FN2 - Inspector gave me the fear.
Discussion
I am going to view an FN2 on Saturday, private sale. Spoke to a chap regarding a pre purchase inspection. He has put the fear of death into me, saying "do you really want to buy one of those", claiming:
- There will be a gearbox problem - the gearbox is from a Rover 25 and cannot cope with the power.
- The engine is likely to explode.
- It will burn oil.
Now the latter I accept, though I can't say I've ever heard of an engine exploding. I know the synchros can be weak but I've never heard of a gearbox grenading in its entirety.
I would be buying private sale, from a woman who has owned it for five years and appears to use it for the school run. I have been told vtec is barely used as she doesn't like it.
Is this guy perhaps had a bad experience with an FN2 that isn't reflective?
- There will be a gearbox problem - the gearbox is from a Rover 25 and cannot cope with the power.
- The engine is likely to explode.
- It will burn oil.
Now the latter I accept, though I can't say I've ever heard of an engine exploding. I know the synchros can be weak but I've never heard of a gearbox grenading in its entirety.
I would be buying private sale, from a woman who has owned it for five years and appears to use it for the school run. I have been told vtec is barely used as she doesn't like it.
Is this guy perhaps had a bad experience with an FN2 that isn't reflective?
clearly knows f**k all about civic type Rs then.
apart from the burning oil, but that's hardly news. If it's been used on a lot of short runs it might be a bit oil thirsty, but as much as a litre per 1000 miles is deemed as "normal".
I had a mitsu that burnt that much, and on the plus side, you constantly have fresh oil cycling into the engine with the top ups.
Even my DC5 burns about half a litre over 1000 miles or so.
apart from the burning oil, but that's hardly news. If it's been used on a lot of short runs it might be a bit oil thirsty, but as much as a litre per 1000 miles is deemed as "normal".
I had a mitsu that burnt that much, and on the plus side, you constantly have fresh oil cycling into the engine with the top ups.
Even my DC5 burns about half a litre over 1000 miles or so.
great way to earn a living.Integroo said:
That's what I thought, but the doubt was from the fact he is presumably a mechanic and inspects vehicles for a living and I do not ...
I've met plenty of mechanics that don't know what they're talking about...it's no different to any other profession, you get the full range of aptitude from the highly adept to the hopeless.Clearly someone that knows nothing, gearbox out a Rover 25 
Have you actually driven a FN2 though? Not particularly quick and harsh ride. Worth test driving before paying for a inspection, if that's your thing. Personally a bit meh for me, much preferred the Golf GTi or Focus ST of similar age, the latter which I ended up buying.
Have you actually driven a FN2 though? Not particularly quick and harsh ride. Worth test driving before paying for a inspection, if that's your thing. Personally a bit meh for me, much preferred the Golf GTi or Focus ST of similar age, the latter which I ended up buying.
zedx19 said:
Clearly someone that knows nothing, gearbox out a Rover 25
Have you actually driven a FN2 though? Not particularly quick and harsh ride. Worth test driving before paying for a inspection, if that's your thing. Personally a bit meh for me, much preferred the Golf GTi or Focus ST of similar age, the latter which I ended up buying.
I've driven a couple, but not extensively. I really like them - think they are much more interesting than the likes of the Golf and the ST. It will be the quickest car I have had to date, and outright power doesn't bother me too much. Have you actually driven a FN2 though? Not particularly quick and harsh ride. Worth test driving before paying for a inspection, if that's your thing. Personally a bit meh for me, much preferred the Golf GTi or Focus ST of similar age, the latter which I ended up buying.
He is the only one who will do the inspection in that area. For the £186 he wants, I think I will go without. Car is FSH, low owners, 09 plate, stock, owned by guy for five years and apparently is his wife's car and isn't driven hard. Seems honest. Says the only non cosmetic issue is a slight rattle on the exhaust at idle - I was thinking an easy fix - mounts? -, but anyone got any bigger concerns? I can do a basic inspection myself - oil, listen for noises, etc. but I won't be insured so can't do a test drive myself.
Shaw Tarse said:
Please just buy something!
100% this. I feel like i've been watching the extended edition of lord of the rings on half speed!Integroo, in your budget and with the type of cars you're looking at, you can't really go too far wrong unless you buy something rusty or a total lemon. No point overthinking it to death.
designforlife said:
Shaw Tarse said:
Please just buy something!
100% this. I feel like i've been watching the extended edition of lord of the rings on half speed!Integroo, in your budget and with the type of cars you're looking at, you can't really go too far wrong unless you buy something rusty or a total lemon. No point overthinking it to death.
Advantage of buying privately is, provided it isn't a lemon, if I wanted to change in six months I could probably do so without much of a loss.
Once purchased I will show you all some pictures so you know the incessant what car posts will stop ...
.:ian:. said:
Exhaust rattle at idle!?? That'll be your intermediate thrust wangler, always a problem on these motors, engine out job and the parts have to be overnighted from Japan, ooofff
"sucks teeth* ooh yeah mate, £2000 job that, and you'll have to replace that rover gearbox at the same time due to related failure of the inverse flange.Slightly more worryingly is the chap let me know the oil light flickered on yesterday, though he checked the oil and it is full, and oil and filters were changed at the last service in May. Hmm. In fairness, he didn't have to tell me, and he is putting it into a main dealer today for checking. I rang up the main dealer yesterday and they were very helpful, confirmed that the car had a full service in May and a full health check, and the only advisories were rear discs and pads (which the chap has had replaced) and front tyres (which the chap is also replacing). They invited me to phone back tomorrow once they have had the car back in.
Hopefully they confirm it is nothing to be worried about. I'd rather buy an honest car where I know there is a couple of minor things needing corrected (replacing hub caps on alloys, small ding in front o/s wing, fixing an exhaust rattle) than one that is sold as perfect when it is not!
Hopefully they confirm it is nothing to be worried about. I'd rather buy an honest car where I know there is a couple of minor things needing corrected (replacing hub caps on alloys, small ding in front o/s wing, fixing an exhaust rattle) than one that is sold as perfect when it is not!
probably the sensor,which is in the sump. looks a fairly common issue from a quick scan about FN2s.
As long as the oil isn't low, its not a problem in the mechanical sense, just a job to get around to eventually.
genuine sensor is £430, i daresay you can pick one up from a breakers for less than half that, or you could just live with it, i found a bunch of comments off fn2 owners with temperamental oil level lights. just keep it topped up and use an OBD to clear it (android phone and bluetooth obd is ideal).
As long as the oil isn't low, its not a problem in the mechanical sense, just a job to get around to eventually.
genuine sensor is £430, i daresay you can pick one up from a breakers for less than half that, or you could just live with it, i found a bunch of comments off fn2 owners with temperamental oil level lights. just keep it topped up and use an OBD to clear it (android phone and bluetooth obd is ideal).
Edited by designforlife on Tuesday 26th September 10:21
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