Faults:

Crank sensor.

Wiring to 02 sensor (difficult to find problem!). Resulted in engine light coming on at random times.

Radiator fluid level sensor.

Rear springs replaced.

Sunroof lining disconnected from sunroof.

Rear roof lining sagging (very minor - took me 6 months to notice).

'Quirky' electrics.

General Comments:

After 16 years, it's still an extremely good looking car & has aged well.

The engine is fantastic. Smooth & powerful. In fact I have driven far newer design 6 cylinders that aren't as smooth as this. In terms of power, I assumed that 110kw 2.0l in '92 would mean it would be a very peaky engine, but it isn't. Definitely opens up after 4500rpm, but is happy pottering around on 2000rpm as well.

Handling is OK. Nothing bad, nothing spectacular. If you can imagine what a 2 door Vectra (which is basically what it is) would handle like, then that would be about spot on.

The electrics are a bloody nightmare. Everything has a sensor on it, and they seem to be methodically failing.

The electrics can sometimes appear to have a personality. This personality doesn't like winding the driver's window up when the ignition is off... when it's cold. When it is driven around for 20 minutes, no problem! If you leave an indicator on and turn off the ignition, one rear parking brake will light up.

My last car was a ground up rebuild, and knowledge about how to do something and what part fit where was all over the web, and finding specialist mechanics and the like wasn't hard. Unfortunately, the Calibra is the opposite. I dare say this would be an easier car to own in Europe where there were plenty of them, but finding someone who knows much about a Calibra can be damned difficult.

I've read other reviews saying that parts are expensive. To me, I'm comparing the prices of parts to other Euro cars rather than other Holdens, and I don't think they are that expensive. Finding them is the fun.

Overall, if it was down to cheap, reliable transport, a Calibra isn't a great proposition. A Corolla would be.

However, if you're prepared to put in a little extra, it's one of the best looking coupes to have come out of Europe in the past 30 years, and is a little different to the run of the mill Alfa or older 3 series BMW.

Faults:

Interior light wire touched the globe and melted the wires and poured smoke through the car (have now disconnected it).

Sunroof lining has come off and is hard to replace.

ABS light flickers (a wire is loose behind the dash because if you push the dash board it goes off).

Hand break has become loose.

Speedo is out a good 10-15Km (haven’t changed wheel size).

Central locking has jammed, but fixed itself.

Plastic that meets the windscreen on the dash has split and is now slowly breaking off.

Driver seat is wearing, and the cushions have become flat (driver only).

The lights that light up the inside of the dash are broken.

General Comments:

Surprising amount of power, and with the manual it can give other 2lt'rs a good run for their money.

Fuel economy is GREAT! I got 6.9lt per 100km (freeway) and approx 8.8lt per 100km in town!

I love this car, and even though I have mentioned a lot of negative points about it, its still a ball to drive.

For the same price as my car I could have bought a 1995 Excel, but got a least half the standard equipment and style!

Faults:

When the car is cold, and has not been driven over night, it idles funny.

Had to change rear main seal (the seal between gearbox and engine)

General Comments:

Considering that I originally am from Europe, I always liked calibra's, and that was the reason for getting one.

Everything about the car is excellent, and as some people have said, for the money, you definitelly get your moneys worth. It has 110 Kw stock, and is very quick, its made for German autobahns (I had it on 4000 revs, in 5th gear, sitting on 165 kms, and the red line is 6750, and when the revs are on the 3000, in the same gear, car sits on 100, 110kms...you can figure out the rest)

The main thing y I wanted to make this review is following: people in this country like this car, but are afraid of it because no one knows enough about it. I have done my research, plus I have my own European mechanic, that knows his stuff, and I believe that it is easier for me that for some of you people out there.

Therefore for all you people out there, if you have any questions about the car, ill be glad to help, in case you need it. Or in case you don't feel like going through all the hassle, 2 main things you have to consider when buying calibra's:

1) Make sure it has more than 130000 on the clock, or under 80000...the reason being timing belt... it has to be changed at 100000, and it is a capital must... otherwise if it snaps, minimum the repairs will cost are AU$1800

2) If buying turbo 4x4, change transmission oil to 80/90 gear oil, to prevent the gearbox from failing on you.