Holden Commodore VZ (2004-2006)

Surely this would have to be one of the worst vehicles ever made by GMH. Having owned hundreds of Holdens in all shapes and sizes in the last 40 years of driving I would have to say that the VZ is by far the worst ones I have even had the misfortune of owning. There is simply not enough room here to list the many faults with this lemon. - From… Read more

faulty timing chains to ECU issues , the biggest mistake was the fitting of the ALLOY TECH V6 - this is nothing more than an engineering disaster. Avoid like the plague.

Power, luxury and looks – As the last model to use the European Opel Omega based platform, the VZ was also the first to introduce a range of new features. Essentially an update and a technically Series 3 of the VY, the VZ Calais was given a much needed and well deserved facelift. Gone was the subtle appearance of the previous VY. The Calais gained a more aggressive look… Read more

to the body kit. An all new front bumper with small lips/flares, blacked out headlights with a chrome ring, chroming around the fog-lamps and on the bonnet, all attributed to a unique nose of the Calais. Speaking of unique, how about those nice 17 alloy rims which (unlike the VYII Calais) were ONLY features on the VZ. Though mine now has 18 HBD alloys. Since we're on the side of the Calais, there is also a nice chrome door strip and chroming around the window seals. You also the unique 'Calais' badging on the rear door, which the VZ was the last to feature this up till the VFII Calais was produced. The rear has also been treated to a unique look. The rear taillights have the blacked out, theres a chrome boot garnish for where the number plate sits, and if factory fitted, is a rear spoiler with chroming on the top. Which again mine had, but now has a Mazda 3 lip spoiler in place. Overall the looks have kept the car fresh looking and in my opinion, it has dated at all. In-fact id go as far to say it looks better than the VE and VF, and far far better than the ZB.

The interior is amazing, in the regards of both design and materials used. There are hard scratchy plastics but only down in the footwell and partially on the doors. The dash is a soft touch plastic which follows onto the front and rear doors. Also, there is leather padding on the doors where your arms would rest and suede on the doors and lower dash. The seats are full black leather which are in great condition. The front seats are electric with drivers memory, you get dual zone climate control, rear air-vents, a six stack CD player, factory fitted Nokia bluetooth (which works with the lasted iPhone), all electric windows and mirrors, nice courtesy interior lights and a premium three screen gage cluster which you can change to display anything from average fuel to even a digital speedo.

Safety is also key, and this car isn't short of that. The Calais features four airbags (front and side impact), ABS, ESP, rear parking sensors, automatic headlights, warning chimes for when handbrake isn't full unlocked and for when driver seat belt hasn't been put on and braking assist.

Power comes from a 3.6L 190kW 340Nm V6 mated to a 5 speed auto transmission driven via the rear wheels. The engine is responsive and doesn't have to work hard to get you going. The 5 speed auto is a massive benefit, and works very well when driving the Calais calmly. But when you need to overtake a truck or a slow car, the auto needs to hunt for the gears and knocks back pretty hard. Nevertheless it is a good transmission and its made even better with the addition of paddle shifters which allows for a sportier experience. The engine has been a good unit so far with easy/standard maintenance. In the city it has plenty of low down torque to move you without needing to push the peddle much and highway deriving is even better (and smoother). The five speed auto is great on the highway, keeping revs under 2000rpm. In the city its good, but as mentioned in my first review sometimes it hunts for a gear or two when you need to push the car. Servicing has been easy and not too costly either which is good. Best part is you can service the car yourself which saves a bit of money.

The fuel economy has been the biggest downside, however if you drive with a light foot, you should get good milage. The Calais averages around 10.5L/100kms, down from the offical 11.5L claim from Holden and down from the original average of 13L. Its easy to get 500-550km per tank, which isn't half bad for a car that spends most its time driving around Canberra everyday. However the Calais is run on Premium 98 from BP/Caltex. On the highway is where the Calais opens up. Fuel economy ranges (depending on the weather and terrain of course) anywhere from 7.4-8.2L/100kms, getting you an average of 700-800kms per tank.

