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Manual Commodore
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I am a very happy man this morning. It feels like Christmas and Santa has been good. You see, I made a purchase this past weekend that has me very excited--I now have another computer to play with. Now those of you who read my articles regularly or who know me personally know that I am, er, somewhat of a geek. So you may not be very surprised that I am so excited over the purchase of a new computer. But, that's the thing: it isn't new. It's over 20 years old and I paid only $5 for it.
There was a huge 50-mile long yard sale this past weekend. Not all, but many houses, churches and businesses along the route of KY Highway 52 had decided to participate. For those who love to shop for used clothing or go antiquing, it was wonderful. I am neither. However, I was bored, so the kids and I were driving along the highway checking out the scene. On a fluke, I decided to pull in to a school and see what sort of stuff they had to sell. My heart leapt when I saw a Commodore Vic-20 computer sitting on a table. It was in the original box, with original owner's manual and a programming guide. Also, there was for sale a Commodore tape recorder so programs could be saved to cassette tape. Wow. The owner told me that he wanted $5 for both the computer and the tape recorder. What a deal! I bought it without hesitation.
Is this computer useful? Not really. The Vic-20 had only 3.5 KB memory capacity when it was introduced in 1981 and could only be programmed in BASIC and machine language. Many calculators today have more processing power than this. So it serves no useful purpose--I can't use it for my software business; I can't even use it to check email.
So, why did I spend my $5 on it? That's easy to answer... I remember with misty-eyed nostalgia the long hours of my youth spent in front of a TV screen (this was when you plugged your computer into a TV, no monitor needed), typing away on some computer program. Many weekends I would not go to bed until the wee (very wee) hours of the morning happily hacking away. I had a TI-99/4a computer in my youth and was hopelessly addicted to it. A friend had a Commodore 64 computer that we would hack on, and another friend had a Vic-20. Back in the days when Bill Gates was trying to get someone, anyone, to listen to his crazy business idea, my friends and I were busy typing away on some program that was the focal point of our lives at the time.
Of course times have changed and so have I, for the most part. Sometimes, even today, I find the morning sun coming up to remind me that I should probably stop banging away on a keyboard and get some sleep. It is truly a joy when one realizes that he has been blessed with the gift of his greatest hobby becoming a career.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions for future articles, please email me at mike@MikeBryant.com.
Mike Bryant has worked as a professional software developer for over ten years. A born entrepreneur, he currently owns Centrant, LLC, a software consulting firm specializing in custom software for small businesses. He currently resides in Jackson, Kentucky with his wife, two kids, and five computers. For more information, please visit MikeBryant.com
General Motor's Australian Units Confirmed to Export Pontiac G-8 to US
Pontiac has finally unveiled its big, rear-drive flagship sedan called the G-8 that is scheduled to hit showrooms next January. It will be offered at a price lower than $30,000. The G-8 is said to be a unique product unlike anything else that General Motors has ever sold. But of course in keeping with the company’s commitment to quality the G-8 will be equipped with nothing but the best auto parts that the world’s numero uno can provide such as its famous GM oxygen sensor.
The G-8 was deliberately created such, so as not to duplicate other GM models. This is because similar models tend to steal sales from one another rather than from rivals. According to GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, “We want to focus Pontiac very tightly on sports sedans and crate a lineup likened to that of BMW’s 7 series, 5 series, 3 series and 1 series. It just so happened that we start with the 7,” gesturing at the G-8.
He also added that Pontiacs are supposed to be rear-wheel-drive but sadly that probably will not happen since front drive is much better at preserving passenger space in small cars.
The G-8 is built on a large, rear-drive chassis developed by none other than GM’s Australian subsidiary brand, Holden—famous for big, fast rear-drive cars. Holden was tasked to produce the chassis on the Pontiac GTO and is also the source of the underpinnings for the Chevrolet Camaro.
The Pontiac G-8 will be offered in two versions: the G-8 with 3.6-liter V6 rated 261 horsepower, 250 pounds-feet of torque and five-speed automatic transmission; G-8 GT with Corvette-derived 6 liter V8 rated 362 hp, 391 lbs-ft of torque and a six-speed automatic or a new design six-speed manual transmission.
The G-8 have a full-sized dimensions of about 196 inches long, 75 inches wide on a 115 inch wheelbase.
More News on GM's Holden Brand
In Melbourne: General Motors Corp.’s Australian unit has recently confirmed that it will export its VE Commodore SS model, rebadged as Pontiac G-8 to the US from starting 2008.
The production of the G-8 will start at Holden’s plant in Elizabeth, South Australia state in late 2007 according to GM Holden Chairman Denny Mooney in an interview with reporters in Melbourne. G-8 will also sport new features such as a new nose, grille, and hood.
The export order will help in continuing work in Holden’s Elizabeth plant located north of Adelaide which have already shed some 1400 jobs and reduce workers shifts to two caused by the falling demand for its vehicles due to increase in fuel prices and demand for smaller, more fuel efficient cars.
“We need this kind of volume to keep our plant running at capacity, and frankly if your plant is not running capacity, then financially you’re going to have difficulties,” explained Mooney. He refused to comment on the value of the export deal and the number of Pontiacs that would be exported to the US.
But he did say that exports have the potential to exceed more than 30,000 Commodores Holden ships to the Middle East every year, where they are rebadged and sold as Chevrolets.
About the Author
Growing up with three brothers, Natalie Anderson became exposed early to the world of automobiles. This 29-year-old account manager now dreams of having her very own top-of-the-line vintage car.
what would i get for a vt commodore?
here's 1 for the aussies, i am selling my VT commodore nd i am wondering what is the most i can get for it ill type a discription,, 1999 vt v6 holden by design 5 speed getrag manual, hsv bodykit metalic silver, lowerd with king spring super lows "not cut" , 3 inch exuast with exstractors, 17 " mags roh chrome, stage 2 camber kit , drilled nd cut rotors "brakes" , brand new clutch kit solid fly wheel "not dual mass" hsv sports performance chip, custom GTR dash, 15ich kenwood sub 4 6x9 speakers with amps, dvd screen pop out head unit, neons all under the car go by sound of sub, i have put 4 brand new tyres on nd it has 10 months rego it has done 210000kms runs beautiful i was wondering what is the most i can get for it??? i know v6 manual commodores r very rare.
Realistically?
For a quick sale, $6000-$8500 and if you can wait you might top $12,000 depending on a number of factors:
1. As a trade, it is worth much less.
2. Most people are not prepared to pay extra for your mods (speaking as one who has sold cars like yours). If you wait you could find someone who will fork over the extra cash.
3. The manual V6 is indeed rare and that is your selling point.
Modding cars is a bit of a mugs game: few people ever get back what they spend, and your car is essentially a standard VT in good nick with average kays and is worth essentially what the market is prepared to pay. The rest is window dressing really. The VT was not well regarded in terms of quality.
Chipping your car is a negative, as are the neons for many people, sorry to tell you.
Your best bet is to go with a cruiser club or omething....that way the value of your mods might be recognised. The rarity if the manual will still not add much to the value.
First drive: HSV GXP
It's softer than others in the HSV range, but the US-inspired HSV GXP still has the essence of an HSV.
Thanks for visiting!
