• The Car

• Our Opinion

• Mechanical

• Data

• Buy with Confidence

• Legal Disclaimer

The Car

The Car

Lower front bumper now has a three-port opening. Teardrop headlamp with clear polycarbonate lens is another VX identifier. New tail lamps also have clear lenses and the central décor panel is now body coloured. Three-point seatbelts are provided for all five passengers, however rear seat head restraints are not included. The Acclaim's front cloth seats with velour inserts are huge, highly supportive and positioned low. The driver seat has power-operated height adjustment including front and rear cushion tilt is manual.

For easy use, most instruments are tilted at five degrees towards the driver. A service reminder will appear 1000km before the next service is due. All radios from Executive to Calais are double DIN size for superior ergonomics - large, clear buttons with a clean, logical layout. All models receive an AM/FM radio-cassette with electronic tune, separate bass and treble control and automatic program search. Cruise control is operated from the indicator stalk and can be fussy. Electric windows are standard and controls are located on centre console. The steering column adjusts for reach as well as height.

All sedan models have an electric boot release, located inside the glovebox. The wagons have a remote tailgate lock/unlock. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is unchanged from the VX Commodore, which improved airflow by 15 per cent over VS. Larger diameter rear ducts improved airflow to rear seat occupants by 30 per cent over VS. Holden has offered the Philips CARiN satellite navigation system across all Commodore models since March, 1999. The system covers all mainland capitals, covering close to 100,000km of bitumen. The S rides on 7x16-inch alloy wheels shod with 225/50R16 tyres. A major flaw in the Commodore's interior package is the rear seat does not split-fold - instead, the designers carved the world's biggest ski-port. Luggage volume is 475 litres. There is now no key for the boot. Remote boot release located on the key fob and in the glovebox.

Commodore is the only locally built car to offer side airbags. A driver's airbag is standard across the range. Anti-lock brakes are standard across the range. Executive and S are the only models to miss out on a passenger airbag. All models have remote central deadlocking activated via the remote keypad. The supercharged 3.8-litre V6 engine is essentially the same unit introduced in the VSII Statesman in October, 1996. It generates 171kW at 5200rpm and 375Nm at 3000rpm. Semi-trailing arm independent rear suspension is standard across the range, including wagon Holden claims the hydraulic tension rod bush on the front suspension is a first for an Australian-built car. The supercharged S comes only with a four-speed automatic transmission. Commodore has four-wheel disc brakes across the range. Aluminium twin piston front callipers use similar design to American Corvette sports car. Standard anti-lock brakes are by Bosch's 5.3 four-channel system. Rack ratio was decreased to 46 to 67mm/rev (VS was 50 to 58mm/rev), and combined with a longer steering arm slowed the overall on-centre ratio by five per cent over VS. Steering column is stiffer in VX over VS for improved noise and vibration characteristics. Turns lock-to-lock measure 2.75

Our Opinion

Our Opinion

We Like:

Sharp styling, lively performance, practicality

We Don't Like:

Auto transmission only

Given the outstanding sales success of the VT Commodore, it is perhaps not surprising Holden changed as little as possible for the VX update. Introducing greater visual differentiation between variants was one of Holden's key objectives with the VX, and the S and SS are the biggest beneficiaries, gaining an aggressive styling treatment that garners frequent second looks from passers-by.

The most obvious visual change is the use of new teardrop-shaped headlights that dispense with outer lens optics. Holden says these offer better low-beam spread, penetration and beam pattern evenness. Other changes to the nose include a new one-piece bumper/spoiler that houses twin circular driving lights and a larger central air intake. The rear end features a new taillight assembly that no longer extends across the rear décor panel, contributing to a cleaner look. The S also gains street cred from stylish 16-inch alloy wheels that endow it with a purposeful stance. Overall, the cosmetic upgrades are a success. The S is an eye-catching car that manages to look menacing and classy at the same time thanks to the absence of tacky boy-racer add-ons.

Happily, the purposeful looks are complemented by performance that qualifies the S as a genuine sporting sedan. The supercharged 3.8-litre V6 engine has been left untouched and its outputs of 171kW at 5200rpm and 375Nm at 3000rpm keep it almost exactly on par with Ford's Falcon XR6 VCT (172kW and 374Nm). But perhaps more impressive than the raw figures is the sheer flexibility of the engine. Floor the throttle at almost any speed and the engine delivers a seamless rush of acceleration without the lag associated with turbo powerplants. Consequently, overtaking semi-trailers and nipping into gaps in traffic becomes child's play. Just plant the clodhopper and hang on. Aural accompaniment comes in the form of a subdued whirring from the supercharged V6. It brings back memories of Mad Max's Interceptor - which, incidentally, was based on a 1973 XB GT Ford Falcon Coupe. It's fair to say no other engine on the local market sounds quite like it. Ford's XR6 VCT emits a meatier bellow, but it cannot match the supercharged S for mid-range punch. As for off-the-mark acceleration: the force-fed S can sprint to 100km/h in around 7.5 seconds and cover the standing 400m in the mid-15-second bracket. Very respectable figures for a feature-laden automatic sedan. Holden quotes fuel consumption figures of 7.6 litres/100km on the highway and 13.0 litres/100km around town. But you won't come close to these figures if you succumb to the temptation to blast away from traffic lights wherever possible. The four-speed auto mates well to the engine, offering a good spread of ratios and shifting up and down almost seamlessly. But the non-availability of a manual gearbox with the supercharged engine may deter buyers who prefer to do their own shifting.

