IT WON’T be like this for much longer – the latest and greatest performance Ford Falcon versus its hot-shot rival from across the Yarra, Holden’s range-topping V8 Commodore – so we may as well drink in the moment and enjoy it.

Up until now, it would have been gloves on and allegiances laid bare in a stoush like this. Ford versus Holden, blue against red, winner takes all. But shit has gone down and perspectives have changed. When all that lies ahead is a road that ends, we may as well treat it like a bar tab closing, or a favourite band’s last encore, rather than a race to the finish. We’ll be back; it’ll just be a little different.

All 1614km of it.

BREAKFAST at The Lott Foodstore in Cooma is always something to look forward to, but then so is slaking the High Country thirst of our V8 brutes and calculating the numbers. Roughly 355km since Albury demands close to a full tank in each car, and the Holden finally comes out in front; 16.3L/100km versus 17.9.

Easier said than done. The G20 summit is underway and the place is swarming with AFP, police dogs, undercover vehicles and cops on foot. No matter where we drive, our brightly coloured interstate sedans act like a burqa passing through border control. The British PM is visiting and our cameras and film equipment are causing such a disturbance that we leg it out of there – at the speed limit – before we get arrested.

A wee break and figurative round-table discussion later, we decide our Parkes excursion is so close, yet so far, and there’s surely some irony in that. Imagine if the Yanks felt the same way about reaching the moon? It’d be like quitting on a century-old car industry…

A better ride is obviously part of it, but there’s also stuff like properly padded door armrests, more convenient bottle holders, more tactile plastics and even a neat keyholder inside its front armrest bin to complement the keyless start. You also get a bootlid grab handle and a far superior stereo.

It should also win over the Blue Oval faithful with the best interpretation of Ford’s global styling DNA, but that’s about it. Everywhere else, the Holden has its measure, at least in road-car terms. But the Falcon did win Bathurst in 2014, so all is not lost.

Even amid the absurdity of it all, you can’t help but admire the bloke. Only a passion for motoring, however misguided, and a sense of humour could prompt someone to do something like this. So forget the pessimists; with committed enthusiasts like old mate, Australia’s car culture will continue. After a thousand miles in these era-defining muscle cars, it’s a comforting thought.

2