HSV Maloo Problems

It might have been born to work, but the humble Aussie ute has evolved into a much more sophisticated car that is now used more for recreational pursuits than it is for slogging it out on the job site.  Vehicles like the HSV Maloo are the ultimate expression of this new-age ute possessing a level of performance, safety and refinement never imagined by the original ute's creators in their wildest dreams.Gone are the days when utes were uncomfortable, evil handling and sometimes downright dangerous; today's utes do everything just as well as their sedan siblings.  They're so good, in fact, that Holden even describes its Ute as a two- door sports car. If that were true the HSV Maloo would have an even greater claim to that moniker.Model WatchWhile the ute began life as a humble working class vehicle it has over the years become something of a cult car with true-blue Aussies of all ages.  It's no longer just a working class vehicle; all sorts of people use it in all manner of activities.Holden and Ford long ago recognised the trend to the ute as a recreational vehicle and have both moved to satisfy the demand with a series of stylish sports models aimed more at out-of-hours pursuits than those on the job site.  To put this into some sort of perspective Holden said when releasing the VE ute that some 70 per cent of all VE Holden utes sold were the sportier models, the SS and SV6.It's a reality that today's ute is more likely to carry sports or camping gear than it is bricks, timber and tools.  If the Holden ute set the bar for sports utes higher, the HSV Maloo took the concept to an even loftier performance plain again.Like all HSV models the Maloo builds on the Holden ute with a unique set of body front and rear parts, along with a unique hard tonneau cover, that give it its own distinct muscular look without cutting into the basic Holden body structure.It's a craft HSV has perfected over more than 20 years of building hotter Holdens and the result is that the Maloo looks as tough as nails.  Matching the muscular look is the Maloo's musclebound 6.0-litre LS2 V8 engine that turns out a whopping 307 kW at 6000 revs and 550 Nm at 5100 revs.Two rugged gearboxes are offered to Maloo buyers. One is a six-manual 'box, the other a six-speed auto that channels the V8's muscle to the rear wheels.  With all that grunt under the bonnet HSV was wise to ensure the chassis was up to the task of handling it, and with independent suspension front and rear, sports shocks, monster brakes, and huge 19- inch wheels and tyres, it is more than capable to taming the beast.But while the Maloo has the credentials needed for a place on the performance car grid it doesn't lack anything in refinement either.  Inside the cabin the driver and passenger have leather sports seats, steering wheel, and dials, and well as a full array of features like air, cruise, power windows and mirrors, automatic wipers, as well as rear parking sensors to ensure those special bumpers don't get scratched.In The ShopGenerally the Maloo is a tough and reliable unit, the issues it can have are the same that an equivalent Holden ute might also have.  The LS2 V8 engine appears to give little trouble, same goes for the transmissions and diff.Look for signs of abuse, the Maloo will stand up to hard driving, but like all cars won't cope well with abusive driving.  Check for a service record to ensure oil changes have been carried out as recommended.In A CrashThe E Series Maloo is fitted with a comprehensive array of safety gear, including dual front airbags, electronic stability control, anti-skid brakes, traction control, and brake assist with brake-force distribution.At The PumpThe E Series Maloo is no fuel miser and the fuel consumption achieved is heavily dependent on the weight of the driver's right foot.  HSV claimed an average fuel consumption of 14.9 L/100 km.Anyone put off by the Maloo's high fuel consumption might want to think about fitting a dual-fuel vapour-injection system, which has the potential to almost halve the running costs based on the current pricing of unleaded and LPG.  Vapour-injection systems are configured to use unleaded petrol to the start the engine and for the first few seconds of warm-up before automatically switching over to gas.That way they start quickly and run smoothly while the engine comes up to its running temperature.  Once it has switched over to LPG gas is used almost exclusively, and the system only switches back to unleaded if the demand for fuel exceeds the LPG system's capacity to supply. That means there is no loss of performance.A dual-fuel Maloo will run just as hard as one running on petrol, but the running cost will be much lower. Look ForHead-turning looksBlistering performanceCar-like handlingLimited load carrying capacityThirsty for fuelGood candidate for LPGThe Bottom LineHSV's hot ute looks the goods, goes hard, and doesn't have to be expensive to run.Rating80/100

