I had a 1996 VS V6 Commodore acclaim and had minimal issues with it. Coil pack, harmonic balancer, shift 1-2 solenoid and that was about it that ever went wrong with it. The exhaust developed an issue at one point but I just threw a set of pacemaker extractors, high flow catalytic converter and a redcat? sports muffler with no resonator on it, fkn sounded beautiful idling at the traffic lights and sounded awesome when opening up the throttle especially going through tunnels. Had 120k on the clock when I bought it, only one owner before me who owned a carpet cleaning business so the interior was immaculate and the exterior was perfect as well. Re-did all the bushes and rubbers with nolethanes all around, new wheel bearings, drilled and slotted rotors and high performance brake pads, did a bunch of other things to it, about the only thing that wasn’t done to it was the diff gears, supercharger and tiptrononics shift because I didn’t get around to it before I moved down here then didn’t have the cash. Was a fkn beautiful car and went hard, was a shame to let it go but then I bought a vz V6 calais before getting a vf V6 calais… would’ve gone V8 but didn’t want to spend too much on rego, insurance, fuel etc. that and I probably would’ve killed myself in a V8 with the way I drove when I was younger and on occasion still do 
, but I miss my old vs, it was a great car and my brother who did the majority of the mechanical work on it was always jealous as fuck of it because his VP was a shit box in comparison 
Really are great cars, and I’m not one eyed, some of the Falcoons were great too, can’t remember what model but that Barra 6 they brought out, they are still building them and they blow anything else in that class away like your 2JZ and everything else with big 2000HP + drag numbers it’s crazy.
I should go drag that barra out the scrub some infidel from victoria crashed a falcoon in the scrub after trying to drive it on 3 wheels didn’t seem to work 
Cop said what do you want me to do with it’s on your property it is yours now
Back in the 90s I had $20K to spend on a car… it was between an XB GT Falcon, a Pontiac Trans Am and a one year old VS Berlina. I opted for the Berlina for the handling and performance.
Yeah I took a bath on resale, and don’t I just kick myself for not picking up that GT when I had the chance, but that Berlina was a rocket off the line compared to the two V8s and I was looking for a daily driver that suited a family at the time, not a collectible or club car.
It was an awesomely great vehicle… if maybe a little too loose in the rear under power, especially in the wet. I used to say it handled better with a few backs of cement in the boot. 
Had a 184kw VR Berlina before the VS V6 Calais. Shows how times changed. The 184kw was special order over standard V8. 10 years later and a bog standard Falcon had 197kw Barra
I used to laugh at my ex missus for the same thing!
I had my VT V6 Sedan work boonga, and she needed a Wagon to cart around her Golf clubs and the kids and their stuff, so got a VT Wagon for her off of my workmates wife.
That wagon was VERY rare and probably very collectable these days, but that’s another story!
It was the fully upmarket model and was actually fitted with the very first 5.7ltr LS V8 and Auto gearbox…in a VT Wagon! 
It went like a cut cat, but the main power coming on strong and endless in top gear from 80kph to whenever you got scared enough to back off… but felt very sluggish down low and got used to feeding the pedal pretty hard to get moving.
Every time she drove my VT V6, she would spin the wheels on takeoff and always saying that it accelerated MUCH faster from standstill than the big V8, especially because she was used to burying the pedal to get moving!
After getting rid of ALL my classic/collectable and Muscle Cars, I’ve STILL got my VT V6, runs and drives but not regoed, only because it didn’t sell in time before I cleared out the old property that I sold … might be worth some money one Day 
Same as yours @shadow187 , all modified lowered suspension, big rims, exhaust etc and drives like a dream, goes hard, sounds good for a V6 and very reliable…only having fuel pumps replaced after sitting around like this for way too long. 
Maybe should be caring for it a bit more, as hasn’t been washed in about 8 years!
Loved my VP Ute, stainless Genie extractors 2.5". 5 spoke ROH ZS rims metallic grey with machined lip, looked awesome till some funt stole them, they were special custom made.
Lowered 2.5", big fat 32mm sway bar, it handled like a go kart. Had to machine up my own sway bar links out of some work donated tool steel as the stock ones bent. Put a LSD in it. Loved the column shift auto for manual holding gears. Pissed the bench seat off and whacked a pair of Recaros in place. Cold air intake, 8mm leads, performance chip(which was great as it unlocked the rev limiter ).
Now rolling in the VS.
You can wash mine while your at it 
I also basically gave away a VP S Pac sedan, one elderly owner since new… beautiful rare car, but had to get off the property for sale and nowhere else to keep it 
That ute looks like it needs a few Chooks nesting on it!
