Yesterday I saw one of those new mid-size Hyundai sedans in NSW Police Force colours, I presume those are becoming the new standard panda cars in lieu of the Commodores (iirc the BMWs and 300C SRT-8s are exclusively being ordered for Highway Patrol use).scott wrote:I have seen some VW Passats doing the rounds for Victoria Police, they are becoming more regular as VF Commodores are slowly retired from police duties. I believe there are some BMW police cars on order for Victorian coppers.
I wonder if any ZB Commodores will go into police service?, I know there is a batch in South Australia. Holden could do with some sales, only 9,040 ZB's were sold last year.
Rare and interesting car sightings
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- crazyturbo76
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Spotted a Mitsubishi i-MIEV in Rydalmere today. Given the expensiveness of purebred electric cars in this country I'd imagine those things are super rare.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I wonder if the Beemers will offer a good used car bargain once moved on?
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Seen advertised online is a genuine 1990 VN Group A, someone got a nice Christmas present in 1990. Even still with the original hard wired car phone.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... upA-236282
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... upA-236282
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
This is just a crap excuse for a crappy parts supply chain that only Australia seems to be affected by. The other problem is people seem to think European makes are particularly 'special' compared to other cars and are willing to fork out for 'specialists' to service their cars (Not speaking of the exotic marques with this statement).Swift wrote:That's the whole problem with them!!scott wrote:The only problem with BMW's is the high maintenance costs and the cost of parts.
Now onto the parts... I can purchase BMW parts from anywhere else in the world, be it the U.K., the U.S.A. and so on, and despite the value of the Aussie dollar at present (plus shipping & gouging), come out with at least double the money compared to buying the parts locally. One of the most criminal examples to date was a small metal flange that attaches to the back of the cylinder head for a heater hose. Of the local European Parts "Specialists" one wanted $80 for it, whereas others apparently had to source the part... A genuine part ordered from the U.S.A. cost $17.20 with shipping, the total was $24.
That sort of markup is completely unjustifiable in my books. It's continually beaten into us to support local businesses, but with this sort of behaviour running rife across many retail sectors, it's little wonder people are voting with their feet and choosing to shop online nowadays.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Seen today was a 1978 or 79 TD Gemini, driven by an old bloke, in immaculate condition in a nice blue colour. Also a early (1988) build VN Commodore, finished in Richie Benaud cream duco with bone coloured interior.
Also lots of old episodes of Torque on Youtube, with Peter Wherrett putting a lot of classics through their paces.
Also lots of old episodes of Torque on Youtube, with Peter Wherrett putting a lot of classics through their paces.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Shannon's Insurance web page has lots of great reviews of old cars
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@ The Museum of Fire.
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Son has a nice low K's BMW E39 528i, Beautiful to drive and very economical.scott wrote:The only problem with BMW's is the high maintenance costs and the cost of parts.
Had ABS, AIr Bag, and headlight warnings all glitching out on instrument cluster.
BMW dealer in Wollongong charged him $220 for a diagnostic and quote. Quote was to replace 3x ecu's at $4,300.
Convinced him to let Dad have a look first.
$17 for a new LH headlight globe and jiggle the connector to the RH Angel eye (poor contact)
No Problem since. (8 months ago)
Gotta love "experts"
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I know someone who got a stupid quote just to replace the battery in the key of their BMW while it was in for a service.
Anyway found a rare mint 85000km VR Acclaim, with a 5 speed manual. I thought the Acclaims were auto only, but the original owner must of twisted the dealer's arm and got a special order, or it was converted.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... -ii-239141
Serviced by a Holden dealer all it's life too, the apprentices would of loved it.
Anyway found a rare mint 85000km VR Acclaim, with a 5 speed manual. I thought the Acclaims were auto only, but the original owner must of twisted the dealer's arm and got a special order, or it was converted.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... -ii-239141
Serviced by a Holden dealer all it's life too, the apprentices would of loved it.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Toy-motor Corona. Makes a Camry look like a work of art.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Loved the sound of those things starting up on a cold morning, they had a very distinct starter motor sound.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Corolla, Corona, Carina,.... It amused me that Toyota used names that Japanese have difficulty pronouncing?
