Max. 10K AUD Car?

[MartynCZech]

Hi there i´m new in forum, i´m coming for a year to Sydney. I love cars so i´ve started looking for something:) Which car up to 10.000,- bucks would you reccomand to me? I´m young, love speed and fast cars, but i have narrow buget:( I´ve seen few Holden Commodore about 98 yr. 3,8 V6 under 10K - i want to know how reliable the car is? And what is the biggest problem of this cars.. They all have 200K+ kms - is that ok for that car? I think so.. I´ve been looking for some specifications of this but i haven´t find anythink yet, can you tell me how much horspower it has - and acceleration 0-60MPH and real fuel consumation.
Are there any other fast reliable cars till 10K bucks?
Thanks much for replies, I really don´t know australian cars well - i came from europe where i´ve been drivning Alfa 156 (which i love but there are so expensive in Au and i think replacement part shall be so expensive as well...).
Thanks and looking forward to see you on some meeting ;)

[NinetySix]

i hate to say it but the only fast reliable cars you'll find for around $10k would probably be a japanese import... silvia turbo or gts-t skyline

a 1998 3.8 V6 commodore would run about 8-9 seconds 0-100kph and about 16 seconds 0-400m and probably 12-13L/100km around town, 8-9L/100km on the highway

a S13 silvia turbo or R32 skyline turbo would be running 6.5 seconds 0-100kph and about 14.5 seconds 0-400m... quite easy to get them going a bit faster too, exhaust and intake/boost mods and they are into the 13's .... around 10L/100km around town and 7-8L/100km on the highway


they might feel a little more like your alfa in terms of handling and interior space than a 98 commodore would :p

[SSBarney]

Well the great thing about Australia, is theres plenty of room to have decent sized V8 cars, unlike Europe which has hairdryers on steriods :p

If i was looking for an aussie car under 10K I would be having a good look at the early 1990's SS models. I have always been of the Holden VN SS, and you would easily pick up a very nice model up for ur 10k, although perhaps getting a bit old for what u want? U should be able to get the newer VR for that price I would of thought.
Any car with 200kms on the clock has a lot! and who knows what life is left in the motor :D

Good Luck with ur visit... u won't want to go home i'm sure :D

Barney

[MartynCZech]

Well the great thing about Australia, is theres plenty of room to have decent sized V8 cars, unlike Europe which has hairdryers on steriods :p
LOL never hear that :lol: :lol:


If i was looking for an aussie car under 10K I would be having a good look at the early 1990's SS models. I have always been of the Holden VN SS, and you would easily pick up a very nice model up for ur 10k, although perhaps getting a bit old for what u want? U should be able to get the newer VR for that price I would of thought.
Any car with 200kms on the clock has a lot! and who knows what life is left in the motor :D

Good Luck with ur visit... u won't want to go home i'm sure :D

Barney
Really don´twant 16yrs old car - reliability is no. 1 for me now :o I really like Silvias and Skylines, but i can´t afford to run these cars in perfect condition, and when somethings go wrong i think it is so expensive to repair :o
I will use these car mainly for travelling around Sydney, i´ll be happy with something mid-sized (like my 156) with about 200+HP, don´t wont car with some huge fuel consumation (max. 13-14l in town), reasonable prize of replacement parts, and it must look good ;) I don´t want to tune that up much, it will get some nice 18"s and decent car-audio. I think that 98 Commodore will fit me well, what do you think? Is it possible to buy some in good condition till 10K? Can you reccomand me some website with 2nd hand Holdens? Thanks.

[NinetySix]

a 1998 VT commodore S with the supercharged V6 commodore might fit the bill quite well, has about 230hp and lots of torque... how ever they may have a higher fuel consumption thn you like... market value is 10,000-12,500 so you should be able to get one for your money.. the 1997 model is the same but might be a little cheaper


dont expect the ultimate build quality or 100% reliability tho, but they are quite good.

the build quality on silvias and skylines is very good, and they can be quite reliable, parts not too expencive here either due to their popularity, theres plenty of them around

[skully]

You should be able to get an old VN or VP series exec V8 for around $5000, it'll probably have over 250,000kms on it but the engines are pretty tough and parts are readily available and relativey cheap. The old 5.0 V8 has plenty of torque down low and will surely put a smile on your face :)

[NinetySix]

crikey even toyota soarers are in your price range... sorry for pushing the rice :p its just built well and quick for the dough... 280hp, about 1600kg, fairly good power band and nice luxuries... manuals are very rare tho


to find 2nd hand cars, go to http://www.autotrader.com.au/

[NinetySix]

i woulda suggested a clean SS with mods for the money but hes asking for fast AND economical - EFI 304's are not known for 13-14L/100km around town

[Rick76]

Also try....

