1993 Holden Calibra YE review from Australia and New Zealand

Electrical fault with reverse lights, need to be serviced by an auto-electrician for registration. (Changing the fuse didn't help, it just burnt out as soon as it was put in reverse).

Exhaust may have a leak... I'm not sure.

Inside of rear tyres are worn due to camber.

Multiple incidents superficial damage (eg stone chips, scratches, worn leather on steering wheel, worn leather on gear shift)... Although this is expected after 9 years and 190000 km.

I think I need a steering alignment, if I take my hands off the wheel when driving it; the wheel will rotate about 8 degrees left and steer accordingly.

The brake light across the trunk is broken also and I can't afford to fix that.

Nice...

Bad things first...

I don't like the amount of slack in the steering wheel... It stresses me out whenever I hit a bump/pothole and the wheel turns 10 or so degrees... Not a problem as the car doesn't steer either way as a result, it's just that the wheel has a kind of neutral zone where you can turn the wheel about 5 degrees left or right without any response.

Apparently very expensive to repair. Some fool badged the car and it is AUS$68 to replace with Holden advertising. The reverse light across the trunk costs about A$38 per bulb I think.

Insurance is steep as I am under 25. Allianz had the best prices for full comprehensive, but I still couldn't afford it.

I am paying $31 per month for 3rd party through Allianz (GIO was about $51/month)

Not really a negative, more a different. The euro style layout gears are not so much a problem (Reverse on the up and left with a 1-4 H and 5th gear up and right). The euro style indicators/wipers have caused some problems when going back to the lancer. Making rushed lane changes occasionally sees me turning the wipers on. It can be a little bit of a pain to have to take your hand off the shifter to indicate.

The good things :)

Aerodynamics... Apparently the best drag coefficient of any car until GM bought out this new electric car (note it doesn't require air scoops to cool the engine and thus has less drag)

I am a big fan of all the extras that come with the Calibra standard (eg power windows/mirrors/sunroof)

I find that when flooring it from stationary in the wet that it can kick out, and on the second day I had it, I took it pretty fast out of the traffic lights into a long uphill left hander and the backend felt like it was gonna kick out (just had to ease off and press again on the accelerator). I think this may have something to do with the slack in the steering.

For a 9-yr-old car that cost me only A$8000 to buy and still get looks is very good. Just as a comparison for $8000 I can pick up a 1996 Hyundai Excel. A 93 Celica will cost about $12000, the 94 Eunos (the sporty one) is about $15k. It is an absolute bargain for under $10k.

My next car will be a 97 Calibra 2.5L V6, a 2.0L Turbo or a 2.0L Turbo 4WD... unless I make some serious money in which case I will get a 3.0L V6 Renault Laguna.

As much as I was critical above, I would never change my decision. I am in debt $5000 to buy my calibra and I wasn't ready to buy a car, but I am glad that I got it. I only got it because it was a calibra and it was under $10k.

It is a pleasure to drive, and after driving the Calibra and getting in my parents 2000 Automatic 1.5L Lancer GLi it feels like I'm in a truck (because the Lancer is higher than the Calibra and has no pick up.) I would not buy an automatic Calibra. I have never driven one, but the manual is so much fun.

The Calibra is a very sexy car, I would pick it any day over some of those ugly rice burners (eg skyline, impreza) and would only pick the good looking rice burners over it if the price was right and the power output was better (eg 3000GT, FTO, Supra, Celica)