10 little VF II Commodore things

We've now driven Holden's new LS3-powered VF II Commodore, but for those short of time here are a few things we like…

• Feel the noise – I can’t remember a lairier sounding stock Holden. Period. Proves that exhaust noise is like money: Some is good, more is better.
• White, black, red – No, not the national flag of Yemen, but the SS-V Redline in white with the black roof and red calipers. Tasty.
• Anchors away – Those Brembos on the Redline are some marvellous stoppers. Staying power galore and a great pedal feel.
• Collectability – You’re unlikely to lose money on a Series 2 SS over the longer term.
• Passion lives here – The people who built this car, love this car. And you can feel that depth of enthusiasm when you drive the SS.

And a few things we don't…

• Bowser blues – I know it won’t bother the faithful, but an extra litre per 100km for the new car kind of grates a bit. No new model Commodore has ever gone backwards on fuel economy before.
• Blind spot – That thick A-pillar remains to hide anything smaller than a Airbus A380 when you’re turning right.
• When is bright not so bright? – When it’s applied to flat surfaces in and around the centre console to reflect every stray ray of sunlight.
• Big fat mama – Can’t help but wonder what a dead-set weapon this thing would be with 300kg lopped off its weighbridge ticket.
• Sayonara big guy – Yep, this is the last Aussie designed, Aussie made big Holden we’ll ever see. And there won’t be a V8 post 2017. Sniff.