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Vt Ss Ls1 - Who Has Driven One, Who Owns One?

CEF11E

By CEF11E,
in General Automotive Discussion

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CEF11E Veteran

CEF11E

Posted
Posted

Hey all,

I am looking at getting a "family" car and still want some power but also want something bigger and like a lounge chair.

Who has actually driven an ls1 powered TV commodome?

I have had turbo nissans for years and currently have an RB30dET powered R32. yes i know it is not going to be any where near as fast. i expect that but juus want an honest review from a skyline driver.

no commonwhores are crap comments please.

I will only have 15k to spend and want a less than 10 year old comfortable car with power and space

Granthem Mentor

Granthem

Posted
Posted

I would save up a wee bit more and get a VX SS. I think they got a different head design and with and exhaust and extractors will still be quite speedy. Appearance wise they are also a major step up (IMO). They can be had for 15k and upwards.

Modena Grand Master

Modena

Posted
Posted
Hey all,

I am looking at getting a "family" car and still want some power but also want something bigger and like a lounge chair.

Who has actually driven an ls1 powered TV commodome?

I have had turbo nissans for years and currently have an RB30dET powered R32. yes i know it is not going to be any where near as fast. i expect that but juus want an honest review from a skyline driver.

no commonwhores are crap comments please.

I will only have 15k to spend and want a less than 10 year old comfortable car with power and space

Ive driven the VU SS ute... I think it is a VX equivalent as the VT model did not have utes.

The car feels super fast, quicker than my R33 GTST. Can be thirsty on local streets.

Many early LS1s had piston slap defect, so make sure to ceck it out prior purchase as the only way to rectify it is to rebuild the engine.

Go for VX SS, with the petrol prices I am sure you can find one for 16 K more or less.

short-shift Apprentice

short-shift

Posted
Posted

Ls1 with a good tune in it ($300-$600) will be your best bet. As for the piston slap and oil burning look it up on ls1.com.au, have yet to see one fail because of either issue. Both can be managed.

For the $$$ VX calais or statesman would be worth a look in a V6 even supercharged (V6 supercharged can have head issues if over heated)

In the V6 range you can get a good car for the $$$, but a well tuned LS1 would be more fun and as good on fuel as the V6.

Have a look on ls1.com.au for sale section, bargins can be had.

Cheers

Kerry

Yidz Experienced

Yidz

Posted
Posted

I previously owned a VX SS M6 and they are a great car. Mine had just 200kw atw but had plenty of up and go. Only reason I sold it was I wanted something different and at the time I had just taken a trainee position and couldnt afford loan + fuel etc. If you are going to buy a manual, hsv short shifter is the go too!

Mine had been rebuilt but still had a touch of piston slap. Didnt cause any problems at all though. It was just a bit of a noise but with the exhaust you could hardly hear it :D

I would recommend one to anyone. Especially how easy it is to pull some nice power out of them :)

Sold mine just over a year ago for $16500. Wasnt immaculate but I kept it in good nick..

evil_weevil Grand Master

evil_weevil

Posted
Posted

I had a VT LS1 exec 6 speed before I had my line.

I had it for 3 years.

All I had on it was a set of 17's, full exhaust, some suspension and a tune

made 213rwkw and did EC in 2.02

Not bad for a big taxi!!!

It was big, roomy and confortable.

I had a few options in it - cruise, cd, air, power windows, lsd so yeah, was pretty good, cheaper to insure than an SS also. Never had dramas with oil consumption or piston slap.

I really liked that car!

Id suggest though going for a VXii LS1 powered commodore. Slightly more refined.

Just keep looking around, you'll find a decent one around after a while! Some standard, some minor mods, some wild mods.

One thing though I cannot stress though, is make sure you have an exhaust on it as its bloody quiet when standard!!!!!! :D

I sold it for 19.5k back in 2005

NISMO Grand Master

NISMO

Posted
Posted

I had a VX SS a few years back for the exact same reasons as you've stated.

Personally i would never buy one again.

Nothing was actually wrong with the car, just not my cup of tea. I had a 78 Skyline C210 which felt better through corners than the SS did.

Mine was a Black 6Sp, and yes plenty of grunt and a nice sounding engine, however the interior left a lot to be desired in terms of build quality.

At the time I was tossing up between the SS and an R34 sedan. I went the SS to get away from imports from a while and because I always wanted an 8, but regretted the decision within a few months. In the end I had the car for a little over a year before I sold it.

Personally I would go for a nice 6 as theses would feel just as quick in general driving given how heavy the SS's are.

CEF11E Veteran

CEF11E

Posted
  • Author
Posted

guys, i really appreciate the input.

it looks like i am going to stick with imports.

stagea, legnum both wagons, 4wd, 2.5 litre turbo 1998 models had for the money.

aristo, cima, chaser, all older 1996 odd. bit more unique. aristo 2jz is an advantage but the car is really getting a bit old.

Yidz Experienced

Yidz

Posted
Posted (edited)
I had a VX SS a few years back for the exact same reasons as you've stated.

Personally i would never buy one again.

Nothing was actually wrong with the car, just not my cup of tea. I had a 78 Skyline C210 which felt better through corners than the SS did.

Mine was a Black 6Sp, and yes plenty of grunt and a nice sounding engine, however the interior left a lot to be desired in terms of build quality.

At the time I was tossing up between the SS and an R34 sedan. I went the SS to get away from imports from a while and because I always wanted an 8, but regretted the decision within a few months. In the end I had the car for a little over a year before I sold it.

Personally I would go for a nice 6 as theses would feel just as quick in general driving given how heavy the SS's are.

Interesting perspective. Did you have any suspension mods done to your SS? Only because mine was lowered and had aftermarket springs & shocks and it felt fantastic around corners. It suprised a lot of people. Never drove one with standard suspension though so I can't really comment.

I know I'll get mauled on here but I don't understand how people like the look of Stagea's? I think they look ugly as...

Always had a soft spot for Aristos though :(

Edited by Yidz
NISMO Grand Master

NISMO

Posted
Posted
Interesting perspective. Did you have any suspension mods done to your SS? Only because mine was lowered and had aftermarket springs & shocks and it felt fantastic around corners. It suprised a lot of people. Never drove one with standard suspension though so I can't really comment.

I know I'll get mauled on here but I don't understand how people like the look of Stagea's? I think they look ugly as...

Always had a soft spot for Aristos though :(

Nah it was bone stock. I'm the opposite. I have never driven one with suspension mods so can't comment on that.

Going from an R33 I just didn't like the way they turned at all.

Like I said there was nothing "wrong" with the car, they're not a bad car at all, but for a family car with a bit of power I would definitely go a different route if I was to do it again.

evil_weevil Grand Master

evil_weevil

Posted
Posted

suspension,

Yidz, I feel the same - my VT actually went ok around EC!!!

suspension mods were minor...

although my 33 would eat it round a track x 11ty - for a family car with grunt, it went well and could hold its own!

and yep, I agree, stagea's are ugly :thumbsup::P

hehehehe

Yidz Experienced

Yidz

Posted
Posted
Nah it was bone stock. I'm the opposite. I have never driven one with suspension mods so can't comment on that.

Going from an R33 I just didn't like the way they turned at all.

Like I said there was nothing "wrong" with the car, they're not a bad car at all, but for a family car with a bit of power I would definitely go a different route if I was to do it again.

Yeah I can imagine going from the 33 would of been a world of difference.

To be honest I cant wait to get back into a Gen III. Keen on a VT GTS 300 or a VT Clubsport... Love the HSV styling. Big cam, blower etc :D Makes me wonder why im wasting my time on my thing now! :D

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