Banned
I'm considering buying a VL...
oh no! how could I?
anyway, my current "daily driver" kicked the bucket (it was a bucket anyway)
it was/is a 1990 camry, 345,000km's, and never maintained before I bought it, only has compression on 3 cylinders now.
ANYHOO!
I'm looking at getting a VL, as they are fairly cheap, with a good engine...
I've read about a few problems they have, like the badly designed radiator, which causes them to overheat and kill the head, as well as air pockets forming in the cooling system?
anyway, is there anything else I should be looking out for?
I plan on doing a compression test before I even consider buying, just to get some kind of idea whats going on internally, so, what kinda compression should a stock, RB30, non turbo have?
thanks for the help.
Banned
ok, I dont think I'll buy a VL anymore...
they all have high KM's, and are owned by bogans who have thrashed them, and are asking too much for them.
I was looking for something rear wheel drive, a wagon, 3 litre or less engine, and around the $1500 - $2500 price range...
LS-EXUAL
Save a tad extra and get a VN 5 litre..........
Originally Posted by wikky
<---Brad Quaid = internet stalker
keep your eye out for other vl's mate. yeah lots have been thrashed but you'll get one well within that price range that is in good order. There are still quite a few granny drivers around that are getting rid of them cheap.
Can't tell you much about the engine as mine has the V8 but bodywise rust is the biggest killer, around both front and rear screens, behind door strips and in the bootlid are common places.
Check suspension and brakes, expect fuel pump failure. Really anything you might expect from a car that age is likely to be a problem.
Theres plenty of old VL's getting around with low K's. Main problems like vlv8mic said is rust around front and rear windcreens and in the boot channel. The overheating/cracking heads is very rare to happen. Crank angle sensor and Air flow meter can also be a problem due to age. The rb30e is a great engine and is easily the best 6 cylinder holden have used (hey its not a cult car for no reason). Plenty off performance/after market parts readily available.
1988 VL Berlina turbo 5 speed
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ml#post1446411
1987 VL SL turbo 5 speed ~STOLEN~
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ed-manual.html
Donating Member
Don't buy a VL they are nothing but trouble, 2 of my mates have had them reckon they were nothing but headaches. The problem is most of the people who have owned them are young guns and they give them a bit of a thrashing.
LS-EXUAL
It's not VL's that are nothing but trouble, it's old Commodores in general that are nothing but trouble. The VL's are 20 year old cars now. Your bound to have a few issues.
Banned
Im still looking for a VL...
another problem is that Im looking for a wagon...
saw one in a car yard, 331,000kms... ah... pass... haha
it was also missing the front grill, and trim from around the windscreen... hmm...
<---Brad Quaid = internet stalker
yeah trim around the screen cracks and breaks or falls off, grille is the same.
Don't worry about high k's, it doesn't mean anything in terms of you checking out the condition of the car. Low k's may not be legit either. Check the actual car. You'd rather know first hand how well the car works than how well the odometer works!
Hmmm you dont really see many clean VL wagons.... Have a look on ebay there was a immaculate VL CALAIS wagon for $6000 not long ago. Was clean inside and out with only 70,000k's.
Heres a couple
VL TURBO WAGON - eBay, Passenger Vehicles, Cars, Cars, Bikes, Boats. (end time 12-Apr-08 15:37:41 AEST)
Well that was the only actual half decent wagon for sale on ebay, and that car is pretty butchered up. Just get a sedan.
1988 VL Berlina turbo 5 speed
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ml#post1446411
1987 VL SL turbo 5 speed ~STOLEN~
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ed-manual.html
Donating Member
VL turbos = problems. And i wonder if that is genuine 70,000kms or if the odo has been put back. Don't do it mannn!!!!
Its a 20 year old car its bound to have problems weather turbo or not!
1988 VL Berlina turbo 5 speed
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ml#post1446411
1987 VL SL turbo 5 speed ~STOLEN~
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ed-manual.html
Why go a VL?
If your after a cheap wagon...
HOLDEN COMMODORE - Private Used HOLDEN COMMODORE Cars - carsales.com.au
The buick engines are bloody strong, you should get upto 500,000kms from the VN-VP-VRs. I get around 700kms per tank in my VR wagon (60L).
Donating Member
Exactly, the money you will spend fixing up its problems you may as well have spent on something a little newer.
Banned
how do I put this... I dont actually want a commonwhore...
I dont want a big, bulky car, but I want something rear wheel drive, and a wagon...
within my price range, this doesn't actually leave me with that many options.
I've also looked at a 1984 toyota Cressida wagon.
ive owned a fair amount of vls main things ive encounted is rust around the windscreens .. fuel pump ****ting itself ..leaky injectors .. never had a blown head gasket or anything really major ..
and u just gotta look around to find what u want and be prepared to travel a few kays to get something decent ...
wrecking VL COMMODORE 5 speed
FOR SALE : supra 5 speed box suite holden v8 $800
It is only money, plus it is fun.
how about a hz or some thing ,easy to work on ,stuff the jap stuff,still a few around
Banned
well, the 331,000km VL wagon in a car yard that I looked at, has now been lowered from $1200, to $999...
I might go have a look at it, see how much rust, and what the interior is like...
it looked a little rough from the outside (was in a fenced car yard that was closed on sunday) but, if I can get it for $800, and the interior is alright....
guess we'll see...
Banned
this guy is an idiot
when I saw the preview on the first page, with the small pic, I thought the price was a type..
P.S. the VL in the car yard was a heap of sh!t, rusted out tail gate, shabby interior, windscreen didn't even appear to be in place properly..
Unless you can find a granny owned VL I wouldn't bother.
Last edited by sixshooter; 28-08-2008 at 02:33 AM.
Disclaimer For The Reader ::
The information I provide is freely given to ONLY help you with thinking on problem solutions. IT IS NOT a "How To Do It Guide".
If you read ANY of my supplied information and use ANY of it you must accept and agree to do so AT YOUR OWN RISK or do not use the information at all.
I accept NO liability if you damage your or anyone elses property or cause any harm to yourself or others with the information provided.
I am NOT a Mechanic. You have been warned.
Banned
well, i bought a VL...
wagon.
dont know how many kms, the odometer is all messed up... haha
interior is alright, paint is a tad faded, one or two scrapes on the outside, both front indicators/parkers are broken... only rust is a small bit in the rear hatch door thingo, just along the bottom of the window....
umm, where are the fuses? the heater fan doesn't work... or any other suggestions what it might be?
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote