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VE lemons

frednurke

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G'day,
I've just purchased a near-new VE Sportwagon after many faithful years of VS Wagon ownership without ANY dramas and am very disappointed with my purchase. I find I'm not alone with the pillar problem and have already had a few near-misses! But my main gripe is the heavy front-end and steering, it feels like I'm driving a ten-ton truck not a car. The steering is imprecise and wanders left-right, on a long drive it's a pain, just can't set the thing down the middle of the lane. Is it the wide tyres?
Give me my olde VS back anyday!
 

STEALTHY™

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The pillars dont make a car a lemon. Mechanical faults regularly make a car a lemon. Thats just bad design (and said to be one of the changed for the update/VF whatever)

The wandering thing just sounds like the tyres. Get a wheel alignment and/or new tyres, and see how you go.
 

jasonsv6

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sorry mate the thick pillars do not make it a lemon you drive the car if you can live with them then dont buy it.
the steering issue i i would get the tyres checked the ve have exelent balance expecialy in wagon form and shouldnt wander at all
 

mooks6669

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whatever you do champ dont take it back to a holden dealer to fix your wheel alignment if its a problem...i took my ss back 3 times in one day cos i wasnt happy with it, and had enough which led me to taking it to bob jane near home who have always corrected my cars perfectly....my advice get them to do it once (holden) and if not happy go to someone that actually specialises in alignments and have their equipment calibrated correctly!!!...good luck mate
 

UFO

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G'day,
I've just purchased a near-new VE Sportwagon after many faithful years of VS Wagon ownership without ANY dramas and am very disappointed with my purchase. I find I'm not alone with the pillar problem and have already had a few near-misses! But my main gripe is the heavy front-end and steering, it feels like I'm driving a ten-ton truck not a car. The steering is imprecise and wanders left-right, on a long drive it's a pain, just can't set the thing down the middle of the lane. Is it the wide tyres?
Give me my olde VS back anyday!

as already said, it sounds like your wheel alignment is out... I dont think it would be the tires.
but to open a thread titled VE lemons and state that you would prefer a VS wagon over an 09 VE is rediculously funny :).

the pillar thickness doesnt take very long to get used to (especially when going from an old clunker to a VE- most newer cars would have a thicker A pillar), but the extra safety you get from why its thick in the first place is beneficial from day one.
but both your problems (steering wander and pillar vision) would have been readily apparent on the first test drive.
did you take the car for a test drive and somehow miss these two 'faults' ?
can I also ask whether you picked up an early 09 or late 09 and whether it was a SIDI engine or not?
 

Holden_Man

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I'll swap you my VR Berlina for your wagon.
 

Trevor 062

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I'll buy you another VS & swap you
 

TinSnips

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Every car I've driven that's built from 06 onwards, from a lot of different manufacturers has had thicker than ideal A pillars. It's to comply with ANCAP requirements. Yes, it's a poor design but hardly a deal breaker. The handling issues you've described seem to be the exception rather than the rule and as already said, get it checked. I haven't had any such dramas. The increase in stability and dynamics over my VY and a previous VP is dramatic. The VE feels MORE responsive and accurate and is the most comfortable and confident commodore I've driven for highway runs.
 

Reaper

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Did you drive the car prior to buying it? In my experience the steering is one of the VE's strong points. As above - check the tyres and give it a wheel alignment. Tyre pressures could also be the cause. How many km has it done? The OEM shocks might need some attention if it's had a hard life as they can go off quite quickly.

I don't like the A pillar issue either but it is no secret and should be no surprise. You do get used to it and it's not as obtrusive after a while.

Reaper
 

frednurke

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I'll swap you my VR Berlina for your wagon.

Done, well would have, but I've already decided to trade my olde VS II back with the guy who bought it. How the pillar problem has ever met ADR is a bit of a mystery. Downright dangerous!
 
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