All VX models also gain a new dual damper propeller shaft with rubber couplings at each end to reduce vibrations. This, along with addition of an "anti-booming" brace to the transmission tunnel, contributes to improved refinement levels, according to Holden. While Ford's engineers equipped the AU II Falcon with a laminated firewall to improve noise suppression, Holden's technicians have adopted a more simple approach, filling the A, B and C pillars with heat-expandable foam to block road noise travelling up the body structure. A noise deflector board and foam blocks under the rear parcel shelf - along with a seatbelt silencer - are said to further enhance refinement levels. Holden has also worked hard to overcome the slightly nervous steering at cruising speeds that is a characteristic of the VT Commodore. The front suspension features a lower control arm pivot that is raised by 4mm to build in more understeer and reduce the steering's directness just off centre. The overall effect of the changes is that the Commodore is a more relaxing car to drive at highway speeds and feels less likely to snap the tail out under heavy cornering loads. Even though the Commodore's semi-trailing arm rear suspension does not match the Falcon XR6 VCT's double-wishbone set-up in terms of sophistication, it performs well in most conditions. The XR6 VCT still has the edge in terms of handling dynamics, but in VX guise the S has narrowed the gap. It can certainly match or surpass the Watts link-equipped base model XR6. Hustling the car through corners reveals minimal body roll and ample grip, thanks to the standard sports suspension and sticky 225/50R16 rubber wrapped around 16x7-inch rims. The S won't budge off line in normal circumstances, but it is possible to "hang the tail out" if your right foot gets inordinately heavy. Large diameter four-wheel disc brakes - ventilated at the front - are up to the task of reining in the 1603kg missile when called upon to do so.

Ride quality is beyond reproach for a sporting sedan and the majority of road surface undulations are comfortably dealt with. Passive safety levels benefit from a new B-pillar designed to swing with a pendulum effect to direct impact velocity away from the body's most fragile areas - the head, neck and chest. Energy-absorbing foam between the door trim and inner door sheet metal further lessens the risk of serious injury in side impacts. Dual front airbags are standard equipment and side airbags are now available as an option, while steering wheel-mounted stereo controls - standard across the VX range - are a welcome addition.

Overall, the S is an accomplished sporting sedan that offers ample reserves of power, plenty of grip and sufficient practicality to make it a sound proposition as a daily driver. Its eye-catching looks are also a plus, but not if you hope to remain anonymous. The supercharged Commodore S can outperform the standard Ford Falcon XR6 - against which it is priced - although the significantly more expensive XR6 VCT can just about match it. But in the XR cars' favour is their sportier handling characteristics - particularly the IRS-equipped VCT - and the fact that they are available with a manual transmission. Consequently, it's fair to say the XR6 and XR6 VCT will appeal more to hard-core driving enthusiasts while the supercharged Commodore S will be sought after those seeking style, refinement and effortless grunt.

Mechanical

Mechanical

Data

Data

Engine:

• Fuel-injected V6 with electronically controlled supercharger

• Capacity: 3.791 litres   

• Power: 171kW at 5200rpm

• Torque: 375Nm at 3000rpm

• Bore/stroke: 97mm/86mm

• Compression ratio: 8.5:1
  

Transmission:

• Four-speed auto
  

Suspension:

• Front: Independent, MacPherson struts, stabiliser bar

• Rear: Independent, semi-trailing arms, coil springs and stabiliser bar
  

Steering:

• Power assisted rack and pinion

• Turning circle: 11.0 metres

• Turns lock to lock: 2.75
  

Dimensions:

• Length: 4964mm

• Width: 1842mm

• Track front: 1569mm

• Track rear: 1587mm

• Height: 1450mm

• Wheelbase: 2788mm

• Kerb weight: 1603kg
  

Standard Equipment:

• Driver's airbag

• Anti-lock brakes

• Air-conditioning

• Alloy wheels

• Body kit

• Cruise control

• Remote central locking

• Electrically-adjustable driver seat

• Leather steering wheel

• Power windows and mirrors

• Power steering

• Six-speaker CD stereo

• Trip computer

• Immobiliser

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Buy with Confidence

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Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.

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