Used Holden Statesman VS review: 1995-1999

Way back in the 1960s there was little choice if you wanted to buy a luxury car, you simply headed down to your nearest Ford dealer and drove away in a Fairlane. It was that simple. There wasn’t a lot of competition for the big Ford, GMH were trying without much success to sell locally assembled Chevrolets and Pontiacs, and the likes of ’Benz and BMW weren’t serious players back then.

Things changed a little when Holden released the HQ Statesman and Caprice in 1971 to compete with Ford’s then super successful Fairlane and LTD, but they enjoyed only modest success against the Fords when they were at their zenith in the early 1970s.

But, oh how the times have changed, and along with them the fortunes of the Fairlane and Statesman. There is now plenty of competition for the prestige dollar, with ’Benz and BMW dominating the top end of the market, along with more recent arrivals like Lexus and Audi.

Despite this the long wheelbase locals have a lot to offer, particularly if you measure the value of cars on a centimetre per dollar basis when they trump just about everything else on the market.

If the Statesman and its more expensive Caprice cousin struggled when Ford’s Fairlane and LTD were at their peak, they have done much better in recent times when they have offered a more sporty and stylish alternative to the often stodgy Fords.

The Commodore-based VS Statesman of 1996 put Holden’s long wheelbase model into some pretty lofty company, and with decent build quality and an impressive list of standard features it scrubbed up quite well against the much more expensive models from the big Euros.

MODEL WATCH

The choice of a luxury car can be a difficult one. You’ve reached the stage where you can afford to splash out on something a little bit better than the bread-and-butter models you’ve been driving, but what do you buy.

The essential elements of a luxury car are comfort and room, particularly in the back seat where legroom is at a premium.

Where there wasn’t much alternative to the long wheelbase local models, today there is plenty of choice. Now the choice includes Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi and Lexus, which all tantalise, particularly when it comes to the secondhand market.

Still, the Statesman and Fairlane have the edge when it comes to used prices, which makes them most attractive luxury choice if you’re on a tight budget.

The VS Statesman was launched in 1996. Based on the well regarded VS Commodore it was essentially the same as the Commodore forward of the windscreen, save for the unique grille and front bumper.

It was rear of the windscreen that the real differences between the Statesman and the Commodore could be seen. It starts with an extra 95 mm Holden inserted in the wheelbase which gives the rear seat passengers oodles of legroom, and ends with another 33 mm of rear overhang, which results in a much larger boot.

So it’s big, and with the panoramic rear window it’s also beautiful. The rear treatment of the Statesman was a distinctive statement of styling and makes the long wheelbase sedan standout. There’s also a unique rear treatment, which helps mark out the Statesman from the rear, along with a classy frontal treatment.

Good news for Statesman buyers is that the powertrain is the same as that used in the Commodore. That means it’s simple and relatively troublefree.

The Base engine is the 147 kW 3.8-litre Ecotec V6, which brought a raft of refinements that improved smoothness and drivability, as well as power and economy. There were also the options of a 165 kW supercharged V6 in VSII and VSIII, and Holden’s 5.0-litre overhead valve V8 which was fuel-injected and pumped out 168 kW.

The transmission choice was simple, a four-speed electronic auto.

Underneath the stretched skin lay Holden’s familiar combination of MacPherson Struts at the front and semi-trailing arm IRS at the rear.

Power steering was, of course, standard and the four-wheel disc brakes had ABS, and there was traction control for an added safety bonus.

Naturally the Statesman came with just about everything in the Holden parts bin. There was plush velour trim, alloy wheels, two-tone metallic paint, dual airbags, power everything, cruise, central locking. air, trip computer, eight-speaker sound, cut pile carpet, remote boot release.

The VSII update came in November 1996, and brought 16-inch alloys, cup holders, chrome interior door handles and self levelling suspension.

Another update, the VSIII, in 1998 kept the model going until it was dropped in 1999, but there was little to distinguish it from its predecessor, unless you can spot the darker woodgrain panels and the two-tone fascia on the interior

IN THE SHOP

By the time VS was released Holden build quality had markedly improved. They were screwed together with much more precision, and the paint quality was up to international standards.

Mechanically the V6 is generally reliable, very little goes wrong with them, but look for oil leaks from front timing cover seals, rear main seal, and rocker covers.

The auto is a generic Asian-Warner and is generally quite reliable. Expect to get 200,000 km before it needs a rebuild, but check the oil to see that it’s been changed regularly. The oil should be nice and red, not black and thick.

Oil leaks around the power steering are common, and best seen from under the car. Look around the seals on the rack.

Body tightness is generally good, so don’t expect to find too much in the way of squeaks and rattles.

Do the normal checks of looking at body gaps, open all doors and watch for any that drop when they open, check door openings for signs of overspray, and check the whole body for any colour mismatch that might indicate it’s been in a crash.

LOOK FOR

• lots of room for rear seat passengers

• huge boot

• prestige styling with wraparound panoramic rear window

• simple mechanical package

• smooth comfortable ride

• calm and quiet interior ambience