in fly out on a flexible roster (most are two weeks on/one off, four on/two off, six on/two off) from Western Australia earning well into six figures.

Flight allowance included.

Accomodation included (shared work house).

Shared vehicle included.

Work will mosty consist of diagnosis and repair of truck cab, chassis and engine wiring. Trailer re wires. Competence in air conditioning fault finding and repairs a must.

Flick me a PM cheers.

Koken is probably the best value for money as far as socket sets go on the market. Probably over kill for the weekend mechanic, where the horrible junk outa repco would suffice. 

My boxes are full of koken and snap on. Have a snap on 1/2" drive metric socket set 10-32mm which was about $800. For the same price I could get a comprehensive koken 1/2" set plus a 3/8" one. Throw away the koken ratchets and replace with snap on 80 tooth for best of both worlds. 

Ive managed to crack several snap on 1/2" and 3/8" drive sockets... but no Koken ones, which are a fraction of rrp. Go figure. Luckily they do a no questions asked warranty.

Aren't those standard rims only on the pre facelifted 728i? I don't think seen any 740 or 750is with those rims. 

Id be happy with 16" basketweaves. 

41 minutes ago, treone said:

Aha - I've wondered where the PAINTR's wagon got to. Used to see this all the time on Lambton Quay.

Seems to be getting  bit pricey considering its age and the updated condition (thanks @EURO V8) but still has a cool factor me thinks.

I also wonder whatever happened to the 1994 E34 525ix manual touring (also in silver) that used to reside in Welly... 

Yeah last time I saw it was down Featherston Street. Def beats jap sh*t ute/van as a company car. 

I could manage mid 8 l/100km in my old E34 540i akl-wgtn being sensible and going with the flow. 

Yeah cool wagon and could be worth the tlc to bring it up to scratch as not many around. 

Painters wagon sounds about right. There is a house painter in Wellington who used to own this with the number plate PAINTR or similar... Parents had him do work on the home when I was a teen and he had it back then. Around ten years ago. Last time I saw it with the plates and gear in it would have been a couple of years ago. 

It looks as though the wood grain has been mis matched. Something is off about it.

I thought the higher end later w210s had a darker wood grain near piano black trim, which looks more fitting. 

I'm not a fan of wood grain at all, but have come accustomed to it after owning several 116,126,140 Mercedes. My current W140 doesn't bother me as it is so dark it's not really noticeable. 

A viable M5 alternative for the day. No so much now. Along with the RS6 and C55, are worth bugger all. 

Funnily enough a VX manual 5.7 Clubsport from the same era is E39 M5 money, while a good example of the 300kw GTS are listed in the $30-$40k territory. 

17 hours ago, allan said:

A bit of the topic and asking  are these electric cars as green as they make out. Reading an article on  the making, maintenance and final disposal of them it seemed darn close. Their are a number of dangerous chemicals and process used to make not only the car panels  battery packs etc. This also comes into play when the vehicle reach's the end of it's life and needs to be disposed of and in a safe manner. So looking at the total picture of how both types source their materials for assemble, their maintenance of ie life expectancy and final disposal are they any less harmful to planet earth as a petrol driven car. Or is it just another well angled proper gander campaign using the all green slogan  to help it gain traction and sales?.

Funny you should say. I'm a fleet mechanic and we're hauling lithium in the Australian North West. 20,000 tonne per day using road trains 174-197 tonne depending on configuration. Payload of 120-140 tonne. Sucking an average of 100l/100km. On a hard pull these are using 500l/100km (or one litre every 200 metres). Then approx 250,000 tonnes loaded onto a ship destined for China burning the dirtiest fuel possible.

