The Thunder from down under.... Holden HSV E2 GTS
Discussion
I am now the owner of a Holden HSV E2 GTS.
After thinking of getting an 8 for some time now (thanks Brian) and with the impending arrival of our first child in August 2015, I thought it was time to start looking for a suitable 8.
As people on here know i was after an E3 version, but there was none to be found anywhere.
So i turned my attention to an E1 but my attempts were in vain, they seem to get snapped up in 24 hours of being made available.
In December last year i emailed James at Elite Motors and he had some E1's for sale he also mentioned that he had a HSV GTS face lift for sale but was not advertised anywhere.
I asked many questions in emails to James and established that the car was the version i was interested in, the only issue at the time was that it was an E2 and not the E3 that i wanted.
After a bit of confusion and feeling let down, i looked at this again late December 2014 and realised that there are only slight interior trim differences and the rear spoiler.
So the process started early Jan this year to purchase this Holden HSV GTS E2.
The day came and on the 16/01/2015 we set off at 7am to see James at Elite motors at around 11:30 am.
The deal was done i px my Astra J VXR and came away with the Holden HSV GTS E2 Auto in Red.
Thanks to James at Elite cars for selling me his GTS.
Then it was a short drive over to see Brian and Nikki and get some pictures of the car in the Rat Cave.
After thinking of getting an 8 for some time now (thanks Brian) and with the impending arrival of our first child in August 2015, I thought it was time to start looking for a suitable 8.
As people on here know i was after an E3 version, but there was none to be found anywhere.
So i turned my attention to an E1 but my attempts were in vain, they seem to get snapped up in 24 hours of being made available.
In December last year i emailed James at Elite Motors and he had some E1's for sale he also mentioned that he had a HSV GTS face lift for sale but was not advertised anywhere.
I asked many questions in emails to James and established that the car was the version i was interested in, the only issue at the time was that it was an E2 and not the E3 that i wanted.
After a bit of confusion and feeling let down, i looked at this again late December 2014 and realised that there are only slight interior trim differences and the rear spoiler.
So the process started early Jan this year to purchase this Holden HSV GTS E2.
The day came and on the 16/01/2015 we set off at 7am to see James at Elite motors at around 11:30 am.
The deal was done i px my Astra J VXR and came away with the Holden HSV GTS E2 Auto in Red.
Thanks to James at Elite cars for selling me his GTS.
Then it was a short drive over to see Brian and Nikki and get some pictures of the car in the Rat Cave.
Edited by DRC72 on Sunday 18th January 09:53
Gary H 2008 said:
Welcome to the club!
(I know that car!
)
Just a couple of pointers if I may.
The first is a little pedantic, but what the heck: It's not a Holden. It's an HSV, which stands for Holden Special Vehicles - They are to Holden what Alpina is to BMW - a manufacturer in their own right.
Second. The interior? Not an issue! This is the interior of my E1:
If you're interested , I can point you in the right direction. Welcome aboard!
Yea i know that Holden is Holden special vehicles lol.(I know that car!
) Just a couple of pointers if I may.
The first is a little pedantic, but what the heck: It's not a Holden. It's an HSV, which stands for Holden Special Vehicles - They are to Holden what Alpina is to BMW - a manufacturer in their own right.
Second. The interior? Not an issue! This is the interior of my E1:
If you're interested , I can point you in the right direction. Welcome aboard!
I am also keeping it original so that it does not depreciate faster.
Personally i do not need to update the radio etc as the engine is my music.
I am happy to keep it as is just like the original owner of the car did.
DougieMc said:
Congrats Dale
Glad to see you are sticking with us haha
Cheers Dougie. Glad to see you are sticking with us haha
That was my big dilemma lol, I needed a 4 door car and there was only 1 that fitted the bill.
I now have that car so i can still take part in the vxr powerevents.
It is also the first time i have had 3 consecutive cars from the same car brand.
Corsa VXR
Astra J VXR
HSV E2 GTS
Edited by DRC72 on Sunday 18th January 10:41
Today i have had the car 1 week and have done 476 miles so far.
In the first week of owning the car we have had about 4 inch of snow and that did not stop me getting to work much to the surprise of my work colleges lol.
The 8 is a big car but when i am driving around it does not feel it and the power delivery plus the Bi Modal is something else.
The Astra J VXR that i had before felt like you were in a far bigger car than it was.
In the first week of owning the car we have had about 4 inch of snow and that did not stop me getting to work much to the surprise of my work colleges lol.
The 8 is a big car but when i am driving around it does not feel it and the power delivery plus the Bi Modal is something else.
The Astra J VXR that i had before felt like you were in a far bigger car than it was.
Had the car just over 3 weeks now and have done just over 1000 miles.
I have just ordered 2 new rear tyres to match the front tyres and this coming Saturday i will be servicing the car.
Just got the paper work to send off to put my number plate on the car and then we are nearly there.
It should look something like this then.
I have just ordered 2 new rear tyres to match the front tyres and this coming Saturday i will be servicing the car.
Just got the paper work to send off to put my number plate on the car and then we are nearly there.
It should look something like this then.
Service done today @36011 miles also balanced the front wheels as I felt it slightly at 60 mph.
2 new rear tyres fitted Friday and I went will Bridgestone poteneza s001 to match the fronts.
Had a quick look into the front fog light issue and found I have no power at the fuse when the fuse is in, but when I take the fuse out I have battery voltage with the ignition on.
I will look at this at a later date as I never use front fog lights anyway.
Rear fog light cleaned out and drained of water.
2 new rear tyres fitted Friday and I went will Bridgestone poteneza s001 to match the fronts.
Had a quick look into the front fog light issue and found I have no power at the fuse when the fuse is in, but when I take the fuse out I have battery voltage with the ignition on.
I will look at this at a later date as I never use front fog lights anyway.
Rear fog light cleaned out and drained of water.
Edited by DRC72 on Saturday 14th February 21:28
Tattooboy said:
What's the issue with the front fog lights?
You do know they only work when high beam is on?
Thanks for that info, it has saved me a lot of time.You do know they only work when high beam is on?
I was not aware that the front fogs only worked on high beam/main beam.
So i can now confirm thanks to Tattooboy that my front fogs work.
Seems a strange way to have the front fog lights operating on high beam/main beam only.
Tattooboy said:
DRC72 said:
Tattooboy said:
What's the issue with the front fog lights?
You do know they only work when high beam is on?
Thanks for that info, it has saved me a lot of time.You do know they only work when high beam is on?
I was not aware that the front fogs only worked on high beam/main beam.
So i can now confirm thanks to Tattooboy that my front fogs work.
Seems a strange way to have the front fog lights operating on high beam/main beam only.
was worried I was teaching you to suck eggs, but glad you got them working now 
I think they are more a driving light than fogs lights, don't think OZ have much fog ??
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