info on vs ute.

[tim005]

new to this site.
looking for a manual vs ute as a first car.
any information would help as in problems or what to look for while buying.
also would like to slowly chuck a few mods on the ute if funds persist so any suggestions on that would help.
cheers.

[JT090]

hey mate good choice on the first car, plenty of things to look for, clutch wear (not cheap to replace in the getrag box, series 2 onwards), oil leaks(rear main seal, rocker covers), diff wear and backlash, dont be put off by the sloppy shifter its a common getrag problem . . . .. etc etc the list can keep going on,

basic mods that i did on mine were, lowered, 18s, 2.5" catback exhuast, CAI, big stereo system, etc basic bolt ons really

[tim005]

thanks for the info mate.
sounds like the usual wear and tear for a car of its age.
the mod's you have done sound about the same as i have planned, just have to save those pennys first.
thanks.

[Jimmy2228]

Welcome mate, yeah I agree with everything gustov said. Fortunately nearly all of the VS Utes are manuals, however prices for a ute skyrocket over the prices for a sedan. (Every P plater wants a VS Ute).

I bought my first car few months ago, like you i wanted a vs ute, but the prices of them were so high compared to a sedan, i just settled with a manual vs sedan. So that could be an option for you if you have limited funds. Finding a manual sedan is pretty tricky though, however best of luck and let us know how it goes.

[tim005]

cheers Jimmy2228, i would be looking at a sedan its only that seeing with these victorian p plate laws and not being able to tow a trailer a ute is the way to go seeing as i need to cart around goods and my dirt bike, plus the utes get you out of carrying around heaps of mates
i would be looking at spending a max amount of around 8 grand on a vs ute, preferably with a few things already done seeing as mods can be pricey.
thanks heaps for the info.

[STEALTHY™]

Make sure you buy the 2 seater one, not a 3 seater.

3 seater consoles are crap!

[tim005]

thanks stealthy.
i was planning on that two, while looking at 3 seaters realised it had no center console, and changing gears that close to someone, shudder.

[STEALTHY™]

thanks stealthy.
i was planning on that two, while looking at 3 seaters realised it had no center console, and changing gears that close to someone, shudder.

Not sure about VS, but VN and VP have column shifts.
But yeah, its bad enough with a console when using first gear! Don't want to think what it'd be like with another person there!


I want a ute for the lack of rear seats part, although i'm pretty good at making sure i rarely have back seat passengers!

Can also get the standard sticker for the back 'Yes i have a ute, NO i wont help you move'

[tim005]

stealthy agree with you there, lack of rear seats is a positive i reckon, especially with the way petrol is going up and down, less passengers =
and i have seen a few vs with the bench seat and column gears but just think that is an inconvenience .
thanks heaps for your info mate.

[jokerflingo]

Definitely go for the 2 seater, a 3 seater in a ute is madness especially with the right hand side hand brake. What a stupid idea

Thank god i was patient and found my Holden VS Ute coupled with a 5 speed manual and 2 seater all for $7000 over here in SA which has overrated car prices for some reason.

Good luck
Matt

[Leathal11]

go for the 2seater gets to crowded,
and yeah watch out for the clutches cos i had mine for around 3months and the clutch went and the mechanic said i was probably looking at around 400 to replace so i said thats cool then rings me up and says it will be 1500 lol because it is a duel flywheel clutch i think but yeah other than that the ute is the way to go!

LeAtHaL!!

[fuzzy2308]

yeah mate the Ute is the go. i have 3 seater 5sp manual and its a good excuse to cope a feel of the Mrs friend or sister.

where are u from? buy mine

[STEALTHY™]

yeah mate the ute is the go. i have 3 seater 5sp manual and its a good excuse to cope a feel of the mrs friend or sister.

where are u from? buy mine

LMAO, thats almost sig worthy

[tim005]

thanks for all the replies fellas.

to jokerflingo i hope i can find a bargain as good as yours, because that seems like a fair decent price. and couldn't agree more with you about the right hand side hand break, would definitely drive me up the wall after a few cruises in the ute

to lethal, i have heard many people talk about clutch wear in the vs. i knew a bloke who used to dump his clutch everywhere and was up for about the same as you, hopefully if i take it easy problems shouldn't head my way.

fuzzy, thanks for the offer, but i am only half way to a vs ute in the $$, i am not even on my p's yet so maybe its a bit early, give us 6 months and maybe but i am really looking for a 2 seater anyway. but now you say coping a feel...... , only joking. cheeers.

[VrWagz1]

As said above, clutch wear in the series 2 and 3 is a big issues as they have a different g/box to the series 1 ute. It costs heaps more to replace the s2/3 than the s1 utes.
Have a good look at suspension components and take it for a spin to see how it handles(dosnt float all over the road ect..). Otherwise you could be up for a small fortune doing shocks, springs and bushes all under the car.