Comfort is unquestionable. Ive driven her from Canberra to Adelaide via Melbourne on the Great Ocean Road (covering 4,500kms in the span of a week) and to from Canberra to Brisbane. On both the duel carriage way (M31) and the single lane Princess Highway (A1) the ride was extremely comfortable, and the lumbar support worked wonders. Road noise is minimal even for a 13 year old Aussie car. Regardless of the road surface, the Calais handles with ease thanks too the Aussie tuning. You can confidently travel down a brand new motorway onto a decaying highway then straight onto a gravel road and keep on pushing the car without issue.

If there was anything to really dislike, it would be the fuel economy (overall) but also the lack of onboard technology. An AUX connection would have benefited the Calais, plus the addition of all auto windows and wipers plus heated seats. Some of this can be rectified though, as an aftermarket head unit has now being installed and works far better the the OEM one. As well as getting sheep skin seat covers to keep you warm in winter and stop you from frying in summer.

Apart from the above, the Calais is a great car for anyone is in the market for a premium sports car. With the VZ you don't need a V8, in-fact as much as I love a good V8, I would say to just get the V6. Its far more economical, has a slightly better transmission, easier to find one for sale at a good price and with good k's and still has grunt when you need it. Plus you cant go wrong with paddle shifters, they're awesome.

SV6 - Safe, sure, reliable. Power when I need it – With very few options after my car was stolen and Real Insurance 'conveniently' lowered the agreed value on the last renewal of the pay-by-the-month insurance, I bought my first Holden. A second hand 2006 SV6 commodore. Wow! Power when I need it for towing for moving house (who needs a removalist when I have this beast??) When using it… Read more

day-to-day the only thing I need to remember is not to be tempted to floor it, which keeps the economy surprisingly good. But it's so cool to have the power when I need it ;)

The ride is smooth even in offroad situations, something I wasn't expecting.

The other thing is allowing it to go through the startup checks when putting the key in - the 10-15 seconds is a little annoying at first but it reminded me of being a kid and Dad warming up the car first.

Mechanical - It had a minor issue with oil pressure but a quick visit to the Commodore forums told me this was likely from someone not using the right oil. Flushed it and it hasn't missed a beat since! Service costs are so low they are a joke after having owned Japanese and Euro cars for years!

Highly recommended as long as you're not a lead-foot ;)

Solid working man's wagon and *very* reliable! – Hot chilli red (HSV colour), bought in June 2010 ex-Services (CFA) fleet, 84,000km. A bit of neglect of it on their part as they transitioned to the VE Omega in their fleet, and intensive effort to clean up engine once bought. Interior trim and furnishings A1. Fitted sheepies to front, compatible with seat-flank airbags. Ultra comfy! Fast forward… Read more

8 years and this much-travelled, serviced-to-the-book workhorse has proven to be the most reliable, efficient and fearless of any car I have owned in 27 years. Taken around Australia in July-October 2011/32,000km/2 scheduled services (not towing). Not a single problem to report. Averages 7.4L/100km on Surf Coast-Melbourne-Albury/Wodonga running PULP98 -- no aggro city/suburban driving. Have seen similar/identical cars which have been tampered with enthusiastically by backyard mechanics, and this has lead to huge problems of erratic, faulting and generally unreliable operation as a direct result of interference and forced modification. These cars do not take well to fiddling with electronics and the engine. I don't really recommend 91RON petrol as this does not bring out the best in the Alloytec which is capable of phenomenal fuel economy in the right conditions (extended freeway driving, especially) with higher octane fuel (95-98, but not 100). And so...now at 183,220km won't be shoving it off any time now or in the near future!