Would’ve been the same engine wise but the body was different. Your vt is Pretty much the same shape as my vz calais. but the vz had the 3.6 if I recall correctly
Yeah slight diffent changes in lights/grilles, taillights, interior and driveline etc.
Had a blue VX myself, which is where I stole the Sports Exhaust to fit to the VT
Had a VP Berlina LX with FE2 so I got the IRS and SS wheels. Ran it through Holden by Design for letterbox grill, Calais steering wheel, SS front bar with fog lights and spoiler. It was basically a VP Calais SS with a V6. Great car - should have kept it at the end of the lease instead of the 184 V8 VR Berlina
I have a Feb 91 VN Berlina V6 sitting in the yard too. Looks a bit sad, haven’t got shed space for it. Was an awesome car. I should reserect it. Maybe one day, needs a lot of work.
On a different note, an interesting article on vladimer putin’s psyche.
Once again, a dark triad personality disorder type (most murderous dictators are) , but this article attempts to go into the environment and forces that shaped him…
Illogical and conflicting beliefs, ingrained russian persecution complex ( where there really is none, except that which he creates himself) and attacking internal dissenters who disagree with said beliefs.
These people would be nutjobs and shunned, if they did not hold positons of power…
Which is why these types always, relentlessly, seek power…
Probably pretty close to the mark…but I’m no expert on russian history.
On another different note…
Finally got my shoulder scans yesterday, damaged Supraspinatus muscle/tendon joint, won’t know if injections might fix it or surgery until I see the Doctor in a couple of weeks.
Last 3 days busy with Government Doctors and Specialists meetings… but GREAT NEWS!
7 Months of meetings, appointments and a phone book’s worth of Medical paperwork, have just received notice that they have approved my Disability Pension.
I’m not celebrating, just finding it hard to come to terms with, as I’ve spent the last 4 years studying and gaining many different qualifications to try and find somewhere in the workforce that I could achieve… but only led to being told by all the Doctors and Specialists that it ain’t gonna happen.
Even Centrelink themselves pushed me into this, as after 4 years of working with a Disability Employment Agency, they had the same opinion that there was no way that I could return to the workforce.
Just taking a few days for everything to sink in and waiting for my upcoming appointments with WA Disability Services and my Doctors to get a long term plan in place to try and keep my health levels in good shape.
All I want is this bloody shoulder fixed so I can start tinkering again!
Good news Doc. Know what it id like dealing with NDIS and Centrelink. Takes more patience than getting fender extensions aligned . Hope they send you for surgery. Guy in the car club just had it his shoulder done and the difference is amazing
My brother has just been through the disability pension ringer again with Centrelink. And then they cut off his disability pension when he was eligible for age pension. Then they pulled up the wrong file and told him he had too many assets for the aged pension. Took three months to sought out all the b/s. Luckily he found a person who had been through it before and they told him what to say.
It must be the week for pain. Buggered my thumb and arm on weekend chopping up the pine trees that came down in the cyclone and straightening the bent weld mesh fence.
Then broke a chunk off a tooth and had to have it extracted (Queensland Health dentist was fantastic - talked about restoring his grandmother’s 69 beetle while he wrestled with the pliers to extract the tooth). It felt like I was trying to remove a lower radiator hose from a corroded water pump. Amazing how much a buggered thumb restricts what you can do
At least with a DSP you can waive bye bye to having to deal with Human Services / Centrelink. No more reporting and attending pointless sessions with DES providers.
I know it’s hard to give up the mindset when you’ve worked hard all your life, mate. I went through the same thing when I got put on a DSP years ago… you just have to readjust and focus your energies into something else.
You’ll be right, matey. At least the pressure’s off now and you’re no longer on the merry-go-round. 
Thanks so much for your support and advice @Wombat @Friendly_Fire 
Yeah, been working my ring out on hard physical jobs since I was 14, and having been born with a congenial spine anormitaly, been struggling with back issues since I was 21… but took until I was 48 to finally stop me in my tracks, despite trying to keep working through the pain until I reached 50.
Still didn’t give up, closing my Business, gaining other training to try and find other suitable Jobs that I THOUGHT I might be able to do… but proved impossible, not through lack of trying and arguing that I SHOULD be able to do something.
It’s definitely a mental mindfuck to have to reassess what the hell I’m going to do in the future, living a long life of seeing every sunrise and sunset filled with hard work inbetween, to now battling to even dress or shower myself without great difficulty and even get out of bed or leave the house.
Still alive and breathing though, so that’s a blessing and looking forward to figuring out a new life of freedom from that whole clusterfuck of neverending paperwork and threats from Centrelink and Government Departments that’s been a daily occurrence since first coming out of hospital 6 years ago after dying 3 times! 
