Looking to buy a VN

[djmatt]

Hi, sorry if it's a total repost, maybe someone could point me in the direction of some info.

I've never owned a Holden before as I'm English, but I'm moving to Sydney next week and I want to buy a Commodore VN (probably) as I'm pretty sure there aren't any Vauxhall Senators or Vauxhall Carltons over there!

So I'd like to know what to avoid, what to go for, what's good and what's bad.

I'd love a V8 Manual, firstly, are the 5.0 V8's any good? Do they have any major flaws? How do they compare to the 3.8 V6 model, power, economy, reliability?

Am I silly to go for a manual one or are the manuals generally OK? I do like autos but prefer the control of a manual with a clutch pedal.

Any opinions?

Many thanks in advance!

[calaiscruzer]

Manual vn v8's are good but im not sure if it will be good economy around sydney.
No major flaws, just try get one under or around 200,000kms if you can, check for rust around windscreens, and milky oil.
Auto's are much more common, definetely cheaper.

[89 vn]

Definately get a 5L if you can, ya see if you can get one under 200,xxxkm
they have a few flaws as in faults but they are pretty reliable eh most stuff needing replacing is just common stuff, manual is aslo a good choice if you wanna get the most out of it but autos are very common

Also price range depending where you live :
v6 1k-2.5k ish on condition
v8 3-5k? depending on condition (have to be real good for even 5k now)

[Emackulation]

Vauxhall Senators you say? There is such a thing as a HSV (holden special vehicle) Senator, they were first introduced in the VP range, although most Senators are auto because its a luxuary vehicle. They are all V8 also. But to buy a Senator you will have to cough up the cash, have a look on carsales.com.au and have a look at them.

[criten]

One tip: I generally don't trust odo readings from VN variants. They tend to break, which means they've been repaired, which means its lost count and repairer would be aware of how to change the reading from doing the repair.

My VN & RTA papers say its done 136,000km... did I mention it broke 15 years ago and was only recently fixed?

[greenfoam]

Defiantly go for the 5 litre and a manual. There are no real flaws in the engine or car, the 5 litre makes all the difference in the VN's and is a much more solid and all around better engine than the V6. The manual makes the fuel ecconomy "decent" too. Not much different than the V6 auto version. The most important thing to look for on the 5 litre is sludge in the engine so take the oil cap off the rocker cover and look in there with a good strong torch. If you see no thick oil sludge on the casting of the head then buy it. If you see sludge don't buy it. Simple . If it's possible find one that has "FE2" suspension but that wasn't a police car and I'm sure you will be very happy with the car and it's performance. In 1990 the VN 5 litre manual was the quickest production sedan in the world and they still go allright now but the sound that's the thing that will get your English blood going.

PS try and get one in a solid non metallic that's not white, this will give you a much better chance at no rust aroudn the front and rear windows in the future (ie a solid red one). So you want a Red VN 5 litre manual with FE2 suspension, perfection

[fnlow1]

Hahaha you will probably want air-con too if your from england and staying in aus for the summer

[JD]

In 1990 the VN 5 litre manual was the quickest production sedan in the world

are u sure about that? im sure there was something quicker back then, its not THAT fast

[Emackulation]

are u sure about that? im sure there was something quicker back then, its not THAT fast

For power to weight, I woudnt be surprised.

[PaRaDoX]

good thing is the autos are tough aswell, being english i think you would have seen all the top gear episodes where they drive the "primitive" yet fantastic australian cars heh, "the sideways car" hehehee

[kniever]

had to do a search on the Vauxhall Carlton GSI 24v and in this pic the back half looks alot like a vn, they are also a 3.0L

[greenfoam]

are u sure about that? im sure there was something quicker back then, its not THAT fast

Before that time and after there was faster cars but not when the VN came out. It was hard times for go fast in the world since unleaded fuel and injection were still getting going, In 1990 even the V6 was FAST freakin fast compared to almost any car on the road. The VN V6 was able to cut mid 15's staight out of the shop and get to 200 in a very shot bit of road in a time when VL's and XF falcons were lucky to be be mid 16 second cars. The 5 litre was just insane in those times with 15 flat straight off the showroom floor (with a passenger and a tank of fuel) and 7.0 to 100 (this is the time Holden advertised but In a book I had it says engineering samples ran 6 flat to 100) and depending on the timing you want to run on the dizzy a stock VN 5 litre manual will do that. The only car that would have been a challenge was maybe the BMW M5 sedan, Anyway it would be interesting to test both that cars now if you could find a couple of mint stockers because it would be a really close thing

[PaRaDoX]

oh god the carltons the illegitimate love child of a VK and VN...

foams right, vn v6 is still quick for what it is.. all these new fangled kids have moved onto VS and VT commodores these days.. fitting clear tail lights and doing single spinners.. makes owning a vp alot better as all the riced up ones are either crashed or sent to the wreckers...

[savage1987]

haha yes! The idiots are crashing all the run down vn/vps, they are getting wiped out! This is wonderful in 2 ways, ours are becoming rarer each day, and parts are absurdly cheap even for the higher spec models!!

djmatt, if you can find a VN V8 manual and drive it sensibly and keep it serviced well, it will not disappoint. Parts are cheap for these cars too, in case anything does go wrong. Aftermarket parts are also readily available if you're into that, and people like greenfoam on the forums here are able to provide you with a proper tune to get some more economy out of the old girl.

Let us know what you get, whatever you decide
Sam

[TRICKEDUP]

i have owned a few vn's v'p's all have been good cars i reckon and the parts for them are really cheap if something goes wrong on them good luck

[Cheap6]

had to do a search on the Vauxhall Carlton GSI 24v and in this pic the back half looks alot like a vn, they are also a 3.0L

The door skins are the same I believe, otherwise very different cars.

djmatt (if you are still reading), I've been on the other side of buying a car in another country and there are few things useful to know that are generally taken for granted when you live in the country.

NSW registration costs about $600 for 12 months, between compulsory personal injury insurance (it varies somewhat according to the address the car is registered to) and state gov't stamp duty. This can be a substantial proportion of the value of a low priced car. There will be a fee to transfer registration into your name. The fee structure and procedure for transfer can be found here: RTA Home Page

An annual inspection is also required which, while in itself is not expensive (<$50), can result in obligatory repairs of items that you could otherwise live with for a while and fix as you can afford them. = long rego. is good.

Sales from private vendors are generally cheaper than from car dealers but don't provide any guarantee of ownership or freedom from encumberance. A disadvantage of dealer purchase is that the quality of vehicles tends to be lower in the price range that a VN (or VP) will be.

Trading Post - Buy and sell cars, sell boats, sell dogs and much more online Australia wide is a good place to look for cars if you have not already found it.

Used Cars - New Cars - Search New & Used Cars For Sale - carsales.com.au is less regionally specific but also worth looking through.

It is my opinion that a VP will be a better purchase than a VN as being a later model more of the faults were fixed.

It's worth mentioning again, V8 parts (used) are more difficult to find than are those for the V6. Manual transmission vehicles are likewise more difficult to find. This is reflected in the price. Peak hour (or three) capital city traffic is a bitch = auto. good.

A series II VP, V8 auto. would be my choice.

[Just_a_stocker]

well yes geta v8 but the ol v6 can still put a smile on my face mate and its 15 years old...

[savage1987]

well yes geta v8 but the ol v6 can still put a smile on my face mate and its 15 years old...

haha yes! Same!! Only mine is coming up to 19 this year!! 470,000km and still as powerful and efficient as the day it left the showroom floor

Sam