V8's Below $10,000

[Swordie]

What do people think would be a good V8 to buy below $10,000. I was thinking of something with a good sound, handles ok, servicing not too expensive and potential classic value.

Some of the cars that come to mind are:

- EB/D XR8
- XD 351
- VB - VS Commodore

[team illucid]

An LX SS Hatch would be a good buy, if you can find a genuine article (you may need to do a bit of work if under 10K) ...

VL Calais would be a good car as well ...

[chops]

Without the "potential classic value" part, my option would be a V8 VS Calais or Statesman. Private sale you should be able to grab one of these close to your 10k mark.

Another attractive option for me would be a VH SLE that has already had an EFI 5.0 conversion.

[SCiFiRE]

VS Calais V8 for $10000 is a tough call. they are pretty sought after and their prices are stuck pretty high, even privately.

A VS Statesmen V8 maybe, But you'll still be looking at the bottom-of-the-barrel cars. Keep an eye out for big kays too, because the IRS in alot of those models is starting to go (they are getting close 10years old now...)

Id be looking at VS Exec V8s, or if you want something with some mod cons try VR, you should get a good VR Berlina, Calais or SS for 10g.

[chops]

I said close to.

[SenatorMike]

VR/VS Berlina or even executive. A nice VN SS

[HOTSV8]

I would be looking for an LH -LX torana , 2 or 4 door .

[ls1ozstyle]

VS SS - a mate of mine just bought one ;looks good ,goes good ,sounds good!!!!!! :driving: :burnout: :headbang:



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[OLS108]

what about a nice charcol VP SS( always been a fav of mine )

[VQ304]

Get an older Caprice or LTD (nothing newer than early 80's), those things are tanks. Love the engines too... There's a guy in my street that drives a 351 XD Fairmont, makes my 304 sound like a pencil sharpener.

[IIV8II]

That's a very tasty list. If it's something that you want/need to drive regularly, a top-shelf ED XR8 would be good - nicer than a VN/VP Commy

[Knight Phlier]

I sold my VSII SS for 9K Tradein, end of last year - though it had a problem with the steering rack and the brakes/tyres needed replacing. About 1500-2000 in repairs - Apart from that it was a good example with 165000Kms on it. Manual (5Speed); Black, Sunroof and a 5L V8... sweet ride :cool:

[rodp]

What do people think would be a good V8 to buy below $10,000. I was thinking of something with a good sound, handles ok, servicing not too expensive and potential classic value.

Some of the cars that come to mind are:

- EB/D XR8
- XD 351
- VB - VS Commodore

Can't say I'd be putting an XD on the list. XA, XB and XE do it for me a lot better than the XD.

If you're making a list of cars to buy instead of a list of dream cars under 10k, I think you'd be better off going for an EFI instead of a carb, fuel bills will kill you with a 351 (I know, I owned one 15 years ago and fuel bills were killing me then!).

How much are the EF XR8's? I'd say close to that of the VS? I'd take one of those over an EB/D anyday.

[BOBGEN111]

My last car before the VT was a EB XR8 and I must say it was a great car. In some ways, i prefer it over the Commo.

[pah]

Hi,

If I was after a Holden V8, I'd be looking for a fuel injected model for two reasons. a.) It will run on unleaded and; b.) the fuel injected V8 is a LOT more economical. I know the VL V8 burns unleaded but they're a bit gutless in standard tune.

Also, avoid anything before the VR Commodore. The VN and VP run the narrow front track. I drove a VP (with the narrow front track) for 8 years - it was an understeering pig in my opininion. I fitted a heavy duity rear sway bar, heavy duty springs and shocks in an effort to improve the handly. Although the mods helped, the car tended to snap from understeer when entering a corner to oversteer when the rear axle hit the apex.

