2005 HSV SV6000 Reviews

A gripe about the recent Z series HSV range was that the cars were let down by their interior, which still felt a little like a Commodore with frills. However the release of the limited edition SV6000 HSV has hit the nail on the head.The SV6000 is based on the Clubsport R8 but it is the SV6000's extra details, which make it the best of the rest in the two-wheel-drive HSV range.Subtle but stylish SV6000 logos on the door trim inserts enhance the car's street cred, along with yellow stitching on the seats, gear shift and handbrake. Even the centre console gets the yellow stitch treatment and the black Anthracite leather seats feature a yellow embroided HSV logo.The yellow exterior screams "look at me" and the wide colour-coded stripe along the lower part of the doors further enhances the profile. The brake calipers have been painted yellow, as is the little HSV insert on the wheel.The 6.0-litre engine cover is yellow with a yellow HSV logo and the LS2 6.0-litre badging also in yellow.On the road the SV6000 drives pretty much like the other HSVs. This lively beast growls and cheekily tempts the driver to give it a real go. The torque is on tap, so much so that if the driver does not actually have to stop for a red light he or she can comfortably cruise around in fourth gear.The upgraded brakes were not worked to their maximum (not being taken on a track) but pedal pressure was firm and responsive.While there appears to be no changes to the clutch the SV6000 did not feel as heavy to drive as some of the other manual HSVs.The test car, however, suffered two issues during the week. On the last day a problem (which was thought to be a loose spark plug) caused the car to run on four cylinders with safety warning alarms and lights flashing on the dashboard.The same morning the cold weather and loss of just one psi in a tyre caused havoc with the tyre pressure monitoring system, which continued to flash its red warning signs and let out an annoying beeping sound until the system was finally silenced.The yellow exterior is the preferred colour choice here but the SV6000 is also available to buy in black.The SV6000 is limited to 50 vehicles (unfortunately), however, this may be extended to 100 if there is a demand.The SV6000 also introduces a driver aid called Driver Dynamic Interface (DDI), which combines the attributes of a modern PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with the convenience of satellite navigation, as well as a direct line of communication between the driver and the car. When functioning as a PDA, the DDI is portable and offers features including a Microsoft operating system, Bluetooth download capabilities, address book and appointments notification.This creates a mobile office for the driver on the move. By plugging the PDA into the car's GPS system it operates as a satellite navigation system.When plugged into the centre console HSV drivers get an almost V8 Supercar-like treat.The system can be used to monitor coolant and oil temperatures when towing, or the new DDI feature can record track times and the car's performance for later analysis. The data stream mode can monitor up to four vehicle operating parameters at one time and they can be recorded and later played back in various forms. The system cannot be used when driving because of safety reasons.The individual highlights give the SV6000 character, credibility and charisma that its other HSV stablemates just can't match.