96 Holden Combo has 44kw? Kidding???

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by falconboy

I do mobile computer repairs for a crust and was looking for a small, cheap vehicle that can be a moving avertising billboard. The Holden Combo of around mid 90's is ideal. Yeah yeah, hold on guys, if Ford did a similar style of vehicle I'd consider it ok!

If you have a lower budget than the Combo IS the BEST option.

You want visual impact right?? Forget about camry station wagons etc : I fail to see how driving around a generic family car dolled up as a business billboard will win customers, in fact It can be argued that it would work the opposite way.

Look at it this way. You can get a Combo of the vintage you mentioned for between 3.5k and 5k.

Pretty cheap considering the amount of advertising real estate you get.

Sure the 1.4 is a wheezer. So?? When designed the engineers deemed it adequate and it is still adequate today.

Low purchase price also means you can splash out on nice signage, a 'loud' paint job, perhaps a GSI front bumper and engine.

The GSI version was a 1.6 good for around 80kw. Would be a simple swap I assume and you almost double your engine power.

You mentioned that you wanted power steering. If this wasn't the case I would have also suggested a real old school 50's or 60's panel van like a Morris etc. Not much around and you will draw long stares everywhere you go.

[Buzz Box]

What about buying a real van?

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by falconboy

Any other suggested alternatives? I can't think of any other than the Citroen Berlingo, but they are a bit newer, a bit pricey, still only 57kw (It looks like I won't get something similar with power) and I expect parts are typical imported european prices.

The VW Caddy turbo diesel is very popular amongst the cabinet makers who install kitchens in our new houses. They claim to have reasonable acceleration and get 900klm out of a tank whilst carrying a decent load of tools.

77kW TDI 1.9l
75kW Petrol 1.6l

http://www.volkswagen.com.au/vwcms/m...nge/Caddy.html

[falconboy]

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

What about buying a real van?

Nah, want something small and easy.

[falconboy]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

The VW Caddy turbo diesel is very popular amongst the cabinet makers who install kitchens in our new houses. They claim to have reasonable acceleration and get 900klm out of a tank whilst carrying a decent load of tools.

Very hesitant to go for anything less common - I'd hate to think what a replacement trans/gearbox etc would cost.

[XR6_190]

Would a Falcon Panelvan be too big for you? I was thinking XF/XG/XH (or '90 to '99 model years)

[flappist]

Bitsamissing have a good van for $20k drive away 5yr/160,000 warranty. We just bought 2 for my sunny coast depot

[falconboy]

My interest was in something SMALL and LOW COST.

Thanks anyway!

[Buzz Box]

What about those Nissan vans they look like the combo kinda things and they are quite quirky and have lots of space for advertising and small etc

(Watch as soon as I hit submit their name will come to me lol)

Nissan S-Cargo Van (or Scargo) :

[Zedjay]

mitsubishi express...................
you can get an 86 model and it still looks like a 2009 model.
very cheap and heaps around

[Bud Bud]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

You mentioned that you wanted power steering. If this wasn't the case I would have also suggested a real old school 50's or 60's panel van like a Morris etc. Not much around and you will draw long stares everywhere you go.

Quite right Yellow_Festiva. There are a couple of old Bedford flat bed trucks that have been totally restored and are painted in red that belong to a ceiling contractor that get around Adelaide. They are kept immaculate and really stand out in the traffic and are a credit to the company that owns and looks after them. Great for business!

As far as the Combo is concerned, they are great value for money with small running costs. They will not break any 1/4 mile records but they too stand out in the crowd as they are quirky and appear large for such a small car. Perfect for a computer nerd image as well (because it looks like you made a practical decision purchased with your head and not your heart) and I think the customers you would be chasing would actually appreciate that. (Our tech drives an early 90’s Mercedes diesel, just suits him)

Drive one and see if you can put up with car in general and if you don't like, look at something else.

[tweeked]

http://www.eliteauto.com.au/dyno%20day%20results.htm

Have a look half way down the results here. A combo won the 4 cylinder N/A section of an Elite dyno day. No n/a 4 cylinders had turned up so Lee put his work Combo on the rollers for 49 rwhp - which means it would have had just over 44 RWKW!!!!!

[4.0i_SiX]

We had one as a work vehicle. It was one of the worst cars I have ever driven. It was reliable and never let us down, but it was SO slow, the interior is RIDICULOUSLY small and my feet used to ache as they have a very cramped footwell. You will have to be careful not to hit the accelerator when you go to brake, way too close together

[Piotr]

Fiat 126P had 24HP(17kw).

I learnt to drive in one

[onfire]

Im sure theres a Combo tuner culture out there, a pod and some stickers, and you'll be right.

[smciner1]

If you are after a small Van, would you consider something a little older such as an Escort Panel Van?

