1994 Holden Commodore VR 3.8L V6 petrol from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Old thing keeps on going no matter what

Faults:

First issue soon after I bought it is the thermostat blocked up and it overheated (close to home luckily). Replaced thermostat, radiator and coolant.

Alternator wire corroded.

Smoky valve stem seals.

Replaced starter motor.

Replaced intake manifold gasket.

A/C died (still need to fix it).

General Comments:

It's an old car, so it has had quite a few niggling issues. Nothing major wrong with it, and it sees a fair bit of work for its age.

Very comfortable to drive. A bit hot in summer, since the A/C died, and I haven't bothered to diagnose and fix it.

Great power and torque from the old V6, and it's not a killer on fuel either like a V8 would be. Simple design, pushrod motor, takes lots of abuse with no worries. 4 speed automatic with overdrive is good as well, no real major issues either.

If you find a good example second hand, you'll love it. They can be trashed though due to young kids who abuse the hell out of it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st July, 2012

1994 Holden Commodore VR 3.8L V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

A very useful car with its common problems

Faults:

Several..

- Big end bearings went, had to replace the motor

- Valley gasket cracked when overheated

- Fuel pump died

- Coil packs playing up

- Crank angle sensor had to be replaced

- Gearbox dipstick oil seal perished

- Front rotors warped

- Vacuum hoses cracked

- Driver side window comes off track regularly

- Blown fuses for lights.

General Comments:

I've had this car for just over a year, it was a great car for the first 3 or 4 months after I bought it off a dealer, then it went downhill from there. The car has just had never ending problems, and had countless trips on a tow truck.

On the plus side, the car is easy to drive and very practical, the power kicks in nicely when you want to take off quick or overtake somebody.

Don't buy this car if you will solely rely on it expect things to go wrong with it. If you drive it gently, you get around 450k's to a tank. If you like to put the foot down then expect around 300 to 350k's to a tank.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 14th September, 2008

1994 Holden Commodore Executive V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Don't expect much, don't be disappointed

Faults:

Transmission rebuilt at 225,000kms.

Suspension and brakes need desperate attention.

Exhaust has lots of holes and sounds awful.

General Comments:

The interior is greyer than an old peoples home! This is not a fast car at all. If you put your foot down, the time you spend filling it up will see a Camry pass you.

It`s red and some of it is faded red.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 3rd September, 2008

1994 Holden Commodore VR 3.8 V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Broke

Faults:

Well I don't know a lot about cars, but they said it blew a bearing in the engine, and that I would need a new one.

How much for a reconditioned engine, or how much for a second hand one from the scrapyard? Just so I get a general idea.

General Comments:

It broke 2 days after purchase, but my friends owned one previously, and they seem like a good car with enough power and comfort, and a good all round car..

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 23rd July, 2008

1994 Holden Commodore Executive 3.8 V6 from Australia and New Zealand

Summary:

Worth buying, providing someone has replaced everything before buying

Faults:

Gearbox would change slowly, and have no engine braking when I pulled T-bar back to 3,2 or 1. Reconditioned gearbox had to be fitted, (even then the mech who fitted it wasn't happy with the electronic modules inside of the auto), the modules are not replaced when automatics are reconditioned. Cost $2100. Still clunks into 3rd, and slow into 4th.

Water pump, tensioner pulley and belt replaced. Water pump loses water from a hole underneath when the bearings are worn. Also, the so called bracket that the tensioner pulley is mounted on, had to be replaced. It rattles loudly. Holden wants almost $400 for a new one, Mech got one from wreckers for $40. Went good for a few weeks, and now has a rattle again. Bearing had to replaced in the pulley wheel, which is only about 4 months old. When replacing, try to get a tensioner bracket that is under 200,000 klms, if possible.

Computer module, keys and harmonic balancer have been replaced.

Power steering pump and reservoir are replaced. Don't get black seals in power steering pump. A truck power steering company replaced the pump with a "brown" type of seal. No problems to this day.

General Comments:

My Commy is very quick. I love dragging people off from the lights. Has a shudder, apparently from the drive shaft.

Wish the hood lining didn't drop. Very comfy and beautiful car for cruising in. 110 to 120 klms/ hr comfortably. Aside from the $5000 spent on repairs so far, I still love driving it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 11th April, 2007

5th Feb 2009, 03:57

Yeah, I just bought me a VR and I love driving it. It can fit my four young kids in the back seat and because it's a station wagon, it has heaps, I mean heaps of room.

It has the power to thrill me and my young kids when we want to pass slow traffic or just get up the road faster. And we love it, a great family car.

I bought mine for a jaw dropping price of $1800. At that price I was expecting some things to go wrong with it and it inevitably did. The horn was the 1st thing to go on it when my ex girlfriend punched the steering wheel, then she broke an indicator light when she backed it up into a mates car. Now I'm gonna have to replace the water pump bracket cause the bearings are dropping out of the pulley mount. Easy enough to replace by myself and a mate.