first car help

[MitchHardyV1]

hey not sure about this one but i am looking for a nice standout car for my first
i have about $5500-6 to spend.

i recently found a nice VR calais for $5500 but its done 210 000 kms. its lowered, dual fuel, exhaust, rims ect. i love this car but am a bit worried the kms are too high.

ive been looking at VT's also but its a little hard to find a nice one with good rego length and roady.

any comments and advice would be much appreciated.
thanks

[nemesis_adrasteia]

thats pretty decent Ks for a VR

[Vee-ard]

once a car is older than 10 years, it becomes less about how many K's the car has done, rather than what sort of condition the rest of the car is in, as well has how regularly it has been serviced. I know plenty of cars with low kilometers that have been treated like shit, and I could guarantee you that the engine internals would be in worse condition than a 210,000km car that has been treated lovingly with regular services.

I would refer you to a bloke on these forums who has a supercharged VS ute done 450,000kms and still going strong.

[MitchHardyV1]

its had engine seals replaced a brand new transmission put in and a new alternater as well.

[hako]

My opinion only but to me it looks like you've found the car you want already! Your first car should be bought with your heart plus a bit of tempering by your brain. If it grabs you when you look at it, and feels great just to sit in then that's all you need - maybe run it past you old man's eye first....my kids have all done that and a few times I've had to hold my breath! (same can be said for some of their boy/girlfriends)
Good Luck.

[MitchHardyV1]

my old man has had a look but still recons i should be lookin at a newer car with less kms. i havnt been to look at it yet but i will have to convince my dad to take me thanks for the help guys. if i get it ill be sure to put some pics up for you guys

[Weapon]

being a calais, it was bought by atleast the first 2-3 owners for the luxuries it has.
not for a car to thrash.

in saying that i reacon it would be in good condition, kinda hard to tell from not seeing it.

[hako]

my old man has had a look but still recons i should be lookin at a newer car with less kms. i havnt been to look at it yet but i will have to convince my dad to take me thanks for the help guys. if i get it ill be sure to put some pics up for you guys

Sounds like your old man 'may' be be willing to help you with a bit of extra brass for a 'newer and SAFER' car.....don't forget to emphasise SAFER.

[MitchHardyV1]

from the pics it looks pretty well looked after but yeeah cant really say much till ive gone to see it in the flesh. ill keeep u posted.

[MitchHardyV1]

oh and nahh i have to pay for the car myself. no help from the 'rents which sucks.

[Weapon]

oh and nahh i have to pay for the car myself. no help from the 'rents which sucks.

then get what you want bud.
my mum wouldnt let me get a 6cylinder.
so i went out and bought my vs, in my name.

i worked hard saving 90% of what i earned from my part time job for almost a whole year, so i thought atleast buying what i wanted was a good reward and fair

[MitchHardyV1]

haha nice. yeah i think it would be pretty rewarding too. thanks again guys

[combatantsomeone]

Get a manual VS pref s pack?, great first car

[wildeagle44]

While that sounds nice, don't buy a car thats already had the $h!7 revved out of it (which by the mods described, sounds like it has) because thats what your gonna want to do once you get it.
Also the k's sound pretty good, not too high for what it is.

[DrZ]

While that sounds nice, don't buy a car thats already had the $h!7 revved out of it (which by the mods described, sounds like it has) because thats what your gonna want to do once you get it.
Also the k's sound pretty good, not too high for what it is.

i agree with wildeagle44 100% mate, possibly ask why they are selling it and also the Ks, thats fairly good aye, my '96 VS has 300,XXX on the clock bud, still same ecotech V6 and going strong as ever.

I drive a '96 VS Calais series 1 btw. Calais are beautiful. Go with it mate if you like it.

[boonga]

also depends wat your into cuase i ride bikes and im an apprentice chippy so a ute suited me keep that in mind. mines got 204 000 still goes good your choice but.

[MitchHardyV1]

thanks for the help guys. all ur advice is greatly appreciated. ill keep you all posted on the outcome

[James39]

Yeah I would go with the VR calais, would rather that over my exec..
Even though I only paid $510 for it, only has 188 000 kms.

Just make sure you fully check it out before buying it..

[Haydz]

from personal experience.

my first car was a vr berlina. i got it converted to gas (big mistake) was a pain in the ass for storage room as you always wanna go out with mates when your on your p's.

and also made the car not as fun to drive.

are you interested in auto or manual. automatic commodores seem to blow alot of gearboxes so this is definitely a good thing to check if you want auto.

also there are alot less manuals. and they do drive/go better.

but in saying that calais didnt come out with manual. and the vr has a buick engine while a vs has the newer ecotec engine which is more powerful.

i also agree with what someone else said. buying a stock car. usually means it hasnt been thrashed. where as one with performance upgrades. means they wanted the most out of the engine and obviously used it.

one definite thing about buying a car is the paintwork. if the paintwork is shit on a car. id walk away. as this is an expensive job to get fixed.

and your getting hard pressed to find a vr under 200--- kilometres.

where abouts in nsw are you. recently i saw a nice vr caprice v8 go for 5.5 with a few subtle mods and 6 months rego with 181 thousand kays on it.

its all up to you and what you like the look of/prefer to drive.

[MitchHardyV1]

hey guys. the calais sold so i didnt get the chance to look at it. im not to fussed though. from all ur adivce it looks like it might have been pretty thrashed anyway. my plans for now is to save as much money as i can before my 18th bday in april and start seriously looking again in about march. im lookin for a VT II or possibly a VX. again any advice on that too would be good. thanks for the help guys. really appreciated

[Andrew426]

Why not get a nice VS berlina or something mate?

[_R_J_K_]

hthe calais sold so i didnt get the chance to look at it.

Sounded waaay overpriced anyway.

[MitchHardyV1]

ive been lookin at vs's too but i think i might go for something a little newer and i spoke to my uncle and he recons the calais was way overpriced too, and he knows his shit lol

[Vee-ard]

keep to your price range man, I took a 20000 loan out to get a VY as my first car, it crippled me financially for years. Its not worth it at all man.

[speed_freak]

just keep hunting. i picked up my 97 VS factory manual for only $4000 with 172,000kms. Only ever had one owner and i have had not one problem with it. The great thing about VR-VS is that there are parts and cars a plenty so dont dive into the first one you see cause there will always be plenty more around.

set yourself a budget and make sure you stick to it.

maybe set a cheaper budget and put some money aside for some mods