{"id":6138,"date":"2024-03-21T13:10:07","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T00:10:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/?p=6138"},"modified":"2024-03-21T13:10:07","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T00:10:07","slug":"a-guide-to-buying-a-second-hand-holden-commodore-in-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/a-guide-to-buying-a-second-hand-holden-commodore-in-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Buying a Second-Hand Holden Commodore in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Holden may no longer be producing new cars, but the Holden Commodore remains a familiar sight on New Zealand roads.&nbsp; Renowned for its spacious interior, powerful engines, and (once) competitive pricing, it&#8217;s a tempting option for used car buyers. However, with Holden&#8217;s exit from the market in 2017, navigating the used Commodore market requires some extra research. This blog post equips you with the knowledge to find a reliable second-hand Holden Commodore in New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Safety First: The Commodore&#8217;s ANCAP Rating<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Safety should be your top priority. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) crash-tests vehicles and assigns safety ratings. Most Holden Commodore models manufactured after 2008 achieved a 5-star ANCAP safety rating, thanks to features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and more airbags. Earlier models (pre-2008) might have a 4-star rating. It&#8217;s advisable to prioritize models from 2008 onwards for the best safety features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Holden&#8217;s Aftermarket Support: A Consideration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Holden&#8217;s closure, parts availability and servicing costs might be a concern for some buyers. While Holden parts are still readily available through independent suppliers and wreckers, it&#8217;s worth factoring in potential future costs when considering a used Commodore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Mechanical Reliability and Common Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Holden Commodores have a mixed reputation for reliability. Here are some common issues to watch out for in a second-hand Commodore, depending on the model year:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Commodore (VT-VZ) 1997-2004:<\/strong> These earlier models might have issues with the transmission, particularly the automatic gearbox. Listen for slipping or hesitation when changing gears.<\/li><li><strong>Commodore (VE-VF) 2004-2017:<\/strong> Oil leaks can be a common issue in some VE and VF Commodores. Check the engine bay for signs of leakage around the engine block and valve cover gasket.<\/li><li><strong>Holden Commodore (WM) Wagon Specific:<\/strong> The earlier WM wagon models (2005-2007) can suffer from rear suspension bushing wear, leading to a loose and wobbly feeling at the rear.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strengths and Weaknesses of the Holden Commodore<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Strengths:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Spacious Interior:<\/strong> The Commodore offers a comfortable and roomy interior with ample legroom and headroom, making it a good choice for families.<\/li><li><strong>Powerful Engines:<\/strong> Many Commodore models boast powerful V8 engines, offering satisfying performance, especially for the SS variants.<\/li><li><strong>Value for Money:<\/strong> Used Commodores can be a good value proposition, offering a lot of car for the money compared to some competitors.<\/li><li><strong>Handling:<\/strong> Later Commodore models (VE onwards) offered improved handling and a more engaging driving experience.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Weaknesses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Fuel Economy:<\/strong> The Commodore&#8217;s larger engines can be thirsty, especially with V6 options. Consider a four-cylinder model for better fuel efficiency.<\/li><li><strong>Aftermarket Support:<\/strong> With Holden&#8217;s closure, parts availability and servicing costs might be a concern for some buyers.<\/li><li><strong>Interior Quality:<\/strong> The Commodore&#8217;s interior materials might feel less premium compared to some Japanese rivals.<\/li><li><strong>Ride Quality:<\/strong> Earlier Commodore models (pre-VE) can have a slightly firmer ride quality, especially on rough roads.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> This blog post is based on general information and the reviewer&#8217;s opinion. It is not an exhaustive guide and should not be considered a substitute for a professional inspection or mechanical advice. My Auto Shop does not endorse any specific vehicle or make any claims about the condition of any particular car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Final Word<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Holden Commodore remains a tempting option for used car buyers seeking a spacious, powerful, and well-equipped car. However, with Holden&#8217;s exit from the market, consider the potential for slightly higher servicing costs in the future. By prioritizing models with good safety ratings (post-2008), being aware of common issues for specific model years, and weighing the strengths and weaknesses, you&#8217;ll be well-equipped to find a reliable second-hand Holden Commodore that meets your needs. Remember to get a pre-purchase inspection from a qualified mechanic before finalizing your decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"864\" height=\"288\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PPI-Banner-Blog.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PPI-Banner-Blog.png 864w, https:\/\/assets.myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PPI-Banner-Blog-600x200.png 600w, https:\/\/assets.myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/uploads\/2024\/03\/PPI-Banner-Blog-768x256.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Holden may no longer be producing new cars, but the Holden Commodore remains a familiar sight on New Zealand roads.&nbsp; Renowned for its spacious interior, powerful engines, and (once) competitive pricing, it&#8217;s a tempting option for used car buyers. However, with Holden&#8217;s exit from the market in 2017, navigating the used Commodore market requires some [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"single-wrapped-thumbnail.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-6138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buying-selling-guide"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6138"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6138"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6138\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6140,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6138\/revisions\/6140"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6138"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=6138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}