Carsales (http://www.carsales.com.au)
Carpoint (http://www.carpoint.com.au)

Good luck!

[Marco]

Are you after an auto or a manual? Unlike Europe where practically everything is manual, autos are more common here, especially in larger cars. Only about 5% or so of Commodores would be manuals.

With that in mind, maybe a VT S would fit the bill? Reasonably quick, good on fuel, cheap parts, bulletproof 3.8 engine and should be around the $10k mark by now surely.

[MartynCZech]

Thanks guys very much for your replies. I would prefer manual but i know that in Au are cars mostly automatic (spend 4 months in Sydney in 2003).
Now im thinking about Commodore VT (about 98-99yr) - V6 3,8 - anyone know horspower and torque of this engine? And i didn´t seen that supercharged version anywhere untill 10K:( Other adepts are Mitsu Magna V6 (same yr), Ford Falcon 4,0.

I don´t like the look of the older Commodore´s:(
Wow and now i´ve found that Soarer Toyota, it looks pretty good, but it´s too old for me:( But that V8 engine should be pretty reliable, i think.
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales/!cs_content.private_vehicle?vehicle_id=2635587&current_rec=96&used_rec=545&total_rec=890&sort_type=&total_rec=890&sort_type=&price_min=7500&price_max=10000&state_id=2&search_distance=25

[FunkyPig]

I think a nice VT 3.8 (makes 147kW or 200hp but heaps of good low down torque), with 18" wheels and a good stereo would be a great car for your needs. Pretty reliable, and very cheap for parts etc. The V8 isn't much worse for fuel economy too... but the V6 is still not slow. Keep searching and you would find a manual version too. Good luck with the purchase.

[Wonky]

I´ve seen few Holden Commodore about 98 yr. 3,8 V6 under 10K - i want to know how reliable the car is? And what is the biggest problem of this cars.

I´ve been looking for some specifications of this but i haven´t find anythink yet, can you tell me how much horspower it has - and acceleration 0-60MPH and real fuel consumation.
18 months ago my daughter bought a 97 VS 3.8 with 150,000km on it (supposedly - no proof). She wanted a manual and took us forever to find a good one that they weren't asking too much for. It was lowered and had very nice 17" mags on it (unmodified motor) and that made us a bit concerned about whether it had been thrashed but it looked straight and clean so we went for it. (She would have put mags on and lowered it if it had been standard so saved her some money.)

She has now done about 30,000km and apart from normal maintenance items (eg. battery, engine belt) it has been perfect (touch wood!). She gets pretty reasonably economy from it too - averages around 11 l/100km light city driving from memory. A well maintained unit shouldn't give you any undue problems at the mileages you are looking at and in the current market you should be able to find some good ones in late VS or VT with less than 200,000 km for the sort of money you are talking.

http://www.southgate.com.au/history.htm quotes power and acceleration figures for VS/VT V6 near the bottom of the page.

[VQ304]

Really don´twant 16yrs old car - reliability is no. 1 for me now

The old V8's are actually extremely reliable. If anything they're even more reliable than a V6 VT, which are at the point where everything starts to go wrong now, a 16 year old car has already been through that.

Find a decent example and it should see you through the year without anything breaking. That's not a guarantee obviously, but just because they're old doesn't mean they break down ;)

[Swordie]

The Ford Falcon XR6 is worth consideration and will hold its value better than a standard VT. The XR6 was a bench mark car in the 90s putting in numbers nearly as good if not better than some standard V8's. Being a 6cyl it used less fuel than an eight. You will be looking at EB, ED, EF and EL XR6s. The EL will be hard to find in your price range.

The VS Commodore is a good proposition over the VT. It's lighter and you will be able to buy it in better condition than a VT. Being lighter it will accelerate harder and have better fuel consumption.

[MartynCZech]

That Falcon looks pretty good, it is no. 2 for me now... I´ve started organizing my visa already, maybe i´ll be able to arrive in Sydney before christmas - i will take a ride with this cars and i will see... I´m interested in that Soar Toyota too, but it is really different than 98 Falcons and Commodores. Take a ride and i will be clever ;) Now is no.1 for me 98 Commodore.
I wanna ask are there any meetings/cruises in Sydney? In my country that is plenty of tuning / carhifi / car brand forums meetings - is it in Sydney too? Are guests welcome or it is closed society? Thanks mates i´m really looking forward my arrive to Sydney..
And once again sorry for my english ;)

[MartynCZech]

I have one more question for you - how much is now petrol in Sydney? Thx much.

