Holden Statesman. Locally Made Prestige

The Holden Statesman offers a locally made alternative to the European prestige cars such as the BMW and Mercedes Benz. The Holden Statesman is based on the Commodore but with a longer wheelbase for extra passenger room and comfort. There are a number of engine options available including a V6, a V6 supercharged model and a V8 option in later models.

The Holden Statesman is a popular choice with hire car drivers and the Commonwealth Government owns a fleet of Holden Statesmans to drive our esteemed leaders about the nation's capital. The Holden Statesman offers a smooth, quiet ride, especially in the bush where they handle the rough country roads even better than many of the European luxury cars. About town however, the sheer size of the Statesman can make it hard to park in tight spots.

There have been a number of updates to the Holden Statesman over the past few years. In 2001, the WHII model included improvements to the car's suspension and ride and the Holden Assist option became available. Holden Assist is an interactive primary security system which provides on-board assistance 24 hours, 365 days of the year.

Some of the situations where Holden Assist may be of benefit to the Holden statesman driver include:
?Locking the keys in the car
?A flat battery
?In an emergency or crash
?If the Holden Statesman is stolen.

In 2003, the Holden Statesman had a face lift to rectify some of the criticisms of the looks on the earlier models. The front end was remodelled and 44mm was shaved off the back end, making it a little less bulky. There were also changes on the inside with a restyled dashboard. This 2003 model is known as the WK model.

Holden Statesman engine options
As mentioned, the Statesman is available in a naturally aspirated V6, a supercharged V6 and a V8.

The naturally aspirated V6 3.4 litre Ecotec engine originally had 147 kw of power which was later increased to 152 kw. The supercharged V6 produces a much more respectable 171 kw of power considering the size and weight of the car. In 2004, the V6 powerplant was updated with the 3.6 litre Alloytec engine which boosted the power to 190 kw. While the earlier models had a four speed automatic transmission, the 2004 WL model included a five speed automatic gearbox.

The Holden Statesman also came with the option of a 5.0 litre V8 engine although you might find a one owner 5.0 litre V8 harder to come across as not all that many were released. However, in later models a Chev 5.7 litre V8 engine was available and a good one owner 5.7 litre Chev V8 should be easier to pick up.

When buying a one owner Holden Statesman
When buying a one owner Holden Statesman, check over the car thoroughly as there were some issues with build quality on earlier models. Later models should be okay. As these are fairly complex luxury cars, it will pay to get a professional inspection. Also, bear in mind that many Holden Statesmans have been used as hire cars so check for high kilometres and pay particular attention in the rear for wear and tear.