Then there's the machinery and manpower used to dig it up and process it. And the fact these workers are on either an eight day on/six day off, or two week on/one off roster flying to Perth. A lot will then carry on fifo to the eastern states, SE Asia or NZ like myself. Far from an environmentally friendly process. So I have to laugh when some vocal holier than thou greenie who likes to take the social moral high ground says we need to ditch our older cars for more environmentally friendly ones. In reality it's no laughing matter because if these clowns get their own way expect to see hybrids and EVs heavily subsidised while older cars are taxed off the road. 

Gabe79 - would you not be better off buying a 10-15 year old Civic/Corolla/323 for around $3000. Some of if not the most reliable cars on the road, basic, will return around 8l/100km around town and have done all their depreciating, so will still be worth the same value in a few years time when you want to sell. 

As for the M5 Touring. Beautiful car, but a bit pointless? I use my wagon for tools, car parts, house renovations, property landscaping, carrying the dog. What a wagon is made for... I'd be scared of someone sitting in the back seat of this thing let alone any of that. Still, I like the towbar, and be tempted to hook up two tonne and blow away the floggers who think they're untouchable in their overpriced over rated double cab utes. 

Oz would be a good place to look. Cheap return tickets to check them out, and roll on roll off boat ex Melbourne 2000-2500 AUD excluding insurance. 

https://carsales.mobi/cars/details/BMW-540i-1993/SSE-AD-4802709

https://carsales.mobi/cars/details/BMW-540i-1995/SSE-AD-4640139

https://carsales.mobi/cars/details/BMW-535i-1989/SSE-AD-4668336

Depends what you want out of it I guess? 

I can't imagine there be too many people cross shopping an E39 M5 and an F10 at over $30k difference? 

If wanting a modern classic/desirable BMW then an E34 (if you can find one) or E39 would be a safer bet... will hold value possibly rise in near future. 

Then you don't get the performance of 500 plus hp from E60 onwards. 

The E34 and E39 are slow by today's standards. Those wanting an F10 level of performance would most likely turn their nose up at the E34/39. 

Who knows what will happen to the E60. I guess horrendous R&M costs will cause prices to drop even further as they get older. Current owners to bail once they've neglected preventative maintenance to a point where it's not feasible to keep (kiwi assumption that engine oil + filter = full service). I've toyed with the idea of owning one and still could do in the next year or two. I only would if I could diy repairs on it. I guess there are BMW (specific or OEM pirated?) diagnostic and programming software available at a small cost to help ease the financial pain of owning one. I haven't got this far in researching as not serious about buying one, yet. 

7 minutes ago, qube said:

https://trademe.co.nz/1332450438

 

Bargain of the year sold within minutes. If i was in the south island i would have clicked buy now..

I haven't really kept up with run of the mill E30 pricing, but is an imported four door 320i auto in not so tidy/well used condition considered a bargain at $1500?!

Too expensive. Considering these early ones now go for $12-15k why would ya bother... maybe if it was half his asking price. 

This reminds me of something I read which seems to hold truth more often than not, as far as owning high end Euro gear. 

The first buyer can afford to buy and service it. 

The second buyer can afford to buy it. 

The third buyer can't afford either. 

2 hours ago, Michael. said:

Well... each to their own, I think the E34s interior is vastly more impressive than the Mercs of the 80s and early 90s, the E34 has sporting pretensions with it's angled dash towards the driver and all the other benefits like sport seats in the good models. From what I've seen AMGs interior didn't differ much of an upgrade to standard models and still had the look of a few bits of 2x8 wood nailed together at right angles using springy leather seats from an old mans 1970s council flat. 

Must have got lucky with yours! I remember years back my dads mate had a W140 and the quality was appalling where it counted, electrical issues all the time and had to have the loom replaced, he sold it shortly after I recall. Ended up buying an LS400 to replace it and still has it years later. 

Agree about E39 interiors, very classic, just let down by cheap buttons that crack sometimes. 

