[newbie] Buysers Advise for Holden Commadore SS V8
Discussion
Hi guys,
Apologies if this is the wrong forum for what I am about to ask. I know this foum is dedicated to HSV threads, but I haven't found a better one for the 'Holden Commodore SS V8' yet. If there is one (that's UK based), please advise.
Just seen the above vehicle in Auto Trader. It's a 2000 (W) reg with approx. 60k on the clock for £10k. I've contacted the owner about the vehicle and am expecting to go to see/purchase it in the next day or two. I'm calling him first thing tomorrow to arrange a test drive.
If you would be kind enough to offer me any and all advise about what I should look & listen for during the test drive, over and above what you'd normally expect for a 2nd hand test drive, I would be sincerely greatful.
The biggest question for me would be the servicing & parts availability. I am aware of the bi-annual servicing, but what about the major & interim services? When should I look forward to them? If anyone is able to provide a break-down of the servicing intervals & what each one entails, I'd appreciate it. At 60k I would expect this car to either have just been through a major service, or just about to require one. I'm hoping it's the former, but I need to find out more about this specific vehicle tomorrow.
Being based just north of Basingstoke, I've found several local Vauxhall dealers who 'sell' Monaro's. As the Commadore appears to have the same V8 I'm hoping that they can service it without too many problems. I'll be contacting them first thing tomorrow to find out if this is the case. If anyone is local to me that can provide better advise, please let me know.
Being a newbie to Holden, I have 100's of questions. No doubt most of them will get answered either through this forum (If it's the right place) or when I see the car in the flesh.
All being well, I'm hoping to bring the vehicle to the Aussie Meeting on the 23rd Jan. If not, I'll probably try to go just to marvell at your magnificent machines.
That's for reading & TIA for any responses received.
Kindest Regards,
Steve
Apologies if this is the wrong forum for what I am about to ask. I know this foum is dedicated to HSV threads, but I haven't found a better one for the 'Holden Commodore SS V8' yet. If there is one (that's UK based), please advise.
Just seen the above vehicle in Auto Trader. It's a 2000 (W) reg with approx. 60k on the clock for £10k. I've contacted the owner about the vehicle and am expecting to go to see/purchase it in the next day or two. I'm calling him first thing tomorrow to arrange a test drive.
If you would be kind enough to offer me any and all advise about what I should look & listen for during the test drive, over and above what you'd normally expect for a 2nd hand test drive, I would be sincerely greatful.
The biggest question for me would be the servicing & parts availability. I am aware of the bi-annual servicing, but what about the major & interim services? When should I look forward to them? If anyone is able to provide a break-down of the servicing intervals & what each one entails, I'd appreciate it. At 60k I would expect this car to either have just been through a major service, or just about to require one. I'm hoping it's the former, but I need to find out more about this specific vehicle tomorrow.
Being based just north of Basingstoke, I've found several local Vauxhall dealers who 'sell' Monaro's. As the Commadore appears to have the same V8 I'm hoping that they can service it without too many problems. I'll be contacting them first thing tomorrow to find out if this is the case. If anyone is local to me that can provide better advise, please let me know.
Being a newbie to Holden, I have 100's of questions. No doubt most of them will get answered either through this forum (If it's the right place) or when I see the car in the flesh.
All being well, I'm hoping to bring the vehicle to the Aussie Meeting on the 23rd Jan. If not, I'll probably try to go just to marvell at your magnificent machines.
That's for reading & TIA for any responses received.
Kindest Regards,
Steve
Sounds like a fair price, the car is not too expensive to maintain from a servicing point of view, you change the fluids (gearbox, diff) anually, plugs every 50,000 miles and oil/filter change at normal service intervals. Linden Special Vehicles have experience of servicing these cars and are in Wellingborough (link from our home page).
There are HSV owners in Chichester, Southampton, Southsea & the IOW, so some of us are quite close.
If you want, email me & I'll return my telephone number if you want to discuss.
Will
There are HSV owners in Chichester, Southampton, Southsea & the IOW, so some of us are quite close.
If you want, email me & I'll return my telephone number if you want to discuss.
Will
Hi guys,
Update from test drive...
'twas love at first V8 note. Excellent condition inside & out given it's age. It has a full LSV service history from date of import which is good to know. It's had new disk pads & discs and a steering rack (!) not too many miles ago.
Test drive was fun in the extreme. Given the current wet climate and that we were on A & B roads, the TC was working hard even at low revs & speeds
For such a huge vehicle, it's very smooth and extremely quiet given what's under the bonnet. I can see why you guys love Holdens/HSV's so much
Thanks again for the feedback & help. It was greatly appreciated as an un-initiated. No doub't you'll see me here again. I'm hoping to make the Jan 23rd meeting, so long as I can clear it with the boss
May the god of speeding tickets have mercy on my clean licence. Time to invest in a Road Angle me thinks.
Here's wishing you all a very happy new year.
With kindest regards,
Steve
Update from test drive...
'twas love at first V8 note. Excellent condition inside & out given it's age. It has a full LSV service history from date of import which is good to know. It's had new disk pads & discs and a steering rack (!) not too many miles ago.
Test drive was fun in the extreme. Given the current wet climate and that we were on A & B roads, the TC was working hard even at low revs & speeds
For such a huge vehicle, it's very smooth and extremely quiet given what's under the bonnet. I can see why you guys love Holdens/HSV's so much
Thanks again for the feedback & help. It was greatly appreciated as an un-initiated. No doub't you'll see me here again. I'm hoping to make the Jan 23rd meeting, so long as I can clear it with the boss
May the god of speeding tickets have mercy on my clean licence. Time to invest in a Road Angle me thinks.
Here's wishing you all a very happy new year.
With kindest regards,
Steve
Ok....I have had to correct my post as I found the car concerned in your autotrader! A lot of what I had written was less relevant to the VT series II. The VX was more prone to piston slap and oil usage.
Maybe try and hear the car when it is cold. Otherwise it does sound like a good well looked after car.
Monaro bits for the engine and mechanicals will fit your car so I wouldn't worry about that too much. Trim stuff is still easy to get hold of down here so the importer/exporter people should be able to look after you!
Good luck...I am sure you've got a winner...Don't tell anyone but I actually have a VT II SS in my driveway that I should have sold!!
motomk
>> Edited by motomk on Wednesday 29th December 18:40
Maybe try and hear the car when it is cold. Otherwise it does sound like a good well looked after car.
Monaro bits for the engine and mechanicals will fit your car so I wouldn't worry about that too much. Trim stuff is still easy to get hold of down here so the importer/exporter people should be able to look after you!
Good luck...I am sure you've got a winner...Don't tell anyone but I actually have a VT II SS in my driveway that I should have sold!!
motomk
>> Edited by motomk on Wednesday 29th December 18:40
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