AutoCar Battle: BMW M5 vs. Vauxhall VXR8(GTS)

[timetaker]

Makes the GTS seem two generations behind the BMW M5.That stoneage 6.2L V8 that virtually everyone raves about,is just no match for the superior 4.4L V8 of the M5.
Although the "test" was quite silly it was interesting what the reviewer had to say about the GTS and I agreed with his view that in isolation,the GTS is a very good car.
There is also a straight line comparision at the end.In all fairness, the GTS was a manual however I doubt that an automatic would've made a significant difference.
The BMW is surprise,surprise much more expensive,has more torque but is heavier than the GTS.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-video/b...-vauxhall-vxr8

[NX74205]

That result isn't entirely unexpected. As far as performance sedan goes, the only thing comparable to an M5 is the E63.

Incidentally, that guy is far braver than I would be, drifting around a track like that with a distinct possibility of ending up in a tree if something went wrong!

[40RDT]

Indeed the GTS is the bargain of the century, for 90k you can't go wrong

[chevypower]

If $90K is the "bargain of the century," I friggen hate this overpriced century!

[malazn mafia]

What do M5's do 0-60mph in ? I fondly remember destroying a previous generation M5 (E60) at 3 consecutive sets of lights in a BA with FG F6 / 6spd auto running gear and a 3.46 Diff, and no turbo badges and running on LPG. Bloke musn't have been impressed.

[CyberWasp]

Imagine passing the Police like that on a country road.

[rancidpunx]

Interesting that the GTS can be shipped half way around the world and sold cheaper than here where its made

[PepeLePew]

Credit where it's due to be considered in the company of a M5 and not to be laughed at is a nod in itself. Hats off to the Holden boys.

[CyberWasp]

Why was the Falcon GT or F6 never sold in England?

[fgpsi]

Why do they always test the manual? Don't they get the auto version in the UK?

[wranger]

Gotta love that 145k in the UK transforms into 230K here.

[Trump]

I doubted the 430kW whe I first drove the GTS, that video just confirms my doubts. Yes its fast, but only marginally so over the XR.

[Pub247]

yeah hard to see 430kw when it gets spanked by the m5 in a straight line (turbo toque is probably the cause) 502lbft @ 1500rpm.

Still pretty good car if you you dont have the cahs to spend on m5

Much props to sutcliffe got some skills in the wet

[Bent8]

Originally Posted by NX74205

That result isn't entirely unexpected. As far as performance sedan goes, the only thing comparable to an M5 is the E63.

Incidentally, that guy is far braver than I would be, drifting around a track like that with a distinct possibility of ending up in a tree if something went wrong!

Hehe, all you need is a bit of practice my friend... and you'll realise it ain't that hard to do.

This comparo proves that the GTS is not making 430kW at the crank as advertised, more like 405kW which puts it on par with the M5 in terms of hp/tonne.

[BHDOGS]

I dont see how it lost holden is always saying its a euro beater world class more like **** class its the retarded school kid at the super car dance. Holden needs to shut up about it already and compare it to where its priced in no other car territory. Out on its lonesome the champion car of its own price bracket. The lonely loser category.

[DanielXR8]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

I dont see how it lost holden is always saying its a euro beater world class more like **** class its the retarded school kid at the super car dance. Holden needs to shut up about it already and compare it to where its priced in no other car territory. Out on its lonesome the champion car of its own price bracket. The lonely loser category.

You have a way with words. Probably best not to use them around anyone thinking of buying a Ford for the first time. Might put them off.

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by BHDOGS

I dont see how it lost holden is always saying its a euro beater world class more like **** class its the retarded school kid at the super car dance. Holden needs to shut up about it already and compare it to where its priced in no other car territory. Out on its lonesome the champion car of its own price bracket. The lonely loser category.

Elegant way to put it

[strik9]

the die hard anti anything holden campaigner . watch out brilliant mind at work.

