Holden VN Commodore - We Love it!

[@markbehr88]

Here is the latest episode in the Holden Commodore Auto History Series - the VN. What do you think of the VN? Did you own one? Please be sure to check out the playlists for more episodes and please Like👍 and Subscribe for more old car history. Thanks for watching. 👍

[@tonybennett638]

Love you're work mate..

[@markbehr88]

@@tonybennett638 Thank you. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​@@markbehr88 momo steering wheels had airbag ?

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​​​@@markbehr88toyota lexen why its a bl#%dy holden commodore

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@markbehr88 Absolutely but the entry was AU$40,500.00 in 2024 dollars!!!! And we see why Olden left our shores....... And that was the base Executive? No wonder GM & Co left our shores earlier and later. Madness. Great video & info as usual. Keep these coming Mark.

[@danielsulics711]

I've owed 4 VNs over my time. I've still have my 1990 VN SS atlas grey commodore. Love it

[@markbehr88]

@@danielsulics711 You’re lucky to have the SS. 👍

[@marklittle3551]

@@danielsulics711 All the stars aligned with the VN SS.

[@paulsz6194]

@@danielsulics711 don’t ya wish you still kept it , now?

[@danielsulics711]

@@paulsz6194 I still have my VN SS

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

Loved this car. Had a manual and shifting felt like driving a tank. Anything over 2000rpm felt like the engine was flying apart. Only thing I had to do at 330,000 k's was replace the coilpack (cost about $20 used). She finally died when I got a smashed windscreen & hidden pillar rust meant it couldnt be replaced. Great car.

[@markbehr88]

@@muppetb.lansing8374 Good to hear. 👍

[@mockbattles]

My dad bought one with the 5-spd manual in NZ made at the Trentham plant. He still has it!

[@markbehr88]

@@mockbattles Nice. 👍

[@holdenbrougham1056]

The best thing that happened to Holden was the introduction of the VN, just brilliant compared to all commodore before it

[@2DogsVlogs]

They are so quiet yet powerful in wagon form. We used to have one as a school car. Easily fit 3 kids comfortably in the cargo area. Way better than the VK our VN replaced. The VK was rattly and squeaky even in Calais form. The VN was just an Executive but felt so much more refined.

[@markbehr88]

@@holdenbrougham1056 It was certainly the right size. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@2DogsVlogs A lot more space and power. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

Brilliant is pushing the envelope. Size increase was much needed and their incredible take off was often a liability to steady safe driving. Holden were often mediocre where Ford strived to offer a more home grown product that met our wants and needs but often stuffed up the execution. Ford were usually ahead with innovation. Holden were forced to adopt what Ford came up with.

[@Dylan_Mulvaney_OFFICIAL]

And the injected 5litre.

[@robbiemontgomery3441]

Nice story Mark. Those original 3.8s were grunty but rough. I remember the first batch, which were imported, had a top radiator hose that was about 3 feet long. This was because the yank version was an East/ West installation

[@markbehr88]

@@robbiemontgomery3441 Thanks very much. Yes, you are right re those hoses. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

Another sign it was rushed into production. I wouldn’t touch an 80s VN or EA.

[@markbehr88]

@ Even a V8 VN?

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@markbehr88 I’ll exempt that. 304 was a good motor and if an 88 or 89 is still in good nick, I’ll put it down to a Monday to Thursday car.

[@markbehr88]

@ Fair enough 👍

[@CH6P23]

These VN’s were exciting when they came out. In later years I bought a VN 5 litre ex police BT1 model, it went very hard and had headlights that would light up the whole road

[@markbehr88]

@@CH6P23 Agree. The BT1 would have been a good car. I had a VP BT1 cancelled order as a company car as no IRS fitted. 👍

[@Dylan_Mulvaney_OFFICIAL]

This was a fantastically done video on the VN, thanks for your research Mark.

[@markbehr88]

@@Dylan_Mulvaney_OFFICIAL Thanks very much. 👍

[@geraldwimmer7710]

Great video Mark, me and my sons really enjoyed this one probably because we are a holden family with 7 Holdens (4 wagons) between us currently. From my first HK to our current VR (that we have had for ages) is a big evolution and then to our newer Holdens makes the old VR seem ancient too. I have the Holden book on the development of the VN and it seems a pivotal moment in Holden's history where it paved the way for the popular VT-VZ series that sold so well with largest choice of body styles and options.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. The VN was a make or break car for Holden. 👍

[@biastv1234]

I was also there at Bathurst. Fantastic feral weekend , we had a scanner and were able to listen to the pit crews

[@markbehr88]

@@biastv1234 Very cool. 32 years ago! 🫣

[@NVintage]

Great Video Mark! Always loved the sound of those Iron Lion V8s!

[@markbehr88]

@@NVintage Thanks. Yes a great engine. 👍

[@anthonybollini]

Mark in 1993 I had the pleasure of being to fisherman's fisherman's bend to build their new paint facilities onto the manufacturing facility for Holden Holden we were part of a multi-prong process to eliminate hydrocarbons from the atmosphere and painting systems so I went to a a water-based paint system does the distler or you would call BASF the ovens that were used in that facility were manufactured in the United States but assembled in Australia we had two other contracts there we did the Toyota plant near Sydney and we also went to Thailand for 6 months I remember them working on the buck models and getting the painting services to be corrected on your Commodores that was an experience I'll never forget

[@markbehr88]

@@anthonybollini Very interesting. Good to hear about some of the behind the scenes aspects of the factory. 👍

[@aus80srockradio94]

Yes I owned a 2/90 VN Exec auto and my wife disliked the thing with a passion. Sure, plenty of low down torque, at the expensive of NVH & wheel spin. But my goodness, the brakes...... wow. Very ordinary. And more rattles than a wealthy persons baby!! Bought it in January 1994 with 54000 klms, for $16000 & sold it 13 months later with 72000 klms for $15000, so that not so bad. At the time, in early '94, I really would have loved a manual EB Falcon, but these for me at the time were over budget at around $20000 asking & I didn't really want to buy an EA, even though they were a much better (and still are) looking thing! I do have soft spot for an Atlas Grey manual VN SS I have to admit, a nice car indeed! Thanks Mark for once again and exceptional & informative video.

[@markbehr88]

@@aus80srockradio94 Thanks. Glad you liked it. I wouldn’t mind a grey SS to keep my EB V8 Ghia company. 😀

[@anthonybollini]

Mark in 1993 I had the pleasure of being to fisherman's band assembling their their paint facilities for the new water-based for the water-based system I remember seeing the the body bucks being tested for painting services I thought they were stunning compared to what we had in the states at the time although the Impala was the closest that we would have had to your vehicle that would have the same shape and format even though it's a larger bigger vehicle it's a your experience is pleasurable thank you very much

[@markbehr88]

@@anthonybollini Thanks very much. Glad you enjoyed it. That would have been a very interesting job. 👍

[@dornworks]

thanks for the history lesson. i drive a 89 vn wagon - hsv yellow auto , lsd and fcp 14 turbine wheels. 353kms, all original except on 3rd transmission - lately get 450km’s / tank. ran for 13 yrs on lpg. Now on premium 98 and she always has mobil1 oil. rare spares are now stocking replacement parts like front and rear lights, which are enabling her to look almost new again. interior plastics are now very brittle.

