1978 Holden Statesman HZ 308 from Australia and New Zealand
Summary:
Unreliable, expensive to maintain, inefficient but luxurious
Faults:
Just about everything - engines, transmissions, air conditioning, suspension, steering, brakes, radiators, heater, exhaust, power steering, starer motor, alternator, LPG system, spoked wheels broke - you name it - I replaced or repaired it.
General Comments:
I bought this car for quite a bit at the time, $10500. It was immaculate although I was always disappointed with the performance.
The car had been rust protected from brand new - yet it rusted badly.
I had the car for 14 years and covered a few hundred thousand kms - I went through 3 engines and 2 transmissions - overall it was a very poor vehicle - even though I loved it - I am being realistic.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 16th August, 2009
28th Oct 2001, 04:23
I owned a Caprice version of this vehicle for 15 years. I travelled in excess of 500,000 km in it.
I had one engine rebuild at 200,000km and the transmission at 250,000km.
I had a second exchange engine put in at about 420,000Km due to overheating, but it ended up being the fan clutch at fault.
Air conditioner compressors can be a problem as well as front suspension bushes.
Front tyres used to wear fairly quickly as well.
Lots of leaks over the years from the engine, power steering and transmission, mostly minor.
Overall it was a well styled, very comfortable car, it certainly had it's mechanical faults, but with a bit of attention, kept going year after year.
Rust was also a problem, particularly in the lower doors and around the rear wheel arches, also under the vinyl roof.