Faults:

Front discs.

Air con bearing.

Air conditioning refit (new gas).

Belt pulley.

Map sensor.

Faulty wiring in dash.

Fuel pump.

Inlet manifold gaskets.

Replaced clutch.

Rear main oil seal.

Replace power steering pump (leaking).

Fuel hose (leak).

Water pump.

Rear brake light.

Throttle/accelerator cable.

Oxygen sensor.

Replaced radiator.

General Comments:

Great on the open road, plenty of power when needed, good fuel economy on the open road, a bit thirsty around town/urban driving.

I highly recommend replacing the standard air filter with a K&N filter and air intake; increases fuel economy and provides much better acceleration.

Only break downs I've had is when the fuel pump failed, and a wiring fault in the dash caused the car to stop.

Suffers from boot leaks, easily fixed.

The motor is extremely reliable and will take a lot punishment.

Very reliable if serviced regularly, be prepared to replace a few components on the vehicle, mostly due to general wear and tire.

Faults:

Water pump went at about 220,000.

Transmission kept stalling like crazy, but a full flush of the auto fixed that.

General Comments:

Love this car! Owned a little Suzuki Vitara before I had this; the Commodore uses less fuel than the Suzuki did with triple the power. I get 550-650 kilometres city driving in my Commodore using unleaded 98 fuel (with a 63 litre tank, so about 10-11 litres per 100kms), while the Suzuki used to use about 14 litres per 100kms.

Also, little Suzuki could do 0-100 in 21 seconds, while the commodore can do it in 8.5. Lovin it! Wish I made the change sooner.

Very recommended car, just make sure you service it when it needs it and it won't let you down.

Faults:

Plastic overflow lines in fuel tank became brittle and caused leakage during and shortly after refuelling.

Odometer ceased to operate (broken gear), has since been repaired.

Fuel lever and temperature gauges work intermittently, most likely due to the aged soldering on the circuit board.

Left bonnet hinge failed, causing the bonnet to sag and contact the windscreen upon opening and closing. A common fault with the VN-VS Commodores.

Taillight wiring looms replaced due to water entry from tailights, corroding the bulb terminals. Again, a common fault.

Radiator plastic side tank split, causing coolant loss. Replaced with after-market unit.

Slight leak from power steering rack.

General Comments:

For the purchase price, the VN-VP Commodores offer a lot of car for little money. I purchased mine earlier this year with 137000km travelled for $4000, and aside from the faults mentioned above (which are common faults anyway) the Commodore hasn't missed a beat.

There is acres of space in the interior. The front seats, driver's in particular, is quite comfortable with the addition of lumbar and height adjustments. Legroom for the rear passengers is comparable to that of more luxurious vehicles, and the interior trim (in the S variant anyway), appears to be hard wearing; consisting of a jacquard type centre panel and velour style bolsters. My only complaint about the interior is the instrument binnacle is quite flimsy in construction and creates unnecessary squeaks over bumps.

Performance wise, the V6 engine is very willing; it moves the car along quickly and without fuss. However, the fuel consumption is its Achilles Heel, as I average about 400-440km out of a 63 litre tank (about 14.5L/100km, compared to a current model Commodores apparent 10.9L/100km). The 4-speed auto is smooth shifting and a joy to use. Servicing costs are minimal and everything that's serviceable in routine maintenance is easy to access in the engine bay. Parts for the Commodore are readily available from Holden, after-market suppliers and part recyclers.

Ride quality is okay, however, my vehicle has slightly lower and stiffer suspension with larger 225/60x15 tyres which improves the ride infinitely. Keep an eye on all the servicable bushes, paying particular attention to the swaybar links and trailing arm bushes. If your Commodore is lowered, invest in an adjustable Panhard Rod to maintain correct geometry in the rear end.

Summing up, if you're in the market for a cheap large car for the family or just for yourself, and your budget extend to the running costs of a six cylinder; the Commodores between 1988 to 1995 prove to be a formidable purchase, if checked over thoroughly and treated well.