By EWAN KENNEDY
24 May 1999

Holden Calibra is a classic example of a European design which is a big success on its home market, but which never quite adapted to Australian conditions. Though reasonably successful on the sales front, mainly because of being backed by Holden, Calibra really should have done a lot better.

A two-plus-two sports coupe - indeed, it verges on being a full four-seater if the occupants are of below average stature - Calibra is sold in a big variety of forms. Typical buyers are either singles, couples or driving enthusiasts with young families. All find the Holden (nee Opel) coupe more than adequately suits their needs.

Calibra is a three-door hatchback, though most tend to think of it as a two-door coupe. It has better than average luggage capacity for a vehicle in this class, again giving it appeal to families.

Try one for yourself before becoming too entranced by the sporty lines. The driving position doesn’t suit all tastes, particularly those of more than average height, though there is more to it than that. The driving world seems composed of two groups: those people who feel very comfortable in a Calibra, and those that can't fit no matter how many positions they try. Make sure your test drive is of a decent length, half an hour at a minimum, to really get a feel for the car.

Calibra is very much an autobahn car, which should come as no surprise given its German heritage. It is comparatively slow off the line (more about that in a moment when we discuss engine options) due to gearing that is set up for high-speed touring. Accelerating from zero to 50km/h is less satisfying than going from 100 to 150km/h - but don't try it for yourself if your licence is getting a bit short on points!

Handling is very good with nice balance despite the forward mounting of the engine. Turn in is reasonably quick and there is plenty of grip on the road. The compromise between handing and comfort leans more to the handling side but this isn’t a pure sports car so comfort figures fairly strongly in the equation.

Engine options grew with the passing of time. When Calibra was launched in Australia in October 1991 there were two engine but, confusingly, no choice between them. If you bought a manual you got a powerful 2.0-litre twin-cam four, if you went for an automatic transmission the engine remained at the same size but had less power due to a single-cam head. The latter used to give improved torque at lower revs to improve performance with the self shifter.

That situation ceased in August 1995 when the twin-cam motor was offered with both transmissions.

In the meantime a turbocharged twin-cam, four-cylinder engine, again with a 2.0-litre capacity, had been introduced in June 1994. It is a real flier, with all-wheel drive, a six-speed manual gearbox, firmer suspension and a good looking body kit.

This is the machine to go for if you want a coupe that’s close to being a full-house sports model - but have a talk to your insurance company before getting a shock over the turbo-loaded premium.

Calibra’s engine range was expanded yet again in August 1995 with the introduction of a V6 2.5-litre unit. It, too, featured a twin-cam cylinder head so gives good performance. Again there’s that unfortunate slanting (from an Aussie point of view) towards high-speed travel at the expense of low-down acceleration. Most V6 Calibras come with a four-speed automatic transmission, but some imports had the six-speed manual.

Being backed by Holden means dealerships are many and far flung. Not all outback ones carry parts for what is predominantly a city car, but can generally get them freighted in within 24 hours. Calibra is a relatively complex car so most repairs should be left to professionals, though the good home handyperson can tackle a fair bit.

Insurance, as mentioned, is loaded against turbocharged engines, but other than that is not overly expensive for an imported European car in this semi-sporty class.

Holden soldiered on with the Calibra until midway through 1998 before finally admitting it simply wasn't going to be a sales success here and ceased importation.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

A lot depends on how a Calibra has been driven. The vast majority will only have been used as attractive cruising coupes and will seldom, if ever, have been driven hard.

Others, the Turbo in particular, will have had their necks wrung by someone who really enjoys pressing on. These could be close to the stage where big bucks are needed to keep them on the road.

Walk around the car and look for signs of damage or repaired damage. The latter is best spotted by sighting along the length of the panels for a slight ripple in the finish. There may also be tiny spots of paint on unpainted areas such as the glass and tyres. Paint colours which don't match exactly on adjacent panels are another clue.

We haven't seen any serious rust in a Calibra, but check the lower body areas, around the fuel filler flap and the edges of the mudguards.

Engines are all fuel injected so should start easily and idle smoothly. Listen for a whining noise from a turbocharger indicating excessive wear.

Look for uneven wear on the front tyres and during your test drive feel for a car that pulls to one side, particularly under brakes.

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