1987 Holden Commodore VL review from Australia and New Zealand

Nothing has gone wrong with this car over 2 years.

This car is the base model (Executive) and could only be described as neat when I bought it.

It has excellent red paint and an engine that is sweet as a nut.

People often complain about the handling of Commodores. This is not an issue with me. I knew the car would handle terrible when I bought it.

I kept enough money to immediately fit a set of Billstein Shocks to the rear and Strut inserts in the front. This is on the standard springs. It handles very well now, even sporty, with a set of five spoke mags, and low profile tyres.

I made my own custom air intake which looks and sounds awesome. And got a 2.5 inch mandrel bent exhaust fitted to a set of genie extractors. At the same time I got the cam upgraded to a lumpier item, and the computer recieved a chip to match the new mods. I think the chip basically advances both the cam and ignition timing.

I have since fitted a Limited-Slip Diff off a VL Calais, mostly for the purpose of attaining the Disc brakes attached to either side of it. It now pulls up good enough to match how quick it is.

How quick is it?

Tricky question...

It's not mind blowingly quick, but it definitely beats 3.8 later model standard Commodores and older Carburettor fed V8s. In fact it anihilates the older V8s and I suggest that they all should be crushed and turned into better cars. I will be honest and say that my car has been beaten by this posh guy in a wicked little Civic. I'd say he must of had about 105 kw at the wheels. That thing flew.

I'm looking now at building a turbocharged engine and hopefully I might find a reasonably priced twin cam head for it. I'm hoping to get about 220-290 rear wheel horsepower. I estimate that my car now has about 110HP at the rear wheels so this would be enough to keep me happy for years to come.

Car has a Pioneer Deck, Pioneer splits, JBL 3 ways, Schneider 6 by 9s, a Clarion 12 inch Sub. The sub and schneiders are fed by a 1000 watt Saint USA amp (yeah I know cheapo, but goes alright trust me).

Adios Amigos.