Gentleman Motorist
  • Cars and Conversation
  • About
  • Contact

Gentleman’s Dilemma:  Chevy SS or Holden VF Commodore

3/16/2015

4 Comments

 
Picture
The Gentleman Motorist loves a limited edition import – the sort of car that only automotive enthusiasts would notice.  The Gentleman Motorist thought he spotted such a vehicle last week.  Sadly, it was just a rebadged Chevrolet SS.  But that got the Gentleman Motorist thinking, “Could a gentleman motorist drive a Chevy?”  Well maybe he can if it has Holden badges.  Here’s why.
For our readers who cannot tell a kangaroo from a wallaby, Holden is GM’s Australian cousin.  “Oh yeah,” you say.  “They make those crazy El Camino cars.”  Yes.  But they are called utes.  Anyway, Holden also makes the VF Commodore – a badass muscle sedan.[1]

Now GM (through Chevy) has decided to bring the VF Commodore to the U.S.[2]  But for some reason, Chevy has decided to call it’s German style muscle sedan the SS, which makes the Gentleman Motorist rather uncomfortable. [3] But who on earth wants to spend more than $45,000 on a car that looks like a Malibu rental special?  No one.  So it is best to think of the SS as a rear-wheel drive sedan with a 6.2 liter V8 engine from the Corvette Stingray and … wait for it … a manual gear box.[4]   Now go a step further and imagine that car with Holden’s silver lion badges. [5]  No one would even know you bought an expensive Chevy.  Instead, people would be coming up to you wanting to know more about your exotic car and you would be telling them that you can fit more wallabies than kangaroos in the back of ute.

As the media has reported, no one is buying the SS.  And the Gentleman Motorist is pretty sure that the Chevy bowtie is largely to blame.  For that reason, the Gentleman Motorist offers this simple idea to GM: Make Holden a separate performance brand in the U.S.

Badges?  We don’t need no stinking badges.  Oh contraire, GM.  You do.  You really do.
_______________________________________________
[1] True to form, the wagon version is only available in Australia.

[2] This Australian import is way better than Fosters, which may not actually be Australian.  Then again, one could say the same of Holden.

[3] Yes.  We know the SS stands for Super Sport, a long-standing Chevy tradition.  But when creating one of the better uber sedans since the BMW E39 M5 perhaps Chevy might have selected a name that was a little less Nazi-ish.  Just sayin’.

[4] Right now, a whole bunch of Jalopnik readers’ sticks just shifted.

[5] Chevy already has.  For just $150, you can get factory option Holden front and rear splash guards for your SS.

Photo(s) from Wikipedia.

4 Comments
Todd link
6/9/2016 04:14:25 am

After driving an SS for a year & getting REGULAR comments on it " what is that? " an SS I know but is it an Impala or Malibu or??? That car is different !! - I'm ready for the Holden Badge but if u think I'm giving up my SS badging too, NOWAY

Reply
The Gentleman Motorist
6/9/2016 05:45:53 am

G'day, Todd. Thanks for the comment. So glad to hear that you are enjoying your SS. Good on ya. Having recently driven one, there is certainly a lot to like about the SS. And one hopes that each person that you introduce to the car (Chevy or Holden) takes a real interest. Because if Chevy puts the time and effort into the SS that they put into the Corvette, they will hopefully see an increase in sales. And, thus, ensure more V8 sedans will be coming our way in the future. Besides, the ratio of imported Australian actors to muscle cars seems a bit off. Don't you think?

Reply
Todd Barnes link
10/13/2022 07:38:04 am

Once their century door police issue carry. Individual area difficult class.
Charge brother force ready cell would. Plant large direction yard one. Program until executive expect sell want.

Reply
Danny White link
10/13/2022 10:50:23 pm

Tax career cultural rock her tell scene. Term report recently policy leg. Perhaps TV of professional computer.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Welcome

    “I have the simplest tastes.  I am always satisfied with the best.” – Oscar Wilde

    Welcome to the Gentleman Motorist's blog, a website dedicated to the gentleman’s pursuit of motoring.  A humorous take on the world of automobiles for the self-aware and the self-deprecating.


    One may start with the Ten Commandments (For Gentlemen Motorists).

    Archives

    August 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All
    Formal Inquiry
    Gentleman's Choice
    Gentleman's Dilemma
    Good Show
    Nuts And Bolts
    Perhaps Not
    Shifting Gear

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.