Monaro Engine Problem and Parts Supply
Discussion
Im a 45 year old businessman with 30 years of experience within the motortrade. I have a small but successful Family run rural garage business of some 25years trading,including specialising in classic and specialist cars and engineering.I have participated in various forms of motorsport and held a motorsport licence for 14years,I am also an A.R.D.S trained and an approved racing instructor.
The reason for my email to you is id like to bring to your attention the problems with the Vauxhall Monaro VXR.
I was impressed by the Monaro as I always like interesting muscule cars.So at the end of 2006 I purchased a VXR. A few problems with engine noise arose which at first were dismissed as normal, by Vauxhall. As an engineer I knew the engine was faulty and returned it 3 more times for assessment. They finally agreed to replace the engine complete, under warranty for which I and the dealer agreed.A week later the dealer after stripped most of the engine for removal then found they had been sent a LS1 5.7 litre engine instead of the LS2 6.0litre engine.The dealer then said they would get the correct engine.This is where it gets interesting...........The phones went quiet for a few days.After a few calls it appeared the engine was on back order from the factory,no problem I thought I know this happens all the time within the motortrade.Then they said they couldn't get an engine from Holden at all???? Why i asked, its one of the most common engines used in the USA and Australia????They couldn't really tell me.So I rang Vauxhalls customer care to ask what was going on.After talking to most of Budapest and Hungary call centres!!!with no response.I also emailed vauxhall u/k,no response! (Try Vauxhalls customer care numbers its a Joke! )I called the dealer again.I then finally after a few days got a call from Vauxhalls VXR specialist field engineer,He told me that Holden hadn't got any engines and couldn't supply,The best they could offer was a block and pistons and get the dealer to rebuild it!!! The dealer and I definitely obviously did not want to go that route! as the onuses on the rebuild if any further problems would be on the dealer,and it would be most uneconomical anyway.I tried to explain that to customer care again and got no response!again! After finally getting through to the VXR engineer again myself,he then began to tell me that Holden don't produce that engine anymore,so cant supply one,and its obsolete !!!??? All Vauxhall is prepared to offer is rebuilding the old unit. I found that most disturbing as id been looking into buying the new VXR8 with the same LS2 engine in! The fact that I can circumnavigate and supply them with as many brand new LS2 engines in a GM crates in 5 working days at a cost of £4250 plus vat and duty each,albiet via the USA,doesn't seem to cut ice at Vauxhall.(I know Vauxhall has the contract with Holden Austrailia but this was just to prove that there are plenty of LS2 engines in the world! which we all know that!)
I have been told that this is not an isolated incident and Holden are being most awkward with there contract of supplying parts to Vauxhall U/K.This brings me to the question if Holden are holding out on parts supply,surely there in breach of contract and they shouldn't be sending there cars here without parts backup??As ive said this is not an isolated incident.I also notice VXR forums also have alot of unhappy customers and complaints of poor dealer backup.Im so very disappointed in what ive heard, as we all know the VXR is a superb car.But who will want a VXR in the future if parts supply is a problem,and what will this do for their depreciation? Although Im grateful of a hire car from Vauxhall my VXR has now been off the road 3weeks and getting it back repaired satisfactory looks very unlikely.
Your sensible comments would be welcome as Vauxhall,Holden and VXR all appear to be nonchalant and not interested in these cars or their customers that buy them.
To date no one from Vauxhalls Main Customer Care U/K Luton has bothered to speak to me.
Yours Sincerely Dennis Robinson MD
Actually Holden have never supplied a car with an LS2 in it. HSV on the other hand do. Vauxhall will need to contact HSV rather than Holden I suspect, which Im sure they know anyway...
You might like to arrange the work to be costed and then supply direct from the states? Or just ask for a full refund if they cannot supply/repair?
You might like to arrange the work to be costed and then supply direct from the states? Or just ask for a full refund if they cannot supply/repair?
I used to visit Unipart in Oxford years ago, the guy there said that manufacturers had to keep spares for 10 years after a model had gone out of production,
On honestjohn.co.uk I found this
Manufacturers are obliged to provide reasonable parts back-up for vehicles up to 10 years old. Spares for older vehicles have to be made in batches, so if you need something when a batch has run out, it can spell trouble. For the past 10 years at least, production parts for cars have been made on a just-in-time basis. Enough parts are made today for tomorrow's assembly. No production parts are stored because that equates to dead money. If a car has an inherent problem and new steering arms are required, there is no facility to produce them at the drop of a hat. The alternative would be for every buyer of every car to pay a subsidy for sufficient parts to be kept in store for their car to be repaired instantly over a 10-year period.
Your contract is with Vauxhall not HSV, so Vauxhall are responsible.
On honestjohn.co.uk I found this
Manufacturers are obliged to provide reasonable parts back-up for vehicles up to 10 years old. Spares for older vehicles have to be made in batches, so if you need something when a batch has run out, it can spell trouble. For the past 10 years at least, production parts for cars have been made on a just-in-time basis. Enough parts are made today for tomorrow's assembly. No production parts are stored because that equates to dead money. If a car has an inherent problem and new steering arms are required, there is no facility to produce them at the drop of a hat. The alternative would be for every buyer of every car to pay a subsidy for sufficient parts to be kept in store for their car to be repaired instantly over a 10-year period.
Your contract is with Vauxhall not HSV, so Vauxhall are responsible.
Contracturally they are obliged to replace faulty components only under Warranty.
As these individual components form part of a larger single item the cost effective route was to supply and fit a replacement engine.
It is not your problem who is responsible for the warranty on any work done on your car so whatever option works will be the best one for you.
Just out of interest have you tried suggesting the dealer contacts an Australian dealer to source an HSV engine, then hand those details on to the VXR team.
Good Luck.
As these individual components form part of a larger single item the cost effective route was to supply and fit a replacement engine.
It is not your problem who is responsible for the warranty on any work done on your car so whatever option works will be the best one for you.
Just out of interest have you tried suggesting the dealer contacts an Australian dealer to source an HSV engine, then hand those details on to the VXR team.
Good Luck.
V8 EOL - Rich said:
Or a LS7?!
Seriously though... I dread the day mine goes wrong and I have to go and see Vauxhall.
Finish this: You pay peanuts (comparatively speaking) you get...
You'll be out of warranty soon anyway (if not already). Seriously though... I dread the day mine goes wrong and I have to go and see Vauxhall.
Finish this: You pay peanuts (comparatively speaking) you get...
I've not heard of any LS1 problems on here but quite a few LS2 issues. Are LS2s really more failure prone? The LS1 is more mature for sure...
To be fair I've had no problems. Motorbodies in Luton have sorted me out with a new steering rack, new door seal, new rear fog light and new wing mirror in the past and all within just a few days. I guess I was lucky that all of those were held in stock locally. It does seem plain bizarre that they can't get their act together and get an LS2 for you. Is it just the fact that they don't know that they should be talking to HSV?
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