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Why you need a V8 ute in your life

Mitchell Tulk
Contributor
19 Mar 2019
2 min read

This will be the second year Australia is without local car manufacturing, and for most it's still a raw wound, especially for bogan ute drivers... like me.

Sadly, we may never see another Aussie-made rear-wheel drive, V8-powered utility, meaning more people should experience the past by owning one.

Last year, after having my armed twisted, I lashed out and bought a 2009 Falcon XR8 ute, which I appropriately named 'Barney the purple dinosaur'.

Ford vs Holden will always exist.
Ford vs Holden will always exist.

Without a doubt this has been my best purchase ever and if you don’t have a V8 ute, now is the time to buy one.

Forget about the fuel consumption and pollution because V8s are basically a big middle finger to the environment. It's all about power here.

Sick of being a taxi for all your mates? A ute takes care of that, only one passenger at a time, although you might find yourself making new friends, who need help moving a few things.

On the bright side though, with no weight over the rear end it means tail happiness is just one throttle touch away.

If that doesn’t put a smile on your face than surely a glorious V8 roar will.

I’ve owned my ute for about eight months, and I love it more every day.

In that time, I’ve only changed small things like blown lightbulbs and the air filter, which was as black as my soul.

Just a bit overdue for a replacement.
Just a bit overdue for a replacement.

But now I’m faced with the dilemma of whether to keep Barney stock or to modify it. Decisions, decisions, decisions…

Stock or modified? Which way should Mitch swing? Let us know in the comments.

Mitchell Tulk
Contributor
Following a passion shared by his father and grandfather, Mitchell’s love of cars really kicked off with his Godfather’s purchase of a new Mazda RX-8. Exposure to that car changed his world forever, leading to an RX-7 obsession. To feed his automotive addiction, Mitchell decided to become a motoring journalist and made his mark at several high-profile motoring publications before landing at CarsGuide. While he is a rotary loyalist, Mitchell also has a massive love for Aussie muscle cars, and dreams of one day getting behind the wheel of a Charger R/T E49 (if anyone will let him). His other passions include Queensland, and spending Saturdays with the boys.
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