Grange VR and VS

[Swordie]

Does anyone know if HSV built the Grange VS or VR with a 215 motor?

[showoff]

From 'my' knowledge in VR there wasnt a grange it was hsv caprice(215i or 185i option) or statesman(185i option), and then the VS u could get ur hsv caprice(215i or 185 option) or statesman(185i) and also then the grange(215i or 185i), one of my best mates has a 1997 vs grange with the 215i engine, lovely car :)
But i have had a caprice before, and i have looked at a vr hsv caprice(185i) forsale. and the granges dont have the hood mounted controls. So if it was me buying one, considering my mate payed $28,000 for his (wit 77,000k's) id be looking for a hsv caprice. Another mate of mine has a hsv caprice(185i) series one. Its not as nice as the grange(series 2) coz its only series 1(series 2 re designed interior and exterior) but still it has a sunroof and all the usual caprice options, and he payd $16,000. So yeh my 2cents cheers.

[chevypower]

VR HSV Statesman had 185i or 215i optional, VS Grange has a much nicer interior and wheels, also has both engines optional, my father used to own a VS Grange 185i in cherry black.... it was a nice car, i drove it probably as much as he did

[DRAGON]

There isnt too much difference between the caprices and the granges in terms of interior. (I'm referring to VS's here)

The main difference is that the grange got black leather on the door trims, and obviously got a sunroof standard.

Asides from that, i think the main difference between them is obviously the engine's that were available, and any badge/bodykit mods.

To answer your original question, in terms of VS's, only about 100 or so Granges were made, and i think approx 40 of them from memory were actually 215's.

Good luck finding one, and if you do, grab it ASAP :D

[showoff]

Granges didnt get black leather it depends on the car interior, and sunroof isnt standard. The interior is the same minus the roof mounted remote/speakers and it has hsv on the insturment cluster, and grange badge on the dash.

I know the above as my mate has one, it has light/ grey sort of leather, and same goes with door trims, they are like a like grey, and it doesnt have a sunroof. It has grange on the hsv build plate, and 215i engine. cheers.

[chevypower]

I stand by the sunroof being standard on the VS Grange HSV obviously also have "delete options"
Earlier i was comparing the interiors of VR HSV Statesman to the VS Grange
the HSV Statesman had a boring interior, my only complaint about the VS Grange interior and most of my friends who noticed, was the crappy woodgrain sticker under the radio head unit - yes a sticker!, and it wasn't just one piece, it was three pieces that overlapped each other. Woodgrain cant get much cheaper than that.

[DRAGON]

You have got your facts wrong! ;)

Look at THIS (http://www.hsv.com.au/cars/grange/grange_specs.htm) link... taken from HSV's own site... notice the 2nd last option... "standard sunroof" ;)

I cant comment on the roof mounted controls as i have never been in one, but the caprice defiently has them, so im assuming the grange would of....

Some granges defiently did get black leather on the door trims. The seats were still the same as the caprices, but the trims weren't. I have also seen some granges with caprice colour trims, and even some with kind of standard stato trims... so not sure how the colours varied accross the models

Just in case you dont believe me, here is a LINK (http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales/!cs_content.dealer_vehicle?vehicle_id=2307132&current_rec=13&total_rec=20&sort_type=1&make_id=81&model_id=551&state_id=-1&search_distance=25) to a grange for sale that has black trims, and if you want more proof i can send you some piccies i have, and also link you to another person who bought a grange on street commodores forums that got a grange last week with black trims ;)

[showoff]

I never meant they dont have black leather, but the way ur saying it is that its something special, and i read it at first i thought u were saying thats all they came out in, because u didnt say the main difference is you could also get black among other colours,
'The main difference is that the grange got black leather on the door trims,'

u can get that in anything, like the calais, a guy i know bought a vs calais damaged and put the black leather interior into his car, so its not something thats special to the grange. its just normal leather colour codes.

