NOT buying another Calais

[CalaisOwner]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

[cams290]

The joys of owning a late model car !
Thank the lord you dont own a Beemer or a Benz, you would of been up for that amount of $$$ with disc rotors and a brake pad change at 30,000k's

[VooDoo]

So in 8 years of driving you have had approx $3000 in repairs... DAMN, i want that car.

I cant see anything that is unusual or anything other than wear and tear.

Personally i smell a troll. Did you sign up here just to bag Holdens and tell everyone not to buy a VE?

[seedyrom]

LOL!!! obviously you're a f_cking retard, or from Holden's PR Department .
$1350 in repairs after 7 years, not 5 years, you dumb sh!t (you didn't proceed with quote from point 3. ... most likely cause you suffer from a lack of grey matter).

That's a friggen bargain.

makes me think this thread is a wind up to encourage sales.

Go tne VE CALAIS!!!!

[SSBarney]

OMFG what a lemon:confused:
U have had ur car for 8 years and had to fork out on $3,050 on repairs, $381 a year, shit that was expensive motoring....NOT Just a little tip, they aren't actually made to last for ever no one ever said that.
If u want transport that doesn't cost buy a bike:bravo:
and be honest with ur self have many vehicles are going cost u mothing in repairs over 8 YEARS???

[SSBarney]

So in 8 years of driving you have had approx $3000 in repairs... DAMN, i want that car.

I cant see anything that is unusual or anything other than wear and tear.

Personally i smell a troll. Did you sign up here just to bag Holdens and tell everyone not to buy a VE?

I think he must have signed up just to support Holdens, what a fantastic 8 years of motoring you have had.
Thanks for showing how great the VT-VZ 's have been, i'm sure the VE will be even better.

[Danv8]

Game of Shenanigans anyone?

Around $3000 in repairs in 8 years WOW!

[MTC]

LOL!!! obviously you're a f_cking retard, !

I Second that!!! if that's all you have had wrong in 8 years. YOU have nothing to complain about.

[jamesd]

Wow, cheap motoring! You've got nothing to complain about, think of the people who own euros that are expensive to run!

@SSBarney push bikes will cost you money if you want to get technical :P you still have to mantain it, like greasing the chain, replacing small parts, getting new wheels/tyres.

The cheapest journey is one that is never made! :o

[Danv8]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.


Bloody hell!
Could be worse a mate had a BA ute and only had it for 12 months and had twice as many faults and problems and was costing him twice as much money because he was losing business because he didn't have a reliable ute has now a Hilux and is still trying to break even from his losses.

With your 8 year old Calais and thats "all" that has really gone wrong with it?.

And complain about it?.
Sheesh.

[SSBarney]

:lol:
Wow, cheap motoring! You've got nothing to complain about, think of the people who own euros that are expensive to run!

@SSBarney push bikes will cost you money if you want to get technical :P you still have to mantain it, like greasing the chain, replacing small parts, getting new wheels/tyres.

The cheapest journey is one that is never made! :o
Yep me no too dumb and no fings need money stuff:lol:

So all ur saying is Mr Calais owner is an unresonable wingher which we all had worked out already.

[Glenn@Autowerks]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

I do see this is your 1st post on the forum, in future I wouldn't post anything else if I was you, as most have commented....you have done quite well :yup:

[Danv8]

I do see this is your 1st post on the forum, in future I wouldn't post anything else if I was you, as most have commented....you have done quite well :yup:


LOL
You know the sayings about first impressions.
You only make one and if you blow it then ya stuffed. :)

[Aus8]

Mate you dont have it too bad. Half the members on here have had more than twice the amount of problems that you have had with our LS1's!

Aus8

[seldo]

:lmao: Imagine if he'd bought a euro...!!!! His 8 years motoring costs could easily be a single service cost.... What a wanka.... I guess it's back to the old AU for you...

[Holden Nut]

Obviously such problems are limited to Calais and only Calais therefore stay away people! :rolleyes:

[Ghosn]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

Err, what the hell does any of that have to do with a VE Calais anyway? You could probably never afford one anyway.