Re the seats, I guess you're referring to the pre facelift 126 and 124 models? They were a relic from the '70s and enough to put me off buying one. The 126 was facelifted in '86 and the 124 in '89 and both had revised seat designs near identical to the E32/34. I do agree that an Msport E34 with all black interior is hard to beat. Even the 211 e55/e63 seats look like a lounge suit compared to M5, but I think MB and its buyers have different expectations to those of an M5. 

I've owned three W140s and parted out two. Wiring issues in early 90s is well documented. They're built like brick sh*t houses. More solid than any Ither car I've owned or worked on. 

3 hours ago, Michael. said:

I like the appeal of this era AMG, but the rest of it, particularly general styling, and interior quite stuffy and dated. 

They don't have the same winning interior formula BMW had through the 80s and 90s.

I guess it's each to their own, but consider these were launched in 1986. What other interior from that era could compare to it... not a lot. VK Commodore, XF Falcon, Jag XJ, anything Jap :yuk. IMO E34 and E32 are up there. They work good ergonomically, but don't have the simplistic layout of the Benz which has stood the test of time by design and build quality. The E34 is one of my favourite cars but it's odd shaped dash, huge centre console and light switches around the instrument cluster has always bugged me, it is kinda awkward.

I have the W140 which is rather dated next to the E38 and 39. But it smashes them for build quality. I think the E39 is the best interior of the 1990s. 

The 3.6s look to be a popular aftermarket conversion. I have a m119 V8 and 4 speed auto sitting here which I'd like to drop into a 124 coupe or wagon. Can't find any rhd examples for reference so may not be possible.

5 hours ago, treone said:

I too have to say I like this one and I actually like this colour - it has grown on me! I suspect that the colour and being LHD is the reason it has not moved. Either that or there is something majorly wrong with it.

You are a legend for having owned a M635CSI and an 840ci - wow! 

Was this the neglected 850i that ended up on trademe in Dunedin a few years ago? Had been sitting under a tree on someone's front lawn for years... pretty sure it was the same colour and LHD, perhaps someone here who took more notice can confirm or correct me.

2 hours ago, KwS said:

I would if i could but some dumbass saw fit to put the criminalsgubbermint here, so as long as the missus has a job im stuck here.

The outer/northern suburbs are the place to live, avoid the CBD and southern suburbs like the plague.

The rail system is useful although super expensive and its pricing/charging scheme is terrible (needing different tickets for different lines, still using physical paper tickets etc). The bus system is crap.

Why avoid the southern suburbs like the plague? I guess you mean Eastern suburbs too... As far as Wellington goes they a more likely to have garaging or on street parking (Island Bay, Kilbirne, Lyall Bay, Miramar, Strathmore) than anywhere else. Eastern suburbs a real pita to get to/from in peak hour if you are driving. 

South Karori is relatively affordable and has a lot of garaging. Like wise up top of Brooklyn down far end of Mitchell street/Kowhai Park but the housing there leaves a lot to be desired, characterless  1970/80s boxes, a bit like a lot of Hamilton minus the welfare bludging bogan white trash. 

30 minutes ago, gjm said:

The 140-series really doesn't do much for me. Extraordinary cars to drive or ride in, but the looks... Meh.

It's known hereabouts that I'm a fan of the W126, but I also like the W220 and (especially!) the 215 coupes. Things got really serious in those cars, with some standard engines delivering 450+kW and torque restricted to 1000Nm.

I'm sure maintenance would be a headache, but I hope one day to park something similar in the garage.

Not that I have anything against the E31! I had an 840; my brother had an 850. It was an interesting counterpoint to the Mercedes W126 560SEC I had, while he had a 500SEC.

The deal breaker for me with the W220 is that bloody horrid interior. Quality wasn't up to the usual MB standard and the design of it could be mistaken for something out of Korea or America. I couldnt sit in that eye sore of an interior for hours on end. Other wise the supercharged S55 on trademe for $22k would be a nice ride. The only modern MB I could bring myself to buy would be the W221 E63. I think they've lost the plot but that's coming from someone who's only owned w116-140s. 

