VZ S Ute - What to expect?

[Lemon]

Hi,

I'm new to these forums, but am looking to be a VZ S Ute owner in the near future.

I was wondering what everyone would expect to pay for one of these brand new? And whether there is anything I should know before going out and buying one?

Thanks

[Troy711]

expect problems haha

[Lemon]

:my: That wasn't the response I was looking for..

[Aggro_VE]

Ummmm hate to say it but it's true, you have a very fitting username :lol:. Plenty of blokes here with VZ utes, if their true blue holden boys, they will love their ute reguardless . IMO try and snap up a Storm if you can, far better value than the S pack. When they speak of problems, mainly fuel gauge issues and a few little other annoyances. C'mon guys post ya thoughts good and bad, give lemon as much info as you can, then he can decide from there.

[Lemon]

Thanks

[Ganzer]

Hi, I have a s ute which was built in the 4 month it's got six speed, holden "L" series mags and i have not had any problems at all. however it seem to have some software left out, namly rev limter, as i have holden tech as a mate and we went for run so i could show him that it wont cut out when it hits seven grand in first gear like it should. all so, not supporting street drag racing but raced a XR6 turbo and lost him pulling second to third gear. so i'm happy with mine.
have list of things done
ss induction glower kit
pacemaker headers and staight through 2 1/2"
pedders sports rider spings
full sound system
tint windows
rhino guard spray

[Big_J]

I have the VZ Storm, panther mica with 'L' Series HBD mags and HBD hard tonneau cover. I agree with ShanghaiVZ, if you can find a Storm, grab it. It goes for the same price as the S pac and the extras are definately worth grabbing, plus it is a limited edition so resale should be better than a standard S. I am having fuel gauge problems, but apart from that I LOVE my ute!!!

[fenderslash]

I also have a new storm, with the 175 motor and 6sp manual. In general I love the car, except for two issues. One is the fuel gauge problem (see another thread for bulk info on that one). The other is that I'm disappointed with how the engine performs at low revs. I used to drive around in a Holden 304 V8 with very similar power (on paper), but in comparison the Storm feels like it couldn't pull a greasy stick out of a dog's ass at low revs. Once it gets above 2000rpm it's good though. Like I said, I love this ute, but I think next time I'd go for a V8.

[Lemon]

Thanks for the feed back.

I would also appreciate if you could post what price I should look to pay for a New VZ S Ute, they are priced $32,990 + on road costs RRP, can they be worked down to $31,000 + orc or $29,000 + orc??

Thanks,

[Ausblonde]

Hi Guys,

I recently bought a new Silver VZ SS Ute, well i've had it for 4 weeks now. I am so dissappointed in it, its being resprayed by Holden in the coming weeks, one of the conpartments didnt open, the vibration when you got over 100 was like sitting on a washing machine. Any ideas as to what i can get outta them as compo?? I mean its a brand new car and its been to the service department twice i think i deserve something for my efforts. You certainly dont expect these type of problems with a $45k car.

Claire

[commodore_vy]

mine vibrates like crazy...holden said that it was due to wheel balancing...but yet to take it on the open rd again

[steane]

I've got an 04 VZ 6 speed S. I paid $28,600.00 on the road, it came with an 04 plate discount, a dealer discount and a demo discount. Shop around as some guys are paying mid 30's + and its not worth it for a car that the trade is currently paying low 20's for used... You will do your balls.
It's the same story with any car, not just Holden utes, the second hand car trade is getting worse on a daily basis as we all flock to buy new cars...so be careful. A ute is one of the better ways to go. Sedans are worse again.

Aside from the fuel gauge issue it hasnt given me any problems and although I have criticised it in other threads, the alloytec is loosening up and is starting to feel quite grunty. Pity about the exhaust note. The rest of the car is just a car. Same as you'll get from the rest of the Holden or Ford range. Nothing wrong with it but nothing special either.

[Troy711]

mine vibrates like crazy...holden said that it was due to wheel balancing...but yet to take it on the open rd again

now that you mention it, mine seems like it is getting that way. i was thinkin i needed a wheel balance but now im not so sure...

[commodore_vy]

now that you mention it, mine seems like it is getting that way. i was thinkin i needed a wheel balance but now im not so sure...

All fixed....just needed balancing in the rear really BAD.....


But tis all good now....my VZ has done 25 000kms and yeah they loosen up heaps....and the auto gets better too...

