My first hot hatch!
Discussion
I've just realised how unreliable my car is. In the month I've owned it, I've had issues with:
- Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
- Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
I wouldnt say that was 'unreliable' just seems you've been unlucky and bought the car just when things have started to wear out. Its that funny period that had you bought it with a few more miles the previous owner would probably have had to replace all these bits. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you dont.
I got bitten with my clio 182.
I got bitten with my clio 182.
As awful as it sounds, you've spent that amount on it, you may have got something a bit newer/less miles/more loved if you had added that amount ontop of the existing amount. Its just unfortunate, hopefully it doesn't cost you anymore.
They generally are reliable cars and not an awful lot goes wrong, apart from the items you've listed it shouldn't be much more of a pit.
They generally are reliable cars and not an awful lot goes wrong, apart from the items you've listed it shouldn't be much more of a pit.
Petrolhead95 said:
I've just realised how unreliable my car is. In the month I've owned it, I've had issues with:
- Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
Doesn't seem too bad.- Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
Tracking/ alignment is good to do on a regular basis irrespective of what car you have, likewise oil and filters change, brake and powersteering fluid and tyres.
Track rods and a few hoses is not a serious or costly issue. You have to pay for cars one way or another - either you buy newer and lose lots on depreciation, or you buy used and occasionally have to replace worn out bits. Your car should be sorted for the foreseeable future now, tyres and suspension refresh don't come that often so the car is set for the next few years - go out and enjoy it now
Petrolhead95 said:
I've just realised how unreliable my car is. In the month I've owned it, I've had issues with:
- Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
You bought a cheap, high miler, what did you expect? - Tracking and alignment
- Track rod ends
- Brake hoses
- Radiator hose
- Expansion bottle hose
- New springs, tyres and dampers
I've still got to:
- Oil and filter change with engine flush
- Power steering fluid bleed and change
- Clutch/brake fluid bleed and change
- Fit missing/broken panels
So far this month I've chucked almost £1,000 at it, but I really don't want to sell it even though it is a money pit. I'd rather chuck money at it than get rid of it. It has obviously been neglected massively by the previous owner, so I want to get it back to how it should be. Having a full service over the next couple of weeks so hopefully she will run better then.
Doesn't sound too bad at all though going on that list. If it had thrown a rod through the block then maybe I'd be upset lol.
you have bought a 8 year old 100k mileage car which dare i say it wont have had an easy life. Most of the things you listed are normal things for a car of that age and mileage.
Gear linkage will most likely want cleaning up and greasing up again, my Mini was stiff until i did this. Have you checked the gearbox oil yet too?
Gear linkage will most likely want cleaning up and greasing up again, my Mini was stiff until i did this. Have you checked the gearbox oil yet too?
JackP1 said:
Good buy. Mine runs 180bhp but don't want to plow more money into it for performance. Been meaning to buy the Bilstein B12 kit for years but will need to in the near future just to refresh the suspension components a bit.
RE: the Rad hose. was it he one that returns back to the block on the right hand side of the engine? Myself and a couple of guys have had this issue and it might be an eventual common one. This issue of it expanding up like a balloon and splitting. Managed to change mine before it went but it didn't look pretty.
Screen Shot 2015-05-12 at 20.42.10 by Jack_Pearson, on Flickr
My 2007 ST did this aswell a few months ago! I managed to notice it before it got too badRE: the Rad hose. was it he one that returns back to the block on the right hand side of the engine? Myself and a couple of guys have had this issue and it might be an eventual common one. This issue of it expanding up like a balloon and splitting. Managed to change mine before it went but it didn't look pretty.
Screen Shot 2015-05-12 at 20.42.10 by Jack_Pearson, on FlickrPetrolhead95 said:
JackP1 said:
If the gear change is stiff only when its warmed up then its the selector arm bush dried up.
The first one. Annoyingly I don't have the time or money to get it done at the moment, so will have to live with it for a couple of weeks.Mine did this a couple of years ago, was a cheap fix, you can just live with it until you have the funds though.
Bit of an update.