[Swordie]

Petrol is around $1.25 - $1.30 a litre at present.

I was at the Car Auctions last night, VY (2003 models) Auto Commodore Executives with 70,000km were going for $14,500. I woundn’t expect any manual as these are all ex-fleet cars.

[MIC33R]

Redbook claims that you can pick up a 99 VT2 Commodore Executive 5.7L V8 for $9,900 (auto) or $10,200 (manual).

That's a lot of performance for very little money.

[NinetySix]

most of the soarers you will look at will be around 91-93 models i beleive, and they will be a straight-6 cylinder 2.5L DOHC twin turbo that makes 280HP..

its only the lexus LS400 that had the 4.0L quad cam V8 making about 270HP, which will have slightly higher luxury levels and a higher price tag. the turbo soarer is still quite well appointed tho


the soarer is the pick for performance and economy, and they should usually have less milage than any of the commodores or falcons you will look at (because they are jap grey imports and the japs dont tend to put as many K's on cars as we do) ... and despite them being a few years older you will find the build quality is better... late 90's commodores and falcons certainly are not without their problems


just be sure to test drive everything


the soarers are quite quick too, and although you will only really find them in automatic form, you'll manage 0-100kph in the mid 6's and 0-400m in the mid 14s


if you fall in love with an XR6, then you will really need a manaul to get good performance and better economy ... 0-100kph was claimed at 7.7 seconds from ford for EL XR6 5 speeds... the autos wouldnt be much chop tho, even with the 3.45 diff ratio (compared to the GLi's 3.08) they dont really boogy off the line

[MartynCZech]

For MIC33R - what is Redbook? - where to buy 99 VT2 Commodore Executive 5.7L V8 for $9,900 (auto) or $10,200 (manual)?? I would be really interested..

For Swordie - where are that car auctions? In my country i´m working as network administrator for district court - and we have similar auctions of confiscated stuff - usually stuff sold here is for less than 1/2 of regular prize, so this is something similar? Do they have some website? I´ll check that out, thanks..

For NinetySix - no worries, i´ll test drive everythink:) That soarers are really nice, only model i would be interested in is that V8 - i don´t like turbos much - as they need more servicing and better care..

And about that petrol cost - it´s much more expensive than in 2003, isn´t it? I remember that it was about 90C per litre:( But in my country cost of petrol get up in last months a lot too:( Now it is more than 1,6AUD / litre.

[MIC33R]

www.redbook.com.au

It's a fairly accurate price guide (in my experience anyway). A lot of people use it to base their selling prices on.

Also, remember that even though you may see cars advertised at $12,000 or so, they could sell for $10,000. The listed prices are just starting prices :).

[NinetySix]

Redbook claims that you can pick up a 99 VT2 Commodore Executive 5.7L V8 for $9,900 (auto) or $10,200 (manual).

That's a lot of performance for very little money.

i beg to differ

http://www.redbook.com.au/vehiclesearch/price.asp?key=HOLD99GJ
http://www.redbook.com.au/vehiclesearch/price.asp?key=HOLD99GA

it puts the value at 10-12k, but this is a case where redbook is way off the real world market... going thru the trading post i cant see any gen3's for under about 15k usually

if you could get a gen3 for 10k (that isnt in need of a rebuild!) then for sure ill recommend that.... but till then a soarer is probably a better buy

[NinetySix]

Holden Commodore VT, series2 1999 white, sedan 5.7ltr automatic, 130000kms, 4 airbags, cd player, FE2, extractors, 255kw. PTB 807 EC $14000 (03)93558855 coburg north.

HOLDEN COMMODORE VT 2000 blue, sedan 5.7ltr 4sp automatic, 110000kms, Series 2 executive, Genuine Vt 18in GTS Wheels, tint, lowered king springs, slotted rotors exhaust, always serviced, RWC TMB269 EC $17000ono (0403)754703 Craigieburn.