If you can afford a VR or VS, I think you'll get a Commodore the wider track. Also, the VR / VS is a bit lighter than the VT and later so it doesn't need the same amount of grunt. If you can afford a stroker crank, you should have a real go-machine. I've done more than $10k in depreciation on my VY. If your car costs $10k max, there's no way it can cost you too much in depreciation :-)

Gas kits for the 5L Holden are pretty well sorted too. None of us want to swap to LPG, but it would be very nice to have the option . . . if petrol keeps going up in price. I hear that Gas Research in Dandenong does some pretty good high performance gas conversions. It's nice to have options!!!



PAH

[ls1 VN]

Hi,

If I was after a Holden V8, I'd be looking for a fuel injected model for two reasons. a.) It will run on unleaded and; b.) the fuel injected V8 is a LOT more economical. I know the VL V8 burns unleaded but they're a bit gutless in standard tune.

Also, avoid anything before the VR Commodore. The VN and VP run the narrow front track. I drove a VP (with the narrow front track) for 8 years - it was an understeering pig in my opininion. I fitted a heavy duity rear sway bar, heavy duty springs and shocks in an effort to improve the handly. Although the mods helped, the car tended to snap from understeer when entering a corner to oversteer when the rear axle hit the apex.

If you can afford a VR or VS, I think you'll get a Commodore the wider track. Also, the VR / VS is a bit lighter than the VT and later so it doesn't need the same amount of grunt. If you can afford a stroker crank, you should have a real go-machine. I've done more than $10k in depreciation on my VY. If your car costs $10k max, there's no way it can cost you too much in depreciation :-)

Gas kits for the 5L Holden are pretty well sorted too. None of us want to swap to LPG, but it would be very nice to have the option . . . if petrol keeps going up in price. I hear that Gas Research in Dandenong does some pretty good high performance gas conversions. It's nice to have options!!!



PAH

Nothing wrong with a vn's handling if set up right. sounds like you didn,t address the understreer problem, by fitting heavy duty this and that wont fix the problem. But you certainly added to it by fitting a bigger rear swaybar, the standed one is just fine as on some circuit cars they will not use one on a given track depending on how car is working.

[RICHO]

Might be getting a bit exxy...$12-$15k probably but...

Smokey and the bandit TransAm..Black, gold eagle, t-tops. And for that money somebody will already have dropped a 4sp auto into it.

Am I showing my age?? Or just poor taste?? Divorce has been threatened if I ever buy one!!

[FireyVT]

VR V8 Berlina would be my pick, only a few days ago one was being offered for $10990

[VooDoo]

There are some pretty nice VQ Stato's around for $8-10k.

[exwrx]

VH SLE, VK or VL Calais that hasnt been butchered. Might even get into a VK Brock for 10ish.

[pah]

Nothing wrong with a vn's handling if set up right. sounds like you didn,t address the understreer problem, by fitting heavy duty this and that wont fix the problem. But you certainly added to it by fitting a bigger rear swaybar, the standed one is just fine as on some circuit cars they will not use one on a given track depending on how car is working.


Hi LS1 VN,

I agree. Merely adding heavy duty springs and shocks won't change the handling of the car. I may increase the road holding, but when the higher levels of adhesion are reached, the same handling characteristics are encountered. I changed the handling by increasing the diameter of the REAR sway bar. That dials out understeer (a recognised VN / VP problem due to the narrow front track) and dials in some oversteer. The amount of oversteer dialed in will depend on how heavy the rear bar is. I know for a fact that a heavier rear bar increases oversteer. I've tried it out and the difference is quite marked. My only complaint with this mod was that my VP made a somewhat rapid transition from understeer into oversteer (especially if the road was wet or travelling at highway speeds). There may be tricks that I am unaware of that could have overcome this problem. If there are, I am still unaware of them and I'd be interested in feedback from people more experienced than me. I believe that Holden has progressively increased the front end's positive castor to increase the turn-in response )and this is what I was chasing then and love now).

Some suspension tuning crowds offer adjustable radius rods designed to drag the front wheels forward to increase the amount of castor. I toyed with the idea of fitting these but the concept worried me - when they pull forward on the lower control arm, they must place unnatural pressure on the lower control arm bush. I suspected that the adjustable radius rods might chop out my lower control arm bushes.