I agree with you about the W140 looks. In my opinion their saving grace is the sheer size of them giving road presence especially in the darker colours. Probably not as effective these days with the amount of large SUV and double cab ute fashion statements getting around. 

I also had a 560sec. NZ New Euro spec with 300hp. The m119 5.0 leaves it for dead. I can only imagine how both the S500 and S600 coupes felt when they were released back in 1991. In comparison to the W126 and E32, or anything else on the road. The 126 series is probably my favourite MB model. But the 140 is easier to live with day to day, and with decent rubber they handle better than a lot of new cars today. Ride quality goes without saying as long as suspension components aren't buggered. 

Ive only put around 1500km on the CL600, mostly open road, and it has returned figures in the 10s litre per hundred km. Not too bad for something weighing 2.3 tonne and pushing out nearly 400hp. 

I've recently purchased a NZ new CL600 coupe. 138k on the clock and near immaculate condition. Only problem I can fault is she is bouncy in the rear SLS which is apparently nitrogen accumulators (90 usd each, not bad). 

I also have an S500 with the M119 in it which is 230kw. A really strong motor and more low down torque than my 290kw FG XR8 6 speed auto.

But the 290kw M120 coupled with the five speed  auto is out of this world. Actually the whole car is. Smoothest thing I've ever been in and a real pleasure to drive. These things were so ahead of their time. 

The five Series BMW and S Class Benz are my favourite models of cars. There is something about the 140/129 series that has an aura about them. I don't think there are many cars around that are built and well as these, I guess it takes spending some time in a good one to know what I mean as I can't really describe it. 

Ive no experience with the E31, but the power figures and price tag of the 850i are a little off putting compared to what I've just bought (I paid not much more than $10k). Id be happy to meet up with an 850i owner for comparison sake if they are too. 

Im not a huge fan of the coupes exterior. I much prefer the square wedge shape of the grille, tail and head lights of the sedan. But I don't have to look at it when driving so not too much of an issue for me. 

For the price, hard to go past one of these ...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/audi/auction-1237801420.htm

Otherwise, ML Mercedes are bloody cheap now diesels, V6 and V8 models. 

Might be able to find a Grand Cherokee with the same 2.7 diesel as the Merc, for a bit less due to the badge (but with cheaper parts and a superior 4wd system). 

Ron, do you know for sure that the S1000RR walks the Panagale flat out? I can't dispute this as Ive never seen it myself. The 1199 and 1299 are suppose to be 9 second 1/4 mile bikes (as well as the BMW - all seriously fast). I guess that if one is faster than the other, there would be little in it, so much so that the slightest mishap from a rider will influence the outcome. 

Ive run a 10.7 on my 1098 at 136mph. My mate on his '08 ZX10 managed a 10.8, same trap speed and same day. There were a few ZX14s and Hyabusas running low to mid 10s so I think the timing was a bit off that day as I've seen stock ZX14s run 10 flat at Meremere. 

The ZX10 starts to pull away at 220kmh. Too many factors at play here - taller gearing than my Duc, my mate is also 15kg lighter than me. The 1098 is still putting out the same or very similar power to the Jap 1000cc bikes but at 2-3000rpm less. Not to say it's running out of breath. Just the nature of a big twin, which will never pull the same revs as a short stroke 4 cylinder that has cylinder capacity nearly a third of the size.  

Consider the 1299 spins out to 12000rpm... Huge revs for the size of it, and the same rpm 1000cc bikes with redlining at 5-10 years ago. 

BTW, that was the last time I was at Meremere. Fastest Harley there was a high 11 modified Night Rod. If you want to be put off owning a Harley forever, get along to the next drag meet and see the knuckle dragging Harley riders in form. I guess they're butt hurt from being destroyed by 600cc Jap bikes, so carried an attitude because of it. 

