Is it worth fixing?
Hey guys, I recently have had a few problems with my VR Berlina. It's got 200k on the clock and I recently had my exhaust and auto trans screw up within days of each other. The exhaust has rusted through and broken off at the cat, whilst my auto has gone heywire searching for gears and burning oil, so both will need to be replaced. I've been quoted $2000 for a rebuilt auto with shift kit and cooler, and about $300 for a new standard exhaust, plus I need some electrical work done as several of the dials in my dash cluster are faulty. Do these prices sound reasonable to you guys, and is the car even worth such an injection of money? Aside from some WH wheels and the stereo the thing is stock as a rock, though the body and paint are in perfect nick. About three months ago I had the fuel pump and power steering gear replaced, so I'm worried that she'll be too much of a money pit. Would I be better off upgrading to a VT/X series? Keeping in mind I have maybe 7-8 grand to spend on any upgrade.
Cheers in advance
Exhaust Guru
My personal opinion would be to find a second hand transmission and exhaust, flog the car off and buy a newer one. Keep the wheels and stereo for the new one. You could pick up an exhaust and tranny for about $300-$400.
Luvo
If the car is your thing,sure put money into it and enjoy,otherwise get a big upgrade,say to a VY/Z.Hell for 20k these days you can pick up a VE. I have spent alot getting my car up to scratch,and without a decent paying job,im still fixing it 3 yours on,but its the car i really wanted so i'll keep it and hopefully not burn it
WTB:VR/S HSV 250km/h speedo cluster
The Lion will never Die!
I wouldnot bother with the auto work, its not gonna make the car go any faster, if you have the cash as you said, I'd definately upgrade to VT/X. If you weigh up the options, you can pick up a whole VR for $2000 if you wanted and get heaps including trans and exhaust.
Cheers for the replies guys. I'm a student so I'll be needing to get a loan to pay for whichever option I choose, but I live a long way from family and thus can't afford to be without a reliable vehicle. $10k is my absolute upper limit therefore. I love the VR but its an old, tired vehicle mechanically. Also with my financial situation I'd probably be looking to trade-in, as I can't wait around for the time it would take to flog mine off to get a new vehicle. What model would you recommend if I upgraded and how much should I expect to pay?
The Lion will never Die!
Honestly, you could blow $2000 on the auto alone and then being an older car, the next thing might cost $2000, then again, it could go another 200000 but given the few probs you have, it just doesn't come accross as a car that will get heaps longer without continually costing money.
The Holden Hunter!
In my opinion if you can't afford a newer car without getting a big loan and you a student then it's time to get your hands dirty buy a Gregory's manual and dig in old cars need to maintained a lot more than newer car for obvious reasons there older (new car you can drive for 50,000klms then flog it off)!
You can save yourself a lot of money by using a second hand parts, and nothing makes me feel more confident about a car than knowing all the pros/cons and nuts/bolts.
PERFORMANCE MODS- JTG Liquid injection, Under driven pulley, Pacemaker extractors, 3" X-force system, Cold air intake, MAF Less tune 267.9 RWKW'S
http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/...ber-007-a.html
Yes I know, if you get anymore manly you are in danger of making yourself pregnant!
The peril of doing any work myself is I'm not at skilled with my hands - I have trouble assembling Ikea furniture! I'd be far too likely to mess something up. Does anybody know if the Ecotec is better or worse on fuel than the Buick? Is my consumption going to increase dramatically if I go the route of a wagon or Statesman? And roughly how much would you think an LS1 VT would cost?
ecotec is lot better motor than the old buick u could do what i did last time in a similar situation to yours my old vs was too far gone so i just brought another vs with good km and service history and put my mags and stereo in the better one .u can get good ones still for between 3 to 4 grand and just start over for another 100 000 km or so
In regards to what rooster said, if your not overly skilled / have experience with cars I wouldn't depend on doing your own work. If you know what your doing or have someone who knows what they are doing willing to help you you should do that, you'll save an incredible amount. I'd hate to think what my mechanics bill would be if I didn't do the work myself.
Another thing to consider if your a student and need a cheap reliable car, and I know it sounds bad, but get an excel or something. Cheap as rego/insurance, reliable as hell, and cheap as chips to buy.
My ex-gf's Excel has been nothing but trouble and is a piece of crap to drive. I nearly got killed in it one day trying to overtake the same way I would with the VR lol.
Your best bet,
Sell yours as a trade in, prices you originally quoted are a bit high.... but considering you can't do the work yourself I'd get the transmission flushed, then additive added.
Exhaust just get a good one from a wrecker, or shop around I am sure they can set one up for around $200.. then just sell it, it should run better and sell quickly...
then buy a Statesman or VX Berlina fuel consuption is better than the VR, and with the government forking out $1750 for a LPG system convert it and save lots of money.
Cheers
Best of luck
Are the grants for LPG systems still available? I don't want a mixer system but I hear that injection is expensive.
even Jesus has trouble assembling ikea furniture, that shit is confusing.Originally Posted by big.aldo
as its been written give it a clean up and new exhaust and sell it. if the gearbox isn't slipping to bad just leave it as is.
Yes, the grants are still available, they only pay out $1750, so if you want the ritzy injection version, then you'll have to fork out more money.
It's interesting how they offered 2000$ then LPG fitters charged $2300, now they offer $1750 Lpg fitters also dropped the price down to $2000, seems to me they all just wanted to cash in quick.
Keep smiling
Cheers guys. Went home this weekend and sorted a few things, have actually managed to get hold of the funds for a rebuilt auto and a new exhaust, plus some extra for things like lowering a new interior etc... The mechanics had a really close look over it and reckoned it'd be worth doing up, so it looks like I've now got a project on my hands! It'll be showing up in the My Ride section pretty soon. Thnks for all your help and advice.
My workin on the car face
lol of course they would say its worth doing up, their gonna do it up for ya and ur gonna pay em'. They will say anythings worth fixing for the job.
They'll be disappointed, I'm going to someone else who is cheaper hahaha
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