'and obviously got a sunroof standard'
If it was standard why would the person remove it from the list, (as my mates grange doesnt have one) thats like the person who bought my clubsport r8 originaly, unticking r8 options like the premium sound system.... it seems silly to me, but maybe holden do it that way, but logic would say they have a list of options and u tick what u want. not there is a package and u take away what u dont want.

And yeh there are no roof mounted controls, i have seen pics, as well as my mates car.

It doesnt bother me, if you want to argue more, my best mate has a grange, and i did alot of research into granges, as i wanted one before i bought the clubby, and i argued with him, that he was gona get a sunroof, and it wasnt a grange if it didnt, but when i saw it, and then the build plate i was shocked. to me its silly why spend 90k or wot eva and not pay 2k for a sunroof.

Cheers

[DRAGON]

I'd be interested to see which model hsv based the grange off of (ie, stato or caprice)

The sunroofs were standard, if he doesnt have one (im assuming he got it 2nd hand) its only because the person who first bought the car chose to have the sunroof "deleted"

I agree it sounds stupid, but i have also heard of a few people deleting some of the luxury options from certain cars. If you can afford a luxury car, you may as well get all the options (well in my opinion)

I too know a decent amount about caprices and also a bit about the granges. I bought a VS caprice a few weeks ago, solely for the purpose to wreck it out, and put all of its interior and elecs/accessories into my VS Wagon. So my knowledge about this topic isnt exactly poor.

My aim isnt to argue, its to continue to find out more info about these cars.

I also would love a VS Grange, but due to the rarity of them, and insurance costs, its out of my reach for now (Hence why i bought a caprice)

If anyone can explain why the different colour door trims existed, and also why the grange apparently didnt get the roof controls/speakers/mirrors id be more then curious to know!

[showoff]

mmm so would i, when i first saw pictures of a grange, i asked the guy did it have roof mounted controls...and he said no, and then when my mates didnt have it.. it confirmed it... but considering that in my oppion the grange should be the flag ship, it should have the roof controls and it doesnt..then i could beleive that hsv would already have sunroof as an option and delete it, i mean even my mate with the series one hsv caprice got a hsv sunroof.... hmmm plus my mum has a vr caprice 3.8lt, nice but i prefer the series two vs's. i paid around the same amount for my clubsport, as he paid for his grange, my car 2001 wit 255kw, his car 1997 215kw, same price. i didnt see the logic, except that they are a beautiful car. But oh well. :)

[chevypower]

Dad has the Caprice now which has the roof mounted controls, i think its overrated, the new Grange does have it. The sound system in the new Caprice doesnt produce enough base in the front row seats, and has too much bass in the rear cos two subwoofers on the parcel shelf, hopefully Holden will fix this problem and re-arrange the speakers for future models
- put the subs in the boot area where they belong! Some good mid range on the rear shelf.

[VQ304]

I'd be interested to see which model hsv based the grange off of (ie, stato or caprice)

VS and WH were based on the Statesman, and I believe I've heard that WK/WL are based on the Caprice. May be wrong on that last bit.

The VS Grange interior is pretty similar to the Statesman, I think the only difference is that it got Caprice door trims and a Caprice center console. Something like that anyway.

[chevypower]

All Granges (including the VS) have had the Caprice interior, except the VS Grange didnt have the rear heating/audio controls - the seats were the Caprices electric and more shapely rear bench as opposed to the flat bench seat which is in the Statesman, the door trims on the VS Grange were very similar to the Caprice except the Holden logo was replaced with the HSV logo

[VQ304]

All Granges (including the VS) have had the Caprice interior, except the VS Grange didnt have the rear heating/audio controls - the seats were the Caprices electric and more shapely rear bench as opposed to the flat bench seat which is in the Statesman, the door trims on the VS Grange were very similar to the Caprice except the Holden logo was replaced with the HSV logo

Yes, I forgot about the seats. Grange had Caprice front and rear seats as well as the door trims.

