{"id":3035,"date":"2026-04-03T03:06:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-03T03:06:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australianholden.com\/?page_id=3035"},"modified":"2026-04-14T06:12:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:12:22","slug":"when-the-holden-vz-commodore-and-wl-statesman-were-released-australia-in-2004","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vz-commodore\/when-the-holden-vz-commodore-and-wl-statesman-were-released-australia-in-2004\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Holden VZ Commodore and WL Statesman were released &#8211; Australia in 2004"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/\">Commodore Home<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/commodores\/vz-commodore\/\">VZ Commodore<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cost of a new Holden VZ Commodore \/ WL Statesman<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>VZ Commodore sedan: approximately&nbsp;$38,500\u2013$40,000 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>WL Statesman luxury model: approximately&nbsp;$70,000\u2013$75,000 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VZ featured&nbsp;minor styling updates over the VY, improved suspension tuning, upgraded electronics, enhanced safety features, and refined interior materials<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The WL Statesman offered&nbsp;premium luxury trims, leather interiors, advanced comfort features, climate control, and executive styling for professional buyers. The WL Statesman would be known to be a spacious and comfortable car that felt much bigger inside than what it appeared on the outside.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both models targeted&nbsp;Australian families and executives seeking modern styling, comfort, and reliability. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VZ Commodore would bring about the introduction of the Alloytec V6 engine. Apart from timing chain issues around the 200 000km mark it would be known to be a solid, smooth and powerful engine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average wage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average weekly wage: about&nbsp;$820\u2013$840<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average annual wage: roughly&nbsp;$42,640\u2013$43,680<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average house price<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Around&nbsp;$320,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Price of petrol<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;$1.25 per litre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Prime Minister<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>John Howard (Liberal Party)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Population of Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;20 million people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top-grossing movie<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shrek 2, Spider-Man 2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Top song<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Yeah!&nbsp;by&nbsp;Usher&nbsp;topped Australian charts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant world event<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Global technology and internet adoption accelerated<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International focus on Middle East tensions and economic growth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Popular TV \/ radio in Australia<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Home and Away, Neighbours, Rove Live, and A Current Affair<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FM radio and music television shaped pop culture and youth trends<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significant Australian news story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic growth, suburban development, and automotive trends dominated headlines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The VZ Commodore and WL Statesman reflected&nbsp;mid-2000s Australian demand for modern, safe, and comfortable family and executive vehicles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Interesting comparisons<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The VZ Commodore cost roughly&nbsp;0.9 years\u2019 average wages, while the WL Statesman cost&nbsp;1.65\u20131.8 years\u2019 wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average house cost about&nbsp;7.5\u20137.7 years\u2019 wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filling a ~60L tank cost roughly&nbsp;$75 AUD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A week\u2019s wages could buy roughly&nbsp;650\u2013670 litres of petrol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commodore Home VZ Commodore Cost of a new Holden VZ Commodore \/ WL Statesman Average wage Average house price Price of petrol Prime Minister Population of Australia Top-grossing movie Top song Significant world event Popular TV \/ radio in Australia Significant Australian news story Interesting comparisons<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3457,"parent":67,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3035","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>When the Holden VZ Commodore and WL Statesman were released - Australia in 2004 - Australian Holden<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" 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