BA versus VY: Model showdown

WITH Holden's Commodore dominating the large car sales chart for just on five years now, the pressure has well and truly been put on Ford to get the BA redesign of the Falcon range right straight out of the box.

And Holden won't be making the task any easier for the Blue Oval brand with its VY facelift of the successful Commodore range.

Here's how the two fierce rivals line up variant for variant:

XT versus EXECUTIVE

FALCON XT versus Commodore Executive is where the mainshowroom sales battle will be fought, particularly for fleet buyers.

While on the surface it appears the Falcon now has the edge, in some respects it is really only just catching up to its opposition.

Commodore has had independent rear suspension (IRS) as standard across the range since the VT arrived in 1997, while Falcon has only ditched its live rear axle with the release of BA, although it still lives on under wagon and ute models.

Falcon trumps Commodore with its more powerful engines and advanced automatic transmission, while Holden keeps the playing field relatively even with a pricing advantage.

As far as the big-ticket items go, the Falcon XT gets standardair-conditioning, front power windows, velour seat trim, a 60/40split-fold rear seat and a more powerful 100-watt audio system.

The Commodore Executive has none of the above - air-conditioning is optional ($2250), front power windows are not available, seat trim is cloth with velour inserts, a 60/40 split-fold rear seat is only available on the wagon and the audio system has an 80-watt output.

Rear power windows are also optional on the XT while, once again, they are not available on the Executive.

Holden continues to persevere with 15-inch wheels and tyres for the entry level Commodore despite the fact Ford has specified Falcon with 16-inch items - and continues to do so - since AU II in April, 2000.

FUTURA versus ACCLAIM

APART from the engine/transmission situation, which is to the benefit of Ford models in most circumstances, Holden is more than competitive with Ford in the Acclaim/Futura match-up.

Pricing remains in its favour while the key safety features of standard traction control and side airbags are sure to make it keenly sought after in this sector - both features are optional on Futura, but add $470 and $500 to the price, making it a considerable $1210 more expensive.

The only other features in the Futura's favour are 16-inch alloy wheels and the standard fitment of a centre rear armrest with integrated cupholders.

Acclaim rides on 15-inch alloy wheels and makes do with a fold-away rear tray with cupholders - the centre rear armrest does not appear on the spec sheet until the Berlina model.

FAIRMONT verus BERLINA

FOR the prestige buyer there is not a great deal in it. Berlina has finally been upgraded to 16-inch alloy wheels, matching Fairmont in that department, while both also get side airbags, traction control, velour seat trim and an upgraded audio system with six-disc in-dash CD player as standard.

Fairmont raises the bar with dual zone climate control air-conditioning to Berlina's single zone set-up, while it also gets a leather steering wheel (an accessory on Berlina).

On the other hand, Berlina is offered with the option of full leather upholstery, which is not available on the Fairmont.

FAIRMONT GHIA versus CALAIS

THE Fairmont Ghia's key mechanical improvements over lesser Falcon models include sports IRS and 17-inch alloy wheels.

The sportssuspension set-up is optional on the Calais, while its standard wheel/tyre combination is 16-inch in size (17-inch wheels are available from the Holden By Design accessory range).

Both models have dual zone climate control, reverse parking sensors and a leather steering wheel.

Ghia has a six-way power adjustable driver's seat, power adjustablepedals, memory function governing both plus the exterior mirrors and leather upholstery (cloth with leather inserts is an option).

Calais counters with an eight-way power driver's seat but no memory function, velour trim but with the option of coloured leather and height adjustable rear head restraints.

On the audio front, Ghia has the premium audio system that adds an amplifier and subwoofer to give it a 250-watt capacity, but Calais leapfrogs its competitor to offer 10 speakers and a 260-watt output.

XR6 versus S

THE situation is not as clear-cut with the sports variants. All XR models come with 17-inch alloy wheels with 235/45 tyres and a fullbodykit, which is matched by some sports Commodoremodels but not others.

Commodore S has the bodykit, but no front foglights or full size rear wing spoiler and makes do with 16-inch alloys.

It does have traction control and front and rear power windows though, while rear power windows remain an option on the XR6 and traction control is not available.

XR6 T versus SV8

XR6 T gets the rear power windows and traction control, along with a limited slip differential.

For comparativepurposes it lines up against the new Commodore SV8, although it is far from an ideal match up, as the SV8 is Executive-based and misses out on many S features.

For the 17-inch alloys and LSD it gains, it loses items such as the power windows, cruise control, passenger seat lumbar adjustment, leather steering wheel and full bodykit (it retains the S model-size rear wing spoiler).

XR8 versus SS

THE 235kW Commodore SS takes the equipment fight back up to the more powerful 260kW XR8 with 18-inch alloys and 235/40 tyres, front foglights, side airbags, alloy pedals, colour-coded instrument panel, leather steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake lever and an audio system with six-disc in-dash CD player and graphic equaliser.

The XR8 can only match the foglights and leather steering wheel. Side airbags, 18-inch wheels, upgraded audio with six-disc CD player, power adjustable pedals and leather gearshift are all optional.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE - BA v VY

Engine performance

BA			VY
ULP 4.0 I6	kW	182@5000rpm	3.8 V6	152@5200rpm
	Nm	380@3250rpm		305@3600rpm
Turbo 4.0 I6	kW	240@5250rpm	S/C 3.8 V6	171@5200rpm
	Nm	450@2000 to 4500rpm		375@3000rpm
Base level 5.4 V8	kW	220@4750rpm	Base level 5.7 V8	225@5200rpm
	Nm	470@3250rpm		450@4000rpm
Hi-performance 5.4 V8	kW	260@5250rpm	Hi-performance 5.7 V8	235@5200rpm
	Nm	500@4250rpm		465@4400rpm

Fuel consumption

BA				VY
-	-	Sedan	Wagon	-	Sedan	Wagon
4.0	City	11.5	11.5	3.8	11.0	11.5
	Highway	7.4	7.8		6.6	7.0
220 V8	City	14.5	-	235 V8	13.5	13.5
	Highway	8.5	-		8.5	8.5

Standard brakes

BA front	298mm ventilated discs	VY front	296mm ventilated discs
BA rear	303mm solid discs	VY rear	286mm solid discs

Exterior dimensions (mm)

	BA sedan	BA wagon	VY sedan	VY wagon
Length	4916	5053	4891	5046
Width	1864	1863	1842	1847
Wheelbase	2829	2921	2788	2938
Front track	1553	1553	1569	1569
Rear track	1571	1546	1587	1587

Interior dimensions (mm)

	BA sedan	VY sedan
Front headroom	1010	988 (wagon: 1002)
Front legroom	1086	1072
Front shoulder room	1513	1518
Front hip room	1461	1440
Rear headroom	976	992
Rear headroom wagon	1043	1069
Rear legroom	980	968
Rear shoulder room	1494	1520

Kerb weight (kg)

BA six-cylinder sedan	1672	VY sedan	1522
BA V8 sedan	1740	VY sedan*	1606
BA six-cylinder wagon	1684	VY wagon	1585

*Measurements use XT Falcon versus Commodore Executive, except V8 VY sedan kerb weight which uses Berlina, as Executive is no longer available with V8 option