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 Holden Calibra? - Your thoughts  

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Menco
  • Menco
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  • Joined: 27-October 03
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  • From: Townsville, QLD
Post #1 post 28th January 2004 - 04:43 AM
I never noticed a holden calibra before and i just relaised they are 4 cylinders and dont look too bad. Would they make a good first car? Im guessin they would. How would the engine compare to a SR20DE pulsar
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hi_lux
Post #2

dunno about to the SR20DE pulsar, but i know calibras have very weak gearboxs, especially the 4x4 turbo ones, and they cost in the vicinity of 10 g's to fix. also the 4x4 turbos are so heavy they on just beat the FWD non turbos.

Menco
Post #3

Well if a non turbo gearbox costs too much i wont bother i would prob give the car a thrashing in apropriate areas ofcourse

DICKIES
Post #4

yea there good cars mate was thinkin my self of geting one but over them but good cars thumbsup.gif

markus
Post #5

mehh.... they have Getrag gear boxes in them......... and ur telling me there weak......hmmm don't think so champion

its the transfer case in rear of the turbo's if there not maintained properly yeh they fuck up and cost u about 6 grand

like anything u don't maintain u get urself into trouble

Vmax
Post #6

If its your 1st car, grab a fwd version. Its something different from all the Nissan/Mazda/Toyota/Subaru etc brigade.

Menco
Post #7

Yeah its something different and the one i found are fairly cheap. I just sorta wondering has it sorta got the reliability and performace of the SR20 pulsar also fairly cheap insurace. Otherwise if it dosent match the pulsar i wont bother

Vmax
Post #8

As far as I know, it is a relatively heavy bastard with not a huge amount of go in standard form.

Might be better off with the Nissan

thumbsup.gif

deva
Post #9

i'd got the calibra any day, just love the looks of em... who cares if they're heavy, it's not like ur gunna have a pocket rocket in your hands with a pulsar.

GotDubs?
Post #10

I used to own a Holden (Opel) Calibra. I had the non turbo FWD version with the 2L 16V DOHC engine. It had 110kw and it went really well. It used to eat SR20DE Pulsars.

Never had any problems with the gear box.

And it wasnt especially heavy. It weighed like 1200 kg which isnt too bad. The turbo 4WD version weighs like 1400 - 1500. Thats the heavy one. The NA Calibra was actually almost as quick as the turbo version due to the power to weight ratio. It did 0 - 100 in around 8 seconds flat. The Turbo Calibra was built more as a GT Cruiser instead of outright acceleration times. It did 0 - 100 in low sevens by memory.

I would have to say it was the BEST car I have ever owned. It surpasses my current S15 200SX in all areas except maybe performance and depending on if you like the look of theem or not styling.

They come with all power options too. Mine had A/C, P/S, power mirrors and windows, power sunroof, it had heated side mirrors incase they got fogged up!

They also come with Recaro seats standard. If you dont beleive me have a look - the tags are on the bottom of the seat.

Another great feature was the suspension. They come stock with Bilstein shocks so yes the ride is fairly firm but very neutral around corners.

The head unit is fairly crap but if you put in a CD player of some sort they come with a 6 speaker Blaupunkt speaker system which sounds good through a decent head unit. It sounded better than a lot of mates cars who had aftermarket splits. If you are looking for the tweeters they are behind the cloth trim on the top of the door. If you push against the cloth you will see the group of small holes drilled to let the sound through.

The boot was also killer. With the rear seats folded down and the shelf removed I could fit 2 x Mountain Bikes in the back if you took the front wheels off.

I had a 2.5" exhaust system on it and it sounded killer. Has that real european note to it similiar to some of the Mercedes Benz's.

The build quality was great too. I really noticed how crap my S15 is when you hop back into another Calibra. The doors are heavy and close with that distinct euro thud and only people who have owned a euro car will know what Im talking about here.

As for bodykits etc, Rieger Tuning has like 5 different kits for them. They arnt cheap compared tto Aussie ones but they fit properly and are made of plastic like the original ones.

