Maybe better comparison BF v VE

[normxb]

From Carsguide .com.au

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0...rom=public_rss

BF Falcon vs VE Commodore

Smackdown: the comfy models of Ford and Holden are put to the ultimate test.

James Stanford, Gavin McGrath, Graham Smith

PITCHING the BF Falcon against the VE Commodore was bound to be a big bout. The CARSguide test team has a winner.

The previous Falcon beat the old Commodore in our last sanctioned big Aussie car battle, but the Holden has since been rejuvenated at a cost of $1 billion. It has been in serious training for five years.
The BF Falcon was boosted with mechanical upgrades late last year, but it is much the same as the 2002 BA model.

It will be given a styling tweak and some other adjustments in October, before a new model hits in 2008.

We let the cars do battle in an extensive test on challenging Victorian roads, dirt tracks and highways.

We picked the most popular family models, the $39,175 Falcon Futura and the $40,240 Berlina.

ON THE ROAD

WITH $1 billion spent on developing the Commodore, you would think the VE Holden would easily beat the ageing Falcon. If you did, you are wrong. This fight goes all the way to the last round.

ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION


THE Falcon is the winner when it comes to punch. Torque is the key. It shouldn't be a surprise, given the Ford has 53Nm more on tap.

The last Commodore didn't need as much grunt because it was lighter. Now it is 11kg heavier than the Ford and you feel it.

The Berlina isn't a slug, but the engine does have to work a lot harder.

Going uphill, the Berlina's four-speed transmission has to drop down one or two gears more than the Ford equivalent, meaning the engine revs higher to maintain momentum.

That said, the Holden engineers have done a great job improving the refinement of the Alloytec V6.

It was pretty rough when it was introduced in the VZ model, with nasty noises and vibrations, but it is much smoother now.

At idle, the Holden engine is so quiet that sometimes we are not sure if the engine is turned on.

The Ford is not as smooth at idle. It vibrates a bit more, especially when switching the airconditioning on or off.

The Futura's engine does emit a rortier engine note, which adds to the sporty feel.

Its automatic transmission works better than the Berlina's, with smoother changes, but the difference is not huge.

Like almost all new cars, the Futura's automatic has a manual shift mode, but the Berlina misses out.

FUEL CONSUMPTION

YOU might expect the Futura to be thirstier than the Berlina because of its performance edge, but that's not the case.

In fact, the Ford is lighter on fuel than the Holden. We are probably harder on the cars during the test than most owners would be, but we drive both cars in exactly the same way.

The Berlina uses an average of 10.9 litres over 100km and the Falcon uses an average of 9.8 litres/100km.

Based on those figures, an average driver would spend an extra $6 a week to run the Holden at current fuel prices.

RIDE COMFORT

THE Berlina is the winner when it comes to ride comfort.

It is set softer than the Falcon and is nicer to ride in on smooth roads and most city streets. The Berlina's suspension might be too soft for some. It can float a bit when running over big bumps on broken country roads.

The Falcon set-up is firmer. It is still fairly comfortable, but not as nice as the Berlina. It is more lively and you feel more of the bumps.

The comfort level in the Berlina is aided by a quiet interior. We can feel the serenity.

The Futura is a pretty quiet car, with BF upgrades reducing noise levels, but the Berlina is quieter.

Intrusive tyre noise experienced on the Commodore launch early this month, particularly in sporty models, was not evident during the test.

HANDLING

BOTH cars have excellent road-holding ability. The Futura and Berlina both hang on well on dry tarmac, wet tarmac and slippery gravel.

Both have the advantage of traction control, but the Holden has the added safety of electronic stability control.

The Futura gives the driver more feel when pushing hard, both through the suspension and the steering, which is more solid than the Berlina. The VE Holden's steering is much lighter than the previous model, which was not good. The new system is very light on centre, but loads up as you turn.

It takes a while to get used to, but the lighter system is much less taxing when you are negotiating tight turns in places like car parks.

The Holden's driving position is much better than the Ford's and it is easier to get comfortable behind the wheel.

