V8 Family Wagon Aussie Style - VF2 Calais V
Discussion
PomBstard said:
The last Holden Calais V V8 wagon ever sold is up for sale for $150k. There’s nothing special about it other than being the last.
.
I’d want a letter from GM confirming it was definitely the last car to be reported as retailed. Even then $150k is ridiculous..
A couple of years ago, when I was pondering what to buy when I got made redundant, a grey V6 Calais V wagon popped up on Carsales. The last wagon off the line was also a grey V6 Calais V. The ad had it as Oct build and compliance. At lunchtime I ran it through the system and it had “last car” in the comments - there were 4 or 5 orders of each type flagged as potential last cars.
A bit more digging and it was actually the last 2nd last Calais V V6 wagon off the line. It came off on the last day just before the last one. So it was actually the last Calais V V6 wagon released from the plant for retail sale. Back to Carsales and it had already gone!
I sometimes wonder if whoever bought it knows what they’ve got.
Jader1973 said:
PomBstard said:
The last Holden Calais V V8 wagon ever sold is up for sale for $150k. There’s nothing special about it other than being the last.
.
I’d want a letter from GM confirming it was definitely the last car to be reported as retailed. Even then $150k is ridiculous..
A couple of years ago, when I was pondering what to buy when I got made redundant, a grey V6 Calais V wagon popped up on Carsales. The last wagon off the line was also a grey V6 Calais V. The ad had it as Oct build and compliance. At lunchtime I ran it through the system and it had “last car” in the comments - there were 4 or 5 orders of each type flagged as potential last cars.
A bit more digging and it was actually the last 2nd last Calais V V6 wagon off the line. It came off on the last day just before the last one. So it was actually the last Calais V V6 wagon released from the plant for retail sale. Back to Carsales and it had already gone!
I sometimes wonder if whoever bought it knows what they’ve got.
Though I did hear that silver Calais wagons were apparently hard to shift so not many ordered. Maybe mine is one of just 23,681 silver VF2 Calais V wagons ever made.
I’ll be checking all avenues…
Time for a little, 6-month update. Now on 2 years ownership, the car is 6 and a half years old, and has just ticked over 133,000km, or a smidge under 83,000 of your preferred British miles. That's 26,000km in 2 years, not a huge number but about average for our here. So, what’s to report?
Well, delightfully little, is the answer. It’s been slogging away on the usual urban bash, and has just taken me and PBJnr2 on a 2,300km round trip to Brisbane for the culmination of the National Primary Schools Athletics Champs. It was a bloody long way to go for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, but she came back with 3 golds, and 2 championship records, so kinda worth it!
Car was exceptional for the trip – just built for the job. It was 9-10 hours of driving each way, well should’ve been except for a massive jam at Gold Coast, but left me feeling absolutely fine. Would love to take this on a cross-Euro trip – it might not be the sharpest thing for the Alps, but would seriously hoover the distances and not cost much to do it either.
And lets get to that point – costs. It’s a big wagon with a big V8. Fuel is still the biggest cost – averaging around 18mpg for urban work, unless booted, and the Brissie trip was around 26mpg all-up, with the motorway seeing about 29.5mpg for the majority. Considering the oomph available, I’ll live with it.
It was serviced at 130,000km and needed a new actuator for the drivers door. Parts prices have gone up since the Holden brand disappeared, so it was a $280 part, rather than the $120 part it was a year or two ago, plus another $120 for labour. Also needed to check out the rear seat belt sensors as one of them occasionally thinks it has a passenger, which sets off some binging and bonging for belts. Still, $800 for the whole service is acceptable, and probably just the cost of an oil change for anything wearing an AMG badge.
Rear tyres are holding up OK, prob another 2-3000km left in them. The PS4 will be replaced by PS5, which I’ve just had fitted to Mrs PB’s i30 – I like the all-round ability the Michelins provide – in wet and dry, so will happily fit more. The previous owner obvs thought the same as it had PS4 all round when I bought it.
And the driving? Still finding myself surprised at just how good it is as a day-to-day thing. Sure, there are some foibles and features that many on here couldn’t tolerate and its been built down to a price, but generally it does everything very well.
Performance and noise are still fun. The anonymity of the car makes it a lovely thing to boot off the line when alongside some noisy German stuff. Got an appreciative thumbs up from the E63 driver who wasn’t expecting me to be still alongside after one such TLGP. The A45 driver was less smiley…
As long as I put it into manual mode and select first, the grunt is there instantly – no need to configure anything, just put the foot down. The auto box is too slow, even when changed manually, but by the time I’m looking for third, I’m also looking for blue lights, so there’s no point going further.
