Holden Problems

In the US, more than 64,000 Chevrolet Volt electric cars are being recalled, which is expected to prompt a recall of more than 200 Holden versions next week.

Holden Suburban is a very large 4WD, good towing workhorse and spacious people mover. The Suburban can seat up to nine adults, though a more realistic use is seven adults and two children - nothing else comes close in this designed-for-the-USA giant. It can also carry their luggage, whereas other big 4WDs can seat eight people, but lose most of their luggage room when the rear seats are occupied.A rebadged Chevrolet, the Holden Suburban was only imported from February 1998 until January 2001, though the last of them weren't sold for several months after that.Though it appears gigantic, Holden Suburban is only half a metre longer and 150 mm wider than a Commodore station wagon. On suburban roads it fits comfortably into traffic lanes and is easy to place in traffic. When turning sharp corners at crossroads you need to make allowance for the extra length, otherwise the required driving technique is pretty much as usual.Off-road the big Suburban copes easilyParking? That can be the downfall of the Suburban in tight suburban areas. It has a reasonable turning circle of 13.7 metres, and a moderate height of 1.9 metres, so it can be slotted into most spots by an experienced driver.Off-road the big Suburban copes easily. Though its paintwork is likely to suffer in tighter situations as shrubs and tree branches drag down its flanks, so plan ahead if you want to do serious off-road driving.Suburban can tow 2.7 tonnes with the 5.7-litre petrol engine and 3.4 tonnes with the extra-heavy-duty 6.5-litre turbodiesel. All Australian Suburbans came as standard with a towbar.Suburban uses part time four-wheel drive with a high-low range transfer box. It can be shifted from two-high to four-high and back at speeds of up to 100km/h, but must be stopped for shifts from four-high to four-low and vice versa. The front hubs engage and disengage automatically.Fuel consumption isn't as bad as you might expect. Somewhere about 15.0-18.0L/100km in suburban driving, dropping to 'only' 12.0-14.0L/100km on the highway. Suburban has a huge 159-litre fuel tank.Build quality - the Suburban is screwed together in Mexico - is reasonable, though nowhere near the high standard of Japanese or Australian cars.Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping aroundThe big underbonnet space means you can do a lot of your own work without doing any real damage to your knuckles or your temper. Pick up a workshop manual before you start, and stay away from safety related items unless you are a professional.Insurance charges are usually moderate but it's worth shopping around as there seems to be quite a difference between premiums from company to company. This policy range isn't unusual in relatively rare vehicles. As always, make sure you're comparing apples with apples, and be aware a longtime relationship with one company can be a valuable asset.Call to your local Holden dealer to check whether they stock parts, or get them in from elsewhere - or are no longer interesting in the vehicle.

It seems everyone wants to go bush. Ford certainly thought so when it introduced its Territory, so too did Holden when it went down the same track with the Adventra.The Adventra was based on the VY Berlina wagon. It had a high-riding suspension for ground clearance, and a V8 automatic drivetrain, and an all-wheel drive system that gave it the capability off-road.Cross Trac was a permanent all-wheel drive system using three open differentials controlled by sophisticated electronics with a front-to-rear torque-split of 38:62.It's a system built on the car's anti-skid braking system to maintain traction by monitoring the grip at each wheel and selectively applying the brakes to switch torque away from wheels that are starting to slip to ones that have grip.Being based on a traditional wagon the Adventra is different to most off-roaders and should appeal to anyone who wants to drive a normal car around town, but still have the capability to go bush when they want to.Power for the first Adventra came from Holden's proven 235kW 5.7-litre V8 and four-speed automatic transmission.With the Cross Trac system a full-time one there's no call for fiddling with switches or levers to select low range, lock diffs, or do any of the other things off-roaders have to cope with.Ground clearance is critical to off-road driving and the Adventra had 200mm. There was also a front strut brace, a sump guard, and special Bridgestone tyres with thicker tread faces and sidewalls to handle the rough going.Being based on the Berlina meant the Adventra came equipped with plenty of standard features to add to its attraction.The Adventra was made to go off-road, so check for signs of off-road use and move on if you spot anything that says the car you're considering has been used extensively off-road.The initial offering was only available as a V8, and the V8 wasn't without it troubles.Listen particularly for rattles and noises from the engine. They were relatively common, but not all suffered, so look for one that is quiet.The V8 could also burn oil. That's a little more difficult to determine on a quick test drive. You could ask the seller if the car was an oil burner, or had been checked by a Holden dealer.Weight was also an issue with the Adventra, it was a heavy jigger, and that meant the fuel consumption could be high.If you're looking for diesel economy look elsewhere, but driven sensibly the Adventra would return reasonable economy.Importantly it had the grunt needed to comfortably tow a caravan or camper trailer when needed.A recent trip to outback South Australia in an LX8 with a camper trailer on the back returned an average of 15.5L/100 km, and that wasn't sparing the ponies.The Adventra was equipped with special tyres designed to cope with rough, rocky roads, and they're a mite more expensive than your regular tyres.Servicing is also important, so check for a service record to show your chosen car has been well maintained.