Been offered a VP Berlina V8...

[calais]

G'Day all,

Long story short, I have been offered a '93 VP Berlina V8 by a close friend. It was her late fathers car and she doesn't want to go through the selling process, and has just offered it to me for nothing.

It has 300k on the clock, is a white stock as a rock grandpa spec car if i've ever seen one, with weathershields, bonnet and headlight protectors, and a pristine interior. It appears to have been fully optioned too, IRS and ABS and full power windows and mirrors, 15" alloys. Its been a blue mountain car and doesn't appear to have any rust or anything and it seems to come with a file box full of ownership and maintenance documents. (12 months rego too)

I have never personally driven an an injected 5 litre, let alone a VP...... So what are they like?

I have however owned and driven an ED Fairmont and DC LTD with the Ford windsor 5.0 litre, and to be honest wasn't over the moon with their performance. Was the Holden 5.0 any different?

The way I am looking at it..... Its a free car.... I am keen to accept, but if they really are a dog to drive and own in this day and age I'd rather arrange to sell it on her behalf.

But on the other hand, If they are a more lively beast that the Windsor powered Ford of the same era, I might be keen to hang onto it and use it a daily for a while.

What would you do?

[P6LTD351]

They both had similar performance. Both had 165kws. Holden had 385Nm, Windsor had 388Nm. The Windsor's 388Nm came earlier at 3000rpm, whereas the Holden came in at 3600rpm.

If you weren't happy with the Windsor, you won't be happy with the VP.

[Smoke Pursuit]

They actually go alright... Should be the 165 Kw motor...

Just watch the transmission and electrics in it!

[gcg2503]

Not a bad car to drive at all

But with 300000km on the clock it wont be setting the world on fire

[AndyXR6T]

Depends what you are after mate. They do go pretty good for the age of car, 20 years old, and the 5.0Ls sound brilliant with an decent exhaust. They chew petrol, but it can be a pretty fun car.

[My32Doors]

My wife had one of those when I met her. For the time it went well. Still haven't converted her.

[dannyxm]

Are you on crack?

Someone is giving you a free car!

If you dont like it, go sell it cheap and make some $ Some Holden nut will always pick it up.

[calais]

Originally Posted by danny351

Are you on crack?

Someone is giving you a free car!

If you dont like it, go sell it cheap and make some $ Some Holden nut will always pick it up.

No crack here mate

Just curious about what such a car will be like.

I see it also has a factory 85 litre tank too....... that'd be an expensive fill!

[The Yeti]

thye go all right IMHO and if you dont want it theres a 28 chev RPU on the floor of my shed than could use and injected doner

[calais]

Just what would one expect the fuel economy to be like? Highway/Rural?

Im thinking around 10-11L/100km?

They appear to weigh under 1500kg too, didn't they have a reputation back in the day for nervous handling?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Would keep it. Clean example like that is a keeper IMO. All you will be paying for is running costs and basic insurance, which won't be all that much.

Selling it straight away for your own profit is not a good idea as well.

[calais]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Would keep it. Clean example like that is a keeper IMO. All you will be paying for is running costs and basic insurance, which won't be all that much.

Selling it straight away for your own profit is not a good idea as well.

I am inclined to agree, It may well be a nice way to get around for a while, cheaply too really. I can appreciate a well kept vehicle as much as the next enthusiast.

But if I do decide to hang onto it, I will definately be compensating my friend in return for her generosity. I believe in karma, so what goes around, comes around.

[Ford_The_Win]

I have driven one of these, they go ok, more than enough power for me at least. The one I drove had about 170 kays on the clock. Straightline performance is probably about the same as an AU I6. Transmission is rubbish, and the handling is pretty poor too now that you mention it. The power steering is really light so you don't get a whole lot of feedback. The 5 litre sounds great though.

[My32Doors]

They appear to weigh under 1500kg too, didn't they have a reputation back in the day for nervous handling?

Too right there!

[glavas]

Mate its a stock 93 vp with 300000km shes only giving it to you because its a peace of junk that is slow and a death trap. Buy a new v8 if you want fun to drive. My 4 cylinder work hilux would smoke that thing.


Edit::::: v8 or not a stock 5l is like a boat anchor!!!

[glavas]

[QUOTE=calais]I am inclined to agree, It may well be a nice way to get around for a while, cheaply too really. I can appreciate a well kept vehicle as much as the next enthusiast.

But if I do decide to hang onto it, I will definately be compensating my friend in return for her generosity. I believe in karma, so what goes around, comes around




Well thats the beauty of being catholic theres none of this karma junk. Just go to confession feel bad for what youve done and youll get through the pearly gates oh yeah!!!!

