HSV 185i vs HSV 215i.... .manuals.

[savage1987]

What are people's thoughts? I'm looking into the possibility of buying a VS HSV.. either a manual Clubsport or a manual Senator/GTS 215i. Anyone owned both? I'd love to hear a good comparison. People in WA do tend to ask sh!tloads of money for a 215i manual though.

Sam

[STEALTHY™]

Go the 215i. 6 Speed FTW

[savage1987]

Yeah 6 speed would be good, especially given the highway kms I do. HOWEVER I'd be happy with a 5spd Clubby, of course I don't really know how much difference there is between the two motors because I've never driven a VS stroker.

I've driven a VT Senator Signature factory manual stroker and that was... well.. cool, but slow.

Also I would have to sell my right arm to get the kind of money I'd need for a 215 manual here in WA, are they really worth the massive (~6k) price gap??

[cxcxcxvcvcvc]

Yeah 6 speed would be good, especially given the highway kms I do. HOWEVER I'd be happy with a 5spd Clubby, of course I don't really know how much difference there is between the two motors because I've never driven a VS stroker.

I've driven a VT Senator Signature factory manual stroker and that was... well.. cool, but slow.

Also I would have to sell my right arm to get the kind of money I'd need for a 215 manual here in WA, are they really worth the massive (~6k) price gap??

A bit of topic but a bloke on my street sold a 215i HSV VS statesman, white in colour absolutely mint factory for $7k wish i had the cash @ the time

[savage1987]

215i Stato would be nice but they don't come in manual.. Damn that's a good price though!

And actually now that I think hard about it I don't really like the VS statos.. **runs and hides**

Sam

[The Harvester]

The Clubsport is based on the Executive and are readily available and very well priced for a limited edition sporty V8 but only come out in 185. Don’t know if automatic was an option.

The GTS is based on the Executive and are much harder to come by and only come out in 215 with the option of Hydratrak which asks for more coin again. Don’t know if the auto was an option.

The Senator is based on the Berlina therefore only comes out as automatic but you can get 185 or 215 versions with the option of Hydratrak. From new the Senators cost more than the GTS.

You will always have to pay more for the rarity of a vehicle. I have been keeping an eye on the VS HSV’s for quite a while being an ex owner of a low klm Cherry Black VS Senator I have always kept an interest in them and I have found that the Clubsports are the most affordable next would be the VS Grange then the Senator 185 then the Senator 215 then the Senator 215 Hydratrak then the GTS 215 then the GTS 215 Hydratrak. It also depends on what series it is also whether it be a SI or SII.

Another thing that adds to the value is what was ticked in the options box when it was first ordered from HSV. When buying a limited edition vehicle you need to look at all these things for resale value as the next buyer will be looking at this also but at the end of the day it all depends on how deep your pockets are.

[STEALTHY™]

Senators came out in manual and auto


I know because my console insert is out of a senator.

[The Harvester]

I'll have to look that up again in my HSV book but I'm sure it said that the Senators were only auto but then again it might have been only the 215 Hydratrak optioned Senators that came out in manual form.

[kniever]

my bro's senator 185i is factory manual

[STEALTHY™]

Pretty sure i've seen both. But a def on the 215 (my console is out of a 6 speed, so has to be a 215)

[The Harvester]

OK, just dug out my Holden Special Vehicles 1988 - 2003 book from Ellery Publications so it is a reputable book. The official production history statistics are as follows:

VS Senator SI
185i auto = 403 built all are auto - no manuals were recorded
215i man = 71 built
215i auto = 129 built
model discontinued June 1996

VS Senator SII
185i auto = 315 built all are auto - no manuals were recorded
215i man = 63 built
215i auto = 114 built
model discontinued Sep1997

VS Clubsport and GTS SI & SII were both available in auto and manual.

Hydratrak option available seems to be available on VS SII but not SI.

[savage1987]

I'm looking at 215s at the moment because I think if I bought a Clubsport I'd just end up wishing I got a 215 anyway so I'd never quite be happy with my car. I'm wary of ending up in this situation because I currently own two Execs (or near enough).

If I do go a 215i I don't even know whether I'd prefer a Senator or a GTS, I think it just depends what comes up at the right price. My requirements at the moment are 215i (ideally) and definitely manual.

I wasn't aware that the Hydratrak diff was an option, I thought it was standard on the 215i models - thanks for clearing that up, Harvester.