You feel as if you are sitting lower in the Berlina, but you still have good visibility.

The door line is higher and the driver feels more secure.

In the Futura, you feel you are sitting up higher.

INSIDE

APART from a rotten slab of plastic stuck on the dashboard that we think is supposed to imitate woodgrain, the Berlina's interior is very good.

A lot of time and effort has been spent creating a functional and attractive layout.

The buttons are all visible to the driver, unlike the pokey buttons for things such as the fuel cap release that are hidden behind the Futura's steering wheel.

The Berlina's sound system, which copies Ford's piano-key buttons, has a lot of bass and a cool green-coloured screen.

Dual-zone climate control in the Holden is a welcome feature, as is the Bluetooth that beams your phone calls through the car speakers, as long as you have the right phone.

We don't like the Berlina's handbrake, which is part of the centre console. It looks cheap and is clumsy to use.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel in the Berlina is a nice touch and the cloth trim looks fine, but we are not convinced the cloth fabric will endure the rigours of family travel.

The familiar Futura interior is starting to look dated.

Its plush felt seat trim is nice, but the dashboard is fairly plain and the centre control screen has been surpassed by the Berlina.

The plastic steering wheel doesn't match the Berlina's and the instrument panel doesn't look as classy.

Still, most of the controls are well laid out, especially the climate-control dials and radio controls.

The cruise control of both cars works well, but we prefer the steering wheel-mounted Ford system, rather than the stalk system of the Holden.

OUTSIDE

THERE is no competition when it comes to exterior styling. The Berlina looks so much better than the Futura, which is a now a plain Jane.

With its flared wheel arches, coupe-like roof line and 17-inch wheels, the Holden wins the fashion battle.

PRACTICALITY

APART from a silly decision to not include a split-fold rear seat, Holden has done well with practicality.

Things such as door bins for the rear-seat passengers, doors that open wider than the Futura's and a huge, flat-bottomed boot all add up.

Both cars offer lots of rear legroom and headroom, but the Berlina is easier to get in and out of.

Holden fitted the test car with the optional full-size spare tyre ($250), despite arguing that punctures are a thing of the past. We suggest owners do the same. The full-size spare takes up no more room in the boot.

THE VERDICT

This is close as both cars are world-class.

If you want to tow, the Futura is the car to have. It is also the car we would pick for a fun run on a twisty road.

The Berlina's fuel-drinking problem is a concern and could put off quite a few potential buyers.

For us, the Holden is the better car for everyday driving. It needs more torque, but is more refined, quieter, is more comfortable to ride in on most roads and looks to be a prestige car.

There is more useable boot space, the driving position is better and it has electronic stability control as standard.

The Berlina wins this fight - just - but we would jump either way depending on which brand offered the best discount.


Herald-Sun


Specs
Holden Commodore Berlina
Price $40,240 (including full-size spare wheel)
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Transmission Four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power 180kW at 6000 revs
Torque 330Nm at 2600 revs
Fuel 10.9 litres per 100km average
Weight 1705kg
Dimensions Length 4894mm, width 1899mm, height 1476mm, wheelbase 2915mm, track 1602mm/1618mm front/rear
Safety Anti-skid brakes, stability control, traction control, front and side airbags
Standard features 17-inch alloy wheels, Bluetooth phone connection, dual-zone airconditioning, fog lights, cruise control, rear parking sensors, six-CD stacker, automatic headlights

Ford Falcon Futura
Price $39,175
Engine 4.0-litre in-line six-cylinder
Transmission Four-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power 190kW at 5250 revs
Torque 383Nm at 2500 revs
Fuel 9.8 litres per 100km average
Weight 1694kg
Dimensions Length 4916mm, width 1864mm, height 1444mm, wheelbase 2829mm, tracks1553mm/1571mm
Safety Anti-skid brakes, traction control, front and side airbags
Standard features Cruise control, airconditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, single CD sound, automatic headlights, rear parking sensors, split-fold rear seat, full-size spare wheel