[Jimmy2228]

As said above, clutch wear in the series 2 and 3 is a big issues as they have a different g/box to the series 1 ute. It costs heaps more to replace the s2/3 than the s1 utes.
Have a good look at suspension components and take it for a spin to see how it handles(dosnt float all over the road ect..). Otherwise you could be up for a small fortune doing shocks, springs and bushes all under the car.

+1 to what VrWagz said, I didnt check my cars suspension when i bought it (I know, shoot me) now im up $1600 for repairs to the dodgy and unsafe suspension

[tim005]

vr wagz does clutch wear cost more too replace in the s2/3 because of a newer gearbox making it more dear? is the gear box in the s2/3 better then the s1?

jimmy2228, thanks for that info, make sure my old man checks out the ute before i even consider handing over the $$.
cheers.

[Stokesy VS]

MATE!!! i just bought my first car ... a VS ute and believe me ive had some drama with it.... look for this like if the brakes need doing... check for clutch noises oil leaks at the back of the engine tyres... a/c! just check literally everything b4 u buy it man

[tim005]

stokesy VS, that sounds really bad, not the best news to hear for a wannabe vs ute owner.
at least i have a heads up now and have an idea of what to expect.
thanks heaps for the info.

[STEALTHY™]

MATE!!! i just bought my first car ... a VS ute and believe me ive had some drama with it.... look for this like if the brakes need doing... check for clutch noises oil leaks at the back of the engine tyres... a/c! just check literally everything b4 u buy it man

All of that is specific to buying ANY car, not just a ute!

[xxNoblexx]

g'day mate

good luck with the search for a decent ute, i just got a series 1 vs ute, but unfortunatly it is a three seater, so is a bit of a pain in the arse when mates wanna jump in for a ride, especially getting the thing into second gear. lol

with my ute, luckly most of the major things were done allready, like brakes, suspension, power steering etc, but all stock. if i can offer some advice, keep it as stock as a rock on the outside until ur off ur p's, cos i dunno if it is the same in ur neck of the woods, but the cops in SA really give me the shits, they still pull me over, and im in a absolutly stock ute. reckon its just the p plates and the fact its a ute, but anyway

good luck with the search mate, hope it works out for ya

[jokerflingo]

g'day mate

good luck with the search for a decent ute, i just got a series 1 vs ute, but unfortunatly it is a three seater, so is a bit of a pain in the arse when mates wanna jump in for a ride, especially getting the thing into second gear. lol

with my ute, luckly most of the major things were done allready, like brakes, suspension, power steering etc, but all stock. if i can offer some advice, keep it as stock as a rock on the outside until ur off ur p's, cos i dunno if it is the same in ur neck of the woods, but the cops in SA really give me the shits, they still pull me over, and im in a absolutly stock ute. reckon its just the p plates and the fact its a ute, but anyway

good luck with the search mate, hope it works out for ya

HAHA bad luck m8 im in Adelaide, SA and just got my P2's and well had been driving around in my VS Ute for ages with my P1's and P plates shown and never got pulled over not once lol. Shows how well spread our coppas are But P2's rocks since you don't got to display P plates

Matt

[tim005]

g'day mate

good luck with the search for a decent ute, i just got a series 1 vs ute, but unfortunatly it is a three seater, so is a bit of a pain in the arse when mates wanna jump in for a ride, especially getting the thing into second gear. lol

with my ute, luckly most of the major things were done allready, like brakes, suspension, power steering etc, but all stock. if i can offer some advice, keep it as stock as a rock on the outside until ur off ur p's, cos i dunno if it is the same in ur neck of the woods, but the cops in SA really give me the shits, they still pull me over, and im in a absolutly stock ute. reckon its just the p plates and the fact its a ute, but anyway

good luck with the search mate, hope it works out for ya

sounds like you got yourself a bargain there. i have two uncles that are cops, they aren't fussed about cars but they say other coppa's as soon as they see a black holden ute with p's they flash the sirens and before you know it they are searching under your bonnet. left me feeling a little un-easy.
cheers for your advice.

[jokerflingo]

sounds like you got yourself a bargain there. i have two uncles that are cops, they aren't fussed about cars but they say other coppa's as soon as they see a black holden ute with p's they flash the sirens and before you know it they are searching under your bonnet. left me feeling a little un-easy.
cheers for your advice.

Haha awesome, lucky when i had my P plates displayed on my P1's i had a Botanic Mica Ute and not black lol Never got pulled over once and im on P2's now so should be good.

[tim005]

Haha awesome, lucky when i had my P plates displayed on my P1's i had a Botanic Mica Ute and not black lol Never got pulled over once and im on P2's now so should be good.

haha, your one of the lucky ones!
i don't want my ute too out there, less attention from the boys in blue would be good.
unless i put 19 chromies on the front and stockies on the back.........