Hingo's VZ Calais

[shanghaivzcalais]

holdenonn....i just came back from WA driving the calais,i did over 10000 kays in 3 weeks an hardly used any oil an had no trouble with it at all a beautiful car to be in across the nullabor..,but my passenger seat shakes an i have a few rattles here an there after that trip...

[hingo1983]

just a question to u guys,wat do ya's think of the shanghai colour on the calais,u know the dark red i think that is the best colour out of any of em,i was guna go 4 the martini but that was 2 common,i got mine in june last year 4 $28000 all up then 2 months later they were down 2 $22 $23 grand,so thats a bit dissapointing...

I would have bought one in Shanghai. Its not my favourite colour but it isn't bad. I must say that that white, blue and silver are my favourites in the Calais. Black is also not bad. That silver/blue colour that it came out with is awesome. I definitely did not want one in Martini. I don't think it is an awful colour but its just not my cup of tea.

I plan on driving to Tasmania and back later this year. Thats going to rack up the K's but I'm not too worried. I plan on owning it for a long time anyway.

[VZCalZone]

I've got the Shanghai and when its clean and waxed it looks bloody impressive. Dirty, meh. Same with any colour I suppose. I wanted black but at least I got the tan interior.

[shanghaivzcalais]

VZCalzone...awesum its good to see sumone finally has the same colour combination as mine,its rare to even see the shanghai ones let alone ones with the bone leather,you guna keep yours stock standard,all i want to do to mine is put in a decent xenon hid headlight system an that basically all i want,i think cars look better factory standard not spoiling a car with all the crap...

[shanghaivzcalais]

hingo...just going back to what you said when you were looking around 4 your calais,about having trouble finding one in ACT,when i was looking around 4 mine in early 08 in victoria the amount of vz calais with ex ACT plates was amazing,nearly everyone i looked at, at dealers an auctions was from canberra,all ex politicians cars...apparently my one that i have was a follow car for prime minister john howard so my ones got sum good history...my point is i think victoria has taken all the act's calais, when they were trading em an getting the ve's,because in melb you see heaps of em...so yeah just thought id post that

[hingo1983]

You see plenty of them in ACT. They seem to be the govvy workers car of choice, myself included

You are probably right there though ShanghaiVZCalais, I'd image a lot of them were ex-government cars and they would be sold at auctions all over the place. Mine however was bought from a dealer here in ACT when it was new and I think it has only had one owner.

[Calaber]

just a question to u guys,wat do ya's think of the shanghai colour on the calais,u know the dark red i think that is the best colour out of any of em,i was guna go 4 the martini but that was 2 common,i got mine in june last year 4 $28000 all up then 2 months later they were down 2 $22 $23 grand,so thats a bit dissapointing...

I love Shanghai. When I first went looking at Calais with a view to buying one, the first one was a Series 2 VY in Shanghair with black leather - it won me over instantly but the other half is not a lover of deep reds (and the dealer wasn't interested in offering a reasonable trade either), so we continued our search.

I'm interested to see that a number of you guys have said you're not fans of Martini. I really like my Martini Berlina/Calais, (even though it must be the most common colour on VY's), but if my car was Shanghair, I would be stoked. Love the colour.

If there is one thing that can be said for the VY 2 (not the Series 1 - that Series was very boring in appearance) and VZ Calais, it's that they really look classy and are obviously the luxury short wheelbase version of their respective models.

The VE Calais and even the Calais V are too underdone for me. The basic VE design is sound, but I think the Calais are too close to the basic Omega in appearance and lack the addition styling features and finesse in the design that spell out "Calais".

[hingo1983]

Yeah I agree Calaber. I parked my car next to a VE Calais at a Hotel in Wollongong when I was there for a mates wedding a few months back and compared them side by side. I am biased but I though the VZ was a better looking car overall. The lower lips and skirting that made the Series 2 VY and VZ stand out seems to be missing from the VE. I still think the VE is a nice car but it just needs more to differentiate it from the Omega. Unfortunately the VE Calais driver "doored" my car several times before attempting to drive off. I wasn't impressed.

[eXphoid]

You car is freaking nice
And that cream interior turns me on

I love how it's so clean and simple.

[jazza_mate]

The vz calais have the 5 speed auto don't they? Do they have the steering wheel paddles like the sv6's?

[Fishman88]

The vz calais have the 5 speed auto don't they? Do they have the steering wheel paddles like the sv6's?

yes they do!!

[jazza_mate]

*sighs*..... one day, one day haha

[hingo1983]

The vz calais have the 5 speed auto don't they? Do they have the steering wheel paddles like the sv6's?

Yep and I rarely use them. The only time I touch them is on steep downhill sections where they are quite handy.

[Surfwagon]

Nice VZ Calais and good on you for leaving the body and wheels stock as they look great just as they are.
If you were to change the wheels but wanted to keep the same theme you could fit some 19" VY Senator Sigs.

[hingo1983]

Thanks surfwagon. I'm happy to keep it stock for now but Sigs do look nice if I ever went for an alternative.

I snapped the lid catch on the small storage compartment in the centre console last night cleaning the interior. I could have murdered somone. It seriously looks like a pain in the arse to replace. Any other Calais owners had to replace this? I'm talking about the little storage comparment where the cup holders are on the other models like Executive.

I made up a replacement catch with super glue, cable ties and whatever else I could find and it is back in working order but its more of a temporary fix. Looks like you would have to dismantle the whole centre console to replace it.

[[JUDGE]]

nice car mate!!

go the vz's !

[Surfwagon]

It is attached to the centre top piece that can be pulled up separately from the rest of the console.
That little compartment is screwed in from the bottom.
Pull up the centre by grabbing the back section in front of the console lid and give it a quick but not to hard yank up wards.

[hingo1983]

Thanks again surfwagon, I'll give it a try.

[Surfwagon]

Thanks again surfwagon, I'll give it a try.

Forgot that before you lift up the centre there is a little screw at the front under the lower spring loaded pocket in front of the shifter.
Pull out the rubber mat and the screw is off centre towards the drivers side.

[06vzcalais]

Looks good but I don't like the rims. I know you don't want aftermarket stuff so maybe some other holden rims?

i do think the silver on silver is a bit much, powder coated black would be sex
looked good on mine however the previous owner didnt know how to park (scuffed the crap outta em)

[06vzcalais]

Thanks surfwagon. I'm happy to keep it stock for now but Sigs do look nice if I ever went for an alternative.

I snapped the lid catch on the small storage compartment in the centre console last night cleaning the interior. I could have murdered somone. It seriously looks like a pain in the arse to replace. Any other Calais owners had to replace this? I'm talking about the little storage comparment where the cup holders are on the other models like Executive.

I made up a replacement catch with super glue, cable ties and whatever else I could find and it is back in working order but its more of a temporary fix. Looks like you would have to dismantle the whole centre console to replace it.

welcome to the calais club lol i think we all have snapped that catch, mines still broken but i just took out the spring mechanism so it stays closed
watch the little storage compartment behind the centre console below the passengers air vents the hinges get brittle and break also

[hingo1983]

Got defected last week for worn front tyres. Damn carpark warriors. Now I have to get a ****ing pink slip.