However, take a look at the following photos:

Statesman
http://photos.carsales.com.au/3033119.jpg

Grange
http://photos.carsales.com.au/3043161.jpg

Caprice
http://private.carsales.com.au/photos/623588.jpg

Notice how the Grange has the same door pods as the Statesman, not the Caprice ones. Also the rear controls are missing as you mentioned, and any other Caprice extra which the Statesman didn't get. There are probably other things in those photos which I haven't picked up on.

[chevypower]

my dads Grange doors looked exaxtly like those Caprice ones (you just cant see the similarity in that picfrom that angle) but the Grange did have the leather padding around the fake wood behind the grab handle.. .that Holden logo in the middle was replaced with a HSV one
Also that Statesman pic must have been a series two or three... Dad also owned a VS Statesman series 1 with leather seats... it had absolutely no woodgrain at all or electric seats
Now we're really knit picking the differences :-)

[Swordie]

Here's a 5.7 VS for $27,500 with 139,000 kms Grange (http://carpoint.ninemsn.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedCarID=1026545&TabID=3328&Alias=carpointau) . Nice looking car.

I also noticed HSV made WH Supercharged 6, that surprised me.

[VQ304]

my dads Grange doors looked exaxtly like those Caprice ones

Even the door pods? Interesting, because it shouldn't have the Caprice door pods. Someone had probably swapped them over (or even some weird dealer option).


Also that Statesman pic must have been a series two or three... Dad also owned a VS Statesman series 1 with leather seats... it had absolutely no woodgrain at all or electric seats

Correct, Statesman didn't get woodgrain until VS series II ;)

[BigD]

Does anyone know if HSV built the Grange VS or VR with a 215 motor?

Hey there mate im Dale, and goodday shifty hows you been of late!?.

I own a 1998 HSV Grange 215i which left the HSV factory in december 1999 my build number is HSV 164 when i brought the car it had only 80,000kms on the clock and it didnt have a sunroof or any of the option roof mount controls / mirrors due to the original purchaser deleting the items.

However the VS Series 3 HSV Grange is based off the VS Statesman and just has caprice options like leather door trims and the centre consol upgrade and yes it has the badge work and flared body kit not alot really oh and it has the little HSV badges on the woodgrain trim. The grange also comes with full leather seats and yes that includes the inserts are all leather aswell!!! cool hey just a tad warm in summer.
c:\mycar.jpg

here is some more info: http://www.ultimatecruises.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=2050

Cheers Dale if you wanna chat please do my msn addy is bastowd@hotmail.com feel free to add me to ur msn!

[showoff]

..... :cool: there you go guys. i got him to sign up......all this talk of granges makes me want one....*shhhh dont tell my clubsport i said that, or she wont love me anymore :rolleyes: hahahahahahahahahahaha

[chevypower]

Even the door pods? Interesting, because it shouldn't have the Caprice door pods. Someone had probably swapped them over (or even some weird dealer option).



Correct, Statesman didn't get woodgrain until VS series II ;)

Sorry i should have pointed out, the VS Grange got the Statesman 2 way speaker in the door as seen in the picture, the Caprice has a 1 way speaker (i think) in the door with a seperate component tweeter on the dash (hence the difference in the shape of the door speaker), but the door trim is the same as the Caprice, not the Statesman - if that makes sense. Although the Caprice had the right idea having the component speakers, I don't think they really make that much difference in the Holden set up, as they use cheap and nasty speakers in all their models (I have mentioned my disappointment in the WK Caprice sound system). The VE Statesman/Caprice should have a Bose sound system, with XM Satellite radio which i hope will start up here. iPod integration would also be a good idea

[chops]

My VS2 Stato had component speakers, and the interior was exactly as in the Grange photo on the first page.

I guess the owner may have ticked some boxes such as leather, but maybe there was a sound system option as well.

