HSV Maloo 20th Anniversary 2011 Review

While this shows my hand as being a fan of these unique Aussie sports cars, I can assure you that I'm fully aware of their faults – which makes my decision to buy another one even more absurd.

My first (a VY SS) ute had severe paint defects, my second (a VY SS) and third (a VZ Maloo) were trouble-free, while my fourth (a VE SS-V) went back to the dealer four times in 4000km to fix problems with rain water leaking into the cabin (the carpets were replaced twice), a bad knock in the front suspension, and a mysterious roof creaking sound. In the end I couldn't get it right, so I sold it, heart-broken.

Fingers crossed Holden gets the next one right. For the record, I'm buying it through a dealer just like any other Joe Blow. Hopefully it's a good one. It's due to be built when Holden resumes production in the second half of January. I hope the factory line workers had a good break and return with a new eye for detail. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, there must be something about these vehicles if they can prise money out of someone who doesn't even need to own a car.

I can't afford a Maloo this time around (I'm going back to an SS), which means I had mixed emotions about spending extended time in a 20th anniversary Maloo. I deliberately placed my order for the SS before I picked up the Maloo so I couldn't change my mind.

But I would soon fill my thoughts with regret, noting that I'd miss the better HSV steering wheel, seats, data system, the rear hard lid that warns me on the dash if it's ajar, the way the reverse lights automatically come on at night so I don't step in dog muck. The list goes on.

Many casual ute observers may dismiss the 20th anniversary edition as a wheel and sticker kit (the sticker is on the back window), but actually the 20th anniversary Maloo has its own suspension tune.

HSV engineers lapped Lang Lang for months (it's a hard job but someone's got to do it) making sure the wider offset GTS front wheels didn't upset the balance. In the end a slightly thicker rear sway bar was fitted, but the shock and spring rates remain unchanged.

This is a dangerous sentence to write with your name against it, but it's amazing what a difference a few centimetres makes. The wider front track sharpens the turn-in of the Maloo, and makes the steering feel more responsive. It's awesome. It's a worthwhile enhancement and one I hope HSV adopts on future models (the GTS has an 8.5 inch front rim but uses the same size tyre fitted to the 8-inch rim).

Unfortunately there's no extra power for the 6.2-litre V8 this time around for the Maloo (it sticks with 317kW and 550Nm), and the rear end appearance hasn't changed – it doesn't even get the cool "shockwave" exhaust tips from the sedan.

I sketched out a possible solution to this and showed it to HSV designers and engineers (and anyone else who'd listen). They responded with a look that said "When are you going to stop annoying us Josh?".

The reality is that HSV didn't feel the need to go O.T.T with the Maloo anniversary edition because its arrival coincided with the E3 upgrade and the cool track-trace data logging system that now comes standard on all HSVs. A rear camera is standard on all E3 Maloos (not available on a regular SS ute because Holden would need to mould a new eyebrow clip above the rear number plate).

The one feature that I thought was a bit naff but have since become a fan of is the side blind zone alert (optional on Maloo and most E3 HSVs, standard on the anniversary pack and Senator and Grange). It's hugely helpful in the Maloo, with its small side mirrors and thick seat belt pillar restricting the over shoulder view at the best of times. Without it is like being tapped on the shoulder by a mate who then hides from you – it's really annoying. Anyway, the side blind thingy worked a treat and only occasionally gave a false positive reading of a freeway guard rail here and there. It definitely saved me a few times from cutting across someone and, er, scratching the paintwork.

Ah the paintwork. The plastics didn't match the metal on the example I drove – but HSV said it was an early pilot car and this has been changed for production.

What also needs to be fixed is the sail-plane (the trim behind the rear side windows). On the test car, both sides had come unstuck and were sticking out, proud of the bodywork. Not what you'd expect on a $70,000 car. A fix is on the way apparently.

The test car also had a rattle in the dash which sounded like a loose cable for the side blind zone lamp. And in first and second gears the shifter had a subtle rattle vibration, which occurred intermittently.

Unfortunately, such annoying quality issues are not exclusive to Holden and HSVs. My mate down the road has taken his brand new FG XR8 ute back to the dealer several times in the past year to fix problems with the exhaust, the diff, the suspension and the factory sat-nav system, while another mate with an XR6 Turbo had issues with the fitment of his ute tub, an exhaust rattle and an ill-fitting hard lid with a dodgy lock. One of them says he'll line up and buy another, while the other mate – a second generation Ford fan – has made the difficult decision to leave the Aussie ute fold. Out of the three of us, only one is smart.

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