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View Poll Results: Which is the coolest?
SS
8
16.33%
HSV
17
34.69%
GPX
1
2.04%
SVT
13
26.53%
PVO
1
2.04%
V Series
9
18.37%
Voters: 49. You may not vote on this poll

Which of these performance divisions/model lines is the coolest ?

Old Sep 7, 2003 | 05:52 PM
  #16  
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Originally posted by RiceEating5.0

My rating:
............
4. GPX (FWD, 6 banger, questionable styling)
actually its FWD V8

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Old Sep 7, 2003 | 06:02 PM
  #17  
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Originally posted by Z28x
limited production = jacked up prices and harder to get the exact car you want
That can be said, but I've never heard of people having a problem finding the SVT car that they want. They are limited in production, but production numbers are large enough that you can go to a SVT dealer and see numerous cars of each model on the lot.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 06:02 PM
  #18  
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Originally posted by Z28x
actually its FWD V8

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I must have had the Comp G in mind. Doesn't look bad either. That twin kidney pontiac signature look is what's messing that front end up.

The 285hp 4.4 is good but the Fwd is bad.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 06:04 PM
  #19  
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Well I guess I dont need to start a poll on American performance divisions.Its as plain as day.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 06:08 PM
  #20  
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Originally posted by bigsteve7
That can be said, but I've never heard of people having a problem finding the SVT car that they want. They are limited in production, but production numbers are large enough that you can go to a SVT dealer and see numerous cars of each model on the lot.
Exactly. The SVT's are attainable and their prices are far from "jacked up". You're still getting a whole of performance for your dollar.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 06:15 PM
  #21  
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I would have to say SVT is on top of the world right now too. The current Lightning will leave the SS Silverado like the Chevy is tied to a pole. The next Lightning is going to be a lot stouter than this one. Chevy has got to get back into the hi-po pickup game.....fast.

Dodge and Ford are going to own this market if Chevy doesn't do something....I would have to guess Ford will especially dominate as the Viper powered pickup's price goes up every time Dodge talks about it. If the SVT Lightning is as fast (Or my guess faster) who is gonna care that the more expensive Dodge has a Viper engine in it? And the current SS Silverado is waaaay overpriced. You could buy the much better driving F-150 Harley Hauler and smoke one. Kinda dissapointing. As far as trucks go SVT's reign is currently undisputed as they build the fastest truck in the world until the Viper powered Dodge shows up. And like I said the next Lightning will be at least as fast as the Dodge

Unfortunately, the Camaro is gone so SVT's Mustang Cobra loosley competes against the Vette in every trim and ...well...not much else. SVT builds the fastest car in the world under 40 grand and there isn't much left like it. That has to count for something. As a matter of fact there are dang few cars over 40 grand that will out accelerate a Cobra. Mods are cheap, easy, and endless. And jaw dropping effective as mildly tweaked Cobra's can pump 500hp to the rear wheels and the next Cobra is likely to pump 500hp at the crank right out of the box. Thank God for blowers.

The SVT Focus handles amazingly well.....drive one wether you like the breed or not.....it is unbelievable. Power in this instance left me kind of cold. The ST4 Neon will smoke a SVT Focus. Granted, on a road course the Focus handles so much better I don't think the Neon even with it's big power would win, but excuses don't win at a dragstrip. Actually I don't understand the absence of a turbo or a six under the SVT's hood as when driven the chassis scream out "I can handle way more power than this".
Also a sedan version would be welcome thank you.

The new Ford GT, badge or not as mentioned before a SVT developed vehicle...well. All due respect to the Viper there is nothing else rolling off of a US production line like the GT. Originally claiming 500hp, most sources...good ones, now say the GT makes "at least" 590hp. My bet is strap one to a dyno and you will watch that number top 600 at the crank. A lot more expensive than a Viper....Yes. But, in a league all by itself even if hp ends up "only" being 590.

Right now SVT wins with SRT second..and, in my opinion, SRT actually winning one category with it's SRT4. I agree HSV is awesome but as was said earlier you cannot get one here so why bother. The Caddy V-Series cars are nice but they aren't exactly offering cars priced to fit every budget. And, they aren't all about speed either. They are gaining on AMG, and Motorsport as luxury brand tuners though.

GXP.....not yet boys...sorry
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 07:35 PM
  #22  
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If we were going by which was coolest historically I'd say SS but SS today is just BS.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 08:52 PM
  #23  
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Originally posted by Z28x
limited production = jacked up prices and harder to get the exact car you want
Unlimited production = jacked up prices on dealer stock, as dealers like to stock the most expensive, profitable models. Public perception of the cost of the cars may be much higher than the actual cost of low or mid level cars. Overall sales could decline based on low/mid models. SSound familliar?