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
You still see a lot of the wide body Camrys (and Apollos) still kicking around, more so the later 1995-97 update models (equipped with remote locking). Rent A Bomb fleets love them.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
^ They'd be ok of they didn't have that rear end styling.
I just happened to notice a couple parked in the last few days.
The pick of the crop is the V6 Vienta. Very nice exhaust note, much better than the quiet buzzing next generation V6 sound.
A set of alloy mags improves their looks by a great amount.
I just happened to notice a couple parked in the last few days.
The pick of the crop is the V6 Vienta. Very nice exhaust note, much better than the quiet buzzing next generation V6 sound.
A set of alloy mags improves their looks by a great amount.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- crazyturbo76
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
The XV10s seem to be rather well made and rugged (Aussie build quality of course). My pop bought an used XV10 Camry station wagon after he got sick of all the troubles he had with his Mazda 626 hatchback (apparently the electrics kept dying in it or something?), and that thing served him really well until he traded it in for an ex-demo 2007 model Nissan Tiida sedan. Only issue he had with it if I remember correctly was flat battery syndrome.scott wrote:You still see a lot of the wide body Camrys (and Apollos) still kicking around, more so the later 1995-97 update models (equipped with remote locking). Rent A Bomb fleets love them.
Speaking of XV10 Camrys, I saw a basically near-new XV10 Apollo GS on the web with only 234 kilometres on the clock for sale a while back: https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... kms-206962
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I still see some of the egg shaped Taragos still kicking around. That was a game changer for Toyota, although the maintenance costs can be frightening, changing the spark plugs is a nightmare as the engine is on it's side to keep the floor height low and provide walk through facility. I have heard the easiest way to do it was to drop out the motor.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Found this today. It's surprisingly spacious inside, considering the small floor pan it's based on.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Swift mentioned City Ford Sydney in another thread
Found this film on YouTube, talking about CD Rom based parts ordering being implemented. City Ford Sydney was featured and there is some footage of the dealership, this is from 1992.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psi_1K6yh_s
We had a City Ford in Melbourne owned by the same people, got bought out ages ago.
Found this film on YouTube, talking about CD Rom based parts ordering being implemented. City Ford Sydney was featured and there is some footage of the dealership, this is from 1992.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psi_1K6yh_s
We had a City Ford in Melbourne owned by the same people, got bought out ages ago.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Something different
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... mer-240890
Ideal for the school drop off.
https://www.australianmusclecarsales.co ... mer-240890
Ideal for the school drop off.
- crazyturbo76
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Saw a very pristine-condition yellow Charger two-door coupe (either a VJ or a VK) go down Richmond Road in Penrith this afternoon while I was out. You don't see many of those around in good condition anymore
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
I haven't seen one since a guy pulled up in one at Woy Woy a few years ago. He said he got it in Newcastle. It was in excellent condition with low km.
The North Shore Chrysler in Crows Nest, where this Centura was sold new, later became the Mitsubishi dealer I remember there. A little research showed it later became North Shore Mitsubishi before moving to Ryde years ago.
The North Shore Chrysler in Crows Nest, where this Centura was sold new, later became the Mitsubishi dealer I remember there. A little research showed it later became North Shore Mitsubishi before moving to Ryde years ago.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
And it sat at North Shore Chrysler for a while too, judging by the gap between the date on the compliance plate and in the books. I remember reading many of the CKD packs sat around for ages on the wharf before they were assembled.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
They were the most modern car a hemi six was put into.
The interior fixtures looked more modern anyway, and I wonder if the Centura had flow through ventilation?
The large Valiants never had it.
There's also a nice VH Regal wagon in that link.
The interior fixtures looked more modern anyway, and I wonder if the Centura had flow through ventilation?
The large Valiants never had it.
There's also a nice VH Regal wagon in that link.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.
- boronia
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
1970s Volvos are getting thin on the ground these days, but Bicentennial rego plates might be even harder to find?
Preserving fire service history
@ The Museum of Fire.
@ The Museum of Fire.
- Swift
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Re: Rare and interesting car sightings
Only that's an 80s and 90s model. Ceased production in 1993.
NSW, the state that embraces mediocrity.