[@AdamAus85]

Are those replacement lights made by TYC? You'd think folks would still prefer OE lights. Is that transmission known to have issues or what? I know my EF Fairmont and it's BTR 4 speed were pretty robust if you kept on top of servicing. One of my current cars is an 01 525i which has over 400 000km on the original engine and 5 speed ZF.

[@markbehr88]

@@dornworks Still going strong. 👍

[@khylerin70]

Epic vid this time, very informative and worthwhile 👍. Thanks for the trouble you go to producing these thoroughly enjoyable videos with your insight 👍.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. 👍

[@wafive]

The first VN I experienced, was a Series one VN Berlina, owned by a mates father. Those series one V6s sure did feel snappy. My Grandparents purchased an ex Government (40,000 km) VN series 2 executive. its' 3.8 did not feel quite as sharp as the series one. The VN was a revelation to my Grandmother, they were coming out of a KC Centrura, that would stall until it warmed up. The EFI VN was a Godsend, get in, turn the key, and go. First car they ever had with Air Conditioning and power steering (Their 1966 Rambler Classic might have had P/S, but they sold that car in 73 and I just cannot recall). My first VN was a 5.0 VQ Statesman, it was a lovely car. it replaced my 88 DA LTD. The VN felt every bit as big in the front seat as the EA IMHO. The roll in on the glass / pillars of the EA onwards Falcon make them feel a bit tighter than the VN to me. Seemed to have more elbow room on the outside than the EA. I loved my VQ. It certainly went better than my DA.... Just on the 3.9 multi point in the DA, it felt a lot more doughy than any 3.8 V6 I have ever been in. To be fair, my 3.9 was in a much heavier car and hampered by a 3 speed auto. THe 3.9 felt much nicer up high. Loved the sound it made (stock) when it got up in the rev range.

[@markbehr88]

@@wafive Yes the early VNs were quick. Good point re what people were trading in. Yes, the 3 speed auto would have hampered the LTD. 👍

[@wafive]

@@markbehr88 They didn't trade the Centura, I got my filthy hands on it, and replaced the 245 auto with a 265, 4 speed... only thing quicker than the car, was the rust that ended up eating it.. what is left, remains in the back paddock.

[@markbehr88]

@ It would have been a rocket in a straight line. 😀👍

[@Low760]

I love the vn story. This has done it justice. The book, project vn is something I've read multiple times over. I love the vn group a and what they did on a small budget.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. I have that book too somewhere. 👍

[@Low760]

​@@markbehr88the zf 6 speed in the group a was used in the zr1 corvette and the lotus omega Carlton too.

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes, I remember it was in the ZR1.

[@JimmyShields-z2h]

Like history of VN, especially dealerships models that were offer in limited numbers. My favourite was SS Group A, It was first car poster on the wall of my bedroom, unfortunately it aged, i wish i could get reprint or laminated but always dream of owning one. Maloo would been nice to have, also i knew 2 families that HSV SE5000 in white at same high school.

[@markbehr88]

@@JimmyShields-z2h Thanks. Pretty cool cars. Hard to think it was so long ago now. Seems like pretty recent times memories wise. 👍

[@orencikspor]

Never forget as a 20 year old on a night out in Sydney back in eqrly 90s. A friend of a freind had a burgundy group A. After the nightclub we were at lights near Stanmore McDonald's on Parramatta Rd. The lights turned green and he planted it. Been a holden man ever since 😁

[@markbehr88]

@@orencikspor Those memories stay with you. 👍

[@Jazz_Tamatea]

Wow man, I can picture that exact car at that exact location as I know it very well. So many cars used to launch it on Parra Rd coming back from the city on the weekends ay haha. Cool memory 👍🏾. I'm now taking a massive but awesome trip down memory lane myself 😊.

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes. Me too. 👍

[@vxii4u]

Another great video Mark with fascinating insight. As you mentioned a big investment by GM that secured Holden's future for 30yrs. I have the book Project VN by Pedr & Tony Davis which details the VN's development as well as car design & manufacturing in general. Kinda sad flicking through the pages with all those talented engineers & workers designing & building Aussie cars for us to enjoy. I'd love an SV89 in my garage; those white Walky wheels, group A looking front bumper & plush mulberry interior are a highlight.

[@markbehr88]

@@vxii4u Thanks very much. Agreed. 👍

[@reitsmaassociates]

❤ the VN , was our family’s first commodore after a string of Falcons - In 1989 my parents took delivery of a new Atlas grey VN SS - as a 19 year old this was quite the cool car to drive ( when they let me have the keys ) great Australian car times . fabulous review Mark as always - cheers from the SunshineCoast

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. That would have been a great family car. I bet you wish you still had it? 👍

[@reitsmaassociates]

Sure do Mark , My parents later replaced it with a black VP - with the ugly cool turbine wheels . VN to my eyes was the pick :) cheers

[@markbehr88]

@ 👍That almost sounds like a Panther mica VR with the Berlina wheels? 🤔

[@michaelhart5886]

I remember as a then 12 yr old my neighbour bringing home a VN berlina 5.0 v8. Had distinctive plastic wheel covers. I was in awe of it as a kid

[@markbehr88]

@@michaelhart5886 Very cool. 👍

[@richardscicluna7068]

In 1988, I was a first year apprentice at Holdens Engine Company. We had a fellow apprentice who's dad happened to be high up at Holden. He got hold of a VN Calais, that had been tested by a magazine. We couldn't believe how quick the V6 was, compared with a VL-V8 Calais. They were good times.

[@markbehr88]

@@richardscicluna7068 Yes. I am sure a V6 VN would eat a VL V8. 👍

[@Eric-kn4yn]

​​@@markbehr88what was the 0 to100 kph now im curious.

[@markbehr88]

@ I would guess about 8 seconds ora little better. 👍

[@richardscicluna7068]

@markbehr88 The VN Calais was very rough. It may have been a special early car that was released to the press. I remember a lot of rattles in the interior. The car had been punished. It felt good being in a totally new car without any other car on the road like it.

[@stevewilson6352]

Had a VN Calais V6. Pale green. Massive improvement over my VR Berlina. Quick, quiet, great motorway cruiser.

[@markbehr88]

@@stevewilson6352 Very cool. I liked them too 👍

[@noelgibson5956]

The VN was an improvement over the VR??

[@markbehr88]

@ Maybe VL? 🤔

[@meirionwilliams-w1p]

I love these old aussie ford and holden videos. Awesome work mark

[@markbehr88]

@@meirionwilliams-w1p Thanks very much. 👍

[@thelandofnod123]

Both the VN and the EA announced the future had arrived, finally.

[@markbehr88]

And now it is the past. 😀

[@thelandofnod123]

@@markbehr88 Nooooooooooooooo. In this time we had the VN, the EA, EXPO 88, the F/A-18 arriving, the PC-9/A replacing the MB-326, Commodore 64 being dominant, Beyond 2000 was a prime time show, Tony Barber was issuing Commodores and Houses, the future had finally arrived and everything turned to great.

