1995 Toyota Lexcen VS from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Oil leak - rear engine seal that reappeared 10,000 km after repair.

Drive train noise - A persistent whining sound that becomes worse in 3rd gear. Currently being checked.

Poor fuel economy - 14L/100k city (no lead-foot), good country 8/100.

Water leak in the boot - The rear side window rubber (between C & D pillars) was the culprit. Removing the interior trim around the window revealed the seal around the window/rubber had perished with age and was letting water in above the wheel well. Application of silicon fixed the problem.

Black rubber window seal (front passenger) - Located between the top of the interior door trim and the window glass separated from the door trim.

Water pump bearing - Became very noisy and was recently replaced.

Although it has a Toyota badge, the GMH characteristics cannot be taken away from this vehicle.

High Km when purchased. However it had been serviced IAW logbook and was a one owner.

The auto transmission and motor are still in good shape.

I have recently fitted FE2 suspension, low profile tyres and mags. This has improved suspension characteristics, especially when cornering.

This car is simply a Holden commodore and really no relation to Toyota at all, much like the Holden Apollo and earlier model Astras.

In response to previous comment: Holden does not design Astras or Apollos, it is a part of GM motors and scabs them from the European manufacturers, much like Toyota did with the Lexcen.

Commenting on the suspension setup (what a shocker!!) Toyota must have been aiming for a different market as the suspension setup was incredibly soft and did not give me confidence throwing the car into corners at speed. The holden commodore has a much better suspension setup and is more suited to our driving conditions in NZ and Aus. It was a company car brought over from Aus...

I've only owned my 95 VS Lexcen 4 Months, but touch wood have had no problems since the transmission (Auto) has been replaced. There is a slight squeal from the engine pulleys even after being replaced. All-round a good reliable vehicle.

The comment saying Holden 'scabs' Astras from Euro companies is wrong. What happens is GM Australia (Holden brand) importing different models from the much larger GM Europe (Opel brand there). Sharing products around the world within the same company is expected.

I am constantly amazed by the confusion the Toyota-Holden product sharing arrangement of the 90s created among some people.

I own a 93 Toyota Lexcen VP, just referring to the squeaky pulley, I had mine replaced a couple of months back, and ever since then it has squeaked. I used talcum powder on the pulley, the noise then stops.

I bought a one owner VR series 2 Lexcen with 250k 3 months ago. It has been nothing but trouble.

I have replaced the radiator, thermostat, fan, fan switch and relay, fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, air filter, plugs, one engine mount, two tyres.

It was getting hot under load, that ended up being the blocked radiator.

It was using 18 litres of fuel per 100kms around town, that is now down to 14 litres per 100 kms, (around town), after changing the fuel pressure regulator, good on fuel on long trips though.

Sometimes it was hard to start and blew heaps of black smoke until the revs got up to normal, that was the fuel pressure regulator.

Given the choice again, I would never have bought it.

I recently bought a 1995 Lexcen VR. 194,000 kms. So far, it drives like a dream. I was lucky I guess it was garaged and the interior is spotless. I hope I don't get these problems, however it is a 1995 model. I will maintain this vehicle, and with some luck it does not go down hill. But for right now, it's not bad at all.