What did I buy?

[Mr_Slim]

Hey guys, funny story

I wrote off my S-pac last night. Pretty cut about it, i loved her so. Coming down a street with the sun in my eyes, couldn't even see the intersection i was driving into and the Ford crossing me....

Long story short, he's a bit messed up at the back (lucky i had enough time to slam on the brakes and just miss the passenger) and well yeah im quite messed up at the front.

So today i went car shopping. I saw a VN manual, and went for a drive. But unbadged, it was hard to tell exactly what i bought, so ill list some points and you tell me what you think

Faster than my 1990 S-pac, but slightly rougher
What looks to be Commodore issue sunroof
L2 Cluster, Orange Dials (look to be lexcen) but has l3 options on the side (cruise etc)
Speaker pods on the door, similar to VS
Calais badging on the glovebox (but that can mean nothing)
No boot release
Fog lights alah SS
Spoiler with brakelight, similar to mine in the S-pac
No pockets on the back of the seats
No power windows

Now i know jack about Lexcens, but i reckon this was one of them. Which hurts. But im thinking it could also be a Berlina? or the Berlina equivalent?

Now second thing is the odometer in the dash didn't work. Now thats bad. it was stuck on 130,000km and buggered if i know what its done now. But it went alright, the clutch felt good and it was clean. What do you think of that?

It has what appear to be HSV wheels. But the caps on them could be fake i'm not sure. Aaaaaand it has the clubsport grill.

I paid $4K for it. What do you think? I'm just waiting on NRMA approval first. But the question is, what the hell did i buy?

[mattman]

Ummmmm I woulda found out what the hell it was before i bought... sounds like a bitsa to me. the VIN would be able to help a little more...

Oh and i would be surprised if any of the power options on it were standard.... sunroof but no power windows?? yeah right...

[Mr_Slim]

Well i've just put down $100 so he doesnt sell it. There are some things i like (sunroof, more power) but other's i dont (no boot release, no km's and no name) so i have to weigh them up over the next few days i guess....

[stocky]

berlinas had pockets on the back of the seats, and a boot release. power windows were optional. get some photos up. sounds likes a lexcen or an exec

pretty sure VN commodores had green on the dashboard dials.

[Doctor Sodways]

Im surprised you found a car so quick, its a bummer about yours

And it does sound a bit odd, bits of all sorts in it by the sounds of things

[mouce]

A VIN, and an Engine number would be handy to see.

Being slightly rougher, I'd be inclined to say it's a series one motor, but it could just be an indication that it's got a LOT of k's on it.

The orange dials have got me beat though, my VN has green, and it's a level two cluster as well. The extra buttons on the side, don't really have much to do with what level cluster is in it. It's quite possible to have cruise and all the other stuff with a level 2 cluster.

The foglights, spoiler and calais badge on the glovebox, counts for nothing. Give me a couple of hundred dollars, and my car could have all that too.

One thing to keep in mind is that until you can identify just what the hell this is, insurance is going to be hard to get. To me it sounds like you got your hands on a true mongrel Lexadore.

Post some numbers and we might be able to tell you more, failing that, pics could be good.

[Doctor Sodways]

Mouce has a point, my car is based off a berlina, so i dont have the level 3 cluster and trip computer, but i do have a level two and cruise, (thank christ for cruise) but definalty get the vin and engine numbers and do some research

[Murdoch]

lexcens did not come in a manual form, the option was not available.

[mattman]

Nothing stopping them doing a manual conversion.

[shamus]

VN's didn;t come with speaker pods in front doors so they've obviously been added....spoiler sounds like aftermarket... like others have said, get the VIN and that will tell you a LOT!!!!!!

[vn4play]

are you buying it registered? if so it is illegal to sell a car without a working odometer. plus i would be suss it does sound like a bitsa.

[VRFURY]

are you buying it registered? if so it is illegal to sell a car without a working odometer. plus i would be suss it does sound like a bitsa.

why is that i broguth my vl with the odometer not working is that a road worthy thing or what, ive had my car road worthied twice and have never been told ne thing

[geta]

Section 26 of the Vicroads guidebook states:

Section K: Speedometer.

Vehicles manufactured from July 1, 1988, and licensed busses and taxi's of any age must be fitted with a functioning odometer and speedometer calibrated in km/h.

-------------

So I guess VL's would be OK without a working odo... bit strange though.

-dave

[Mr_Slim]

yeah i totally agree with what all of you are saying.

I rang the dealer today and told them the deal is off, ill buy elsewhere.

Speaking to my mechanic, the S-Pac is a total write off, will cost $6-10K to fix it, and even the most hardened VN lover would say thats not worth it. However he said he can do an auto/manual conversion for approx $500, so ill take the parts from my s-pac and have some sort of mutant Calais/Statesman/S-pac. Sounds like im better off!~

[greenfoam]

The Lexcens have Toyota on the plates and all Lexcens have a boot release in the glovebox and have pockets in the back of the seats just for a start, and usually go fast, why? no one knows, maybe because only oldies bought them from new and they have had easy lives.

Insurance is cheaper on a Lexcen

[VRFURY]

Section 26 of the Vicroads guidebook states:

Section K: Speedometer.

Vehicles manufactured from July 1, 1988, and licensed busses and taxi's of any age must be fitted with a functioning odometer and speedometer calibrated in km/h.

-------------

So I guess VL's would be OK without a working odo... bit strange though.

-dave

hmmm, well ne way mine dont work... never has.