[@markbehr88]

@@thelandofnod123 I remember it well. Plus, the USS Missouri paid Sydney Harbour a visit and I went to see it. And, I bought a 1977 Lincoln MKV (my favourite car) which I still have 👍

[@thelandofnod123]

@@markbehr88 Noice.👍

[@markbehr88]

@ 👍

[@bossdog1480]

Now yer talkin'. This was where I got interested in Commodores. I thought the VN was a really sleek nice V6 powered machine. It was a decent size as well. The Americans for some reason offered this engine in front wheel drive in their comparable models.

[@markbehr88]

@@bossdog1480 Glad you liked it. 👍

[@paulsz6194]

@@bossdog1480 Apparently they configured it as a FWD because it gave ONE extra mile per gallon over a RWD equivalent.

[@MrLeslloyd]

I did a stint driving Cabs in Perth,must have been '91,I was assigned a brand new VN which was the first "factory" fitted with LPG conversion by Holden,I remember I had to take it into Holdens office in West Perth for a checkover and report every now and then.It did break down once,they came out only to discover that a passenger had sat down and slid his business case alongside his left leg.Apparently they had placed an on-off tap up under the glove box and that had turned the gas supply off.I remember the rear pads were metal on metal at 53k km.We used to run up near on 700-800km a day average and the tech was excited by this.

[@markbehr88]

@@MrLeslloyd Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@SpeedyTheKiwi]

Great content Mark! Can't wait for your Holden VP Series upload particularly any data you dig up on the HSV VP Senators ❤

[@markbehr88]

@@SpeedyTheKiwi Thanks very much. Stay tuned and Subscribed! 😀👍

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

Got to drive the Opel GSi OG version when we visited family in the UK. The car felt far more tighter body wise (more spot welds? Bracing? Not sure), engine & transmission felt smoother and more refined, although I feel the VN interior pipped the Opel for style and space. I still have a soft spot for the Buick V6, it's a great little motor when it has been looked after (and great fun when you strap a pair of turbos to it!)

[@markbehr88]

@@maxrockatanksyOG Interesting. I guess the Opel is a narrower car too so that may explain part of the integrity issue. Agree re the Buick engine. 👍

[@Melbournelost66]

My father had a red VN wagon. He was a rep, and it was a great car.

[@markbehr88]

@@Melbournelost66 Yes. I had quite a few wagons. 👍

[@jonathanrabbitt]

I used to do summer holiday work at Elizabeth during the VN thru VS. I remember being at the end of the line when the VN Group As were rolling off the line, looking like Executives with the bonnet bulge. I also remember going for a rip in a V6 manual that was the company car of ine if the engineers there. Nice trip down memory lane with this video. I did one summer in the hardware press shop banging out spring seats and other bracketz and two summers in the old paint shop, demasking the window frames and denibbing paint before reflow. That Phoenix Red of the SS would turn pink if we laid into it too hard with the 2000 grit. More than a few had to be repainted.

[@markbehr88]

@@jonathanrabbitt Very interesting. 👍

[@daveanaru3038]

In New Zealand, the V6 Commodore totally outclassed the EA Falcon. I heard that the EA was released in a hurry because Ford knew that Holden had a competitive model about to be offered. The EA bombed.

[@markbehr88]

@@daveanaru3038 The EA did quite well in Australia but the VN generally outsold it. There were early quality issues but most sorted by Series 2. Check out my EA episode for more info. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

Both cars released too soon. At least Holden had a four speed auto although it was straight from the GM parts bin in the states. Ford sourced theirs locally with teething issues and worn tooling at the BTR plant.

[@khylerin70]

@@daveanaru3038 😄😄😄 here too, don't worry 😄😄

[@khylerin70]

@@jamesfrench7299 after the 3.0 Nissan engine with 4 speed auto, buyer's were never going to accept anything less than overdrive auto. I loved the VL, the first VNs were rough up high, even new. The RB30 engine was smooth 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@khylerin70 Holden set a benchmark featuring a four speed overdrive transmission with locking torque converter. This had been pretty much the norm in America from earlier in the decade, so Australia was seriously behind having a tri speed slush box as our typical auto. The Jatco four speed automatic transaxle in my March of 1989 KE Laser Ghia trim level has locking up stage at 70km/h results in revs dropping from 2250rpm to 1750.

[@adingo8mybaby]

Great vid. I love your insight and knowledge.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. 👍

[@OLDS98]

This one was quite good. I saw the 3800 V6 and the story behind the 3800 V6 in Australia in your video. I had no idea Holden was in such sad shape during this time. The VL was a game changer indeed. What was interesting it was based on Opel Omega and the platform was modified. I knew they did that for the Commodore after this generation that came out in 1997. They lengthened and widened the platform. It is called utilizing your resources. This car was as long as front wheel drive 1988-1996 GM W Body car. That was big as a Oldsmobile a Cutlass Supreme. It was a large car in Australia and midsized in the United States. Thank you for talking about The Button Plan. I have seen the Toyota based Holdens and the Holden based Toyotas. funny GM was selling a Toyota Camry(Apollo) and competed against it. I thank you for the photos. I liked hearing about the New Zealand Holden story and the connection to Singapore as well. I thought your work experiences were interesting. The loaded Calais was nice to see. We had a Cadillac Calais up to 1975-1976 then a Oldsmobile Calais until 1991. The Holden Calais has the features. They had a lot of editions didn't they? I look forward to hearing about Caprice and Stateman later . Good video Mark.

[@markbehr88]

@@OLDS98 Thanks Olds98. There was a lot to put in this one. 👍

[@OLDS98]

@@markbehr88 Oh, yes I noticed. It is a great video especially for all you covered.

[@markbehr88]

@ Thank you. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@ Thank you. 👍

[@davidburnette5158]

Thanks again Mark! I'm still enjoying learning Aussie automotive history! I wish I had a white VN SS to match my VF SS!

[@markbehr88]

@@davidburnette5158 Thanks. Glad you’re enjoying them. 👍

[@gregharvie3896]

Hi Mark, considering how many were made, you barely ever see them on the road anymore. That Buick 3800 V6 is deemed to be one of the best ever engines made by any carmaker ever. I remember reading in some publication when they were new that part of the basic roughness came from the fact that in the USA this newer version of this engine was redesigned in the USA as an east/west fitment in the engine bay, however of course we were mounting them north/south in the engine bay by doing this it gave the engine a kind of strange oscillation or vibration.

[@barrycuda3769]

Did the 3800 v6 get more refined in later models ? , because I'd have to say,the v6 in my VX Commodore is very smooth and quiet.

[@markbehr88]

@@gregharvie3896 Yes, they are not common any more that is true, but then, what old car is? XF Falcons were everywhere and now, you rarely see them. TheAU is probably the most durable of old cars? The engine was harsh but did get better from series 2. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@barrycuda3769 Yes, from Series 2 it was better. 👍

[@gregharvie3896]

@@barrycuda3769 Yes GMH's engineering engine division put heart & soul into refining the engine for north/south fitment in engine bay, the early cars were a little more rough as time was against GMH to get the VN launched and stop paying big dollars for the Datsun/Nissan engines as there was a bad YEN-AUD exchange rate. So early cars had engines initially shipped from USA, then made here but absolute copies of the front wheel drive east/west configured engines, one of the things that needed to be changed was the internal water ports as they were bigger on the rearward side of the FWD engines, as harder to cool the block on the firewall side, so dramatic changes were made by GMH-A to get it perfect..

