2006 Holden Caprice Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the VS, WH, WK, WL, WM and WN Holden Statesman and Caprice from 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 as a used buy.

GM's latest big V8 – a six-litre job called the L76 – gives more power and torque, the latter at more accessible engine speeds than the previous 5.7-litre Gen III V8.But in this 1772kg, 5.2m saloon where it's matched to an aged four-speed automatic, it does like a drink of petrol. And it prefers premium unleaded fuel, further adding to the cost. Perhaps buyers of this sort of car are well used to fuel bills, or they have an arrangement where the bills are paid by someone else. But there is growing concern about the environment and not everyone feels guilt-free in a six-litre V8 of considerable size.I drove the new V8 Caprice very gently, rarely going above 2000rpm, yet over more than 400km in a mix of conditions, including very gentle country cruising, averaged 12.5 litres/100km. Use more of the power more often and it will be higher than this. The 100km stint of suburban and city driving used 16.2 litres.But on the few times the right foot was pressed down harder, the call was answered: 260kW of power at 5600rpm and 510Nm of torque at 4400rpm compares with the 245kW and 465Nm of the previous V8.The old four-speed automatic now changes with good subtlety and we settled into 110km/h at approaching 1900rpm at whisper-quiet running save for a bit of tyre slap, depending on the road surface. Holden Caprice V8, now at $75,390, is very well equipped in luxury gear (see Small Torque) but beaten by the Europeans in airbag protection.Features include very generous rear-seat leg room, comfort, a luxury car being able to take on Australian rough conditions, a large boot and plenty of dealer support. The test car, in deep blue, tasteful touches of chrome and a beige leather interior, looked a picture, too.Holden puts much into the Caprice: DVD player with twin screens and headsets in the rear, six-stack CD, 12-speaker 430W sound system, leather trim, eight-way power adjustable front seats, driver's seat memory (for three drivers), dual-zone climate control, comprehensive trip computer, 17in diameter alloy wheels, front fog lamps plus cornering lamps, tyre pressure monitor, and front and rear parking sensors.V8 fans would disagree but I'd go for the Caprice 3.6-litre V6, for $4700 less at $70,690. It has all the above features but has a five-speed automatic with Active-select paddleshift and is tuned for regular unleaded. It has ESP whereas the V8 gets only traction control. The V6 gives 190kW and 335Nm, and needs service every 15,000km to the V8's every 10,000km.GM Holden says its new V8 will run on regular unleaded (it has knock sensors) but gives its best with fuel of the premium unleaded variety.

A replacement for the 5.7-litre Gen 3 the newcomer boasts more of everything V8 lovers love - power, torque, sound, response, feel, towability, bragging rights.Ford's DOHC, 5.4-litre V8 pales against the sheer volume of the Holden donk. But there's a leveller - the Gen 4 Holden L76, 6.0-litre uses an old fashioned pushrod valve system and has only two valves a cylinder - not the most efficient layout in an era of ever improving engine technology striving for peak efficiency.Holden reckons it gets by with this mechanically low-tech approach using sophisticated electronics and says a cylinder deactivation system was unnecessary to deliver reasonable fuel economy.That's all very good but more and more V8 makers are moving towards these systems waiting for a breakthrough to cut fuel consumption in large capacity engines. What that will be is anyone's guess.L76 was introduced to comply with the new AS79/01 emissions laws, Australia's version of Euro 3 regulations. Gen 3 V8 doesn't pass.No doubt, Holden would have preferred to introduce the L76 to coincide with the new VE Commodore series but that's months away.We got hold of the range-topping Caprice V8 fitted with the new V8 and it's difficult not to be impressed, even at $75,390.The engine has a definite edge over the older donk offering more response, more mid-range and more top end while the fuel economy seems pretty much the same.The four speed auto needs to be consigned to history as it is simply not cut it these days in the face of five and six speed 'boxes from rivals. It not the smoothest tranny by anyone's measure and is atb odds with the refined atmosphere insided Caprice.That said, driving the big Holden is fun even around corners where its considerable weight doesn't seem matter too much.It has a ridiculous amount of rear seat legroom and the boot is expansive if a little shallow.As flagship of the range, Caprice is equipped with the full Holden inventory including dual rear DVD screens.A number of controls are available to rear seat passengers.But there's plenty of driver enjoyment to be had from this large limo.The engine sounds powerful propelling the Caprice at sports car pace.It's extremely comfortable inside but the dash looks like a tarted up Commodore item which it is.The new engine likes a strong brew and functions best on premium unleaded thanks in part to a knock sensor and high compression ratio.Fuel economy on test averaged around 14.5 litres/100km - impressive for a car this size.