Dead Or Dying Toranas

Even the V8 VF Commodore has a bit of soul.  The thing that replaced it has none. 

Yeah nearly had a brain snap and was goin to sell my VF SS ute and then i thought to myself what the frOck am i going to replace it with some 4 cylinder junk
no thanks

The vf is a great car, keep it as long as you can, before you're forced to drive some chinese piece of shit. It'd be like driving to a job you hate everyday pondering suicide for me. The only sad time is at the bowser.

Yeah nearly had a brain snap and was goin to sell my VF SS ute and then i thought to myself what the frOck am i going to replace it with some 4 cylinder junk
no thanks

Gene you ....Brain snap ...i can't comprehend that ?

Yeah nearly had a brain snap and was goin to sell my VF SS ute and then i thought to myself what the frOck am i going to replace it with some 4 cylinder junk
no thanks

Not much choice anymore is there? I’ve been the same with my Hilux, there is nothing available on the market to replace it short of a Ram1500 and that won’t fit in the shed!

Not much choice anymore is there? I’ve been the same with my Hilux, there is nothing available on the market to replace it short of a Ram1500 and that won’t fit in the shed!

Build a bigger shed then.

Gene you ....Brain snap ...i can't comprehend that ?

Yes i know hard to believe isnt it

The vf is a great car, keep it as long as you can, before you're forced to drive some chinese piece of shit. It'd be like driving to a job you hate everyday pondering suicide for me. The only sad time is at the bowser.

Yeah got offered 35 K for it but I'm keeping it now

Not much choice anymore is there? I’ve been the same with my Hilux, there is nothing available on the market to replace it short of a Ram1500 and that won’t fit in the shed!

No there isn't Byron unless ita piece of gutless junk
they rave on about those kia stingers pffft no comparison to an LS 3

I’d be happy with a petrol engined Hilux, all you can buy is diesel junk. Jeep is releasing a Wrangler Ute here next year with the Pentastar V6. Will need a supercharger but still no EGR, DPF or the like to worry about.

I’d be happy with a petrol engined Hilux, all you can buy is diesel junk. Jeep is releasing a Wrangler Ute here next year with the Pentastar V6. Will need a supercharger but still no EGR, DPF or the like to worry about.

You want what i want LS 3 powered 4X4

Yep..my VF2 SS ute is keeper too.
Last of the Aussie utes.
Really wanted a HSV...but hey...

Yep..my VF2 SS ute is keeper too.
Last of the Aussie utes.
Really wanted a HSV...but hey...

Stupid free wi fi

Edited by RallyRed, 05 October 2019 - 08:00 PM.

You want what i want LS 3 powered 4X4

Or LSA. I may end up with a Y62 Patrol yet with a supercharger on it!

Crikey. They drink enough fuel without the help of a puffer!!!  How about a re-mapped V8 diesel Landcruiser trayback?  200 HP and 600 NM. Stick the 6 speed 6L45-E auto from a Commodore in it and leave the WRX drivers at the lights with their jaws in their laps.

Crikey. They drink enough fuel without the help of a puffer!!!  How about a re-mapped V8 diesel Landcruiser trayback?  200 HP and 600 NM. Stick the 6 speed 6L45-E auto from a Commodore in it and leave the WRX drivers at the lights with their jaws in their laps.

 

I guess it was around 2004 or 5. I was helping a mate out, he was buying a second hand truck a long way from home.

He owned a nice F250 4 door 4WD. I think it was a 7 litre turbo diesel under the bonnet.

 

When we got back into the city, I got to a set of traffic lights.

I was in the middle lane, and I saw a couple of boy racers coming up behind me.

At the lights, one went either side of me,

The left lane ended around 50 metres away from the lights.

 

I had a Skyline on my right, and a fairly lumpy sounding XD V8 on my left.

When the lights turned green I stomped on it.

They both did too.

They were slightly ahead of me coming up to the end of the intersection.

Then. 

The turbo was spooled up and the F250 jumped.

When the left lane ran out, I was well ahead of both cars.

Big mirrors on the doors of the F250, and the looks on the other guys faceless was priceless.

They couldnt believe they were beaten by a truck.

 

This was the time when a new Hilux was dwarfed in size by the F truck.

The newer ones seem to have bulked up a lot.

 

Wouldnt mind having a truck like that myself.

 

I used to have a VE SS. Reckon it was a fantastic car.

It was black. It looked mean.

It drove really well too.

And with an exhaust system courtesy of my brothers exhaust shop, it sounded the goods too.

It was the first VE SS with extractors. Then a twin 3 inch system.

My car was the test mule for getting the system onto the market.

Would love to still have that car.

Leases and job changes meant it had to go.

 

I think these days I would probably lean towards a Chrysler 300.

Was actually contemplating it for a few seconds before I ordered the VE.

 

I think my direction for vehicles in the future will be modernised old cars for driving and something like my Commodore wagon for everyday hack stuff.

Might even update from my VT to a VE wagon soon.

They arent worth a whole lot these days, and they seem reliable enough, and spares are cheap too.

 

Very few new cars do much to excite me after I have seen the price tag.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

Crikey. They drink enough fuel without the help of a puffer!!!  How about a re-mapped V8 diesel Landcruiser trayback?  200 HP and 600 NM. Stick the 6 speed 6L45-E auto from a Commodore in it and leave the WRX drivers at the lights with their jaws in their laps.