Given the Australian passion for utes it was only natural that HSV would give the humble Holden workhorse a makeover and produce a hot hauler like the Maloo.The first Maloo appeared on the scene in 1990 and became an enduring classic that will continue to turn heads well into the future.  Holden had only just released the new VG utility when the Maloo came out; the VG was an all-new model based on the Commodore and the first Holden ute for six years.Not surprisingly fans of the good ol' Aussie ute who had missed their favourite workhorse warmly welcomed the VG ute.  When HSV dropped the Maloo on the market they were over the moon with delight.MODEL WATCHThe VG Maloo followed the tried and true HSV formula, itself taken from Peter Brock and his earlier HDT operation.  In essence it was to take a regular run-of-the-mill model from Holden's product line-up and tinker with it around the edges to create something more exciting.HSV's makeover was largely skin deep, the changes kept to those parts that could be easily unbolted and replaced with new parts.  That way it was a simple operation and the result was eye-catching to say the least.In creating the Maloo HSV took a humble V8 ute and reworked it with much of what it was doing in creating its sedan models.  The core 5.0-litre V8 engine was pretty much left untouched, but its output was boosted by the use of a high-flow dual exhaust system, a free-flowing air cleaner, both of which allowed the engine to breathe better, and finally a recalibrated engine management computer that took the engine closer to the limit.The result was peak power of 180kW at 4600rpm and max torque of 400Nm at 3800rpm, increases of 15kW and 15Nm over the rock-stock Holden ute.  That sounds puny today, but was pretty hot in its day.Maloo buyers could choose between a five-speed manual gearbox, which was untouched, or a four-speed auto that was recalibrated to shift cleaner and crisper.  When pressed, the Maloo would reach 100 km/h in a fraction over seven seconds from rest; and account for the standing 400-metre sprint in around 15.5 secs.The Maloo's developers wrestled with how they could retain the original payload of the Holden ute and still give the Maloo a sporting feel as they felt HSV owners would expect.  They couldn't, and eventually dropped the payload to 592 kg, which allowed them to use meaty low profile tyres, softer rear springs, along with the front suspension from the SV5000 sedan.It all came together nicely; the handling was as crisp and sharp as an HSV sedan, with good grip even during hard cornering.  With the performance nailed down HSV turned to the cosmetics and produced a neat looking sports truck that stood out without being too far out-there.The colour-keyed body kit was made up to 10 parts, including a grille, front bumper, side skirts, and rear bumper. There was also s a roof-mounted airfoil and a sports bar in the rear, along with an HSV monogrammed tonneau cover, as well as badges and decals to alert the neighbours to what was making all the noise next door.The sports look was nicely completed with HSV-styled five-spoke 16 x 7 inch alloys in the guards.  Inside, it had sports seats, a Calais dash and dials, a Momo steering wheel, air, and a Eurovox sound system.IN THE SHOPFirst thing to do when checking a Maloo is to make sure it is one; do that by checking the tags.  Once that's established make sure it's got all the correct bits that were fitted by HSV; modifications can rob a car of its classic value.If it all stacks up start looking for the same sorts of things that affect all cars that have been on the road for close to 20 years.  Look for oil leaks from the engine, gearbox and diff; check for smoke from the engine, listen for rattles at idle and when you rev the engine.Make sure the clutch fully disengages, the gears go in without any baulking, and there is no gear noise driving down the road.  Inside, expect some wear and tear on the fabric seat trim, and some fading from the sun.IN A CRASHA well-balanced chassis with reasonably good disc front brakes gives the driver a chance to avoid a crash.  In the event of a crash you have to rely on body strength to absorb energy, there are no airbags to intervene.Check seat belts for wear on the webbing and smooth action.  Safety was satisfactory for the time, but by today's standards it isn't great, especially if the Maloo is going to be a daily driver.UNDER THE PUMPA big-bore V8 souped up by HSV isn't the recipe for fuel economy, so expect 12-16 L/100 km depending on the driving style used.LOOK FORHSV cred.Standout styleCollectabilityStandout performanceSharp handlingTHE BOTTOM LINEAn exciting mix of good ol' Aussie ute and HSV magic makes for a fun classic.RATING70/100 (classic)