what do you all think of this vs?

[playful]

..........

[Chappo_1]

Hi mate, it looks OK. If he has really spent $1100 on shocks and springs, it looks even better.

Is the mileage too high, and has it been thrashed? The mileage isn’t too high….. If it hasn’t been thrashed.  I bought a VS when it was four years old that had done close to 250,000km. It has done over 400,000km now, and the motor is still going strong.

Things to check:

Get under the car and check for oil leaking from the main seal, you will see signs of oil dripping off the inspection cover (it is between the rear of the motor and gear box, and has a small hole in it). Look for traces of oil backwards from here, that has been spread by the force of the wind blowing under the car while driving. If there is a lot, then there is a serious oil leak. A rear main seal replacement is a big expensive job.

Check out the brake rotors, looks like you will have to do this from under the car, going by the wheels on the car. Check for deep score marks. The rotors should probably be replaced if it has done 250,000km. Ask the owner if they have been replaced recently.

Check out the steering rack while under the car. Check for oil leaks from the rubber boots. Check the steering pump for leaks as well. Replacing steering rack and pump is expensive.

Check there is coolant in the overflow tank for the radiator. Check it is clean, and not oily. The radiators need to be replaced often in these cars, ask how old the radiator is.
Ask if the inlet manifolds gaskets have been replaced, and when. Leaking inlet manifold gaskets can cause coolant to leak.

All of the above I have had to fix on mine, some not long after I bought it. The steering rack, it was done a few years ago. The inlet manifold gaskets, were done a couple of months ago.

A well maintained VS will go for sometime, you need to determine how well maintained this one is.

I hope this helps you mate. Good luck.

[GTS69]

hes right that these motors can go for a long time but if its not been looked after you can almost be sure it will die soon you will find it will be using a little oil and that will harm performance and economy honestly look to spend most of you $9000 and get something with as low km as posible you dont wanna be doing a engine or gearbox rebuild in the next 6 months buy something as best as you can afford and it will last you longer and be worth more when it comes to resale.
Try your local auctions can save 1/3-1/2 of retail $6000 should see you in a vy easy from a auction

[Hangman]

I'd be looking for a later model than a VS if I had 9k to throw at a Commodore.

[Adds_05]

^Agreed or if it had to be a vs, I'd be looking for a hsv for that sort of cash...

[igwilliams@clear.net.nz]

Nice choice as a first car , I ran VS Calais for a few years , I would suggest getting it thoroughly checked over before you part with the mulah , good thing is both engines ( pre-ecotec and the ecotec 3.8 are a good starting point for modifications if that is what you want to do .

Good luck

[playful]

Thanks for the possitive responses everyone, I'll bear it all in mind.

I'd be looking for a later model than a VS if I had 9k to throw at a Commodore.

yeah I was up until a few days ago looking at a VY executive and VY S pack but for a manual it'd take me a while to get the money to change the rims, lower it, put a sub in etc due to the higher prices. I could tidy it up by debadging etc but that's it lol. and I'm not too keen on vt's or vx's imho

Plus I am still waiting on one that is in a colour I like, those ones I saw are in a horrid shade of red :/

If there are no decent vs's when I get back home in 10 days, I'm gonna do what you suggested.

[Andrew426]

Looks like its been thrashed to me. All those mods + looks like its missing carpet in the drivers footwell Would put me off completely. Also Ks are getting up a bit. If you absolutely have your heart set on a VS, get one that immaculate, low kms, one old man owner etc. Otherwise get a later model.

[F l a k]

Yeah I rekon it's been thrashed too. I'd try find something standard, although it will be pretty hard to find a standard manual, or a manual in general. You could always get an auto and as you learn things have a go at a manual conversion...you'll end up with a much better car that way.

[VRCALAISS]

so many good cars are auto,i'd never buy a p'platers manual because you know it's been thrashed.

[CJ - 1995]

its not even a calais is it? with those rims and tyres im pretty positive it would have been tortured

[*uwishn*]

the vs looks neat, as above posters if you have 9k get a much newer car you would get into a vy manual for that.
every "hoon" wants a manual or v8 lol, she's had a hiding lol.

[STR82H3LL]

looks like its been flogged mate. and why bother paying for the suspension he put in if you would rather coilovers or bags or a different feel. same with the dvd player, hes probably added $500 onto the price for the headdeck which is rubbish anyway. just buy a barebones VR if you want a stronger bottom end or a VS if you want more bolton support. and if you are guna be shredding tyres when you feel the need look for a solid rear instead of IRS

[vn_v6]

looks like its been hit as the bonnet sits slightly open, i wouldnt touch this one with a 10 foot pole for 1 grand let alone 3

[M1LMO3]

If I had 9k for my first car I wouldn't have brought my old VS wagon.

