VN Wagon 5sp - what do you think?

[nsladden]

Howdy, Im looking into buying a 1989 VN Commodore Wagon 5sp. Just wanna know what you guys think.

Positive:

5sp manual
Runs nice
Sounds nice
Aftermarket alarm & immobiliser
Odometre still works

Negative:

Clutch on the way out. (gotta let the clutch out heaps before you move & shudders under hard acceleration in 1st gear).
Bloody dirty
Chopped rear springs
Rust in tailgate & RH rear sill
No tailpipe
Needs new tires & wheel alignment
Broken bonnet cable
Broken LH & RH exterior door handles
Drivers door wont lock
Handbrake needs adjusting
Probley due for a full service

So what do you guys think? I can get it for $200 & can do most of the work myself. It has 308,000km on it.

Will get better pics tomorrow.

Oh & does anyone know if its a Series 1 or 2?

And some interesting info, does anyone remember that massive drug (marijuana) bust near Murwillumbah in Northen NSW last September or whenever where they even had underground bunkers? Well this car belonged to one of the guys caught up in it all Ill probley find a stash under the rear seat lol

[Boonz]

buy it!!!!

[keza87]

YES Buy it!!!

Any manual comodore is hard to come by, let alone in a wagon.
Me and a friend just payed $900 for a manual wreck

[nsladden]

Hmmm in Murwillumbah there are 3 manual wagons I know of & about another 4 or so manual sedans from VN right up to VS.

Although this kid who has this ****ed up VN 5sp which he thrashes has $3000 on it. He will be lucky if even the wreckers would buy it off him & another kid who has a ****ed up VR wants $7000 for it.

[mischa]

thanks kez, i new once i saw this 'manual wagon VN' u would be in here. And kez got a auto wagon in worse condition (i think) then this for $200, for that price you should of paid stright up.

[keza87]

Nah, my old wagon was actually in better condition, but still needed a lot of work

[Lost_Pete]

For $200 you can't go wrong. If it drives, then great. If it breaks the second you step in it, then sell it as a wreck or sell it's parts.

HOWEVER consider that a new clutch is about $500 installed. Rear springs and tailpipe should be able to get from a wreck.

[nsladden]

Hmmm just noticed how well the headlight & indicator line up on that pic of the front

[dijm8]

yeh $200 is a bloody bargain for a 5spd thats in a wagon i say go for it

[nsladden]

For $200 you can't go wrong. If it drives, then great. If it breaks the second you step in it, then sell it as a wreck or sell it's parts.

HOWEVER consider that a new clutch is about $500 installed. Rear springs and tailpipe should be able to get from a wreck.

I reckon I could put the clutch in myself. Whats a clutch worth? $200 or something??

[keza87]

I honestly isn't that hard, but will be a full days work. It makes it easier if you have 2 or 3 people helping.

[jas98]

hmm 200 bucks...i'd buy it


lmfao jks...just think if there is drugs under the seat then theres ya money to fix it haha (jks jks)

[vn calais manual]

buy it. no questions asked. could sell it as scrap metal for more lol

[nsladden]

Rightio, I have more piccys for you all after I gave it a bit of a clean. And yes I am buying it.

Today I talked to a mechanic friend & he thinks the clutch needs an adjustment, not replacing....we'll see how that goes touchwood

[vn calais manual]

bargain!!

lol

[VRMan]

it looks like a series 1, it only has the one tank for the overflow and fill for the radiator. doesnt mean much though, just more likely to be a series one

[VRMan]

Also the dash is a series one, as in the fuel gauge on the right and not a tacho

[1vngal]

Also the dash is a series one, as in the fuel gauge on the right and not a tacho

that dash is the exact same as mine, and mines series II. I think you mean level one dash.

[nsladden]

Didnt the Series 2 have the radiator hose/themostat housing at the front of the motor??

[mischa]

Didnt the Series 2 have the radiator hose/themostat housing at the front of the motor??

yep, making the S1 a bitch to change

[VL_5SPEED]

Man thats a steal for $200. And think of it as a bonus if you find weed in the car

[nsladden]

Hehehehe lol