Comments on: Why you shouldn’t buy a Holden Barina

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:07:07 +0000

I bought a 2007 Barina New and the automatic has had a solanoid go in it four times. I feel as though it is constantly being returned for repairs and the inconvenience is rediculous. So much for a warranty – I’d like a refund on this lemon but instead I have to just keep taking it back. Can you think of any other faulty item you would have to keep taking back for patching and instead of getting your momney back you continue to lose thousands. I’d like to sell it but I couldn’t do it privately – I’d feel like scum.

By: Limited

Limited — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:14:15 +0000

Has ANYONE noticed the falling quality of safety standards for ALL cars these days?

“EXPERTS” look at “SAFETY” as if they are more worried about a few bumps and scratches from a low speed accident (40km/h) as a major catastrophy, yet being crushed to death because of the steadily degrading strength of the parts, isnt anything to worry about.

Try taking a 2008 Falcon, up against a 1980 Kingswood, then see which driver gets to know what sardines feel like.

New car parts have been designed to crumble to reduce impact, but have the “EXPERTS” thought it through?

By: basho

basho — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 05:27:27 +0000

I’m sick of the bag the Barina movement especialy as it would seen many of the baggers haven’t even driven the very car they’re bagging.
I thought they were a crapheap until I actualy looked at and drove one of the new TKs– and I’d never been behind the wheel of any barina before.
And I bought one- an MY08 TK09 Barina after looking at every option in he $12-14k price bracket , new and secondhand ,quite frankly the Barina was the only one that ticked all the boxes.
Appart from the much discussed now 4 star safety rating the car has a good design style ,very good build quality and finish ,- it’s way better than I expected.
It came with a 3yr 100K Klm full factory waranty + a further 75K Klm 3yr limited parts warranty and all the usual roadside assist stuff etc.
I traded an 04 (SH)Citroen C2 for it , which is an acute example of absolute Eurotrash–on it’s good days-of which it has none.
I got $10K trade on the (sh)Citroen against an Oct build TK09 demonstrator with 500klms on it and payed a further $2K to drive away ,
– happy–you betcha.

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:33:04 +0000

I went on this website to find out which car to buy next. I consider myself very lucky indeed. I have had my 1989 MF Barina for 20 years this coming April, I brought it brand new. I’ve had no major problems with it, tho there has been times when I’ve been on the verge of big bucks. I love this car, tho I know I do need a change because I can’t drive it anymore. With no power steering, air bags etc and the luxuries that are in newer cars. And I do know that I won’t be buying another Barina, I’ve done my dash with it. Tho it does lag in engine power at times for some reason, but it has been a zippy little thing. Petrol has been great not more than $25-$30.
People have their opinions in everything, and nothing, absolutely nothing is perfect.
Gonna miss it when I do part with it, and I know that the car I get next will be even better, and thought long and hard about.

By: Chrisso

Chrisso — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:28:57 +0000

Looks like holden added an extra crumple zone in the A Pillar…Awesome engineering…

By: Bret

Bret — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:03:35 +0000

Bill, quite a rant there, however it appears that you have little real knowledge on the car or autmotive safety in general.
In fact to get the 4 stars the Barina underwent significant strengthening and re-engineering, before they slapped in extra airbags.
BTW Stephen and Bill, whacking in ESP won’t give the Barina 5 stars, it just does not have the structural integrity (even now) to get there.
Back to sleep now boys…….

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:55:56 +0000

What a load of crock crap thats been said here. If you hit something stationery at anywhere near 100kph you going to die. No safety crap will save you. The Barina is as safe as any of these cars and without doing much to the Barina at all it now has a 4 star rating by ANCAP.
LAZY BONES said: “Whats going to happen to you at 100Kph. Not so much whatever, but game over.”