06 VZ berlina V6 – Bought the car from a used car lot as a spare of the moment thing. It idles so quietly and smoothly. Since it was a used car and I am very fussy I have done a few things such as oil pressure sensor, very regular engine oil changes with best quality oil and filter i could buy, and being a commodore auto gearbox I've done a trans flush with new… Read more

filter and oil. The air conditioning is so cold you could cut glass with your nipples. Has been a great family hack and is excellent on fuel I regularly see 9L/100 mostly town and bit of highway

Holden VZ Berlina is reliable and Australian built – I purchased my VZ 2005 Berlina Wagon 15 years ago with 32,000kms on the clock. I drive it daily and service it when required through an independent mechanic. I have 200,000kms on the clock and can can honestly say this car still runs like a dream. My son's Holden is coming up to 300,000km's on the clock and still runs well. I replaced a water… Read more

pump, cheap as chips compared to working on a European car. Plenty of room & power, cheap to service & repair & has outlasted all my other vehicles. It was a sad day when Australia stopped making cars. Some write ups here bucket the vehicle, I can only say that every manufacturer will have a dud, or the vehicle may have been thrashed before buying it. If considering purchasing a Holden that's built here, you can't go wrong if you check the service record. Buy a Mec or a BMW and faint at the cost just to replace an ignition key, some at $800 each.

Was the best car I've ever owned – vz Equip, 700 plus km per tank. Did 501000 km before I got hit up the rear and they road her off. Handled so well, with heaps of power. Loved her so much that I've just replaced her with a vz Executive wagon, 2006 that is doing even better on fuel. I always use Nulon oil treatment on every oil change and removed the plastic engine guards to help them breath. Well done Holden. Show details

Great car sadly murdered by GM – Like Saab I've no idea how Holden did such a car with so little respect from Detroit. GM. The most misguided car outfit ever. Our VZ has all the gear and equipment you really need even 14yrs on. Great on rough roads. Rugged. Nice on my eyes too. Nothing special but a well thought out family car for the pre-SUV era. Full electrics, huge space,… Read more

nicely weighted steering, auto headlights, locking (and a real key I love not a credit card to go wrong!). Fuel economy is awful and safety should be better. Many are driven by goons. Yet 2 to 4 airbags, abs isn't enough for 2005. Great boot. Just a nice simple car with an easy to access engine bay vs our other cars!

Aussie icon and I love it – I had a 2005 sv6 the hsv by design edition as well as a Lumina 2005 ar the same time at one stage both were low kms and were well maintained by their original owners. The sv6 was 5 speed, leather seats, body kit and shifters on the stearing wheel. Wsy above average for the cars around ay that time. And the lumina had its body kit and the… Read more

inside wasnt much different than other vzs.

The vz was a great car, quick of the mark, solid and if the car was looked after then you are a happy driver.

Only con about them is that due to their age the little annoying things continually require fixing such as thermostat, radiator and leaking hoses

Avoid VZ commodores – Bought as daily driver, 2nd hand. Worst car I've ever owned. Overcharging and burning relays. No mechanics or auto elecs can tell me why. 2nd set of timing chains after 250thou ks. Sensors dying left right & centre. Rattles & noises galore. Trash mileage. Just a heap of junk in general. Avoid holdens.  Show details

Wouldn't recommend this car to anyone – Really regret purchasing this car. Have nothing but trouble since buying it. The new engine that were installed in the VZ model are a pain to repair. Since purchasing this car, I have had to replace tyres 6 times, coil pack, 3 spark plugs and running it on gas has misfired 8 imes. Will never buy another holden commadore.  Show details

190kw it's quick – I live the vz sv6 commodore anyone who has been in my car loves it the tech is good handle on a dime it is truly a blessing to own i have done some small mods to it nothing that voids any warranty put bigger rims bigger stereo better holden brakes it's beautiful i would recommend this to anyone  Show details

The steel horse – My Holden Adventra LX6 is a excellent city and cruising car with a quiet interior. The front leather seats are superb with full electric adjustments of a standard only available in much more expensive European cars. The interior is very roomy with no issues with getting comfortable. The boot space is larger than most vehicles and is fitted with… Read more

a full size spare wheel.

The car has excellent acceleration and towing power.

I had reliability issues when I purchased the car which had 38000 showing with frequent warnings showing..

I persevered and was able to address all the issues which included timing chain, fuel injectors and coil packs.

These costs incurred were much less than would have been on imported cars.

I have completed 160000 kms now and am most pleased and can drive anywhere without concern.

The fuel consumption is 10.5 litres per 100 kms on the highway and up to 15 litre per 100 around the city.

