think of buying a vy

[farmerboy]

hey guys, was thinking about trading my 2002 vx commodore for a 2003 vy commodore acclaim with 100,000 kms on it. Was just wondering of there is any problems with this year. I know both cars have a similar engine. I have just found my vx is to unreliable.

cheers

[Ignited-SV6]

There are a few known issues with VY series 1 cars.

One of them being that there is a shudder when turning the steering wheel at low revs, but it's not that bad. My VY Berlina has done 230,000Km and is in perfect nic, can't complain.

[farmerboy]

oh and its a v6 , i know what ur thinking all u v8 boys

[Calaber]

There are a few known issues with VY series 1 cars.

One of them being that there is a shudder when turning the steering wheel at low revs, but it's not that bad. My VY Berlina has done 230,000Km and is in perfect nic, can't complain.

That problem carried over to the Series 2. Mine's had it from the day I bought it in 2007.

Farmerboy - check the "sticky" at the top of this section - issues with VY's.

[GlenM]

If you look at any others, make sure you know the difference between Series one and two. When I was looking for mine plenty of people were trying to flog their series one as series two.

[farmerboy]

cool cheers guys

[TMM]

How many K's does your VX have on it?

Reason being that a VX and VY are pretty much exactly the same car apart from cosmetic differences. The chassis/engine/transmission are identical. Some parts of the suspension are reworked but durability is the same. Only real difference is interior/exterior styling.
Some parts just fail like clockwork, even on meticulously maintained Commodores. Such examples are alternators, suspension (everything), inlet manifold and rocker cover gaskets, radiators, heater taps, and it goes on.
People get disappointed that their commodore is a lemon when those things go wrong, but they go wrong on every single commodore - it's a matter of when.

Many of those parts only last between 100-200,000kms, so there's always the chance that those parts will be on their last legs in the VY, or the car will have had a harder life then your VX.

[farmerboy]

thank heaps TMM, will definity take that into account. any sergestions on what i should get? looking at paying 14-16 k

[TMM]

I'm not sure how NZ prices compare to AU, but I had a browse of the NZ used car sites and you might be able to find a low km VY series 2 Berlina or Calais in your price range. It's worth looking for the Series 2 Berlina because it has a lot of small changes over the series 1 that make it almost identical to a Series 1 Calais - foglights, leather steering wheel, satin chrome interior trimmings.
The Series 2 Calais isn't too different from the Series 1, it has a slightly more sporty bodykit, 17" wheels, slightly lowered suspension and different taillights.

An Acclaim is still a good deal, has the essentials - side airbags, power windows. Just depends if the Berlina/Calais is worth the extra $$