Byron, Ford have already made it known that they will not revisit the V8 in the next ute, which basically means that if you want a V8 ute you might need to see if you can find an FPV GS version of it. From my understanding there isn't much between the GVMs of either the current (run-out) GS ute and the Commodore V8 ute - around 100kg if I have my facts right but I do share your reasoning for wanting a live rear axle and cart springs. I am actually holding out on replacing our old wagon with a manual supercharged XR8 sedan when they are released during 2014 (have already replaced the Golf with an FG XR6T, which SWMBO instructed me I was to give to her.... hmmm) which will, if I can wrangle the lease mob to run with it, be visiting KPM for a little grunt output massage.
Dave, I do hope that wherever the news about Holden came from it turns out to be false but I get the feeling that because they have made no secret of the last Commodore already being in production then I need to look long and hard at what I replace the wagon with. The current GM V8 will certainly have more go-faster bits available for it in the future but I do really want to start with something force inducted to begin with which is why I am leaning toward a Blue oval to drag the trailer queen around when it gets back on the road....
I work in an industry (aviation) that the media almost has no idea of how to report even minor incidents, often blowing them out of all proportion. I wouldn't be surprised, though I am quickly learning, that even the ABC now has real political leaning... This story they have run does seem at the outset to be hype in (as far as I know) that nobody from Holden has made an official comment on it.
My concern is for the supplementary industries that Australian manufacturing supports by just being there. I couldn't say for sure just which government started the rot but there has been the catch-cry of we need to be competitive in "a global economy" from successive governments of both persuasions for many years now. That mantra is coming home to roost now as it has shown that removal of tariffs and other protective measures (I'm stopping well short of saying protectionism outright) hasn't helped our local vehicle manufacturers - who, due to our standard of living etc could never hope to be competitive aginst importers with a much lower cost base. Is it any wonder that governments are looking at ways of stopping everyday consumers from accessing the much championed "global economy" from home in their own time and buying items (ie; wanting to tax people buying <$1K items) in from overseas?
To me it isn't rocket science that previous governments policies to do with our vehicle manufacturing just haven't worked.
It seems the successive governments want it both ways. There is pain in the pipeline I feel...
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