Is everyone okay??

[romeodelta]

Tricky one.

I would probably get a VE SS and run it into the ground.

There's not going to be much value left in an ex-demo after 30k for 5 years.

The interior probably won't be up to scratch though, considering you're used to the newer stuff.

[motomk]

Bias as well! As you can guess.
I like the 206 powered cars or they interest me a little. ie the Superb, the Passat and the Golf R. I do see a lot of Passat wagon Police cars, so I don't know if the ones on carsales are retired police cars.
Not many Commodore wagons on carsales, I reckon people are actually using them as opposed to the sedans.
Caprice? lots of car for the money. Couple coming up under $40k although they are white, I would guess ex government cars. One is in Sunshine, the other in Brooklyn.
Need Brakes on the 6.2 litres. I highly recommend the Redline brakes, they will fit under the VFII SS-V/Calais/Caprice wheels but not under the VF series 1's though.
If you get an SS wagon, I recommend getting hold of the upgraded brakes from the police cars. Have them on the SSV. A lot cheaper than the redline brakes and they fit under the 18 inch wheels.
Is a 6 litre VF ok? Karma Redline on there, but that is one of my favourite colours.

[Jader1973]

motomk said:

Bias as well! As you can guess.
I like the 206 powered cars or they interest me a little. ie the Superb, the Passat and the Golf R. I do see a lot of Passat wagon Police cars, so I don't know if the ones on carsales are retired police cars.
Not many Commodore wagons on carsales, I reckon people are actually using them as opposed to the sedans.
Caprice? lots of car for the money. Couple coming up under $40k although they are white, I would guess ex government cars. One is in Sunshine, the other in Brooklyn.
Need Brakes on the 6.2 litres. I highly recommend the Redline brakes, they will fit under the VFII SS-V/Calais/Caprice wheels but not under the VF series 1's though.
If you get an SS wagon, I recommend getting hold of the upgraded brakes from the police cars. Have them on the SSV. A lot cheaper than the redline brakes and they fit under the 18 inch wheels.
Is a 6 litre VF ok? Karma Redline on there, but that is one of my favourite colours.

I’m deeply suspicious of anything I know is run by fleets - and seeing lots the same age with similar km on them available at the same time points to a fleet clear out!

We’ve got a dog so Caprice is out (plus no MSE or bimodal ). Those white ones are all ex government (one of the ads says so). Again same spec, same age, similar km all on the market at the same time.

I get the feeling people are now holding on to VF V8s, and the prices are crazy.

You’re right about the brakes - standard ones are not great. Are VF police spec different calipers? I thought it was just pads (like ZB).

I did think about a 6.0 but the problem is that once you’ve driven an LS3 you don’t want anything else

[motomk]

Jader1973 said:

I’m deeply suspicious of anything I know is run by fleets - and seeing lots the same age with similar km on them available at the same time points to a fleet clear out!

We’ve got a dog so Caprice is out (plus no MSE or bimodal ). Those white ones are all ex government (one of the ads says so). Again same spec, same age, similar km all on the market at the same time.

I get the feeling people are now holding on to VF V8s, and the prices are crazy.

You’re right about the brakes - standard ones are not great. Are VF police spec different calipers? I thought it was just pads (like ZB).

I did think about a 6.0 but the problem is that once you’ve driven an LS3 you don’t want anything else

The caliper has a single piston, which sort of contradicts what I know about brakes, however it stops a lot better than the stock SSV stuff. It was fitted to the Caprice PPV cars to.

er yes, once you've driven an LS3.....it makes the others less desirable.
There is a Redline on there where the seller is trying to sell it before trading it in on a new car...

[Jader1973]

Well I'm completely confused

I'm getting insurance quotes for various different cars and have come across something very odd. For example:
- Brand new Skoda Superb 206TSi 4x4 wagon ($50k) = $950 per year
- 4 year old Skoda Superb 206 TSi 4x4 wagon ($35k) = 1200 per year

Same company (AAMI), same driver, same excess, same everything. RACV and Budget Direct are doing the same thing so it isn't just AAMI.

I've also found similar on other cars.

I always thought that the lower the value of the car the lower the premium.

Anyone else noticed this?

[forzaminardi]

Jader1973 said:

Well I'm completely confused

I'm getting insurance quotes for various different cars and have come across something very odd. For example:
- Brand new Skoda Superb 206TSi 4x4 wagon ($50k) = $950 per year
- 4 year old Skoda Superb 206 TSi 4x4 wagon ($35k) = 1200 per year

Same company (AAMI), same driver, same excess, same everything. RACV and Budget Direct are doing the same thing so it isn't just AAMI.

I've also found similar on other cars.

I always thought that the lower the value of the car the lower the premium.

Anyone else noticed this?

