New to the VR scene

[recognise]

Hey there guys!

I'm a newcomer to the VR executives and wanted to drop by to say hello. I've been handed down my family car which I think is a 1996 VR Commodore Executive Series II, Ecotec. Its the sedan version and its a 6 seater, 3 at the back and 3 at the front. I'm not too sure if anyone has seen anything similar to this but its pretty cool. It was our family car and I just love Holdens!

The car is in pretty decent condition but the paint is wearing away. Also its been keyed from the front, right side and the back .
I was just wondering if its worth modding the car and getting it back into good shape? Whats a good start to get her back into shape?
I was thinking along the lines of a new exhaust, I love the deep growl sound .
Any help for a newcomer would be awesome



P.s i'll try post up some photos of her, and also the front middle seat which everyone gets suprised about haha.

[t-rob]

hey mate, depending on the amount of km's she has travelled and like you said the condition of the body. I would give the car a full clean and service to begin with. Although lowering a car, exhaust, and wheels are usually some of the first steps people take to modding a car. Post some pics up to see what your working with mate.

[Verynice]

welcome mate, a 96 ecotec would be a VS

[Scrubmonk]

Sounds like a VS ecotec to me.
As far as mods good, just don't over spend, cause you'll never get your money back. VS commodores are as common as bum holes and aren't ever going to be a valuable classic any time soon. But treated right they can be a realiable and pleasant vehicle to get around in.
2.5" Catback exhaust is normally the first mod. Lukey do a good one, can't really comment on the cheaper ones on the internet. If you want a deep note, by far the deepest I've heard is a Magnaflow muffler, but they come at a cost and are a custom installation.
Nice set of wheels. Don't be tempted to go too big, or you'll end up with a car that rides like a go-kart. 17s or 18s max IMO.
Heaps of good stuff on ebay, gumtree etc to suit.

[VR38]

The car is in pretty decent condition but the paint is wearing away. Also its been keyed from the front, right side and the back .
I was just wondering if its worth modding the car and getting it back into good shape?

Whats a good start to get her back into shape?

I was thinking along the lines of a new exhaust, I love the deep growl sound .
Any help for a newcomer would be awesome



P.s i'll try post up some photos of her, and also the front middle seat which everyone gets suprised about haha.

Hey mate.
I have had a VR, pretty good car.
My advice, keep it well serviced by the book.
List the faults with it and fix them in order of priority.

Things like new exhaust are money well spent if it is still running the one it left holden with.
Same with any other mods, if it ain't broke then don't fix it.
Check the fourm and ebay or visit the wreckers if you need to replace missing/broken trim will tidy it up too.
Check for the roof lining saging and if it fogs up bad easily then you have a leak somewhere, usually the rear quarter windows.
Happy trails.

[James39]

Sounds like it was an ex-taxi, if it is a 1996 model then it is a VS.

[Aussie Revhead]

my ecotec is still going strong after 333xxx k's great engines worth doing up imo

got any pictures mate?

[recognise]

thanks for all the replies. It is actually a VS, just checked the logbooks and what not, sorry about the confusion guys. I'll try get some photos of the car tomorrow, depending on this wack weather.

Yeah my ecotec is still going hard and im pretty sure its done around 350-400ks. The odometer on the car is stuck on 280xxx and has been there for quite awhile haha!

Do any of these VS's come in a manual? Would rather a manual just because its abit more interesting.

It does fog up quite easily so i'll have a look at that. And i'll try fix her up if I find other problems.

[recognise]

Here's some quick photos I took today, i'll try get some more when I get some time.

Its stock as a rock, nothing special but got to love her!

[RUN415]

Nice!
Would like to see a pic of those front seats...if it's not too much trouble? : )

[Wombles]

Beatiful colour! Sounss good.
You can get a T5 or Getrag box. Might be hard with the 3 seater.

[hako]

If it "fogs up easily" that sounds like the heater is leaking which can cost a lot of money to replace by a mechanic (upwards of $1000) or DIY for a fraction. You can also block off the heater. Hope I'm wrong.

[recognise]

Heres some more pics of her. I was thinking of getting an exhaust for the first mod, 2.5" cat back exhaust by Lukey. Where would the cheapest place to get one of these. I've seen some on eBay but just wondering if there were some places I can go and pick them up. I live around western sydney, blacktown area.

[RUN415]

Thanks for showing the front seat + column shift...cool. :^ )

[SWE11L]

Has the car been in your family since new? I only ask so that you know the history of the car before you start spending money, therefor you'll know if its been thrashed or whatever. In my opinion and experience get a mechanic you know and trust to suss out the whole car before you start pumping cash into it, 10 years ago I had a VL that was the biggest piece of shit on the planet and I spent heaps on it in the first month then it began falling apart and no joke, never ending engine trouble! After 1 year of that bullshit I bought my VS

[Bizmark]

Yes the VS could be optioned with a manual, as said above, you have the Choice of the Borg Warner T5 Gearbox (cable clutch) or the Getrag Gearbox (Hydraulic Clutch)

I don't think any 6 seater VS commodores came with a 5 speed, so you would have to find all the bits from a 5 seater and swap them in.

[recognise]

Has the car been in your family since new? I only ask so that you know the history of the car before you start spending money, therefor you'll know if its been thrashed or whatever. In my opinion and experience get a mechanic you know and trust to suss out the whole car before you start pumping cash into it, 10 years ago I had a VL that was the biggest piece of shit on the planet and I spent heaps on it in the first month then it began falling apart and no joke, never ending engine trouble! After 1 year of that bullshit I bought my VS

Yeah my dad bought the car new back in 1996 and has been in the family since then. No one has ever thrashed it or done anything stupid, just been driven as a normal person would. Shes a veteran this one haha. Do you think shes worth pumping cash into?


And to bizmark, it sounds abit too much hassle to convert to manual. Maybe keep it auto and just up the other mods.