[chevypower]

component speakers are where they are not 2 or 3 way speakers, but 1 way, and an additional tweeter is seperate, and located usually on the dash or somewhere else. The Grange pic is not component speaker, it's definately a 2 way (the idea is that component speakers are supposed to be better because then each element can produce its full sound without being blocked by the smaller tweeter that sits in front of it), but as I said, I dont think the Holden speakers are that good anyway, so it doesnt really matter. The Grange and Statesmans in that pic have the tweeter built in to the door speaker assembly) in the brochure they count it as two seperate speakers, and say there are 8 speakers in the VS Statesman/Grange, but they are really 4 lots of two-way speakers. VT/WH onwards have had the main rear speakers in the rear door and subs on the back shelf - i think it sounds crappy, stick some nice two ways on the back shelf, tweeters where they are now in the back of the Caprice on the roof, maybe leave a couple of mid range in the rear doors, and stick two subs in the boot.

[Heli]

Having had a 215 VS Grange, a 250 WH Grange, a 255 WHII Grange and currently a WK Grange, I'll join in here ;)

The VS and both WH's were based on the Statesman, the WK/WL are now based on the Caprice. The VS came standard with a sunroof, as did the WH, but the WHII and the WK are both optional sunroofs. Until the WK, none of the Granges had the Caprice rear seat controls in the roof, nor the "normal" Caprice extras.

Hard to recall exactly how the VS behaved, although I recall it was a vast improvement on the VR Statesman that I had before it, but I did hate the brakes. Going to Mt Hotham was a recipe for disaster, as the brakes would fade going uphill on the Harrietville road :eek: The nice people at HSV have fitted Premiums to my WK, although they are not (officially) an option :D

[chops]

component speakers are where they are not 2 or 3 way speakers, but 1 way, and an additional tweeter is seperate, and located usually on the dash or somewhere else. The Grange pic is not component speaker, it's definately a 2 way (the idea is that component speakers are supposed to be better because then each element can produce its full sound without being blocked by the smaller tweeter that sits in front of it), but as I said, I dont think the Holden speakers are that good anyway, so it doesnt really matter. The Grange and Statesmans in that pic have the tweeter built in to the door speaker assembly) in the brochure they count it as two seperate speakers, and say there are 8 speakers in the VS Statesman/Grange, but they are really 4 lots of two-way speakers. VT/WH onwards have had the main rear speakers in the rear door and subs on the back shelf - i think it sounds crappy, stick some nice two ways on the back shelf, tweeters where they are now in the back of the Caprice on the roof, maybe leave a couple of mid range in the rear doors, and stick two subs in the boot.

My Statesman definitely had dash mounted tweeters.
In the Grange pic you can faintly see in the top right hand corner the grilles they sat behind. Also, the doors had crappy paper cone mids (1 way). I had mine replaced with some other stereo upgrades.

[GrangeGirl]

HI SHOWOFF, I HAPPEN TO OWN A BLACK 215i 1997 VS GRANGE, AND IT HAS THE STANDARD SUNROOF AND THE ROOF MOUNTED CONTROLS. I PURCHASED IT FOR $18,990 WITH 98,000 ON THE CLOCK 'BOUT 5 MONTHS AGO. WOODGRAIN IN CENTRE CONSOLE, DOORS, ETC. DASH MOUNTED TWEETERS, HSV LOGO IN DOORS. YES, NO REAR SEAT CONTROLS ETC. BIT OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO BUY VS GRANGE OR ANY OTHER VS, IF YOU CAN, LISTEN TO ENGINE WHILST COLD FOR TICKING NOISE, WHEN CYLINDERS WERE BEING BORED ON FACTORY LINE THE MACHINE THEY WERE USING TO DRILL STARTED TO WEAR TOWARDS THE END OF PRODUCTION. THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL ON THE 5 LITRE ENGINES (NOT SURE BOUT V6). YOU CAN HEAR THE MIS-ALIGNMENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WEN ITS UNDER LOAD. CHEERS FELLAS!