Holden got it right with this one – I have owned a 2006 V6 VZ acclaim for about 5 years now. Sold my old VP and was sceptical about the VZ. Bought it with 70,000k on the clock. Now has 250,000K. Tow a trailer, do a lot of dirt road driving and a fair few K's every year. I don't go crazy but I am no grandad behind the wheel either I change the oil and filter regularly @ 10-15,000ks… Read more

and this is important. You need to use good quality oil.This car has been rock solid with very few issues so far. No leaks. Parts are cheap. Dropped one ignition coil that left me stranded and unfortunately necessitated the removal of the plenum to replace it. Some silly design things on the VZ make it awkward to service sometimes but hey.... Only just replaced the original water pump but not left stranded. Easy fix and easy to get at. When I bought it the auto trans was rough shifting. After getting a standard engine oil change the issue disappeared. My mechanic did not do anything to the transmission. Yup !! ?? All in all a great car and a real workhorse. Has been very reliable but I look after it. Plenty of space and comfortable on a long drive. Good safety features as standard. Excellent brakes. Great high beams for country driving.Handling pretty average but it is not a sports car. Dislike the sticky antenna (VP was the same), crap side mirrors and visibility, poor standard audio system.

Grandfathers VZ Commodore – Has done over 300,000 kms since he bought it in 2007,water pump failed,has had a brake reline & rear shock absorbers which I fitted & radiator fitted,my grandfather replaced the radiator. Has been an infallible car since after the water pump failed. Good fuel consumption (900 kms per tank highway cycle).  Show details

Good – Comfortable to drive with great acceleration and reasonable handling. Nice and roomy interior and bootspace, good stereo, and dashboard components. I bought it secondhand from work as a ex managers car that had low kms and had a good service history. It's probably good fuel economy for it's size, but I imagine it would be better on gas. Power is… Read more

not a problem, delivering when and where you need it to. Unfortunately 3 weeks after buying it the radiator went (which was misdiagnosed by a mechanic as a hose clamp) and in turn the head gasket blew. $1500 later it turned out to not be such a bargain afterall. I'm told it's unheard of for the heads to go in these, but that's little comfort.

An excellent, reliable and safe car – The VZ Commodore, for me, has been fantastic since day one of ownership. I own the Acclaim model. One step up from the base version (Executive) The VZ is my first car. I am it's third owner. It was previously owned by a nursing home, and then by a family. I purchased this car through a private seller in February 2013. It's had a full service… Read more

history and has never given me a day of trouble.

I've fully maintained the car mechanically with a full service history and i always keep it clean. It's in my favourite colour (deep red) and drives very smoothly.

It handles well over all surfaces of the road and it's quite fuel efficient. The car sometimes needs a little encouragement when accelerating up hill. Aside from that, no complaints.

It has ABS braking, traction control and two front airbags. They say the alloytech engine present in the VZ is not as durable as the ecotec in the VY model, manufactured the previous year. However, in my experience, alloytech has been extremely reliable so far.

It has a single disc cd stereo. For a factory fitted sound system, it has very good sound quality and bass.

The car is very spacious, with plenty of room for passengers and the boot space is generous. I love the power steering and the stereo controls on the steering wheel.

You may find yourself replacing parts occasionally. The water pump is a common suspect.

But that's nothing too bad. I've experienced squeaks coming from the engine bay, which turned out to be a misaligned pulley on the timing belt.

Aside from a couple of small things, which are nothing major, the car is virtually bulletproof in terms of performance.

If you are a car owner, with any car in general, you can expect to pay for some maintenance.

In conclusion, it's been the best car i have driven. As well as the best car i have ridden in. A very smooth ride. And looks great from the outside. Awesome design!

Even after 225,000 km on the clock, it drives like new. I would recommend this model to anyone looking for a safe, reliable and economical car. My VZ should be around for years to come.

I agree with everything you said and more – I am experiencing all of these problems and more with my VZ wagon. Other problems I have experienced are: With age the fuel economy is very poor, even after servicing. Engine mounts cracked and leaking. The door handle release has broken twice and has had to be replaced. The fuel housing cover sticks, and won't open sometimes. Power window… Read more

console box had to be relpaced.

