Holden Problems

Both cars meet all of your requirements, they have 5-star safety, they're comfortable, have a large boot, and plenty of power for overtaking. Either one would be a good choice, but if I were to be making the selection it would be the Toyota for reliability and resale.

Confirming genuine classics can be difficult and requires intimate knowledge of the make and model to be certain.

I would contact Holden's customer assistance people, give them the id numbers of your car and ask them to check against their production records.

If they can't do that contact a club such as an HSV Owners Club and ask them to help you. There isn't a club in the NT, so contact another state's club.

A guiding range for the value of your car is $38,000 to $46,000, but it can vary widely depending on originality, condition, kilometres done etc.

It is 90,000km. The service interval was reduced from 100,000km to 60,000km in the preceding TS model after a number of serious engine failures caused by broken or loose belts caused by a problem with the belt tensioner. In AH the service interval was increased to 90,000km. When it's replaced mechanics usually find that the water pump is leaking, and they replace it, which adds to the cost of the job.

With local production shutting down the big-car choices are getting fewer and fewer, but right now you can still buy a Calais if that's what you like. You can also buy an equivalent Falcon or Toyota Aurion. There are more expensive cars, from the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi etc. that would suit, but they come with a much higher price tag than a Calais. Others you could try are a Skoda Superb, a Honda Accord V6 Luxury if you're prepared to give up a little in size, and there's also the Chrysler 300C.

Our enquiries with Holden weren't successful; all we got was a deafening silence. It seems they either don't know how it will work, or aren't prepared to tell us. Given the company's reluctance to talk on this matter I suggest you maintain pressure on the customer care people until they give you an answer.

It's all about condition with an old car. The Kingswood isn't a particularly valuable classic car, unless it's in good condition with low miles on the clock. Your uncle's seem to fit that bill. If you go by the trade value it's worth around $2000, but to a Holden enthusiast or someone looking for a cheap classic to enjoy it could worth $6000-$8000. It might be worth showing it to one of the insurance companies that provide cover for classic cars and see what insurance value they would put on it. You'll also find more details on the pricing & specs here.

I doubt that it's possible to swap the lease to someone else. I would talk to your lease company and see what the rules are for getting out of the lease.

No a five-year-old car shouldn’t suffer such a major failure like that, but the Cruze does and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of other owners asking the same question having suffered the same problem with the automatic transmission.

It’s a well-known and documented problem and Holden were once replacing transmissions free of charge. You could approach Holden’s customer assistance people (Ph: 1800 033 349) and ask that your transmission be replaced as a gesture of goodwill. The cost you have been quoted for a replacement transmission is about right, but be sure that you are getting a new transmission.

All of the cars you name meet your criteria of size, economy, performance and handling.

You could also add the Mazda3 and 6 to the list.

Of all of those I would nominate the Camry as the great all-rounder.

The Trax is good value for money and stacks up well against all comers in the class. The 1.4 turbo is the best engine, and it has a conventional auto instead of a CVT that most of its rivals have. Others to look at are the Suzuki S-Cross, Ford Kuga, Nissan Qashqai, Mazda CX-5 and Subaru XV.