The Generation Game: Holden Commodore

[Liquid]

The Generation Game: Holden Commodore

1978-1988 Holden Commodore (VB / VH / VK / VL)

Bodystyles: 4-door saloon, 4-door estate
Engines: 2.0 - 3.0L I6; 5.0L V8
Drivetrain: FR

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1988-1997 Holden Commodore (VN / VP / VR / VS)

Bodystyles: 4-door saloon, 4-door estate
Engines: 2.0 - 2.2L I4; 2.8L I6; 3.8L V6; 5.0L V8
Drivetrain: FR

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1997-2008 Holden Commodore (VT / VX / VY / VZ)

Bodystyles: 4-door saloon, 4-door estate
Engines: 3.6 - 3.8L V6; 5.0 - 6.0L V8
Drivetrain: FR

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2006-2017 Holden Commodore (VE / VF)

Bodystyles: 4-door saloon, 4-door estate
Engines: 3.0 - 3.0L V6; 6.0 - 7.0L V8
Drivetrain: FR

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2018-2020 Holden Commodore (ZB)

Bodystyles: 5-door liftback, 5-door estate
Engines: 2.0L turbocharged I4, 3.6L V6
Drivetrains: FF / 4WD

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I cannot promise that all pertinent details are here, it would have taken too long to do the weights for all of these, but feel free to chip in with anything you know. The Commodore-based Utes have been held back as they are worthy of their own poll sometime in the future. The Commodore is most famous internationally for its racing pedigree and you are perfectly entitled to vote based on that and that alone.

Previous Results & Nominations Thread

 

[Joey D]

The VF, mainly because we got it in the States as a Chevy SS, and it was a pretty good car, despite not selling well. GM didn't think it through because the market for a fast, RWD sedan was pretty small and was already more or less dominated by the Charger. The SS was better than the Charger, but I think the V8 Charger was like $10k less than the SS. For the $50k price tag on an SS, you could have something German and really I think most people just bought the Camaro instead. Still, I would love to have an SS, a full-sized, V8 with 415hp, sounds like the perfect family car.

 

[Tornado]

That GM thought they'd be able to schlepp out some crap ass Buick and not be laughed off the market so hard they'd have to shut the company down is an all timer; though GM's mismanagement of what they had with Holden as a whole after the 1980s is truly big brained in general.

 

[05XR8]

VL for me. First time seeing one in Automobile magazine. It was a burgundy Calais SS. and I couldn't believe it was an Australian car. A cool car that Chevrolet didn't have.
V8 engine, stick shift, short bumpers, sleepy-eye "European" headlights and taillights. Plus those five-spoke wheels.

Seeing them in the metal, the cars look compact with awesome proportions. My brother-in-law had an ex-highway car(with the normal flush headlights). I'd have one. Even a base model.

 

[FPV MIC]

VL for me. First time seeing one in Automobile magazine. It was a burgundy Calais SS. and I couldn't believe it was an Australian car. A cool car that Chevrolet didn't have.
V8 engine, stick shift, short bumpers, sleepy-eye "European" headlights and taillights. Plus those five-spoke wheels.
View attachment 1464915
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Seeing them in the metal, the cars look compact with awesome proportions. My brother-in-law had an ex-highway car(with the normal flush headlights). I'd have one. Even a base model.

The two tone ones looked pretty cool. The fella that used to live across the road from wrote off way too many of them

But my preference is for the VFII. I'm not sure why...

Spoiler: or maybe I am :sly:

 

[-Fred-]

That, my good sir, is a fine looking machine.

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To me, it probably is the VT. There was a TV show called Gillette World of Sports back in the day, they used to highlight different sports from all over the globe; motorsport, sailing, cricket, football and etc. My very first exposure to V8 Supercars came from that program, which is where I learned what a Holden was. I can't find a picture of the older red-black (blue?) HSV team car for some reason, but yeah, it's that body style.

 

[05XR8]

The two tone ones looked pretty cool. The fella that used to live across the road from wrote off way too many of them

View attachment 1464924


But my preference is for the VFII. I'm not sure why...

Spoiler: or maybe I am :sly:

View attachment 1464926
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Nice.

Think I mentioned when I worked at Subaru Docklands, the service manager owns a two-tone white/grey street drag turbo. Would drive it and leave it at work once in a while.

 

[Nexus]

97-08 for me. As much as I hated seeing P-platers driving their flogged VT/VX Ecotec's (complete with chopped springs, steelies, a missing fuel cap, and a straight-piped exhaust), I genuinely miss seeing them on the road. They're far less common now, but the ones still around tend to be driven by enthusiasts (which means they're usually in the state described above, but still ). I think the VZ Calais has aged well, too.