Ron, unless you were confusing Ducati for Harley, I wouldn't say the big dukes run out of breath. If they do, the same can be said for most engines as power drops off between peak and the rev limiter. A quick google search of dyno charts show the 1299s consistently drop off peak power about 500rpm before the cut out. My 1098 looks at tho it flat lines all the way to its 10750 rpm cut out. I've had it not much more than 260kmh and can't say its ever ran out of breath, but drag starts to take its toll from 260+ so 6th gear to the limiter may expose that. 

I've spent a but of time on the latest Multistrada DVT with panniers and she pulls strong up to 220k. I didn't try a top speed run in 6th but there was no signs of running out of breath. 

Ill take you up on the 1000cc BMW beating the Ducati on the road. Put simply you cant beat the effortless torque the big twins offer. For point to point speed the litre bikes need to be worked in comparison. Perhaps I'm spoilt spending the last five years on a 1098. Definitely have to rev the multis to achieve the same amount of pace up SH16 or over the para paras etc. it becomes tiresome if not in the mood.

How would the 1000cc manufacturers go at increasing the capacity by nearly 30% while retaining reliability, emissions same power per litre outpit?

A complete redesign? Bigger block, stronger, bigger internals?... issues with NVH due to the unbalanced nature of the I4? Just throwing ideas out there I'm no engineer and I don't have time to sit and read like I did when working 40 hour weeks but I don't think increasing capacity by 30% while retaining the attributes of the 1000cc engine is as easy as that. 

I see where you're getting at with kw/litre. Can't say I agree on you opinion of the LS motors, and others not meeting a specific power per litre out put. IMO in the age of component sharing, fuel efficiency and guilt fuelled emission control, enjoy it while it lasts. Soon the 'performance' vehicle to have will be some wank factor double cab ute on 20 inch rims, sticker pack and some macho small cock syndrome sounding name. 

On 19 December 2016 at 1:12 PM, 3pedals said:

It's pretty simple Michael, read the questions and answer / comment on them - paraphrased from above ( reproduced & paraphrased without the permission of Graham) :

Questions

1. Is less than 74.5kW/ litre just a cooking engine
2. its is only recently that NA  engines producing over 74.5kW/l have been sold in production cars - is this true?
3. Is it the case that specific output kW/litre is the metric
4. Does forced induction move the line

Answers (IMO)

1. No- less than 55kW/ litre is a cooking N.A engine,  55-75 is a mild performance N.A engine,  75 + is a high performance NA engine  and 100kW/l is a good boosted performance metric.
2. No, production and semi production / specials back to the  mid to late 60's achieved this,
3. Yes,
4. Yes.

Excuse my conversion of a "mixed metric"  into a "unit consistent"  metric some of us are sticklers for detail.  

 

Ok, so is it you who sets this criteria that a performance motor is determined by kw per litre figures and only that?  

This maybe going around in circles but you consider the Chev LS7 to be in the same league as the engines in the Camry 4cyl, or Primera, or a 318i etc ie not a performance motor. 

Same deal with Chrysler Hemi 6.4 v8 at  355kw 55kw/litre

MB 6.2 AMG at 376kw 60kw/litre

LS7 roughly 53kw/litre. 7.0 litres and 373kw, 637nm torque and a flat torque curve from about 3000rpm. Red line at 7100rpm. Lightened internals. Larger exhaust and intake. Larger valves. Dry sump. Without sampling it I'd put money down on that engine being one of the most premium n/a performance motors of the past ten years (maybe of all time). Up there with M3 4.0, MB 6.2 V8 etc. 

By your reasoning the latest Ducati 1299 or KTM 1290 is less of a performance motor than the jappa multis for having similar power figures but using 300cc more?! 

Take both types for a spin the big twins are ten times as brutal down low and the same if not more up top as the (relatively) torque less jappas!! 

Anyway, long live high revving n/a motors of all capacities regardless of irrelevant kw/ litre figures! 