The thermostat is porely positioned and hard to get at (behind the gear box)

The screen over the dash gauges is set at an angle which makes it hard to read.

Water pump went not long after I got it, causing the power steering to fail.

2 metal plates (part of the steering rack I think) have had to bee replaced twice.

Central locking doesn't work properly, especially on hot days.

Mesh over the speakers has deteriorated.

Nearly all of the hood lining has come away from the roof (sagging)

The handle to open the boot is made of plastic. Has deteriorated twice and had to be replaced.

The fin above the hatch door has deteriorated and broke off.

The tail light interior access covers have broken off.

Both back of the front seats have been replaced because they have pulled away.

The weather shields on the front windows deteriorate quickly, they have been replaced 3 times.

I thought this was a luxury car when I bought it, but is very porely manufactured and not made to last.

Forget about the romantic notion of an Australian Holden being the car to have.

They are absolutely overpriced and are garbage.

VE Calais battery drain resolution – I own a VE Calais 06 model, with a 6.0L in it. I must say I'm very disappointed in Holden, 1. How the car was over all made 2. How holden handled my claim 3. The stupidity on some people thinking they could overcharge me based on my gender (female) Anyways, the problem.. I bought the car used 8 months ago, didn't miss a beat until now. … Read more

The battery and now the alternator are both fried having replaced them both anyways. I did some research and 'apparently' they're infamous for this problem.. my question!

If Holden knows this why not fix it?

Grrr, I must say I love this car but I won't be buying another.. rant over!

Standard family sedan, good when it works- Would not buy another – We had a VY series 2 executive for 4 years from 90,000ks until 195,000 when we sold it. The first two years were mostly trouble free until it got over 120,000ks and it started to show wear and fall apart. A very poorly made car and was very dissapointed. On paper, it seemed good value for money, very spacious especially for a family and pretty… Read more

well equipped for a standard executive. If it was more reliable and well built would have considered another.

The engine, while good off the mark was hopeless after 3500 rpms and felt as though it was choking up.

The interior seats also wore out with the material becoming loose and come away from the foam.

Bits that didnt work or broke:

- Dash light dimmer switch

- front power window switch (replaced passenger side front twice!)

- Centre Console lid became very loose and would not tighten

- Side plastic strips on the exterior of all doors continuously came off- a poor quality glue/ tape was used from factory

- Power mirrors had a mind of their own and worked when they wanted to.

- Audio controls on the steering wheel came out of their sockets and remained loose, never worked or had replaced after 130,000ks

- Boot release like the mirrors, worked when it wanted to.

- The front passenger door lock actuator failed

- The alarm would go off on a hot day for no reason:

- Would sometimes go to start it and the dash would go blank and not start. A second attempt always started- with exception of 3 incidents.

All of the above made for a frustrating car to own. The only thing that worked well was the air conditioning.

The car had its full service history and we maintained it, however the engine became more harsh and lost power as it became older and became a lot less fuel efficient despite the servicing! The gearbox also began to have a clunk in second gear towards the end, and this car was not even driven hard.

I thought maybe we had brought a lemon.. appears not. 4 other people at work who have a VY ,VZ and VE experienced very similar issues and some even worse (leaving them stranded on highways) and have also since sold their holden for a japanese make including ourselves.

Its unfortunate but maybe holden manufacturing going overseas might not be such a bad thing and they may produce some quaility built vehicles that last. Roomy interior, engine power, good Air conditioning, Boot space, good equipment level for a standard model Poorly built, fell apart, mechanically weak, shoddy electricals, no re-sale value

Great Aussie car – VZ SV8 auto sedan, bought it 2nd hand with 26000 klm, put LPG on and bigger exhaust. Owned for 6 years now and has 200,000 klms never had a problem, regular services done at wakelings Campbelltown. Tow occasionally. 10.5l/ 100 on gas is a dream. Best car I've ever had for sure. Plenty of power on tap, can't understand why they built bigger V8s. V8… Read more

power, LPG tank fits in boot easily, still looks good, affordable, reliable. Cheap to run. No cd stacker, no speakers on rear parcel tray area

