1998 Holden Calais VT HSV Enhanced 5.0L V8 195kW from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Suffers from lousy build quality and poor componentry choices!

Faults:

1. Engine "missed" for the 1st year of its life - traced to faulty electrical connector - eventually.

2. Power Steering pump seized at about 15000 km, then again at 45000, and was threatening to do the same at 100000. Very common on all VT and post-models - regardless of model.

3. Power Steering rack gave way at 20000km, and was clunking it's way to another failure at 100000km.

4. Auto transmission came to a grinding halt (literally) at about 50000km, and started slipping at about 90,000km - managed to nurse it to sale - sorry if you got it.

5. Differential began "clunking" at about 5000km, then whining at 80000km - getting worse till sale at 100000km - again sorry!

6. Brakes are the worst on any car I have owned. Replaced pads for some Bendix Ultimates at about 15000km, then new rotors at about 75000km - much improved after pad/rotor change.

7. Fuel injector "O" rings needed replacing at 20000km.

8. Tyres edges "scrub out" on these models like there's no tomorrow - very, very common problem on these cars.

9. More rattles and squeaks than a Fisher Price catalogue!

10. Suspension was the harshest I've experienced.

11. There's other stuff, but I've said enough!

General Comments:

Poor build quality. No up-rated componentry is used on these cars, yet they are sold as a performance variant.

Engine, once the electrical fault was found, was quite acceptable, and frugal on fuel.

Seats were great.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th November, 2003

26th Oct 2007, 03:47

I think he's a Ford supporter or a very hard driver??

14th Apr 2013, 03:22

Wow, the 4l60e doesn't just start slipping at under 100000km unless extreme abuse or lack of maintenance has occurred. Says something for the rest of your review.

26th Mar 2016, 23:36

I have one of these cars. Mine has done 315000 km and still going strong. Excellent car and heaps of power. Don't know what your review is going on about.