Buying a vl calias
Hey guy's, at the moment i have a VN wagon wich is up for sale so i can get my dream car a vl calias turbo,
Ive been hunting around and in 3 months im going to have 9 grand to spend on one, idealy im after a old person's car with no modification done, but there's a problem cause they all seem to have stuff done to them and only one's i have found with nothing done are auto's where as i want a mnaual,
my first question is, would it work out cheaper to buy a auto and convert to manual?
second,im after the old school sort of look with a bit of power, my first thing are the usual ones exhaust extractor's, but our family friend does head shaving ect would that give a bit more power and wuld i notice it?
thanks for the help guys and i have tried searching befor i posted this but i didnt find anything,thanks
VN Wagon,
<<<There's a good present
a bloke around my area bough a vl turbo manual for $5000. wasn't calais but was an old ladies in mint condition. keep your eyes and ears open.
you can't put extractors on a turbo. and i wouldn't shave the head of a turbo either.
ohk i would prob be better of going on a hunt and getting a factory manual,
ohk is there any reason for that?
im thinking i might just get used to driving a turbo first as i have a vn at the moment and i dont wana do work to it if i dont feel very confident driving it, so prob be better of driving it around and getting some rims and a cd player and leave it at that for a while,
also is it true putting an intercooler on gives more power?
VN Wagon,
America just kicked in yo
Hi, Factory turbo calais' are very very very rare. to find such a car is one thing but to find an unmolested example is something else entirely and could take years. Autos are better for turbo's than manuals (by that I mean easier to drive and to come on boost). A manual can drop off bosst easily if in the wrong gear etc, but with an auto you just plant it and its off. You can get custom Hi mount manifolds which have tuned length runners kind of like extractors. Yes intercooling will give more power in 2 ways, 1st way is that it cools the charge air down before it enters the intake therefore making the air denser (cool air is dense) and making more power, 2nd way is that by cooling the charge air you can run more boost more safely therefore making more power.
Hope this helps.
========My Statesman 20's Mafless and 3.9's========
ohk, thanks for that, so when i go on trading post or car sales and type in vl calais and a list comes up, would that just be vl turbo's not calai's? to be honest i dont care if it is a calais or not aslong as it is a vl and turbo,
I never thought about that either with auto/manual with boost, atleaste with auto ya know it will be done right...
VN Wagon,
<<<There's a good present
your best bet will be to get a vl turbo. later if you want put a calais front on. you can always change it to a manual later too if you want. get used to the vehicle with its handling and power before you increase the power.
A Berlina might be a good compromise.
America just kicked in yo
even an exec can be increased in creature comforts, my car is basically a berlina now with vh sl/e seats. I have done heaps to my car in the last 12 months of owning it that its really such a different car now I can't believe it sometimes.
========My Statesman 20's Mafless and 3.9's========
ucwepn-
Have you got any pics of your car and is your car turbo?
So berlina's and calais came out turbo?
VN Wagon,
Get a BT1
Calais inside, exec outside.
Only problem is that a decent BT1 is still bringing good money.
Originally Posted by wagonb0y
They sure did.
but all berlina's arnt turbo are they?
like the odd one was made turbo?
VN Wagon,
no, only some were turbo.
Most were N/A 6's
America just kicked in yo
Nah mines not turbo, not on this car with this motor, maybe swap motors one day.
Turbo was an option on all VL models across the range.
All parts are interchangeable between calais/berlina/exec/sl models so if you get a lower spec model that you like and want to add say some calais interior parts or front end etc that you can do this easily.
Aren't all BT1's SL's? which means they don't have p/s a/c? still great looking cars tho.
heres my car (passenger didn't want to be on the interweb LOL),it dead standard when I got it with grandpa blind thing on the back window. I have modified or replaced something in every area of the car except the internals of the motor and trans and diff. I personally like these seats over calais seats for pure comfort.Hasn't cost much to modify either not including the wheels I have spent maybe $650 ish, mainly part from here part from there.
Now its no show car thats for sure but she turns quite a few heads.
which is good for original paint (repainted nosecone and front bar tho)
========My Statesman 20's Mafless and 3.9's========
Holy hell thats tidy, i like that alot mate looks great an looks very comfy on the inside,
Looks like im going to have to get the hunt on for a berlina i guess, wether it's auto or manual not to fussed now aslong as it's turbo and straight body i will be happy,
Do you guys recomened anything to be done for security? ive been reading a bit and seem's a few vl's get stolenand i don't wana poor my money out and some scum to come steel it, do steering wheel locks actually work? im planing on putting the head unit in the glove box and put another lock on there to make it look like i dont have one, but alramas? shaving the locks?
thanks very much for all your help guys i appreciate it
VN Wagon,
<<<There's a good present
i wouldn't shave all the locks. maybe one, but if the remote stops working you won't be able to get in yourself if you have no key locks. i would get an alarm too as VLs are one of the most stolen vehicles. i'd get a clublock as well to deter joy riders, put it on facing the front of the car to stop people breaking it with a slide hammer.
Some BT1's came with Air and steer.
Mine did.
However the air is long gone now.
I have an alarm, shaved locks and clublock on my car.
However it wont stop a thief with a tilt truck.
America just kicked in yo
CheersI like it.
Get the best clublock you can and get a BIG padlock to put on the shifter handle (between the lever and the T bar) Also remove the remote boot release button if it has one, makes it too easy for theives to steal your system out of the boot otherwise.
========My Statesman 20's Mafless and 3.9's========
thanks heaps for your help guys,
my mechanic/fmaily friend is going to help me once i get me new car,
we are going to put a switch in for the fuel pump and a kill switch, and im getting a clublock and at work they can make up a metal bracket that fits around ur shifter and it carn't be moved,
id rather spend my money on saftey things at the moment then things to dress it up,
and now im not fussed if it's auto or manual,
thanks once again guys i appreciate it
VN Wagon,
One of the best cars i ever owned was a VL Calais turbo 5 speed/fe2 /lsd
and when i bought it in 88 second hand it cost me $27,000 with only 20,000km on the clock, I eventually sold it to a young bloke in 99 for $11,500.
But the car was still in original condition and i'd only had it up to 200 kmph a few times , and even now i still wish i had it ,it was a bloody good car.
I went and had a look at a VL berlina 5sp manual today,
i drove home thought about it rang up nd said i will take it
IM heaps happy will get some pics up when i get her home
VN Wagon,
OK, hopefully tomorrow's the day the i get my vl,
i have gorne and brought them locks i was told about and a new barrel, it has a emobiliser and alarm and i have a steering lock and my mechanic this week is putting a switch in for the fuel pump
thanks for ur help guys
VN Wagon,
Tells it like it is.
Generally a factory manual would be good advice but finding a Man Calais will be like pushing shit up hill. Finding a stock unmodified one is a top strategy though. Wheels and tunes is a good start. Just not too much doof doof! (God I feel old!)
Reaper
Factory Manuals with no mods are going for around $15000
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