Buying an Adventra, any ideas.

[CossieAnt]

Hey guys, long time reader, first time poster. Am in the process getting of an Adventra. Been reading on the threads about them, and a bit concerned about the high fuel economy, transmission isssues, steering issues, brake line issues, roofrack rails?. Im looking at one for $27,000 black on black LX8 80k on the clock. For the guys that have them, have you overcome these issues? The missus really wants it but im just a bit concerned. Does it wear the front tyres out or anything like that. What mods first up to do? Will be getting, monaro bonnet, throttle body, exhaust, cold air, tune, maybe brakes oh and lowered perhaps. Is there a way of getting a better transmission in there like a 5 speed auto perhaps.

Id prefer just to get a VZ wagon, but they are harder to get for what we want.

Any help would be absultely appreciated. The fuel thing is the biggest, compared to 2wd wagon sort a thing.

cheers Anthony

[Woodman]

Howdy Anthony,
I currently have a VYII LX8, and I must say its the most comfortable Holden I've every owned. The only issue I had with mine was the black paint on the roof rails, and a battery that died when the car was about a week old. Both fixed under warranty. I'm about to trade it in, as I need a 6 cyl due to moving house and having an hour to drive to work. If your interested mines Turbine with Tan leather, 36,000 kms looking for $29K. I'm going to miss it, especially the sunroof, but thats life i guess.
Cheers
Woody.

[CossieAnt]

Hey Woody, thanks for the reply, i would be seriouly interested if it was Black, it has to be Black. The interior i can live with.

cheers Anthony

[MTC]

Hi Anthony I have a 04 LX8 Adventra in Black that My wife drives. its a great car We had the roof rails issue that was fixed under warranty. the brake line issue there was a recall last year & our brakes lines were changed free. Steering i've had no issues. transmission no issues. Mine has done about the klms your looking at to.

Mods yes the list you have sounds the go My Adventra has HM 4-1 stainless extractors, Difillopo twin 2.5inch exhaust, Sureflo OTR, Mafless tune, bigger brakes & VE 20's

Fuel yes is use's a bit more then a 2wd ls1 wgn. My daily driver is a VY SS wgn & i've previously had a VY LS1 berlina wgn aswell both use less the the Adventra.

Our Adventra Also runs on Sequential Vapour Injection LPG I had it done by APS dont loose any power on LPG & now its very cheap to run

[CossieAnt]

Thank Mike, ive had a good look at yours and what ur done looks the go, apart from the Lpg thing. Still looking, that the 05 model has 250kw and apparantly a better auto, but that neither here or there. theres a few on here that look the goods.

cheers Anthony

[planetdavo]

The main thing I would suggest, being a new user, is NOT to fall into the trap of reading all the threads, getting yourself all worked up, and over-worrying!
Trans is no better or worse than a regular wagon.
Brake lines had a recall.
All Commodore variants wear their tyres out fairly quick.
Steering "issues" is mostly just how they "feel", a rather subjective topic. Some front end clunks are fixed by modified bushes. Almost all have them fitted by now.
Fuel use. They weigh almost 2 tonne! Anything around that weight will use a bit of fuel, as you have to get that weight moving remember.
Most owners are pretty happy with them.

[vx350int]

in stock form they are pretty quick aswell...an adventurer in tassie ran a 14.3 in stock guise....

[TYREFRIAR]

we have on 04 LX8 and get around 12lt per 100km hwy, and around the mid 14's round town, its the wifes daily transport, does around 10,000km a year now, has 97,000km up.

We do get around 60-80km more per tank from BP ultimate or V - power.

Rof racks are an easy remove, sandblast and powdercoat fix, brake lines should be fixed on recall, and we dont have any tyre wear issues like same model commodores, and none of our customers do either [manager of a large workshop/wheel alighnment/suspension/tyre store in Geelong]

Nice, cruisy, calais wagon really.

[CossieAnt]

Thanks guys, yeh prolly worrying about nothing. I test drove one here, had 16k on the clock and they want $40k for it, But i took it for a little spin, and when i took off, i floored it, it hesitated for a while ( like spluttering) and then took off. Like it had a gout full of fuel, or was computer controlled not to take off hard. Is that normal for stck one?

cheers guys
Anthony

[planetdavo]

Sounds like traction control working on a VZ.

[streaty]

i too am looking at an Lx8 so i will be watching this thread closly :)

[large]

I have an Adventra Lx8 Turbine VYII. I have no problems in saying that it has been the best and most versatile car I have ever owned. Tows the ski boat like a dream. I don't know of a more comfortable Holden to drive.
It has to go soon and she will be sorely missed.

Just do it. You will not be sorry.