[vyssbeast]

good point, none of those problems are at all related to it being a calais
a VE calais or ss or berlina is an entirely different car
if your making your judgement on that one car that gave you such a hard time (poor fella) then maybe a yearly metcard might do the trick

[pteropid]

Sh1t mate, lucky it's not an Alfa Romeo, the first (and last one) I owned cost me that over 18 months, just to keep it on the road. Couldn't get rid of it quick enough...

...cars break over time, some are expensive to fix, some are not. Yours is NOT.

[ReMiX]

brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.



Holy shit! Your VT Calais has drum brakes?!


Really, You could even complain that you've had to service it .. Or should I assume you havent serviced it since you've owned it since you didnt cry about that too?


Please put on your favourite cardigan, Visit your closest Toyota dealership and buy a Camry while you still can because it would simply be best for everyone invloved if you didnt own a Holden.

:)

[Tonner]

Fair Dinkum, hey, ? a Put on ? :confused:

[monaroCountry1]

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

$3,000 in 8 years in my book would be very lucky. Ive owned Holdens and know that its repairs are far cheaper than most performance Japanese/ Europeans.

Heck Ive gone through around 7-8k in repairs for my Nissan 300zxTT within the first 9 months of ownership. Try around 4k for gearbox, and 1.6k for radiator, plus a whole bunch of preventative maintence and electrical gremlins. Not to mention the $100+ hourly labour for those rare mechanics willing to work on the car.

Im broke right now because of my cars. Within the last 2 weeks ive had to get radiator replaced (1.6k) for the nissan zed, rego for zed ~900, rego for ford ~600, service for my holden $250, $2k excess for my sisters pulsar (wrote it off last week), $2k 100k service for my zed, and $300 for the installation of my exhaust.

[INSINR8R]

I'm sure what he meant to say was he bought an AU Falcon but is too embarrassed to tell us, so replaced AU Falcon with VT Calais...

[Danv8]

CalaisOwner got owned.:lmao:

[spuddamonaro]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

consider yourself lucky mate. perhaps a Getz would be more suited to ya!:flip3:

[BlueVZSS]

Do you still have it because I'd be interested in taking this "lemon" of your hands.:lmao:

[Swordie]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.

If the car is a V6 with average Kms I would of expected less to go wrong. I have 85000 Kms on mine and I have only paid for servicing, pads and tyres. Being a VT I’m no expert on what usually goes wrong.

If you want guaranteed reliability people usually pick Toyota.

[CalaisOwner]

I bought a brand new VT Calais in '98. For the first three years with 48000Km, I had no major problems with it. However, quality took a drastic turn from then on.
1) In '02, while driving to work, the car began to shake and lose power while I was a few hundred metres from my office. When I reached the office car park, the engine died. I couldn't get it to re-start. Roadside Assist could not start it up too. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY! Guess what the problem was? It turned out that one of the inlet valve springs had broken and caused the engine to lose power. Total labour and parts cost - $300.
2) Two months after the incident above, while driving the car, the front of the car made a loud clunking noise especially when going through a hump. It sounded like something was hanging loose from the undercarriage. Guess what the problem was? The front sway bar link had broken off. Total labour and parts cost - $150.
3) In '03, during a scheduled service, the technician found out that both the rear main motor and power steering pump were leaking. I got a quote that it was going to cost me $1300 to fix the motor leak and $400 to install a new pump.
4) In '05, the TC, ABS and other warning lights on the cluster were flashing like crazy. Guess what the problem was? The ABS unit had malfunctioned and had to be replaced at a cost of $800. Also the front gas struts holding the bonnet were kapuk and had to be replaced at a cost of $100. I was fortunate to notice the bonnet slowly "going down" from a safe distance and that my head was not under it!
5) Other things that had gone wrong during the past 5 years were: changed faulty remote keys twice, traction control lights came on twice and ECU had to be reset on each occasion, brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.

So would I buy the new VE Calais?
The answer is obviously NO.


Yes, the repair bills for items 1) to 4) amounted to $3050. All scheduled servicings over the past 8 years amounted to $5600. However, I'm already on my FOURTH set of tyres and the odo only reads 132,400 km. I must have paid between $2000 to $2300 for all the tyres. The car is only used for driving to and from work, weekend shoppings, and has never been driven interstate. The average fuel consumption for city driving is always 16 litres / 100km.

