Faults:

I have owned my VR Berlina for 6 years, and am very happy with the car, however recently I removed parts of the dash and glove box to replace a part, but when I reassembled everything, the following things have happened:

1) The air conditioning turns on when the glove box is open.

2) The air conditioning turns on when the headlights are on.

3) The dash lights do not work.

4) All digital readings on the dash are blank.

I have taken the car to an auto-electrician, who have informed me that the whole car needs to be re-wired and it would be very expensive. I do not believe this, and have also been told I may have disrupted an earth. Has anyone ever had this problem, and can you tell me how to fix it?

General Comments:

I've had my VR for about 6 years, and I've had a few problems, but it's getting pretty old, now so it's to be expected.

All in all, I'm very happy with my Holden, and it is a 9/10 car.

Faults:

Gearbox rebuild at 180000, due to a lot of heavy towing.

Alternator bushes replaced 3 times, lasting between 60-80000 km each time, but never had to replace an alternator.

Roof lining last summer, but took out and stuck it back on myself with spray on adhesive; not perfect, but no one has noticed it.

General Comments:

Comfort towing car.

Reasonable fuel consumption.

Not as quick as the 96 with the Ecotech, but I'm past that anyway.

I have a 94 VR Berlina, which I bought in 97 with 102000km on it. In the first 2 years I had it, it cost me over $4000 on major repairs, but it was a ex company car. I thought what a lemon, but I still have it, and now it has done 295000km, and over the last 3 years, I had to spend not much besides brakes and servicing, which I do myself anyway.

I think it must get better with age, and once you iron out the problems, keep it. Done one transmission recon only due to towing 2 horse float around, but probably 60000kms of towing.

HOLDENS RULE.

PS My family love Fords, and in the 10 years I've had this Berlina, they have all gone through 2 or 3 Fords, so I will keep this car til it dies, and hopefully convert them from Fords, so they too can reap the rewards of owning a Holden.

At least Holdens have resale value. If any doubts, look up a price of a 3 or 4 year old Commodore and the same year Falcon??? See what holds value... HOLDEN WINS HANDS DOWN.

Faults:

Head on left V of engine lifted up at 230000kms when exhaust hit driveway, replaced head gasket for $100.

Gearbox failed at ~210000 (before I owned it, my brother had it), reconditioned cost $1500.

Gearbox failed again at ~215000, water got into the oil due to cracked automatic trans cooler in radiator, another $1500.

Fuel Pump failed at ~226000, $120 later.

DFI Module failed at ~227000, $50 from the wreckers, fit myself.

Curcuit breaker for Power Windows keeps on failing, replaced for nothing.

Usual problems with the key head, broken buttons, remote buttons no longer open the doors, so its manual locking and unlocking for me.

Seats have started to wear a bit, carpet trim has fallen off drive side door.

Power mirrors are a bit shaky at best, mirror controls failed and got replaced twice.

Wheel studs snapped at ~250000. Replaced for $10.

General Comments:

The 1994 VR Berlina is all-in-all a good motor car, very reliable, relatively cheap to run, plenty of room in the front and the back, easy to read dash, good fuel economy.

This car will last forever if treated right, most of the problems above occured after a bit of thrashing and burnouts.