[Sox]

How does a joke of a test like this determine which car is better?

Chucking skids?

[Wretched]

no doubt the M5 would have won this.
It is the benchmark for super saloons.
It shows what can be done with a well sorted chassis, it can probably use the power a lot better than the GTS. That's not to say the GTS is a slouch.
Have to laugh at the mob who still cling to the fact the GTS doesn't have 430kw.

[Rodge]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

Interesting that the GTS can be shipped half way around the world and sold cheaper than here where its made

I could ship it all the way back again so its done a complete circumnavigation of the world and parallel import it to N.Z. for circa $15,000 Kiwi less than HSV N.Z. want for it here...and HSV N.Z. will soon be wondering why they have so many sitting in showrooms

[Grippy]

Hardly a fair comparison. That reviewer seems to think power sliding makes a car, some grip, handling and braking assessments would be nice.

[Bent8]

Originally Posted by Wretched

Have to laugh at the mob who still cling to the fact the GTS doesn't have 430kw.

From all the dyno results, they're averaging 316rwkw stock... if they made 430kW at the crank, that means there is a drivetrain power loss of over 26% !!

Who's laughing now?...

[40RDT]

Originally Posted by Bent8

From all the dyno results, they're averaging 316rwkw stock... if they made 430kW at the crank, that means there is a drivetrain power loss of over 26% !!

Who's laughing now?...

Most seem to dyno between 315-325rwkw depending on transmission but the beefed up driveline will rob a little power to the rear wheels

I wouldn't get too hung up with rwkw though performance times are a better measure of real world performance than dyno numbers

[HULK_I6T]

Didn't the hsv beat the fpv with Miami?

People are saying the Miami have 380kw at the motor stock so why isn't the hsv claim of 430kw reasonable?

[Rob 351]

As Larry Perkins once said about a competitors claimed HP figures...
'I think there counting Shetland Ponies, we use Draught Horses'.
He was a funny old bugger!

[pmacc]

Originally Posted by Grippy

Hardly a fair comparison. That reviewer seems to think power sliding makes a car, some grip, handling and braking assessments would be nice.

When I heard him say give me a decent flappy paddle gearbox over a manual any day his opinion became immediately redundant.

[Whitey-AMG]

So the standard M5 must be a piece of junk - right - which is why they have added this new Competition pack -

Anyways - the test shows the M5 equipped with the comp pack : so it gets an extra leg up over the GTS.

"it adds an extra 15 horsepower under the hood.
Next to the extra power the M5 equipped with the Competition Package is offering an extensively tuned chassis set-up. It gets new coil springs and damper calibrations and stiffened anti-sway bars that have lowered the car’s ride by 10 mm (0.39 inches). Thank to these updates the car’s cornering dynamics and tractability have been improved, and the 0 to 60 mph sprint time was reduced by 0.1 seconds.
The package is also offering unique 20-inch M light-alloy wheels, a sport exhaust system featuring M quad tailpipes finished in Black Chrome and re-mapped M Dynamic Mode (MDM) of DSC (Dynamic Stability Control).
The new BMW M5 Competition Package will go on sale on the U.S. market in August 2013. The package will add another $7,300 to the M5’s starting price of $90,900."

So basically - for 230K in Australia you get this car. ( It comes standard with the comp pack here - you cant have it without )
That's a hell of a lot of coin and IMHO - the new series Beemers are as ugly as a bag of smahed crabs. Go like stink though.

[Peter B - CV8]

Originally Posted by Bent8

From all the dyno results, they're averaging 316rwkw stock... if they made 430kW at the crank, that means there is a drivetrain power loss of over 26% !!

Who's laughing now?...

That percentage of loss is about right for most auto's - manual lose slightly less (around 20% drivetrain loss)

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by pmacc

When I heard him say give me a decent flappy paddle gearbox over a manual any day his opinion became immediately redundant.

Agreed, it pretty much sums that bloke up and any credability he had.