Holden Problems

The symptoms are exactly as reported by other Cruze owners and the first step is to get it to an authorised Holden dealer to have the diagnosis confirmed and reported to Holden. At the same time you should contact Holden customer service at Fishermans Bend and report the problem with full vehicle details.

It won't be the sway bar, but it could be a wheel bearing. The best course of action is to have a mechanic assess it for you and replace the bearing if necessary.

The mechanic's advice is wrong, follow the service book info.

It seems to me your answer lies in what you wrote at the beginning of your email. Why not buy another Hilux, it did the job for you before and there's no reason it wouldn't do the same again.

In 2015 Holden recalled 26,000 Colorado utes and SUVs because of the chance they might catch fire. The affected models were made between September 2013 and January 2015, which fits with your car. According to the Federal Government recall website, "there is a risk that cable insulation may melt or catch fire." For its part Holden said that an alternator cable might have been assembled so it makes contact with a steel bracket on the battery tray. The insulation could rub through, causing a short circuit, which could lead to a fire.

I would like to think you have a good chance of having the transmission replaced out of goodwill. The car is only just out of warranty, the failure is a well known one, I can’t think of any reason Holden should object to doing the repairs at its own expense.

Change the belt as recommended at six years. Belts deteriorate with age as well as kilometres and you don't want to risk the damage that might occur to the engine should the belt fail.

Years ago when you owned your Torana it was considered something of a performance car, as the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are today, but there are many other ways of getting your driving thrills today without having to go for a V8. Some of the hot hatches now available would give you all the thrills, and more, than the big-bangers of old. Take a test drive in a VW Golf GTi or one of the fast Ford Focuses and I'm sure you'd rethink your choice. All the cars you mention, the Clubsport, SSV and Calais are good cars with plenty of grunt, the V8 sound, and the comfort of a big car. For mine though I'd be going for a hot hatch.

There are some limited-edition cars in the pipeline and I'd go for one of those with the special equipment. But keep in touch with a friendly dealer and don't delay, as they are likely to sell out and — as we've seen with the rundown of Falcon production — the factory numbers have to be set early.