2002 VX Commodore Broken down, Unsure Whether to Repair or What to Do to Get Money out of It

LInzo on 19/10/2017 - 14:50
Last edited 20/10/2017 - 09:13 by 1 other user

So my 2002 VX Commodore broke down a week ago when i got home from a long trip (400km) - happened to break down in a Woolies outdoor car park - so it's been sitting there since.

Roadside came and looked at it, and said probably a fuel pump.

Mechanic says about $375 to do the fuel pump.

My issues are:
* Unsure if that's the correct diagnosis / only fault, so may be other things / more costs to repair
* Spent $400 on last service, and $1200 on it 2 months before that, for suspension / tyres / issues
* I'm sick of pouring money into it, and i;d like it gone, and to get as much cash back as possible in doing so.

Not sure what my options are, considering the following factors:
* It currently doesn't start / drive
* It's got a large (foot and a half) crack up the passenger side of the windscreen
* It's missing the fuel filler outside cap
* The interior roof lining is falling down (it looks like Aladdin's bedroom)
* It could use a serious clean on the inside

In true OzBargain fashion, what do you feel is the best way to get the most amount of cash out of it, whilst getting rid of it?

(And inb4 Bikies - I don't think it has a comprehensive policy, so unless they want to buy it for parts and tow it, I don't think they can help.)
((Also inb4 buying $80k investment to replace it ))

Automotive

Comments

  • Nugs on 19/10/2017 - 14:53
    +3

    at least post photo on fb
    https://www.facebook.com/VtCommodoresWithNoFuelFlap/

  • tsunamisurfer on 19/10/2017 - 14:54
    +18

    Please no more $80k investment jokes, it ceased to be funny a week after the event.

    • Inzo on 19/10/2017 - 15:18
      +3

      that's why I thought i'd get it out of the way early

  • godofpizza on 19/10/2017 - 14:57

    how much rego is left on the car? or when it it due?

    might be time to getting it scrapped, unless you will to fork out the money to have the car towed to the mechanic to get it repaired.

    can you afford another car if you were to get rid of your VX?

    good luck OP

    • Inzo on 19/10/2017 - 15:30
      +1

      6 - 8 months rego, so definitely planning to get some of that and the CTP refunded.

      Have already acquired a new vehicle this week, which is why i'm now ready to cut my losses and be done with the commo.

      I can get 1 free tow out of my roadside, so i guess my choices are

      • Wreckers who tow it themselves
      • wreckers i tow it to (and maybe get more money if they dont have to tow it)
      • Private buyer i can tow it to (lol, who wants a broken down 15year old commo)
      • snook on 21/10/2017 - 10:51
        +1

        You'll get next to nothing of rego/ctp back. It is worth more with the rego left to go.

        You're better off fixing it and selling with the rego.

  • Yttrium on 19/10/2017 - 15:02

    Buy a bicycle

    • Inzo on 19/10/2017 - 15:30

      An option, sure, unclear how that gets me any cash back from the busted one though…

  • supnigs super skids on 19/10/2017 - 15:06

    Sell car wrecker if you want money and get rego moneys.

    Or fix car

  • Euphemistic on 19/10/2017 - 15:07

    Option One: Cancel the rego, receive a refund. Sell it to a wrecker. - Quick, easy, low cash
    Option Two: Repair, clean, replace windscreen, repair hood lining then sell ASAP while it's running. - Relatively quick, not so easy, cash outlay before return.
    Option Three: Part it out. Slow with a wrecked car in your drive, work disassembling, more cash.
    Option Four: Give it away for free via gumtree. No work, easy, no cash.

    • dylanando on 19/10/2017 - 15:22
      +11

      Option Five: Buy a slab and sit in the car drinking while you wait for a mate.

      • Inzo on 19/10/2017 - 15:32
        +3

        (profanity) yes, my names James!!

        • dylanando on 19/10/2017 - 15:35
          +2

          You know what to do!

    • HeWhoKnows on 20/10/2017 - 18:26
      +1

      I think you are being a bit Euphemistic, especially with Option 2 - a sure losing deal

  • shapers on 19/10/2017 - 15:27
    +1

    Is it a V6 or V8?

