Welcome to Just Commodores, a site specifically designed for all people who share the same passion as yourself.

New Posts Contact us

Just Commodores Forum Community

It takes just a moment to join our fantastic community

Register

Purchasing ex police vf evoke K9 ute(nz)

Jezza89

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Age
35
Location
New Zealand
Members Ride
Vy SS
G'day Holden gurus
I'm looking in buying a ex police K9 ute and I wanted to ask the Holden gurus about their experiences with this model... reliability, common issues etc and work arounds or fixes you have found to eliminate them.

A bit about the vehicle
2015 vf evoke ute
270,000km
3.6 engine (police units get fitted with sv6 gear).
6 speed auto
FE2 suspension
Full service history

I'm a Holden man myself and love them all...but this one I'll be clocking up motorway kms everyday no city traffic so wanted to get a feel if it's going to be up to the task. I've read a bit about the timing chain being an issue and the infotainment system being temperamental but so far that all I've found.

Thank you in advance really appreciate any advice.

Jez
 

hademall

Donating Member
Joined
Jul 28, 2018
Messages
2,185
Reaction score
9,178
Points
113
Age
67
Location
Victoria
Members Ride
VF CALAIS WAGON
G'day Holden gurus
I'm looking in buying a ex police K9 ute and I wanted to ask the Holden gurus about their experiences with this model... reliability, common issues etc and work arounds or fixes you have found to eliminate them.

A bit about the vehicle
2015 vf evoke ute
270,000km
3.6 engine (police units get fitted with sv6 gear).
6 speed auto
FE2 suspension
Full service history

I'm a Holden man myself and love them all...but this one I'll be clocking up motorway kms everyday no city traffic so wanted to get a feel if it's going to be up to the task. I've read a bit about the timing chain being an issue and the infotainment system being temperamental but so far that all I've found.

Thank you in advance really appreciate any advice.

Jez
Sorry mate, just having a laugh.

It seems quite high mileage. Are you able to get it mechanically checked?
 

Jezza89

New Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Points
3
Age
35
Location
New Zealand
Members Ride
Vy SS
Sorry mate, just having a laugh.

It seems quite high mileage. Are you able to get it mechanically checked?
Haha no worries. Yeah getting prepurchase inspection...will know more late tomorrow. Hope I've posted this in the right place I'm sort of new to this haha... excuse my stupidity
 

RevNev

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2020
Messages
3,487
Reaction score
5,155
Points
113
Location
Adelaide
Members Ride
VF II SSV Redline Ute VF II SV6 Wagon
270,000km
I'd consider the car 3/4 stuffed with 270,000km's and would need to be cheap. It's typically higher km VF's the asking prices are more unrealistic than low km mint one's that are still in virtually brand new condition.
 

krusing

Well-Known Member, Possibly for the wrong reasons
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Messages
6,426
Reaction score
5,327
Points
113
Location
Melbourne
Members Ride
2002 VY L67 Calais Sedan, 2012 VE L77 Calais Wagon
That an average of 30k's a year,
(about the same as an average family vehicle)
Being a ex police vehicle, sounds about right,
Assuming its been a Police Vehicle until now, if so, they have kept it in service for a fairly long time.
and keeping in mind, government vehicles are more likely maintained than private vehicle, as its part of the Govt regulations,
and who's driven it.
Yes they can get driven hard, but if they break them, they do get fixed correctly,
There is a few factors to consider,
I would base your discission on the vehicle history and the inspection report,
That said, ex Police cars can or can not be a good investment, depending the condition of them,
I would say, there's possibly been a only a few drivers, as K9 vehicles wouldn't get shared around like general service vehicles,
as the dogs don't like the smell of other dogs in their territory (in the cages).

Good luck with your choice.
 
Last edited:

Forg

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2015
Messages
6,609
Reaction score
4,776
Points
113
Location
Sydney
Members Ride
Regal Peackock VF SS-V Redline Wagoon
In terms of being driven hard … I reckon that’s a bit less likely if dogs are in there a lot of the time. Most dog handlers wouldn’t subject their animals to being chucked-around like that.

That an average of 30k's a year,
(about the same as an average family vehicle)
Being a ex police vehicle, sounds about right,
Actually it’s not far off double the average family vehicle, average is around the 17k mark, although cars under 3 years old are closer to 20k kms per year.
In Straya the police would usually have gotten rid of it way before now, maybe in NZ they don’t use discounts & FBT exemptions as under-the-table funding for public vehicles?
 
Last edited:
Top