15K service interval ?

[gavs]

because Holden SV6 are unrefined pieces of junk with a basic engine design that first saw light of day 50 years ago?

Not exactly accurate. The motor in the SV6 is a HFv6 that was designed, engineered, tested and assembled here in Melbourne and is used in marques such as cadillac and Alfa Romeo. Yes, an alfa runs a "piece of junk" Holden V6.

I don't think nearly enough people give Holden credit for what they do. This is why I laugh at people who brag about how they wasted a SS commodore up mountain highway etc. These people have obviously never driven a SS commodore because frankly, it is a pretty bloody good car except for the brakes and will waste anything below a Golf R and even then, there is a fair chance that the latest Redline SS would probably return the "wasting" favour.

It's just a european owner's mentality that they paid a premium for a car that really is a bargain basement piece of junk in europe so they have to make thelselves feel better about it. Yet they are in reverse in Europe and absolutely love the Holden and especially the HSV product being sold over there. I caught 3 mecedes taxis in Europe and they all cost the equivalent of equal to or less than a SV6 commodore here, a Polo GTI is prbably one of the very few euro cars that we get that is almost on par with the EU.

Now, back on topic:

15,000km is fine and has been for the last 10+ years. My Mk4 golf was at 15,000km intervals and that was a '99 build.

[brad]

Yeah that's so true, though it's about time they go to FSI, only 10 years behind the Europeans. Does that mean its another 10 years till they go to TSI? HaHa

For what they are & what they cost (street price not RRP) they are good cars for the job intended. I could never haul my family & their junk around in a Polo or Golf - Holdens & Fords make good family trucksters & if you buy used (2-3yrs old) are cheap. I can't understand why a single person or couple would buy one though unless you have to tow stuff or need the room for other purposes (work gear, rooting, etc)

[brad]

Not exactly accurate. The motor in the SV6 is a HFv6 that was designed, engineered, tested and assembled here in Melbourne and is used in marques such as cadillac and Alfa Romeo. Yes, an alfa runs a "piece of junk" Holden V6.

Yes, the V6 in the Alfa (Brera & 159?) was a shocker too - dumped after 5 years? Alfa did the design of the heads/induction & exhaust work on their version didn't they?

Gavs, I've had bucketloads of Commodores in the driveway - VB, VL, VK, 2x VN, VP Berlina, VR Berlina, VS Berlina , VX S, VE CalaisV & had a few Fords as well (and Toyotas). They do the intended job but they aren't refined and they aren't put together very well either. Even the Australian made Toyotas are a level or 2 above the Holdens & Fords in build quality & refinement.

Yes, you can punt them around pretty quick & I do have a laugh at those that claim to have "smoked em" as i assume in most cases the other driver wasn't even aware they were racing at the time.

i think it's a shame that Holden & Ford haven't changed their product enough to meet customer requirements. The sales charts say it all.

[Transporter]

Sorry guys it's always been 7,500km service for me, short trips and so on. But, even if I would do long trips only; I'd still do the oil change every 7,500km. Why would I trust the VAG engineer who can’t even make reliable DSG transmission? Oh wait, maybe the technology is still too young only +30 years, and it gets even better they can’t even fix them.

For the younger, unaware drivers, the history proven that at least every 10 years VW or MB is taken to court in USA and as always lose the legal battle and pay for the oil sludge and varnish damages on their customers cars. In 80's they called it the black death, in 90's and after 2000 they called it oil sludge and varnish, I don't reall know why they changed the term for it, when it's the same thing. The last time VW lost in court was in 2004. It's all on the net. Surely, if the oil changes would be properly scheduled none of these would happen, wouldn't it?

But hey, if you keep your car for up to 5 years the 15,000km service interval will do. Especially if you don't short trips in city traffic.

I figured out that, if I keep my car up to 150,000km I need extra 40L of engine oil to do the oil change every 7,500km. The reason for longer oil changes is just economical. Many people buy a new car every 5 years or even more often, some fear that it will be too expensive to repair and some just like a new car every few years and they have the budget to do it. The 15k km, 20k km or even longer engine oil changes and the gear oils filled for life will assure that the car doesn't last longer than the car manufacturers want, the aim is probably 5-8 years max. and once the car is out of warranty and needs repairs, it just won't be worth to repair it. How's that for looking after or saving the environment? I think my extra 40L of engine oil or what a heck maybe another 20L for the gear oils, compares quite well to the amount of energy and minerals is wasted to produce more cars, just because the car manufacturers want to get richer.