And with the manual thing I know how you feel, when I was looking for my second car I wanted a manual but ended up with a auto with 157xxxkms on it (great car) and I hated that it was auto so I brought a little 5spd Holden Barina to calm my needs .

And in a few months I will be getting a manual conversion for my VX.

So in other words get the latest model car for the cash you have preferably manual I guess but if you find a deal that can't be missed and it's auto take it because in all honesty I would rather a smick auto then a thrashed manual.

[edals]

Try and go after a VX mate, They are one of the most reliable around and can get a pretty decent one for about 6, i paid 9 for mine 3 years ago. 156,000 on it and now has 230,000 on it, not a single drama !
And With the exhaust and other mods, id say its thrashed. What you want it the standard everything car, then do your mods your self. even better find a older mature owner that used it to pop to the shops lol

[damotm]

take a look at a vs clubby. Im the same, I dont like vt-vz, so for $9k you can pick up a low ks clubby, if you can find one

[damotm]

Try and go after a VX mate, They are one of the most reliable around and can get a pretty decent one for about 6, i paid 9 for mine 3 years ago. 156,000 on it and now has 230,000 on it, not a single drama !
And With the exhaust and other mods, id say its thrashed. What you want it the standard everything car, then do your mods your self. even better find a older mature owner that used it to pop to the shops lol

saying that, edals got a nice car there...

[M1LMO3]

Try and go after a VX mate, They are one of the most reliable around and can get a pretty decent one for about 6, i paid 9 for mine 3 years ago. 156,000 on it and now has 230,000 on it, not a single drama !
And With the exhaust and other mods, id say its thrashed. What you want it the standard everything car, then do your mods your self. even better find a older mature owner that used it to pop to the shops lol

100% agree not only because I'm a VX owner myself but with that cash you could get yourself a nice VX S pack low km's manual etc and that will do you for years to come until you have the money to buy the VY-VE or what ever car you like

[VT_SS]

Had a quick look at it and i would give it a miss its true a well looked after car will go forever i dont think this is one of them though.If time is not an issue than buy a stock car at the right price and any money left over can be spent on mods.This also insures that the work being done is of a high standard overlooked by you getting the best workmenship around.My guess is it will have a few oil leaks as well as signs of alot of herb hopping i.e.deep scrapping or denting of the under carridge.ITS BEEN THRASHED.

[*uwishn*]

take a look at a vs clubby. Im the same, I dont like vt-vz, so for $9k you can pick up a low ks clubby, if you can find one

what 5ltrs haven't been thrashed now days lol.
most have done over 250ks and have extremely low compression

[edals]

Also Being a P Plater (Soon), How is he suppose to drive a 5L V8 ?

And Yes White VS Manuals are hard to find, My Old man use to own one and got quite a bit for it when he sold is as they are quite rare lol

[VT_SS]

Also Being a P Plater (Soon), How is he suppose to drive a 5L V8 ?

Well thats a valid point just had another look and one of the most important shots the engine bay is not on there.Another thing is he has taken of his rims and put the shitty blacks on ohh and nice car UWISHN.

[playful]

Yeah now that I think about the fact that I can buy a stock one and save heaps of cash for mods, I am still going to call the bloke up and take a look at it regardless because I actually want to see for myself if everyone's theories are correct (which they probably are), I will not be buying it! because it looks thrashed, that's why I made the thread, I just wanted a second opinion.

I was considering getting a Vy, but Vzs have more power and I don't want to get either as a first car cause If I scraped it I'd be devistated

I was also considering a Vx, but I do not like the aesthetics as much, and I would prefer to spend less now and then save for a nice commo later.

I am gonna be patient and wait for the right one. I saw another VS pop up on boost classifieds that I want to take a look at too. Thanks for the responses

[Phuckin Feral]

ive been a mechanic for a little over 6 years now and also own a vs (ute) the ecotec engine is really good if its maintained, in saying that if you can pick one up for a decently cheap price with a little spare cash you can pick a good engine up for $600 - $800 what i recomend doing is if you find one that you are very intersted in before buying it you and the seller should go to a work shop and get a mechanic to look over it and they will tell you what you need to know (most wont hold back) and once done you will know whether its a good buy or not,