Limited production is good just to keep the dealers ordering the cars most of us can afford. Just keep it limited enough so there is no artificially inflated pricing by the dealers (including markups) and provide real value for the money. SVT has this nailed.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 09:03 PM
  #24  
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He is right. And a limited real kick *** car is great for image.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 09:07 PM
  #25  
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Originally posted by WERM
Unlimited production = jacked up prices on dealer stock, as dealers like to stock the most expensive, profitable models. Public perception of the cost of the cars may be much higher than the actual cost of low or mid level cars. Overall sales could decline based on low/mid models. SSound familliar?

Limited production is good just to keep the dealers ordering the cars most of us can afford. Just keep it limited enough so there is no artificially inflated pricing by the dealers (including markups) and provide real value for the money. SVT has this nailed.
I'm not saying that SVT prices are jacked up, they seem fair for the upgrades you get. but one disadvantage to limited production is little or no discounting, you pay close to MSRP.

Limited production is OK if supply = demand. The GTO is limited, but to 18,000 units. That should be enough to give everyone the car they want at a fair price. But now look at the Cobra R, The Cobra R might have well just been a concept car since you will never see one on the street due to it being limited to 300 units.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 09:09 PM
  #26  
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The Bonneville GPX is such a good looking car that I would almost pick GPX because of that.

As far as SVT, I don't know. The SVT Focus is really a non player. It gets smoked by just about everything in it's class. The SVT Cobra up until 03' was not much of anything but Z28 fodder. The Contour, I don't know too much about it other than it is not here anymore and I saw a new Grand Am GT smoke one 2 weeks ago. So you have the Lightning which does accomplish what it is supposed to.
I don't know, they all have thier faults even if that is that the brand has too few vehicles at this time. I still have to argue the V-series becasue the CTSv impressed me so much so far and from what we have been hearing about future models, it looks even better.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 10:41 PM
  #27  
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Originally posted by SNEAKY NEIL
The Bonneville GPX is such a good looking car that I would almost pick GPX because of that.

As far as SVT, I don't know. The SVT Focus is really a non player. It gets smoked by just about everything in it's class.
I disagree. The SVT focus only stickers for $20,000 loaded and they are negotiable. The RSX, Celica GTS and other "hot hatchbacks" all go for mid $20's.

Bang for the buck its one of the best out there and when you read magazine reviews on it it usually comes out near the top.

EDIT - About your Cobra comment, dont forget that the Cobra offered you a reingineered car over a Mustang GT. You got a much better DOHC engine and IRS above all. For what it was it was a pretty good deal. They ran mid 13s and were supposedly much more civil on the street. (dunno, never driven one in person) I wouldnt really say it was second to the Z28...

Last edited by bigsteve7; Sep 7, 2003 at 10:43 PM.
Old Sep 7, 2003 | 11:14 PM
  #28  
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I think anyone who feels that SVT is not the bencmark here...is viewing it all through a jaundiced eye.

None of these organizations would even exist if they weren't trying to grab a piece of the success that SVT pioneered....and yet none of them can do it exactly like SVT.

GM's response is the large, and perhaps less focused GMPD....which will oversee the V-series, Redline, GXP and SS.

Out of all of these...in my personal opinion , SS falls furthest from the mark for the enthusiast.

Overpriced and slightly faster versions of regular production vehicles....is not what John Coletti would allow an SVT emblem to be afixed to.

SS may have merit as a merchandising strategy....but it is no SVT.


EDIT: With all that said....I want HSV to design my next Z/28.

Last edited by Z284ever; Sep 8, 2003 at 01:30 AM.
Old Sep 8, 2003 | 07:19 AM
  #29  
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Originally posted by bigsteve7
I disagree. The SVT focus only stickers for $20,000 loaded and they are negotiable. The RSX, Celica GTS and other "hot hatchbacks" all go for mid $20's.

Bang for the buck its one of the best out there and when you read magazine reviews on it it usually comes out near the top.

Well, I will name a few that are faster for cheaper. Of course the Neon SRT-4, Mazdaspeed Protege, nissan Sentra SE-R spec V, I think there might be more too. All are faster for less money.
Old Sep 8, 2003 | 07:23 AM
  #30  
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Originally posted by WERM
Unlimited production = jacked up prices on dealer stock, as dealers like to stock the most expensive, profitable models. Public perception of the cost of the cars may be much higher than the actual cost of low or mid level cars. Overall sales could decline based on low/mid models. SSound familliar?

Limited production is good just to keep the dealers ordering the cars most of us can afford. Just keep it limited enough so there is no artificially inflated pricing by the dealers (including markups) and provide real value for the money. SVT has this nailed.

So... if this is true (I think it's a reach, to be honest)... what good does this do for all the Ford dealers that are not SVT licensed? Which, is the majority of Ford dealers...

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