I’ve also just had the ding in the drivers door repaired. It was put there whilst we were away in 2021, and its annoyed me to see it every day. So, when I heard that the guy who did some work on my 928 was getting ready to retire, I booked it in. He’s done a great job, for a very reasonable sum, and the repair is unnoticeable. It does mean the rest of the car needs a proper polish now though.
Ok, enough with the words, I’ll dig out some pics and put up in a mo.
Well, delightfully little, is the answer. It’s been slogging away on the usual urban bash, and has just taken me and PBJnr2 on a 2,300km round trip to Brisbane for the culmination of the National Primary Schools Athletics Champs. It was a bloody long way to go for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, but she came back with 3 golds, and 2 championship records, so kinda worth it!
Car was exceptional for the trip – just built for the job. It was 9-10 hours of driving each way, well should’ve been except for a massive jam at Gold Coast, but left me feeling absolutely fine. Would love to take this on a cross-Euro trip – it might not be the sharpest thing for the Alps, but would seriously hoover the distances and not cost much to do it either.
And lets get to that point – costs. It’s a big wagon with a big V8. Fuel is still the biggest cost – averaging around 18mpg for urban work, unless booted, and the Brissie trip was around 26mpg all-up, with the motorway seeing about 29.5mpg for the majority. Considering the oomph available, I’ll live with it.
It was serviced at 130,000km and needed a new actuator for the drivers door. Parts prices have gone up since the Holden brand disappeared, so it was a $280 part, rather than the $120 part it was a year or two ago, plus another $120 for labour. Also needed to check out the rear seat belt sensors as one of them occasionally thinks it has a passenger, which sets off some binging and bonging for belts. Still, $800 for the whole service is acceptable, and probably just the cost of an oil change for anything wearing an AMG badge.
Rear tyres are holding up OK, prob another 2-3000km left in them. The PS4 will be replaced by PS5, which I’ve just had fitted to Mrs PB’s i30 – I like the all-round ability the Michelins provide – in wet and dry, so will happily fit more. The previous owner obvs thought the same as it had PS4 all round when I bought it.
And the driving? Still finding myself surprised at just how good it is as a day-to-day thing. Sure, there are some foibles and features that many on here couldn’t tolerate and its been built down to a price, but generally it does everything very well.
Performance and noise are still fun. The anonymity of the car makes it a lovely thing to boot off the line when alongside some noisy German stuff. Got an appreciative thumbs up from the E63 driver who wasn’t expecting me to be still alongside after one such TLGP. The A45 driver was less smiley…
As long as I put it into manual mode and select first, the grunt is there instantly – no need to configure anything, just put the foot down. The auto box is too slow, even when changed manually, but by the time I’m looking for third, I’m also looking for blue lights, so there’s no point going further.
I’ve also just had the ding in the drivers door repaired. It was put there whilst we were away in 2021, and its annoyed me to see it every day. So, when I heard that the guy who did some work on my 928 was getting ready to retire, I booked it in. He’s done a great job, for a very reasonable sum, and the repair is unnoticeable. It does mean the rest of the car needs a proper polish now though.
Ok, enough with the words, I’ll dig out some pics and put up in a mo.
Tip trip today. No pics - many years of working in the waste industry has taken the novelty from it, and not even the sight of a VF2 loaded to the gunwales with crap from around the house can pique further interest.
However, it’s always interesting to see how close the weighbridge gets to the manufacturer’s tare.
This time, after shedding approx 150kg of gubbins, we weighed 1.94t. Half a tank of fuel is about 30kg, and I’m 90kg most days, so that takes it to 1.82t.
Manufacturer tare weight = 1820kg
Pretty damn close, I reckon
For comparison, I looked it up - it’s about 30kg heavier than the much smaller C63AMG and about 120kg lighter than the similar-sized E63AMG, so it’s not quite as tubby as it’s space and size suggests.
Which means more fuel for noise
However, it’s always interesting to see how close the weighbridge gets to the manufacturer’s tare.
This time, after shedding approx 150kg of gubbins, we weighed 1.94t. Half a tank of fuel is about 30kg, and I’m 90kg most days, so that takes it to 1.82t.
Manufacturer tare weight = 1820kg
Pretty damn close, I reckon
For comparison, I looked it up - it’s about 30kg heavier than the much smaller C63AMG and about 120kg lighter than the similar-sized E63AMG, so it’s not quite as tubby as it’s space and size suggests.
