Sorted out, reliable Commodore: which model?

[Renaissance]

Seeking some advice as to the best model of Commodore 1998-2008.

We had a VS which served us exceptionally well: finally retired at 470,000 km's with honour! Because I knew the model so well I replaced it with almost exactly the same, VS Series 2 Equipe. Once again, this car is over 300,000 km's and I have no complaints. It seems that the VS is a well sorted out and reliable car, with few major issues.

I'm wanting to move to a newer model Commodore, but in a sense it is a risk. I know the VS, I know it's reliable, I know what I am getting.

So this is the question: what would those who know more than I do recommend as the best model from the 10 or so years following the VS?

Any advice welcome!

[aaronevolution]

VS was the last of the second generation Commodores, so by that theory, the VZ should be the best out of the third generation Commodores.

[Calaber]

VS was the last of the second generation Commodores, so by that theory, the VZ should be the best out of the third generation Commodores.

Not really. The VZ had a completely new engine and new autos and manuals in Calais and SV6. The VY was the last of the old Ecotecs and although it still suffered its share of maladies, it was a pretty well sorted car. The VZ suffers from some persistent problems related to the "new" mechanicals so, although I'm probably biased, I think the VY was the best of the period in question, so far as reliability goes.

[aaronevolution]

Fair point. I had a VY for 3 and a half years, and my current VZ is a much better car. Plus the VY will be 10 years old next year.

[DevilDRake]

My Vy does pretty well.. Haven't had any problems really besides the inlet manifold gasket going but it happened at 190xxx k's which is a pretty damn good effort.

[JustDylan]

Roller cam vt's are supposed to be solid.

[Phillshz]

Roller cam vt's are supposed to be solid.

Engine is fine,rest of VT S1 is not so good(they fall apart around you)
VZ like VS is the last of the generation and holden do manage to get right by the end,also VZ`s were given much more effort and TLC as holden was in full swing exporting them to south africa,middle east and USA(ever notice that monaro`s got the most attention from VY to VZ change) they had to have them done right to help get a good name overseas and sell as the US is where the money is at,unfornately the yanks just didn`t take to the monaro and it`s sales stalled.

[Trayner]

Stay with the vs man , Like you said ,
you know whats in it and that
parts are cheap
plenty at wreckers to get parts off if something happens
Lighter then the other cars that came after it

[edals]

Id go with a VX, They are the 3rd version of the VT IMO, both S1 & S2 VTs had issues. So the VX is like a 3rd version and have next to no known issues.
I got both a VX & VY, i have had to repair the VY more then the VX. The VX just Clicked 220k and still purring like a kitten.

But go here.

Faults - VT

This will show you every modal with all the common problems.

[ucwepn]

Yep i'll go with VX s2 pretty much a fully sorted VT.

[MikeCuzzy]

VT's are solid enough, but they suffer some problems, if you're forced to get a Series 1 VT, ensure it was built toward the pointy end of 98 - many of the bigger problems were sorted by then. I own the S1 VT, my advice is don't buy it, it was a the all new model and as you would expect has faults.

My Aunt has a VX, they are very good, all the body faults that plagued the VT were sorted out (terrible driver seats especially). They use the same good ol Ecotec which is a bit of a rough engine sometimes, but is indestructable if serviced regularly.

I have a mate with a VS, like you his has travelled many kms (460,000 at last count), so that's an option to go back to again if you want and they are DIRT cheap.

Finally VE, if you want to push your budget a bit. My Dad has a 2008 VE SV6, which he has piled very nearly 100,000km on in the last 18 months and so far hasn't skipped a beat. That's the high output Alloytec, and is a powerful engine that handles towing his boat very well (15 footer), and so far is very reliable.

If you can stretch your budget to a VE, they are better in almost every way than the earlier models. But VX/VY is you best bet for a compromise between cost/reliablity/features/body and engine quality.

[Renaissance]

Thanks so much everybody. Exactly what I was hoping for, reports from those who are driving them every day and know what to watch out for.

I don't think our $ will stretch to a VE, though I heard from someone else this week that they are recommended as big step up. As you've said MikeCuzzy it's a compromise and I think either the VX or VY might be the way to go. Although I might take the earlier advice and stick with the faithful VS! The Ecotec is such a good engine, as has been said, very reliable, my experience is as long as the oil and water is kept clean and topped up they pretty much look after themselves. I do a lot of k's from Mildura up to Broken Hill, down to Ouyen and out to Robinvale and Swan Hill, so I need to know the car can be relied upon to do these distances and keep on going.

Thanks for the advice.

[TMM]

If you want a reliable car do not buy a VE, nor an Alloytec.

Any LS1 or Ecotec powered Commodore, you can't go wrong .