There is the agreement of keeping these ol girls on the road. Bmw 320d top hose and the failed plastic water housing that is fastened to the head. $100 for the housing,$300 for the top hose"assembley"'$136 for genuine coolant. And 4.6 hours to remove and replace all components. The manufacturer has 3 bolts,2 are accessible. The top bolt requires the intake manifold to be removed. I'll keep servicing and repairing old commodores
I've been driving my used VS wagon since 2016, which has practically been rebuilt. The body is a bit rough topside but underneath its as sweet as. Its a V6 manual which I have extensively modified for bush camping with a rooftop tent; replaced the rear seat to accommodate two 60 Litre drums for extra fuel and connected to main tank. 100Ah battery mounted on floor behind pass seat. Air compressor mounted behind driver seat with plumbing to air bags in rear springs coz I was sick of driving uphill when loaded with camping kit. I take out pass seat and bolt my fridge to seat mounts. Overall, all costs since purchase cost me 38¢/km. The drive train components have been overhauled and the Country Pack suspension all came from my VR which came to a sad end in 2016. I'm confident to drive this car anywhere and if something should go wrong, every country town has a wreck or 10 for spare parts!
Ife driven old (and new) rangers and I believe you. Most things are nicer! I really don’t get the appeal of all these jacked up body on frame “utes” - they’re all utterly shit to drive!
I agree with you and drive a ba xr8, but i think now things like the raptor are up there ,but you will pay for it, if you're going to buy stuff like those you may as well look at the dodge ram,until I can afford these i am sticking with my falcons ect@froggy0162
@@hamishfullerton7309Rangers and rams is not about being able to afford them, it’s about them being useless piles of shite that are miserable to drive… You couldn’t pay me to drive a fecking ram!
At least you know your good now for reliability and as i have said before a little bit of maintenance here and there you are all good and the vehicle will love you for it. 🙂👍
I have an 06 falcon had it since 2015. If there is one thing I can recommend for old non direct injection cars is to use flashlube injector cleaner. I put in about 2/3 of the 50ml bottle in each tank. It makes the engine run good. Also I use half 95 and half 98 fuel.
You done well there . I just bought a sedan of the same . Like yours mine had been sitting 4 years. And similar to get RWC for Vic roads It cost about the same . I haven`t had car finance in 25 years . Way in front now .
I have a 1998 Fairlane that I have been driving for 18 years. It has done 410,000 km, and I have done 370,000 of those. There is a reason that I’m driving an older car. It has an amazingly comfortable driving Possession. It has a big, low revving engine that Cruises on the highway brilliantly. It is an incredibly well designed and built car, with nothing that annoys me, and lots of good features that I don’t realise until I drive a newer car. If there was a modern car, they didn’t have annoying government overreach in it, including useless alarms, domains that you agree with the stereo before it works, the radio going off when you put it in reverse, seatbelt alarm when you’re reversing the boat down the boat ramp, nowhere to put your elbows, I would seriously consider updating. However, while cars have stupid, unnecessary, unwanted, “safety features”, I will continue to drive something that does not annoy me. I have spent money to keep the car very well maintained, and reliability is not an issue. It is extremely reliable o’clock very comfortable, very safe.
Atleast with a 90's car, there are only so many things a problem can be. Nowadays the list is endless. With My 2013 Mazda Bt 50 there's a list of things I have to change so they don't grenade the engine. Injectors $4000. It's a joke
@@DoubtingThomas333 nowadays yes.Everything that made a diesel the better choice has been engineered out of them eg. Reliability, can run on anything flammable, get submerged and still run, durability all gone with modern diesels.
Quite a reasonable cost for labour, any professional mechanic needs to charge $100-150 plus an hour for labour to survive nowdays. The cost of all the parts and repairs would be on par with what you'd lose in depreciation/interest and higher insurance premiums in one year on a newer car.
Chippie here also, still rockin a vy tonner, prefer it over the ute cos 6.0's fit good on top. Unfortunately because of my old vehicle I know that I've lost work because EVERYONE judges the book by the cover 😅
$750 for that list was definitely very reasonable, in 2015. Today, that’s a bargain! The enjoyment of driving something you WANT to drive - you can’t put a price on that. Any car that’s left to sit for some time will develop issues from lack of use. You’ve found most of them. Once you get all those niggles sorted, it will be a very reliable daily.
