I was just reading in the sun car guide, smithy says with graham smith
Rough and the smooth
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my wife and I are considering the purchase of a car specifically for a trip through the central australia and up to darwin. Our requirements are:comfort, airconditioning, automatic, room for luggage, able to be repaired anywhere not 4wd, price less than $6000. it would not be towing anything. what bo you think of a Holden berlina from about 1987?
I take it you are thinking of a vl commodore, but I wouldn't recommend that. It was powered by a nissan six and while the engine was very good, the installation in the commodore was a bit of a mess and it suffered from overheating as a result. it's also important with the nissan engine for the coolant to be changed regulary to prevent excessive corrosion in the cooling system or risk more overheating problems, something you don't want on your holiday trip. instead of the vl i would consider a later-model commodore, such as the vn, which should fall within your budget. it has a 3.8 litre v6 which has a good reputation for reliability, even if those early ones weren't that smooth.
is this guy for real
i see his point about the engine fit in the commodore, but its just one of those over talked up misconceptions (sp?) bout the vl. If bled correctly and manitained, you shouldnt have any problems with ur VL overheating.
There are also the common problems associated with a VN commodore. I would recommend either car. If **** happens, it happens.
In conclusion. I think people who have trouble with their cars are usually the people who know nothing at all about them, put off servicing them, and couldnt be bothered cheking under the hood every now and again to see if anything needs attention (fluids etc). These are usually the people who, even if they did have a look, wouldnt know wat the **** they were looking for anyway.
Look after ur car and it'll look after you.
that family should pick the vl - just because i think they should hahaha !
Ollie
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
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Originally Posted by exchaser
There are also the common problems associated with a VN commodore. I would recommend either car. If **** happens, it happens.
Correct..... the biggest misconception with the VN is that they're a good car. THE SUCK MORE **** THAN A VALLEY WHORE
WTF? What's this dude talking about the VN was the WORST commo ever built,crap engine,**** body like a egg,just a complete **** box all round! And not to say about other commo's after the VN hahaha VL was the best commo ever built ask peter brock The legend himself ...
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VN's are ****boxes. rear end are damn ugly. they sound like ****, all of em sound like the damn muffler on 1 screw. VP's are just as bad. even the new commodores are ****boxes i rekon. 2 ppl i know got brand new VX's and had to replace radiators and the ratiator mounts as they BOTH snapped and radiators leaked.
VL's rock bcoz of the ENGIN moite. NISSAN PWR. it would be interesting if they continued wit the gayass VK motor in a new shape. all holdens would be ****boxes.
but
agreeing with - if you look after your car it'll look after you.
hence my brothers just screwed up again. if he gave it a look once in a while it'd treat him well, timing belt snapped on the *******, however the mechanics that put his new engine in shoulda had a look at that for him i reckon.
Probably doesn't matter too much actually, I reakon the VN's are more comfortable. And I bet "smithy's" old girl would prefer comfort over most other things.
I guess the rattling VN dash kind of masks out the dying engine noise?? and then you just crank up the "voxotron" radio or whatever these beasts have to hide the dash rattling, perfect!
Apart from the interior, VL's pretty much beat the VN in every other way IMO. And the interior of the VL calais is pretty damm nice though (i'm sure he could find one of those for under 6k).
its funny how times change..... back when i was a P plater (6 yrs ago, yes i am an old fart ) no one considered buying a VN. Like NO ONE. Yes the prices were different back then, but its interesting how people would want one now. Anyways....
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Dont knock the VN's too much. My "olds" had a 1989 series 1 Berlina from 1994 - 2003 (Traded up to a VT 4 months ago) And it was excellent! The only major things we had to do/went wrong with it over the 9 years where, Replace the power steering rack, Blown transmission oil cooler hose, Replace welch plugs, harmonic balancer, water pump, and starter motor. We serviced it every 10,000 km and looked after it. And it went like a dream
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
If I was to drive up through the "Red Centre" up to Darwin I'd use a HQ or XD-F Falcon, reliable cars that cost stuff all and best thing is when you do break down in the middle of no-where at least you'd probably find a abandoned car left by the Aboriginals. "The BushMechanics"
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I agree with Red RB30 Jet, if you wanted a beast that just would'nt die a XD Fairmont Ghia Auto with the C4 and 250 Crossflow is your car. If you could be caught driving it Had one as my first car, we couldnt afford VL's as first cars back then and the 250 used to own the 202's.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
aheaeheah its like asking for a souvlaki instead to have some idiot reccomend baked beans.
damn morons,
/me gets out his coathanger abortion kit for this article writer
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Originally Posted by Red RB30 Jet
If I was to drive up through the "Red Centre" up to Darwin I'd use a HQ or XD-F Falcon, reliable cars that cost stuff all and best thing is when you do break down in the middle of no-where at least you'd probably find a abandoned car left by the Aboriginals. "The BushMechanics"
I drove my then Series 3 Landrover up here from Brissy....fitted with a 202.....3200km@120km=3 1/2days.....comfort was out the window, Aircon????ooo yeah windows slide open and no Fu*ken radio/stereo.......but yeah had no probs at all.
If I was driving back down south I would'nt be driving my VLT as I have grave dought that it would make it. And yes its more looked after/maintained then my Hilux 4x4....but yeah the Hilux would get the job....alot more comfy, a hell of a lot cheaper to run.....and very very reliable
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
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Originally Posted by Petros
aheaeheah its like asking for a souvlaki instead to have some idiot reccomend baked beans.
i wonder if Petros' laughter sounds how it looks.....
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
Bah, dont get me started on the VN motor.
I could be here ranting for ages about the problems associated with it. (Especially the Series I)
The VN was one step forward and two steps backwards IMHO.
Anyone that acknowledges that the VN or any Buick motor is better than the Nissan I6 is an absolute dumb ****.
Sorry but they are the cruddiest heap of **** ever.
Even when i eventually upgrade to a late model commodore some time in the future, i will be fitting something like a Toyota 2J Sequential Turbo Motor.
Mainly because I would never own a Buick or LS1, they are absolute bits of crap. Be we all know they are built to a strict budget. Hence Holden using motors that were designed in the 1940's. (Dam Pushrods, Yuck!)
Mick