[@barrycuda3769]

@gregharvie3896 Interesting, thanks.

[@a8nb462]

Fantastic video Mark.....🏆

[@markbehr88]

@@a8nb462 Thank you. 👍

[@joyfuldivision64]

Absolutely love the VN SS, the spoiler makes the car, had a relative own one back in the day as his first car, plenty fast for 4 year old me... would kill to own one today..

[@markbehr88]

@@joyfuldivision64 Agree. Great looking car. 👍

[@chrispiyarat5507]

Thanks again Mark. Great work!

[@markbehr88]

@@chrispiyarat5507 Thank you. 👍

[@michaelmarchei8539]

Ahh soo many memories , seeing dad bring home his van company car. And the group A as a kid was like seeing g Jesus

[@markbehr88]

Very cool. 👍

[@gdawwg1125]

Love your chanel Its great to get the facts from someone who knows what they are talking about

[@markbehr88]

@@gdawwg1125 Thanks very much. 👍

[@area51isreal71]

Thanks again Mark for a ripper video. I know the VN was very important for Holden at the time, real sink or swim stuff. I remember the first time I drove one, it was about six months old and it felt like it had covered 600,000 k's. Rough noisy engine with heaps of vibration. A huge HR size steering wheel and grey plastic bumpers and hubcaps only added to the appeal. On top of that the carry over of the previous models front track made it look even more awkward.

[@jamesfrench7299]

My dad got one as a stand by taxi when his EA 2 was off the road and he didn’t like it.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks. Despite all this they sold very well. I enjoyed driving mine. 👍

[@markbehr88]

I think Falcon had 80% of the taxi market. 👍

[@richardayrton3608]

Yup SV5000 and Group A the pick unfortunately I don’t have either just a low km 3.8 sedan executive with a set of SV wheels. Have other cars that are V8s and way quicker but for some reason I enjoy driving the VN, Response is good quick off the mark but runs out of puff. Good thing is a stab on the gas doesn’t risk the loss of your license 😂 it’s just a good easy cheap cruise car if your into old cars! And the style has grown on me over the years. VS was my favourite.

[@markbehr88]

@@richardayrton3608 Sometimes the standard cars are just plain fun. 👍

[@jimclarke1108]

I took one for a test drive, 5.0i SS 5 speed manual, brand new. zero complaints (had to buy the bosses lunch) GMH dealer

[@markbehr88]

@@jimclarke1108 👍

[@dan.m.e6259]

The only car I feared being a passenger in as a kid. Terrible handling in the wet.

[@markbehr88]

@@dan.m.e6259 I had a lot of practice. 😀

[@Shoomn9809]

Hey Mark love the video I have a vn commodore in the formula blue it's called sports blue the car was a special build from reg hunt in Victoria has a build plate on the radiator support

[@markbehr88]

@@Shoomn9809 Very cool. Definitely a keeper. 👍

[@Shoomn9809]

Have you got messanger ill send you some pics if u like

[@markbehr88]

@ [e-mail]

[@darrylfletcher2760]

Great video Mark 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@darrylfletcher2760 Thanks very much. 👍

[@darrylfletcher2760]

@ I still have my 5.0 Berlina since new(T5 Fe2 all other options etc). It will be my sons one day, a really nice car to drive.

[@markbehr88]

@ Great you’ve had it so long. 👍

[@darrylfletcher2760]

Since the delivery at Smiths

[@markbehr88]

@@darrylfletcher2760 👍

[@trk1973]

Hi Mark. Big fan of your channel and love the content. The sound in this video however was quite a problem. Wind noise and other interference through the microphone was very noticeable. I apologise if this has been brought up before. Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to the next video on the VP. Cheers

[@markbehr88]

@@trk1973 Thanks very much. Unfortunately, with a baby around, I have to try to record best I can, where and when I can. Hopefully, the information is still clear enough? I had a re-listen and thought it was? 👍

[@Low760]

​@@markbehr88it wasn't bad.

[@markbehr88]

@@Low760 Thanks. I noted a bit of wind noise in the HSV section but the info was still clear to my ears. 👍

[@sambaxter7715]

@27:02 Isn't it disputed that the BT1s ever had reflash tunes? Upgraded FE2 suspension, IRS, LSD, sump pan, modified lighting, speedometer and other smaller sundry items, yes. Otherwise, no power enhancing modifications.

[@markbehr88]

@@sambaxter7715 I too thought that was unusual as I wasn’t aware. I had some as company cars but also had a non BT1 VN V8 that went harder than my VP BT1? 🤔

[@warrencramer4516]

Series 1 Calais V6 was also available with a manual, nice car too!

[@markbehr88]

@@warrencramer4516 Yes. 👍

[@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting]

This was very interesting. I enjoyed it very much. I don't recall you mentioning the VN Areo. I own a vn sedan v6 factory 5spd. Owned it 16 years. Its been/ is a awesome car and extremely reliable. Funny thing happened 15 years ago, I was in Melbourne, drove past a car yard. Out the front was a red vn sedan executive, had a sign saying v8 power. So I went had a look, it was a 89 vn v8 5spd executive. The dealer had all the original paperwork identifying its a original 1 owner. I asked how much he said $3500 . And $500 trade in for my vn executive with tired paint. I said no your asking to much for a vn, no one wants them nowadays. And 15 16 years ago no one did want them. If only I could of predicted the future. When I originally picked up my vn I didn't want a Commodore, but I was desperate for a car. My vn was meant to go to a wreckers, but the wreckers kept stuffing the seller around. The seller only wanted $500 for the car. Nothing wrong with it ,just no rego and a unwanted ugly car at the time. I picked it up for $200 ,$1200 for rwc items and rego. 16 years later I still own this vn. So happy I kept it .

[@markbehr88]

@@I.Live4oldcars.prospecting Thanks. I think the Aero was an aftermarket offering by APV or Corsa? Sounds like you made a great deal on your VN! 👍

[@marcpaola1371]

​@markbehr88 the aero was a Holden Dealer Team developed commodore. This was after Brocky sold it, he did work as a consultant for a bit on the aero.

[@markbehr88]

@ Right I vaguely remember it. 🤔

[@mahcooharper9577]

The VN was very much rough and ready compared to the VL but it had its own charm. For some reason I have always had a soft spot for them despite being a Ford guy. The VN V6 did feel much faster than it actually was, but it definitely made it pretty skittish in the wet! The Calais with a V8 was nice rig, it's a shame so many VNs have been destroyed by ferals tho. 😢 And I remember talk of the VN SL but I've literally never seen one. Would love to have one today just for the exclusivity! It's also hard to imagine what more you could strip out of an Executive haha Thanks for the video Mark, another good one.

