What to do with my VH?

[Neal]

This is my first post, and I'm seeking some advice about what I should do with my VH SLE 4.2L.

I purchased it new from Les Vagg Holden in standard form (velour seats), and paid extra for the dual exhaust and to delete the shadow-tone paint; so it's all white.

It was our family car until 1985, when I got a company car, so it was garaged and rarely used by my Wife until 1992, when our youngest son got his License, and used it as a daily drive until he finished Uni and started working.

So it was garaged again until 1998 when Son No.2 "inherited" it, and also used it as a daily-drive until 2003 when it was returned to the "old-man" in perfect order and condition (and just as well too, because that was the deal).

Over the past 12 years the car's been garaged and covered, serviced annually (books stamped), and only used 4 or 5 times per year on 600Km return trips to/from our holiday shack on the mid-north coast (NSW).

Now that I'm a self-funded retiree, my wife and I are debating whether we should get a couple of outstanding mechanical issues resolved and keep the car as an indulgent hobby, or put it in Shannon's next Auction (May).

The body work and interior are perfect, and whilst the car runs like a dream, the outstanding issues are the cruise control which quit a couple of years ago, the trip-computer that aside from the time displays spurious readings, and a problem with the alternator where (according to NRMA Batteries) it permits the battery to slowly discharge over a couple of weeks; it was down to 4.2V on the last occasion.

Any advice would be appreciated about the possible advantages of keeping the car, like if it might be collectible at some future time (and maybe when?), and about a good/specialist commodore repairer in the Hills District that can resolve those mechanical issues at a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance!

- Neal -

[jcvhsle]

personally i would keep it for now unless you want to offer to all the members here in a private auction of our own. any chance you can bang some fotos up as we all love to see a new entry on here. the alternator repair/replacement is not that dear. the trip computer is just one of those things and the cruise is easily replaced with another whether it is the diaphragm that is buggered or the vaccum lines are not connected or perished. personally i would keep her.

[VT_SS]

Hi there,how many kms on her? and as above only minor issues you've got at the moment.I would certainly keep it but put some pics up and i might even buy it.(as i look over my shoulder to make sure the misses isn't looking at what i am writting)

[VT_SS]

This is my first post, and I'm seeking some advice about what I should do with my VK SLE 4.2L.

I purchased it new from Les Vagg Holden in standard form (velour seats), and paid extra for the dual exhaust and to delete the shadow-tone paint; so it's all white.

It was our family car until 1985, when I got a company car, so it was garaged and rarely used by my Wife until 1992, when our youngest son got his License, and used it as a daily drive until he finished Uni and started working.

So it was garaged again until 1998 when Son No.2 "inherited" it, and also used it as a daily-drive until 2003 when it was returned to the "old-man" in perfect order and condition (and just as well too, because that was the deal).

Over the past 12 years the car's been garaged and covered, serviced annually (books stamped), and only used 4 or 5 times per year on 600Km return trips to/from our holiday shack on the mid-north coast (NSW).

Now that I'm a self-funded retiree, my wife and I are debating whether we should get a couple of outstanding mechanical issues resolved and keep the car as an indulgent hobby, or put it in Shannon's next Auction (May).

The body work and interior are perfect, and whilst the car runs like a dream, the outstanding issues are the cruise control which quit a couple of years ago, the trip-computer that aside from the time displays spurious readings, and a problem with the alternator where (according to NRMA Batteries) it permits the battery to slowly discharge over a couple of weeks; it was down to 4.2V on the last occasion.

Any advice would be appreciated about the possible advantages of keeping the car, like if it might be collectible at some future time (and maybe when?), and about a good/specialist commodore repairer in the Hills District that can resolve those mechanical issues at a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance!

- Neal -

Is it a VH or VK?

[ari666]

Is it a VH or VK?

vk with a 4.2?

[VT_SS]

vk with a 4.2?

Yeh thread title said VH then discription of car is VK 4.2?

[HERONVY]

Keep it and use it as a project car :-)
Good luck with everything mate, thats a great story you have behind her.
Any pics ?

Al

Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk

[Neal]

Sorry - it's a VH (1983) and I'll post some pics soon.

[Neal]

Hi - I've amended my original post as the car's a VH (1983), and has 109Ks currently.

[VT_SS]

Sorry - it's a VH (1983) and I'll post some pics soon.

Thanks mate i thought it might be a VH and with 109 on the clock even better i will keep a eye out for some pics.

[GothicKidd]

if you've had it since new, been used throughout your sons licenses.. would you really want to part with it?