11 hours ago, 3pedals said:

Under the kW/litre metric the LS series engines crank out somewhere round the 50kw / litre , they get to about 6,700 Rpm

That's about the same as any off the yard sedan these days  and for about the last 20 years? - that's why I don't rate the LS engine - cos it fails the basic tests. and it fails them because it is obsolete technology that has been long since surpassed  DOHC's came out in production cars in the 50's , 3&4 valve/ cylinder engines were the norm in the 80's.  

If either the M4 or the GTR were the same capacity they would slaughter the Camaro - and they would not sound like a tin can factory in an earthquake.

Accept the dinosaur in the room - the LS is not a performance engine , it is just a big engine.

As for the rest of the comments - they are essentially what I said: hairdryers on performance engines make awesome high power , dynamic engines - Power,  Torque  and RPM all with good fuel economy.

 

So back to the original question the thread poses, when does an engine become a performance engine?

A performance engine today:  Somewhere north of 80kW/ litre with a decent rev range and  broad power/torque spread

1990's performance engine : Somewhere north of 70kW/ litre with a decent rev range and  broad power/torque spread

 

You are missing the point in that physical size and weight are also factors in determining a performance engine. As pointed out, by your reasoning the Ford 5.4 quad cam (you could also add in BMW M62TU) are more of a performance engine than the LS1 for their irrelevant kW/litre figures. When the LS1 sh*t all over both of them in the real world back in the day! 

The success GM are having with their ohv small block, and Chrysler with theirs cproves you wrong re obsolete. If you are going to claim that of them, you may as well say it for all ICE, the current crop of small displacement turbo motors are simply giving them an extra lifeline. 

Consider the S62 and LS1 Callaway from the same era. Identical power and torque figures, and torque curves. From a performance view point which one excells more. The S62 that achieves the same from 700cc less, or the LS1 which is 30ish kg lighter and significantly, physically smaller - packaging, engine placement, COG.

No doubt the E39 is a superior car, I'd say it's most likely a better car than the current FPV/HSV, but as far as a crate engine for a project track, targa car etc, the LS1 would be a decision from the head, a no brainer. The fact the LS1 doesn't rev as high, and uses 700cc to achieve the same doesn't take away any of its performance credentials. 

re obsolete ohv motors, my mate has the latest Dodge Ram with the 5.7 Hemi. Cylinder de activation and 8 speed auto.

105 litre tank which returns 900km mixture urban and motorway. You can't complain with that, just goes to show how versatile the small block push rod motors are. From towing 6 tonne in a pick up or run 12 second 1/4 mile or pull 600,000+ km in a taxi/limo no dramas! A while to go before they are obsolete.

6 hours ago, Herbmiester said:

I find the hp/L a bit of a of red herring especially in road cars. A performance car by default is all about power to weight. (Ignoring chassis for the sake of this discussion). So this is really only relevant if you are racing in a class that has a cc restriction. A performance engine could be considered any engine that elevates your cars performance without unduly affecting the weight?   Better power to weight yes sure I'll take that

If you pull up to the traffic light drag strip give it a go and lose, do you say to your mate "yes well I won because I make more HP per litre than him"? No I dont think so.

The measure should be HP per KG and HP per external volume. 

The classic NA engine for me is the GM LS series, specifically the alloy block versions. They are compact  engines so if the measure was hp per cc of external volume they beat the Euro V8s. The BMW's have more HP per litre but not necessarily more HP. What about HP per kg? Again the OHV LS engines do very well here? What About torque per kg. Hard for a smaller NA engine to win that race. The OHV design will reach its limitation when it comes to revs. 7000 is an upper limit for sure while a OHC design can add 1000-1500 rpm to that level and continue making power. The reality is that in road cars that RPM difference is more like 500 rpm. BMW made a 5l V10 that made 500 HP, GM made a 7lt V8 that did the same. The GM engine is smaller and lighter. (65-75lbs) with a lower centre of gravity. So I think that HP in itself can be the measure and as for turbos well that changes everything. 