[@markbehr88]

@@mahcooharper9577 Thanks very much. I remember those SL spec cars. We had a listing for “pool stock” or cars on grass. There were a stack of them but our Distribution Manager, Ron Riggs, said “don’t touch those as they are for a Government dept. Funny how these things jog your memory. 👍

[@pgilb70]

The VN SS is still a great looking piece. Engines were punchy but coarse. Bit of a handful in the wet for unskilled drivers-pretty bad quality overall, sadly.

[@markbehr88]

@@pgilb70 Quality not great but I’d have an SS or any V8. 👍

[@shaun30-3-mg9zs]

Hi Mark, You can see the similarities with the VN Commodore and the Vauxhall Carlton there were versions of the Nissan Pulsar/Sunny at the Holden Astra, I was surprised that Holden did not use the Vauxhall Astra and badge it as the Holden Astra as both were a part of GM and the Holden Nova is a Toyota Corolla maybe Holden could have used the Vauxhall Nova, using other GM might have been cheaper than re badge Nissan's and Toyota's. I like the look off the Commodore SS in dark grey and the racing Group A models. Peter Brock back with Holden and racing partner John Cleland from Scotland, John also raced in the UK touring cars in the Vauxhall Cavalier in the early 1990's. As always a great video, catch you soon Take care

[@johnd8892]

It was the period where the Button plan was introduced covered at 8:58. Trying to save the Australian car industry by keeping Australian production volumes up by model sharing. Rebadged imports would reduce local production volumes.

[@markbehr88]

@@shaun30-3-mg9zs Thanks Shaun. When I was in NZ we sold those Vauxhall Astras. They eventually came to Australia too. You never see them on the road now. 👍

[@mavstar_68lancia44]

We had one as a news car at the radio station I worked at in Adelaide, replacing a VK. We hammered it (well, at least I did) and it was certainty quick if a little agricultural sounding…

[@markbehr88]

Yes. Plenty of power and much more room. 👍

[@JohnnyRoadRunner-rr6qf]

exited for the ve and vf valiant stuff!!! :D

[@markbehr88]

Stay tuned and Subscribed! 👍

[@JohnMartin-ct8km]

Dreadful car, cured me of Holdens forever. Was so excited to take delivery of my manual V6 VN executive sedan in 1989, but the love affair soured quickly, with coarse performance, awful fit and finish, and constant reliability issues. Was glad to see the back of it.

[@victorpeirce4753]

Stop talking out of your rear.

[@markbehr88]

What did you replace it with? 🤔

[@markhollis362]

Johns not telling us what his mum bought next

[@JohnMartin-ct8km]

@@markbehr88 I had a sixteen year run with Mitsubishis straight after the VN. Various Magnas, a couple of Veradas and a Pajero. All were excellent, refined and very capable cars. (I had one more Holden in that period, a VS Series 2 Calais. Also extremely average IMO). I should point out that growing up, we had an unbroken series of Holdens in the family, starting with an EH and ending with my old man’s last car, a VB Commodore SL. They were all pretty good, but that VN … 🙈😱

[@JohnMartin-ct8km]

@@markhollis362 Did I offend someone?

[@awesomusmaximus3766]

I love those door handles on the XD ha ha

[@markbehr88]

@@awesomusmaximus3766 The XD ones were much better than XF actually. 👍

[@awesomusmaximus3766]

@@markbehr88 They all bad those were more bad ha ha

[@markbehr88]

@ 😀

[@canoaslan1011]

Cheers. Great video. Are you going to do the facelift models seperately, like VP next, if not it will be good to see their stories togeterlike VR VS and so on.

[@markbehr88]

Yes. I am doing them all in order. Check out the playlists. 👍

[@adrianmclean9195]

It's interesting seeing how one generation of BOTH Falcon and Commodore's used a previous generations hubcaps/alloy wheels on a different model tier on the next generation. The XE Fairmont hubcaps, became the XF Falcon hubcaps. The XF Fairmont hubcaps became the EA Falcon hubcaps ( which looked awful ). The snowflake XE alloys on the ESP became the XF Ghia alloys, but in silver. Then in this video, I noticed the hubcaps on the S pack ( SV6 ? ), were from the VL turbo and V8. I think they were called turbine, but I think they look like they have been taken down a tiny bit to a dark grey centre. The VL ones were notorious for not staying on. The equivalent Opel Record of the time is stunning. The senator, less so - but I can see the side window treatment from that car and c pillar. Bumpers sort of and a lesser rear tail light treatment. The VN front was unique and probably more modern and smooth. The record was bulbous and the senator was complicated and obviously used in the new statesman styling. Inside not bad - proper HVAC controls - whereas the VB-VL were ridiculous and over complicated with symbols you couldn't fathom. Door trims looked a bit cheap. Middle vents look silly with too much area around them. Hubcaps utterly horrible and made it look really cheap. The VN II, was much better. A base model VN II, with appropriate alloys in the light green with those white stripes in the bumpers with manual V8 and power steering and a/c is a clean simple car with performance. As long as it has a LSD, right exhaust tips, rear Aunger HONEYCOMB window shield and attendance to the front end widening. The SS both in that purply blue colour and the maroon look good. Did drive one in Sydney for a customer of a service centre and it is very different in stability compared to a base model.

[@noelgibson5956]

The XE snowflakes were also on the EA S Pak.

[@adrianmclean9195]

@noelgibson5956 yes, that's right - missed that one - they looked good.

[@markbehr88]

@@adrianmclean9195 Yes, we used to flow the wheels down to the lower models over time. It saved on tooling costs. I did the same with Holden, HSV and FPV models. 👍

[@Low760]

37:53 the GT-R budget was $1m per car vs the Australian made car with a total budget under 500k for multiple cars.

[@markbehr88]

Doesn’t surprise me plus they were racing apples to marshmallows. No real comparison. 🤔

[@noelgibson5956]

The EA Falcon and VN Commodore, were the beginning of Ford's decline. The VN was so well received that it gave Holden about twenty extra years in Australia. The reborn Statesman and utes that shortly followed it was a masterstroke for Holden. The VN was a noisy, shabbily built thing, but to it's credit, it saved the company.

[@markbehr88]

Ford still was highly successful through to EL and the Fairlane and LTD led the luxury segment for that time too. The Falcon ute also continued with very strong volume even into AU and beyond. The VN definitely allowed Holden to keep on going for almost 20 years though. 👍

[@noelgibson5956]

​​@@markbehr88 A lot of AU's were built......but they were in production for an eternity. From that model on, I don't think they ever clawed back XE/XF levels of sales, even though they still sold reasonably well. Fairlane collapsed in a heap after AU. The utes........the media described them at the time as the "only real AU success story". The decline was very gradual, so on paper, they still appeared to be good sellers.

[@markbehr88]

@ All the Falcon numbers are in my Falcon history episodes. 👍

[@sambaxter7715]

The head gasket went on my series 1 VN's 3800 due to overheating (damaged radiator due to debris splitting the core). Odometer seized up (did over 330,000kms, actual mileage was slightly higher), roof liner sagged, gauges were sticky (needed to slap the top of the dash in order for it to register).... Yet, she still ran reliably from cradle to grave. Ended up an economic write off in 2008. Very underappreciated motors. Not the highest power output, not the smoothest, but quite torquey and could just about run underwater. Pity the automatic transmissions they were mated to were like glass. If only Holden decided to continue the turbocharged model after the VL, something akin to the Grand National in the USA, that would have been amazing. Those motors go well when boosted.

