Downgraded to VS

[tyrefryer]

Hi all, i've never done a my ride b4 even tho i been on the site long enuf and had enuf cars already...

I just sold my VT Calais and got a VS exec, the Calais just had too many useless features and i missed the ride of the live axle and non drive-by-wire throttle...

The silver Calais i recently sold...

The VS was bought with bumper damage and needed respray on the front n back bumper..

Mods:
S/C CAI
K&N panel filter
Lukey 2.5" cat back exhaust with no rear resi
Lowered on super low front, ultra low rear
Adjustable panhard rod
Pioneer MP3 head unit
pioneer 6.5" 3ways in front doors
custom tweeter setup
6.5" pioneer rears, amplified
12" DVC Sony Sub on Kenwood Amp
Currently on 17" BMW wheels but will be on 18s soon
Colour coded mirrors and door handles
all badges removed besides rear lion
Calais taillights and clear side indicators

Currently about to fit a VT or VX gearbox as this ones slipping and also plan on putting in a newer motor

[tyrefryer]

Pics are all of the car in progress, will upload some of the current state soon...

[Silver_VS_II]

you upgraded from a vt lol

[tyrefryer]

yeh well i was driving a VX just before i got this one licenced and most ppl are now saying the VX was a lot better, but then again most of those ppl dont know much about cars and just like whatever looks newer....iv always had a thing for VS's since i was 15

Car as it looked at time of licencing (had to be raised to standard height) looks like something old ppl drive...

[tyrefryer]

Current state of car...also i would like advice on which wheels suit better, BMW 17's or the chrome ANZ 18's

[tyrefryer]

put the 18's on today, had a few dramas with front tyres rubbing so they have temporary tyres on at the moment and the back scrubs over hard bumps so might need to change them as well...

gave it a wash as oily dirt was stuck to it from when the transmission cooler pipe popped which happened 30mins after it passed the pits...

next on the list is gearbox change as its slipping during changes but its running ok most of the time and i dont have the time to do it yet so that might wait
In the mean time i will be fitting cruise control but it might be hard as the car doesnt seem to have the wiring there yet

[Philthy]

A VS is never a downgrade!! (sorry, it had to be said)

That 2nd photo ^^^^^ looks mint!

[tyrefryer]

yeh im definetly feeling more comfortable driving the VS, the VT just didnt feel right and with everything being comuterised and safety enabled just wasnt as enjoyable, i love the rawness of anything pre VT

[Surfwagon]

Nice VS, I had one for 12 years and it was a great car but nothing on my VZ, maybe the VT's weren't up to scratch until the VX came out.
By the way VT-VY's still had cable operated TB's, fly by wire didn't start until the VZ Alloytec V6 and the 6.0L V8.
Here is my old wagon.
VS11 Berlina Wagon L67, Intercooler , Leather, Modified CAI.

[tyrefryer]

Oh ok i thort i read somewhere that VT's started fly-by-wire but now that i think about it the VZ's have auto ignition so it must obviously be different...well having driven and owned almost every model of commodore the VT's do feel the slowest of the lot, maybe weight? and there is definetly a lag in throttle response on VT-VY's which im sure i read was a fuel economy improvement feature as it would eliminate accidental over-throttle

That wagon is killer, love the sleepers...but im sure ur right that it has nothing over a LS2 senator haha
im thinking my next car will have to be a senator as il be finished uni in a few months and working as a civil engineer next year

[tyrefryer]

Oh and update on the car....well dont fit 245/45/18's to a car on ultras without rolled guards...
Im selling the tyres if anyones interested as il need cash for new ones with a 40% profile

Set of 4 x Federal Super Steel 595 245/45/18 (80% tread)....$300 for the set

[Philthy]

Why not just roll the guards?

[tyrefryer]

yeh its one option but i gotta pull the wheel off and check if its rubbing on the inside as well as its got about 5-10mm clearance on the inside of the wheel arch aswell cos on the passengers side there seems to be a bulge which may rub the wheel as well...

Also the wheels do kinda look a bit too bit for the car and hold it too high at the rear as i cant fit the same size tyres onto the front even if the guards were rolled or flared or whatever...iv got some chromed HSV vs senator wheels i think they are so i will put them on as going over bumps is currently making me cringe everytime

[Surfwagon]

Is this VS IRS or solid rear axle.
IRS allows the bigger rubber because of the slight camber but the solid rears can rub on the inside of the outer guard, not actually on the lip which is the part that is rolled.
Iv'e seen guys have their guards roll and still have the tyres rub if the car is on SSL springs.
With the fronts I found my 18's on the VS rubbed at full lock but only on the plastic inner guard liner but sounded much worse so once I knew it wasn't anything dangerous I left it that way and just got used to it.

[VRSS]

looks nice mate, definaely prefer the 18s!

45 is the wrong profile for commodores (PRE-VE) for 18s anyway. no wonder you had scrubbing issues. you should be running 245/40/18

[tyrefryer]

Is this VS IRS or solid rear axle.
IRS allows the bigger rubber because of the slight camber but the solid rears can rub on the inside of the outer guard, not actually on the lip which is the part that is rolled.
Iv'e seen guys have their guards roll and still have the tyres rub if the car is on SSL springs.
With the fronts I found my 18's on the VS rubbed at full lock but only on the plastic inner guard liner but sounded much worse so once I knew it wasn't anything dangerous I left it that way and just got used to it.

yeh no its a solid axle which is a big reason i went back from the VT and also why i got an exec, havent seen any berlina's/calais with solid, was considering doing a change over but never looked into it.

Iv rolled the guards now (it was done a bit crude) but its not rubbing anymore besides the odd touch but its not digging the tyre like b4, just a soft touch and that was when i was checking it by going a bit qwiker over the bumps

MY VT rubbed too on the plastic at the front but it doesnt look like this one does it as the fronts are 235/40 at the moment...

45 is the wrong profile for commodores (PRE-VE) for 18s anyway. no wonder you had scrubbing issues. you should be running 245/40/18

Yeh i might put em in the paper and maybe somone with a merc or something will take em cos they hold the car too high...

[tyrefryer]

Well I've once again traded cars so before i make a new thread for my new car heres some pics of how the VS ended up...

[tooslow]

same as me i miss th live axle thats was i got rid of my vx gen3 berlina n downgraded to a vr 5litre manual n ive never look back.