VT Commodore, What can go wrong?

[gobes32]

Hi guys, This is my first thread but i am hoping you will all be able to help? I am looking at buying a VT Commodore, specifically a silver '97 Acclaim i have driven with 147,000kms on the clock. The price is $6500 and negotiable. It will be my partners car and she is selling her '96 Rav 4 after we realized we cannot comfortably fit a baby seat in her car. Before you encourage me to purchase a VY, VZ etc, bear in mind we plan to keep this car for two to three years before we buy a newie. My question is thus, What is known to go wrong in these models and what should i look out for? I have driven the car and it felt very smooth but a little underpowered. I was driving with the air con on but was surprised at the lack of power. I mentioned this to the seller and he remarked it was due for an auto service and had been sluggish for a few months now. Everything else seemed fine except for the power issue. Am i paranoid?

[VNV8]

what are you comparing it to in regards to the power issue? an auto service will not make that much of a difference, id be more worried about the fact that he hasnt had it serviced! go over the logbooks with a fine toothed comb. maybe take it for a power run and get them to check it over. if its an auto issue (slipping) theyll be able to tell you pretty much instantly.

there isnt much that goes wrong in the VTs that doesnt go wrong in all cars really. dont know anything about the ecotec specifically but the VTs in general have dramas with electric window switches, regulators and a few other bits. the stereo aerials get stuck and need replacing. little stuff like that. i have heard that the ecotecs dont like irregular servicing, so make sure you grill him over the service history. not a bad price for (i guess) reasonable kays either.

[csv rulz]

I bought my 2000 VT olympic 18 months ago with 180,000km iv now done 260,000km and have had not a thing go wrong with it. Iv had it put on dual fuel. I get it serviced every 10,000km. The last service the mechanic reported back that the dust seals gone and that i needed to new tyres but apart from that everything else was fine.

Its just a plan car to drive but it does everything a new car could and has everything you need for every day transport.

[V8ERUS]

From my experience and limited knowledge, the power steering rack can and does go in em, had a VT 5 litre exec, power steering was resleeved etc and was buggered again less than a year later. So look out for that for a start. No doubt the doors will be slumping a bit. If it has IRS the VT had a tendency to wear out rear tyres exceedingly quickly. Off the top of my head, those things at the very least, with those kilometres and how old it is, depends how well it has been looked after as well. All the electrical faults that can go wrong as well.

[csv rulz]

From my experience and limited knowledge, the power steering rack can and does go in em, had a VT 5 litre exec, power steering was resleeved etc and was buggered again less than a year later. So look out for that for a start. No doubt the doors will be slumping a bit. If it has IRS the VT had a tendency to wear out rear tyres exceedingly quickly. Off the top of my head, those things at the very least, with those kilometres and how old it is, depends how well it has been looked after as well. All the electrical faults that can go wrong as well.

My back left hand door has dropped a bit but that was an easy fix. And it does go through rear tyres a lot but i new that when i bought it. As for the power steering rack iv never had a problem with mine and its now done 260,000km

[gobes32]

Thanks guys, the car was not sluggish it just felt that i had to put my foot down a lot harder than i imagined. I was not able to take it for a spirited drive due to the owner being in the back seat. One issue now that i remember was the rear drivers side door sometimes does not lock or open when the other doors do. Is this a big issue?

[csv rulz]

Thanks guys, the car was not sluggish it just felt that i had to put my foot down a lot harder than i imagined. I was not able to take it for a spirited drive due to the owner being in the back seat. One issue now that i remember was the rear drivers side door sometimes does not lock or open when the other doors do. Is this a big issue?

It could be that the door has just dropped. The VT V6 is sluggish compared to a VS due to the extra weight.

[zorro]

I've found with the ecotecs they like (as most cars) to be well maintained. Every ecotech I know goes through belt pulleys every 30000kms. Air con is another one to look for, check that the system cools to a good level, also ask owner if he has ever had it serviced. Check the regular things like log book, service history, repairs/damages, spare tyre, tread on inside of rears.

Gearbox rebuild on my 1st VS was around $1300, that was from previous owner not servicing it.

I've seen VTs sell for around 5k, but for the klms on this one and being an acclaim it seems fairly reasonable. If you do purchase give it a good service, plugs, replace all fluids and get the air-con serviced.

good luck with your purchase

[csv rulz]

I've found with the ecotecs they like (as most cars) to be well maintained. Every ecotech I know goes through belt pulleys every 30000kms. Air con is another one to look for, check that the system cools to a good level, also ask owner if he has ever had it serviced. Check the regular things like log book, service history, repairs/damages, spare tyre, tread on inside of rears.

Gearbox rebuild on my 1st VS was around $1300, that was from previous owner not servicing it.

I've seen VTs sell for around 5k, but for the klms on this one and being an acclaim it seems fairly reasonable. If you do purchase give it a good service, plugs, replace all fluids and get the air-con serviced.

good luck with your purchase

If he services it every 10,000km the car will be fine, thats all iv done and all the problems you guys have spoken about apart from the door dropping and tyres not lasting long iv never had.