HOLDEN STATESMAN WH 1999 Drk grn, 5.7ltr 155000kms, Leather int, a must see full service history, always garaged, 12mths Reg RWC RGC142 EC $16800ono (03)59987935 (0419)369799 Blind Bight

Holden Commodore VT SS Series 2 1999 5.7ltr EC, RWC, Sports Exhaust, Cold Air Intake, LSD, Alarm QDQ122 $17500 (03)95833098 Cheltenham.



just from a quick look in the paper

you might be able to get one about 10k-ish from the auctions, but most of the time they take out the batteries ya cant even start them to listen for piston rattle on start up or gudgeon noise or anything... little alone test for oil consumption



tho i got my ninja from the auctions just recently and have done pretty well ;)

[NinetySix]

if you wanna check out the auctions...


www.fowles.com.au

www.pickles.com.au


just make sure you make REAL good friends with some of the forum members to tag along with you for their oppinion on a 2nd hand LS1 before bidding

[MIC33R]

i beg to differ

http://www.redbook.com.au/vehiclesearch/price.asp?key=HOLD99GJ
http://www.redbook.com.au/vehiclesearch/price.asp?key=HOLD99GA

it puts the value at 10-12k, but this is a case where redbook is way off the real world market... going thru the trading post i cant see any gen3's for under about 15k usually

if you could get a gen3 for 10k (that isnt in need of a rebuild!) then for sure ill recommend that.... but till then a soarer is probably a better buy

Maybe so in this case. It's been pretty good for me (Lancer, Proton and Subaru prices a few years ago).

Anyway, I'd recommend a turbo Soarer myself, but he's not after that.

[Wonky]

Holden Commodore VT, series2 1999 white, sedan 5.7ltr automatic, 130000kms, 4 airbags, cd player, FE2, extractors, 255kw. PTB 807 EC $14000 (03)93558855 coburg north.

HOLDEN COMMODORE VT 2000 blue, sedan 5.7ltr 4sp automatic, 110000kms, Series 2 executive, Genuine Vt 18in GTS Wheels, tint, lowered king springs, slotted rotors exhaust, always serviced, RWC TMB269 EC $17000ono (0403)754703 Craigieburn.

HOLDEN STATESMAN WH 1999 Drk grn, 5.7ltr 155000kms, Leather int, a must see full service history, always garaged, 12mths Reg RWC RGC142 EC $16800ono (03)59987935 (0419)369799 Blind Bight

Holden Commodore VT SS Series 2 1999 5.7ltr EC, RWC, Sports Exhaust, Cold Air Intake, LSD, Alarm QDQ122 $17500 (03)95833098 Cheltenham.

just from a quick look in the paper
The Trading Post and other papers are full of ads put in by wallies who usually only base their prices on other ads they have seen, then add some more because they think their car is extra special :lol: - just perpetuates over the top prices being asked.

Some will be lucky and sell their car to some wally who hasn't done his homework properly (always some of them around) but in the current market I bet if you follow the papers for a while you will see the same cars coming up again and again. If they don't there is a 90% chance that if you ring them they have either given up because they had no calls or had to drop their price significantly in order to sell.

Redbook and Glass' Guide prices are usually good indicators of where the market is at, although with the V8 market constantly heading south at the moment they are possibly a bit optimistic unless very current.

[NinetySix]

yes of course you never pay what somebody is asking, when i sell something in the trading post i typically advertise it for about 5-10% more than i would be willing to accept for it, cause thats just how it works... you come look at it, kick the tyres and say "ill give you this much" etc etc ... but nobody advertises a car for 15-17k and happily takes 10k for it unless an RACV inspection shows it has real real issue the owner never knew about or was trying to hide etc etc

redbook is sometimes fairly good... tho i cant help but notice they must have switched the prices for 1998 yamaha R1's with the prices for 1998 kawasaki ZX9R's ... it says the R1 is worth 7500-9500 and the 9R is worth 8000-10000 or so... and its definately the other way around

it also seemed to think my 1990 gsxr750 was worth 4200-5000 :eek: i sold it for 3400 and was quite chuffed with that price.... considering i paid 3000 for it 12 months earlier


but still, if you can find a good clean gen3 with no engine troubles for 10k, ill be around later tonight to pick it up ;)

[markone2]

but still, if you can find a good clean gen3 with no engine troubles for 10k, ill be around later tonight to pick it up ;)

I think another well known forum member may beat you to it ;) test drove one VX SS not 5 minutes walk from my house 20 minutes ago...price began at 11K.......now down to 10.3K with negotitions due to continue later this evening.........

[vzsv6]

www.redbook.com.au

It's a fairly accurate price guide

Sorry but redbook is the biggest load of bullshit imaginable. I don't see what gives them the right to set used car values.. Some of their suggestions are laughable. It looks like it is written by a bunch of old farts who have no idea..

If you want a realistic view on prices, look in the classifieds, trading post, visit car yards and go to an auction.

Anyone who uses redbook is gullible to say the least...

