Commodore VL vs Aussie R31 Skyline

[friendlyfrog]

Which car is better? Which car is faster? Which is more reliable? and why?

Id appreciate your thoughts thanks

[Deano]

Which car is better?

I'm not sure which car is better. People have their preferences.

Which car is faster?

The VL is marginally quicker as they are about 200kg + lighter than the skyline

Which is more reliable? and why?

The Skyline is more reliable than the VL. The VL is prone to cracking heads and CAS problems. Both cars have these problems but the VL more.

[NA_R33]

i reckon they'd have to be pretty damn similar, but id have to say skyline, just cause its a skyline. But no honestly im not the one to be answering, i had a vl for my first car and it was an awesome car just gotta make sure u get it inspected by a mechanic before u buy it.

[NA_R33]

yes make sure they do i think its either an o2 or co2 check they put a sensor where ur radiatior cap should be and if it detects the gas it means the it neads a new head gasket or its warped or cracked

[friendlyfrog]

very insightful, thanks for the fast reply. I would welcome anyone elses opinions.

I have been looking at alot of things, but i cant find alot comparing these two cars.

[predator]

There is a review online somewhere, where it compares the R31 and the VL commodore. I believe they said that that the aussie skyline had a better build quality and had slightly better handling than the equivelent VL. Knowing Nissan compared to Holden I'd say that'd be true.

Well my old R31 was up to about 280,000km before i sold it still going strong. They have a very strong engine (capable of some 350,000km) if treated well.

The power output on the R31 is 8kw up on the VL for some reason (different exhaust?)

try www.r31skylineclub.com -- they have some old articles on there.

[floody]

I'm not sure which car is better. People have their preferences.

I like my R31. The fit and finish and overall build quality is better than the VL. It feels "sportier" to drive. It handles better. The interior is marginally more modern.

Overall they are just a higher quality vehicle.

The VL is marginally quicker as they are about 200kg + lighter than the skyline

erm...this is mostly myth. VL weighs about 1250(SL) to 1355 (Calais) DRY (no fuel, oil, coolant), the R31 quoted DRY weight is 1320 (GX) to 1400 (Ti, GTS) . In fact mine weighed in at 1280kg* with ~30l of fuel, plus full oil, coolant etc, spare, toolkit, melways, all the crap you find inside...Making its dry weight more like 1245 or so

The R31 is also purported to have 4kw more than the VL. As it happens mine runs substantially harder than most NA VL's, my only mods were replacing the panel filter in the airbox with a direct replacement K&N one.

The R31 also runs a substantially lower diff ratio which really helps response off the line, and doesn't really hurt top speed, they're still geared for ~230kmh at 6k in top (manual) ....on a closed course

In the twisties or at the track, similarly equipped R31 should pants the VL too.

The Skyline is more reliable than the VL. The VL is prone to cracking heads and CAS problems. Both cars have these problems but the VL more.

This is true. I think the CAS probs are pretty well shared , though I haven't had a worry with mine in 2 years and counting, car is up to 260000kms..

The head cracking is more of a VL thing, as the radiator is mounted lower and they're prone to air bubbles vapour locking coolant out of the head, nasty, as its the high spot... Be sure to bleed the intake manifold of air when changing coolant in either one, to be safe.

Now there are some downsides, things like brake upgrades, RB30ET conversions, mag wheel availability all suffer. Replacement Panels are hard to find in good condition, especially the left side and especially 10/88 onwards build cars with the updated front and rear ends. Mechanicals are pretty bulletproof, bar the diffs which seem to be a little fragile/prone to premature wear, but can be fixed.

But if you want a nicer car, the R31 is it.

*Taken at an accurately calibrated weighbridge (ie can weigh down to my girlfriend's 60 Kg accurately). My car is a 1989 Series 3 R31 sedan, it is a GX, and it is a manual. Automatics and wagons will be heavier.

[friendlyfrog]

That was a heaps good reply floody very helpful

If anyone knows of any articles online or anything like that could they please send me the adress?

cheers

[SKY031]

I've scanned a review comparing the VL & R31

There are also other various R31 reviews available in the same gallery.

Click here

[friendlyfrog]

Thankyou, that article is very detailed and helpful

[Cubes]

My second car was a really clean NA 3ltr Auto VL. On the dyno it made 88rwkw standard after a EFI clean thingo.. Carbon clean I think it was called.

It used to spin the wheels slightly off the line and used to drop wild burn outs (first all the way down the road or first then second on the spot).

Up and rolling from 80km/h onwards it used to leave my mates VN SII Commodore.

It used to leave my mates EB 4ltr Auto Fairmont from a standing start. Basically mine would launch slightly harder with maybe my self sitting at his front pillar then as first gear would rev It would pull until he was sitting at the rear of my back door, it would click second fairly hard then keep pulling.

Off the line against the VL it was slow. I had a run against a friend of a friends NA R31 Skyline (stove rear lights model, not the plain straight rear lights), he had the jump then once again when mine started to rev it pulled away. Not as much as from the EB but still slowly pulled away.

