In VR/S the model hierarchy goes

Exec (base)
Acclaim
Berlina
I don't think they made the calais in a wagon in VR/S

Exec is pretty basic and in may or may not have aircon, depending on options.

Acclaim has aircon/power steer and cruise control with executive like trim

Berlina adds better trim and power windows over the acclaim.

I think VT was similar but somewhere around there they started renaming all the models so stuff like lumina, omega and everything in between etc appeared.

Greenroom said...

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. >>>>>>

Not sure I follow you here, I can put the backrest down fine with the rear squab still in place.
But I have thought about removing the rear seat all together, save a bit of weight, and give a bit more room, but I'd need to add a bar or something to support the front of the boards.

decrepit said...

Greenroom said...

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. >>>>>>

Not sure I follow you here, I can put the backrest down fine with the rear squab still in place.
But I have thought about removing the rear seat all together, save a bit of weight, and give a bit more room, but I'd need to add a bar or something to support the front of the boards.

On the VS and VR the rear headrest is a bit bulkier and makes it hard to push the back of the rear seat down. I think the VN and VP use slimmer headrests, which is probably why you can push the rear seat's back down all the way.

If you want to remove the base of the seat its a simple matter of sitting in between the front and rear seats and kneeing the rear squab until the clips come out and the seat can be taken out. It will take you all of 2 minutes. It won't save much weigh in itself though, but I think taking out the back wouldn't be worth the trouble as it won't get in the way either.

Go all the way and take out the front passenger seat too! :)

And... not too sure if you answered it... BUT are you able to fit:
2 Boards
4 Sails 6.2 - 4.5
2 Booms
2 Masts 200cm each (two piece)
Plus a box of fins etc


WHILIST A PERSON IN THE PASSANGER SEAT?
or must it be folded down?

Cheers For all the replies fellas!

Look out for a Lexcen wagon (VP Commodore) with an extra seat in th back. My wife tried to take out a landcruiser in it and when they rebuilt it the windscreen leaked water onto the computer. $1000 each time we had a heavy rain, then the heater core, then the headgasket.............
The cooling system is supposed to get anticorrosion tablets when it is serviced but a mechanic friend told me they never put them in because the damn cars would never break down.
Oh , and NEVER jumpstart them with one of those jumper kits, It shocks the fuelpump INSIDE the fuel tank and the pump dies about 100kms later requiring the fuel tank to be dropped out of the car

choco said...

The way fuel prices are you can't beat this model for economy.

Is that why only rich people have them?

FormulaNova said...

If you want to remove the base of the seat its a simple matter of sitting in between the front and rear seats and kneeing the rear squab until the clips come out and the seat can be taken out. It will take you all of 2 minutes. It won't save much weigh in itself though, but I think taking out the back wouldn't be worth the trouble as it won't get in the way either.

Go all the way and take out the front passenger seat too! :)

Is this legal?

nobody said...

You guys should just change the name of this thread to:
"Which Falcadore wagon?" or "Which Commodore Wagon?"

Sounds like your just busting to start a "Which Camry" or "Which Magna" thread

Yeah me too
Looks like its almost 1am for you?

Toyota Camry. Only trouble with them is that sometimes the engine can start to show subtle signs of wear after the first 400,000km.

Is there anything i should be looking for in the VT Series 2... Were they a good build? nice to drive etc?

Thanks Fellas!

DavMen said...

sflack said...

Is there anything i should be looking for in the VT Series 2... Were they a good build? nice to drive etc?

Thanks Fellas!

Disc brakes usually need machining (common ailment)- lightly ride the brakes down a steep hill - to see if it pulses/vibrates through the brake pedal. Not an overly expensive fix though.

But generally are they pretty good? Unlike the ford that blows head gaskets? Last thing i wanna do is buy a lemon!

nobody said...

landyacht said...

The cooling system is supposed to get anticorrosion tablets when it is serviced but a mechanic friend told me they never put them in because the damn cars would never break down.

Wouldn't surprise me. I've heard bad things about dealer servicing like they are full of apprentices etc. There is a common term called "mechanicd". This refers to all the problems you get when you get the car back after it has been "fixed". Or when you go to work on your car later to find stripped threads etc.

Exhibit A:
www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=52034&vf=12

I've just noticed a hole in the rail of one of my boards, had me really scratching my head.
Then I twigged, this was the board I tried in the falcon wagon, I heard a "clunk" when I put it in, then noticed the back seat bolt sticking into the cargo space, but didn't bother to check the board.

Must have hit it harder than I thought, there's a nice bolt size hole in the rail.
So if you go for a falcon wagon be very careful, or do something about the bolt.

I have a VT equipe.

Have driven quite a few falcons for work in the past, and now drive camrys.

When I got the equipe I really only considered the commodore or the magna, falcons are very hit and miss- you can get one with no issues at all and never have to touch it or you get one with all the problems in the world. The falcons are nice to drive though, and are more comfortable on long distance trips than a commodore.

Magna's I like and they are very well equiped for the money. 3 things I didn't like when I looked at them- space, no split/fold rear seat, whilst they are smooth I just don't appreciate the way they drive when compared to a commodore or falcon (ie engine response wise and where they make their power). As said only consider post 98 but for the money I wouldn't really bother with anything earlier than TJ. Interior is a little plain, and seats are a bit flat also. Another point is they don't have roof rack rails like the commodore. Post '05 has excellent warranty also.

Subie's I like, however someone said they are fuel economical- its the one thing the boxers aren't, the do go through more fuel than a standard 4. I'm told they do like fouling lifters. Brilliantly simple engines though. In an ideal world i'd be driving a b-spec liberty wagon to the beach.

Commodores- earlier commodores VR is the pick of the bunch, from memory the VS swapped over to ecotech and it stuffed a few things up. I found the VS nice to drive at the time though. VT wise- go with the VT II. Probably biggest thing to look for is rear suspension, if it's leaning on inside tyre then suspension will need replacing. Also as I recently found out expect radiator to go at any time with this sort of age car. Biggest annoyances are slight movement in body makes doors rub say when going over speed bump, can't really figure out why this annoys me so much- probably some silicon spray would fix anyway. The don't brake anywhere near as well as earlier commodores. And fuel caps break, look at every second VT series car.

Camry's- apart from the latest model I haven't been impressed. I'm not going to list all the reasons why.

Regarding removing seats- the car should be complianced for the new number of seats.