At the moment i have no cash, but at the end of the year im DEFINATLY going to need to sell my good ol' 1990 Toyota Corolla, to buy something bigger to fit my windsurfing kit!

I was thinkin either the Holden Commodore Wagon or the Ford Falcon Wagon.

Prob wanna spend between 2,500 to 7,000??

Any Ideas Fellas!

Cheers Steve

Volvo 960

imho any commodore with more than 150000 kms on the clock isnt worth touching... and dont get me wrong im not a ford fan really either, (truth be known i wouldnt have either of them after 100000 kms) but most people i know who have had either of them seem to get a better run out of the falcons. but they are both about as cheap as each other to run and service etc, so i reckon its all about finding 1 with low kms and an old fuddy duddy previous owner..... as for carrying your gear theres probably not much between them either..... hope that helps

I've just bought an old bomb, for a windsurfing wagon.
1990 Toyota Lexcen (commodore look alike) for $800, had to spend about $200 for new muffler, immobiliser etc. and spend a few hours repairing a few little things. Now the only worry is a noisy diff.
No rust, (this is amazing in an 18yr old car, that's had the use this obviously has.)
Blows no smoke.
still about 15-20K kilometers in the tyres.
brakes and steering both OK.
Everything fits inside, (except my 1 piece masts, but not many people have these today)

I had a look at a Falcon, drove well but lots of rust, and tyres worn out.
At first it looks as though the Falcon has more room as the front seat lays right back, level with the back seat, allowing stuff to go all the way thru under the dash. (In the lexcen/commodore, the front seat only tilts forwards)
But the rear squab, is held up by a couple of bolts that stick out into the luggage space, I hit my board on it the first time I tried it for room. (The Lexcen/commodore, is held by a couple of "U" shapes that don't extend into the main cargo area.)
These are both earlier models than you are thinking of, newer versions may be different.

decrepit said...

Also looked at a subaru, twice the price, ($1600) and very noisy, seemed to be on it's last legs.

Subi's sound like that when they are new. They sound the same 20 years later.

good cars though

Hey Decrep, have you tried taking the back seat out? Then you push the front passanger seat as far forward as it goes. Then wind it down as far as it goes. This allows you then to put the backrest of the back seat down. I do this in my '94 wagon. You can comfortably put 3 boards on their side and a surfboard on top. Masts go down the middle and then sails go behind the drivers seat.
I can lock up 3 windsurfers, 1 surfboard, 2 masts, 4 sails, 2 booms etc etc etc with plenty more room in my commodore wagon

Yeah well I meant for normal people who wnat to pack 1-2 boards, 1-2 masts and 3-4 sails.... not your 3 boards plus surfboard
bloody sparkies, license to print money obviously

Yeah too be honest tho, a subi its pretty much outta the question, due to the fact that they are just too expensive and a little bit small, even the foresters are a bit small.

Yeah and agreed that a 6cyl does chew through alot of juice, and with petrol at 1.40 in Melbourne (thieving bastards) its gonna make it hard, maybe if i found one on LPG? are the LPG tanks stored underneith???

So we are probably looking at a Ford at the moment, because 'apparantly' there is more room?

Are you able to fit in boards as well as people... aka do i have to lay the front seat down to fit in boards?

Cheers

Ive got a 2000 VT wagon. Best car Ive ever owned. It takes heaps of gear inside and is super reliable.
I can get 4 boards, masts down the centre, booms on top of masts and 5 sails in no worries. If the family is included then everything fits in except boards and booms on roof.
If you take the head rest off passenger seat, move it all the way forward and wind down its perfect.
Admittedly it does chew the gas being a 3.8l V6 but if you dont lead foot it its OK!!
The Fords lose space in the back with the spare standing up instead of under floor like Commodore.
Hope this helps.

WINDY MILLER said...

warnning..if u get an old ford wagon ea eb etc the head WILL blow at 150 - 200...they are programmed to about 2 grand to fix !!!! (so check if it has been changed OR factor it into your bargaining price) they leak on the gasket, so check colour of water in the reservoir.....also at that age, the other biggies to watch out for are the air con motor and worn seals in the power steering.....maybe similar probs with holden.

apart from that;;;; for oldies, fords n holden carry on 4 ever, and parts are cheap as chips if u go to wreckers.....

there is a reason why these are used 4 taxis!


get an rac inspection first...100 bucks for piece of mind!

Yeah man thanks loads, ill prob be taking a mechanic with me to check it out, but thats good info! Cheers

Watch the auto trans in the old falcons... A little like the heads - guaranteed to die...

For VT-VY commodores, watch the heater core, it's prone to corrosion

For VZ commodores, watch the sump, it’s lower than the rest of the bits and pieces at the front... Fortunately, if this is busted, you'll know all about it...

If choosing between falcon and commodore in that price range, I'd go a VT wagon (at your upper end – but expect new tyres, battery, rego, service etc etc). I'm not a fan of the rear suspension in the older falcons (vs the commodore) and the styling of the falcon wagon is intersting Oh and the driving, older falcons are like driving a couch. Commodores are a little more responsive

Go Magna Wagon "better built" - the 3.0V6 actually uses less fuel thanits 2.5/4cyl.
post 1994 is best, no rust usually.

I've currently got a 2004 VZ wagon.
Fit boards on the roof with every thing else inside or long enough to fit two boards inside including sails and gear.
You can spilt the back seats also to carry two passengers (one in the back and one in the front) including yourself with plently of space to spare.
Great as a daily driver.
Rear wheel drive so fun in the wet or on sand
Chews a bit of fuel when you stick the boot in. Plenty of power.
Cheap enough to service. Last major service (80Km's) cost $300.

Also great when you want to move house or take a trailer full of motorbikes away riding. for the weekend.

cheers,
Russ

I just went through this about 2 weeks ago and ended up getting a VR Commodore. compared to the Falcon they are marginally smaller but they are a fair bit lighter so use less fuel and the engines are quieter and don't have the problem with the heads. I got mine for $4500 and it's straight as a die and no rust. I drove it 300km on the weekend and was surprised how little fuel it used carrying 3 blokes and luggage.

My commodore VS wagon had 270k kms on it when I decided to swap the motor. There was nothing wrong (still great fuel economy) with the old V6 except for the fact that it wasn't supercharged...

As KA43 said with his VT, remove the headrest on the passenger side front seat and you can lay the seat down. With the VS you have to remove the seat's trim to get at the head rest clips, but once you get there you can modify the pins so that the headrest becomes removable when needed.

In theory with the VS and later you can fit your gear inside and someone in the seat behind the driver because of the 60/40 split. I hired a new falcon wagon recently and for some reason they do their split seat the other way which would make it impossible to have someone sit there as well as have a couple of boards on the passenger side.

Yeah awesome guys, ok im lookin at the holdens... whats all the difference with the models tho.. example:

Executive

Berlina

Acclaim

etc etc

Cheers