Terrible – I bought a used VZ commodore from a government auction. I can Say I made the Biggest mistake of my life. I have had it for 2 years now and I have taken it back to the dealer dozens of times for problems that just seem to pop up, here is a small list!! - ABS fault on dashboard (took to dealer 3 times, ABS system changed under wrnty) - Airbag… Read more

fault on dahsboard (rectified)

- Car started oveheating (Took it to the dealer paid $80 even though had just serviced it)

- Car pulling to the left (Camber on on side is bigger than the other CANT BE FIXED - COMES LIKE THAT FROM THE FACTORY - left is 0.38 right is 0.58)

- COOLANT LEAK (Replaced hose pipe O rings under warranty)

- Ingnition key jamming into the barrel (Replaced ignition barrel under warranty)

- FUEL GAUGE error with petrol smell in cabin (Replaced petrol cap under warnty)

- ABS light on dashboard came up again after ABS system replaced (Apparently I need to replace SPEED SENSOR for $155)

- IDLER Pulley noisy (removed and replaced under warranty)

- Front Strut top mounts and strut bearing and bushes all replaced because car making noised while turning or going over bumps

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON - I TAKE CARE OF MY CAR - AND I HAVE SPEND SO MUCH MONEY FIXING IT - AND IT HAS NEVER GIVEN ANYTHING BACK TO ME - HOLDEN IS BAD and people give it much more credit that they deserve (I am not sure why). Even though most of my faults were fixed under warranty, to this day new faults keep presenting that I need to PAY FOR because warranty has finished! RIDICULOUS!! Excellent ride and handling - Superb braking (Better than the japanese) - Feels like an expensive car to drive BUT THATS ABOUT IT BAD RELIABILITY - LOTS OF PROBLEMS - LOOKS UGLY and PLAIN - INTERIOR DESING IS BAD - Why are the window switches in the centre console?? Never undrestood that - Also why are the wipers set to be on speed sensitive (THEY ARE ALWAYS TOO FAST you either have to do it manually or switch them off) - WHY isnt there an alarm beep to warn you when you have left your headlights on before you walk off your car?? Every car has that including my 1999 FALCON AU!!!!

Excellent – Great car with huge amounts of room for the family. Keep her serviced and she will serve you well. Australian built, so we are keeping local people employed. Quality of finish was good and standard features enhance safety. I got mine at the government auctions and found good resale value when I sold it. The VE Sportwagon has nowhere near the… Read more

room in the back, 2 sets of golf clubs VS 4 in the older, long wheel base wagons. For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 Acclaim Wagon.

Huge amount of space and fleible interior for carrying the oversize loads. Verey comfortable on long trips and good fuel economy whilst touring. Adjustable roof racks are great and can carry 80 KG. Traction control can be a killer! It backs off the throttle at the most inapropriate times.

Some minor leaks in heavy rain. Broken door lock in warranty period but all fixed by friendly staff. Fuel economy can suffer if driven with a heavy foot around town, if nursed will improve dramatically.

Excellent – If you don't really want the hassle and fuel prices of the V8 SS, then I would definitely recommend the SV6. It accelerates very nicely when called upon, and with smooth driving I managed a very respectable 8.0litres per 100km consistantly in mixed city/country trips. The interior is much better looking than the VE, although it is a little tired… Read more ·  1

having been used in the VY, but I never found that an issue. The seating and legroom I found very comfortable with controls easy to access and use, and there was more than enough boot space. The only reason I got rid of this car was to upgrade to a VZ Clubsport! For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 SV6. Absolutely everything. I received great service at a reasonable price, the look of the car still holds its own, the power is terrific and there was more than enough room for tall people! Maybe the fact that the transmission failed (I had a 6spd manual) and needed replacement under warranty - but hey, I didn't have to pay for it!

Build quality is terrible – First my transmission start to clunk while it was on warranty, since its not a major fault no repairs done. After warranty expire here it all comes, front suspension bushes fell apart because they were made from cheap rubber and specifically designed to last only 3 years. for $1000 replaced to all Nolathane. Cooling pump failed, replaced $500.… Read more

Driver seat broken, replaced under warranty. Steering rack has a play in it, delater quoted $800, I did not do this one and still drive with it. Exhaust vibration on certain RPM.