[Ghosn]

HI SHOWOFF, I HAPPEN TO OWN A BLACK 215i 1997 VS GRANGE, AND IT HAS THE STANDARD SUNROOF AND THE ROOF MOUNTED CONTROLS. I PURCHASED IT FOR $18,990 WITH 98,000 ON THE CLOCK 'BOUT 5 MONTHS AGO. WOODGRAIN IN CENTRE CONSOLE, DOORS, ETC. DASH MOUNTED TWEETERS, HSV LOGO IN DOORS. YES, NO REAR SEAT CONTROLS ETC. BIT OF ADVICE FOR PEOPLE LOOKING TO BUY VS GRANGE OR ANY OTHER VS, IF YOU CAN, LISTEN TO ENGINE WHILST COLD FOR TICKING NOISE, WHEN CYLINDERS WERE BEING BORED ON FACTORY LINE THE MACHINE THEY WERE USING TO DRILL STARTED TO WEAR TOWARDS THE END OF PRODUCTION. THERE WAS A HUGE RECALL ON THE 5 LITRE ENGINES (NOT SURE BOUT V6). YOU CAN HEAR THE MIS-ALIGNMENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD OR WEN ITS UNDER LOAD. CHEERS FELLAS!

How about pressing your CAPS lock button before you start typing next time?

[chevypower]

Should this kind of thread mining be illegal? 3 Yrs old, should just start a new thread.

[GrangeGirl]

How about pressing your CAPS lock button before you start typing next time?

Ah, I'm here to talk about cars, not punctuation and grammar. Obviously you are n't a real car lover.

[chevypower]

actually it's just common courtesy.

[GrangeGirl]

actually it's just common courtesy.

Sorry, didn't mean to stumble into the asshole page. cya

[macca33]

Well, this thread, when revived, simply went straight into cardiac arrest once again..........

[chevypower]

Sorry, didn't mean to stumble into the asshole page. cya

Actually, i think it's exactly what you are looking for... but keep on looking, you will find it eventually, where you will fit right in.

[BlownLS7]

reading the early parts of this thread brought back memories of my first HSV,was a beautiful Grange 1997 model ,and i had it delivered from HSV on Gas,as i was doing 130 k a day just for work.i loved this car unfortunetly i was going through rear tyres every 11 k,they just got chewed out,however here are the specs and indeed i did have sunroof standard.
cheers re paul

Here were the specs

Grange:
Engine : 5.0-Litre. V8
5.7-Litre. V8
Transmission : 4-speed auto (standard)
Power : 185kW at 4,800rpm
215kW at 4,800rpm
Torque : 400Nm at 3,600rpm
475Nm at 3,600rpm

Available with 5.0 litre 185kW or 5.7 litre 215kW fuel injected V8 engine.

Automatic transmission.

Low restriction stainless steel exhaust system (with twin catalytic converters on 215i).

Boulevarde suspension tuning package (optional Touring suspension package).

Independent rear suspension.

Hydratrak speed sensitive fluid coupling limited slip differential (with 215i only).

HSV premium four wheel power disc brakes (optional with 185i).

Anti-lock braking system (ABS).

Sports alloy wheels with premium 17 inch 225/55ZR17 tyres.

Large chrome tipped exhaust (dual chrome tipped exhaust with 215i).

Glencoe sports front seat design with standard leather trim or optional Keppel Fabric.

Power rack and pinion steering.

Four spoke leather covered steering wheel with telescopic adjust.

Electronic cruise control.

Trip computer.

250 km/h speedometer.

Electronic climate control maintains cabin comfort.

Sound system and 10 stacker CD player.

Front and rear power windows.

Driver and passenger airbags.

Luggage restraint system.

Analogue clock.

Alarm system.

Fire extinguisher.

Standard sunroof.

Dual horns.well triple if you include the one i got everythime i looked at it.

[chevypower]

Did yours have the woodgrain stickers on the dash too? That was the most obvious flaw, the rear suspension bottoming out with three passengers in the back wasn't the most refined experience, every bump in the road, and the electrical problems all bring back bad memories, and not winning a drag against a Magna 3.5L V6 didn't help. But the engine did make a lot of noise, and the wheels made it look pimp at the time, so that part was ok.