I would not buy another Calais. There's too much to lose in resale value and maintenance and servicing costs beyond the warranty period are exorbitant.

[Jargle]

sounds like a classic case of scaremongering, what's a few minor problems on an 8 year old car got to do with a brand new car.:moon:

[seldo]

I bet your email address is xxxxx.gov.au

[markone2]

I would not buy another Calais. There's too much to lose in resale value t.


You should thank yer lucky stars it was not a Fairmont from the Dark Side...you purchased in 98

[OLS108]

You Join LS1.com.au... to tell everyone that ur 5Lt ( NOT even an LS1) was a shit car ????

Post this shit at Fordforums they love this shit over there:booty:

[Nutter]

I think this thread is crap with no point in responding......but with that said who can miss a good flame.... so heres my turn, try playing your:nopity:then get back in your box:whip:

[Jac001]

Yes, the repair bills for items 1) to 4) amounted to $3050. All scheduled servicings over the past 8 years amounted to $5600. However, I'm already on my FOURTH set of tyres and the odo only reads 132,400 km. I must have paid between $2000 to $2300 for all the tyres. The car is only used for driving to and from work, weekend shoppings, and has never been driven interstate. The average fuel consumption for city driving is always 16 litres / 100km.

I would not buy another Calais. There's too much to lose in resale value and maintenance and servicing costs beyond the warranty period are exorbitant.

If it is 5L V8 the the fuel consuption is about right. Your should have bought the V6 :lmao:

and if your servicing costs were exorbitant then i suggest that your dealer was ripping you off, as the servicing price doesn't suddenly get more expensive once the warrentee expires.

Your $5600 over 8 years should be over 16 services (2 per year) which is $350 per service on average. Which is about right.


$2300 for 4 sets of tyres is pretty good ($2300/16 = ~$145/trye) as some of the guys here are paying that just for 1 set and not getting anywhere near 30,000 ks per set.

I think it is odd you would come onto a holden website to try and convice people not to buy another holden based on your experience, you are either very nieve or a troll....

[Swordie]

Yes, the repair bills for items 1) to 4) amounted to $3050. All scheduled servicings over the past 8 years amounted to $5600. However, I'm already on my FOURTH set of tyres and the odo only reads 132,400 km. I must have paid between $2000 to $2300 for all the tyres. The car is only used for driving to and from work, weekend shoppings, and has never been driven interstate. The average fuel consumption for city driving is always 16 litres / 100km.

I would not buy another Calais. There's too much to lose in resale value and maintenance and servicing costs beyond the warranty period are exorbitant.

There's a thread here discussing second-hand VY Calais. They can be picked up below 20K which sounds like a good deal to me. The VY Calais is one the best buys going around second hand as they have done some heavy depreciating.

As fuel goes the six use more in stop start especially if average speed is below 30Km.

By the time VY 3.8 was released it was pretty well sorted car. The VT did suffer from premature tyre ware and was the first of the generation.

[vecommo]

So you join here just to post up a pointless whinge? ALL cars cost money to service and maintain, there is no car in the world in which all components are made to last forever. I think the problem is that you don't know how well off you are and are just clutching at straws.
And if you think it is any better on the dark side read THIS http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=689
Makes your problems sound like a drop in the ocean.
And what has the VE got to do with it? You are advising people not to buy one based on some issues you have had with an almost 10 year old VT. Gimme a break.

[BOF crewman X8]

brakes still squealing even after brake pads changed and drums machined a few times.
.

Ahh the VX Calais with the drum brakes.

Pretty good going in my opinion, I am surprised you are not annoyed at having to have the thing serviced also, bloody Holdens fancy having to service a car and it cost money, not the mention that you have to keep paying to fill the thing up with fuel, HOLDEN it's just not good enough!

Your a dipshit:flip3:

[VY_SS_Commodore]

Geez, only on your 4th set of tires since 1998. Tell you what, you must drive like an old batty or something.

I am lucky if a set of tires last me 4 months on some occassions!!!:lmao:

[XLR8 V8]

Some of the personal attacks are going too far .... thread closed.