2004 Holden Commodore VN review from Australia and New Zealand

The powersteering is a bit noisy at full lock.

The muffler is about to fall off, already broken, but sounds like a V8.

Stuck in 1st gear on the highway once due to the dumb driver (me) not checking the AT fluid regularly enough... no damage thankfully.

The VN commodore is an extemely good value for money car. Although they're getting old and worn out, it's still going as good as ever. Cosmetically, this car has seen better days. I.e. the seals around the doors come loose, the carpet near the bottom of the doors is starting to peel off, a bit of rust in the boot, could do with a cut and polish.

This car is awesome off the line at those interesting round about situations when you don't know weather to go or not... so you put your foot down a little harder than you probably should have.

It is great overtaking on the highway. Planting the foot going 100 km/h drops it into 2nd with amazing acceleration. Although it is a big, heavy car, it doesn't seem it due to good all round disc brakes and powersteering... although in the wet this car is a whole different story. It is so easy to lose the back end around a corner, even if your driving like a grandpa.

This is by no means an off road car. It is not a dirt road car, not even a wet grass car. My mitsubishi colt went more places than this car will ever go. It is almost impossible to drive up the slightest incline on wet grass. The back wheels spin on the slightest touch of the accelerator and you will end up heading south (i.e. the wrong way)

On dirt roads it has the worst handling out of just about any car. No limited slip differential makes it very easy to get bogged, even on dry gravel if you manage to get one of the back wheels in a pot hole or ditch.

On bitchumen roads it is one of the best cars for its age in terms of performance, value for money and handling. It's actually not so bad on juice, contrary to popular belief. Whoever tells you that it chews through petrol must drive with a damn heavy foot. Just drive like a corolla and get corolla fuel economy... drive like a V8 monaro and get V8 economy, minus the performance, and the chicks.

Not a car for P-Platers, although I'm an L-Plater.