[Pinch]

Originally Posted by tweeked

http://www.eliteauto.com.au/dyno%20day%20results.htm

Have a look half way down the results here. A combo won the 4 cylinder N/A section of an Elite dyno day. No n/a 4 cylinders had turned up so Lee put his work Combo on the rollers for 49 rwhp - which means it would have had just over 44 RWKW!!!!!

RWKW = rear wheel kilowatts doesn't it?

If so a Combo's RWKW would be Zero

[Spudz27]

There is the Volkswagon Caddy thing. you can get a 2ltr TDI. Basically just a golf panel van.

[Pinch]

Originally Posted by Pinch

RWKW = rear wheel kilowatts doesn't it?

If so a Combo's RWKW would be Zero

Might have a go at myself there... thinking about it now, I suppose it could mean ROAD wheel kw's as well hey?

Someone once told me donkey's ago it meant rear wheel kw's. Never take anything a fellow teenager says as gospel! Or maybe I read it in a mag...

Given I picked it up myself do I still need to serve an ignorance penance???

Still think the Combo, especially the XC is fairly underrated though. But it was only ever a 3rd car for me, so not like I had to live with it day to day.

[RG]

Originally Posted by Pinch

Might have a go at myself there... thinking about it now, I suppose it could mean ROAD wheel kw's as well hey?

Someone once told me donkey's ago it meant rear wheel kw's. Never take anything a fellow teenager says as gospel! Or maybe I read it in a mag...

Given I picked it up myself do I still need to serve an ignorance penance???

Still think the Combo, especially the XC is fairly underrated though. But it was only ever a 3rd car for me, so not like I had to live with it day to day.

You were right, rwkw IS REAR wheel kilowatts. fwkw is the one you can get caught on, either flywheel or front wheel kilowatts.

[MITCHAY]

Originally Posted by RG

You were right, rwkw IS REAR wheel kilowatts. fwkw is the one you can get caught on, either flywheel or front wheel kilowatts.

I consider 'kw' to mean at the fly and 'fwkw' to mean at the front wheels.

[Pearly]

I used to have one of these, a 96 model to be exact.

As has been said, they are gutless, particularly when the air con is on. They struggle a bit getting up a steep hill if you have a full load, but it won't stall on you.

To be fair to it though, I did abuse this vehicle and it took quite a beating. I chirped the front wheels about 90% of the time I took off, and only ever had to replace 1 clutch on it. I drove it on a 600km round trip through the twisty mountains to go camping with a mate. On the way there (about 200kms into the trip) the clutch gave out on me, and I drove the rest of the way there and back shifting without a clutch.
I replaced the clutch and off I went again using it for work.

Apart from the little lifeless motors they have been damned with, the other issue I had with it was the size really. It was just far to uncomfortable for me, and I'm not the largest bloke. I'm 5'9" and a solid 95kgs. Yes a little on the heavy side, but that cabin is REALLY small.

[Buzz Box]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_S-Cargo

Manufacturer Nissan
Production 1989–1992
Predecessor none
Successor none
Class Van
Body style(s) 2-door van
Layout FF layout
Engine(s) 1487 cc SOHC I4, 73 hp (54 kW)
Transmission(s) 3 speed automatic
Wheelbase 89 in (2,261 mm)
Length 137 in (3,480 mm)
Width 62.8 in (1,595 mm)
Height 72.4 in (1,839 mm)
Curb weight 2,097 to 2,141 lb (951 to 971 kg)
Fuel capacity 40 L (11 US gal; 8.8 imp gal)

[DIFFWA]

My parents have one for there buisiness for a holden well GM car they are pretty good, I even moved house with it the cargo area was full front wall to the back doors and to the roof, plus it was also towing a 6x4 trailer that was packet to the rafters.

I was impressed when i hit the westgate bridge it just hauled up an over it but i had to tuck in behind a truck cuz started to struggle to hit a 100 with a strong head wind, but it would have been way over its load rating.

[chief]

They have a leaf sprig rear end with only one, YES 1!!! leaf spring. Sure shows the load capacity. But Holdens are great for Australia as they are tough apparently....

[bigdude1011]

Originally Posted by Buzz Box

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_S-Cargo

Manufacturer Nissan
Production 1989–1992
Predecessor none
Successor none
Class Van
Body style(s) 2-door van
Layout FF layout
Engine(s) 1487 cc SOHC I4, 73 hp (54 kW)
Transmission(s) 3 speed automatic
Wheelbase 89 in (2,261 mm)
Length 137 in (3,480 mm)
Width 62.8 in (1,595 mm)
Height 72.4 in (1,839 mm)
Curb weight 2,097 to 2,141 lb (951 to 971 kg)
Fuel capacity 40 L (11 US gal; 8.8 imp gal)

Not that much quicker, but it is a better tool for advertising with, though a turbo engine could be arranged from a Jap-Spec March/Micra, or even the infamous SR20 could probably fit inside.