I would definately consider this over the pulsar. You seriously wont regret it.

*Landy_luva*
Post #11

Agreed...i've heard alot of positives about them too tongue.gif

mattson
Post #12

I personally don't like them, but each to thier own, I think they had a OEM turbo model in the UK but I could be wrong

Menco
Post #13

anyone else tell me stuff particually about the non turbo 4 cylinder

DaSiKeXcElBrO
Post #14

i would be interested as well, i've wanted to know a bit about these cars for a while
i looked at one for sale in a yard the other day, and it looked very well made (didn't actually drive it to get to see how it went though sad.gif)

Menco
Post #15

They sound like really nices cars after what u have wrote. Luxurious and well built for around a 1993 model car. Seeing as they are european but insurance is gonna be a little more expensive but isnt it. Another thing i like is the price of the limited amout i have seen for sale is around 7 grand max

QUOTE (DSTRYR @ Jan 29 2004, 09:23 AM)
I used to own a Holden (Opel) Calibra. I had the non turbo FWD version with the 2L 16V DOHC engine. It had 110kw and it went really well. It used to eat SR20DE Pulsars.

Never had any problems with the gear box.

And it wasnt especially heavy. It weighed like 1200 kg which isnt too bad. The turbo 4WD version weighs like 1400 - 1500. Thats the heavy one. The NA Calibra was actually almost as quick as the turbo version due to the power to weight ratio. It did 0 - 100 in around 8 seconds flat. The Turbo Calibra was built more as a GT Cruiser instead of outright acceleration times. It did 0 - 100 in low sevens by memory.

I would have to say it was the BEST car I have ever owned. It surpasses my current S15 200SX in all areas except maybe performance and depending on if you like the look of theem or not styling.

They come with all power options too. Mine had A/C, P/S, power mirrors and windows, power sunroof, it had heated side mirrors incase they got fogged up!

They also come with Recaro seats standard. If you dont beleive me have a look - the tags are on the bottom of the seat.

Another great feature was the suspension. They come stock with Bilstein shocks so yes the ride is fairly firm but very neutral around corners.

The head unit is fairly crap but if you put in a CD player of some sort they come with a 6 speaker Blaupunkt speaker system which sounds good through a decent head unit. It sounded better than a lot of mates cars who had aftermarket splits. If you are looking for the tweeters they are behind the cloth trim on the top of the door. If you push against the cloth you will see the group of small holes drilled to let the sound through.

The boot was also killer. With the rear seats folded down and the shelf removed I could fit 2 x Mountain Bikes in the back if you took the front wheels off.

I had a 2.5" exhaust system on it and it sounded killer. Has that real european note to it similiar to some of the Mercedes Benz's.

The build quality was great too. I really noticed how crap my S15 is when you hop back into another Calibra. The doors are heavy and close with that distinct euro thud and only people who have owned a euro car will know what Im talking about here.

As for bodykits etc, Rieger Tuning has like 5 different kits for them. They arnt cheap compared tto Aussie ones but they fit properly and are made of plastic like the original ones.

I would definately consider this over the pulsar. You seriously wont regret it.

TUF131
Post #16

ive always liked the look of them. no1 i kno has one or has owned one. dumped with a zorst and wheels would be fantastic. i have no idea bout the performance tho. they'd be good on fuel, quiet, everything would work, good coast crusier, good city driver, chicks wil luv it. its sounds perfect. they still look modern for an early 90's model car. i reckon go for it thumbsup.gif

Menco
Post #17

uuummmmm bump wink.gif smile.gif tunes.gif

RYan TuRbO
Post #18

Opel Calibra's Are nice
Holden ones' dont look smooth enough! dry.gif
But yea i reckon other than here problmes!!! ohmy.gif tey would mnake a good first car unsure.gif

HOLNESS
Post #19

QUOTE (deva @ Jan 28 2004, 01:22 PM)
i'd got the calibra any day, just love the looks of em... who cares if they're heavy, it's not like ur gunna have a pocket rocket in your hands with a pulsar.

hmmm deva i sayin a gtir aint fast??? remember its still a pulsar tongue.gif

iam just playin i know he is talkin about sr20de

if i was u i would buy a noice n14 pulsar and make that look good then get a gtir engine and bam u got your self a noice lookin fast car biggrin.gif

joeboss
Post #20

the V6 one is the pick of the bunch!

