How does VZ fare in overall reliability?

[pimpjuice]

Hi all,

Im sorry to ask this question, ive gone over this forum many times and there seems to be a few mixed reviews over VZ's general reliability.

I dont want to start a bashing thread or anything like that but I need to make a decision to purchase a wagon soon. Ive driven a few VZ sedan/wagons and they seem fine. My main reason to buy one is that:

1) Never had a commodore
2) The boot compartment in wagon is massive
3) Nice interiors and exteriors

Ive read here that people have had issues with diff clunk, alloytech rattle on start up which seem to be common etc so im pretty well informed. Some people even talk about warning lights on dash flashing randomly, central locking stuffing up etc.

Question is, that it seems some people dont really have issues while others have bad issues. Is it just luck of the draw?

Im having an absoloutly terrible run in my EL Fairmont and its reliability is disgusting. Cant wait to get rid of it.

I need to buy a car that will start everyday, take me to work with minimum fuss. I dont expect everything to work like a clock for the next 5 years, but dont want to be taking car in for a new power steering rack etc.

I know all cars have issues, but it seems that Commodore tend to have more than some. I am not a one eyed supporter of any car, but it just seems to be what I read out there.

[andyman]

pimp juice, just buy one, problems with cars on this forums make them look really bad, mainly because people with issues start looking for place like this to either winge and complain or ask advice,

alloytec rattle is on every vz alloytec, this is just piston rattle, because of the way the engines are built, it isnt a problem, its part of the design, the pistons are more oval shaped when cold, holden spec says approx 1.5 minutes

[88GreenVN]

My VZ alloytech has no rattle - or is that because I cant hear that well any more.

VZ issues. BCM stuff up, Diff may clunk and oil pressure switches die young.

All the dash related programming issues have all been sorted by now.

Good points for the VZ. Stops well, goes around corners well (for a family hack) driving position and seats are great. Economy is fantastic for a large v6.

I give the VZ 8.5 out of 10 for a family car. And now they are great value for money.

[plane driver]

I've had mine for 15 months and done 28,000 in it. So far so good. Haven't heard any rattles on start up. Only problem so far was an ever so slightly not tight enough clamp on the bottom radiator hose at the engine end and it was leaking a tiny bit under pressure. It lost about 3 litres of coolant over 6 months or so. There weren't any obvious puddles or drops on the driveway and it was picked up when I took it in for a service.
I had used several VR, VS and VT wagons from work (Telstra) and never had any trouble with them which is what made me go for the VZ I have now.