If I had to own one, I'd pick a VF Series II SSV Redline. Having said that... Never late in a 3.8.

(Also, minor correction for the poll - the VE/VF had a 3.6L as the biggest V6)

 

[TheCracker]

To my european eyes they all give me the uncanny valley Vauxhall/Opel vibe.

The VT-VZ generation reminds me the most of the Aussie Supercars series, so that's where my vote goes.

 

[Liquid]

Initially, I keep flip-flopping between the VL and the VT based on nothing but the ATCC and V8 Supercars.

But the more I think about it, the more I like the VP too. It's got the VL shape but the smoother edges make it quite appealing.

 

[lilcat89]

I am not going to lie, I never really cared about Holdens in general. I have always been a Ford fan. While we got the VE(Pontiac G8) and VF(Chevrolet SS) in America, GM never actually tried too hard to sell them here. If I had to choose one, it would be have to be the VT/VX. Those years of V8 Supercars were a golden era, battling the AU and BA Falcons. When I think of the that era, Murph's Lap of the Gods 2003 Bathurst pole comes to mind.

 

[Liquid]

That GM thought they'd be able to schlepp out some crap ass Buick and not be laughed off the market so hard they'd have to shut the company down is an all timer; though GM's mismanagement of what they had with Holden as a whole after the 1980s is truly big brained in general.

Far from being an expert on this stuff but Holden was pretty hamstrung when GM sold Opel. Holden being given a Buick Regal which was based on a car GM no longer owned is a pretty sad way for that brand to die out.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

I am not going to lie, I never really cared about Holdens in general. I have always been a Ford fan. While we got the VE(Pontiac G8) and VF(Chevrolet SS) in America, GM never actually tried too hard to sell them here. If I had to choose one, it would be have to be the VT/VX. Those years of V8 Supercars were a golden era, battling the AU and BA Falcons. When I think of the that era, Murph's Lap of the Gods 2003 Bathurst pole comes to mind.

I came here to post this. Maybe it was a deeply impressive lap, I can't be sure. I can say its some deeply impressive commentating!

 

[ScottPuss20]

I love all Commodores but I especially love the third body style as it gave us the Monaro - one of my favourite cars EVER. Dad had a VS wagon and it was a fantastic car that was very reliable, however in my mind it's not the best from a looks and performance standpoint. I'd much prefer a VZ because that was the car which inspired me the most as a youngster watching V8 Supercars. Same goes for the VT, VX and VY I suppose. The red and white HRT liveries are absolutely iconic in my mind and serve as the inspiration for all of my "Puss Racing" cars. They're also the reason why I paint pretty much all my cars red and give them white wheels in GT7. The impact these cars have had on me cannot be understated - that's why I voted for the VT/VX/VY/VZ.

 

[Spacegoat]

But my preference is for the VFII. I'm not sure why...

Well, I mean. In the same vein I am biased towards the first generation VB/VC/VH for unkown reasons too.

Spoiler: Very old pic, but still lol

Honestly though I'd maybe have to go for VT/VX. Personally (and maybe it's a heavy dose of nostalgia of just being in my younger years back then). But that was peak era V8 Supercars. Good sized grids, priviteer entieries. Before the sport became ultra profressional.

Probably didn't hurt either that HRT was winning a lot back then too.

 

[FPV MIC]

Honestly though I'd maybe have to go for VT/VX. Personally (and maybe it's a heavy dose of nostalgia of just being in my younger years back then). But that was peak era V8 Supercars. Good sized grids, priviteer entieries. Before the sport became ultra profressional.

Probably didn't hurt either that HRT was winning a lot back then too.

Nah, that was the VY/VZ era... losing to the mighty BA

 

[Hoani Tuati]

OK I was the one vote for the ZB and I know it is not a "real" Holden but my experience with these other options were not great. HOWEVER I have owned an HK Kingswood which I loved and my father-in-law had an HQ Belmont which was also a really nice car.

 

[Centroid]

Ever since moving down under, I have had grudging respect for the Commodore (and the other big Aussie bruiser the Falcon). In part du to how much mileage they would get out of one car. The (VT/VX/VY/VZ) shape was in production when I moved over and you could get a sedan, wagon, 2dr ute, 4dr ute, limo and coupe version. All of which, I believe, could be had as a HSV tuned version. There was even an AWD Subaru Outback style version. So the range went from affordable-ish family car to executive express, with shed loads of practicality thrown in for good measure.

However my vote went for the (VE/VF) version, which despite the smaller range (no coupe!) was all Holden's own work and all the better for it.