To buy or not to buy VT II S pac

[Miss L]

My VT got totalled so looking for a new one....saw a VT II 1999 s pac...has no roady on it.....manual - i havent tested it yet but the dude selling it (he has had since new full service history) says its slipping out in 4th gear......selling for $5800 clean and tidy.....so my question if only fault is the gearbox...any ideas approx cost reco gearbox and install ?? or just forget the whole thing.....obviously i wouldnt pay 5800 as needs rego and the roady on it.....anyones thoughts ??? thanks Miss L

[wortus]

My VT got totalled so looking for a new one....saw a VT II 1999 s pac...has no roady on it.....manual - i havent tested it yet but the dude selling it (he has had since new full service history) says its slipping out in 4th gear......selling for $5800 clean and tidy.....so my question if only fault is the gearbox...any ideas approx cost reco gearbox and install ?? or just forget the whole thing.....obviously i wouldnt pay 5800 as needs rego and the roady on it.....anyones thoughts ??? thanks Miss L

After you check the cost to supply and fit a reco gearbox and any other repairs needed your going to have to compare the cost against a similar car that doesn't need the repairs, What is the going price for a VT S Pac these days?
IMO I think I would go for something at least VX Series 2 which has the control link rear suspension as it is a big improvement. Also look at the cost of say a VY S pac as they offer a lot of additional extras and refinement.

[Miss L]

thanks wortus....i would love nothing more than a vy s but its the old cash problem is a drama.... i would kill for a purple s vy in fact i would sell a kidney for it...heheheheh

[calais24/7]

I would ring around all the local wreckers to find out a rough cost for the gearbox and fitment and then see if the car is worth that. If it's clean and not high kms all the rest. My rough guess would be around 1k . Mine was 750 but that is a vl not a vt :P

[sleepa]

you can pick up a gearbox for an ecotec pretty cheap. $400ish and another $400 or so to get fitted.

Just for comparison, I got an LS1 auto box for $500 and $600 to fit. And they cost a lot more then v6s autos so you might get out of it for under $800.

[Miss L]

good work sleepa.....i might be a chick but i got some smarts about cars......gotta good feeling about this figure if everything else stacks up about it whats a gearbox if i get it the right price and nothing else dodge.....from how the dud describes it it sounds like a tooth off the gear...could be wrong im not a mechanic.....but if i can get away with everything else and then dropping a gearbox in a bit perhaps this is good.....sometimes things go right in Miss Ls world (ps my other vt got written off in 3 car prang with fatal...not my fault but i got minor injs...figure it was an omen to get another car and the one i really wanted ).....

[1SIKR8]

i got a VT spac thats manual and theres awsome =D as for putting a new box in, theres nothing to it =) if you get a workshop manual and some tools you can do it yourself, i took my gearbox out, put a heavier clutch in and put the gearbox back in within 4 hours, the gearbox's are pretty light, i could pick it up no problem

i'd haggle the price down a couple of hundred but =)

also how many km's on it ?

[Miss L]

hey 1FATVT...its $5800 with 182 kms....black *sigh* matches my shoes....and all else seems mint..BUT i still gotta get it tested.....dude seems genuine....lost his lic for xpca so hasnt been driving it...hes replaced the tyres and water pump engine mounts seem ok its a series II also.....no rego so i gotta get a roady to get reg so will find out whats up.....he said it only comes outta 4th sometimes but i dont often use 4th i go from 3rd to 5th if thats what im doing.....im just sus but thats just me....but i figure any car i buy im gonna have to do something to it and if this is it and i get get some cash off it well could work out.....as to me doing it myself...ummmmmmm i love cars and all but i dont wanna wreck my manicure and knowing my luck i would fall into the engine bay and get stuck in there or something

[1SIKR8]

hahahha well lucky the gearbox isn't in the engine bay :P :P :P

try getting it off him for $5600 =) im sure the manicure would work wonders on this bloke :P

there not bad km's at all, and as for it popping out of 4th im trying to remeber what i learnt at tafe ( been a apprentice mechanic is awsome if you remeber what you learn haha ) it could be a syncro or something even simpler, you may not need to get a new gearbox =)

[028]

hey,ive just bought a vx2 s manual with recond box,fyi,the receipt i got from last owner shows the bill is 2450 inc,it says 'strip box,replace input shaft,all bearings'
hope that helps

[james91]

thats pretty cheap if you can get it, i paid 8.8k for a vt s2 5 speed with few mods and 121,800km in mint condition plus its lots better then my vx auto. you wont regrett owning a manual there lots more fun to drive

[Miss L]

almost sold...just waiting on the check on it..providing its just the gearbox i can live with that...not getting my hopes up....but a lil tinting and an awesome polish and its going to be hot as.....*sigh* fingers crossed for Miss L, this would be so awesome if this comes off....oh and 1FATVT thanks for the advice.....will just have to see what the racv dude says....i can suck up doing stuff to it and i am the scary negotiator...im going in at $4600 to play....the manicure and cleavage sometimes works a treat....hehehe to be a girl but if the check stacks up im not gonna let it go....ahhh the joy of a manual.......keep u posted !

