holden vt commodore acclaim
HOLDEN VT ACCLAIM WAGON
By PHIL SCOTT
Date of publication: October 5, 1997
The Sun-Herald
CAR: Holden VT Acclaim wagon
PIGEONHOLE: Jumbo station wagon.
PHILOSOPHY: Who said size doesn't matter?
WHO'S BUYING IT: Big Aussie families.
WHY YOU'D BUY IT: Space, grace, safety, durability.
WHY YOU WOULDN'T: Thirst, and the need for a tugboat to berth in CBD spots.
STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Power steering, cruise control, anti-lock brakes, traction
control, dual air bags, trip computer with speed warning function, electric
seat height adjustment, power mirrors.
SAFETY: Might is right; bulk well-supported by impressive structural engineering,
well-tuned air bags and seat belts.
CABIN: No more booms and rumbles. A big aesthetic improvement, too, with Japanese
plastics technology fused with Euro trim fabrics and colours. Good storage:
centre console, cup holders, but no ciggie lighter or ashtray. Instead, power
point for the phone and a compartment for the garage opener ... If this wagon
still fits in
your garage!
SEATING: Electric lift on generously proportioned front buckets. Vast rear bench
with lots of leg room, three lap/sash belts and 60/40 split-fold for long items.
Plus total fold-down flexibility. Optional third row bench for kids to 12 years
($1,480). Lounge-room dimensions and comfort.
ENGINE: Old stager 3.8-litre V6 is low-tech but rugged, now they've fixed the
oil leaks and faulty rings. Struggles with the wagon's weight, which takes the
edge off throttle response and costs more at the pump. Driveline is the weakest
link of the VT series.
TRANSMISSION: Four-speed auto is proven but lacks the syrupy smooth character
of the better Japanese automatics.
STEERING: Power assisted but still meaty and perhaps a little too heavy. With
such a long wheelbase it doesn't turn on a 10c piece.
RIDE: Major improvements here. Limo dimensions and new independent rear axle
combine for a cosseting but controlled ride.
HANDLING: Fine, until you encounter tight corners. All that length and 1.7 tonnes
(empty) make their presence felt. This is a BIG car that handles well but there's
no getting around the laws of physics.
FUEL: Please, may I have some more? A lot more. City consumption can range as
high as 16.5 litres/100km reducing to a much more acceptable 9-10 litres on
the highway. Physics again. Holden has quietly enlarged the tank to hold 75
litres.
BRAKES: Standard anti-lock system connects to much stronger hardware. Another
big gain over the under-braked VR/VS series.
BUILD: Exposed screw heads on door apertures tell you it's a Holden not a Honda,
but the quality is solid throughout. Better than any previous Holden.
WARRANTY: Three years/100,000km.
ANTI-THEFT: Comprehensive counter measures deserve high praise. Holden has the
crims covered - for now, at least.
AUDIO SYSTEM: Inexcusably ordinary four-speaker system with $500 charge for
single CD when the same unit costs $450 in an Acclaim sedan.
COST
The automatic Acclaim carries a $34,960 price tag but options and on-road costs
mean it will give $40,000 a fright. Choose air ($2,190), or power windows combined
with air ($3,160), metallic paint ($233), single CD player ($500), third-row
seat ($1,480-ish), cargo barrier ($480), cargo blind ($190) and ask yourself
if GM is giving us a fair deal in return for all that tariff protection?
VERDICT
If size matters - and it does for many big families - the Acclaim offers an
alternative worth thinking about. Safety and dynamics are superior, it lopes
along with plenty in reserve and while it's thirsty by Holden standards, it's
still more frugal than many 4WDs. Unlike an MPV, the Acclaim can tow big things
a long way. An impressive, refined but hardly agile update on the wagon theme.
Prices correct at date of publication