 

Have you ever driven one? They are awful to sit in (very agricultural), and manual only. Plus still a diesel and a small one at that. If I was to suffer a diesel it'd have to be 6.5-7.5L but they only come in trucks that are way too big for everyday use. The Ram1500 is small compared to the 2500's that come with big diesels, for some stupid reason the 1500 gets a 3.0L diesel - no thanks! The Nissan Titan comes with a 5.0L V8 diesel but there is no way you'd have that over the good V8 (same engine as the Y62).

By the time you converted a Landcruiser ute to a 6L90E transmission (the Commodore one is too small), fixed up the rear axle (so the track is the same front and rear) and re-mapped it it'd be over $100k and still have less power and torque than my Hilux currently has! If I was going to go down the $100k Landcruiser route I'd probably buy a good low kM used Lexus version with the 5.7L V8 petrol engine and get it converted to a dual cab with Landcruiser front bar and grille (Lexus is ugly as a hatful). My collegue recently converted a 200 series to a dual cab, 600mm chassis extension. With it parked side by side with my Hilux and both sets of rear tyres up against concrete stops the tow balls were level and the 'cruiser was just under 300mm longer at the nose, so not all that much bigger, probably not far off a Ranger which are near 200mm longer than a Hilux.
 

I have to make a confession, Last week I took my sons mates F#&D F150 Rapter 6.2 litre for a spin and have to admit it was bloody nice to drive. Big on the road and electric everything. God only knows how much petrol the thingy consumes.

I’ve driven one alright and I disagree on the seating comfort. It is an upright seating position and the best thing I have found in consideration of the chronic lower back pain I’ve had since about age 50. I use a decent lumbar support and have the seat back as upright as it goes. Head room is great and leg room adequate for my lanky six foot frame.

I have had 70 series wagons as my past two work cars. Did 150,000km in the first one and lost a mud flap the only issue. The current one is up to 40,000km in the first year. Completely stock with pedders front spring and shock upgrade. The thing will handle anything you throw at it. Gets 13L/100km with the hubs in. The performance is what I’d call adequate although it does chirp the tyres into second quite easily. It ain’t a race car but it will certainly tow one anywhere,and still will in 25 years time if you can still get diesel then.

As far as the rear track it is a minor issue at most and easily fixed with staggered rear rims like most of us run on our Holdens anyway.

I wouldn’t have a 200 series. Ever tried wielding a spanner in that engine bay?




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I think Laurie was probably conceived in a Landcruiser if not actually born in one.

I’ve driven one alright and I disagree on the seating comfort. It is an upright seating position and the best thing I have found in consideration of the chronic lower back pain I’ve had since about age 50. I use a decent lumbar support and have the seat back as upright as it goes. Head room is great and leg room adequate for my lanky six foot frame.

I have had 70 series wagons as my past two work cars. Did 150,000km in the first one and lost a mud flap the only issue. The current one is up to 40,000km in the first year. Completely stock with pedders front spring and shock upgrade. The thing will handle anything you throw at it. Gets 13L/100km with the hubs in. The performance is what I’d call adequate although it does chirp the tyres into second quite easily. It ain’t a race car but it will certainly tow one anywhere,and still will in 25 years time if you can still get diesel then.

As far as the rear track it is a minor issue at most and easily fixed with staggered rear rims like most of us run on our Holdens anyway.

I wouldn’t have a 200 series. Ever tried wielding a spanner in that engine bay?




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I’m 6’5” and find the 70 ‘cruiser downright awful to sit in or drive. Almost zero legroom, manual only and not enough power. Plus way overpriced. I have to admit though my Hilux has a Recaro Ergomed driver’s seat, but at least it fits and I can fit in seat and have legroom. I’ve sat in a 70 with one and my legs wouldn’t fit easily between the seat and the steering wheel.

Fair enough Stretch


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I have to make a confession, Last week I took my sons mates F#&D F150 Rapter 6.2 litre for a spin and have to admit it was bloody nice to drive. Big on the road and electric everything. God only knows how much petrol the thingy consumes.

I drove a 5.0L V8 F150 4x4 dual cab in Alaska this time last year, had it for a few days. It was awesome. It was big, but drove really well and was comfortable despite being a base spec vehicle.

Here is a modern car that looks good and certainly isn’t boring, but if I could afford it I’d be 😊

http://sydney.astonm...ome/models/db11

Not that this is any more off topic than the rest of the thread, once new a bloke called stretch drove a green SLR5000 and building a yellow HK 327 ute...
Few years ago now, 1982 Leigh Creek SA. The SLR used to go out spotlighting out back of North Flinders Ranges. Low as.


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Here it is


 6FFAD1B0-521E-45DC-9D04-31BE957A8E0D.jpeg   264.33K   8 downloads

I think Laurie was probably conceived in a Landcruiser if not actually born in one.

Nah. They were only working around the Snowy River scheme when I was born. It was an EH ute that I was conceived in!

 

But we have owned Landcruiser utes since 1976. And there is a good reason why we are still driving them. Reliability. Only my 2007 model gave me any grief with oil consumption, but the motor was quickly rebuilt under warranty. The new ones now have the wider rear track and a taller fifth gear. Remove the DPF and get the re-map and you are spinning the wheels in 4th gear on the gravel roads. Yes, the seating leaves something to be desired for us tall types, and now that my back is potentially stuffed, I am thinking of buying the kit to fit the BF XR8 seats.

I saw my first Nissan Titan in Perth the day before yesterday.  Apparently, all you have to do to make a car more ugly is to make it bigger.

What model hilux do you have Byron? I must admit that I have never driven one, but they sound better than I imagined.   

2011 SR5 V6 auto with Eaton blower.

And there is no way it sounds good! A blown V6 with extractors and 2 3/4” exhaust does not sound anything but awful!