I don't know so much about Australian insurers, but in the UK some have a logic in their systems that basically assumes if you buy a used car and/or a cheaper car, they assume you'll crash it or whatever - "cheaper car = owner will not be so careful with it". The actual value of the car matters less than what their system thinks the type of driver you are.

[200bhp]

As above, statistically drivers of brand new cars probably care more about avoiding a crash so are less likely to cost the insurer anything. Its all about the stats.

[Munka01]

forzaminardi said:

I don't know so much about Australian insurers, but in the UK some have a logic in their systems that basically assumes if you buy a used car and/or a cheaper car, they assume you'll crash it or whatever - "cheaper car = owner will not be so careful with it". The actual value of the car matters less than what their system thinks the type of driver you are.

Also worth noting that a brand new car will likely have additional or improved safety systems such as Autonomous Emergency Braking and secondary collision avoidance that the older car may not have.

[Bibbs]

Jader1973 said:

Well I'm completely confused
I'm getting insurance quotes for various different cars and have come across something very odd. For example:
- Brand new Skoda Superb 206TSi 4x4 wagon ($50k) = $950 per year
- 4 year old Skoda Superb 206 TSi 4x4 wagon ($35k) = 1200 per year

Maybe it's also the "old for new" replacement on cars under 5 years.

So smashing up a brand new car is actually better for them in resale.

And like Munka01 said, there are the new pedestrian safety stuff that's come in over the last few years. Less likely to hit someone at a crossing.

[Pommy]

Bibbs said:

Jader1973 said:

Well I'm completely confused
I'm getting insurance quotes for various different cars and have come across something very odd. For example:
- Brand new Skoda Superb 206TSi 4x4 wagon ($50k) = $950 per year
- 4 year old Skoda Superb 206 TSi 4x4 wagon ($35k) = 1200 per year

Maybe it's also the "old for new" replacement on cars under 5 years.

So smashing up a brand new car is actually better for them in resale.

And like Munka01 said, there are the new pedestrian safety stuff that's come in over the last few years. Less likely to hit someone at a crossing.

That sounds about right.

The other thing to consider, has the newer one got increased safety equipment such as Lane departure assist, better NCAP, lower emissions etc?

[Jader1973]

All valid points now I think about it.

I also wonder if it could be because $15k damage to a $50k car would be paid where as $15k damage to a $35k car could write it off so they're exposed to a higher risk.

Apart from that I guess Dan's new rules are going to make buying a car in Melbourne impossible for the next 6 weeks. Looks like Bendigo or Ballarat are now my go to sources

[StefanVXR8]

Pleased to report I started a new job on Monday, similar to my previous role, working for an American company selling log management and security analytics tools (company is Sumo Logic) I’m their 1st security focussed APJ sales engineer for a cloud based product and as an added bonus they IPO’d on Thursday on the Nasdaq! I got a decent number of share options as part of my package

In car related news, my son decided his VW Passat 4Motion was too thirsty so we sold it (for more than we paid) and bought him a 2008 BMW 320d Executive.

Stef

[robm3]

Howdy all...

Some fleet updates, now have a fully restored 1968 Alfa, Lowered on new Koni's, Alfaholics big brake kit, balanced and rebuilt engine with twin webers and sports exhaust etc.. etc..





Also added a Ducati tricolour too...

Edited by robm3 on Sunday 18th October 23:19

[rigsey]

robm3 said:

Howdy all...

Some fleet updates, now have a fully restored 1968 Alfa, Lowered on new Koni's, Alfaholics big brake kit, balanced and rebuilt engine with twin webers and sports exhaust etc.. etc..





Also added a Ducati tricolour too...

Edited by robm3 on Sunday 18th October 23:19

That is stunning

[200bhp]

robm3 said:

Howdy all...

Some fleet updates, now have a fully restored 1968 Alfa, Lowered on new Koni's, Alfaholics big brake kit, balanced and rebuilt engine with twin webers and sports exhaust etc.. etc..





Also added a Ducati tricolour too...

Edited by robm3 on Sunday 18th October 23:19

That's really nice, I like it! Nice to see something old and European - We don't see much of that here in WA

[PomBstard]

robm3 said:

Howdy all...

Some fleet updates, now have a fully restored 1968 Alfa, Lowered on new Koni's, Alfaholics big brake kit, balanced and rebuilt engine with twin webers and sports exhaust etc.. etc..





Also added a Ducati tricolour too...

Edited by robm3 on Sunday 18th October 23:19

Excellent - that looks ace! I'll keep an eye out for you. And as you've mentioned Konis, I've also got a set waiting to be fitted to my 928

In other car-related stuff, does anyone know if VF2 V8 Commodore wagons are actually selling for anything close to their advertised prices? Depreciation appears to have been minimal over the past four or so years, and I'm starting to hunt around for the next family jalopy. Had hoped they'd be around the $30k mark by now but, barring one or two outliers, appear to remain stubbornly above $45k for good ones in NSW. A half-decent 7/8 year old VF1 V8 is still around $35k to start.

