I just read a recent review comparing the Holden VXR to the Stinger. The Holden is very slow and its gearbox locks up at the worst moment. I don't consider it to even be in the same league. The Holden is more similar to a Toyota Camray than a Stinger.
Yet somehow, someway these reviews claimed the Holden was a better car. Of course, Australians are going to side with a car that was (until recently) made in Australia. Of course this comparison proves that the Aussies don't know delusional ass their from a Holden.
I actually drove these two cars back to back when the Stinger first came out here. The VXR isn't a bad car. It really isn't. But I wouldn't buy one, for some of the reasons you've mentioned, plus many others that are probably too subtle for you to comprehend.
It shouldn't be called a Commodore though. When local manufacturing was killed off, Holden became a 100% importer, and they made a decision to import the Opal Insignia to replace the locally made Commodore. In some ways it wasn't a bad decision - a lot of drivers honestly won't care about the difference between FWD and RWD, most buyers don't go for the performance models (a large proportion of sales are fleet sales). Calling it Commodore was wrong though - they were hoping that keeping the nameplate would help keep sales going, it failed miserably.
There is also no real performance option - the NA V6 isn't terrible, but gone are the performance variants with Chevy LS engines.
Based on the fact that you've mentioned the gearbox lock-up, I suspect I know the review you've read - it's old, and in no other review of the Commodore I've read did it occur - I think it was an issue with the particular review vehicle supplied to the magazine by Holden.
Why are they compared in this article? Because they're both large sedans in a similar price bracket, and they were both pretty new to the market at the time.
Another issue is that the mainstream Australian motoring press has, regularly and probably fairly, been accused for writing the reviews their advertisers want them to write. Holden are a big advertiser in Australian motoring publications (printed and online), and writinfmg reviews that Holden don't like ends up causing trouble for journalists, editors and publications. So the VXR winning a comparison wasn't particularly surprising - and yet they've been a massive sales flop. Maybe us Aussies are more adept at distiguishing between a Holden and our asses than you thought (slightly amusing - one reason that Holden are having a hard time of it is because they're thought of by many as being arseholes, both in how they pulled out of manufacturing hee despite taking significant government funds, and because they are gaining a reputation for shocking after-sales warranty support).
I buy/drive cars for 2 basic qualities. One quality is performance. The other is interior/exterior/looks. The Holden is very nice inside, a more Spartan set up, but well done. I could see some people preferring it over the Kia. I prefer the Stinger Nappa leather and the exterior of the car. The Holden does not look bad...but it does not look great either.
I agree here. The VXR Commodore is based on the base model Insignia from Europe - a FWD fleet special. Dressing it up is putting lipstick on a pig. The Stinger is Kia's halo car. has a much more focused market, and is built accordingly.
So, that is 50%. For me, engine and performance are even more important. That is why I actually considered A Charger HEMI.
The performance of the Holden is terrible. Why get rid of the V8?
Because, despite me being similar to you in my requirements, we're actually a minority in the market. The RWD Holden died because they weren't selling enough of them to justify the ongoing cost of manufacture. Holden moved to the Insignia to replace it, and there's no RWD V8 option there. Holden/HSV are selling a RHD-converted Camaro to people who want a RWD performance car, and will apparently also import the new Corvette.
The class of German and American cars in the competition tend to be quite fast.
Not for the same money here. You can't get a fast Euro car for < AUD$60k here, so those are not considered to be competitors.
Again, you are in a different boat to the majority of the market. You can afford to choose between an $AUD60k Stinger or an AUD$150k Merc C63 or an AUD$200k+ Porsche 911 GT4. Most of the market can't - they shop up to a price. It's one of the great things about the Stinger - it brings high-end performance down to a price that a lot more people can afford.
The Stinger is competitive with these other motors, and the Stinger is much easier to mod, since it was already designed for forced induction. With a JB4/intake the Stinger is as fast or faster than the Mustang and the Dodge Hemi motors.
Audi and BMW are the Stingers competitors.
Not in Australia they are not, not even close. You need to read the article in that context.
The Holden is in a totally different class of cars. Its competition is made of Honda Accords, Toyota Camry's, and mid level Hyundais (the
G80 and 90 are two levels above the Holden). 50% of the car fails to meet my bare minimum standards. BMW and Audi owners are switching over to the Stinger. Yes, one reason is cost, but the main reason is that this car has the performance that makes driving enjoyable.
You're absolutely right. As I said, you and your peers who can afford high-priced performance cars but choose the Stinger are in a completely different market segment to where the Commodore is aimed.
Nobody cross-shops even mid-performance BMW/Audi/MB vehicles with any current Commodore in Australia - they're not even close to being competitors.
That doesn't make a VXR a bad buy for someone who has a budget of AUD$60k and wants a family-friendly sedan with a bit of poke. The Stinger just makes it not the best buy (in my opinion, and it seems, in yours).
