Sunday, March 09, 2014 - 06:31 pm, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Hey lads,
My super tidy V8 was recently written off in an accident, and with my insurance payout i'm looking to buy a turbo model. I'm looking for a TT or VVTI that's preferably stock or with very minor mods. The km's have to be under 180,000, in generally tidy/cared for condition, and ideally located in North Island (I'm in Auckland).
I have cash sitting here waiting to spend, just waiting for the right car. TradeMe has absolutely rubbish Soarers at the moment (except for a tidy vvti that wants $9500).
If you own one and are looking to sell, or know someone who may; please let me know. Bonus points if it has a front lip and sunroof. If it has anything close to a puff of smoke or tiny drip of oil I wouldn't go near it - just to give you an idea for what i'm after here (too old to dick around with vehicles in poor condition).
Sunday, March 09, 2014 - 09:40 pm, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
Hey Rory, sucks to hear about what happened man. That silver JZZ30 is in good condition but I am sure if you talk to the guy about your position then he might understand and sell you the car for a good price, anything is worth a shot I guess.... If you ever get with drawl's flick me a PM as we could meet up and I'll show you my UZZ31 with the ol' R154...
Monday, March 10, 2014 - 06:01 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
You should go and take a look at that silver vvti, it looks pretty sweet in the photos. Might seem like a lot of money for an old car - but it looks like it might be worth it to me - particularly if you are going to be keeping it for a number of years. Pretty sure if the seller is a rational person you could get $1000 off it, as Soarer's don't sell quickly in this price range - young guys want the cars, but don't have the cash so generally buy the nasty beat up ones.
If this guy walks away from $8500 for a 18 year old car, then he might end up sitting on it for months and STILL have to sell it for $8500 down the track just to shift it. That'd be what I would be thinking if someone came to me with $8500 anyway.
Monday, March 10, 2014 - 06:45 am, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Cheers for the replies. I actually offered the guy $8,500 but he said he was looking for closer to 9 (and that's without me even looking at it yet). I'd be inclined to agree with you Matthew, he'll end up sitting on it and letting it go for $8,500 anyway... might be a waiting game.
James, you have a manual?! I'd love to see it mate.
Also, anyone have any insights they can share on TT vs VVTi? I've heard that VVTi are a better drive all round, but lack power up top.. true?
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 08:07 am, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Hi Mark,
I was just cruising down the road when a young girl pulled out from a stop sign without looking at all. Smacked into my front left. The damage wasn't actually that bad - I never got to see the details of the assessment but it was about $3,200 worth of damage apparently. No chassis damage, but State said that it was not 'economically viable' to repair.
The whole wheel/suspension area was buggered, along with the guard and some sort of damage in the engine bay (was leaking red fluid afterward). Got $5k back for it in the end which was fair considering it had done 205,000kms (but very tidy - rare 94 model).
Obviously it was entirely the girl's fault, so I didn't pay a cent. Very sad to see it gone, but looking forward to picking up a turbo model if I can find one.
Pics below (you can see my window washer bottle sticking out of the guard!). These are bloody heavy cars - I was travelling at 50km and the girl's Honda Civic ended up on the sidewalk against a building, airbag deployed and everything. I barely felt a thing.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 03:21 pm, by: Mark Donovan(Mark_donovan)
It's a damn shame the Soarer was a write-off for what appears to be essentially cosmetic damage. I know insurers and the LTSA are keen to see older cars gone from the roads here, so not surprised I suppose as I expect they are in cahoots. I dread this happening to mine one day. Are you able to decline the insurers pay-out at all in these situations, and choose to have the car repaired ?
I wonder if we will see it pop up on Trademe at a wreckers.
I had seen your Soarer driving about central Auckland on occasion over the last 12 months. It stuck out as being the 'newest' V8 I have seen in NZ so far.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 03:58 pm, by: James Johnson(Jimbo)
After looking at those photos it is a crying shame as I am sure you can pick up a headlight, front bumper and washer bottle as I have a spare left front guard sitting here at home but it is silver colour if you were to have had it fixed. Lucky that your airbag didn't deploy as it is bloody close to the sensor in the front bumper.
