Faults:

Power steering rack - excessive play - common for all Holden Commodores.

Rear auto trans seal - torn out - common problem in any Holden Commodore, so not just this model.

Slight hydraulic lifter noise - common problem on most models, even VR-VT Commodores surprisingly! Gets down to poor servicing and lack of oil changes!

Slight water pump leak - typical person not using their brains enough to use sealant on gasket surfaces and on water pump bolt threads.

Rubber transmission hoses leaking - not surprising at all! The car is 25 years old.

Overall - Very solid car, which most have sustained continual abuse!

General Comments:

Very fun to drive!

Excellent acceleration on a stock motor, especially for its age!

Notes:

1) Timing belt should be set "on the passenger side, 53 teeth from one reference point to the other, and cam belt is tensioned up correctly".

2) Distributor timing should be set from 15-20 degrees, and the sweet spot will be somewhere in between.

Make sure the steering rack and associated components are in good order, as well as nice stiff suspension for a totally superb ride - will handle.

Brakes can do with some basic upgrading, and is relatively cheap to do.

Cooling system in good order is excellent!

RB30 engine has been quoted to be one of the most solid and robust engines ever made!

Faults:

This car was nothing but trouble, and required near constant attention.

Head gasket blew about 12000 kms after I bought it; hard to tell if this was bad luck or the previous owner was a little rough with it. Soon after this, the alternator packed up.

Hand brake cable dislodged, and was really hard to get to in order to repair. With almost all repairs, two or three things had to be removed to get to the site of the issue.

Windshield wipers seemed they were for display purposes only.

During the time I had it, dials and instruments on the dash stopped and then started working again - including fuel gauge, speedo, hand brake light and the clock that is where the revs should be.

The A/C only worked intermittently, and it tended to overheat quite easily. Also, very easy to break into, as I discovered to my annoyance.

General Comments:

Overall, this car was a terrible buy, and I appreciate it was a lemon, and not all Holdens - or indeed VL's - are this bad.

Seats were comfortable, and the overall styling wasn't too bad for the 80's.

Dual fuel was a nice touch and made the car quite economical. Build quality was absolutely atrocious.

Faults:

Airflow meter failed at 230,000km. Cost $500 to replace and fit.

New coil at around the same time.

New front discs and wheel bearings at 310,000km.

New tailshaft centre bearing at 320,000km.

Maybe due for a master-cylinder overhaul soon.

General Comments:

I am amazed at the reliability of this car. It never lets me down.

The engine is the original. It still runs smooth as silk. I use Molybond in the oil, to minimise friction.

The suspension is staring to show its age, but it feels totally confident in any situation. It is a Commodore, after all!

Performance is a little sluggish these days, but she's due for new spark plugs and fuel filter anyway, so it's sure to improve once that's fixed.

Aircon is still on the old gas! Still icy cold.

I think the VL series is the best-looking of all the Commodores.

Faults:

My transmission is buggered.

Fluid brown colour.

General Comments:

Does anyone know how much it is to replace a rb30 vl transmission?