[VS 5.0]

If you don't need the proceeds yet then I would fix the few things you have mentioned and keep her. Sounds like an absolute beauty. I remember when my dad bought his VH brand new in early '82. To still have a car you brought brand new way back then and for the family history behind it, I would find it hard to part with it at all myself.

Have a look at this thread, watch the video and see if it helps you make a decision.....

Dads car - great story

[c2105026]

Keep it, fix the issues - mint, VH SLEs can be over $10k now......cruise and trip units can be found in working order on eBay. Failing that an electronics geek could help?

[VK SL 3800]

Keep it, or youll be like my dad and your sons will be forever listening to you harp about "how i never should have sold that commodore".

[drewVHSS]

Keep it, or youll be like my dad and your sons will be forever listening to you harp about "how i never should have sold that commodore".

Ditto: I still get approached by my brother (prev owner) and Peter (original owner) to buy back my VH SS. If you have genuine history with the vehicle lasting over many years, it's no longer just a car. It's an heirloom.

OP If you can't get your electical gremlins sorted by march, let me know and i'll part with some of my spare parts to get you back and running provided you're not going to sell the ol gal!.

[cycloneracing]

Posting on here about a classic Commodore is only going to get you low-ball offers from people trying to get a hot deal on a future collectable.

Cars tend to bottom out in value around 25-30 years old, then slowly start increasing again...

Keep it for another 5 or 10 years and it will be worth a lot more.

In the end only you can make this decision; I wouldn't listen to anyone on a forum (that includes me!) about what to do with your commodore.

[ari666]

keep it because you want it. if you think itll be an investment, or worth something in the future. guess again.

[monkeys437]

Those issues you mentioned seem very minor. I'd keep it unless you need the money now.... its not like its gonna depreciate in value.
Keep taking care of it the way you have for 30 years and its only gonna become more collectable and more valuable

Oh, and post some pics too

[showbags]

Sell it AJVX01. He's a member on here looking for an early bird

[04VYSS]

Hi there,how many kms on her? and as above only minor issues you've got at the moment.I would certainly keep it but put some pics up and i might even buy it.(as i look over my shoulder to make sure the misses isn't looking at what i am writting)

Your brother can see what your typing though bro.....

[VT_SS]

Your brother can see what your typing though bro.....

thats right

[Darren_L]

This is my first post, and I'm seeking some advice about what I should do with my VH SLE 4.2L.

I purchased it new from Les Vagg Holden in standard form (velour seats), and paid extra for the dual exhaust and to delete the shadow-tone paint; so it's all white.

It was our family car until 1985, when I got a company car, so it was garaged and rarely used by my Wife until 1992, when our youngest son got his License, and used it as a daily drive until he finished Uni and started working.

So it was garaged again until 1998 when Son No.2 "inherited" it, and also used it as a daily-drive until 2003 when it was returned to the "old-man" in perfect order and condition (and just as well too, because that was the deal).

Over the past 12 years the car's been garaged and covered, serviced annually (books stamped), and only used 4 or 5 times per year on 600Km return trips to/from our holiday shack on the mid-north coast (NSW).

Now that I'm a self-funded retiree, my wife and I are debating whether we should get a couple of outstanding mechanical issues resolved and keep the car as an indulgent hobby, or put it in Shannon's next Auction (May).

The body work and interior are perfect, and whilst the car runs like a dream, the outstanding issues are the cruise control which quit a couple of years ago, the trip-computer that aside from the time displays spurious readings, and a problem with the alternator where (according to NRMA Batteries) it permits the battery to slowly discharge over a couple of weeks; it was down to 4.2V on the last occasion.

Any advice would be appreciated about the possible advantages of keeping the car, like if it might be collectible at some future time (and maybe when?), and about a good/specialist commodore repairer in the Hills District that can resolve those mechanical issues at a reasonable price.

Thanks in advance!

- Neal -

give it to me
seriously hang onto it if you can.
sounds like you and your family have a lot of history with that car. And an SL/E in good condition is getting harder to find as time goes on. I can't see them dropping in value

[Neal]

Hi all,

Thanks for all the advice about whether we should keep the VH; we're still contemplating, but the Rego is due in April so that will be the crunch.

Any suggestions about a good Commodore mechanic and auto electrician in the Hills District (N/W Sydney)?

Here are those pics that some of you requested.

[VT_SS]

WOW i certainly like it,is there much rust in it any dents,scratches ect ?Interior looks great for its age my hat goes of to you neal and your sons for not trashing the car.

[Darren_L]

after seeing those pics, it would be a CRIME to sell that car.
I can just imagine some young guy wrecking it by screwing a monster tacho into the dash, chrome gauges on the bonnet and ridiculous 20 something inch wheels on it.

Don't do it. It looks immaculate.