[@markbehr88]

@@sambaxter7715 Yes. That would have been cool. 👍

[@adrianmclean9195]

​There were later supercharged versions of those Oldsmobile V6's ( I think they were originally a V8, with two cylinders chopped off - were they a truck engine ? - Car Wizard channel from the Midwest, loves the engines - hates the GM universal V6 that replaced them ( VZ to VF ? ) - found timing chain stretching ? and guides breaking. Monaro CV6 used supercharged version and optional in Calais VR VS ?. So perhaps a VY/VZ manual wagon with the 3.8 in S version would be nice. Mr Hubnut was a bit of a fancier.​@@markbehr88

[@chuckselvage3157]

"I took it to the rev limiter on every gear change" 🤣🤣 A neighbour/mate of mine owned one of the SS versions of the VN with a manual years ago. Except for the tacky instrumentation i wasn't fond of they were a pretty good package and went well.

[@markbehr88]

@@chuckselvage3157 Yes, I hated that Apollo or Apology as I used to call it. 😀👍

[@paulsimpson8990]

I had a ‘90 vn executive with the 3.8 and the th700 gearbox. It was a great car, I loved the 3.8, heaps of grunt and great fuel consumption. I would get 37mpg on a long drive. It had a few radiators a water pump and fuel injector o rings. Replaced suspenion with king springs and koni reds and put a set of 15 interceptors on it. Paint was terrible compared to the fords but loved the gearbox and engine combination. Overall a good car and cheap to run and fix

[@markbehr88]

@@paulsimpson8990 I liked them too. 👍

[@marklittle3551]

Had a 5 speed vn exec wagon as a work vehicle. Certainly was a rocket ship off the line.

[@AlecJohn-c5o]

I had the same. The ratios of the 5 speed with the V6 was a great combination. I had people who were use to V8's who took it for a squirt and were very impressed with the power.

[@markbehr88]

@@marklittle3551 It would have been. Right rear tyre? 🤔😀

[@markbehr88]

@@AlecJohn-c5o Certainly went very well. 👍

[@philnorbury9032]

It wasn’t the best machine, but it was quick, particularly as a manual. At least Holden didn’t take Aussies for granted as Ford did with the EA by offering electronic multipoint injection, four speed auto and a V8.

[@markbehr88]

@@philnorbury9032 Yes. It wasn’t until EB that Ford corrected those anomalies. 👍

[@royferntorp]

I bought one of these brand new. The interior fell apart around me. An example is that I was driving on the Great Western Highway and the passenger window decided to hide in the door. Then the under dash panel would randomly fall down. I thought breaking my Ford mould would be fun.

[@markbehr88]

@@royferntorp I had a lot as company cars. I think it is fair to say trim fit and paint finish was not the best, although there were substantial improvements on the car’s life. 🤔👍

[@royferntorp]

@@markbehr88 Likewise, I drove every company car at the time. I must say I did enjoy the Magna. We had an old XD in the fleet. Loved that car

[@markbehr88]

@ Magnas were good to drive. Very refined. Love an XD. Relaxing. 👍

[@jamied1579]

I was working at a car wash in '89 the first time I got to drive a standard V6 VN and I couldn't believe the instant acceleration on the thing, it blew me away. I loved the VN but so glad they eventually stopped making those horrible Milo tin lid-style wheel trim... Wasn't a fan of the flattened rear wheel arches either, but a great car otherwise.

[@markbehr88]

@@jamied1579 I kind of liked the flat rear wheel arch. 🤔

[@jamied1579]

@@markbehr88 Fair enough, I've never liked flattened rear wheel arches myself, on any car, but that's just me, 😏

[@markbehr88]

@ The 77 Cadillac has them front and rear! 😀

[@jamied1579]

@@markbehr88 The Horror! 😃

[@tonybennett638]

Reckon the original V6 fitted to the VN were some of the best performance wise...just were 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@tonybennett638 Very quick off the mark. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

⁠Very coarse and had rope seals I heard, presumably leading to oil leaks.

[@tonybennett638]

@@jamesfrench7299 old shit box from years ago doesn't matter because all the rest where the same mate.

[@jamesfrench7299]

@@tonybennett638 the V6 engine from late 90 on were much more refined than an 88.

[@markbehr88]

@ Not sure about the seals? 🤔

[@barrycuda3769]

I remember when I was in Melbourne in 1989 , workmates were talking about VN v6's racing against VN V8's on local tracks , and the V6's were dominant. 🤔

[@markbehr88]

@@barrycuda3769 Maybe around a circuit that was very tight. The V8 was quicker off the mark and to 100. 👍

[@aus80srockradio94]

Have to admit to maybe dragging off a manual VN 5.0ltr manual in my VN 3.8ltr auto, the guy was NOT impressed!!!

[@markbehr88]

@ Off the mark maybe. He doesn’t sound like a good driver? 🤔

[@barrycuda3769]

@aus80srockradio94 Years ago, my employer got me to paint the roof of one of his properties in another town , he let me use his VP V8 ute , on the first morning that I headed off to do this job , I got stuck behind a fairy long line of cars going frustratingly slow , and for miles there was no opportunity to overtake , so , finally when there was a long straight, I pulled out and punched the accelerator, the auto changed down , and it was then that I found out how good that ute went , it had a big open exhaust and it was absolutely bellowing as it flew past those cars , it was very impressive, but I just wanted to get to work really. When I returned to base at the end of the day , I was told that a friend of my employer was in that line of cars ( naturally) and phoned them to ask if someone had stolen their ute ( drive it like you stole it 🙂) , nothing more was said though , my boss was a car guy.

[@barrycuda3769]

Actually I think it was the VR model ute .

[@orencikspor]

Would love to see a vid on VR VS models.....

[@noelgibson5956]

Can't wait to see the ZB Commodore video! 😜

[@markbehr88]

@@noelgibson5956 I think I’ll finish at VZ. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@@orencikspor i will do those down the track. 👍

[@Benjames885]

@@markbehr88please don’t stop at VZ, do the whole hog like the falcon ploize…

[@markbehr88]

@ Ok. I will. 👍

[@Seiskid]

My parents had on and it certainly went like a rocket. I jabbed on the throttle one day, not expecting much and very nearly put it sideways through a gate. The narrow track - is it true it shared the VL front end - that track always looked odd on the car. And the first generation hubcap design - not a fan. The best thing was the engine. That V6 was indestructible.

[@markbehr88]

@@Seiskid Yes that track was very close to VL. You needed FE2 and wider tyres. 👍

[@PhantomRobazza]

A great car made for people who don't quite ever have the opportunity to own a #good car

[@markbehr88]

@@PhantomRobazza I own plenty of good cars and I like them, especially the V8. 👍

[@gregidour7315]

Hi Mark, aside from HSV do you remember CSV? I think it was Corsa Special Vehicles. Was that available on the VN or did it come later?

