Jonny is a Bogan: Part 1
It's a VL Commodore, I know, I'm a massive bogan. But how did I come to acquire this potent street fighting machine?
Some friends were planing a practice day at Baskerville racetrack, with Corollas and things like that. Not wanting to miss out, I needed to buy a car within a few days. I wanted to spend only $2500 or less. I am thinking lap times from a standard car. What is the best Baskerville lap time I can get for $2500 with only a day to prepare a standard car? If I could get a similar time to friends that have spent thousands that would be a bonus. The car you choose for “bang for buck” may not be the same as the one you chose 10 years ago. Cars are getting older, and some are cheaper. I am aiming for maybe 73 second lap times.
I considered a FWD Corolla with the 4A-GE engine, but they are holding their value. Thinking power to weight, RWD, and cost, I chose the VL Commodore with the RB30E. In theory about 114kw, and 1250kg, and currently $2000 or less. I quickly found one on e-bay for 2 grand and clicked the buttons to buy. I found a manual Berlina!
Being “time poor” is the new self respecting term we proudly use to mean “I can't be bothered”. Either way, I didn't bother to check out the Commodore before committing to purchase. Only one small picture on e-bay is what I went on.
To retrieve my new race car we went deep beyond the flannel certain into suburbs I wasn't familiar with. I just wanted to pay the money and get out of there. I found it had a cracked windscreen and the tow-bar was half missing. Expecting to see rear disks since it was a Berlina, I found drum brakes. I actually doubt it was originally a Berlina now.
But there were some extra surprises. Navigating my first right turn a found visibility a bit hard past the A pillar due to... a boost gauge? A nice AutoMeter boost gauge... on a non turbo car. Nice. Along with the monster tacho with shift light, that wasn't hooked up either. Another extra was the bonnet scoop/vent thing. There was no actual hole in the bonnet, lucky for me.
Some friends were planing a practice day at Baskerville racetrack, with Corollas and things like that. Not wanting to miss out, I needed to buy a car within a few days. I wanted to spend only $2500 or less. I am thinking lap times from a standard car. What is the best Baskerville lap time I can get for $2500 with only a day to prepare a standard car? If I could get a similar time to friends that have spent thousands that would be a bonus. The car you choose for “bang for buck” may not be the same as the one you chose 10 years ago. Cars are getting older, and some are cheaper. I am aiming for maybe 73 second lap times.
I considered a FWD Corolla with the 4A-GE engine, but they are holding their value. Thinking power to weight, RWD, and cost, I chose the VL Commodore with the RB30E. In theory about 114kw, and 1250kg, and currently $2000 or less. I quickly found one on e-bay for 2 grand and clicked the buttons to buy. I found a manual Berlina!
Being “time poor” is the new self respecting term we proudly use to mean “I can't be bothered”. Either way, I didn't bother to check out the Commodore before committing to purchase. Only one small picture on e-bay is what I went on.
To retrieve my new race car we went deep beyond the flannel certain into suburbs I wasn't familiar with. I just wanted to pay the money and get out of there. I found it had a cracked windscreen and the tow-bar was half missing. Expecting to see rear disks since it was a Berlina, I found drum brakes. I actually doubt it was originally a Berlina now.
But there were some extra surprises. Navigating my first right turn a found visibility a bit hard past the A pillar due to... a boost gauge? A nice AutoMeter boost gauge... on a non turbo car. Nice. Along with the monster tacho with shift light, that wasn't hooked up either. Another extra was the bonnet scoop/vent thing. There was no actual hole in the bonnet, lucky for me.
In short, it's a total shit box. What had I done! Everything rattles. The dash is held in with 1 screw. Various lights flash on and off over bumps. The interior is sprayed back with a can. There is nothing I own that seams so old. My 1970s Corollas had better quality.
Adam could not stop laughing as we drove back through the suburbs with my VL. So bogan.
posted by Jonny at 7/09/2008 10:56:00 pm
10 Comments:
Ha ha where exactly does the flannel curtain run? Perhaps you could draw a line on Google Maps for me?
Many draw the line at Risdon Road, which is the boundary between NewTown and Moonah, or Hobart council and Glenorchy city council. But since the Moonah/Derwent Park areas are so usefull for retail and trade suplies, I would push the "flannel curtain" out to Grove Road Glenorchy. Basically, if you live north of Grove Road, your a bogan. I had to go to Berridale for the car.
And the Eastern Suburbs?
Speaking as someone who's lived in Berriedale, you might be stereotyping just a little...
> Speaking as someone who's lived in Berriedale, you might be stereotyping just a little...
*lived* in Berriedale??!!
lol!! flannel curtain, a boost gauge on a non-turbo car...
you should be ashamed of yourself johnny!! :)
Lap times?
Lap times are in part 3 of the story
Well, get onto part 2.
VL Berlinas didnt come with disc brakes as standard, they were an option. And 114kw was at the flywheel, and that was also when new, which is 20 odd years ago, 114kw converts to around 95rwkw, then take away the power it has lost over the 20 years of abuse. You got ripped off BAD dude lol! Try researching more before buying a car next time, and by no means should yougive an inspection a miss! i hop you learned your lesson lol.
Post a Comment
<< Home