My VP was a basic Exec. It had the solid rear axle. The handling of a VP with IRS might be quite different to what I experienced in my VP.

I've driven company VR's and VS's when I had my VP. The VR's and VS's have the imrpoved wider track and the difference is also marked. If I had the choice of a VP or a VR, I'd go for the VR every time (other factors being equal) because the narrow track set-up of the VN / VP is not easily modified to the wide track of the VR / VS.

Another reason I'd prefer the VR / VS is that they have a better factory anti-theft system and this results in cheaper insurance. That's a benefit that accumulates every year at insurance premium time.

Thanks for your thoughts. What mods have you done to your machine?




PAH

[ls1 VN]

Hi LS1 VN,

I agree. Merely adding heavy duty springs and shocks won't change the handling of the car. I may increase the road holding, but when the higher levels of adhesion are reached, the same handling characteristics are encountered. I changed the handling by increasing the diameter of the REAR sway bar. That dials out understeer (a recognised VN / VP problem due to the narrow front track) and dials in some oversteer. The amount of oversteer dialed in will depend on how heavy the rear bar is. I know for a fact that a heavier rear bar increases oversteer. I've tried it out and the difference is quite marked. My only complaint with this mod was that my VP made a somewhat rapid transition from understeer into oversteer (especially if the road was wet or travelling at highway speeds). There may be tricks that I am unaware of that could have overcome this problem. If there are, I am still unaware of them and I'd be interested in feedback from people more experienced than me. I believe that Holden has progressively increased the front end's positive castor to increase the turn-in response )and this is what I was chasing then and love now).

Some suspension tuning crowds offer adjustable radius rods designed to drag the front wheels forward to increase the amount of castor. I toyed with the idea of fitting these but the concept worried me - when they pull forward on the lower control arm, they must place unnatural pressure on the lower control arm bush. I suspected that the adjustable radius rods might chop out my lower control arm bushes.

My VP was a basic Exec. It had the solid rear axle. The handling of a VP with IRS might be quite different to what I experienced in my VP.

I've driven company VR's and VS's when I had my VP. The VR's and VS's have the imrpoved wider track and the difference is also marked. If I had the choice of a VP or a VR, I'd go for the VR every time (other factors being equal) because the narrow track set-up of the VN / VP is not easily modified to the wide track of the VR / VS.

Another reason I'd prefer the VR / VS is that they have a better factory anti-theft system and this results in cheaper insurance. That's a benefit that accumulates every year at insurance premium time.

Thanks for your thoughts. What mods have you done to your machine?




PAH

PM SENT TO YOU

[White Rider]

Might be getting a bit exxy...$12-$15k probably but...

Smokey and the bandit TransAm..Black, gold eagle, t-tops. And for that money somebody will already have dropped a 4sp auto into it.

Am I showing my age?? Or just poor taste?? Divorce has been threatened if I ever buy one!!

Nah, thats a very cool option, always nice to have somthing grunty AND good looking. I bought my 1980 corvette for $11,000 and I love it!

[Merlin]

Might be getting a bit exxy...$12-$15k probably but...

Smokey and the bandit TransAm..Black, gold eagle, t-tops. And for that money somebody will already have dropped a 4sp auto into it.

Am I showing my age?? Or just poor taste?? Divorce has been threatened if I ever buy one!!

lol - I want one too however I'm in the same boat regarding the partner bit :o

[Action300hp]

Get your self a nice clean straight WB ute with an injected eight, If thats hard to locate put the eight in your self. There is always a buyer for a WB - the last two I have owned I got money back years later including paint and upgrades.
You can buy a WB from $500 and a really nice one with a chev might cost you $12,000 - $15,000 - I have even seen them as high as $20K in NSW.

Good luck
Action

[XLR8 V8]

Smokey and the Bandit was actually on TV late one night last week .... brought back childhood memories of when I used to trawl through my old man's Unique Cars mags pointing out Trans-Am's that I thought he should buy :lol: