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#1 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 5:12:20 AM(UTC)
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I am considering buying a Commodore VN model and have several, in fact a lot, of questions about this car. I am almost a complete newbie to this, so bare with me.

The Car -
Is the Commodore VN a good, reliable model?
Are there any known problems with any parts, as the car ages?
Is it fuel economic? Or does it eat fuel up? As this is my first car, I don’t want to be paying crazy petrol bills.
What should I expect to pay, for one with low km’s (low to mid 100,000’s?!?!), body kit, nice stereo system, lowered height? About $4000 - $5000?
What year should I be looking at? 1988 – 1991?
To my understanding, there aren’t as many manual models, as autos. Is this correct?
What extras should I be looking for?

Body kits –
First off, what exactly are body kits? My understanding is that they kind of “extend” the bumpers and skirts of the car.
What are the full SS group A body kit, SSV body kit, HDT aero body kit and HSV body kit? Are they any good? Do they look good? Are they expensive and a good extra for the car? What are the differences between them?

Other –
What does “pro lowered” mean? Will this affect anything (insurance cost, strain on parts) and can L and P platers have it?
What is an after market exhaust and pwr chip?
What is the difference between a normal VN and a Berlina VN and a Calais VN and a VN SS or just S?
What is a VN/Lexcen?
What are Vacationer’s and Executive’s?
What is a stage 3 racing chip? Or a stage 2 shift kit? Or VT SS rims? Power chips? HSV interior?

Thankyou for your help.
blwnhj Offline
#2 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 7:12:16 AM(UTC)
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gees a lot of questions.
all i can say is my opinion which is - if you gunna buy 1 make sure it at least a s2. from what ive heard s1 had a lot of engine bugs, injectors being the main 1.
if it were me id buy ann ss but if your on your p's insurance may
BLWNHJ
blwnhj Offline
#3 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 7:14:13 AM(UTC)
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P.s toyota an holden made the same car, the lexen is the toyota version. its cheaper and has diff models but for all things being equal its the same car.
but it has a toyot badge and not a holden one and has a stigma ( i reckon anyway) id go the holden!
BLWNHJ
Dicko Offline
#4 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 10:34:40 AM(UTC)
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The Car:

VN's aren't bad cars.
As with any ageing cars, you want to look out for worn out compontents, like suspension, brakes, electrics. It always pays to bring along someone mechanicly minded with you when inspecting a car.
You'd be best to go f

Edited by user Tuesday, 15 November 2005 10:39:21 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified


"Inteligence is knowing the extent of your opponents stupidity."
jabba Offline
#5 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 3:50:28 PM(UTC)
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The VNs are the first of the buick V6 engined commodores, and in terms of components and interior are similar to all commodores right through to the end of the VS rangee. The later ones pick up some neat tricks like IRS and airbags, and the tracks change
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Dr Terry Offline
#6 Posted : Tuesday, 15 November 2005 5:04:01 PM(UTC)
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Hi Guys.

Dicko said "Holden sold de-tuned Commodores to Toyota"

They were not detuned, the only mechanical difference between a Commodore & a Lexcen was with options. With a Commodore you had a choice of V6 & V8 & a Supercharged V6 on some late VSs.
If at first you don't succeed, just call it Version 1.0
Guest
#7 Posted : Wednesday, 16 November 2005 6:33:29 AM(UTC)
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If I buy a "granma's car" which has low km's, no modifications, and cheap, how much are SS body kit's? And how hard are they to install? Would I be able to do it? Because I have to way up pricing options of getting a already done up VN, or a granny's one,
blwnhj Offline
#8 Posted : Wednesday, 16 November 2005 7:01:41 PM(UTC)
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it would be cheaper to buy someone elses done up one usually. by the time you buy the car and all the bits and peices and pay to ge tdone what you cant it can add up.
id look around to see if any around suit oyu.
if $ not an object, do it yourself. it g
BLWNHJ
Guest
#9 Posted : Wednesday, 16 November 2005 9:09:22 PM(UTC)
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Mate It ALL depends on what YOU want. Do you want to build the car up yourself....and take pride in what you have built?? That's the funny thing about it, you can shop around and find someone else's car and claim it as your own. OR you can put the time an
Guest
#10 Posted : Thursday, 17 November 2005 4:20:49 AM(UTC)
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As Dr terry pointed out the lexcen is a Commodore with different lights. They also have a higher spec in the base model. An executive does not get power mirrors, door map holders, sports dash, LH front hand grip, all standard on Lexcen base model.

The
peter_flane Offline
#11 Posted : Thursday, 17 November 2005 5:13:54 AM(UTC)
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Another good place to find info is buy Commodore magazines from the newsagents. It will give you the opportunity to taste a lot of what is on offer and also answer a lot of your questions with pictures.
If it is old or rare - Cut it! http://www.ehlimo.com.au/
jabba Offline
#12 Posted : Thursday, 17 November 2005 4:34:32 PM(UTC)
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Have also just tracked down this website www.vncommodore.com

Has more than the average bear would want to know.

j

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Keep the shiny side up, and the greasy side down.
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Keep the shiny side up, and the greasy side down.
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