[MIC33R]

Sorry but redbook is the biggest load of bullshit imaginable. I don't see what gives them the right to set used car values.. Some of their suggestions are laughable. It looks like it is written by a bunch of old farts who have no idea..

If you want a realistic view on prices, look in the classifieds, trading post, visit car yards and go to an auction.

They don't set prices. It's not like they're just picking numbers, they actually do research the average selling prices. Anyway, as I said before, in my experience they've been pretty accurate.

Those $10K prices I listed before were the bottom prices of the average range too btw, so maybe I should have said $10K - $12K, which is probably pretty close.

EDIT: Noticed you added more.

Gullible? I'd say anyone that doesn't at least check it for an average price to start with is doing themself a disservice. As someone mentioned earlier, there are online ads asking way too much for their cars and never actually do sell.

[vzsv6]

They don't set prices. It's not like they're just picking numbers, they actually do research the average selling prices. Anyway, as I said before, in my experience they've been pretty accurate.

Those $10K prices I listed before were the bottom prices of the average range too btw, so maybe I should have said $10K - $12K, which is probably pretty close.

EDIT: Noticed you added more.

Gullible? I'd say anyone that doesn't at least check it for an average price to start with is doing themself a disservice. As someone mentioned earlier, there are online ads asking way too much for their cars and never actually do sell.

No offence meant to you, but in my experiences, prices in redbook and prices out in the real world are two different things.

[markone2]

Sorry but redbook is the biggest load of bullshit imaginable. I don't see what gives them the right to set used car values.. Some of their suggestions are laughable. It looks like it is written by a bunch of old farts who have no idea..

If you want a realistic view on prices, look in the classifieds, trading post, visit car yards and go to an auction.

Anyone who uses redbook is gullible to say the least...


As MIC33R has stated Redbook prices are based on research...that research is based on selling prices..not asking prices..and yes as an owner of 2 late model Commodores it does hurt,but for those cashed up private buyers the worlds your oyster in used car land atm...old fart pricing...not withstanding.

[MartynCZech]

Thanks guys very much for your help, now i´m more clever about situation on car-market in Sydney.. I wonder if i can get something like this one http://www.pickles.com.au/servlet/Auction/VehicleDetail?item_id=2007513 about that 10.000,- AUD - i´ll be very happy. I will not think about that soarer any more - hearth want great, fast and luxury car, but brain says stop:) And think about money..:( And i know that if i get a ride in car like this i will not want anythink different - like "leazy" family sedan Commodore:)
I´ll definitely check out that auctions and i think it is real to get one of those commodores 98-99 3,8 V6 till 10K AUD, and i´ll get even report about vehicle "health":) It looks so good for me...
That "Berlina, Acclaim, Executive" - what does it mean, probably it should be some mark of equipment, isn´t it?

And one more question for you - what do you think about rebuilding commodore 3,8 V6 into LPG - powered? As i said i will use it often and maybe i will take some ride around australia at the end of my stay, so it should be ok for me, isn´t it? How much does it costs in Au? I want some quality install - so it shouldn´t still break up..

[Marco]

As far as the Soarer goes: you're coming to Australia for a year. You want to experience the Aussie lifestyle. Get a taste for all things Australian. Why would you therefore buy a Japanese car instead of an Australian one?

Do the Aussie thing properly and get a Commodore or a Falcon!

[Swordie]

The auction I went to last night is Auto Group (http://www.auto-group.com.au/home/default.asp) in Melbourne. They have Sydney site too.

[vzsv6]

As MIC33R has stated Redbook prices are based on research...that research is based on selling prices..not asking prices.

On the release of the BA Falcon the redbook claimed that the resale value of the ba was now better than the equivalent commodore's. Now tell me honestly how on earth can you calculate the resale value of a car which had barely hit the new car market let alone the used car market... Go figure
They are still claiming that the Falcon has better resale value when real world selling prices clearly do not reflect this (apart from xr6t which has no direct competitor).
I do agree that the redbook is only a (very) loose guide to market prices but some people think it is the be all and end all to used car prices.

[MartynCZech]

I think another well known forum member may beat you to it ;) test drove one VX SS not 5 minutes walk from my house 20 minutes ago...price began at 11K.......now down to 10.3K with negotitions due to continue later this evening.........
For real? How old it was? I would probably but it immediately if it has no serious problem.. Wow this beutifull and powerfull car for that price... Let me know how does it goes, you can even post some pics, pls!:))

[markone2]

For real? How old it was? I would probably but it immediately if it has no serious problem.. Wow this beutifull and powerfull car for that price... Let me know how does it goes, you can even post some pics, pls!:))


Sorry’ :) but I’m negotiating on behalf on another forum member who has had me searching for a couple of weeks now....I'll pm you if another value buy crosses my path.