[possum22]

Some front end clunks are fixed by modified bushes. Almost all have them fitted by now.
Where do you get them? my strut bushes have been replaced by holden once, I'm starting to get the odd clunk every now & then.


Fuel use. They weigh almost 2 tonne! Anything around that weight will use a bit of fuel, as you have to get that weight moving remember.
An edit/tune will help some.

[Avalanche]

I have a turbine avalanche & it is going to be hard to part with when the new wagon comes out. I have just clocked 105,00km. Apart from normal servicing there were the rack issues as well as the brake recall. Not that there was anything wrong. As well as some sway bar bushes here & there. i also had the front control arm bushes done & these were a pain to do. tyres wear evenly allround & i average 30000km out of a set. Also if the steering feels a bit light & it tracks a bit then the steering rack will need tightening, a 2 minute job. That alone is the single best improvment i have done to the steering. Obviously it is heavy due to the wider front track. Mine was on the dyno early & pulled 198awkw, & i assume that an addy is going to be a bit short of that, but the only difference is bolt ons with hsv & maybe tune differences. My fuel ecconomy is around 14-16l/100 in town & low 11l/100 in the open. So my advice would be buy the lx8 & then do the intake & exhaust & tune to get the power where it should be then the ecconomy will follow. Also steer away from the cx version as it lacks the self levelling rear suspension, which, by the way works a treat. I think the avalanche & addy second hand offer one of the best opportunities for a base on which to mod & end up with a beast of an allrounder.
hope this helps

[HSV Listy]

Good luck on your search. IMO
Buy an avalanche. Quite rare and people still ask even today what is it. I got so sick of it when i first got it I put Avalanche Decals on it. They are a great bit of kit.
I drove a adventra for 3 days as a hire car but when I got the avalanche it seemed so much better. The exhaust noise, comfort and the feel on the road was way better. I am up to 25000km and still on the first set of tyres, no clunks or anything but the misses like the right foot so mine does about 18 to 19 l/100 around town. Only issue i have is the clock spring in the steering wheel ticks every now and then. Common with all models. Couple of warranty issues but they were sorted.
FYI two recalls, there should be a sticker on the inside of the drivers door near the hinge and another sticker inside the fuse box. Make sure you check this if you buy an adventra/avalanche. Maybe one was for the toe bar so if it has no toebar the drivers door one may not be there. Someone may confirm this.

I am even thinking about buying another one for me when the GTS gets retired to full time racer next year.
They look good too.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q298/bigtony20062007/NewImage10.jpg

[Knight Phlier]

Hi guys, can anyone tell me out of the SX6/LX6 and CX6 adventra's which ones had self levelling suspension? The missus wants one instead of a regular wagon and we will be towing a boat with this car. But my source says all three had it i thought it was only the LX6?

[Avalanche]

Chances are only the lx6 has it. I dont know where the sx6 comes in. It may be lower option wise than the cx or it may be in between the Lx & the Cx. Iwas sceptical of the self levelling suspension & was prepared to change the shocks & put polyairs in. but i do heaps of towing & it works great. I can always pick the cx addys when towing, they are the ones dragging the rear like a territory.

[The_Senator]

SX6 - Base model with Coth trim
CX6 - Middle Model with leather, and little bits of "Wood" finish
LX6 - Top of the Wazza with gauges, Leather, Subwoofer etc.. Calais like - and the one with Self Leveling suspension..

My partner has the CX6 - and she loves it. No problems (aside it not being a V8 - from my point of view) - great for towing, camping, soft-roading and for the price was a really really god buy.. And uses just 11litres /100km when driven by her - so not that thirsty. Though that is the ALLOYTEC Engine with the 5 speed auto..

[CossieAnt]

The LX seems the way to go, has nearly all the features u could want. Still in the pipeline for getting one. The avalanche is a bit dear for us.

cheers Anthony

[Pickles]

Saw a lovely Avalanche wagon at Booran Chelenham the other day--only done 35ks--thought the price was a bit steep at $51k, but it was a very original unit.
Cheers, Pickles.

[Oztrack Tuning]

These cars respond better to a tune than almost any other LS1. You can improve their fuel economy by over 3L/100km overall. There are some great cams to use in them as well that complement the package.

[ti0350]

Whats the difference between the VYII LX8 and the VZ LX8 apart from the extra 15kw, the reason being that we were looking at adventra's when we bought our SS but they were out of our price range now they have come down a bit the missus is having ideas..
So I am we love the SS but the Adventra is starting to seem more practical for us now..