    If you can afford another car Id just sell it to the wreckers.
    Too much wrong with it to bother fixing and selling. (Unless its an SS)
    If you cant afford another car id fix the fuel pump and keep on driving it.

    • Inzo on 19/10/2017 - 15:31
      +3

      v6 with 270,000km on the clock

      probably ready for Holden heaven anyways tbh.

      • godofpizza on 19/10/2017 - 15:35
        +1

        given that it might not even be road worthy with the broken windscreen. It best to get it moving or it will get defected.

      • shapers on 19/10/2017 - 15:35

        Yeah, if it were a V8 id get it fixed up, but unfortunately (for us both) V6s arent worth anything really (especially ones in your condition)
        If tyres are still good id take them (and anything else worthwhile e.g good headunit, amp etc) and swap them for bad ones then get the wreckers to pick it up, then sell the tyres and extras

  • altomic on 19/10/2017 - 16:06
    +7

    fuel pumps can be bought off ebay for ~$70 delivered. it's not rocket surgery to install.

    if you've pumped $1200 into suspension / tyres / issues then throw another $70.

    DIY fix the interior roof lining

    • pantsparty on 19/10/2017 - 16:12

      This sounds worthwhile to me. According to the redbook price guide it should be worth $2k…… surely you can get $1k for it….

    • frostee on 19/10/2017 - 16:21

      Staple gun a rack of staples ought to do it for the roof!

    • JIMB0 on 19/10/2017 - 21:18

      Don't you need to drop the tank on Commodores, unlike most Jap cars where you can access the fuel pump from under the back seat? Still not too hard a job, but may draw attention in a wollies car park.

      • mattyman on 20/10/2017 - 12:37

        Pretty sure this is the case with the VX.

  • Brucet on 19/10/2017 - 16:23

    Better sell it to car wrecker . Don't waste any money on it.

  • Ocker on 19/10/2017 - 16:29
    -5

    Leave it in the Woolies carpark and,

    1. Remove the plates and any other identifying marks.
    2. Jack it up and put it bricks so you can remove the wheels and tyres
    3. Cash in on the unused rego/insce
    4. Forget about it
    • tee123 on 19/10/2017 - 16:56

      he can give it to wreckers and they will pay him money? have you read anything on this thread

      • whooah1979 on 20/10/2017 - 18:33

        $100 or so from a wrecker. Four good wheels and types should sell for more than that on fb/gt.

    • berry580 on 21/10/2017 - 06:36

      This is ozbargain. Not heartlessbargain.

    • Ridiculous Panda on 21/10/2017 - 16:58
      -1

      Cars have VIN’s, mate. Do you hink if you steal a car and then remove the plates, then the police will never find out whose car it is?

  • Peck on 19/10/2017 - 19:07

    FYI roof lining replacement will cost you approx $250, but will look great!

    • OzJD on 21/10/2017 - 10:35
      +2

      …when I had a Commodore, it was a trip to Cabramatta to buy cheap material, and a trip to Bunnings for adhesive. Looked better than original IMO.

  • JIMB0 on 19/10/2017 - 21:22
    +8

    Suck all the remaining fuel out of the tank to use in your next car. I'd also take the air from the tires.

    • modsec802 on 20/10/2017 - 06:49

      I reckon the fuel would already be gone

    • HeWhoKnows on 20/10/2017 - 18:23

      Why not take the tyres?

      • JIMB0 on 20/10/2017 - 22:05
        +6

        They'd need to be the same size as your new car. Air however is a universal fit.

    • JTTheMan on 21/10/2017 - 15:51

      Yeah, you wouldn't want to waste good air, especially compressed air. That stuff is gold! :)

  • [Deactivated] on 20/10/2017 - 08:10
    -2

    Tow to your street then put commode parts on gumtree ,
    Engine may be $500 , tyres suspension $300+ maybe, diff , windows , doors ,a least a carton of beer and byo spanners
    then the wreakers can come for the rest

    • HeWhoKnows on 20/10/2017 - 18:22
      +1

      Your estimates are way overstated as is your advice.
      These are removed - walk away part prices from wreckers with guarantee.
      Privately much, much less - especially if parts must be removed by buyer.
      Council wont allow this on public land either. Would need to be on private property.
      Then you have major clean up issues from waste oil and fuel.
      And wreckers wont be interested in a stripped Commodore.
      Best to get rid of the car "whole" either privately or to a wrecker

      • [Deactivated] on 20/10/2017 - 19:11
        -6

        Gee ,soooo sorry
        I defer to the ' expert ' bogan

        • pegaxs on 20/10/2017 - 23:13
          +1

          Amay has a point. That’s how bogans end up with front yards full of partial commodores and falcons.