[MartynCZech]

Sorry’ :) but I’m negotiating on behalf on another forum member who has had me searching for a couple of weeks now....I'll pm you if another value buy crosses my path.
Sure thing mate ;) I´ll not arrive Sydney sooner than at Christmas anyway, so this was little OT from me... But if you would know about something like this in december, please, let me know.. Thanks

[monaroCountry1]

i hate to say it but the only fast reliable cars you'll find for around $10k would probably be a japanese import... silvia turbo or gts-t skyline
I beg to differ. Those cars are truely getting on in years. Many imported performance cars do need to get tuned for australian petrol, also their mechanicals and plastics have at this stage already degraded (replacement isnt cheap, cheap parts are performance products i.e. IC, exhaust, turbo). Before buying any jap cars (perf import) make sure you have around $2,000 in hand, just in case anything goes wrong (which it usually does).


S13 silvia turbo or R32 skyline turbo would be running 6.5 seconds 0-100kph and about 14.5 seconds 0-400m... quite easy to get them going a bit faster too, exhaust and intake/boost mods and they are into the 13's .... around 10L/100km around town and 7-8L/100km on the highway factory times for these cars should not be followed. You have to take into account age and condition of the car. Many stock skylines and silvias can not do low 17 or even high 16. Even boosted imports with pod, turbo back exhaust, boost (<12) would not reach 14sec.

As for the fuel consumption, changing the car by putting in performance parts would more than likely increase consumption (in most cases). Also fuel consumption for imports would be greater than factory ratings, since most (if not all) stock imports run slightly rich to very rich.

Dont think im a import hater. My other baby is a modified twin turbo 300zx. I went to a 300 dyno last week end and these were the results (below). Have to remember that the zed has a better motor than even the GTR (same Kw but more torque).
http://www.pexcom.com/forum/httpdocs/images/dd10.JPG
http://www.pexcom.com/forum/httpdocs/images/dd5.JPG

[MIC33R]

factory times for these cars should not be followed. You have to take into account age and condition of the car. Many stock skylines and silvias can not do low 17 or even high 16. Even boosted imports with pod, turbo back exhaust, boost (<12) would not reach 14sec.


I've never seen a Skyline that couldn't do a 15, unless it had something REALLY wrong with it. If well driven, a properly tuned boosted stock turbo R33 Skyline should be able to pull high 12s. Stockers are in the very low 14s.



As for the fuel consumption, changing the car by putting in performance parts would more than likely increase consumption (in most cases). Also fuel consumption for imports would be greater than factory ratings, since most (if not all) stock imports run slightly rich to very rich.


They definitely run rich, but one of the best performance parts to add is a programmable ECU like a Power FC. When I had my R33 I added 100km to my range per tank by adding a Super AFC and getting it tuned (lots of semi-highway driving). Exhausts help fuel consumption too I found.

[NinetySix]

Agreed, a 17 second turbo skyline would have to be absolutely ****ED :lol:

sure you can get a lot of duds straight off the boats, but also some serious bargains... but if you buy one thats already been here for a few years then its a bit more of a known quantity, and just like buying anything 2nd hand you need to know what to watch out for.... ie, i wouldnt go buy the first 2nd hand VT-VX SS i saw without paying very close attention to the motor


but many of my friends have had silvias, 180sx's, R33's etc and have had completely trouble free times with them. my S14A was perfect in that reguard too, and the performance of all our cars with similar mods was pretty line ball (despite mine being a 1996 model and theirs ~92-93)


so i guess 300zx's dont have troubles at all do they :rolleyes:

and i would hardly say the VG30DETT is a better motor than the RB26DETT... tho true it would make a little more torque standard


yes fuel consumption is a big issue when you have exhaust/intake/boost mods, but thats jsut the ECU trying to save the motor by running mega rich due to very different airflow

my stock s14a would get about 10L/100km around town (as in CITY driving, 40-70kph zones with plenty of traffic jams) with plenty of thrashing but with exhaust intercooler and 1 bar it was chewing more like 12L/100km with plenty of soot all over the back of the car


that said i personally wouldnt want to buy any car under about 2.5L for a DOHC turbo, or about 5.7L for a n/a OHV ;)

[NinetySix]

which is why im saying a soarer really is a good buy for the money they are going for these days, the toyota 1JZ-GTE is really one hell of a motor, seriously over-engineered and a very respectable power output even standard running about 6-8psi boost with headroom for a lot more power...

