Experiences with a 94 V8 Holden Berlina

[Harper]

Currently i have a 2002 Holden Astra. However due to a change of job earlier this year, I am doing a lot more travel in my new job. One thing I am not happy with is having the change the timing belt every 60 000 km.

Family freind of mine job changed jobs too where he is given a company car which he can do what ever he wants with it. He no longer need his 94 V8 Holden Belina (Sadan). He offering it to me for a good price as I am a family friend. And I am considering about purchasing it because I know the previous driver. He's got the log books and every thing. It's currently done 240 000 km.

Any one have any experiences with the 1994 V8 Holden Belina?
Reason why I am thinking about purchasing is
* hopefully cheaper to maintain. Like how offen does a timing belt needs to be changed?
* the car to drive around for another 3 years or so until my insurance goes down a little bit as I will be on a full license soon.
* this car has some creature comforts that my current car. Cruise control, power windows.
* Bigger car, more storage space. Better suited for my current job.

Anyways, any one had any experience with this 94 V8 Holden Belina

 

[Trotter]

Re: Experiences with a 94 V8 Holden Belina

From what I gather, the Holden Belina is basically a rebadged Buick LeSabre or Regal. Very nice car even if it is by GM. Actually, my mom drives a similar car (LeSabre, but i think it is a 98). Very solid car, mate.

 

[KSoD]

Re: Experiences with a 94 V8 Holden Belina

If Trotter is right and it is just a rebadged Regal then i can vouch that they are solid cars. I had a friend that had a Regal and that thing was a monster.

The only thing i see as a downside, petrol or gas. Being a V8 and an older car it isnt going to get the best KMPL (KM Per Litre) ratio. While not a major concern for some it might be something to consider with prices of petrol now.

 

[Trotter]

Re: Experiences with a 94 V8 Holden Belina

Mom's does pretty good on the gas, but i don't remember if it is a V6 or a V8. I do know you have to watch it when you are driving or you will be doing 80-90 mph and not even realize it. My daughter drove it for a few weeks after her Saturn's engine slung a rod and kept catching herself going way over the speed limit in it... as well as finding out that you didn't punch the gas when the light changes.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Just remember, at roughly 120km you should replace the timing belt, or, 60,000 miles. That is, if I did my math right.

 

[S0ULphIRE]

hahahahahaha On big country highways here the speed limit can be 120Km/h. So every hour you gotta stop and change your timing belt? rofl
1 mile = 1.6km

 

[Jayce]

Just remember, at roughly 120km you should replace the timing belt, or, 60,000 miles. That is, if I did my math right.

Yeahhhhhhhhhh I gotta get on that. About to hit 140k on stock... everything.

 

[Trotter]

^^^ Exactly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I recently had the timing belt replaced in my Escort but only because the water pump needed replacing and he had to take it off anyway. Besides, a V8 should have a timing chain in it, not a belt.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

You would be surprised at how many companies have started to use belts on bigger engines. Here is a funny one, 99 Grand Am, has an I4 Twin Cam, uses a CHAIN, but, the 3400 V6 uses a belt. But yea, I left a few zeros out up there lol, I am used to typing k for 1000 -.- 120,000km should be right lmfao.

But yea, some times it seems a belt can hold up, other times, it fails prematurely no matter what you do, such as on the 2.7l V6 from dodge, the belt and water pump failed early all the time. -.-

 

[Harper]

Mom's does pretty good on the gas, but i don't remember if it is a V6 or a V8. I do know you have to watch it when you are driving or you will be doing 80-90 mph and not even realize it. My daughter drove it for a few weeks after her Saturn's engine slung a rod and kept catching herself going way over the speed limit in it... as well as finding out that you didn't punch the gas when the light changes.

I used to gun it at the light with my current car, but when I have that v6 commodore for 3 week as the loan vehical, I did learn in the first week to stop gunning it at the lights. And know I don't do that any more.

Just remember, at roughly 120km you should replace the timing belt, or, 60,000 miles. That is, if I did my math right.

In otherwords, twice distance on what I am changing mine on my current car.

^^^ Exactly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I recently had the timing belt replaced in my Escort but only because the water pump needed replacing and he had to take it off anyway. Besides, a V8 should have a timing chain in it, not a belt.

Timing belts are one of those things where if it's broken, it's going to be expensive to get fix.
The other thing is that if I feel that some thing some does sound or feel right in my car, I will get it check out. One thing I have observed from my brother in law is that the money you spend now in catching the problem early is money you say later in the long rug. In the last 2 years, his current car (94 Toyota Camery) has completely died on him twice. And it was an extremely expensive fix. The last one was the timing chain breaking and the motor had to replaced.

But yea, some times it seems a belt can hold up, other times, it fails prematurely no matter what you do, such as on the 2.7l V6 from dodge, the belt and water pump failed early all the time. -.-

That is what the problem was with my current car. Originally 2002 Astra was 90 000 km for timing belt change, but people where breaking them early, so they moved it down to 60 000 km. And at the rate of travel that i am currently doing about 50 000 km per year.


I am going to see about giving this a test drive this week