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HSV fans vs FPV fans

  • By Mark Hinchliffe
  • The Courier-Mail

Some car owners may well bleed blue instead of red if their skin is broken - Ed Watson, 46, could be one of them.

Married with a daughter (who is also a Ford fan), Mr Watson currently has an FPV GT 335 sedan, the latest in a long line of Ford products.

"We have had around 20 Fords - various models, not just Falcons - after some Holdens. We have had many Fords, one has followed the other ever since and we have no plans to change camps," he says.

Mr Watson looks at the red versus blue rivalry as something that is now generational. "When it started it was Moffat versus Brock and has grown since then to have people either red or blue, now we're talking second and third generation fans as children follow their parents," he says.

The family has had an FPV GT since April - the supercharged 335kW version - and now wouldn't have anything else. "I absolutely love it, the supercharged V8 has plenty of power - we use it for normal road work, not track days, we don't push it that hard, but it has plenty of poke for overtaking," he says.

"We're also restoring an old XB Falcon - a full bare-metal restoration - with 393 stroker V8, that will sit proudly next to the new GT," he says.

A big shed and a tolerant wife are two key ingredients to Daryl Leaker's impressive stable of Holden product. The 1998 HSV Senator Signature 220i shares garage space with a number of Holden, HSV and HDT machines.

"I've got a very big shed for them all, I've always liked Holdens because my father was a Holden salesman so it is in the blood I guess," he says.

Mr Leaker hasn't always just owned Holdens - a Mitsubishi Pajero replaced a Ford Territory recently, but there balance of power has always been to the General, harking back to his formative years with a Holden salesman for a father.

"It was great when Dad was selling Holdens, I got to drive GTR XU-1s and 327 Monaros when they were brand new," he says. "When I turned 21 I bought myself an HQ GTS coupe and got some discount through my father, I wish I still had that car as well."

The HSV shares shed space with a VN SS Group A and an HSV Statesman, as well as a HDT VK Brock Commodore SS in silver and an HJ Monaro four-door.

"I'll always be a Holden fan - I think I'd die of shock if the missus came home in an FPV GT," he says.

Comments on this story

Displaying 3 of 12 comments

  • @Bob of Alice Springs and @Nik of Sydney, finally other smart people out there. If only more could see it as it is, especially Ford!!!!

    Nicole of S.A. Posted on 16 October 2011 6:57pm
  • What a load of crock Nick & Bob, go back to crying in your beer and bleed your blue blood. You Ford fans do absolutely nothing but whinge and whine about how hard done by you are. Every time Holden achieves or wins something you people are the 1st online to bleet about it. If Ford wins anything the Holden fans take it in their stride and move forward in the true Aussie spirit. Suck it up princess and move on.

    Aus Patriot of TVL Posted on 15 October 2011 10:59am
  • Mr T, your father should have used a condom.

    Mr G Posted on 14 October 2011 7:53am
  • @ nik of sydney - yes, Holden fans are both loyal and ignorant, but it’s Holden and HSV marketing that sell the cruddy cars. Ford’s marketing is up the creek, they don’t seem to be able to stick to one punchline. Obviously Holden have a good, creative marketing team that can sell the cars even though most of them are far inferior to Ford’s product.

    bob of alice springs Posted on 14 October 2011 7:38am
  • I’m a Ford fan ... prefer Ford’s because they are more reliable, in my experience having owned both. I like Ford’s line-up. Quality cars rather than imported re-badged Daewoo’s. But they still manage to sell them even though the same car, when badged as Daewoo, struggled to sell. Seems Holden supporters are extremely loyal, or ignorant.

    nik of sydney Posted on 12 October 2011 11:50pm
  • Mr T, go and drive one then make a comment. The performance and handling of these cars is awesome for the price considering what you have to pay for something like an Audi or Beemer with the same or better go. I loved driving my brothers SSV from Townsville to Brissie and back. You can’t beat the rush from 100 to 180kph in 3rd in a heart beat to over take. Loved the oldies turbo BMW to but for 90k a little expensive for the same thrill and driving pleasure. I’m not saying Holden and ford are as good as a BMW but look at what you get and you can see y Holden and ford performance car drivers are smiling. There are good arguments for both brands. I love Holdens. Join the debate or keep out of it and follow the other posts suggestions!

    Bondy of Nth Qld Posted on 12 October 2011 11:09am
  • Ah Mr T… Spoken like someone who enjoys their nice little Prius. *snore*

    Pete Posted on 11 October 2011 9:24pm
  • It is sad when people like Mr T have to show their lack of appreciation for two fine local products. Have loved Bathurst for-ever, but prefer it when it was modified factory products to what it is now. However, I will always be a Holden person, having had V8s since 1974 with a 2 door Monaro, and since then various models of Statesmen, Commodores and currently have a VE SSV. You should have listened to your mother and remembered that if you do not have anything nice to say, then it is better to say nothing at all. I think N8iveWA got you right. And well done Holden again at Bathurst. Excellent result.

    AndrewSatt of Richmond SA Posted on 11 October 2011 8:37pm
  • Mr T , why are you reading this and commenting? Hmmm. Go read last weeks Financial Review after doing your sewing class. GO HOLDEN!

    Phil De-Ath of Australia Posted on 11 October 2011 8:09pm
  • Mr T, obviously you only get excited by push bikes with no seat attached!

    R horn of melb Posted on 11 October 2011 6:24pm
  • Mr T(oyota) gets excited by cars favoured by dentists, pensioners and accountants.

    N8iveWA Posted on 10 October 2011 11:04pm
  • Deciding which one is better is like two bald men arguing over a comb. Nothing exciting in the least about cars favored by bogans, P-Platers and the poor!

    Mr T of Brisbane Posted on 09 October 2011 2:22pm
Read all 12 comments

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