Early 05 Calais V.s LATE 05/06 Calais

[Super Coach]

I’m currently in the market for a VZ Calais, I nearly bought one the other day until the sales guy stuffed me around said the deal was done the car was mine only to ring back 10mins later to say sorry it was bought by someone else, long story he’s a wanker.

Anyway I need some info or a link which says what the differences are between and early 2005 VZ Calais and a later 2005/06 VZ Calais. I know I read something on here before but nothing comes up in the searches. I know at some stage changes did occur that the engines did drop their Kw, did this also apply to the 190 in the Calais? I’m only looking to purchase V6. I know the engine covers changed and the later 190 looked like an early 175. Also was anything else deleted to save money compared to a 04 model? Glove box light or auto dipping mirror comes to mind as things being deleted on later models as i think there was a heated topic on these issues but not 100% sure on it.

Any help would be great as I’m currently going off a 2004 VZ Brochure which I have.

[a1k3m1]

im guessing youve had a look at this website:

HERE

Not quite sure if it will tell you exactly what your after, but it tells ya some info on what different specs each model is..

[Super Coach]

Thanks for that infor a1k3m1, I will have a read when Im not so tired. Im sure after I have read it I will have some questions to ask.

I’ll just point out the things that I have noticed changed towards an 06 Model. Different engine covers, no more engine badging on the side (V6 Only) the red in the rev limit has disappeared on the cluster. Still not sure on other features, will have to try find a late 05/06 brochure to compare

[Super Coach]

Any VZ people out there know if the reverse dipping mirror or any glove box lights get deleted towards the end of the VZ Calais run? Also did the VZ Calais throughout its whole run retain both front power seats?

[Phyco]

Any VZ people out there know if the reverse dipping mirror or any glove box lights get deleted towards the end of the VZ Calais run? Also did the VZ Calais throughout its whole run retain both front power seats?

I can't comment on the Calais personally, but all the changes in your previous post occurred on the VZ Acclaim 2006 (No Red marker on Tachometer etc). The VZ Acclaim 2006 has a hole in the glove-box where the light should have been.

[VZCALAIS190]

I've got a March 05 built VZ Calais and both front seats are power operated, does have the redline red markers with both glove box and centre console lighting... although i have no idea if it has the auto reverse dipping mirrors... how can I find out if I have them or not?... I don't think they move when I engage reverse

[sircruisealotVS]

You (or any previous owners - if any) probably haven't programmed them to auto dip when reversing. All you need to do is adjust them whilst in reverse and save it - then ever time you engage reverse it dips the side mirrors.

[Super Coach]

I didnt know you could program the mirror to dip as I thought it would happen on its own. I know you can program the door locks to go down when drive is selected and unlock when you remove your key or put it in Park. Well I have seen some with out the redline and think it must be just a MY06 thing. Is there any disadvantage in buying an late 05 early 05 compared to a late 05 model eg after june 05?

[GAMBLR]

The dipping mirror is activated/deactivated by the 'M' programming button on the driver's seat. Place the car in reverse and press that button. The mirror will dip. Program it to your desired angle and hey presto! Putting the car in P/N/D will deactivate the auto dip, when in reverse it will recall that the dip is activated and the last settings of the angle of it.

[colgf]

I thought the main change in the later VZ V6's was the use of the "AlloyTech" V6 with Active Select Automatic (ie paddle switches on the steering wheel). Anyone else have input?????

[Buckd1ch]

I have an 04 vz sv6 and it's got active select in it. So unless Calais didn't get it
Until later I'm pretty sure all the 190's had A/S.

[peterrobo]

I have a January, 2006 built Calais V6 and it has all the niceties that existed in the earlier 2005 Calais. The reversing mirrors are included as is the glove-box light, active select for the 5 speed transmission, power operated front seats etc.

The main difference is that 2006 build vehicles were down 3 kw in engine power due to compliance with the later Euro emission specs (Euro 3 I think) hence the reason why Holden changed the engine covers from the ones that had "Alloytec 190" moulded into them and replaced them with plain covers that just had "Alloytec". Also the standard wheel/tyre combination was 17" x 8" rims fitted with 225x50x17 tyres.

The so-called leather trimmed seats are actually leather only on the faces where you sit and lean back. All other faces (sides, headrests etc are an imitation leather made out of vinyl with a webbed cloth backing. It's a pretty good imitation to the undiscerning eye but still it's a major cost cutter for GMH which puts it on a path of pissing-off many previously loyal Holden owners like myself.

[Super Coach]

When exactly did the 190kw drop the 3kw? As I have noticed some built after Jul 05 have the engine badge missing by the indicator light and that three styles of engine covers exist before any 06 model were built. I also know that there are MY06 when exactly did they start building/referring to them as this? I have included 3 photos of the different covers.








The last photo shows that (correct me if I am wrong) the intake where the air is feed into the engine looks to be a cast alloy and is silver down the middle where the Holden logo sits and the first photo is all black which shows the same parts in black but looks plastic where the Holden logo is sitting, is it really plastic as to me the later motor looks to be made out of better material? I could be wrong here, any helpful comments appreciated.

That’s an interesting point you make about the leather seats. Have they been like this from the first 04 VZ model or something Holden introduced in 2006 to save some coin?