I mean I bought a MINT VR Berlina in 2016 for $400, and a HSV enhanced 5L S2 Calais, full leather interior, panther mica and sunroof for $6500 in 2017 ...now add another 0 to each of those prices these days
That’s a very reasonable price for all those items & roadworthy. The shop was very reasonable with you. The best part is it doesn’t cost the earth to insure & if someone does steal it off you. It won’t be so bad.
That car has the Buick 3800 cc v6 engine. This engine is one of the finest ever made by GM. I owned a 1990 VN wagon for years. The major issue was only rusted welch plugs. All 3800's will rust out the welch plugs.
Before I retired, I knew I would not be a rich prick and I am quite capable of doing most of my own maintenance, so I bought a 99 wrangler manual with the straight six motor, low milage, these jeeps are almost bulletproof and they look cool, then purchased a little Izusu 2 tonner, which is my camper truck and caries my bikes, once again 1996 and low milage, both reasonably cheap. Modern vehicles with all their electronics, parts and servicing costs are out of this world
(2014 - 2019) 1991 Mazda Astina = 3 breakdowns (2019 - Present) 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer = 1 breakdown (2020 - 2022) 1979 Hz Holden 1 tonner = 0 breakdowns To be fair my first car was in rough shape when i got it and i barely serviced it for the first 4 years lol, even tho i made money on my old holden i kinda wish i still had it, i just never intended on having another daily for so long.
One nice thing is the depreciation has already done it's job. Insurance is is affordable, and you can put it on classics if you dont drive it that much
I have a vs wagon that has 500k on it and the old ecotec is still purring. I bought it about 15 years ago as a cheap run round that i thought i would own for 12 months. Ive just never sold it as it just keeps on going. Its my daily and my workhorse and as its a column shift no one wanted it and got it cheap. I love the old girl and can't see myself ever getting rid of it. So hang onto your ute and drive the wheels off it. Cheers
I daily a 1994 VR V6 been doing so for 8 years I've wanted to chuck in a 5L, and have one to go in but... I don't think that's a good idea to daily a 5L
I had one not long ago I paid 4 grand for it a VS series 3 bench seat column shift Ute I was driving it through coraki nsw close to where I live and seen a real Ute a 97 XH manual Ute just sitting there in front of a old plumbing shop knocked on the door and said you interested in swapping for the vs has six months rego I’m a ford man he said hell yessss I checked out the falcon with him had been sitting five years had some rust but was a factory five speed and 3.45.1 LSD with low ks I give him the keys to my mint Vs Ute and called a tow truck now I’m fully doing it up the fat falcon ute is a way better car and worth lots more finished ✅
There is a saying… Look for the oldest work truck on a work site. He is probably making the most money. Putting 100k loan on a young tradie is not a good start
I used to have a ford Fairmont 400,000 ks on clock I replaced head gasket. Few years later replaced transmission. Radiator and spent just on $20.000 and it didn’t go any better. when I finally traded it in the Diff was on way out. You’ll spend a fortune on that commodore it’s not worth it unless your a mechanic and can do it yourself.
Been a Toyota fan boy l don't mind you changing over to your Holden ute and l don't if you know the Buick 3.8 litre V6 makes several lists of very reliable engines very nice l do absolutely like very reliable engines infact l own a 1997 Toyota Hilux rear wheel drive ute single cab wuth the 22R engine under the bonnet and in the five years l have owned it l have spent a bit of money and spent lots of hours working on it so l can perfectly understand why you spent money how much would a reasonably new Holden ute cost with tbe same engine
Let's face it , you have done the right thing as buying a second hand or new car these days means you are making other bastards rich because you wanted this yesterday . You had seen the light and well done. This is coming from a 58 year old pensioner and I am doing the same thing.
She's a nice old ute! Seen so many of my tradie mates buy a brand spanker then get themselves into debt just trying to live the dream. Bit curious what your next trade will be? Clearly have a passion for automotive works.
I’m seeing more AUS DM Utes being used by tradies again. Keep them in the road and look after them, better than haemorrhaging money on a new $60k dual cab.
