Advice wanted on Ford/Holden utes

[gijoe1313]

So you going to ride and collect it and put the bike straight onto it?

[Gremlin]

Hmm... been almost 2 months since I started the thread... still hunting.

The value of a good pre-purchase check was highlighted this morning on what looked like a very nice VU Storm ute. However, once the family mechanic had thrown it on the hoist, possible evidence of crash damage, new suspension components not fitted correctly, engine misfiring and various other things... crikey, stayed well clear. Looks like I'm confined to utes I can put through the mechanic coz it's pretty cheap insurance. Don't mind the odd potential issue if the price reflects it, but not after one that's been thrashed and not maintained

Still got a few more to slowly work through... but the bloody budget keeps creeping up. I initially started looking for older in the $5-7k range, but liked the increased space of VU, then the air bags, cruise control etc, so want a minimum of an S rather than base... now it's looking more like $12-13k

The gold one has disappeared, with extra knowledge it was probably a good buy. Another ute owner was a smoker, so ruled it out fast, one wanted a bit too much (then sold shortly after I thought no)... and so on...

Realised a couple of days ago I don't want to add up the amount of time spent every evening reading, learning, trawling forums for knowledge etc. In typical fashion, I've made an excel spreadsheet of every North Island ute, split between VU-VY-VZ (but I'll avoid the Alloytec) and base, S, SS... got 1-2 pages of utes, which allows quick comparisons to it's peers...

[Akzle]

The value of a good pre-purchase check was highlighted this morning

...I've made an excel spreadsheet of every North Island ute,

a) good

b) pah!
surely ute > no ute?

guess you're not much of an impulse buyer.

(got a thrashed L200 i'll sell you for 5-7k$)

[Gremlin]

Well, my hunt for a 4 wheeled contraption is over... agreeing to a ute from a dealer in Mt Maunganui (collecting on Saturday).

$11,500, 166k and seems to be in excellent nick. The oddity is that it has the next model front end (VY front on VU II), not sure if an owner simply wanted it or what...

[nodrog:Me]

Well, my hunt for a 4 wheeled contraption is over... agreeing to a ute from a dealer in Mt Maunganui (collecting on Saturday).

$11,500, 166k and seems to be in excellent nick. The oddity is that it has the next model front end (VY front on VU II), not sure if an owner simply wanted it or what...

CHOICE! make sure you take all the doors and panels off until you get used to driving it.

[ducatilover]

Not bad at all

[Gremlin]

CHOICE! make sure you take all the doors and panels off until you get used to driving it.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure if I stamp on the brake it will stop and not fall over?

If I manage to get this to fall over I'm doing something very wrong

[Mental Trousers]

Make sure you check for crash damage if it's got a different front on it. Otherwise, it looks ..... loud.

[Nova.]

shoulda got a maloo, faggot.

[Gremlin]

Make sure you check for crash damage if it's got a different front on it. Otherwise, it looks ..... loud.

Yeah, was worried about that, but any possible damage has been well repaired. Welds above wheel well look original etc. Dealer said something about a previous owner being a good customer of insurance but didn't want it back. Pre-purchase showed no signs, but I'll only truly know when family mechanic puts it on the hoist and gives it a final check. Probably early in the new year (combined with service) as he's booked out to Christmas bar urgent stuff.

Not that loud, supposed to sound nice, but it's "only" a v6.

shoulda got a maloo, faggot.

Hah. V8, expensive to buy, expensive to maintain (HSV parts), uses premium gas where the Holden ones use 91 etc etc. I imagine there will be a V8 ute in my future, but this will suffice for several years...

[Mental Trousers]

Not that loud, supposed to sound nice, but it's "only" a v6.

Loud as in the graphics.