How much will insurance sting me for a 215i manual? I'm turning 21 next month so I'm guessing it'd cost an arm and a leg for fully comprehensive..

Sam

[The Harvester]

Part of the reason i sold my Senator is because it was a SI 185i. I didn't know all that much about HSV's until I bought it. I always do research after i buy things which is not the right way to go and you learn from mistakes but in saying so the SI I had was still a bloody good car it's just that i would have preferred the SII with a 215i.

The GTS seems to be where the money is for resale value or investment opportunities compared to the Senator. Personally I prefer all the mod cons so I’d pick a Senator over a GTS or Clubby.

Insurance wise all I can say is good luck your age is definitely the biggest hurdle and I'd reckon alot of the insurance co. will either back away or you'll have to take up a second mortgage on your parents house.

[kniever]

ahh ya only going by vs's, my bro's is a vr, how many of the vr 185i senator's came out in manual?

savage, why not look australia wide cos after buying it and driving back to WA might still be cheaper in the end.

[undar8ed1]

I`t does suck over here in W.A Sam, I`ve been on the look out for a 215i GTS/senator for a while, then when they come along (always senators,lol) its like $20,000+. For all you eastern stater`s, the clubbys in W.A are 14-19k, whilst been a mere 9k-14k in VIC, NSW, QLD. Whist you pay 15k-19k for a senator/GTS (215i) we pay 20k+, so sad been a enthuisist in W.A

classic example. Eastern
Cars Australia - Used cars Australia - New car Australia - Car reviews Australia | carsguide.com.au

Western.
Cars Australia - Used cars Australia - New car Australia - Car reviews Australia | carsguide.com.au

[STEALTHY™]

ahh ya only going by vs's, my bro's is a vr, how many of the vr 185i senator's came out in manual?

savage, why not look australia wide cos after buying it and driving back to WA might still be cheaper in the end.

Much more fun this way. I got aquainted with my wagon driving it back from Vic.

[savage1987]

ahh ya only going by vs's, my bro's is a vr, how many of the vr 185i senator's came out in manual?

savage, why not look australia wide cos after buying it and driving back to WA might still be cheaper in the end.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking, just not sure on what's involved.. whether I need to get it over the pits when it gets here etc.. I'm definitely keen on looking Aust. wide though if it's viable, just not sure how much to budget for getting it here and on the road.

Much more fun this way. I got aquainted with my wagon driving it back from Vic.

I know, I've driven my VN from Canberra to Perth. That was awesome.

Sam

[kniever]

nothing better than getting out on the open road and especially with a new car, ya just get to enjoy it

[The Harvester]

ahh ya only going by vs's, my bro's is a vr, how many of the vr 185i senator's came out in manual?

savage, why not look australia wide cos after buying it and driving back to WA might still be cheaper in the end.

For VR's the book doesn't break it down for auto and manual like it does for the VS's but it goes on to say that the VR Senator 185i manual cost $51,299 when new so there was a VR Senator 185i manual available.

VR Senator SI & SII
185i = 632 built between July 1993 and March 1995
215i = 223 built between May 1994 and March 1995 - Manuals were released in May 1994 and Auto's were released in October 1994

[apoc585]

i just bought a HSV VS II Maloo. its a factory 5 spd manual. i dont pick it up till 2moro arvo though so after that i can let u know how it drives. the test drive was so smooth and the ute just purred along nicely though.

[savage1987]

sounds good. That'd be a 185i hey? You haven't owned a 5L auto by any chance have you for a comparison?

[Disturbed_vegeta]

sounds good. That'd be a 185i hey? You haven't owned a 5L auto by any chance have you for a comparison?

ive driven plenty of hsv 185s and just commodores autos and manuals...always been happier with the manual tho(appart from the heavy clutch) but they manuals smash the autos in speed and are alot more fun. if iwere in the market for a 215i tho it'd either be a grange or a 6sp senator just because i hate the interior of clubbys and gts' they look to much like the standard commo in the interior but the senator has the maddest seats lol, but with the price people ask for them i'd just go looking for a wh grange.

[savage1987]

yeah I'm thinking Senator as they tend to be cheaper than the GTS, but I've by no means made my mind up yet! Looks like it'll be about 12 months or so before I can actually get one..

[apoc585]

sounds good. That'd be a 185i hey? You haven't owned a 5L auto by any chance have you for a comparison?

haha, yea its the 185i but i dont drive autos so no comparison sorry.

[savage1987]

haha yeah neither would I but I own 2!! How did that happen!? lol