Back in black: Holden Commodore SSV wagon
Discussion
4 weeks ago my OH had a minor accident which resulted in her MINI being dropped off for facial reconstruction surgery last week. No outlook on time to repair as yet.
Someone (me) didn’t tick the “hire car after an accident” box so we were down to 3 cars:
- My company car
- A 2002 Holden VY SS Ute (5.7 litre V8)
- A broken 1982 Mercedes S123
The Ute isn’t really practical (noisy, uncomfortable, slightly Bogan) so isn’t suitable for daily use for either of us. That meant we needed a car.
So I did the sensible thing and bought a V8 estate
I picked this up this morning: 2013 Holden VF Commodore SSV Sportswagen. It’s a 6 litre V8 auto with cylinder deactivation so it runs on 4 when cruising.
Plan is my OH will use my company car and I’ll use the SSV 2 or 3 days a week until her car reappears.
150k km, looks like either 1 or 2 owners (they don’t record number of owners here however all but the first service were done at the same place). Appears to be on the original registration number.
There are a few things to sort out.
First, new genuine Holden floor mats. From this:
To this:
Next, get rid of the staggered 20 inch Chinese HSV copy wheels and replace them with VF Series 2 SSV 19 inch wheels:
Still to do:
- RH mirror casing is cracked, used replacement acquired from eBay and to be fitted
- the paint is worn off the start/ stop button (they all do it eventually): genuine GM replacement from eBay to be fitted
- SS door badges are missing: genuine ones from eBay waiting to be fitted but need the panel to be 21 degrees C and for the car to stay at that temp for 24 hours. They’ll wait until the spring.
Other than that just try to keep it clean.
Someone (me) didn’t tick the “hire car after an accident” box so we were down to 3 cars:
- My company car
- A 2002 Holden VY SS Ute (5.7 litre V8)
- A broken 1982 Mercedes S123
The Ute isn’t really practical (noisy, uncomfortable, slightly Bogan) so isn’t suitable for daily use for either of us. That meant we needed a car.
So I did the sensible thing and bought a V8 estate
I picked this up this morning: 2013 Holden VF Commodore SSV Sportswagen. It’s a 6 litre V8 auto with cylinder deactivation so it runs on 4 when cruising.
Plan is my OH will use my company car and I’ll use the SSV 2 or 3 days a week until her car reappears.
150k km, looks like either 1 or 2 owners (they don’t record number of owners here however all but the first service were done at the same place). Appears to be on the original registration number.
There are a few things to sort out.
First, new genuine Holden floor mats. From this:
To this:
Next, get rid of the staggered 20 inch Chinese HSV copy wheels and replace them with VF Series 2 SSV 19 inch wheels:
Still to do:
- RH mirror casing is cracked, used replacement acquired from eBay and to be fitted
- the paint is worn off the start/ stop button (they all do it eventually): genuine GM replacement from eBay to be fitted
- SS door badges are missing: genuine ones from eBay waiting to be fitted but need the panel to be 21 degrees C and for the car to stay at that temp for 24 hours. They’ll wait until the spring.
Other than that just try to keep it clean.
Jordie Barretts sock said:
VERY nice mate.
I quite like the Chinese wheels
Cheers. I quite like the Chinese wheels
I've kept them in case I decide to put them back on. They could be my "summer wheels" I suppose
However, selling them would recoup some, if not all, of what I spent on the 19s, and I'm running out of room in the garage (the Ute already has a set of wheels and various bits for the SSV in the tray - I need to empty it whenever I want to use it!).
Oh damn, Jader1973, the wheels! I have about 10 of them! 5 from one SSV sedan and 5 from another!
If you need anything from the motomk spares department, let me know.
I know I have some of the series 1 chrome work from the front. I purchased the springs for an SSV redline, but it included all the chrome work as the seller had gone with all out black look. I do have some King springs to if you prefer them, they are too hard for my liking. Not sure they are the same as the wagon or not. I haven't checked.
I lent my series 2 SSV sedan to a friend and he had to have one after that, ended up with a 2013 MY14 SSV sedan in silver.
Last week we fitted the police calipers, brake discs and pads. Had to collect all the bits from all over Australia. We made sure not to use the ceramic flavoured pads and he likes the new brakes a lot, way better than his stock set-up. We put some Rockauto Bendix on the back to match.
Pads were from Ebay or Original Parts group, Discs came from QLD. The discs, are from a Camaro SS and it looks like they also fit the C8 corvette! Calipers were from one of my SSV sedans. Looks like your car has a least slotted discs already. We have been looking at the brembo stuff as the CTSV caliper will fit if you swap a pipe around and tap the bolt holes on the brackets.
My friend harps on about the seats on the early SSV as it had taller bolsters. He also had to fit something to stop it rocking. Was a fix or recall for them which hadn't been done to his, he sorted that out himself. Also his A/C leaked in the passenger footwell, that was also a dealer or recall fix which the selling dealer did under warranty. He also recently fitted the larger transmission pan for the auto from the Camaro. (Seller on ebay)
Anyway very nice pick-up.
If you need anything from the motomk spares department, let me know.
I know I have some of the series 1 chrome work from the front. I purchased the springs for an SSV redline, but it included all the chrome work as the seller had gone with all out black look. I do have some King springs to if you prefer them, they are too hard for my liking. Not sure they are the same as the wagon or not. I haven't checked.
I lent my series 2 SSV sedan to a friend and he had to have one after that, ended up with a 2013 MY14 SSV sedan in silver.