[Troy711]

better, mine seems to be getting worse. it feels rough as guts and sometimes feels like it flares when it shifts down when i accelerate... *confused look*

[steane]

better, mine seems to be getting worse. it feels rough as guts and sometimes feels like it flares when it shifts down when i accelerate... *confused look*

Personally, I'd avoid the old 4 spd auto. It doesnt work well behind the alloytec and the fuel consumption is way worse than with the manual. The 6spd manual is a great gearbox, smooth, easy to use and a proper 6 spd, not like the agricultural light truck box (tremec) behind the V8. It is in my opinion the best part of the VZ.
We run VZ one tonner autos in Ballarat but are selling them as they are just shocking things. Average fuel economy with the auto is 15 ltr/100 ++ and nobody likes driving them. They feel gutless and strained.
We havent had any problems with any of the utes aside from the fuel gauge which is stuffed in all of them.
And as I mentioned before, dont pay too much. Dont get excited and pay top dollar for a car you have to order. Get a demo or go "nearly new" secondhand. Trade-price for the one tonners is $21,000.00 and thats for a car that was 30k+ new and is now only 6 mths old with less than 20,000 klms on it. The S's are only getting a few thousand more...SO BUY WELL!

[rossco01]

hey wgs 150, i was looking at buying a VZ S ute very soon and was wondering how much those HBD mags cost and what does it sound like with that exhaust? and holden say the utes braking system is affected when it is lowered, have u found this to be true? they say the rear wheels lock up in the wet under hard braking, how much did u pick urs up 4? cheers ,mate

[commodore_vy]

15 ltr/100 ++

WTF are you doin to the beast.....


Im runnin an average of 14L in the city and im not a light foot either....a set of tyres in 20 000kms will tell you that


on the freeway even with a 1.2tonner boat and a try full of fire wood and 100kms an hr im only runnin 16L per 100kms........so what ever your doing to achieve 15l/100 is a bit abnormal

[steane]

WTF are you doin to the beast.....


Im runnin an average of 14L in the city and im not a light foot either....a set of tyres in 20 000kms will tell you that


on the freeway even with a 1.2tonner boat and a try full of fire wood and 100kms an hr im only runnin 16L per 100kms........so what ever your doing to achieve 15l/100 is a bit abnormal

Nothing abnormal about it. We run two of them in Ballarat. They are generally driven lightly. They are without doubt the biggest peices of crap any of us (6 guys) have ever had the displeasure of driving. We also run a manual ford au ute and there is usually a mad dash to grab its keys and avoid the commodores.
I run a VZ S manual and it is a completely different driving experience to the auto one-tonners that we have, better than the ford as well.
Just our experiences. As of yesterday we have sold both one-tonners and despite losing plenty of $'s we are glad to see the back of them.

[Troy711]

hehe.. add brake shudder to the list of problems

[commodore_vy]

im thinkin you and i have a very similar problem troy771....


how many kms u done....ive got just over 22 000km ATM...

and have a very small break shudder...annoying but can live with it...

[Troy711]

ive got around 9000 kays on the clock. it started about 100 kays ago. im in 2 minds about it... do i take it back now and complain, or do i wait till its so bad you cant drive it and (maybe) get em to chuck 2 new tyres on it too

[general]

Has anybody had any problems with very poor fuel economy when towing in a V6 Crewman. When driving on the highway I am getting about 8.5 to 10 l/100klm but when I put on a trailer it can run up to 25 to 30 l/100 km. Bit of a problem when my wife and kids cannot do a 100 klm return trip on a tank of fuel. Don't ask about the fuel gauge problems. Being a country driver we don't rely on it. Was thinking about fitting 2 Hiclone and performance exhaust, air filter to increase fuel economy. Has anyone had any luck with these mods or could this be a fault that the engine management system is not detecting. Love the car but the fuel economy thing is starting to be getting a bit annoying. Forgot to mention, when I rang Holden about it the young fella on the Phone said other people were having the same problem but two seconds later said that Holden knew nothing about it.

[Lemon]

Thanks for the input from every one, think I'm going to hold off for now and see what happens with the new VE, when released. Sounds like there more trouble than their worth at the moment, and now with Fuel Prices being so high will be interesting to see what holden does with the engines economy.

Thanks,

[tim85]

I've been driving an SV8 now for about 2 weeks, and done just on 900kms. Averaging 13.7l/100km, and driving it reasonably.

I've noticed the brake shudder getting worse, and vibrations through the steering wheel at 100kmh.

Seems to be a problem with VZ. The fuel gauge is frutrating , but i'm getting used to it now.

It seems to correct itself as you go along, depending upon what angle that you park on, the gauge will show high or low when you start up, and then correct itself as you go along.