Sorry i know its sort of the wrong forum, but i couldn't find another appropriate place to post, plus most of you's here actually know what your on about.... Hi i have about $5000 to spend on a VL but im just a little worried about getting a 14 -16 year old car. I would buy a stock Vl cause less chance of it being thrashed. I would try my hardest to buy a Automatic 1988 model. Just a few questions i need answered if possible. 1. What comes with a standard VL? eg. power stearing, air con? 2. What are they like for fuel? How bigs the tank? How far do you go? 3. Without any mods what are they like to drive? 4. Any standard faults which have to be rectified? Im still a bit weary about buying a turbo 14-16 years old. Its my first car and after this 5 grand im flat broke, so if anything went wrong, cars on the side of the road for a while. Also with turbos you have to let them warm up and cool down, and im basically just lazy. So i will probably end up buying a non turbo unless you guys can convince me otherwise. Thanks heaps Any more info about them would be greatly appreciated thanks email me at [email removed] or leave a message here. thanks

Hey Mate, I didn't happen to catch where you're from but i'm up her in Brisbane. I faced the same few questions you have mentioned this time last year. So here are the answers to your questions... 1 - The standard SL's are pretty good for equipment. They have power steering and air con. There's no power windows or mirrors but thats nothing huge. The steering is a little on the light side on models with a standard wheel but i have a momo wheel and love the handling. 2 - Fuel isn't too good... but then its not the worst either. I think the tank is a 50L tank but one of the other guys may know more on this. In my 1988 SL i can get 150km on about 23L or 190km on 23L of BP Ultimate. 3. Mine has no major mods at all... and i love it. They're a smooth car with pretty good pickup. The auto's are nice to drive. Everything is laid out nicely with the instruments and the indicators and stuff. It may just be my short arms but the stereo controlls are a little out of reach. 4. I'm probably not the person to comment on faults as most people on here know, i own one of the LEMON ones. But i've been told that the Crank Angle Sensor is a common problem. Other than this, mine has just been a lemon with things like fuel pumps, and my annoying rough idle which i never did work out what was causing it. Anyway that asside, there aren't any MAJOR problems. You should be able to pick up something for $5000 if you do your homework. I was really close to going for a VN untill i happened to look in the Trading Post and got my 1988 Commodore SL with Auscar 15" Rims & a Momo wheel, Alarm for $4700... he had $4750 on it but dropped $50 cos the cabin light was broken. I've since found out that the car has had a frontal accident, and a rear accident. Both reasonably serious. But keep you're eye out and you should pick up something decent. I have seen some in yards around for $4000 to $5000. Good luck with the hunt man.

Hey my88vl, Read the post called "weired idle.." in Engines/Turbos/Management section I posted. I eventually worked out how to fix the annoying idle I had that was ****ting me up the wall. I may help you aslwell Cheers Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

thanks heaps my88vl im on the gold coast and saw one advertised in the trading post for $3800 full stock. this basically leaves me over a grand to do it up a bit. If its got no rust, and been servied all way through and dont look thrashed i'll prolly buy. that fuel sort of sucks though hehe

tank is 63 litres and you should get about 400-450L from a tank if its reasonably looked after. a lot of ppl get more and a lot of ppl get less but i reckon thats about where it should be... go to www.calaisturbo.com and theres an article about buying a vl. read through that and it has some helpful bits and pieces.

i'm a full time student and am only earning $100 a week, so im gonna be better off in say a pulsar, civic or an accord. I will get absolutely no performace, but i will get from A to B cheaply. If anyone can suggest a car which is economical and has some performance for around the 5 grand, mark, pls let me know. By the time i get a second car Vl's will be to old, so i will prolly go straight to a skyline or something. anyway thanks for your time here bye. pls suggest cars ppl!!! btw i live on golds coast

Hey man, If ya do want something like that, i'd say you really can't go past a Civic... yeah i know its a rice car but they are pretty tough engines. 2 of the guys at work have worked (and riced) Honda's and they're tough. The fuel economy from a little Civic is gonna be really good if its looked after. As for power, you obviously won't get close to a VL for power but with bugger all money and a basic knowledge of what will give you more power (exhaust, extractors, port & pollish) then you should be able to get away with something quick and not too bad on fuel. Being from the gold coast, you'll save a sh*t load on insurance for a Civic over a VL... i was quoted $2057 a year for Full Comp from RACQ and i'm a member... Good luck with the hunt and hope ya don't get ripped off... there's some dodgy *******s out there.