Dear Holden please stop shortcuting on quality of components, dear Unions stop suffocating Australian manufaturing and other business at the expsnse of consumers otherwise all manufaturing will be done offshore. good handling lowest build quality of all

Vz SS Commodore – This has beean a reliable safe family car. The Boot swallows a double pram and has plenty of room for extras Three child restraint points that you can actualy use without loosing all your cargo space Has been verry cheap to service and run ( compared to our previous car a 2006 Vw Golf) Drives well is a little bit too firm in the suspension but… Read more

handles well

We have averaged 10.4 litre per 100ks (usually around 8.5 on a trip) but you do notice it if you do a trip to Brisbane and get stuck in traffic jumps up on the tripmeter to 14.5 l/100 real quick Turns a long trip into an enjoyable drive. Cheap to service ok on fuel ( wouldn't recomend it for stop start in the city then the fuel consumption gets savage 14.5 liters per 100ks. Fits three child seats with ease!! Tyres are dear but the last set have done 60000 and still look good!! In congested traffice fuel consumption is savge

2005 VZ Commodore Lumina – The Commodore Lumina is a nice package with cruise, fogs, 6 airbags, FE2 suspension on 17" rims etc... I bought this car second hand at 110000kms, and in 6 months I've covered just over 35,000kms. Whether in an urban environment, or as in my case rural, it's well suited for the tasks required. It is a comfortable car on long hauls, interior… Read more ·  1

noise levels are low, the air conditioning is a gem, and with a 75 litre tank gets you a good distance with room to spare. The gauges in the dash are clear and easy to read without the problems associated with sun glare as is an issue with other car makes.

The multifunction trip computer I find is a great asset and easily customised, fitted with a Blaupunkt 6 CD stacker stereo is very good for a stock factory item which is easily operated by the steering wheel controls.

The brakes pull you up quickly with confidence, and the steering is direct and responsive which is reassuring at highway speeds.

General performance such as overtaking on highways is more than adequate.

Initially the V6 Alloytec seems to have a lag, after installing a Lukey high flow air filter this added extra life to the motor and has improved fuel economy.

The home mechanic will find oil & coolant changes a breeze... including the auto transmission. The car does however prefers synthetic oil.

Much the same with changing consumables such as brake pads etc..

As mentioned you have many options with quality aftermarket parts should you want to upgrade some components. You'd be hard pressed not being able to find parts for your Commodore at Repco, Autopro etc... anywhere in Australia.

Overall, the Commodore has been part of our landscape for quite some time and for good reason. The VZ has many creature comforts and is reasonably economical to run and maintain. The only gripes when driving are the windscreen pillars which are large blind spots. As an all rounder it fits the bill and does the job very well, comfortably, and without fuss. Great package that does all the right things. Comfortable tourer. Spoilt for choice with good quality aftermarket spares. Windscreen pillars are large blind spots when turning at intersections. Electric window controls in console.

OK – I was a Holden lover. Bought a 2005 Equipe brand new in July 2005. To this date I have only done 32,500Km. The car us under-used for its age. The rear axle bearings started becoming noisy about two years ago. One Holden dealer in Fremantle (last year) said they couldn't hear the noise. So, this year I went to a different Holden dealer as my… Read more

warranty was going to expire. They said that there was definitely a 'whoop, whoop, whoop" noise coming from the rear. Luckily I had an extended (5 years) warranty for the drive train and I have just had the rear seals and bearing replaced on the rear stub axles. My love affair with Holden has ended. Too many recalls for side airbags. Also, the power steering connecting hoses come loose as the metal pipes do not have bulges on them to facilitate the secure clamping of flexible connecting hoses. If you don't constantly tighten these clamps you get leaks and mine was leaking slightly then suddenly leaked more and drained my power steering pump. The Holden dealer says it is a common problem and the clamps need to be tightened frequently. Holden have been making cars long enough now to get things right. My next car will be a Toyota. My second car is a Toyota Avalon and although it may be dull and boring for some, it is a comfortable, quiet, reliable car to drive. Holden need to go to Japan to learn quality control and reliability. Performance, handling. Like all Holdens - a driver's car. Nice safety features for females - headlights staying on for a set amount of time, headlights on on approach, single door unlocking, automatic door locking. Build quality. Too many design faults.

