over 200000 kms...

[twlvlksjstlky]

Hey guys, looking at a VTII Commodore tomorrow, it has done about 230,000 kms. Is this just a disaster waiting to happen?

I know that kms don't always matter, just want some peoples opinions on this particular model

cheers guys

EDIT: this is the car in question HERE

[mrVT]

For a sereies 2 vt thats a fair bit of ks i would be looking at full service history or a very negotiable price and condition as vts go really cheap these days and can be found anywhere for reasonable price, if i was you i would shop around abit ull be suprised or else if u really like it buy it what can i say,

[holdenhero]

Its quite a few k's for any car however the more important thing is checking up on past services and log books and if the car has been taken care of. If its been treated like dirt then I'm surprized it hasn't already started falling to bits however in saying that, my friend has a VS with over 300,000 k's and it runs perfectly, it has always been taken care of and most of the k's were done in drives from Perth to Sydney from previous owner (god knows why).

[danja]

It looks pretty clean for a car with that many kms under it's belt.

I reckon it's worth getting it inspected (here the NRMA do it, in SA I'm not sure?) or if you're mechanically minded yourself you can check it.

VT's are a pretty solid car if they've been looked after. The engines go for ever if they are serviced fairly regularly. The auto boxes can fail if they aren't serviced, and that would be my main concern on that car, given the age.

Stuff I'd realistically expect to need attention, assuming it's been looked after, would be the suspension (if it's the original, or 2nd set it's likely to be a bit past it's prime), battery (might be old), starter motors get a bit tired at that age, though they'll still work fine, just might take a little longer to turn over, and all the usual major service items (all the filters/fluids, maybe O2 sensors).

[Longman]

Is that the right car? The description states Cruise control & ABS. The photos of the engine bay look like a series 1 executive, with no ABS or cruise.

[twlvlksjstlky]

Is that the right car? The description states Cruise control & ABS. The photos of the engine bay look like a series 1 executive, with no ABS or cruise.

Well I guess I'll found out tomorrow if I'm getting screwed with or not

thanks for your help guys

[vt_lover]

defiantly no abs or trac, and it looks as though the strut tops are screwed too

[Troy5L]

its not really that much km's, think about it 230,000kms over 9 or 10 years, it might be abit more than average but not that bad...
u might have to fix somethings as they would wear out but its should be pretty good....i sold me vr i no diff engine but had about 230,000 on the clock but was mechanically a1/

when ya look at it, just make sure to have a proper look not just skim over

[mrVT]

one other thing o noticed to that the hub caps are from a vr exec there not the original vt caps just letting u know.

[pablo]

Don't let your dosh burn a hole in your pocket!. If you check out some of the local auctions here in Adelaide, (universal auctions, torrens rd) those high k vehicles go for around the $4K mark, no warranty tho. Have you checked out the Saturday Advertiser, surprising how cheap some of those private cars are and with much lower K's.
If you are hooked, get it inspected by the RAA first. Or better still, if the vendor is genuine, get them to have it inspected for you, cars are hard to sell at the moment, so offer them $4.500 and work around that, but be prepared to walk away.

[mrVT]

noticed afew things the have a a series 2 badge on the back and there is orange clear side indicators when they state its a series 2, theres no traction or abs and the hub caps are from a vr doesnt have original caps i would be sus already with this car,5gs is alot for a sereis 1.

[NVE_069]

Meh I bought my Calais with 228.000 on it now she has 250k and not bad at all still a clean car an drives fine. besides the things that need fixed here an there

[twlvlksjstlky]

noticed afew things the have a a series 2 badge on the back and there is orange clear side indicators when they state its a series 2, theres no traction or abs and the hub caps are from a vr doesnt have original caps i would be sus already with this car,5gs is alot for a sereis 1.

thanks man, im gonna tell him not to worry about it, sounds relaly dodgy!

appreciate all the help guys!

[pablo]

To give you an idea of second hand prices now, the mate ,last week, traded his 2005 VZ immaculate sedan with 62000Ks on the clock, and only got $10.000 trade in.

[Reaper]

1 word: Maintenance.
If it has been looked after it should be good for many years to come. If it hasn't then you might be buying trouble - then again that can happen with a car having done 50,000 km too.

Reaper

[mrVT]

To give you an idea of second hand prices now, the mate ,last week, traded his 2005 VZ immaculate sedan with 62000Ks on the clock, and only got $10.000 trade in.

impossible for that price and car was imaculate car was either cut and shut or was a reparable right off i find it hard to beleive...

[lad79]

Drive it get it inspected and if your happy with it buy it, according to the ad it has a "full 1 yr warranty" so that should put your mind at ease a lil bit....

[pablo]

impossible for that price and car was imaculate car was either cut and shut or was a reparable right off i find it hard to beleive...

The fact that you can't believe it strengthens my point of how cheaply these dealers buy their cars for resale. And with the yards struggling to move their stock, it's a buyers market now, to get yourself a bargain, you just got to haggle!

[walesy]

my 02 series 2 wh has 225,000 kms and never had any probs with it

[lad79]

The fact that you can't believe it strengthens my point of how cheaply these dealers buy their cars for resale. And with the yards struggling to move their stock, it's a buyers market now, to get yourself a bargain, you just got to haggle!

I'd believe it, my old man just today traded his 06 Toyota Avalon with only 50k on the clock for $9k, mind you he got a great deal on the new car too.

But I also got my VT2 Acclaim last week, which is immaculate, FE2, 16" alloys, low klms, on gas and new tyres etc. Guy had $9k on it(which I thought was a joke). Walked in with $6.5k and got it.

[pablo]

I rest my point!!!

Pablo

[piggavy]

My friends company has a VE with 210,000kms it runs fine!

[danja]

Trade ins are hard to use as a yard-stick, because it's really all about the final change-over price. Dealers will fudge the numbers whatever way they think will close the deal.

A dealer might offer you $5,000 for your trade in, and $20,000 on top for the new car, or he might offer $10,000 for your trade in, and $25,000 on top for the new car. Either way you're paying $15,000 for the new car, but one person will think "Oh I got a shit trade in, but a cheap car" or "I payed a bit for the car, but I got a great trade in".

[lad79]

Trade ins are hard to use as a yard-stick, because it's really all about the final change-over price. Dealers will fudge the numbers whatever way they think will close the deal.

A dealer might offer you $5,000 for your trade in, and $20,000 on top for the new car, or he might offer $10,000 for your trade in, and $25,000 on top for the new car. Either way you're paying $15,000 for the new car, but one person will think "Oh I got a shit trade in, but a cheap car" or "I payed a bit for the car, but I got a great trade in".

Yeah your totally right, its all about the changover price. Which is why its always best to try and sell a trade in privately and then go bargain with cash. Cash makes their eyes open wide, heaps better for them to move a car out without taking another used car in that they have to try and move later.

[Mick1988]

The car looks to me as though they've looked after it. 230,000 isn't that bad. You might need to spend some money replacing a few things here and there but as long as they've spent money when required it's not bad.

Check for things like oil leaks and unusual noises from the engine and drive it to see if it feels consistent strength-wise.