Looking at Bathurst S No3 and No14

[StuartOwen]

Hi guys juat had a few questions really I'm looking for a VXR8 and have been to view a Bathurst S that's for sale at MWP in Chester it's up for £35k and was wondering if anyone knows anything about the car it's No3 or what MWP are like too deal with. And are they worth the extra money over a standard Bathurst/VXR8 (I have debated buying a standard VXR8 and having it charged), I know that they a rather rare as I have not seen many for sale for a while (I always check as fancied a Bathurst for a while and seen this S) and assuming that it would hold its value pretty well being very limited numbers. A link is below if it works the car is over budget but I do like the Heron white and the fact the insurance is easier with it being classed as standard rather than trying to insure a VXR8 that's been Charged etc. Is that car's price around where it should be or overpriced? And what should it be worth, I know that a lot of people will say it's only worth what someone is willing too pay but wanted a ball park figure so I'm not having my pants pulled down as there is very little to compare prices with (the only other Bathurst S up for sale is also £35k), I also tried getting insurance quote for it and the registration on the car comes back as a normal VXR8 (475hp) advert says genuine Bathurst S with certificate so I could call Walkinshaw to confirm and MWP told me they are a specialist in these cars. I have since had a couple of Insurance quotes so have managed too get somewhere and just had to tell the general insurance companies about it being a Bathurst the specialist seem to know (Sky was one of the best so far) but one is slightly modified (cams, remap) the other is standard so awaiting a quote on the modified one.

One of the niggles that was putting me off slightly is the MWP one was service in 09-10-11-12 and 2014, 2013 seems to have been missed but looking at the book it covered less than the 10k but still I don't do more than 3-4k so would still service it at 12 months or 10k which ever came first (probably time as like I said in don't do the mileage).

Thanks for any info. Hope I haven't rambled on too much lol

Stuart

Edited by StuartOwen on Tuesday 9th June 00:04

[StuartOwen]

Also here is the post I made after viewing the MWP one that I posted on the VXR forum.

First impressions was their workshop is immaculate and super tidy (Dad has OCD and kept mentioning this lol) the car was nice did have a few marks to be expected with the age of the car BUT the passenger seat had seen better days quite a few marks in the seat on the leather, drivers was fine and it had the Fog light covers which looked nice. The 20" wheels had been refurbished and didn't look like a great finish (in my opinion and like said my dad has OCD and can pick faults with anything but he comes in handy for being meticulous) the calipers you could just barely see the AP/Walkinshaw logo's where they had worn off, few odd stone chips main one that stood out was on the little lip above the top of the widow screen but nothing major, bumper looked like it had been resprayed (over spray in the locking mechanism and one of the clips on the slam panel was snapped) engine bay looked fine could do with a steam clean or a good wipe down, body work generally in good condition bar the odd mark I have mentioned and the legs where the spoiler fix to the boot lid had some yellowing round them. Was VERY impressed with the rear leg room and how comfy the seats are, boot was massive too. Service history - the 4 services it has had so far where different garages only the 10k one was Walkinshaw the others were unknown (car is from Isle of Man) but there was a gap in the middle of two years with no service (one done in 2011 then the next was 2013) I asked about it and they said it's every 10k (I assumed 10k OR 12 months) but the 2013 and 2014 was done after a few thousand miles within 12 months, they did say it would be serviced by them before sale. Also I asked about any negotiations on price and they said it's sticker price at the minute (£35k). 

Their workshop was very tidy and the lads were very helpful so this is no way anything negative about MWP probably just me being pretty fussy and my Dad being with me who's very attentive too detail.

Also I understand it's a 2nd hand car but at £35k which is a fair bit of money I was hoping that I wouldn't have much to do if I bought it bar a good detail.

[ARAF]

Bathurst S's do seem to be at a premium. Is it the sum of the parts? Probably not - but there does seem to be a market for them. You will be gambling on that market still being there, if you want to sell in the future.

Don't get hung up about standard ones with chargers added being expensive to insure. If it costs you £200 more, but you save £10k on the price of the car, then that's 50 years of increased premiums - or if you can put the £10k away somewhere at 2% interest, it's self funding.

There has been a fully forged car with added charger advertised in the last 6 months, and I think that was a better buy - but it was black.

If #14 is truely #14, then the DVLA needs to be updated. As you say, a call to Walkinshaws with the VIN will settle it, one way or another. Could it be a Bathurst that has had a charger added by someone else? If so, it's not an S. Only Walkinshaw can sprinkle their magic and change a car from one to the other.

Good luck with the hunt.

[ARAF]

After your second post, I'd pass on it. For top money, the car should be immaculate, and it looks like someone has been doing things on the cheap.


I think this is the fully forged one, and is still for sale

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[pah250]

Don't all the Bathursts also have an extra build plate under the bonnet with their Bathurst build number, in addition to the regular VXR8 build plate?

[preciousmetal]

pah250 said:

Don't all the Bathursts also have an extra build plate under the bonnet with their Bathurst build number, in addition to the regular VXR8 build plate?

As far as i am aware they only have a Bathurst build no. On the coin tray flap in front of the Gearstick

[StuartOwen]

Thanks ARAF, I have seen the one at VanRooyen it's only 10 mins away from me should really go and view it and see what its like in the flesh. Pah i did have a look under the bonnet for another plate but could only see the one above the passenger headlamp on the slam panel area. Its also been brought in from Isle of Man so has an extra owner as the garage MWP bought it off registered it in their name to get it on UK plates.

Search continues. There are 2 nice red ones I have seen for sale (both on VXR Owners club) one with charger one without but I'm not massively keen on Red.

[ARAF]

StuartOwen said:

Thanks ARAF, I have seen the one at VanRooyen it's only 10 mins away from me should really go and view it and see what its like in the flesh.