Yes mine is manual and fully road legal, so flick me a PM and we could exchange numbers, could even go take a look at that JZZ30 too if you want as I'd be curious to see it.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014 - 05:08 pm, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Yeah, it was generally one of the newer V8s in New Zealand being a 94(we didn't get the updated 1996+ model). Had $900 worth of exhaust under it too.
I think the cost to replace the wheel (buckled), all suspension parts including factory airbag, whole front bumper and guard, paint matching, and any damage in the Engine Bay (red fluid - power steering?) would have amounted to quite a bit.
It may pop up on TradeMe, but not as a wrecker. State take charge of the vehicle and send it to Manheim Auctioneers who de-register the car and put it up for sale in the damaged vehicle section.
It's definitely repairable, but even after spending all the money to repair it, the car would need to be re-complied.
Sounds good, James - the guy never came back to me about $8,500 so he mustn't be interested unfortunately. Still keen to see your V8 - maybe when I eventually pick up a JZZ30 we could meet up? (any anyone else in Auckland for that matter).
Here's what it looked like before: +++ jpeg +++ 380585 +++ Upload +++
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 07:12 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
Mine was worse than that and AMI chose to repair it - I think it was around $6000 worth all up - the repairer did a really crap job of the paintwork and took forever though so I was pissed and wishing they had written it off by time I got it back. This is going back nearly 5 years though, it was probably worth a bit more then.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 08:16 am, by: Scott Vim(1uz1jz)
You can always buy the car back and pair it yourself. Mostly just replace the stuffed panels and parts from wreckers. They quote $3k, they give you $5k for it but easily all the parts you need from wrecked cars under $1000.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 08:21 am, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Yeah, but even if I purchased the car back and had it repaired, it would still never feel the same for me. I'd worry that little nuts and bolts and bushes throughout the car have been shuffled from the impact. And, as I said, it presents a good opportunity to pick up a turbo model which i've always wanted to try.
On that front - still looking, and also still wanting to hear opinions on vvti versus TT
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 03:24 pm, by: Mark Donovan(Mark_donovan)
From what I have read on this site over the years, the non VVTI models are more fun as the turbo kicks in at a higher rpm, and so you have more of a payoff as you ramp up speed in the higher gears. That is my completely mechanically-unsavvy opinion.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 04:38 pm, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
That's what i've heard too, Mark - which is a shame because I actually want a VVTI (as they're newer with less to go wrong), but I do prefer the power curve you described above that seems to be the general consensus regarding TTs. Hmmmm.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 - 06:44 pm, by: Evan Kaio(Knave)
Owning V8 (91) and TT (92), they are worlds apart. Have never driven a VVTI JZZ, but I would imagine it would be somewhere in between. Would be very keen to have a fang in a stock VVTI.
Thursday, March 13, 2014 - 11:01 am, by: Matthew Sharpe(Madmatt)
I've driven both a TT and a VVTI many years ago, and have to say they didn't feel that much different. If anything the VVTI had more of a constant torque feel to it, which I thought felt better than the TT's more laggy feel. Personal preference I guess.
The VVTI was a much nicer car because it was 7 years newer and much lower KM's, I would definitely had have gone with that had I been going to purchase either of them - but it was out of my price bracket at the time - so I bought my current car instead.
Friday, March 14, 2014 - 02:31 pm, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Well, I just went and looked at that silver VVTi. Was pretty underwhelming, and it was far from immaculate as the auction described it. The acceleration was very smooth and linear, which in turn, made it actually quite boring. I guess that makes me one of those people who actually enjoy turbo lag. TT it is, now to try and find one with low kms...
Friday, March 14, 2014 - 06:37 pm, by: Rory Braatvedt(Fallward)
Yeah I did see that, to be honest I wouldn't pay anywhere near that much for a car that old. Maybe if it was manual I would begin to consider it! The hunt continues....
There's also another one that's done 30,000kms which is apparently certified, but I don't really believe it to be honest.