The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: philw on December 04, 2009, 05:21:45 PM
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heheh put that up your toyota prius tofu eating, latte drinking tossers ;D
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/put-australia-in-reverse-and-surge-ahead/story-e6frezz0-1225795168506
AUSTRALIA is becoming a land of unintended consequences. Everything's turning out opposite to expectations.
Naturally, I blame Kevin Rudd, who although not funny at all is still capable of making people laugh.
Recently, for example, competitors lined up for something called the Eco Challenge, a Darwin-to-Adelaide economy run that aimed to highlight the tiny environmental impact of modern small cars.
Organisers were therefore surprised when Holden turned up for the contest with a massive 6.2 litre V8 Maloo ute, one of the most powerful and least economical cars ever made in Australia.
Holden had checked the rules for this economy run and discovered that the overall winner wouldn't be decided by best mileage. Instead, first prize would go to the car that showed the greatest improvement over its government fuel usage figures. According to those, the Maloo converts 15.1 litres of fuel into dead polar bear cubs every 100km. But that estimate includes lots of city driving. Realising there are few cities between Darwin and Adelaide, Holden knew they were a chance. In the end, the Maloo won easily. It achieved a 50 per cent improvement over the official estimate; lesser vehicles collapsed like Tim Flannery's weather predictions.
Said chastened event organiser Chris Selwood: "We will be looking at the parameters for a future competition."
You bet he will.
Meanwhile, expect entertaining ecology-themed ads ("Save the planet - buy a gigantic V8") featuring Holden's 412-horsepower, 280km/h economy hero.
Selwood shouldn't feel too bad. He's only following Rudd's lead. The Prime Minister has become a trendsetter in bungled outcomes.
For a start, there's his people smuggling policy. "Tough but gay," I think he calls it. Since it's been in place, people smugglers have enjoyed an absolute boon.
Some outcomes, though unexpected, are welcome. In 2007, Rudd announced his party's rejection of any surge in US troop numbers for Iraq: "We have argued consistently against that surge strategy."
This week, US general David Petraeus received the Order of Australia for his successful use of that very same strategy.
Grocery Watch was meant to reduce cost. Instead, grocery prices are up plus we've lost all the money it took to establish Grocery Watch in the first place.
Then there's the Government's home insulation caper, which lured so many scam artists that the Government is now assembling a "name-and-shame" list.
So how come Rudd's tip for the Melbourne Cup actually won?
Only a theory, but maybe the Rudd curse only works when he's playing with someone else's money.
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Good stuff, mate. ;D
Love the V-8's.....................fight 'em with their own rules.
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i forgot to post a pic on how cool these are
(http://www.caradvice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MalooR8Eco2-625x349.jpg)
(http://image.motortrend.com/f/9532014+w750/112_0712_08z+holden_HSV_maloo_r8+rear_profile_view.jpg)
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Hot damn.....the El Camino lives!!!!!
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What's a Maloo - besides the cool Holden (which looks more like a Pontiac than a Chevy)? Some sort of Aussie beastie?
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Something out of Mad Max with the "Interceptor" would have been nice too, but a sweet ride...
I once saw a big block V-8 in a Chevy Vega, which is kinda like a Pinto,....all horsepower no weight...
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/vega_frt_web.jpg)
;D
Screw gas mileage!!!!!
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I really love to trot this video out when the subject of horsepower, etc., etc. is brought up........ ;D
It always makes my day. I know a guy who had a car that looked and ran just like the first one in the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRf6kuzQtj8
8)
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Hot damn.....the El Camino lives!!!!!
No Pegleg sorry mate - it doesnt LOL
Not in the same class my friend.
Although watching a US auction show in the wee hours the other night there was some classic muscle cars that were still pumping oil and kicking ass. mint shilby cobra's, mustangs etc, made me wish I had a spare 250k US :'(
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No Pegleg sorry mate - it doesnt LOL
Not in the same class my friend.
Maybe you're right...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=415cY50OLrI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCssGo4nkxE
;D
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Hot damn.....the El Camino lives!!!!!
