1988 Holden Berlina VT Commodore with FE2 pack review from Australia and New Zealand

I have a 1998 VT Holden Berlina with factory FE2 suspension.

I have encountered the following problems:

The drivers door window rubber started to come out of the doorframe. The plastic runner is faulty I think. Don't do what I did and pull at it. It comes out easy enough, but try and get it back in. Eventually I pulled the door trim off and used silicone spray and or washing up liquid to ease it in.

The left hand power mirror won't go.

Several illumination bulbs have gone out in the dash. The Speed alert and half the climate control illumination Bulbs do not function.

The Horn fuse kept blowing and eventually shorted and melted the inside of the horn.

The ABS warning light sometimes comes on at random now, but not for a mechanic. (This cost me a speeding fine the first time it happened, as momentarily I didn't know if I should apply the brakes or coast down the hill I was cresting at the instant the light first went on. Then flash! you are on Speed Camera)

The ABS still seems to work, I have now found out, at least when the light is not on.

It chews juice like a V8 but only is a six. Average consumption 14.9 to 17 litres per 100klm round town. I am told this is exsesive for this model.

The key head has failed twice. $75.00 thank you Mr Holden. You can't replace the key head battery like a Ford remote.

The factory alarm / immobiliser (Make sure the horn and alarm horn work) stopped an attempted theft. The alarm / central locking sometimes fails (not for a mechanic though)

The CD player has swallowed a CD a few times for no apparent reason.

The right rear passenger door speaker stopped working and had to be replaced.

I just discovered that I don't have a rear sway bar (I have known the car from new). I thought at least the FE2 pack (This is supposed to be the "S" "SS" suspension upgrade?) would have it as part of the kit. The VT2, VY, VX, VZ Berlina seem to have one as standard.

It gushes water from the rear boot lid base and trim into the boot when you open the rear lid after any rain.

The passenger foot well, right rear foot well and boot carpet get wet after a good rain shower or carwash. But not when the mechanic hoses it.

Apart from the bugs and gremlins (It is the 'experimental series 1' of course) it's not a bad car to drive. Mostly. (I assume you know the trip computer extra functions?)

All vehicles should have front and rear suspension anti-sway bars as standard.

The Commodore base models and Berlina don't seem to have rear parcel shelf speakers which you woul expect at this level as well as the door speakers.

Good value and a lot of car for money secondhand.