[pologti18t]

Yeah that's so true, though it's about time they go to FSI, only 10 years behind the Europeans. Does that mean its another 10 years till they go to TSI? HaHa

Commodore is already direct injection. Has been for a few years. And the most powerful version (3,6L) that GM makes pumps out more power - 236kw - than the Passat R36 ever made.
The V6 is also available with a turbo (2.8L V6) found in the old Saab and the Opel Insignia OPC. 240kw/435Nm.

The 3.2L used in the Alfa 159 was ditched because Alfa severed ties with GM about that time. No more 3.2L for them and subsequently the 159 was dropped.

One has to be careful to throw crap at the yanks... they were mucking around with production turbos before VW had given the Beetle more than 50hp. Even stuff like cylinder cutoff they had on a car in 1981! (didn't work all that well but back them ECU were very basic)

Enough of my rant...

[Transporter]

One has to be careful to throw crap at the yanks... they were mucking around with production turbos before VW had given the Beetle more than 50hp. Even stuff like cylinder cutoff they had on a car in 1981! (didn't work all that well but back them ECU were very basic)

Enough of my rant...

I agree, at least the power wise, but when looking at their fit and finish one would vomit. The quality is also quite behind, probably stayed in 80's.

[gavs]

People also seem to forget that it was actually the Japanese that invented the dual charging concept, specifically Nissan/Datsun not VW but that's another story.

Brad, I hear what you are saying and yes they are put together crap but if someone asked my to buy either a commodore/falcon or a VW for the same money basing my decision SOLELY on reliability and not breaking down, hands down, no letter of a lie I would pick the falcon or commodore 100% of the time. I had a VR commodore that ended up doing over 300,000kms and aside from a tailshaft and front shocks in my ownership, that things didn't have any issues. In my current 2012 polo GTI with 32,000kms on it and in 18months of ownership, it has been back under warranty 5 times for the following:

Rear washer valve not closing causing leaks
Front interior light switch not working
Clutches needed replacing after being toast after 8,000kms
Defective Mechatronics unit
Door latches loose and making both passenger doors rattle
Defective software for climate control.

Anyway, again we digress off topic.

"The last time VW lost in court was in 2004."

might be due for another one....

[kam]

because Holden SV6 are unrefined pieces of junk with a basic engine design that first saw light of day 50 years ago? (My wife had a Calais 3 years back - I know exactly what they are like)

I had a 2005 vz calais, 3.6 v6 alloytec 190. i do admit for a brand new engine design, it wasnt the greatest, but with a 9" K&N pod, dual 2.25" catback exhaust and a 3.45 diff from a monaro, it felt like a totally different car. not sure why holden chose 2.75 as the stock ratio, as it was way too long, giving the car no surge off the line at all.

Other than changing the water pump ( i used to do lots of short trips, lived close to work) i had not a single mechanical problem, was quite a nice car, a very comfy cruiser

Also, in regards to the ve ss's, while they are large boats with cheap plastic interiors, they do go really hard, with heaps of torque. Ran into an SS wagon whilst in the Supra the other day, beat it, but was surprised how hard the SS pulled for a stock car !

[Rubbadub]

Thanks for some thoughtful, balanced replies. As a member of a Ford forum (I used to have one, and the wife still does), I get tired of the "other" brands bashing, just because they are not what one is currently driving. Although I love my present machine, and I have had no issues with it so far (touches head), I never had the check/top up oil in any of my near-new Fords.

[nomadx38]

I had a Commodore SS (2001 Gen III) and was the biggest piece of crap I ever had. From the second I bought that car (all my cars are brand new I may add) it had oil consumption issues (more than 1L/1000km) and was told the whole engine had to be rebuilt and would be off the road for 4 weeks due to a design fault. I couldn't be stuffed loosing the car for a month so the car did 130,000km before we pissed it off.

The other major issue was it would chew through the back tyres inner sidewalls every 20,000km (casuing many blowouts on the freeways) Again from purchase was told it was a design fault of the car and to fix the problem would have to buy the "sports suspension package" costing 5000$ to fix the problem. They would not do it under warrantee. Amongst other things, 2 differentials were replaced, both at 60,000kmh. A power steering pump at 90,000 that left us stranded up at mt buller, and a traction control system that's worse than my faulty DSG leaving me stranded in intersections without drive under any wet condition. In all, the worst car I ever had.

On the other hand also had a ford territory. In 250,000km didn't have any serious problem. Yes it had its recalls like all cars but they were done at the services. The car never left me stranded unlike the commodore and was never off the road for major repairs like the commodore.

Really my point been people get lucky with cars and some don't. My brother bought a polo 77tsi just like me (both arrived on the same boat and same day) but black not silver and has had no problems, I have had DSG and clutch issues and he has no feeling for cars. In cold wether he starts it and has the pedal to the floor to the end of the street. It's just the luck of the draw.