Last week we fitted the police calipers, brake discs and pads. Had to collect all the bits from all over Australia. We made sure not to use the ceramic flavoured pads and he likes the new brakes a lot, way better than his stock set-up. We put some Rockauto Bendix on the back to match.
Pads were from Ebay or Original Parts group, Discs came from QLD. The discs, are from a Camaro SS and it looks like they also fit the C8 corvette! Calipers were from one of my SSV sedans. Looks like your car has a least slotted discs already. We have been looking at the brembo stuff as the CTSV caliper will fit if you swap a pipe around and tap the bolt holes on the brackets.
My friend harps on about the seats on the early SSV as it had taller bolsters. He also had to fit something to stop it rocking. Was a fix or recall for them which hadn't been done to his, he sorted that out himself. Also his A/C leaked in the passenger footwell, that was also a dealer or recall fix which the selling dealer did under warranty. He also recently fitted the larger transmission pan for the auto from the Camaro. (Seller on ebay)
Anyway very nice pick-up.
Edited by motomk on Sunday 28th April 07:40
motomk said:
If you need anything from the motomk spares department, let me know.
I’ll bear that in mind, thanks. From memory you’re fairly close to me…about 20 mins from the airport?The wheels were 3 minutes from me - bloke had replaced his SSV Ute’s with Redline wheels.
It already has King Springs - I found that out when I was swapping the wheels - that is despite the dealer selling it telling me the wheels were the only mod. Back on the phone to the insurance company tomorrow
I’m not sure about the brakes: it has slotted rotors but I’ll need to check the callipers for part numbers etc to see if they are standard or not. One thing is for sure, they aren’t as good as I remember, although all the ones I’ve driven were brand new and I only went up to 10,000 km!
Jader1973 said:
I’ll bear that in mind, thanks. From memory you’re fairly close to me…about 20 mins from the airport?
The wheels were 3 minutes from me - bloke had replaced his SSV Ute’s with Redline wheels.
It already has King Springs - I found that out when I was swapping the wheels - that is despite the dealer selling it telling me the wheels were the only mod. Back on the phone to the insurance company tomorrow
I’m not sure about the brakes: it has slotted rotors but I’ll need to check the callipers for part numbers etc to see if they are standard or not. One thing is for sure, they aren’t as good as I remember, although all the ones I’ve driven were brand new and I only went up to 10,000 km!
Yep, Caroline Springs, but I do visit Sunbury sometimes. The wheels were 3 minutes from me - bloke had replaced his SSV Ute’s with Redline wheels.
It already has King Springs - I found that out when I was swapping the wheels - that is despite the dealer selling it telling me the wheels were the only mod. Back on the phone to the insurance company tomorrow
I’m not sure about the brakes: it has slotted rotors but I’ll need to check the callipers for part numbers etc to see if they are standard or not. One thing is for sure, they aren’t as good as I remember, although all the ones I’ve driven were brand new and I only went up to 10,000 km!
Those particular wheels have one advantage over the series 1 wheels, you can fit the Brembos under them.
Regarding pads. Found the Bendix Ultimate were good but dusty and no longer available. Bendix Ultimate+, nowhere near as good but no dust. Used Ultimate+ on a Golf R and a Civic Type R and both owners were underwhelmed.
Bendix do sell slotted rotors and slotted Brembo rotors, they are a lot less than the good DBA discs.
So
On the way to work on Tuesday (roughly 100km after collection) it threw an EML. No funny noises and it was running fine so carried on to work and booked it in to the Holden Service Centre to get checked.
Spent all the way back home praying it didn’t s
t itself and block a tram track
Outcome of the check this morning was a new oil pressure sensor: diagnosed and fitted in 2 hours.
Light hasn’t come back so far, and they were confident that was the issue - it is either that or it has low oil pressure but I’m reliably informed they die fairly quickly if they have that.
I hope I’m not about to find out why the previous owner got rid of it…
On the way to work on Tuesday (roughly 100km after collection) it threw an EML. No funny noises and it was running fine so carried on to work and booked it in to the Holden Service Centre to get checked.
Spent all the way back home praying it didn’t s
t itself and block a tram track Outcome of the check this morning was a new oil pressure sensor: diagnosed and fitted in 2 hours.
Light hasn’t come back so far, and they were confident that was the issue - it is either that or it has low oil pressure but I’m reliably informed they die fairly quickly if they have that.
I hope I’m not about to find out why the previous owner got rid of it…
SturdyHSV said:
Very cool 
Those floor mats are lovely. I was a bit disappointed with the seats in my VE Wagon, compared to the sofas in the VY / VZ they feel quite a bit cheaper.
I don't suppose they're the same mounting style given it's a new platform
The mats should be lovely given the cost! I’ve since found my discount card and figured out how to use it - although I suspect any non-service bits may be NLA from GM now.Those floor mats are lovely. I was a bit disappointed with the seats in my VE Wagon, compared to the sofas in the VY / VZ they feel quite a bit cheaper.
I don't suppose they're the same mounting style given it's a new platform
I read that you can put VE seats in VY by swapping the rails over. Presumably the reverse is possible. The Just Commodores forums are a good source of info for stuff like that.
I suspect the biggest issue would be the airbags in the seat.
It spent the week away getting looked at - ended up with a new ECM under warranty. I’m assuming that if they put a new brain in it then all the various mechanical pressure tests show everything is fine.
It managed the 40km back from the dealer without chucking a tantrum, although it did that last time too.
Time to start using it and see how it goes.
It managed the 40km back from the dealer without chucking a tantrum, although it did that last time too.
Time to start using it and see how it goes.
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