1994 Holden Commodore Reviews

First issue soon after I bought it is the thermostat blocked up and it overheated (close to home luckily). Replaced thermostat, radiator and coolant.

Alternator wire corroded.

Smoky valve stem seals.

Replaced starter motor.

Replaced intake manifold gasket.

A/C died (still need to fix it).

It's an old car, so it has had quite a few niggling issues. Nothing major wrong with it, and it sees a fair bit of work for its age.

Very comfortable to drive. A bit hot in summer, since the A/C died, and I haven't bothered to diagnose and fix it.

Great power and torque from the old V6, and it's not a killer on fuel either like a V8 would be. Simple design, pushrod motor, takes lots of abuse with no worries. 4 speed automatic with overdrive is good as well, no real major issues either.

If you find a good example second hand, you'll love it. They can be trashed though due to young kids who abuse the hell out of it.

Several..

- Big end bearings went, had to replace the motor

- Valley gasket cracked when overheated

- Fuel pump died

- Coil packs playing up

- Crank angle sensor had to be replaced

- Gearbox dipstick oil seal perished

- Front rotors warped

- Vacuum hoses cracked

- Driver side window comes off track regularly

- Blown fuses for lights.

I've had this car for just over a year, it was a great car for the first 3 or 4 months after I bought it off a dealer, then it went downhill from there. The car has just had never ending problems, and had countless trips on a tow truck.

On the plus side, the car is easy to drive and very practical, the power kicks in nicely when you want to take off quick or overtake somebody.

Don't buy this car if you will solely rely on it expect things to go wrong with it. If you drive it gently, you get around 450k's to a tank. If you like to put the foot down then expect around 300 to 350k's to a tank.

Transmission rebuilt at 225,000kms.

Suspension and brakes need desperate attention.

Exhaust has lots of holes and sounds awful.

The interior is greyer than an old peoples home! This is not a fast car at all. If you put your foot down, the time you spend filling it up will see a Camry pass you.

It`s red and some of it is faded red.

Well I don't know a lot about cars, but they said it blew a bearing in the engine, and that I would need a new one.

How much for a reconditioned engine, or how much for a second hand one from the scrapyard? Just so I get a general idea.

It broke 2 days after purchase, but my friends owned one previously, and they seem like a good car with enough power and comfort, and a good all round car..

Gearbox would change slowly, and have no engine braking when I pulled T-bar back to 3,2 or 1. Reconditioned gearbox had to be fitted, (even then the mech who fitted it wasn't happy with the electronic modules inside of the auto), the modules are not replaced when automatics are reconditioned. Cost $2100. Still clunks into 3rd, and slow into 4th.

Water pump, tensioner pulley and belt replaced. Water pump loses water from a hole underneath when the bearings are worn. Also, the so called bracket that the tensioner pulley is mounted on, had to be replaced. It rattles loudly. Holden wants almost $400 for a new one, Mech got one from wreckers for $40. Went good for a few weeks, and now has a rattle again. Bearing had to replaced in the pulley wheel, which is only about 4 months old. When replacing, try to get a tensioner bracket that is under 200,000 klms, if possible.

Computer module, keys and harmonic balancer have been replaced.

Power steering pump and reservoir are replaced. Don't get black seals in power steering pump. A truck power steering company replaced the pump with a "brown" type of seal. No problems to this day.

My Commy is very quick. I love dragging people off from the lights. Has a shudder, apparently from the drive shaft.

Wish the hood lining didn't drop. Very comfy and beautiful car for cruising in. 110 to 120 klms/ hr comfortably. Aside from the $5000 spent on repairs so far, I still love driving it.