Tell me how does the 150kw v6 Buick engine compare to a Australian made stock 165kw 304 engine like can u compare them does a fit healthy 3,8 comes close to a worn 304 in terms of 0-100 or performance in general?
Well ur forgetting about the difference in torque which is greater than the max kw difference. On the street (under 100kmh) you won’t notice significant difference between healthy 3.8 and 5litre honestly the comp is low and they’re abit lazy
@@Dutchy695 yes i know but the 304 is the same in design just more cubes and 2 more cylinders..... The basic design is basicly the same: Double row chain driven single cam and pushrods that operate 2 valves per cyl...
I’ll back my au falcon wagon to go beyond 750000k & cost way less ( properly maintained ) than most , if not all Toyota’s to get it there . Before the fan boys ( or girls ) get on there high horse , I also own an 2006 lc100 with an fte .
Does it genuinely have 500k on the original engine, etc? I remember you saying before you sold it, it had 400ish on it, but the cluster was swapped after you sold it🫠
There is the agreement of keeping these ol girls on the road. Bmw 320d top hose and the failed plastic water housing that is fastened to the head. $100 for the housing,$300 for the top hose"assembley"'$136 for genuine coolant. And 4.6 hours to remove and replace all components. The manufacturer has 3 bolts,2 are accessible. The top bolt requires the intake manifold to be removed. I'll keep servicing and repairing old commodores
I've been driving my used VS wagon since 2016, which has practically been rebuilt. The body is a bit rough topside but underneath its as sweet as. Its a V6 manual which I have extensively modified for bush camping with a rooftop tent; replaced the rear seat to accommodate two 60 Litre drums for extra fuel and connected to main tank. 100Ah battery mounted on floor behind pass seat. Air compressor mounted behind driver seat with plumbing to air bags in rear springs coz I was sick of driving uphill when loaded with camping kit. I take out pass seat and bolt my fridge to seat mounts. Overall, all costs since purchase cost me 38¢/km. The drive train components have been overhauled and the Country Pack suspension all came from my VR which came to a sad end in 2016. I'm confident to drive this car anywhere and if something should go wrong, every country town has a wreck or 10 for spare parts!
I've got a 2013 ranger and love driving my 90s e series falcon more, love ya commodore🤙
Ife driven old (and new) rangers and I believe you. Most things are nicer!
I really don’t get the appeal of all these jacked up body on frame “utes” - they’re all utterly shit to drive!
@@froggy0162 I couldn't wait to get back into my FG Falcon after driving Rangers at work.
@@australiantruckspotting8883 And yet its the best selling "car"... I really don't get it - the power of good marketing and fashion I guess...?
I agree with you and drive a ba xr8, but i think now things like the raptor are up there ,but you will pay for it, if you're going to buy stuff like those you may as well look at the dodge ram,until I can afford these i am sticking with my falcons ect@froggy0162
@@hamishfullerton7309Rangers and rams is not about being able to afford them, it’s about them being useless piles of shite that are miserable to drive… You couldn’t pay me to drive a fecking ram!
At least you know your good now for reliability and as i have said before a little bit of maintenance here and there you are all good and the vehicle will love you for it. 🙂👍
I have an 06 falcon had it since 2015. If there is one thing I can recommend for old non direct injection cars is to use flashlube injector cleaner. I put in about 2/3 of the 50ml bottle in each tank. It makes the engine run good. Also I use half 95 and half 98 fuel.
You done well there . I just bought a sedan of the same . Like yours mine had been sitting 4 years. And similar to get RWC for Vic roads It cost about the same . I haven`t had car finance in 25 years . Way in front now .
Commys are the best
I have a 1998 Fairlane that I have been driving for 18 years. It has done 410,000 km, and I have done 370,000 of those. There is a reason that I’m driving an older car.
It has an amazingly comfortable driving Possession. It has a big, low revving engine that Cruises on the highway brilliantly. It is an incredibly well designed and built car, with nothing that annoys me, and lots of good features that I don’t realise until I drive a newer car.
If there was a modern car, they didn’t have annoying government overreach in it, including useless alarms, domains that you agree with the stereo before it works, the radio going off when you put it in reverse, seatbelt alarm when you’re reversing the boat down the boat ramp, nowhere to put your elbows, I would seriously consider updating.
