1994 Holden Commodore VR from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Comments: 1-15, 16-28

7th Aug 2004, 05:12

"High performance bargain"

What things have gone wrong with the car?

Power steering pump required an overhaul.

Transmission slips when hot and changes into third gear roughly.

Crankshaft pulley and tensioner pulley required renewing.

General comments?

This car is very quick for a V6 and handles very well.

Does great burnouts.


18th Aug 2004, 23:51

My VR has done 232,000km and the engine hasn't missed a beat, only repairs are the common power steering pump and radiator. The transmission slips when warm from 2nd to 3rd, but as long as you go easy on the change its not a huge drama.

These cars produce heaps of power, I know the specs say 130Kw, but they will give a '95 XR6 (165Kw) a run for their money.

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26th Jul 2005, 07:12

Re: "Does Great Burnouts"

Damn right! Previous to my 2.2 litre Vectra I owned a 3rd-hand Commodore VR and had endless fun burning around in it. A very fun vehicle, the perfect blend between old commodore power and new commodore safety. 9/10.

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23rd Aug 2005, 23:38

I think either you don't understand what handling is, or this is the only car you have ever driven.

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18th Dec 2005, 06:42

VR is agreat model of commodore I amazingly beat a 97 model gt skyline by lots I still can't believe it. Great car does excellent burnouts and drifts.

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15th Jan 2006, 05:07

I have a VR Calais 93. Done 230,000 km. Since recently the enging gives out a miss as if the fuel is not getting to the engine properly. I replaced the fuel pump and filter, but still have the problem.

It only happens on acceleration or when the car idling.

Just wondering if anybody out there have/had the same problem and give me some advice.

Cheers

K.

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16th Jan 2006, 07:09

The vr is an excellent car, but be careful not to take roundabouts too fast otherwise the frount wheels slip out. it has excellent acceleration and cruises at 110kph down the highway like a breeze and has a great gear box that changes smoothy. it's a great car I would rate it 10 out of 10.

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24th Jan 2006, 06:19

I have a vr executive v6 that I purchased for $1200 from a friend because it has had a side on collision and was said to be a write off, but the engine has only done 130,000kms and runs like a dream so I use it as a farm car to drive around my farm to put hay bails in and things like that its like a luxurious tractor. Occasionally I pull a few burnouts on my bitumen driveway and they work like a dream, but as soon as the engine heats up to about half way on the temp gauge it just looses all its power and can't do burnouts any more is this normal or has it got a problem because I want use this engine in a project car so I need a good engine that will go hard otherwise its not worth putting it in. does this happen to anyone else's vr.???

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14th Mar 2006, 03:16

Lack of power when hot - you might have a fuel pump problem, or if it is missing, maybe spark plugs or leads.

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11th May 2006, 09:07

Just bought my VR last week for $4200. After a major service and rego check for $800, I love it - though there is also a miss in mine when idle. I think I need to replace the spark plug leads and maybe clean out the injectors - try that, and of course you did replace the spark plugs didn't you??

"Front wheels slip out"? Wow if I put my foot down it's my back wheels that slip out - and out, and out!! :) Sometimes I really have to be careful NOT to burn out when accelerating around a corner!!

"Cruises at 110kph down the highway"? - also at 200kph ;)

"as the engine heats up to about half way on the temp gauge it just looses all its power" - this AIN'T normal!!! Get it looked at asap! My temp gauge never gets past 1/3 - but I guess they could be adjusted differently and be relative to the car... It's probably just a sensor or something and not the engine itself, but I ain't no mechanic ;)

Best car I ever owned - my only criticism is that the auto trans is a little slow to respond (takes 1 or 2 seconds to down-shift) when I put my foot down in 3rd or 4th.

Still 10/10 - I love it!!

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17th May 2006, 03:30

I bought a VR commodore recently, excellent body condition and interior condition and only had done 170 000kms and got it for $3000, after a major service of changing all spark plugs and such it runs great.

Though the only problem I have is that when I cruise down the freeway at 110km/hr the check engine light comes on.

But then when I stop the car it'll turn back off, and when driving around locally or in the city it won't come back on, only when I drive for long periods of time at 110km/hr.

Has anyone been having this problem?

I took it to a auto electrician to check out what the sign was trying to tell me, it happened to be the gear box was slipping warning light? But they reseted that and since then it hasn't come up, was it a one off thing or is there has anyone else been getting this?

And just out of interest how much does it roughly cost to recondition a gear box?

Thanks guys.

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25th Jul 2006, 18:58

To the guy who had a problem with your engine warning light, I had the same thing. 2 months later and out of warranty, I had to fork out $4000 for a new engine, then another $1000 for a new transmission. I would get your trans looked at to see if it is slipping, or if you have lost 3rd or 4th gear like I did, then this hard revving eventually took its toll by putting a piston out the side of the block. Once I got the new engine, it ran like a beast (in good way).

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15th Aug 2006, 07:46

I have a VR S Pac and I'm proud 2 say it left an XR8 driver sad when I had him amazed by the torque of a Commodore.

I love it and wouldn't drive anything other than a VR. although it does have its share of hissy fits like idling rough 1 day, but fine the next.

I`d rate the VR 11/10.

Mikey (PROWLER)

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3rd Dec 2006, 01:13

I'm trying to change the plugs, but the leads are hard to pull off. Is there a trick.

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25th Dec 2006, 03:32

Don't worry about the idle. It's a Buick based V6 and they all have a bad idle. Just apreciate that this engine will go and go and go... It's the trans that are the problem in the VR's.

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14th Mar 2007, 23:59

I bought my VR about 2 weeks ago for a mere $500. It has 15 inch mags ABS, spoiler and air bag and 2 months rego. I'm impressed with the V6. Heaps of power, Vroom Vroom. Auto was slipping, but was 2 lt short of fluid. Good now. My power steer losing fluid, don't know where it is going. After owning a toyota camry, I'm loving having some power under my lead foot. Great car.

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