1998 Holden Calais VT HSV Enhanced review from Australia and New Zealand
"Suffers from lousy build quality and poor componentry choices!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
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.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 5.0L V8 195kW Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 3/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 7/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 4/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 10 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 100000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Holden Commodore |
| Date of Entry | 13th November, 2003 |