          I part out bikes from time to time and it’s shit work to do from home. People want all the parts that are hardest to get out and leave the car unusable and unable to be moved. Or they want one seat but the next guy only wants all the seats.

          The spare parts market is saturated as hell for domestic shitboxes. And at the end of the day, OP would still have to call someone to remove what’s left of the car even if they did sell those parts.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/10/2017 - 21:10
          -1

          @pegaxs:geez , it was general advice given to someone asking
          Not meant verbatim
          Use your imagination

        • pegaxs on 21/10/2017 - 22:00
          -1

          @Beach Bum: Your original comment sounded more bogan then Amay’s comment. Tow it home and wreck it out. You were the one who quoted “expert” prices. Then you had a go at Amay for being the expert bogan when your comment was 10x more bogan.

          I did use my imagination. And it seems a few others think your comments were a little blunt as well.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/10/2017 - 22:57

          @pegaxs: I'm sorry you didn't see my ' advice' was said in jest.
          A little less indignation and a little more imagination would go a long way in some of these threads

        • pegaxs on 21/10/2017 - 23:19
          -1

          @Beach Bum: You copped a load of negs over it. Guess I wasn’t the only one that your “jesting” was lost on.

  • boinkpatrol on 20/10/2017 - 09:44

    Youtube is your bestfriend to help you to fix the fuel pump.

  • Solarlux on 20/10/2017 - 10:51

    On my way to work everyday I see at least one broken down car and 8 out of 10 are commonwhores, the wreckers must be jam packed with them. Get it towed to a scrap merchant you might be surprised how much you get for scrap steel! Yes if the wheels and tyres are good keep them for use or sale and anything else that may have real value. As of today commonwhores are dinosaurs, extinct, gone… I can't wait to be able to buy an American car… built in Mexico… front wheel drive… Oh crap… okay maybe a Mercedes… oh crap, built in Mexico too!!! Maybe a Tesla😊

    • serpserpserp on 21/10/2017 - 12:59

      A Tesla? It'll be recalled in 6 months.

  • HeWhoKnows on 20/10/2017 - 18:16
    +2

    How much registration?
    I have a friend with exactly the same car, same issues.
    He has also had radiator problems, electrolysis, gearbox problems and air bag light coming on with a buzz and $500-$1000 to fix that alone.
    Ths car is just not worth keeping. Its gonna keep costing you money.
    The obvious is just to get rid of it.
    Not a case of what you can get for it but rather the money you will save by not keeping it.
    Just call a wrecker and get what you can for it.
    Take the rego plates back and get a refund on the balance of the rego.
    Done and dusted

  • misfitt1911 on 20/10/2017 - 21:46
    +1

    Get rid of it. You will save your money and your sanity.

    I had the same car, which also had a lot of trouble starting. My mechanics were unable to pinpoint the problem, so I did not want to spend money on parts that may not fix the problem.

  • pegaxs on 20/10/2017 - 23:05
    +3

    I would say, burn it and claim insurance. But being an old commodore, the box of matches needed to torch it would cost more than the car… :D

    Take the plates off, hand them in. Get your rego/ctp refunded. Drain the fuel out if it has a mostly full tank and use it in your next car. ring a wrecker and ask them if they pay for old cars, if not, call a metal recyclers, they often do and most fo these will come and pick it up. If it’s in that sad a state of repairs, even getting it towed is going to cost more than it’s worth.

    Don’t worry about wrecking it yourself as there are so many of these things already for sale on gumtree, you’re selling into a saturated market and the big ticket items like engines and gear boxes are hard to remove and leave you with a rolling shell that you won’t be able to sell.

    Last of all, put it up on gumtree/Facebook as a non going car and make an offer and say they will need a trailer/tow to remove it.

