I may soon be buying a modern day equivalent of a Sandman

[HK1837]

Seriously looking at selling the replacement Hilux without even driving it. It is costing the insurance company something like $65k to replace it and Toyota dealers cannot get stock until late this year. So as a "new" secondhand vehicle it is worth good $ and the new shape is due out next year which will seriously devalue it.

So looked at a new VEII SS Thunder on the weekend. This is probably the closest thing to a modern day Sandman that I can think of (at least to a ute):

1. It is based upon a lower spec vehicle of 2 x different models SV6 and SS. This is sorta like the HQ's and HJ's were (Belmont and Kingswood or in HQ 6cyl and V8 were separate models like the VE is with SV6 and SS).
2. It has a few upgraded features compared to the base vehicle: wheels, trim and badges (plus Satnav). Sorta like HX and HZ Sandman over their base vehicles.
3. It is a special vehicle package like the Sandman was.

It is possible to compare the SSV to a Sandman too, but only to HZ Sandman as the SSV is based only upon the SS ie V8 only.

Right now these are cheap as chips. Walk in off the street without even trying I can have an SS in auto and premium paint (Hazard = yellow) for just under $39k drive away (auto is $2k dearer than manual, premium paint is $500). Manual SS Thunder is about $39,990 drive away, auto $2k dearer. And I can have an off the floor SSV auto for about $45k.

Will see what happens. I'd love a Hazard coloured one, but i'll probably end up with Heron (white) or Nitrate (silver).

[Epic_Dragon]

failing that my SSV which is still like new with only 11000 kms is 37000 :P but you should get one. they are very nice!

[HK1837]

Hassle with a secondhand one is a new one comes including about $2500 worth of business rego, green slip and stamp duty. And you only get new for old replacement on your insurance for a new or demo vehicle (this was important with the Hilux). I don't think i'll buy an SSV in series II though as I don't like the wheels (I love the earlier SSV wheels though like yours, the same wheels are on the Thunder but charcoal colour). It is only $350 for sheepskin insert covers to cover the Thunder cloth inserts and the Thunder gets the 19" wheels and Satnav. And with some arm twisting I reckon i'll get a white auto one for $40k. If I get one i'll pull the wheels off and get some damaged VE SSV wheels (gutter scraped), fill up the scrapes with fibreglass bog and paint them gloss black. Then keep the originals for when I sell it. The new EGR hardlids without the gay humps and inbuilt wing are only $2k fitted with remote locking (works with the car's doors), so I may get one of those too.

[Sandman_77]

dont buy hazzard looks very dated already, its v2 monaro colour

as for ute cpmared to a sandy buy a canopy from melbourne they still make them look on ebay

--- Updated ---

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/AMCAT-VE-...item415481a6e7

[HK1837]

V2 Monaro was called Devil, and it wasn't a metallic like Hazard. Heron has been around even longer, my VSIII ute was Heron white! My concern with Hazard is premature fading and resale. They look awesome though. The nicest colour of the lot in a Thunder looks to be Sizzle, but again resale may be a problem.

Proper Sandmans are utes anyway, even the original concept was a ute. Idea was a "Sports Utility". Putting a canopy on just makes it an SS ute with a canopy! They don't look too bad though, except that green one in the Ebay link. Black looks good.

[agr071]

There's aSilver one on Broadmeadow which even has the Sandman stickers on it.

--- Updated ---

A bloke we deal with at work went to Singleton Holden and got a new VE V8 manual in Black fo about 4K less then what the best price in Newcastle was.

By the way the one in Broadmeadow could be only a VY/VZ

[HK1837]

Black ones are pretty easy to get cheap as it is not a popular colour and dealers jump on the chance to flog them off whenever they can. I think the dark grey ones will be the same especially with that awful red dash and seat inserts.

I may even consider getting some of that magnetic stuff, cut a slot out of the middle to cover the Thunder badge on the sides and stick a HJ Sandman logo onto it. That or get Jason to make me up an "andman" logo and stick it on after the SS, so I have an SSandman!

[playwme]

The white ones look pretty good. My sister has an SSV ute in white with the hardcover and Clubsport/Maloo rims. Very slick looking car.

[HK1837]

Yep agree, white looks very good.

[Rolla]

Traitor! Traitor!!!!