Best Car I have ever Owned!! – I "love" My 2005 VZ Holden Commodore Executive Sedan!! From the moment I laid eyes on my VZ I fell in love and had to have it! My VZ is my First Holden I have ever owned and I'm extremely impressed. My VZ is above and beyond reliable and having the ability to take off on a road trip when ever the time becomes available without a worry in the world… Read more ·  7

is a great feeling. The beautiful glossy mirror like thick high quality paint and the sleek sporty clean line unique look of my VZ makes it stand out from the rest and for such a large comfortable car the fuel economy is excellent! The Interior of my VZ is very classy, very practical and sporty which matches the exterior perfectly. The sound expelled by the Blaupunkt stereo is extremely high quality and the green illumination of the interior dials look spectacular at night! The engine is practically silent and the overall ride quality is unmatched by any other car I have ever owned and or travelled in. My VZ is astonishing to drive and own and Im cant express how proud I am to say I own such an amazing car!! and I personally think that the VE has nothing on my VZ. I love my VZ and I think that if your looking for a great looking reliable economical car get yourself a VZ of your own and you can't go wrong! Reliability, Beautiful sleek unique sporty Looks, Fuel Economy, Classy Interior, Quiet Engine Love everything about my VZ

Simply awesome – SV8 250kw 6spd manual. this thing is an absolute weapon and looks the part too. it sounds mean and it looks mean, but best of all the thing isn't nearly out of breath at 220km/h at only 3500 rpm. im in love. best $18000 ever spent comfortable reliable good looking and has the abibilty to make fords look foolish. direct steering and confident braking poor fuel economy rarely below 20L/100km round town. about 12-14 on highways Show reply

Good – Concidering i payed 18,000 bucks for the car, have done 100,000k in it with no problems i have to say,cant beat that!! go Holden.. I purchased my VZ 2 year ago, it was an x police car with 42 thousand k an the clock, i have driven it around Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand and up and down the East coast of Australia several times, it now has… Read more

140,000 on the clock, never had a problem with it, fuel consumpsion useing Shell V-POWER 98 octane fuel, is excellent, i am getting over 800 kilometers per tank, the computer tells me i am getting as low as 8.5litres per 100 kilometres on long runs, and around 1o-11 around town..... I really cant fault the car except, when i use the windscreen washers with the

front windows down the water comes in on the driver and passenger, otherwise no complaints..

Bad – Thought it would be a better car for the money, paint and interior both low rent and the cost of repairs consistently amazes me. The running costs around town are very ordinary but you can get good fuel economy on the open road on Premium unleaded. For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 Acclaim Wagon. torque motor, gets going in the first 3000 revs.… Read more

big back end for lots of gear many mechanical issues particularly after 100,000 kms, costly repairs for such a "popular motor car" quality of interior not standing up to kids. constant front suspension rubber joints wearing out and creating an annoying cluncking noice, cost 300 to repair and will last 15,000km before starting again

Excellent – i love how this car is smooth on the road, and we can all travel together as a family because of the option to add the dickie seats in the back. I would recommend this car to families with young children ... you can still collapse the back dickie seats to use for transport too ... and the middle seats fold right down as well ... the space in this… Read more

wagon is awesome ... definitely the best car I would say ... For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 Executive Wagon.

we have 5 young boys, so we had the dickie seats installed at the back. Such a good economical car and it caters for our family

Good – i like my wagon, it is a great family car and i love that i can fit camping gear and more in the boot with out trying to play a tetris game... it is easy to drive and is a great overall car. For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 Acclaim Wagon. its big boot. cheap parts for repairs. resale value- but thats only a problem if you are planning on selling....

OK – LOve the car hate the fuel consumption, not reccommended for those on a tight budget it leaves a hole in your pocket keeping it on the road each week. For Holden Commodore 2004 - 2006 Executive Wagon. Space, great to drive, handles well Fuel consumption, terrible around town up to 19lt/100km, total turn off for a standard V6