[JSTCOZ]

get them to check the hoses near the heater tap thing, mine has blown twice now ... then foudn out the radiator had shat itself (hence the issues) just worth a glance.

[Miss L]

JSTCOZ funny you should mention that.....im driving a vt exec as a borrow and guess what that has blown ??? took me 2 hours and about 27 lts of water to get home....HILARIOUS when i was sitting on the fwy with steam pouring out and next to me was the booze bus full of coppers who were just staring at me !! booked into the $217 RACV premium test so fingers crossed

[1SIKR8]

good luck and when you get the car, pictures must be posted =D

[Miss L]

hey 1FATVT....will do...so cross ur fingers for me....dunno if im tempting fate but Miss L is sitting here looking at window tint...gotta have that and fast.....and then exhaust system...and then sweet as......now to occupy myself for 2 days til its done.....lucky i have chick things to do on my days off....perhaps i should paint my nails black in anticipation...*sigh* whats a girl to do...keep ya posted

[TonyJZX]

problem is any Commodore manual of any type is reasonably rare

you can cruise the various car sales sites and see one or two manuals in a sea of autos

buy it because you may not see one again for a while

[Miss L]

TonyJ2X thanks....yep I know...and thats why im so keen (not that the seller knows that).....whats 2 k on a gearbox if thats all thats wrong.....its black and manual...what more could a girl want (well a purple clubsport but thats another story).....only 2 sleeps til i know if its mine will post pics when/if i get it

[Miss L]

apparently i used up all my luck in my prang....car to put it mildly rooted....soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo dissapointed engine sitting on cross bar, engine mounts gone, clutch rooted, rearbox..well who would know....oil leak from where ?? oh yes possibly everywhere......good luck to the dude who is going to buy it for $4k unseen....... i am off to sulk....clearly i am not meant to have a car.......*huff* - but thanks guys for your help

[1998GTS]

Hey Miss L.Don't be disapointed your dream car will turn up.Don't rush into anything.Good luck!!

[1SIKR8]

if you can wait a year my car will be for sale lol =D glad you didn't buy the peace of crap ay, woulda been worse to get it then find all them problems

[Miss L]

i know i gotta b patient...*sigh* found a vy II S in PURPLE for $9400 just a lil bit much for this black duck this week....i know that my dream car will turn up...and im not gonna rush...i keep plodding along in my awesome vt that i have borrowed although the no aircon thing is a lil much....anyways i will wait til after xmas coz i gotta work all xmas so thats a heap of cash right there...oh yeah and in case you are wondering why dont i just borrow $20k and buy what i really want....spent a long time paying off the EXs debts so dont want any more and i wanna be a big grown up girl and buy my car cash and then do what i wanna to it...sounds mental but i dont wanna owe anyone anything.....so instead i just look at all yr cars and get inspiration....merry merry too guys hope you all have an awesome xmas

[1998GTS]

Good for you!! As they say "Cash Talks" So you'll have the upper hand.

[Miss L]

well its happy 2011 for everyone and Miss L is back on the hunt for the elusive VT II S pac black.....so fingers crossed again for me....I reckon I might be onto something (oh that is providing Bazza the paydude coughs up the $4k Miss L is owed for working over xmas)....this time I have found one with 217 k (yup i know) black BUT has already been racv tested "they" want $5850 for it not registered...so off I go again with my prettiest lip gloss on to try to work my magic....but knowing my luck....although today I got to drive my bros VE SS Ute (ummm green ??) to work...sweet as...although now I just want it *sigh*......this lil princess just loves V8 on the Monash Fwy...mmmmmmm....anyway will keep you updated to my latest disaster or perhaps finally having a car.......anyone wanna buy a 1997 whute VT exec.....306 K no rego for $2500 ??? its my loaner car and its gotta move on when Im done with her, as the VTs daddy now has his new baby...VE SS ute blue *sigh*.......