Holden or Ford?

**Ace** · 27th November 2006, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

The trade pays more for Commodores than for Falcons. Does this tell you something? Whatever we think of used car dealers and salesmen, they are pretty good judges of of a dog model or a dud make. I am driving a LR County-Isuzu because I am totally fed up with my late model Falcon ute. Repeated electronic failures, (2) main power relays, (2) electronic ignition modules, (1) Hall effect transducer, (2) ignition coils, (1) Vehicle management computer, (1) distributor cap, (2) sets ignition leads in 80000k's.
head gasket leaking water out the exhaust side at 130000k's. Told by machine shop I was lucky as no sign of traditional Ford design fault, ignored by Ford, corrosion in head between 5 & 6. New head is about $4000 in total. Told by machine shop that gasket leak occurs between 80000 and 150000. Cause is Ford use cheap s--t gaskets. The electronic failures, by the way, disable the car, and you require the services of a tow truck to get the car somewhere it can be diagnosed and repaired.

Go back to the future, get a car with carburettor and points, or a mechanical injection diesel, to get reliability and repairability.

In either case, Commodore or Falcon, you need to fit an additional trans. oil radiator and a trans. oil filter, plus an engine oil filter for heavy towing.

Commodores were good up until the end of the VT model line, from then on they have been crap. I had a VP 93 model V6 and did over 100000 trouble free km's, i bought it with 205000km and sold it with 333000 on the clock, only thing i did was a new fuel pump, clutch kit at 220000km (original clutch came out) and new front brake rotors thats it. The VZ commodore was the worst ever car sold in Australia for warranty recalls.

I only recommend the Falcon because they tend to be better towing vehicles than the commodores, but if it were just a daily street cruiser and was to do very little towing a VP, VR or VS wagon would be a good choice, its really 6 of one half a dozen of the other. If it were a new family car i would look no further than a BA XR6, awsome car, hold their value better than a standard falcon and look better. The new commodore looks ok, but i am waiting for the first warranty recall, holden stuffed up when they started putting oversized ****house american crap under the bonnets of their cars. Bring back the holden 5L V8 and add some technology, in this day and age a simple big V8 aint the answer. matt

**disco_nex** · 27th November 2006, 08:47 PM

As far as im concerned, go for the car that offers the most for the cheapest, has a good service record, all the usual. Unless you are a Holden or Ford man, it doesnt really matter. But i like Holdens!

**Quiggers** · 27th November 2006, 09:35 PM

An EL with service history.... interstingly all of my previous:

EA, EB, ED and AU have had gearbox oil coolers ex factory.....

not that I was seeking such.... they we're just there, the ED wagon also had a 'country pack' which was curious, tougher springs and a 1" lift, (still sagged after 300,000 ks, tho' (i'd have that back tomorrow, it was very good and pulled lotsa stuff at an average of 31 mpg over 160,000 ks)....

GQ

**Bigbjorn** · 28th November 2006, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Quiggers

.... interstingly all of my previous:

EA, EB, ED and AU have had gearbox oil coolers ex factory.....

not that I was seeking such.... they we're just there, GQ

The Service Manager at Bryan Byrt Ford told me they would not cover under warranty, failures they attribute to heavy towing. My race car on two axle trailer was in the "heavy" category. The standard car's tow rating is for a small single axle box trailer. They insist that an additional or larger trans. oil cooler and a trans. oil filter be fitted for heavy towing under warranty, and an engine oil cooler is recommended. This is for the 4 speed overdrive electronic controlled transmission.
A friend had his Turbo-hydramatic fail on a Commodore used for towing a horse float and the warranty claim was rejected, "not used in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations" and said recommendations were pointed out to him in the owner's handbook. Much the same requirements as Ford's above. He is now $3500 wiser.
Manufacturers are cost concious. If only a minor percentage of customers want to tow heavy trailers, then the cars are not built for this, thus saving a few dollars per vehicle. The onus being put on the customer to ensure the vehicle is fit for the intended purpose.
I wprked at GM-H when the early HQ's went into service. Dealers got numerous complaints about the rear ends sagging when a caravan was hitched up. The rumour mill amongst the unwashed and ignorant soon turned out the story that "coil springs are no good on the back". What was happening was that customers were buying vehicles from dealer stock that were bog standard and rated for towing 500kg. per handbook. Dealers and their sales people want to shift stock, not take forward orders. They want their profit and commission this month. There were the following factory fitted options available to make the cars suitable for heavier work, "heavy duty suspension", or "gross load package", and/or "Superlift ( air-bag) shock absorbers". Heavy duty or increased capacity radiators, alternators, batteries, wider wheels, severe service wheels, were also available. Customers rarely tell a salesman that they are going to put a 1 or 2 tonne caravan on the back, and the salesman would probably ignore any such statement as he wants to sell the car he has available right now, not one that will come off-line in two months. he may no longer be working there then.

**Ace** · 28th November 2006, 01:38 PM

Originally Posted by Quiggers

the ED wagon also had a 'country pack' which was curious, tougher springs and a 1" lift, (still sagged after 300,000 ks, tho' (i'd have that back tomorrow, it was very good and pulled lotsa stuff at an average of 31 mpg over 160,000 ks)....

GQ

My VP commodore also had a country pack fitted, this included a lift, and a hefty steel bash plate under the sump. Matt

**cartm58** · 28th November 2006, 01:42 PM

woman at work selling her commodore posted it in CCIWA staff email this morning, has pics on email can forward to you if you want to see
Auto, Air-conditioned, 17” Alloy wheels, CD-player, Body Kit, Sports exhaust, Full history of service, New tyres, Registration till 11/07, New transmission, Very Good Condition exterior and interior. Low mileage 140,000km

PRICE: $9990 negotiable

CONTACT: 0421725964

cartm58 1993 range rover

**Frenchie** · 28th November 2006, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by cartm58

woman at work selling her commodore posted it in CCIWA staff email this morning, has pics on email can forward to you if you want to see

Auto, Air-conditioned, 17” Alloy wheels, CD-player, Body Kit, Sports exhaust, Full history of service, New tyres, Registration till 11/07, New transmission, Very Good Condition exterior and interior. Low mileage 140,000km

PRICE: $9990 negotiable

CONTACT: 0421725964

cartm58 1993 range rover

Thanks for that but I'm really restricted to $4k max.

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