If nothing else, it will give you a benchmark. If it's the one I think it is, then the first owner wasn't on here, then I think paramoreg had it before trading it, and it's had at least one more owner. The times I've seen it, it's been a very nice car.

[StuartOwen]

Do you know if it was Paramoreg (if that's right lol) did the modifications too it? I'm on nights Monday/Tuesday so might call up in the afternoon and have a look think I'll have too book an appointment though don't think I can just turn up.

[ARAF]

StuartOwen said:

Do you know if it was Paramoreg (if that's right lol) did the modifications too it? I'm on nights Monday/Tuesday so might call up in the afternoon and have a look think I'll have too book an appointment though don't think I can just turn up.

If it is the one, then it was the previous owner to Gary, and it was all done by Monkfish.

[preciousmetal]

ARAF said:

If it is the one, then it was the previous owner to Gary, and it was all done by Monkfish.

Contact Roger at MF as he put Paramoreg on to previous owner who they did the work for

[paramoreg]

Yep happy to answer any questions. I think vanrooyen sold it then got it back recently when last owners wife got landed with driving it and didn't like it much. Car was solid when I owned it but I'd just check with Roger that the front ancillary pulley wheel got replaced properly. I'm sure it did but I'd check is all.

[wav8]

If its any help Vanrooyen were very good to deal with Bathurst S only has plaque on ash tray cover inside and will have certificate from Walkinshaw.If you were any closer coulD have had a look around my S.

[S800VXR]

IMHO you would be allot better off buying the black forged engine car. Its proven and the Bathursts are simply modded VXR8s without forged internals! Some people get hung up on the official status but their simply modded cars. Its been discussed a few times and you could start having "Fishy 1" etc cars as well really.

[StuartOwen]

paramoreg said:

Yep happy to answer any questions. I think vanrooyen sold it then got it back recently when last owners wife got landed with driving it and didn't like it much. Car was solid when I owned it but I'd just check with Roger that the front ancillary pulley wheel got replaced properly. I'm sure it did but I'd check is all.

Thanks Paramoreg, how did you find insurance with it having a fairly long list of modifications lol, cheapest quote I've had for a Bath S is £780 but I'm waiting on a call back about the Bath S with the Cams, Pulley and Remap to see what the difference is I don't mind paying but don't want it too run into silly amounts (tbf I'm only 28 with 7 years NCB so not expecting to pay peanuts lol)

And if i do decide to go and View I'll give Roger @ MF a buzz just too see about the Pulley wheel, I'm assuming he will know the car if I mention the 700hp Forged VXR8 lol

[StuartOwen]

S800VXR said:

IMHO you would be allot better off buying the black forged engine car. Its proven and the Bathursts are simply modded VXR8s without forged internals! Some people get hung up on the official status but their simply modded cars. Its been discussed a few times and you could start having "Fishy 1" etc cars as well really.

Thanks for the advice mate, I was looking at the black one as I couldn't find a mint Bathurst but I guess I can call up and have a look at this, I always wanted a Bathurst S because I seen one on Top Gear lol that whine haha I'm assuming this will sound just as good if not better than the Bath S and go like stink plus have the reliability with the forged engine.

[paramoreg]

StuartOwen said:

Thanks Paramoreg, how did you find insurance with it having a fairly long list of modifications lol, cheapest quote I've had for a Bath S is £780 but I'm waiting on a call back about the Bath S with the Cams, Pulley and Remap to see what the difference is I don't mind paying but don't want it too run into silly amounts (tbf I'm only 28 with 7 years NCB so not expecting to pay peanuts lol)

And if i do decide to go and View I'll give Roger @ MF a buzz just too see about the Pulley wheel, I'm assuming he will know the car if I mention the 700hp Forged VXR8 lol

I was paying around £700 a year fully comp with everything declared and the tracker subscription active. They did ask me what cars I'd previously driven to prove I'd had experience of high powered cars.

If you say to Roger the 733HP one at Vanrooyen previously owned by me he'll remember I'm sure. Noise wise it is likely to be a fair bit louder than the Bathurst as apart from the forged engine, cam and headers, it has huge cats (Roger would know no cells but it's more than most) and a 3" system including the cat back. It was much louder than the 2.5" system on the Carbon Edition I had a few years back.

Not knowing that particular Bathurst S spec, I'd think it still has std internals, the smaller 122 sc as well as lower spec supporting mods like fuel system etc. so it's unlikely to be able to make the same power or do it as safely without some significant spend. Saying that if you don't care for the additional power or forged internals safety net the Bathurst's certainly look good in white! Personally I'd take the power though :-)

Best of luck whatever you decide! Cheers, Gary

[wav8]

Was going to send you a pm but e- mail not allowed if you want to contact me may no of another S that may be coming on the market end of June beggining of July.

[raving]

Mwp are very fussy & being a repair centre as well are usually better to deal with than just your average sales garage as they know what to look for instead of shiny wheels & paint & tyre black.

Personally a Bathurst s or not will always be a better buy than a highly modded car , that black car is a lot of money , fortune spent on it or not

[paramoreg]

StuartOwen said:

Thanks for the advice mate, I was looking at the black one as I couldn't find a mint Bathurst but I guess I can call up and have a look at this, I always wanted a Bathurst S because I seen one on Top Gear lol that whine haha I'm assuming this will sound just as good if not better than the Bath S and go like stink plus have the reliability with the forged engine.

Just a quick point, IIRC the TVS2300 won't "whine" like the Harrop 112 (or 122?). I think that was a particular trait from those sc. Someone here will know why but they make a great sound if you like the whine but as they're smaller cc they run out of puff and hence don't make the HP the larger 2300s do.