KB
Post #21

I always thought they were 6 cylinders... geez..looks like I was wrong about that.

deva
Post #22

as joe boss said, there are 6cylinder ones available, however there are also 4cylinder ones smile.gif

KB
Post #23

QUOTE (deva @ Jan 30 2004, 12:40 AM)
as joe boss said, there are 6cylinder ones available, however there are also 4cylinder ones smile.gif

oh I see! no wonder! Thanks!! smile.gif

Nismo By Nature
Post #24

there sick.......as
thumbsup.gif thumbsup.gif

DICKIES
Post #25

QUOTE (NismOpedlar @ Jan 29 2004, 08:13 PM)
Opel Calibra's Are nice
Holden ones' dont look smooth enough! dry.gif
But yea i reckon other than here problmes!!! ohmy.gif tey would mnake a good first car unsure.gif

laugh.gif laugh.gif ryan opel and holden arethe same thing man laugh.gif laugh.gif

GotDubs?
Post #26

The manual 4 cylinder non ecotec ones have 110kw and a 10.5:1 compression ratio
The manual 4 cylinder ecotec ones have 100kw and a 10.8:1 compression ratio
The 6 cylinder has 125 kw
The auto 4 cylinder has around 80kw I think. Instead of using the DOHC 16V Engine it had the 8v Single cam engine which was last seen in the CAMIRA without EFI! YUCK
GotDubs?
Post #27

OPEL = GERMAN MARKET
HOLDEN = AUSTRALIAN MARKET
VAUXHALL = BRITISH MARKET

All GM. Calibra were fully imported from Germany. By memory mine still had Opel all over the rocker cover on the spark plug cover.

Steam
Post #28

dont know much about them, but look sexy nonetheless.

neil_se
Post #29

i almost bought one before my 180 but it just had too many electrical problems. the 6cyl went and felt great but don't break it as spares are very very expensive. most of the dealerships i talked to said they wouldn't sell them (including the holden dealerships) because they lose money under warranty with expensive repairs. but cars are never cheap so go for it, i absolutely love the look of them.

_____
Post #30

good to see some more people getin intrested in them there fully sik cars mate and u could pick one up for around umm about 7k i think so good luck mate thumbsup.gif

neil_se
Post #31

oh and for all your info, see club calibra.

~*b*~
Post #32

I was actually considering buying a holden calibra before I ended up with the 180sx. Definitely got a little bit of power to them, and a pretty reliable brand (in some aspects) I test drove a few and to be honest they seemed like pretty nice cars, however it wasnt mean to be cos the 180sx came along tongue.gif
Anyways I would consider one!

RYan TuRbO
Post #33

QUOTE (DICKIES @ Jan 30 2004, 02:48 AM)
QUOTE (NismOpedlar @ Jan 29 2004, 08:13 PM)
Opel Calibra's Are nice
Holden ones' dont look smooth enough!  dry.gif
But yea i reckon other than here problmes!!!  ohmy.gif tey would mnake a good first car unsure.gif

laugh.gif laugh.gif ryan opel and holden arethe same thing man laugh.gif laugh.gif

Yes but one is made overseas and is way better

SIC 86
Post #34

Hey Menco, that red one in town I am best mates with and that white one (that doesn't have the big 10 foot touring wing on and stickers all over it wacko.gif ) I am also friends with. They don't go to bad but they do way a shitload and when u need parts for them, good luck thumbsup.gif But who cares about them, have u seen that black lambo in town blink.gif

Cheers

HOON69
Post #35

calibra's are a awesome car have always liked em since i layed my eyes on one.

but as a first car,i say NO..

go for a simple design,unless you know what your getting into dont go there..

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