[@user-ei7zv8uu1y]

I think the CSVs were VRs onwards.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, I remember them. Holden did not like dealers dealing with them as we had HSV. 👍

[@gregidour7315]

I think the CSV's always had a bit more power, but I'd wager not many remain.

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes. I think that’s right but they were seen as second tier to HSV overall. 👍🤔

[@at9370]

Very informative, chocka block with all the details anybody could ever hope for. A friend of mine has a VN SS with a genuine 71,000 kms on it in that maroon colour. It's a very nice example. I have a genuine ford courier efi 5.0L, C4 manual shift fitted hilux discs with VS calipers for stopping. That is my go when I want to get on his tits, and it works every single time for a good 10+ years now.

[@markbehr88]

@@at9370 Thanks. Wow. Both sound like cool cars. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

Great comprehensive feature on this very significant model. It was obviously rushed to production too soon as was Ford’s EA range. The harsh engine was obviously viewed as a backward step by many as reps reportedly begged for their VLs back after receiving a VN as a company car. But what I liked about this model was the return of American big car features like the bench seat and column shift option and even the basic black wheel rims like the Kingswood had, with the narrow slits as vent holes. These brought back their masculinity and was a pleasing comeback. The engines were rough, but did make a satisfying sound from the outside when driven with vigour. The old Sydney inter urban trains had these really old GE fans at the ends of the saloon and when you turned it on it sounded just like a VN Commodore V6 revving away! I got funny looks from a bloke on the platform at Central as I was switching the fan on and off 😀.

[@markbehr88]

Thanks very much. I enjoyed my VN Commodores in V6 and V8 when new. The harshness didn’t bother me as I liked the power, space and the auto transmission. 👍

[@jamesfrench7299]

@ you liked the transmission mainly because it was a four speed or that and the way it performed and behaved? I found it much nicer in the VX over the VS. It’s like it was mimicking Ford’s BTR four speed and was all the better for it. BTW did you know Holden was considering using the BTR in the Commodore and installed one in a couple of VX “mules". It must have sounded too much like a Falcon with that whine it makes 😄.

[@markbehr88]

@ It was smooth. I never had any issues with the THM700. 🤔👍

[@Low760]

​@@jamesfrench7299vx? Why would they change the auto in 2002?

[@Low760]

What are you talking about the black rims and Bench seat like an "American" car? The Kingswood was a mid sized car in the states just like the Commodore.

[@lukestocks4370]

I'm still mates with Tony G... Good guy. I grew up with his son.

[@markbehr88]

Very good. 👍

[@geoffobrien1300]

Haha I always wondered if the wives tale about the series 2 amendment was true regarding adjustments on restricting the torque off idle due to, let's say, elderly drivers breaking traction in their test drives.. such was the little v6 beast

[@markbehr88]

@@geoffobrien1300 It was. 👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

My father had a 1990 light blue Executive with white pinstripes along the side, right below the ridge. The options I know that car had was the speed advisor (I hated that thing so set it to 195 km/h) and the remote boot release in the glovebox. Truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of the VN, they had teething issues and in general I like the VP more. One thing I found interesting is that a few were made in China by Beijing Travel Vehicle Works in the second half of the 90s as the BJ6490. Just an interesting footnote in the VN story

[@markbehr88]

@@MuscleCarLover Thanks. Yes, I saw that they made some in China. Four cylinders I believe? 👍

[@MuscleCarLover]

@markbehr88 Yeah, as well as hybrid and EV. Kinda strange that they chose VNs for it

[@paulsz6194]

The VP was basically a more refined VN with a different front end, a revised set of tail lights & number plate garnish, and a better interior for the Berlina / Calais /S pack / SS models.

[@MuscleCarLover]

@@paulsz6194 And the addition of IRS in some trim levels

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes 🤔

[@jimpikoulis6726]

Indeed the Ford XE gave this country leadership 😁😁

[@markbehr88]

@@jimpikoulis6726 It did, along with the Laser, Telstar and Fairlane. 👍

[@jimpikoulis6726]

@@markbehr88😇😇

[@russellsmith4638]

Had a VN Berlina sedan from 1990 to 1995. Good car but needed a new engine at only 5000km when rear main seal blew out. Fortunately this was covered under the warranty. After this drove 15000km around Australia with a 15ft caravan in 1991 and the only trouble was the power steering pump started to leak and was replaced on return from trip. Brakes were good as we only had over-ride brakes on caravan and several times the brakes brought us safely to a stop avoiding things like horses and cattle crossing the road in the outback. travelled well on the tarmac and not really travelled much on unmade roads, Comfortable family car and only got rid of it when given a company car. Only option fitted was the FE2 suspension.

[@markbehr88]

@@russellsmith4638 Sounds like you had a decent run out of it. 👍

[@russellsmith4638]

Had a good run from it. I had in order a VB, VN, VT, VY, VE and a second hand VU ute during the existance of Holden and all were very reliable. Says a lot about Australian car design and manufacture. The engine replacement on VN was the worst experience and that was fully covered under warranty.

[@markbehr88]

@ You’ve had plenty 👍

[@stuartpinder3807]

The imported Buick 3800 in the early series 1 went so much better than the Oz built ones

[@markbehr88]

@@stuartpinder3807 Harsher though. 👍🤔

[@aus80srockradio94]

One thing of note is that is appears Commodore wagons in NZ were better sellers than sedans. From what you have said the VN and previous model Commodore's, it appears a lot of Limited Ed wagons were built for the Kiwis'. Alos at 27:17 where you mention the speedo up to 200 instead of 220, but with graduated lines, (easier to follow a speedster and know their actual speed), was also applied to the Police Pack EF Falcon's, but from memory, not the EL's.

[@markbehr88]

Yes, in NZ Commodores and Falcons are a step above type car. In Australia they were the mainstream but in NZ the 2 litre car was the mainstream. The police required the speedos as part of their spec. Not sure what happened at EL? 🤔

[@aus80srockradio94]

@markbehr88 Thanks for the info. Maybe the EL did have a graduated speedo, just can't recall ever seeing one.

[@markbehr88]

@ Someone will know? 🤔

[@tonxbezzina7015]

From memory Peter Brock drove a v6 Vn in the 24 hour production car race at Bathurst.

[@markbehr88]

Really? 🤔👍

[@tonxbezzina7015]

@ yes In 1991 in a v6 spac finished first in its class and 4th outright. The v6 never missed a beat they were really a bullet proof engine.

[@petesmitt]

@@markbehr88 1991; Brock drove a VN V6 S Pack five-speed manual; with Neil Crompton and Peter McKay.

[@markbehr88]

@ Very cool. 👍

[@markbehr88]

@ Interesting. 👍

[@VLdose-cc9do]

I’ve spent my whole life in Canberra and unfortunately I have never once seen a challenger, I wonder if there are any left? 😢

[@markbehr88]

@@VLdose-cc9do I reckon there would be the ofd one still around. 🤔

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

I remember, particularly in the updated VR...That traveling behind a sedan you could see 3 or 4 boot closure rubbers through the shut line on the bumper.... very obvious on a white car, only a small thing I guess, but not really acceptable.