[CossieAnt]

http://www.nextcar.com.au/n.holden.VZ.adventra.05feb.html

Smoother auto and better driveline apparantly.

cheers Anthony

[V8EST8]

The VZ as far as I can tell does not have the upgraded 4L65E auto so the smoother shifting they talk about may just be tuning which an aftermarket tune also fixes and you can get them to set it how you like. The vz also has a different bonnet, front bar & lights. The VZ should also have electronic throttle control which someone may comment on how much difference that makes or it may allow the traction control to work more effectively. Do you guys with VY's have heated mirrors & auto dip passenger side mirror when reverse selected? VZ had a few more electronic safety feature added but all appear to have gone to the V6 only. At the moment the 10k rough difference in second hand prices between VZ & VY does not appear worth it. Buy the bonnet, lights & bar if you must & get a tune and you will still have heaps left over.

[MTC]

Do you guys with VY's have heated mirrors & auto dip passenger side mirror when reverse selected? .

Yes My VYII LX8 Adventra does

[Avalanche]

same with vy avalanche.

[V8EST8]

when I compare specs on redbook I come up with these things being extra on the VZ but not on the VYII. Can the VY people confirm if they have any of these and remember there is a VZ(VYII). Climate Control 2 Zone, Control - Corner Braking, Control - Hill Descent, , , Courtesy Lamps - in Doors Front, Courtesy Lamps - in Doors Rear, , Drive By Wire (Electronic Throttle Control), , Electric Seat - Drivers with Memory, Electric Seat - Passenger with Lumbar, Footwell Lamps - Front, Footwell Lamps - Rear, Headlamps - See me home, Headlamps Automatic (light sensitive), Headrests - Active 1st Row (Front), Headrests - Adjustable 2nd Row x3, Map/Reading Lamps - for 2nd Row, Memory Card - with Remote, , Multi-function Steering Wheel Illuminated, Power Door Mirrors - Auto Dipping (Reversing), , Power Door Mirrors - with Memory, Premium Sound System, Scuff Plates (on door sills), , Seats - Anti-submarining 1st Row (Front), Skid Plate - Front, Skid Plate - Rear, Sports Instruments, Sports Seats - 1st Row (Front), Sports Steering Wheel, Stainless Steel Exhaust - Dual system, Strut Brace - Front, Subwoofer, , Tailgate with Opening Window,

i can't work out where an edit button is so i shall make it easier. VYII adventra (not hsv)owners can you let us know if your car has any of these:
1 dual zone climate control - left & right
2 lights in the bottom of the doors
3 headlights that come on when you unlock car with key
4 memory settings on side of driver seat
5 illuminated buttons on steering wheel
6 passenger side mirror dips down when you put car in reverse (seems vy hsv has this)
7 chrome sill plates on doorways
8 strut brace
9 active headrests (whatever that is)
10 light sensitive headlights
11 anti submarining seats
12 corner braking control

[GHZ28]

when I compare specs on redbook I come up with these things being extra on the VZ but not on the VYII. Can the VY people confirm if they have any of these and remember there is a VZ(VYII). , Control - Corner Braking, Control - Hill Descent, , , , , Drive By Wire (Electronic Throttle Control), Memory Card - with Remote, , Skid Plate - Rear,


OK, I deleted from above what my VY2 LX8 has, but remember that the ESC functions were only on the V6 engine models as far as I know.....the V8s never got hill descent etc, nor the 5 speed gearbox. Also consider the varying feature levels in the different models, SX, CX and LX are very different specifications

i can't work out where an edit button is so i shall make it easier. VYII adventra (not hsv)owners can you let us know if your car has any of these:
1 dual zone climate control - left & right VY LX8
2 lights in the bottom of the doors VY LX8
3 headlights that come on when you unlock car with key VY LX8
4 memory settings on side of driver seat VY LX8
5 illuminated buttons on steering wheel VY LX8
6 passenger side mirror dips down when you put car in reverse (seems vy hsv has this) VY LX8
7 chrome sill plates on doorways VY LX8
8 strut brace VY LX8
9 active headrests (whatever that is) VY LX8
10 light sensitive headlights VY LX8
11 anti submarining seats VY LX8
12 corner braking control Only VZ V6 had this



Cheers,

Garry

[V8EST8]

yes it was on LX8 sorry. Well looks like there is bugger all reason to get VZ unless electronic throttle control gives me a foot massage whilst I drive. I wish carsales, redbook etc would get there basic specs right. Would be handy if I could find holden catalogs to download but they don't seem to be anyware. Even the unofficial guides don't go into much detail. Dealers don't seem to know at least the ones I have chatted to. All i can do is find cars & check out for myself. Thanks Garry

[CossieAnt]

Well just brought an CX8 black with leather seats and fog lights. Will post pics in rides when i feel like it. Thanks for all the replys.

cheers Anthony

[ti0350]

Well just brought an CX8 black with leather seats and fog lights. Will post pics in rides when i feel like it. Thanks for all the replys.

cheers Anthony

Congrats on the new ride mate cant wait to see the pics..