Sorry about the rant, but its certainly alot to wrap my head around at the moment, and can’t even go get out and Pew Pew to escape it all!
DSP approval just helps to set a clear path forward with the support for all the help that I will need to try and keep my health as best as possible for as long as possible into the future
Might not be the thing for you but if your on your last resort for dealing with back pain look into the medical cannabis route. A lot of people talk shit about it but I’ve witnessed it give my cousin a new life, he had back pain bad enough to keep him in bed for most days and started the medical cannabis route as a last resort and it obviously doesn’t eliminate the pain but it made it manageable enough for him to start taking walks and leaving bed to do daily stuff he needed to do. Would definitely only do it as a last resort though cause it’s still psychoactive at the end of the day and has downsides that you don’t want to deal with if there is no genuine need for it.
Thanks a million for your advice mate, am expecting that will be the recommendation when I get to have my meetings with the Pain Management Specialists at Fiona Stanley Hospital Specialist Centre.
As you say, if it can work just enough to manage normal daily tasks and allow me to sleep for more than 2 -3 hours of interrupted sleep every night, I’d be very grateful just for that.
Good ole Centre CLUNK. Man have I got some things to say about that shit heap of a department that has been tasked with helping us farmers with our 4 year non stop drought assistance. Bah, what assistance I’ve spent thousands to comply with their regulations, spent thousands on agents submitting RFI’s from these cluster fucks. Then I get a call from an Indian that is an assessor, saying sorry misda marphews but you didn’t make the minimum 60 grand last financial year to be eligible for any support.
Guess what come next, the seven colours of shit out of said indian. I said fuck you, imbecicle, so you that is in you the government entity has cancelled a sale avenue for my product with no solution to replace it overnight and me along with everyone else has lost that multi billion dollar market at the stroke of a pen because some dickhead thought it sounds good. With no other solution the Australian Nation wide market crashed to sheep being given away and shot if you could take them and feed them pay transport they are yours. I could have had 5 thousand sheep from WA for nothing, but as I am in multi year drought I can’t feed them let alone my bred flock line I keep until I die harder.
Ohh this Indian Australian Centreling Farm drought Assessor said I didn’t know. How the fuck am I supposed to make a min of 60K per yer as a minimum to qualify when the gov went and crashed the market overnight with no other option besides, just nothing.
These dickheads sprout it’s because of their religion. Fuck off. The majority of overseas buyers of our live export sheep do not live in CBD’s, they do not have power, they do not have a thing called a fridge. That is the reality of things, and why they need them live, they go to the markets, pick one up and walk it home or boot bah it to feed the family.
People just don’t understand how it works. You can go and do all the University studies and courses until the cows come home and end up 60 years old still at UNI and know fuck all. Until you get on the front line and actually do it yourself with your own two hands will you ever understand what really goes on. Labour did a deal with the Greens to cut that live sheep export of sheep out. Biggest rort ever, worst thing is it’s your baseline of survival Australia started from. Cattle will be next.
I always said they should have modified that stupid Ice breaker billions of dollar ship that can’t get refueled as it doesn’t fit under the bridge, in to our own live sheep high standard sheep transporter. Climate control and full team to tend to animals welfare. Would have cost half the amount. Nope let their sub standard ships pick them up, hit mid ocean tropical conditions where humidity soars and they die, so they just chuck em overboard for fish food. That is what they do.
Anyway, I’m beyond giving a fuck I’ve been to that many meetings and bright idea sessions that go no where. Waste of time, they can all go get fucked. I’m farming my way and I will survive. The right way with no help from the Australian government as it stands now.
Well said!
Certainly no way on earth that City bred Politicians and their Government Agency cohorts have ANY idea of how the country works other than what’s shown to them on paper in pie charts and graphs compiled by official office Johnny’s doing their inner suburban “research”.
It’s never been about the reality on the ground, only about economics and propaganda.
It’s always the average Aussie battler families copping the brunt of insane policies and regulations that have ZERO effect on the good of the Nation, but makes them feel better sleeping at night that they’ve met some KPI’s and are appearing to do their jobs for the National interests. 
I’ve experienced many years of this exact same bullshit throughout many different jobs, and most recently with the whole clusterfuck of Centrelink and my Disability Employment Agency failing to ever get their own shit together, despite me spending days and weeks chasing up work that they SHOULD have been doing themselves…then having the audacity to blame ME for their own systems failing despite all of my continued efforts to ensure that I met all of my obligations despite all the roadblocks they put in the way the whole time through.
Until people have to deal with these Government Departments, they really have no idea how much of a clusterfuck the whole lot of it is!