Tell me the name of a car you would feel safe in 100kph impact with a stationery object???????????????????
A vehicle has its exorbent limit and once thats over the G forces will kill you anyway. I will put it another way.. If I sat you in a toyota yaris and dropped you front first from a crane so you reached 100kph just as you hit the ground, do you think the yaris would be alot safer??????? Facts are you would die pretty quick no matter what car your in. Another thing I want to mention is: Why has the Barina now got a top score rating just by fitting side airbags?????? Shows what you really all know about crash test ratings….! NOTHING ……..

By: Stephen Hampson

Stephen Hampson — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:15:32 +0000

October 2008 – Holden have now added side airbags on the upgraded model and it has just scored a Four Star Rating which is as high as it can go because you have to have Electronic Stability Control like big cars have to get a 5 star rating.

By: Genie

Genie — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:08:08 +0000

Dean, your logic is utterly faulty, sorry. No matter how well you drive, how safe you are, if someone runs a red light and T-bones you, your zero demerit points and smattering of baby on board stickers are not going to save you. In that case the only thing that might is how well your car can keep all that kinetic energy absorbed in the crash from being transported through your body. Thats what the ANCAP tests measure, and the 2 star safety rating shows that the Barina will do this very poorly.

To the people who have Barina’s and are happy with them, congrats. But don’t get angry at people for pointing out that testing has shown this car will not protect you in a crash to anywhere near the extent of many of its rivals.

By: dean

dean — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:45:02 +0000

well.. its all about how you drive,, if you drive world’s safest car stupidly you gona die..
Barina is beautiful car

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:27:43 +0000

All you haters should get lives. Don’t like Barinas, dont buy one. I’ve got a 2005 XC and it has been nothing but wonderful, even AFTER crashing it into a pole. So stop blowing smoke.

By: Me!!!!!!

Me!!!!!! — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:33:21 +0000

I bought a Holden Barina,2007,unfortunately, and it has been back to be repaired by the dealer 18 times in a year. Holden, Melbourne and the dealer say it is not a LEMON. It has cost them more to keep it on the road than the car cost me. Talk about pig headedness. They fix it(???) and then a day, week or month later it is back to the same conditionit was.

By: unknown

unknown — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:24:10 +0000

The Holden Barina TK earned 5 stars in the USA crash test. Why did it perform so badly in AU?

By: No Name

No Name — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:32:09 +0000

Hi Cass. your right there. Also much depends on how the vehicle is driven of course. Then you cannot account fot the idiot coming the other way. In 28 years of driving ‘touch wood’ I’ve never had a serious accident and never wrtiiten off a car.

By: cass

cass — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:50:40 +0000

Ultimately we all would like to think we’re driving the safest car available in our price range! Have had 2 barina’s and loved them – never been in a bingle though! There are so many variants that affect an outcome of an accident – speaking as an an ED nurse I see pictures of car’s and think how the hell did you walk away from that- my main concern now as a mum is the safest car possible for my kids. We now drive a car with a 15/16 safety rating with all the safety features available at the time. I guess cars mean different things to different people!

By: No Name

No Name — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:00:16 +0000

Latoya…learn to write… Oih dunt no wats yoom sayun

By: latoya

latoya — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:24:33 +0000

having had my 2002barina for 13 yrs i purchased a 2007 had it 3months .defect 1 after rain when driving with window down water off the roof runs in windows 2 when driiving into curb parking square you cant see the square if you are in it or not 3 bad view reversing.should of bought the i30 ready to re trade

By: Oz.

Oz. — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:07:17 +0000

^
If I were you, I’d stick with my Falcons!

By: Woops

Woops — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 05:31:35 +0000

I was looking at one of these barinas at a dealer and i opened the bonnet… looked at the puney lawnmower motor then closed the bonnet. Being used to closing my falcon bonnet i pushed on the leading edge of the bonnet, not wanting to slam it down because i didnt want to break it. i left a slight finger dent in the front edge… I walked very quickly away as though nothing happened. 30sec later i was gone. “You didnt see anything”

These cars are mostly purchased by young p-platers, people who are most likely to crash. And look how it turns out.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:47:02 +0000

Has Jo posted again?

hope she hasn’t been in a an accident in that Barina she THINKS is safe…It’s your life in the end Jo…