[OzJavelin]

VP V8 with a nice exhaust .. just a nice sounding cruiser. Can't drive "sprited" anyway these days, so might as well either own a car to enjoy the sight .. or in the Holden 5.0L case, the sound.

[SSD-85]

Id take it for a drive, see if its for you. If not, then help her with a sale

[Mr Hardware]

Yeah, go for it, you'll enjoy it. I have driven both the Injected 5L Holden and the 90's Windsors, I actually prefer the Holden 5L. Maybe it's just the fact that the Holdens were 1400kg not 1600kg. But they sound damn good, if you ask me the Holden V8 is the best sounding (stock) injected V8 around.

[AU Mont]

a VP commodore with 300,000kms doesnt sound too fantastic too me

the fact that its free makes the choice easy, but when it inevitably sucks starts to suck money from your pocket id hand it back lol

[irish2]

Originally Posted by glavas

Mate its a stock 93 vp with 300000km shes only giving it to you because its a peace of junk that is slow and a death trap. Buy a new v8 if you want fun to drive. My 4 cylinder work hilux would smoke that thing.


Edit::::: v8 or not a stock 5l is like a boat anchor!!!

I highly doubt it. Raced a mate to 80km/h, he was in a 2010 V6 hilux and I was in a 1997 1.5l Proton with over 300,000k's on the clock. Needless to say he was very quiet after the little squirt.

[kinksta]

Ugh, take it for a drive. If you like it keep it, if you don't sell it. I don't think it's that hard to decide...

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by kinksta

Ugh, take it for a drive. If you like it keep it, if you don't sell it. I don't think it's that hard to decide...

This.

[Cúl-Báire]

This brings back memories; I had a VP Berlina, V8, full electrics, etc... It was a fantastic car and to be honest one I wish I had never sold (was a cop magnet on my P's though). They were a great car in their day (think cars for the masses), and make a great cruiser, sound fantastic as well!

The agreed V8 is a bit of a boat anchor though! It needs a solid bump up in compression ratio, and the right camshaft with a good tune to liven it up (not unlike the windsor).

[The Yeti]

Originally Posted by Cúl-Báire

The agreed V8 is a bit of a boat anchor though! It needs a solid bump up in compression ratio, and the right camshaft with a good tune to liven it up (not unlike the windsor).

I think that sums in up, lets face it its a 19yo car with 19yo engine technology , and with that considered there a great car, if you put it up a current Falcodore theyre chalk and cheese but for what they are they are fine

[SPArKy_Dave]

Those 5ltr commodores are a very spritely car, compared to the equivalent Windsor falcons.

My old man has a VS commodore ute 5ltr.

The commodores have a much shorter 1st gear in the auto, so you'll find it really leaps off the line.

Unlike the BTR auto's which take forever to wind out 1st gear - hence seeming slower than they really are.

I'd get it, fit a single 3inch sports exhaust to it, stir and enjoy.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by calais

G'Day all,

Long story short, I have been offered a '93 VP Berlina V8 by a close friend. It was her late fathers car and she doesn't want to go through the selling process, and has just offered it to me for nothing.

It has 300k on the clock, is a white stock as a rock grandpa spec car if i've ever seen one, with weathershields, bonnet and headlight protectors, and a pristine interior. It appears to have been fully optioned too, IRS and ABS and full power windows and mirrors, 15" alloys. Its been a blue mountain car and doesn't appear to have any rust or anything and it seems to come with a file box full of ownership and maintenance documents. (12 months rego too)

I have never personally driven an an injected 5 litre, let alone a VP...... So what are they like?

I have however owned and driven an ED Fairmont and DC LTD with the Ford windsor 5.0 litre, and to be honest wasn't over the moon with their performance. Was the Holden 5.0 any different?

The way I am looking at it..... Its a free car.... I am keen to accept, but if they really are a dog to drive and own in this day and age I'd rather arrange to sell it on her behalf.

But on the other hand, If they are a more lively beast that the Windsor powered Ford of the same era, I might be keen to hang onto it and use it a daily for a while.

What would you do?

dont wast your time with the car or your friend..

its such a chore to get a "freebee" and from a good "friend"...

you deserve neither!!

[pottery beige]

holden 5lt sounds way better than the farty ford six...

[Gobes32]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

if you ask me the Holden V8 is the best sounding (stock) injected V8 around.

I whole heartedly agree, my 2 mates have a EF XR8 with 3in pipes, and a VS Statesman with 3in pipes. The Ford sounds angry when it revs but the Holden just has something about it that is better than the windsor. I know it is just air through pipes, but everytime I hear a aussie 304 take off at the lights, I damn near snap my neck muscles trying to get a glimpse.

[4.0i OHC]

The car's nothing special at all, but it is worth it just for what's under the bonnet. The Holden 5 litre is one awesome sounding motor!