Commdore or fourbie (first car)

[AdamLavv]

Option 1: Commodore

Option 2: 4x4 / 4wd

Option 3: screw it , buy a slab a day and keep the wife away

Okay guys , I'm looking at buying a car by the end of this year

however I'm unsure wether to get a commodore (VP) or a 4x4

Now I know I'll get a bias response as its a commodore based forum

I wanted to hear if any one has had bad experience or good ones with a commy or fourbie

Please poll and if possible post a response with pro's and con's

*extra notes
My place of work (apprentice mechanic) are a fourbie specialist shop ,
Most of my mates are getting VL commodores or imports (silvias, skylines)

Any help is appreciate

cheers
Lavvo

 

[AdamLavv]

Sorry guys , suppose to be a poll
my bad

 

[Turd Ferguson]

in mexican kid voice "why cant we have both"

First off, how much do you have to spend.

do you plan to do any serious offroading or just puddles and fire trails.

 

[Tom_1569]

How much 4wding will you do?

What sort of budget do you have for a 4wd?

First off, a cheap 4wd is just asking for trouble, you want some thing solid and sound and reliable, hilux, landcruiser or patrol. These things have a higher running cost then a commodore, and parts are genuinly more expensive. Also if your a serious 4wder are you going to want to bang up your daily driver?

I travel dirt and gravel and roo fested roads everyday, and I drive a Commodore, because if I drive with some thought I dont have a problem on these roads, and my running costs are way down, also being young I drive everywhere I can. I was going to get a 4wd but the cost, plus running costs turned me off, but I do plan on getting a weekend hack 4wd just to thrash around up bush.
Also if you dont go lowering your commodore you will be suprised where it will go. My Vk sits fairly high, and I take it everywhere, mild 4wd tracks, just go to be smart and plan ahead.

I would vote for a Commodore, UNLESS you can get a factory turbo'd landcruiseror something economical aswell as practicle.

 

[nicko]

Buy the 4wd. I regret spending money on my commodore.

 

[alien]

Like people said above, Commodores. They can hit the mild bush tracks. Hell, they can even take some of them with trailers on. The VN/VP/VR/VS's sit fairly high at stock height (not FE2) and allow you to go on many 4WD tracks. I was able to go up one track off the great ocean road with a 5m trailer on my old VR. Hell, even a VY commodore you can take on light 4x4 tracks with a trailer (i proved that on the weekend, just a box trailer not the 5m one) [just make sure traction control is off and power mode is on (if auto)].

However, proper 4x4 tracks you'll have problems with a commodore. So if your planning on hitting a few of them every few weeks then look towards a 4x4.

If none of these options suit, then take option 3 and get the slabs!

 

[Turd Ferguson]

ive done more in my calais than many softroaders would and thats sitting at FE2, only lost the radiator guard

 

[mulligan-can]

Depends on your budget. I wouldn't touch a diesel 4wd for less than 12k. They hold their value far too well for anything decent to filter down to less than that.

For a first car the commodore would really be the way to go unless you have money to burn. Seriously dude.

 

[AdamLavv]

"Depends on your budget. I wouldn't touch a diesel 4wd for less than 12k. They hold their value far too well for anything decent to filter down to less than that."

I have $3000 saved and hopefully getting $5000 to playt with from various family members

I've never really been keen on a diesel ,

 

[Turd Ferguson]

8k will get you somethin, but it wont be brilliant in terms of a good 4x4, go a half decent commo for 5k and keep saving.