The Auto would sit dead even with acceleration against a local VN V8 stocker Statesman (flat arse end).

Then I fitted an exhaust which to my knowledge now was a very bad exhaust with protruding lumps in the resonator (lots of turbulence), it was a 2.5" with a set of cheap extractors. I then fitted the 5 speed which really made it haul.

From a standing start it would leave VS commodore and a local VN V8 Auto Statesman that I had many runs with.

Then it got over 200,000km's on the clock and started getting slow.

Noticibly slowler. Until it was frustrating to drive and was level with my mates EB falcon. It was damn reliable for around 50,000km's that I owned or thrashed it for

So I traded it in on a VS V8 5 Speed Exec Commodore, FE2, SRS, ABS, IRS. BIG MISTAKE. The thing was around the same speed as the VL was in first then second, third etc it would pull harder obviously. After a few mods things started breaking.

Gearbox, Diff, rear IRS chassis cracked from one of the diff bolt mounting holes = arse end sitting on ground, well bumpers sitting on the ground with 45degree's negative camber. All within 60,000km's or 1 year of hardish driving. Still not as hard as I drove the VL though.

Bought the R32 GTS-T pumped 1-1.1 bar in to it with a FMIC & exhaust and never looked back. Nothing has broken in 60,000km's or 2 years of definately hard driving.

Japs definately know how to make a tough motor/driveline.

I always laugh when I hear ignorant people calling the jap cars 'jap crap'.

They have no idea. Especially after the problems I had with the Aussy Muscle V8 Commodore Crap.

[predator]

The Auto would sit dead even with acceleration against a local VN V8 stocker Statesman (flat arse end).

Yup, i remember the days well.. giving the old VR and VS V6's a decent run as well.. By about VT and VX they started to get faster in the 6's. But considering some 10 years difference you have to wonder sometimes.

It used to spin the wheels slightly off the line and used to drop wild burn outs (first all the way down the road or first then second on the spot).

Yup, you always could give it a good squirt and slide the ass out a bit if you were bored. Did it often

ahhh, the memories.. I seriously want another one as a 2nd car, and maybe while i transgress betweeen the R33 and whatever other sports thingo i get.

[slip]

R31 for sure. Just look at the inside of a ser 3 skyline compared to a VL.

RB30E's vary, mine is crap up top, some have good top end, some are more powerful for no apparent reason (bloody kryz). Which is faster will vary car to car.

In my experience, the 31's drive better than the VL's overall.

Wheel selection is a pain, but R33 aftermarket non turbo, and silvia wheels fit, so this makes it a bit easier.

Mine has been really reliable. The diff is fine. I did two or 3 skidpan days before I even changed the oil in it. It looked like someone had crapped in the diff when i dropped the oil. Did another 3 skidpan days and its fine. Used a diff treatment and full synth fluid and its quieter now. In 4yrs Ive had the following breakdowns: Clutch slave and master cyl, Dizzy (probably the bloody CAS), water pump, water pump gasket, and power steering pump, and its had a seriously hard time.

The only reason I would buy a VL over a 31 is if I had a blind loyalty to holden.

[predator]

One thing that can make a big difference on an old car can be an ancient cat converter. After a few years become totally clogged and restrict flow.. my brothers ancicent XF went from slug to hero just with cat-converter change. Was at 300,000km or so too

[Dsturbd]

VL drum breaks on the rear .. unless calais or V8

power steer and air con optional & 25 spline diff

R31 has all the goooooood stuff

never had a CAS problem with a 31 ...

VLs run a different set up and the rad sits a little lower ...

[OriGKryZ]

I hate this discussion. Tetris lights suck! (VL)

And just to put in my 2 cents 1 out of the 50 plus na VLS beat me because it was my cousins when he put 5 litres of AVGAS in the bloody thing.

[Junior Zilla]

VL'S are nissans with pieces missin....

the only VL i get beaten by are the turbo calais

[JezR31]

VL'S are nissans with pieces missin....

the only VL i get beaten by are the turbo calais

thats like saying the R31 is a holden with holden peices missing.

the VL is a holden with a nissan heart

oh and the R31 is better than the VL

[Zahos]

I had an R31 silhoutte for 6 - 7 years, and I never had a problem with it.

Build quality was much better than a VL, same as interior and handling. Have you seen the interior on a VL??? It's a SHOCKER!!!!

The Silhouette seats were very comfortable, and things like trip computer, LSD, thick padded steering wheel make it more appealing.

The VL head is more prone to cracking, as it sits a little higher than the radiator, and gets more cold air flow to it (Holden engineers missed that one?)

Maybe mine was just a freakish one off, but my auto R31 (S2 - tetris lights ) used to blow VL's away.... pulled harder than a lot of VR's too (had trouble with VN's though - straight line)

I have to say I was very happy with that car, and at 300,000 K's it was still going strong, and in immaculate condition, where most VL's look like they've been through war at that stage....

Go the R31

[TIMMMAYYY]

i love the way everyone says the build quality of the VL is so shit when they have never owned one before.