I know the V6 will be just a good for day-to-day stuff, but even they're at $30+ for 4-y-o SV6 that's not white or silver. Has nostalgia really bitten that hard, or did they always depreciate this slowly?

[Jader1973]

PomBstard said:

Excellent - that looks ace! I'll keep an eye out for you. And as you've mentioned Konis, I've also got a set waiting to be fitted to my 928

In other car-related stuff, does anyone know if VF2 V8 Commodore wagons are actually selling for anything close to their advertised prices? Depreciation appears to have been minimal over the past four or so years, and I'm starting to hunt around for the next family jalopy. Had hoped they'd be around the $30k mark by now but, barring one or two outliers, appear to remain stubbornly above $45k for good ones in NSW. A half-decent 7/8 year old VF1 V8 is still around $35k to start.

I know the V6 will be just a good for day-to-day stuff, but even they're at $30+ for 4-y-o SV6 that's not white or silver. Has nostalgia really bitten that hard, or did they always depreciate this slowly?

Prices are mental!!

And based on what I can check (;)) every 3 year old SV6 for sale at a dealer in Vic is ex-rental and every 3 year old SS is ex-plod (extra battery and cargo barrier is the giveaway).

Ex-plod SS with 80k on it for $45k is nuts.

[PomBstard]

Jader1973 said:

PomBstard said:

Excellent - that looks ace! I'll keep an eye out for you. And as you've mentioned Konis, I've also got a set waiting to be fitted to my 928

In other car-related stuff, does anyone know if VF2 V8 Commodore wagons are actually selling for anything close to their advertised prices? Depreciation appears to have been minimal over the past four or so years, and I'm starting to hunt around for the next family jalopy. Had hoped they'd be around the $30k mark by now but, barring one or two outliers, appear to remain stubbornly above $45k for good ones in NSW. A half-decent 7/8 year old VF1 V8 is still around $35k to start.

I know the V6 will be just a good for day-to-day stuff, but even they're at $30+ for 4-y-o SV6 that's not white or silver. Has nostalgia really bitten that hard, or did they always depreciate this slowly?

Prices are mental!!

And based on what I can check (;)) every 3 year old SV6 for sale at a dealer in Vic is ex-rental and every 3 year old SS is ex-plod (extra battery and cargo barrier is the giveaway).

Ex-plod SS with 80k on it for $45k is nuts.

Right, so not just me then, and thanks for the clues when looking

I might have to stop feeding the kids so they'll fit in the Sube for a few more years. Or find something else to buy...

I just wish the Japanese and Koreans would get in on the fast wagon/SUV act so the answer isn't always German or Holden. Jeep GC SRT is in the ballpark, but I've heard a couple of first-hand tales of woe with dealers and getting parts - don't fancy my chances with something that's already 4-7 years old.

Half-tempted to go cheap and get something big and entertaining that might last a couple of years and not worry when it goes bang - early Cayenne Turbo type of thing

[Jader1973]

PomBstard said:

Right, so not just me then, and thanks for the clues when looking

I might have to stop feeding the kids so they'll fit in the Sube for a few more years. Or find something else to buy...

I just wish the Japanese and Koreans would get in on the fast wagon/SUV act so the answer isn't always German or Holden. Jeep GC SRT is in the ballpark, but I've heard a couple of first-hand tales of woe with dealers and getting parts - don't fancy my chances with something that's already 4-7 years old.

Half-tempted to go cheap and get something big and entertaining that might last a couple of years and not worry when it goes bang - early Cayenne Turbo type of thing

If you're looking at a 3 year old Commodore then always check the first page of the handbook for the first owner's name. If it is an odd sounding company or a dealership then it is likely it was a hire car, especially if it is back at the dealer that originally sold it. I think most of them have de-fleeted all the VFs now - a dealership in Melbourne's SE had about half a dozen 3 year old SV6s all with about 50,000km on them.

Not sure if all the Police have de-fleeted their SSs but given the number on Carsales I'd suggest they have - at least they are easy to spot

I'd avoid Jeep tbh - given they can barely provide parts for the current lineup anything older could turn out to be a nightmare. Although I suppose buying bits from the US is an option if you can't get them locally.

I was also thinking of something big and silly given VE/F prices but I've actually just paid for the ZB Calais Tourer - the deal was simply too good to pass up and given I'm unemployed come the end of Nov and don't know if I need a commuter car, a station car or something that will just sit on the drive I decided it was the best option for the moment.

[Bibbs]

The price of cars like my old VE GTS haven't moved at all since I sold it. Good cars. Would have another (as a 5th or 6th car).