[@markbehr88]

@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars I never noticed that? 🤔

[@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCars]

@@markbehr88 Yes Mark, if you look for a white VR photo with bumper close up you can see them. Also the way a boot cuts through a taillight assembly is a very interesting industrial design problem, sometimes successful as on the VN (because it doesn't)..not successful on the VR ( because it _does_ ).😆

[@Low760]

​@@Luke-PlanesTrainsDogsnCarsthe biggest thing now is most have been rear ended and then are never right after being repaired. Vn onwards but vr are worse.

[@aussietaipan8700]

Mate, this is a long one. I did not like the VN when it came out and still for me, they are still way down on my favorite Holdens.

[@markbehr88]

Fair enough. There was a lot of models and a lot to cover. 👍

[@runoflife87]

I don't get one thing: why in the hell did GM managers never decide to export both Commodore and Statesman in LHD to both US (as Buick) and selected European markets?

[@markbehr88]

@@runoflife87 The NVH would have been an issue for sure, especially on the sixes plus GM probably wanted to keep their home market plants going. 🤔

[@Low760]

Because GM is inefficient and uncooperative between countries and divisions.

[@markbehr88]

@ Probably true. 🤔

[@khylerin70]

It's unusual the VN couldn't finally adopt the column shift auto as the VG ute was available with. I imagine the taxi market may not have been the exclusive domain of the Falcon were that option available. It's unusual.

[@markbehr88]

I think they would have sold a few more to taxis but the operators were getting much greater mileage out of the Falcons so I do not know if it would have made a huge difference. Maybe some? 🤔👍

[@paulsz6194]

@@markbehr88The Falcon Motors we’re always more torquey compared to the equivalent Commodore of the day, even on LPG , And also having the larger boot when when compared to the VB-VL series commodore’s , it was a no brainer for taxi fleets to opt for the vehicle with the larger boot, especially when taking passengers to and from Airports…

[@paulsz6194]

@khylerin70 After the VT came out , you saw more Commodore Taxis in the capital cities than ever before, even if the Falcons still dominated 95%-97% of the Taxi fleet. I think it was more owner-operators who were Die-Hard Holden lovers bought themselves a Commodore as a taxi car.

[@markbehr88]

@ The VN had a huge boot and high torque but the taxi operators could get the huge miles out of the Falcon. 👍

[@noelgibson5956]

The VN to VS sedans and wagons were available as column auto six seaters in the Executives and (very rare in) Berlina. Once the ute offered it, the tooling was in place to fit out passenger models with it too. Once the VT was released, the column setup was totally done away with, even in utes......for reasons that escape me.

[@MrBeagleblue]

Man I was a Panel beater back then they were the biggest piece of garbage ever made in Australia, they were so soft you couldn`t push on or off anything it would just collapse. If you had them set up on the crash rack you could lift up and down on the front door and watch the front of the car go up and down. The roof lining would fall down, the belt Moulds would fall inside the doors, the door handles were crap, the bonnets would flex and bend at high speed they were absolute trash.

[@michaelcalder9089]

True, light weight, tail happy death trap esp on wet roads.

[@markbehr88]

@@MrBeagleblue They were relatively light for sure. 🤔

[@markbehr88]

@@michaelcalder9089 Yes. A lot of power in the wet. But controllable 👍

[@UncleJoeLITE]

This VN is wedged between my two favourite Commodores. Not recommended for P Platers lol. Less said about the 'Crown replacement" Lexcen the better imho, it was seen as cynical att. You've been very spoilt in all your cars Mark, I'm envious, ive only owned...~16 different cars.29:31 _No-one picked the type error!'_

[@markbehr88]

All my VNs were Holden company cars. That isn’t actually a typo - it is a spacing gatefold for a magazine spread to allow for where the binding is - so the copy doesn’t disappear into the staples. 👍

[@tonybennett638]

Looking back some many years it was probably Bob Hawk and friends that spiked the gunbarrel of Australian made cars.

[@markbehr88]

@@tonybennett638 It was 👍

[@lundsweden]

Any bigger and it would need more wheels!

[@markbehr88]

@@lundsweden Ha, very funny. 👍

[@lundsweden]

@markbehr88 Do you remember the ad? And it ended with some ocker guy saying "I love it".

[@ivanjulian2532]

It's estimated roughly 70% of all Porsche 911s ever produced are still on the road today. I would wager less than 1% of all Holden VN's are still on the road. Edited to Add: I see this comment has triggered a LOT of denial.

[@rtyt2007]

Whilst yes vn build quality was questionable but you have to think about the buyers of these cars. Porsche is a luxury brand selling cars that people would buy and cherish. The commodore was always a family car plus being cheap with big engines and rwd. The vast majority of them ended up being scrapped from burnouts etc. they are still very reliable my mate has a vn with 310,000 ks and still going strong

[@markbehr88]

Exactly. 👍

[@markbehr88]

A very high percentage of those Porsches exist because they were very expensive when new, were not family cars, were not driven by tens of thousands of P platers, were restored. It is a very erroneous comparison.🤔

[@khylerin70]

It was a shame, whole new shape and engine let down by build quality. My mate's dad had a new red VN and within months the headlining began to drop, along with the upper door rubbers. The boot leaked, it was back and forth to the dealer I recall.

[@khylerin70]

​@@markbehr88100% agree. The market was completely different, I have a 1986 Mercedes Benz 420SEL with 139 thousand km. The build quality stands up today after nearly 40 years, but you paid for that excellence as a new buyer in the premium price. I didn't mind the VN, and still don't.

[@Mick_4591]

Was there ever a " series 3 " in the VN? My inlaws bought a VN executive " sales guy said it was a series 3" as it had the new v6 engine that was ready for the VP model Not sure it that was true tho Only going by what my inlaws said that were told by the sales guy

[@351tgv]

technically it would be not considered series 3, there was 3 versions of the VN, August 1988 to around September 1989 (known as the GM Buick design V6 only era), September 1989 to around September 1990 (known as the return of the GMH V8), and the last production run was September 1990 till the end of production in I think it was June 1991 (know as the Australia GMH re-design V6 - which lasted until the end of the VR Series II in 1995).

[@markbehr88]

@@Mick_4591 No official Series 3 in the VN. Maybe it was more a late upgrade car? 👍

[@phillipm1039]

I test drove one on their release bloody awful to drive under brakes it felt like the rear end was trying to pass the front very unnerving.

[@gfenwick1]

you should have a look at the NSW Historical Police Museum, they didnt have much love for the VN, especially compared to the prev VL's.

[@markbehr88]

They certainly kept buying them. A V8 VN was much faster than a V8 VL. The Turbo is probably what they liked? 🤔

[@gfenwick1]

@@markbehr88 yep, the VN's had governors so they were a bit ordinary on acceleration and would constantly hiccup when the governor kicked in

[@markbehr88]

@ More a rev limiter I think? 🤔

[@gfenwick1]

@@markbehr88which is what a governor does. ford used to do it as well on some of the x series GTs. not surer having spark interruption in a high speed chase was thought through that well ......

[@markbehr88]

@ Yes, I have seen many governors which simply have an adjustment under the pedal to avoid full acceleration being applied versus an electronic cut out. 👍