holomatrix
Active Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2009
- Messages
- 139
- Reaction score
- 27
- Points
- 28
- Members Ride
- VF Redline Sportwagon
After over a decade of VE, VF and VFII Calais-V I have had one of the new Abalone White 4x4 sedans in my driveway (work car) for 4 days now.
I spent equal time in the 2lt Turbo and 3.6Lt models before deciding, and I have to say both are actually better than the outgoing 3.6 SIDI - certainly better than I expected.
Bad points:
1. The Drive reviewer who talks about rattles above or behind the instrument cluster is dead on. Both models I tested AND the new one sent to me on the 7th have the same clicky rattles. For the one I now have in the driveway, I have started a process of removing the binacle and HUD cowling and putting some thin foam tape under them which helps with the outward creaks, but I suspect there are wiring harness/es underneath the main dash section that are not properly wrapped, cushioned or routed too close to the top of the dash.
2. A rattle against the inside of the front drivers quarter panel that I tracked down to a poorly installed right blinker light. There was nothing wrapping the wires leading to the light (but on the passenger side there was black foam tape and a cable tie). Pretty poor form for what is essentially the mirror of the same part to be installed differently?
3. The fracking stop/start BS. The fact that the dealer techs can't seem to set it to default as off in the software, such that I have to turn it off EVERY damn time I start the car.
4. The parking sensors turn on WHENEVER the car drops below 7kph... even when coasting along in traffic. The number of times it has scared the bejesus out of me this week by going off as a car comes up behind me at the lights is sufficient to really P%$$ me off!. WTF?
5. That the Bose Subwoofer takes up the spare tyre bay, meaning no space for even a crappy space saver. Am going to investigate how I can move the speaker... but that is for another weekend.
6. The cupholders are too far forward and make it hard to get a normal cup of coffee in and out. You have to lean forward and be really careful about getting the cup in and out. They could have left cupholders in the area just in front of the between seats cubby (and moved the square storage bin forward of the tranny instead?)
7. The odd plastic surrounds for the liftgate window that make the viewing space so small. The plastics bulge out way further than they need to (after removing one to see... i honestly believe you could re-engineer these plastic surrounds to be about 3 inches smaller on each side and not affect any of the things running down the inside of the liftgate.
Good points:
1. The flexride system... that I can have sports mode transmission settings and steering but have comfort suspension for the passengers. I likes that.
2. The grip in the 4x4 system. Have tried it on wet slick roads AND on a section where a truck had had an accident and dumped oil/diesel everywhere. not a single slip or traction issue.
3. I managed to fool one of my colleagues into thinking the 2lt turbo model was a 3.6lt V6... it was good enough that he, a sworn card carrying member of the V8 fan club... didn't realise until I showed him (hahahah!
)4. The heads up display issues with slight blur and wobble in the VF and VFII are completely resolved. They have changed the projection angle just enough to ensure that there is no double-halo effect on the windshield and in doing almost 6000kms in three units I failed to spot the wobble I have become used to seeing in our two VFs.
5. The lumbar support moves up and down as well as in and out... nice touch.
Something to watch out for.
We had to return one of the test cars immediately as it had the completely wrong tranny. It was meant to have a 9speed but somehow at factory had been installed with an 8speed. It seems that the factory is making about 35 different base specifications (engine/tranny/suspension) for markets in US, Canada, UK, Mainland Europe and Australasia. Somehow the unit in question was badged and software installed as an Australasian (holden) model but the underlying subframe model (engine/tranny/suspension) was one specific only to Vauxhall UK (they get a 2lt Turbo unit specced to our Calais 3.6 level... and a 2lt turbo GSi model specced to our Calais-V level). How the hell did a mistake that big get through QC at factory, AND Holden when it landed here?
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