What's a Calais?

[BigNige]

and what marks it out from an HSV or Monaro?

[aussiedude]

A Calais is an upmarket Commodore. It's a Holden car, not a HSV. The Calais is the luxury end of the market. I had a VT Series I Calais back home, just the V6 though. It comes standard with a lot of things you guys have in your Monaro, dual zone climate, 6 disc in dash changer etc. I think the suspension was a bit softer as well, I'm sure someone will put me right though if it isn't. I like to think of it as a tarted up Commodore to be honest, but I loved it as I did major miles between Brisbane and Cairns in it and it was the perfect cruiser, well, cept for it not being a V8..

[HSVGTSCoupe]

Furthermore... The HSV "Senator" is built from a V8 Holden Calais base model, as opposed to the HSV Club Sport models (UK GTS) which use a standard V8 Holden Commodore as the starting point. As the dude says, it's simply a luxury (this just means too heavy in my book!) version of a Holden Commodore.

[motomk]

This will scare you! A Calais with all its luxury gear is actually lighter than a Monaro!!! It would have the same fit out as a Calais.
Don't know how that works!!!!

[aussiedude]

I thought the Clubsport was based on the Berlina model?..or is this just the R8's?

[ringram]

Nope my understanding is the clubsport is based on a Berlina spec as well.

[HSVGTSCoupe]

sorry.. my oversight, I forgot about the Berlina!

The weight difference between Monaro & Calais must be the extra metal where the door gaps would be on a four door! LOL