Originally Posted by
vxaddict
Hi everyone!
First time post, long time lurker. I just purchased my first VX - a 1999 Astral Silver w/ 170,000 miles. Living in the Chicagoland area, it's pretty fitting that I make the purchase on the coldest day of the year so far (windchill of about -10 so far)
The previous owner (or two) were members of this community. In fact, I'm going through the VX Workshop manual CD purchased off Tone's old site as I type this. After I mentioned this website and some of the things I learned about the VX here, the previous owner finally decided to sell her to me instead of some of the other candidates. According to him, the other buyers just kept saying things like 'wow, this thing is so cool...' as he walked them through the test drive. So - thanks to everyone here for helping me get a leg-up on the competition!
The previous owner did follow most of the suggestions found here, including keeping the EGR clean, replacing the PCV often, and keeping her full w/ clean oil. With a garage full of high-mileage cars, he seems to have a pretty good history of keeping cars alive.
Alas, she does suffer from some of the ailments I've read about here. Both windows do bind, the headlights are faded, there's a squeek/rattle from the AC/Heater fan, the cladding is pretty faded, and I just found out the FOB doesn't lock the doors correctly (but the alarm works!). I plan on taking her to the doctor/garage over the weekend for a thorough checkup and then off to the detailers to deal w/ some of the easy cosmetic stuff. None are show stoppers, thankfully.
Although I'm weary of the high mileage engine, for the price, I really couldn't go wrong. Immediately after making the transaction, I took her to the gas station to give her some of the good stuff, and got on the highway to see what she's made of. Smiles all around.
Anyway - I look forward to officially being part of the VX clan. Like many of you, I've always wanted one of these the first time I saw one (at the Chicago autoshow in my case). I have a penchant for unique automobiles, and I love the enthusiasts who appreciate them as well.
Thanks for the time - I look forward to the addiction!