No Pegleg sorry mate - it doesnt LOL
Not in the same class my friend.
hehe no way mate they are in a league of there own
we had utes back in 1951 with the Holden FX
they have come a log way since then
What's a Maloo - besides the cool Holden (which looks more like a Pontiac than a Chevy)? Some sort of Aussie beastie?
The Maloo is the top of the range version of the Holden Ute that has been enhanced by Holden Special Vehicles
http://www.hsv.com.au/hsv/showroom/ check out the GTS I WANT ONE DAM IT
there is a huge ute culture here from the Sports Utes, ( Maloo style) 4 Wheeler Utes ( Hilux ) to the B&S Utes ( See Pic below)
(http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200910/r447369_2170937.jpg) (http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s125/pmcmagpie/Wagin%202009/x_othercountry_02.jpg)
I read that we were going to be building the Pontiac G8 El Camino for you guys over there until GM Axed Pontiac
one good thing for us is that LAPD are looking at getting the Caprice Sedan for there new patrol car under the Chev Badge
the Caprice is the top of the line Sedan that we make here at Holden
http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/4DB981DD3B661FE0CA25764600253D2B
(http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf/story2/4DB981DD3B661FE0CA25764600253D2B/$file/Chevrolet_Caprice_Patrol_Car_Front8_large.jpg)
Although watching a US auction show in the wee hours the other night there was some classic muscle cars that were still pumping oil and kicking ass. mint shilby cobra's, mustangs etc, made me wish I had a spare 250k US :'(
yea there are some real cool ones in that show
and I thought you were working that night :P
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No offence phil, but what's with all that low drag plastic crap on your "utes"? I mean, if you jumped a curb, you'd rip off your running boarads. Shouldn't they be made with skid plates and nothing below wheel level? It's why I've never put a step on my F-150 with 17" wheels, its just something to get hung up in the brush. I thought a "ute" was an on/off road deal? (unless y'all go for the low rider hydraulics ese)? ;D ;D ;D
FQ13
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Good stuff, mate. ;D
Love the V-8's.....................fight 'em with their own rules.
The last time I drove a town car from here to LA, we average just over 28 mpg doing atleast 70 mph down hwy 5.
the v6 mustang gets worse gas milage then the gt does... if you can keep your foot out of it.
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No offence phil, but what's with all that low drag plastic crap on your "utes"? I mean, if you jumped a curb, you'd rip off your running boarads. Shouldn't they be made with skid plates and nothing below wheel level? It's why I've never put a step on my F-150 with 17" wheels, its just something to get hung up in the brush. I thought a "ute" was an on/off road deal? (unless y'all go for the low rider hydraulics ese)? ;D ;D ;D
FQ13
that is the sports utes mate all go and looks not for off road designed for around town / freeway driver
the rough drive them anywhere are the B&S utes or HiLux off road style ones, one reason I want to get a HiLux as I want a ute however also want a 4x4 so hilux it is wish we could get the Tundra though as I would love a V8 4x4 dual cab
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Enjoy the kangaroo removal front bumpers on those.. :P
If I were in a rally in the Outback it would be a little less "pretty" but more Tacticool...
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/madmaxcar.jpg)
8)
Ya' know for posterity..... ;)
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Maybe you're right...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=415cY50OLrI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCssGo4nkxE
;D
Love to see the camino go around Bathurst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gvy8niKERw
FYI the long straight is called Conrod, and theyre hitting about 300kph down there (approx 190mph)
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Love to see the camino go around Bathurst.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gvy8niKERw
FYI the long straight is called Conrod, and theyre hitting about 300kph down there (approx 190mph)
Very cool video, Sledge........hell of a driver.....even if he is sitting on the wrong side of the car. ;D ;D
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Very cool video, Sledge........hell of a driver.....even if he is sitting on the wrong side of the car. ;D ;D
Thats because were down under, every thing is upside down, back the front and on the wrong side. :D
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Very cool video, Sledge........hell of a driver.....even if he is sitting on the wrong side of the car. ;D ;D
hehe yea one of the best tracks in the world
also what do you mean the wrong side looked to me like it was on the Right hand side of the car
:D