However, while cars have stupid, unnecessary, unwanted, “safety features”, I will continue to drive something that does not annoy me.
I have spent money to keep the car very well maintained, and reliability is not an issue. It is extremely reliable o’clock very comfortable, very safe.
Atleast with a 90's car, there are only so many things a problem can be. Nowadays the list is endless. With My 2013 Mazda Bt 50 there's a list of things I have to change so they don't grenade the engine. Injectors $4000. It's a joke
Diesels are a wallet burner in Australia. That alone should put people off them.
@@DoubtingThomas333 nowadays yes.Everything that made a diesel the better choice has been engineered out of them eg. Reliability, can run on anything flammable, get submerged and still run, durability all gone with modern diesels.
Quite a reasonable cost for labour, any professional mechanic needs to charge $100-150 plus an hour for labour to survive nowdays. The cost of all the parts and repairs would be on par with what you'd lose in depreciation/interest and higher insurance premiums in one year on a newer car.
Chippie here also, still rockin a vy tonner, prefer it over the ute cos 6.0's fit good on top. Unfortunately because of my old vehicle I know that I've lost work because EVERYONE judges the book by the cover 😅
Pletry of peanuts out there with the latest ranger on 12% p.a.
$750 for that list was definitely very reasonable, in 2015. Today, that’s a bargain!
The enjoyment of driving something you WANT to drive - you can’t put a price on that.
Any car that’s left to sit for some time will develop issues from lack of use. You’ve found most of them.
Once you get all those niggles sorted, it will be a very reliable daily.
@@commodorenut exactly my thoughts mate! Thanks!
I mean I bought a MINT VR Berlina in 2016 for $400, and a HSV enhanced 5L S2 Calais, full leather interior, panther mica and sunroof for $6500 in 2017
...now add another 0 to each of those prices these days
That’s a very reasonable price for all those items & roadworthy.
The shop was very reasonable with you. The best part is it doesn’t cost the earth to insure & if someone does steal it off you. It won’t be so bad.
Think it cost $500 a year for comprehensive haha
@@commodoreman1 good old banger motoring. Especially at worksite you don’t want to have some expensive $50k Ute that might get scratched or dinted.
That car has the Buick 3800 cc v6 engine. This engine is one of the finest ever made by GM. I owned a 1990 VN wagon for years. The major issue was only rusted welch plugs. All 3800's will rust out the welch plugs.
Before I retired, I knew I would not be a rich prick and I am quite capable of doing most of my own maintenance, so I bought a 99 wrangler manual with the straight six motor, low milage, these jeeps are almost bulletproof and they look cool, then purchased a little Izusu 2 tonner, which is my camper truck and caries my bikes, once again 1996 and low milage, both reasonably cheap. Modern vehicles with all their electronics, parts and servicing costs are out of this world
(2014 - 2019) 1991 Mazda Astina = 3 breakdowns
(2019 - Present) 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer = 1 breakdown
(2020 - 2022) 1979 Hz Holden 1 tonner = 0 breakdowns
To be fair my first car was in rough shape when i got it and i barely serviced it for the first 4 years lol, even tho i made money on my old holden i kinda wish i still had it, i just never intended on having another daily for so long.
One nice thing is the depreciation has already done it's job. Insurance is is affordable, and you can put it on classics if you dont drive it that much
I really enjoyed watching your video 😊
Thank you so much!
@@commodoreman1 👍
I have a vs wagon that has 500k on it and the old ecotec is still purring. I bought it about 15 years ago as a cheap run round that i thought i would own for 12 months. Ive just never sold it as it just keeps on going. Its my daily and my workhorse and as its a column shift no one wanted it and got it cheap. I love the old girl and can't see myself ever getting rid of it. So hang onto your ute and drive the wheels off it. Cheers
You can spend a lot in repairs on a car that doesn't depreciate and still be in front.
2003 commodore wagon is so easy to fix I shout with joy. 350000 klms all original.
My 1994 Ute name is Barney I think what u paid is good
From about 2005-2014 my daily was a mk2 escort. I went everywhere in it.