and even in a heavy, automatic soarer they are running 14s, have a look on OCAU and you'll find some timeslips



Markone2, whats the catch with this 10k VX SS??? seriously, thats a corker of a deal for a ~3-4 year old car you gotta admit...


can anybody who has recently paid ~10k for a clean & mechanically sound gen3 equipped commodore please raise your hand.... or likewise, if your willing to sell said vehicle for 10k, PM me :lol:

[monaroCountry1]

I've never seen a Skyline that couldn't do a 15, unless it had something REALLY wrong with it. If well driven, a properly tuned boosted stock turbo R33 Skyline should be able to pull high 12s. Stockers are in the very low 14s.
Im sure many skylines have ran 14 and 13 or even lower passes. As for a GTS-T running 13 and 14 (stock), its highly unlikely. When I say stock I mean everything stock including filter and exhaust. Also many jap cars have multiple limiters, for example the 300zx has boost, speed (<=180) and rev limiter.

Theres alot of factory 1/4 mile B/S. I cant say if they were true, but after so many years of driving (possibly abusive driving) by its previous owners those factory numbers seems just a little bit harder to achieve.


They definitely run rich, but one of the best performance parts to add is a programmable ECU like a Power FC. When I had my R33 I added 100km to my range per tank by adding a Super AFC and getting it tuned (lots of semi-highway driving). Exhausts help fuel consumption too I found.
I know alot of guys slap on an after market ECU. This in my view isnt the best way to go about things. Upgrading the ecu could potentially get you 60hp (again depending on the condition of the engine and other mods). However you should also think about the other parts of the car i.e. IC, exhaust, pods, braking, suspension, oil coolers, trans upgrade & coolers among other things. Without going the whole way its very easy to loose an engine, car or trans.

Finally please realise that im not here to bash imports, however many people seems to take factory BS as gospels.

[monaroCountry1]

sure you can get a lot of duds straight off the boats, but also some serious bargains... but if you buy one thats already been here for a few years then its a bit more of a known quantity
Yes I agree with that, the best to buy would be from an enthusiast. Worst to buy would be straight off the boat (IMO).


so i guess 300zx's dont have troubles at all do they

and i would hardly say the VG30DETT is a better motor than the RB26DETT... tho true it would make a little more torque standard
300zx's has alot of trouble, mainly worn wires and plugs. Most common would be injector plugs being coroded or breaking apart, the coils broken etc. As for which motor being better, I would still say VG, maybe its because I own one. Both 300 and skyline owners would argue for days and weeks over this. IMO VG responds to mods better, however parts for skylines are cheaper.

[markone2]

I've never seen a Skyline that couldn't do a 15, unless it had something REALLY wrong with it. If well driven, a properly tuned boosted stock turbo R33 Skyline should be able to pull high 12s. Stockers are in the very low 14s.
.

Not at Willowbank they don't......your average Skyline time is mid 15's for those fitted out with complusary fender stickers and monster tacho..nope :eek: I am not kidding...300Z's pretty much the same... while Supra's fair a good second slower on average....not having a go....just stating my personal observations.

[Wonky]

Finally please realise that im not here to bash imports, however many people seems to take factory BS as gospels.For performance car bragging rights, factory figures in many cases are most likely the best they could obtain under optimum conditions. Given variations in mass produced cars and the fact that we rarely run under optimum conditions it is not often they will be matched or bettered.

[MIC33R]

Not at Willowbank they don't......your average Skyline time is mid 15's for those fitted out with complusary fender stickers and monster tacho..nope :eek: I am not kidding...300Z's pretty much the same... while Supra's fair a good second slower on average....not having a go....just stating my personal observations.

Fair enough. Maybe I only read what I want to read on SAU. Not that I've got any loyalty to Skylines or anything. I don't even own one anymore. I haven't been down the 1/4 myself, but I'd be pretty ashamed of myself if I ran a 15 in my Skyline. Heck even a 14 I'd be unhappy with.

[markone2]

I haven't been down the 1/4 myself, but I'd be pretty ashamed of myself if I ran a 15 in my Skyline. Heck even a 14 I'd be unhappy with.

