Used Holden Commodore review: 2002-2004

The VY, launched in 2002, was the second major update of the VT and brought with it refinements to the body, power train and chassis which reaped rewards in improved performance, ride and handling, and safety. Another minor update in 2003, the VY II, continued the evolutionary development of the series with a raft of more subtle refinements.

MODEL WATCH

The VY model range was familiar Holden fare. The Executive was aimed at the fleet buyer, the Acclaim more at the private buyer, with the Berlina and Calais appealing to user-choosers who wanted more.

There were also sporty models in the form of the S and SS. But this time there was a new sports sedan in the SV8 which offered many of the SS features at a more affordable price.

Styling changes were relatively minor, but brought a more aggressive look, with new grilles and headlamps, bumper treatments and tail lamps. The well-proven 3.8-litre overhead valve ECOTEC V6 was carried over unchanged, while the power of the 5.7-litre overhead valve Gen III V8 jumped to 235kW, courtesy of a retuned twin exhaust system.

There was nothing much new on the transmission front, with a choice of four-speed auto or five-speed manual on the V6, and four-speed auto or six-speed manual on the V8. Underneath, Holden's chassis engineers made some big changes, mostly to the steering, which was adapted from the Monaro. The Monaro had won high praise for its steering feel and precision.

In the 2003 VY II update, Holden gave the luxury Calais a more European personality with bolder styling inside and out, larger alloy wheels, and sportier suspension settings.

The 5.7-litre Gen III V8 was offered in two forms, a dual exhaust version, which boasted 245kW at 5600 revs for the SS and SV8 models, and a 235kW single exhaust version for the rest of the range.

IN THE SHOP

Generally, the Commodore is quite reliable. Little seems to go wrong with the ECOTEC V6 engine which has proven to be a tough old unit, but the Gen III 5.7-litre V8 was affected by high oil consumption accompanied by piston rattle. Holden opted for piston rings that were a loose fit in the bore in the interests of fuel consumption, but that resulted in a light piston rattle along with high oil consumption on some V8s.

New teflon-coated pistons and tighter rings were released and they seem to have fixed most problem engines. Holden rebuilt the problem engines so it's unlikely you'll find one in the field now, but it's worth checking the history of any V8 with the owner. Ask for any oil consumption history they might have, and check if it's been rebuilt.

Both engines will run quite happily on LPG, which makes the VY an attractive proposition. It's one of the better cars to buy if you're prepared to convert to dual-fuel.

The auto transmissions are generally reliable, but check the trans oil in any car fitted with a tow bar, and look for signs it has been used for heavy towing. Holden's engineers improved the ride and handling with the addition of a toe-link to the Commodore's IRS. That also improved tyre wear, which still is quite high.

CRUNCH TIME

Further stiffening of the body shell aided primary crash protection with reduced risk of lower limb injury, while dual airbags were standard on all models, along with load-limiting seatbelt retractors.

The recent used-car safety survey rated the Commodore above the average for occupant protection, but not so high when it came to impact on the occupants of the car you hit.

VY COMMODORE

2002-2004

Check for rear tyre wear

Safety of airbags

Comfortable seats

Stiffened body structure

Reliable and fuel efficient V6

Improved steering precision

Possible oil consumption of V8

Sharp aggressive styling

RATING: 80/100

There are lots of low mileage ex-lease cars on the market now making the VY a good buy.