Deciding what to get VF or VF series 2.

[VE_CalaisV8]

Hi All,

I'm currently driving a VF SV6 wagon which I love, but missing the power of my VE V8 calais I had which had 260rwkw. It's time for an upgrade but I am undecided what direction to go.
My budget for total spend would allow to either buy a VF series 1 Calais (I love the sleeper look) with $10K-$12K of mods or a series 2 Calais which would leave me a budget of $5K of mods. I know the LS3 is superior to the L77 but I don't know if I'm better off with a series 1 with full exhaust, intake, cam, tune and upgraded brakes (probably around the 330rwkw mark) or get the LS3 with cat back exhaust, intake and tune, plus brakes (probably around 280rwkw). I know getting the series 1 would get me more power, but would is the series 2 the better car?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Forg]

IMHO the Series 2 will cost you less overall, because money spent on mods is never returned & the Series 1 will depreciate at the same rate as the Series 2. At Calais V level, there’s really not a lot of improvement as the years went by, really just the LS3 (and did the Series II get flappy paddles?).

 

[Anthony121]

IMHO the Series 2 will cost you less overall, because money spent on mods is never returned & the Series 1 will depreciate at the same rate as the Series 2. At Calais V level, there’s really not a lot of improvement as the years went by, really just the LS3 (and did the Series II get flappy paddles?).

No flappy paddles for Calais V. Only TPMS and chrome door knobs for the 2017 MY. Also the lighter dash pads disappeared in the 2017 model year. Another addition was the light sensitive rear view mirror.

 

[Milo 6.0]

With all the issues the ls3 has id stay away personally,despite what holden says,piston slap is not normal lol

 

[abuch47]

Cant go wrong either way. Difference is extremely slim when it gets down to it. 200ml of displacement from slightly bigger bore, slightly bigger cam lobe and lift, lighter intake valves. l77 comes with afm and flex if thats ya flavour, ls3 doesnt.

 

[daves8]

I’m about to sell my series 1 calais V.....

Phantom black paint, cream interior, 20 inch billet alloys,4-1 headers, Manta system, upgraded rotors and pads, lowered.... looks, drives and sounds amazing.

 

[abuch47]

@daves8 least you can do is a picture

 

[[paradox]]

I know the LS3 is superior to the L77 but I don't know if I'm better off with a series 1 with full exhaust, intake, cam, tune and upgraded brakes (probably around the 330rwkw mark) or get the LS3 with cat back exhaust, intake and tune, plus brakes (probably around 280rwkw)

not sure you would get 330 from an L77 without also doing stall (my assumption is all calais are auto?)
the LS3 mods listed is probably about right maybe slightly high for catback. Mid 290s with headers and cats.

you are in melbourne though, so you have a big pick of tuners to choose from.

 

[daves8]

 

[Skylarking]

There have been some threads which explore the differences between s1 & s2, especially the last year of production.

From memory there were some statements the later seats weren’t as good, the paint was thinner, dual horns were dropped to a weak single tone horn, etc, etc. But I’d guess none of this is relevant to the performance side of the equation if you want a second hand sleeper to mod.

I think which ever way you go, you can’t really go wrong.