Which means more fuel for noise
seabod91 said:
Looks like a Vauxhall signum. Are they a similar body ?. Why do the convicts and the yanks get all the attainable V8’s 
Nope, not a Signum - Aussie designed and built, rwd only. Also bigger than just about any other estate currently sold - E Class sized cabin with more boot space than a Superb estate.Mr Tidy said:
I can't believe I hadn't found this thread before!
That's a great car OP.
I suppose the nearest alternative we got in the UK was the Chrysler 300 SRT wagon, which I really like but really don't need!
That's a great car OP.
I suppose the nearest alternative we got in the UK was the Chrysler 300 SRT wagon, which I really like but really don't need!
GM did try to sell these in the UK as the Vauxhall VXR8 or something similar, but the only V8 wagons that sell there are German. I still reckon if they’d left them badged as HSV, which the VXR8 was, then it might have stood a better chance.
Anyway, mine has the LS3 engine in a tune similar to the 2013 HSV Clubsport. Just in a dull silver body. Think of it as your grandad being able to sprint like Usain Bolt
rix said:
I'd missed the 6 month update - great hear it's still providing grins! It just can't be compared to any euro V8 wagon - so much more charisma!
Thanks - it’s producing more grins over a longer period than I had thought it would. It shouldn’t surprise though, underneath it really is a good car - the basic set up feels right. Not as “Wow!” as the first Ford Focus perhaps but more a sense that the development budget was well-spent in the right areas. Shame it got canned, and wasn’t properly marketed around other GM markets.
In case anyone does import another one to the UK, with 285 wide Michelin PS4Ss on the back and an automatic it is lacklustre, albeit entertaining, in the snow 
Interesting on the weight front, I once had my Monaro weighed after I'd removed ~40-50kg from it. With a full tank and no driver it ended up weighing 5kg MORE than the manufacturer figure I was expecting it to be close to 1600kg with no driver in (as EU kerb weight for them is 1677kg, which includes 75kg for driver / luggage), and it was over 1680
Interesting on the weight front, I once had my Monaro weighed after I'd removed ~40-50kg from it. With a full tank and no driver it ended up weighing 5kg MORE than the manufacturer figure
I was expecting it to be close to 1600kg with no driver in (as EU kerb weight for them is 1677kg, which includes 75kg for driver / luggage), and it was over 1680 It’s been new rear tyres time, again… Whilst it seems to come around quickly it looks like the last pair made it to about 17,000km/10,500mi. Now I’m sure too many that is a ridiculously low number, but to me that’s just fine.
The car gets a hard urban workout, weighs nearly 2t with fuel and driver, and puts over 400bhp through the rear wheels, whilst wearing just 245-section tyres.
So, a new pair of Michelin PS5 went on the front, and the fronts switched to the rear to finish them off - reckon about 2-3000km/2 months life. We’ve got a family road trip planned in a couple of months, so they’ll get changed before that.
Prices have definitely gone up in the last year or so, though. This time was $825 for tyres, fitting and 4-wheel alignment. That’s about $100 up on last time.
But, I think rear tyres have to be seen as an annual/18-month consumable - almost every other service item. Just part of the running costs.
Of course, I could drive differently and try to make them last longer, but where’s the fun in that
The car gets a hard urban workout, weighs nearly 2t with fuel and driver, and puts over 400bhp through the rear wheels, whilst wearing just 245-section tyres.
So, a new pair of Michelin PS5 went on the front, and the fronts switched to the rear to finish them off - reckon about 2-3000km/2 months life. We’ve got a family road trip planned in a couple of months, so they’ll get changed before that.
Prices have definitely gone up in the last year or so, though. This time was $825 for tyres, fitting and 4-wheel alignment. That’s about $100 up on last time.
But, I think rear tyres have to be seen as an annual/18-month consumable - almost every other service item. Just part of the running costs.
Of course, I could drive differently and try to make them last longer, but where’s the fun in that
I managed to kill a pair on the back of my 928 in 5,000km so happy with any improvement on that!
MrsPB’s i30 came with PS4 all round from new and have just been replaced with a set of PS5. Seems to give the same service as PS4 so far but too new to notice durability yet. I like the PS range for it’s all-round ability and will prob stick with them for the foreseeable.
MrsPB’s i30 came with PS4 all round from new and have just been replaced with a set of PS5. Seems to give the same service as PS4 so far but too new to notice durability yet. I like the PS range for it’s all-round ability and will prob stick with them for the foreseeable.