Been dailyiing commodores for 26 yrs nothing later than 2000 basic maintanence ,they never let u down
Pretty standard repairs when buying a 2nd hand Commodore
Also, that plate is sick. Basically just a booty call signaller, belongs on a sexspec car
I'm dailying old camira looking to upgrade to l67
I daily a 1994 VR V6 been doing so for 8 years
I've wanted to chuck in a 5L, and have one to go in but... I don't think that's a good idea to daily a 5L
I had one not long ago I paid 4 grand for it a VS series 3 bench seat column shift Ute I was driving it through coraki nsw close to where I live and seen a real Ute a 97 XH manual Ute just sitting there in front of a old plumbing shop knocked on the door and said you interested in swapping for the vs has six months rego I’m a ford man he said hell yessss I checked out the falcon with him had been sitting five years had some rust but was a factory five speed and 3.45.1 LSD with low ks I give him the keys to my mint Vs Ute and called a tow truck now I’m fully doing it up the fat falcon ute is a way better car and worth lots more finished ✅
There is a saying…
Look for the oldest work truck on a work site. He is probably making the most money.
Putting 100k loan on a young tradie is not a good start
If moving to YT content, reckon you should do stuff on the basic cars. Can all relate :)
@@tonyblackie3277 definitely coming!
I used to have a ford Fairmont 400,000 ks on clock I replaced head gasket. Few years later replaced transmission. Radiator and spent just on $20.000 and it didn’t go any better. when I finally traded it in the Diff was on way out. You’ll spend a fortune on that commodore it’s not worth it unless your a mechanic and can do it yourself.
Been a Toyota fan boy l don't mind you changing over to your Holden ute and l don't if you know the Buick 3.8 litre V6 makes several lists of very reliable engines very nice l do absolutely like very reliable engines infact l own a 1997 Toyota Hilux rear wheel drive ute single cab wuth the 22R engine under the bonnet and in the five years l have owned it l have spent a bit of money and spent lots of hours working on it so l can perfectly understand why you spent money how much would a reasonably new Holden ute cost with tbe same engine
love the # plate man
i used to have LOL WTF with vic rego 20 years ago
Let's face it , you have done the right thing as buying a second hand or new car these days means you are making other bastards rich because you wanted this yesterday . You had seen the light and well done. This is coming from a 58 year old pensioner and I am doing the same thing.
She's a nice old ute! Seen so many of my tradie mates buy a brand spanker then get themselves into debt just trying to live the dream.
Bit curious what your next trade will be? Clearly have a passion for automotive works.
Sorry what ?! $300 for a roadworthy…? wtf?
I’m seeing more AUS DM Utes being used by tradies again. Keep them in the road and look after them, better than haemorrhaging money on a new $60k dual cab.
Tell me how does the 150kw v6 Buick engine compare to a Australian made stock 165kw 304 engine like can u compare them does a fit healthy 3,8 comes close to a worn 304 in terms of 0-100 or performance in general?
Well ur forgetting about the difference in torque which is greater than the max kw difference. On the street (under 100kmh) you won’t notice significant difference between healthy 3.8 and 5litre honestly the comp is low and they’re abit lazy
The 304 is going to sound a whole lot better with the right exhaust.
3.8 v6 is a go forever motor. Simple push rod.😊
@@Dutchy695 yes i know but the 304 is the same in design just more cubes and 2 more cylinders.....
The basic design is basicly the same:
Double row chain driven single cam and pushrods that operate 2 valves per cyl...
@@Berniessen Yeah both engines last forever, just gotta remember to change the oil sometimes 😂
You paid $137 for center bearing, jeez, i paid $66 for a new genuine one on ebay a week ago
i got a vz crewman got 400000kms s pack
Good utes
I'll back Toyota any day.
I’ll back my au falcon wagon to go beyond 750000k & cost way less ( properly maintained ) than most , if not all Toyota’s to get it there . Before the fan boys ( or girls ) get on there high horse , I also own an 2006 lc100 with an fte .
I loved my old commy ute untill she got destroyed
90s cars are still better ...
Know what you mean,got a VY crewman with 420,000 and love it,buy a new one if I could.
Does it genuinely have 500k on the original engine, etc? I remember you saying before you sold it, it had 400ish on it, but the cluster was swapped after you sold it🫠
yup!