There is a saying in sales; "We buy on emotion and justify with logic" Never is this truer than when arguing about engines. 

Armour bolted on flame proof suit fitted. 

No need for flame suit, valid arguement.

GM LS deliver in the real world with the added benefit of great torque, under stressed - longevity, and decent fuel economy. This is relevant to application of course but last time I drove a 6.0 Caprice down the Hume Highway it returned 8.2 l/100km average speed of 99kmh. 

high hp/l great to talk and admire over but no relevance in the real world apart from ringing the neck out of it from low torque peaky power delivery.  

34 minutes ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

For that money you can get a good condition E30 manual.

go for one of those. Heaps more fun, if anything goes wrong much cheaper to fix, and so much cooler car.

#E30FTW

To be fair, that is a big ask for someone who has their head set on an E90. To go to something 20 years older that potentially doesn't have power steering, electric windows or air con, and if a 318 70kw.

For half the budget an E39 530i could be had. Spend another grand doing the cooling system, hoses, t stat, water pump radiator etc. save the rest for when something else will need attention. Plenty on the market so can afford to be fussy. Mileage no so much an issue, more service history and what wear and tear items have been replaced - bushes brakes shocks alternator starter etc. Your budget will allow the better ones on the market to be had. Beautiful cars. 

On 2 December 2016 at 4:23 PM, 3pedals said:

 

The Aussie car industry died because it was  a protectionist ideology  desperately  trying to hang on to aid and subsidies to enable it to turn out substandard products  well past their use by date.

 

It all started with Australia signing the Lima Declaration in 1975. Since then she has been a snowball effect. 

The Australian auto industry was subsidised a lot less than US, Germany, France, UK and Sweden. Compare how much the Govt foots the bill for social/welfare issues due to the breakdown of the family unit (which funnily enough was kicked off and promoted by the same traitors who signed the Lima Declaration), Government subsidies to the three manufactures is a drop in the ocean.

Add in the fact Australia's lop sided free trade agreements which see the 4.0 Territory having an 80% import tariff if imported into Thailand and the 2.7 diesel at about 40% while Thai built cars are met with 5% Tarif at the Aussie boarder. Similar story for India.

Then Ford and GM HQ denied the Australian arms decent amount of R&D as well as the possibility of mass LHD exports. If Ford had the opportunity to export the B series Falcon Fairlane, and Holden the VE to North America they'd have kicked the crap coming out of the yank factories to the kerb. The VE Commodore was the only all new Aussie car to receive a decent budget as that fell under the zeta global platform and yet it still wasn't pushed in the states to be a viable replacement to the fwd crap they were producing. 

Then an there was no incentive to buy Australian (compare to say the French, Korean, Italian, or Japanese who seem to take some pride in what their country produces). State and federal Government have an appaling percentage of Australian built vehicles in their fleets, including Camry/Aurion. 

The new car market is saturated with so many choices compared to fifteen years ago. Sedans are a thing of the past in all sizes. Luxury barges down to the Corolla they don't sell like they use to. In the coming years there will be three main styles of new vehicles on the road. Small hatches, double cab Utes, and soft roaders, anything else will be a rarity. 

Either way, the latest Commodore on a ten year old design is a solid piece of kit. Let down with its interior especially in Calais and SSV guise with the suede door card and dash inserts looks like it could be out of Korea, just tacky. 

The Falcon 4.0 twin cam without doubt one of the best petrol engines we've had the opportunity of buying. Bullet proof, awesome torque, frugal, cheap parts that repco stock at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon. 

I always thought my old E39 530i MS would be perfect with the m54 thrown in scrap steel and the Falcon 4.0 dohc dropped in its place. More reliable, more torque, more power, cheaper to service, and better on fuel. Just doesn't sound as good.