;) In the last couple of years we Aussie drivers have been blessed with some pretty serious machinery… by both camps ( Holden and Ford)..with the aid of those such as our esteemed forum sponsors ( insert brownie points here ), we have taken those cars up to yet another level and I believe with the times presently being achieved by near stock LS1’s, we tend to very quickly forget just how fast a 14 or even 15 second car really is…out on the street….…..just my personal view

[MIC33R]

;) In the last couple of years we Aussie drivers have been blessed with some pretty serious machinery… by both camps ( Holden and Ford)..with the aid of those such as our esteemed forum sponsors ( insert brownie points here ), we have taken those cars up to yet another level and I believe with the times presently being achieved by near stock LS1’s, we tend to very quickly forget just how fast a 14 or even 15 second car really is…out on the street….…..just my personal view

Definitely. These are good times to own a performance car, Ford, Holden and the Japanese makes.

Was a 15 ever fast? Maybe many years ago. I agree that a 14s car still feels quick on the street. And 13s cars feel very quick on the street, which is where we drive them 99% of the time.

[markone2]

Definitely. These are good times to own a performance car, Ford, Holden and the Japanese makes.

Was a 15 ever fast? .

Remember the 1995/96 VS SS……I recall motoring journalist of the day singing the praises of the cars performance capabilities..standing ¼ mile of the time..somewhere around the mid 15’s if my memory serves me correctly, and still no slouch on the road today even in stock factory trim ..imo

[MIC33R]

Remember the 1995/96 VS SS……I recall motoring journalist of the day singing the praises of the cars performance capabilities..standing ¼ mile of the time..somewhere around the mid 15’s if my memory serves me correctly, and still no slouch on the road today even in stock factory trim ..imo

I'll have to take your word for it. The last 5.0L I went in was an 84 VK, and it wasn't what I'd call fast. I realise it's quite a different car though, so I suppose I have no idea how a VS would go.

[Swordie]

I'll have to take your word for it. The last 5.0L I went in was an 84 VK, and it wasn't what I'd call fast. I realise it's quite a different car though, so I suppose I have no idea how a VS would go.

A standard 5.0 VK put out less than 120Kw and had a 3 speed auto or 4 speed manual.

[monaroCountry1]

Not at Willowbank they don't......your average Skyline time is mid 15's for those fitted out with compulsory fender stickers and monster tacho..nope I am not kidding...300Z's pretty much the same... while Supra's fair a good second slower on average....not having a go....just stating my personal observations.
Stock my 300 was able to easily beat a stock skyline (non GTR), even at that stage I was quite disappointed. Even though at that stage my car (stock) made 147-155rwkw, I honestly felt that it was a mid to high 16, even low 17 sec car.

I know that skylines are lighter but those things dyno far lower than a stock 300zxTT. So im finding it hard to believe that a stock GTST etc can achieve a 1/4 mile time of 13-14sec bracket.


For performance car bragging rights, factory figures in many cases are most likely the best they could obtain under optimum conditions. Given variations in mass produced cars and the fact that we rarely run under optimum conditions it is not often they will be matched or bettered. Don’t misunderstand me :) I actually agree with you.

[MIC33R]

A standard 5.0 VK put out less than 120Kw and had a 3 speed auto or 4 speed manual.

That probably explains a bit :)

[chops]

My serious advice, particularly if you are new to our country, and have $10,000 to spend on a car.

Toyota Corolla.

Not the most fun car, but up there with the most reliable.
Inexpensive to run, reasonable comfort for the price, not a target for theives.

[NinetySix]

theres some serious BS about skylines going on in here :rolleyes: but hey theres plenty of timeslips floating about on skylinesaustralia.com, cant see any in the 16s or 17s! unless maybe they are n/a and the 17 year old driving it cant shift gears :lol:


corolla sounds like a pretty good idea..

[vzsv6]

My serious advice, particularly if you are new to our country, and have $10,000 to spend on a car.

Toyota Corolla.

Not the most fun car, but up there with the most reliable.
Inexpensive to run, reasonable comfort for the price, not a target for theives.

Lol, maybe with the leftover money he can go to Target and buy himself a couple of cardigans :lol:
Seriously though, not a bad choice for cheap no frills motoring, although it may not be everyone's cup of tea.

[chops]

As I said, not the most fun car, but the last thing someone setting up a life in a new country would want is unexpected expenses, and a Corolla is the kind of car which I feel would minimize the risk of such things.

[Swordie]

If you are into cars don't buy a Corolla. You can pick up second-hand Ford Falcons with LPG that will be economical to run. I had a drive of a 1994 ED Falcon on the week and thought it was a great car. These can be had below $5,000. All it needed was some exhaust work and suspension upgrades. The EB / ED XR6 would be fantastic as well. These are future classics.

The thing I don’t like about VT’s is their suspension. VXII onwards had things sorted.

Try this site for fuel prices.

http://petrol.racv.com.au/index.jsp