Circumstances changed, car required.

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 13th May 2018

Not too keen on the Alfa, but the punto looks a nice car.

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 13th May 2018

Mrs Moog has suggested something a little left field that I hadn't considered...

...Toyota Celica.

I know they did 2 versions, one with 140bhp and the other with 190bhp, I like the way they look and being a Toyota they should be fairly reliable things. I will admit that my curiosity is piqued.

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

Had a test drive in a Celica 190...didn't like it much tbh. Also have test driven a Pug 206 2.0 hdi...not bad, but again it didn't catch my attention enough so I won't be buying one. Will stick with the current motor for the time being and gonna have a look at the following in the not too distant future:

Vectra 2.2 SRI
Mondeo 2.0 Zetec
BMW e46 318i SE

All around the 140-150 bhp mark, all average over 35 mpg, all fall within my budget. I am pulled towards the BMW, purely because I owned an e36 318i SE for four years (bought with 86000 on the clock, sold with 156000 on the clock) and it was the most solid, reliable car I have ever owned. Passed every mot with no work required and was lovely to drive (if a little gutless). Both the BMW and Vectra are cam chain engines, and I assume the Mondeo will be belted so I will need to check it's been changed, as well as the obligatory MOT history check. I am aware that history and condition are more important than mileage, given that all of them will be roughly 13 years old now, but are there any glaring problem areas I need to know about?

Maruchino

958 posts

185 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

themoog75 said:

Had a test drive in a Celica 190...didn't like it much tbh. Also have test driven a Pug 206 2.0 hdi...not bad, but again it didn't catch my attention enough so I won't be buying one. Will stick with the current motor for the time being and gonna have a look at the following in the not too distant future:

Vectra 2.2 SRI
Mondeo 2.0 Zetec
BMW e46 318i SE

All around the 140-150 bhp mark, all average over 35 mpg, all fall within my budget. I am pulled towards the BMW, purely because I owned an e36 318i SE for four years (bought with 86000 on the clock, sold with 156000 on the clock) and it was the most solid, reliable car I have ever owned. Passed every mot with no work required and was lovely to drive (if a little gutless). Both the BMW and Vectra are cam chain engines, and I assume the Mondeo will be belted so I will need to check it's been changed, as well as the obligatory MOT history check. I am aware that history and condition are more important than mileage, given that all of them will be roughly 13 years old now, but are there any glaring problem areas I need to know about?

Did you wind the Celica up to the point where the variable valve timing (or whatever it is) kicks in? Those things love to be revved. I found it very addictive and I still miss mine!

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

Maruchino said:

Did you wind the Celica up to the point where the variable valve timing (or whatever it is) kicks in? Those things love to be revved. I found it very addictive and I still miss mine!

Hell yes! It was great fun, don't get me wrong, but having to drive one to work and back everyday would be a chore, or would become very expensive.

A family saloon is the best compromise I feel, something relaxing, comfy, practical, reliable and nice to drive.

ZX10R NIN

27,632 posts

126 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

If you don't mind a bigger engine the 2.5 Mondeo is well worth a look.

Ghia X

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Lexus IS200

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

CLK270cdi

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

Whilst I don't mind a bigger engine, my wages and bank balance do! And nothing diesel...should probably have mentioned that earlier tbh! You have put some good ideas forward though ZX10R, and thanks for doing so.

defblade

7,437 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

themoog75 said:

BMW e46 318i SE
I am pulled towards the BMW, purely because I owned an e36 318i SE for four years (bought with 86000 on the clock, sold with 156000 on the clock) and it was the most solid, reliable car I have ever owned.

I was an E36 fan, I am not an E46 fan. I'd rather buy another E36 again!
E46 very much over designed, complicated solutions to things that were never problems. It's a while ago now, so the list of misery has dimmed a bit, 2 things that stand out from my 318 SE:

The radiator fan - PWM, massively variable speeds, complicated box of of electrics runs it, and that box is mounted to the fan which is about the hotest place in the car, so it dies. E36 had a simple 2 stage system, which never failed.

The door lock - has a Hall Effect sensor to say when it's shut, which fails, and can only be replaced by changing the whole locking mechanism (for £140 IIRC). What was wrong with a pin switch in a rubber boot?

The whole car was like this all the time though, constantly chasing little faults costing 1-200 quid every month or two. Wasn't sorry to see the back of it (sold with popped radiator - just one £100-odd job too many to put up with).

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

defblade said:

I was an E36 fan, I am not an E46 fan. I'd rather buy another E36 again!
E46 very much over designed, complicated solutions to things that were never problems. It's a while ago now, so the list of misery has dimmed a bit, 2 things that stand out from my 318 SE:

The radiator fan - PWM, massively variable speeds, complicated box of of electrics runs it, and that box is mounted to the fan which is about the hotest place in the car, so it dies. E36 had a simple 2 stage system, which never failed.

The door lock - has a Hall Effect sensor to say when it's shut, which fails, and can only be replaced by changing the whole locking mechanism (for £140 IIRC). What was wrong with a pin switch in a rubber boot?

The whole car was like this all the time though, constantly chasing little faults costing 1-200 quid every month or two. Wasn't sorry to see the back of it (sold with popped radiator - just one £100-odd job too many to put up with).

Blimey! And there was me thinking that the e46 was an improvement on the e36! Everything I have read about the Mondeo has been pretty good, same with the Vectra, so I guess we are down to two now.

ZX10R NIN

27,632 posts

126 months

Sunday 20th May 2018

themoog75 said:

Whilst I don't mind a bigger engine, my wages and bank balance do! And nothing diesel...should probably have mentioned that earlier tbh! You have put some good ideas forward though ZX10R, and thanks for doing so.

Original Poster

126 posts

83 months