I did have a burst water pipe last week which managed to cause some damage. Needed a new thermostat, thermostat housing and pipes. While I was there I cleaned up the engine bay as it was a complete mess.
I've done 5,000 miles in the ST now and still loving it, although I'm bored with the performance. I decided against going to Mountune and paying £1,700 for a 15 horsepower gain. Instead I'm gonna turn it into a track day car which means stripping out excess weight and a tonne of other stuff.
As you can see, I've removed the rear seats and I'm now in the middle of removing all sound deadening, which is an awful job, followed by removing all plastics and carpets, spare wheel and jack. The mods I've decided to go for are:
- Federal 595RSR tyres
- Pro Race 1.2 16" wheels, either in silver, grey or black
- Red strut braces
- Half cage, full cage if my bank account allows it
- Fixed bucket seats
- New Miltek exhaust 4-1 manifold
- Dream Science remap
- Coilovers, probably go for a 50mm drop front and back
- Remove fogs for a direct air feed
- Respray faded black plastics
- New engine once I have the funds
- Triple R front splitter and rear diffuser.
My family think I've ruined the car but I can always put back all the gubbins if I need to sell for some reason. It will be a slow project as unfortunately my house takes most of my spare time and money, but I'll update once I have something to share.
I did have a burst water pipe last week which managed to cause some damage. Needed a new thermostat, thermostat housing and pipes. While I was there I cleaned up the engine bay as it was a complete mess.
I've done 5,000 miles in the ST now and still loving it, although I'm bored with the performance. I decided against going to Mountune and paying £1,700 for a 15 horsepower gain. Instead I'm gonna turn it into a track day car which means stripping out excess weight and a tonne of other stuff.
As you can see, I've removed the rear seats and I'm now in the middle of removing all sound deadening, which is an awful job, followed by removing all plastics and carpets, spare wheel and jack. The mods I've decided to go for are:
- Federal 595RSR tyres
- Pro Race 1.2 16" wheels, either in silver, grey or black
- Red strut braces
- Half cage, full cage if my bank account allows it
- Fixed bucket seats
- New Miltek exhaust 4-1 manifold
- Dream Science remap
- Coilovers, probably go for a 50mm drop front and back
- Remove fogs for a direct air feed
- Respray faded black plastics
- New engine once I have the funds
- Triple R front splitter and rear diffuser.
My family think I've ruined the car but I can always put back all the gubbins if I need to sell for some reason. It will be a slow project as unfortunately my house takes most of my spare time and money, but I'll update once I have something to share.
I think they are great looking, but would slate the output on the older model. Tried one out a couple of years ago, but the performance, insurance and mpg equation just didn't do it for me.
That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
mike_bngs said:
I think they are great looking, but would slate the output on the older model. Tried one out a couple of years ago, but the performance, insurance and mpg equation just didn't do it for me.
That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
Car is very restricted for insurance purposes. You wouldn't need to spend too much money for them to be as quick as a new one. Once I've bought the manifold and have remapped it, I'm hoping for about 170-180 horses which is enough for a car that weighs a little over 1,000KG.That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
As others have said, they're just age-related niggles - PITA that you ended up changing them within months, but nothing serious.
If you add a full cage you're going to end up with a car that's not a great deal lighter / quicker, and (with the removal of all the sound deadening) a heck of a lot noisier - they tend to be heavy old things.
Have fun whatever you decide to do.
If you add a full cage you're going to end up with a car that's not a great deal lighter / quicker, and (with the removal of all the sound deadening) a heck of a lot noisier - they tend to be heavy old things.
Have fun whatever you decide to do.
Petrolhead95 said:
mike_bngs said:
I think they are great looking, but would slate the output on the older model. Tried one out a couple of years ago, but the performance, insurance and mpg equation just didn't do it for me.
That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
Car is very restricted for insurance purposes. You wouldn't need to spend too much money for them to be as quick as a new one. Once I've bought the manifold and have remapped it, I'm hoping for about 170-180 horses which is enough for a car that weighs a little over 1,000KG.That's obviously a standard model, but the argument doesn't stand after that as you can mod pretty much any hot hatch in to a monster.
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