  • myusername on 21/10/2017 - 10:16
    +1

    $5 worth of fuel and a box of matches problem solved

  • JIMB0 on 21/10/2017 - 10:52
    -1

    Commodores are a poorly engineered piece of junk. Everyone I know that has had one was always fixing it. One thing after another, it never ends. Your probably better off getting rid of it and buying something Japanese.

    • Forskin on 21/10/2017 - 11:23
      -1

      I dunno mate mine are still going strong at 220xxx (v8) vx ss & Has an aftermarket cam. + My vt Calais 270xxx(v6 supercharged)…

      Not sure what 'everyone you know' is doing wrong. Must not be maintaining them well.

  • nickj on 21/10/2017 - 12:10
    +2

    I had a 95 commodore that I sold 5 years ago, had issues too - spent $2000 on repairs the year before (bad mechanic I would not go back to who said it would all be perfect after that), and then in final year a good mechanic inspected and said it would be the another $2000 this year, and suggested not worth it and I should sell it. Car was only worth $2000 even in perfect condition.

    Advertised it on gumtree for $850, got lots of low ball offers, including 3 people who would come and collect/tow it for scrap for $200 or $250. Sold for $800 with only one week of rego left, without doing any repairs, and fully disclosed all issues to the buyer. Was bought by a retired mechanic who had worked on these cars since they were released, who would fix it up for his daughter to drive.

    Since then my rule is sell it as soon as the mechanical repairs costs 60% of the market value of a perfect condition model of that car. And personally I think it just shows how low the quality was of some Australian made vehicles (especially the commodores), they basically are completely uneconomic to maintain after 15 years, whereas Japanese vehicles can go far longer. The falling head lining is the classic example, Holden used rubbish glue, but the Japanese vehicles used proper glue and don't have the same issue.

    Op: I think you should tow it to your home (or a very nearby mechanic), clean it well inside and out, remove all your stuff from it, take photos, and list it on gumtree for say $800 (given half a year of rego left), and see if you get any takers. If not sold after 5 weeks, try something else to sell it (eg for scrap + get your ctp and rego back).

  • serpserpserp on 21/10/2017 - 13:01
    +2

    Does your Woolies do the sausage sizzle on the weekend for charity clubs etc? Maybe you can swap the car for a snag n bread (but asking for onion and sauce might be pushing it, after all only a commodore.)

  • cannedhams on 21/10/2017 - 14:09
    +2

    My family had this exact same quandary when we tried to go to dreamworld in the kingswood. It shat itself and died on the side of the bruce highway and my ghetto dad was trying to work out if he should file the chassis numbers off with a screwdriver and abandon it or try and get it towed. Ended up abandoning it.

    Anyway, given you have sunk so much money into it already, i would have a crack at changing fuel pump myself. If it works you have your car back. If not no major loss. Just get the service manual and folow the instructions or youtube it.

    Re headliner, kmart used to sell these headliner pins that were corkscrew shaped that you could use to stick it back. Dont use thumb tacks as they fall out and you will end up sitting on one. I would use little wood screws as an alternative.

    If you change the headliner yourself make sure you get proper headliner adhesive as well as fabric that has a bit of stretch. I ended up using carpet and liquid nails and it looked fairly dodgy by the end.

  • thesilverstarman on 21/10/2017 - 14:39
    +1

    From the comments, i'm thinking that you are not mechanically minded. I am a mechanic and I see this sort of thing often. My advice would be:
    *you get a free tow so get the car towed to your home. You run the risk of the council towing the car and then you will get fined.
    *remove the plates and cash in your registration
    *Advertise the car for sale on ebay, gumtree or on a facebook buy and sell group. State what you were told the problem is and take photos. Be honest. Ask 600 but take 500. You will get that easily.
    *If you take it to a wrecking yard or a scrap metal dealer expect 150 to 200 tops.

    • JTTheMan on 21/10/2017 - 15:57

      Probably the most sensible advice so far.

  • sandman87 on 23/10/2017 - 13:27

    Have a look on Gumtree for people who buy cars for cash. I have had a few cars that I needed to get rid of. Managed to get $200 for each of them. You definitely won't get astronomical amounts for a Commodore, but if you want it out of your life for a bit of cash, it is possible.

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