Time for bit of an update. Now on 140,000km, about 87,000mi, and just been serviced. I had it in my head that this car was first registered in April 2016, which would make it 7yo, but I got that wrong - it was registered late-Sept 2016 (July build) so is now still 6-and-a-half years old. Not that an important thing really, but just wanted to get it right!
However that does mean an average of around 21,500km/13,300mi pa which isn’t too shabby.
The other two tyres were replaced in late March so now wearing PS5 all-round. The previous PS4 prob had another 1500km to go before the wear blocks but an impending family trip meant an early change was preferable.
It was at that point I realised the NSR mud flap was missing…
A quick look at the liner shows it’s been ripped out at some point. No idea where or when - so many possibilities - but will look into getting it replaced.
Anyway, tyres fitted, time for another road trip, Gold Coast and Byron Bay this time - 2,300 fully-laden km…
Plus a couple of surfboards on the roof!
Plenty of room inside for all 5 of us though, even if we were a little low at the back…
And we saw a few petrol stations…
But the car was once more faultless on the trip and demonstrated what it was designed for. The car didn’t really notice the weight and just cruised up the steep motorway sections on a tickled throttle.
Petrol use for that trip was around 25mpg overall - lots of freeway kms countered by commuting up/down Gold Coast to the Aquatic Centre for PBJnr2 to do her stuff. Which she did, once more, with aplomb and returned with yet more trinkets.
Just before we went away, a noise developed from the suspension that just couldn’t be found or predicted. Driving full up seemed to get rid of the noise so possibly related to shocks/springs but still letting it develop.
The service was earlier this week and as well as checking all the suspension to confirm nothing loose, it was found that the rear shocks are starting to show signs of wear. They’ll be fine to the next service at 150,000km, and might look at a thicker rear ARB at the same time, to take some of the wallow out of the cornering.
Also discovered was a slightly weeping engine mount, so that’ll be done soon. There’s no noise when driving to indicate the wear but no point waiting.
Especially as I think I’ll be keeping this for another few years at least. It’s a great family car, and I really can’t think of what would replace it for similar money. I’d like a Gen F2 Clubsport wagon but good ones are about double what I’d get for this one, and I’ve got an old German car to run too…
However that does mean an average of around 21,500km/13,300mi pa which isn’t too shabby.
The other two tyres were replaced in late March so now wearing PS5 all-round. The previous PS4 prob had another 1500km to go before the wear blocks but an impending family trip meant an early change was preferable.
It was at that point I realised the NSR mud flap was missing…
A quick look at the liner shows it’s been ripped out at some point. No idea where or when - so many possibilities - but will look into getting it replaced.
Anyway, tyres fitted, time for another road trip, Gold Coast and Byron Bay this time - 2,300 fully-laden km…
Plus a couple of surfboards on the roof!
Plenty of room inside for all 5 of us though, even if we were a little low at the back…
And we saw a few petrol stations…
But the car was once more faultless on the trip and demonstrated what it was designed for. The car didn’t really notice the weight and just cruised up the steep motorway sections on a tickled throttle.
Petrol use for that trip was around 25mpg overall - lots of freeway kms countered by commuting up/down Gold Coast to the Aquatic Centre for PBJnr2 to do her stuff. Which she did, once more, with aplomb and returned with yet more trinkets.
Just before we went away, a noise developed from the suspension that just couldn’t be found or predicted. Driving full up seemed to get rid of the noise so possibly related to shocks/springs but still letting it develop.
The service was earlier this week and as well as checking all the suspension to confirm nothing loose, it was found that the rear shocks are starting to show signs of wear. They’ll be fine to the next service at 150,000km, and might look at a thicker rear ARB at the same time, to take some of the wallow out of the cornering.
Also discovered was a slightly weeping engine mount, so that’ll be done soon. There’s no noise when driving to indicate the wear but no point waiting.
Especially as I think I’ll be keeping this for another few years at least. It’s a great family car, and I really can’t think of what would replace it for similar money. I’d like a Gen F2 Clubsport wagon but good ones are about double what I’d get for this one, and I’ve got an old German car to run too…
SturdyHSV said:
Great to see it's still going and doing it's job 
I didn't think it was actually possible to fill one given how big the boot is, that's some excellent packing! Certainly an engine block looked pretty lost in there by itself
Oh yes, we can fill it!! On the way up it was just me and the young bloke so we put the boards in the car - still had room for two people in the back…I didn't think it was actually possible to fill one given how big the boot is, that's some excellent packing! Certainly an engine block looked pretty lost in there by itself
Though we did find something that wouldn’t quite fit
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