Somethings finally given way :( (+ Whatcar v2)

[DannyVTS]

Well, as I was driving home last night in the Saxo, something has given way. I'm hoping its the differential bearing that has collapsed as it was on the way out and it sounds as if both drive shafts have gone? Which obviously would be hard to do so hopefully it's the diff.

I've been looking at Astra GSi's and Coupe Turbo's all weekend, which brings me back to a thread I made a few months ago.. CARS DO HAVE EMOTIONS.

It must have known that today was to be its last journey, as I have the rest of the week off work and plan to buy a new car this week, it must have known..

French Piece of st.

[b]Anyway, I've changed my mind again, and want a reliable car with

• 6 gears,
• cruise control
• 40mpg.
• Under £5k

Any suggestions?[/b]

I've been looking at high-ish mileage Skoda Fabia VRS' but some of the seats are minging! Bora seems like the best option so far!

2 of the 3 Astra's I looked at were tuned to over 250bhp, I guess I'll have to wait for them days :roll: The insurance was expensive anyway

Danny

[C2james]

Why don't you have a look at a ford focus, or a citroen C2 code?

[DannyVTS]

C2james said:

Why don't you have a look at a ford focus, or a citroen C2 code?

I don't think I can stomach another stroen for quite a while!! I looked at ST170's but you don't get a lot other than nice seats and a nice engine... 30mpg tops !

[C2james]

What about a golf or Leon?

[Xavier259]

DannyVTS said:

Anyway, I've changed my mind again, and want a reliable car with

• 6 gears,
• cruise control
• 40mpg.
• Under £5k

Any suggestions?

I've been looking at high-ish mileage Skoda Fabia VRS' but some of the seats are minging!

Danny

One of these might be worth a look:



2006 Grande Punto Multijet Sporting - Autotrader

[DannyVTS]

Xavier259 said:

One of these might be worth a look:



2006 Grande Punto Multijet Sporting - Autotrader

I heard those Fiat 1.9's are terribly unreliable?

BTw, that fking MG i wanted is going cheap as fk

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[Prof Prolapse]

Fiat Panda 100HP.

Not sure if it's quite 40MPG but at least it's not a diesel.

ETA: Actually not convinced it will have cruise.

[DannyVTS]

Prof Prolapse said:

Fiat Panda 100HP.

Not sure if it's quite 40MPG but at least it's not a diesel.

ETA: Actually not convinced it will have cruise.

I've just looked at these actually, not too bad on fuel or insurance..

Will keep them as an option, interiors looking a bit drab mind!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

[SCB Driving]

The punto as got to be more reliable than any MG ever made.
I have had 2, covered 120000 miles and had no problems whatsoever.

[DannyVTS]

SCB Driving said:

The punto as got to be more reliable than any MG ever made.
I have had 2, covered 120000 miles and had no problems whatsoever.

Hmm, Do VX change anything on the engine then? I know 2 people who've had loads of problems with the 1.9 CDTi.. one in a Vauxhall Vivaro Van and one in a Astra H hatch..

Clutches, DMFs etc

[VeeFour]

DannyVTS said:

Xavier259 said:

One of these might be worth a look:



2006 Grande Punto Multijet Sporting - Autotrader

I heard those Fiat 1.9's are terribly unreliable?

BTw, that fking MG i wanted is going cheap as fk

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Sorry - you're lusting after something with a K-series lump whilst questioning the reliability of a diesel engine that has gone into millions of Fiats / Alfas / Vauxhalls / Opels / Saabs / Cadillacs etc, etc with no major issues over the last decade or so?

[Prof Prolapse]

DannyVTS said:

I've just looked at these actually, not too bad on fuel or insurance..

Will keep them as an option, interiors looking a bit drab mind!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2010...

Well I'm not quite sure if it will be as extravagant as a diesel "grande" punto but your a bit of a tight arse with your MPG!



Can't you just spend £4000 on a decent Civic Type R? It's hardly difficult to live with and if you run it for long enough the build quality should compensate for some of the fuel costs at a mere 30MPG.

Sorry I'm doing that thing where we suggest you change your criteria arent I? MX5? 330Ci? Clio Cup? Monkey tennis?

[TAHodgson]

+1 for the punto. I've got the 1.2 petrol (first car) Which my aunt drove, which made her go out and buy the diesel sporting. She's covered just over 60k in 3 years of ownership and had no bad problems, she gets it serviced twice a year and that's it! And they're pretty pokey (for a derv) even before a remap!

[SCB Driving]

I am a driving instructor and have had no clutch problems at all on either of my puntos.
Vauxhall could be different clutches and gear box. It does not make the engine unreliable.

[B Huey]

DannyVTS said:

Hmm, Do VX change anything on the engine then? I know 2 people who've had loads of problems with the 1.9 CDTi.. one in a Vauxhall Vivaro Van and one in a Astra H hatch..

Clutches, DMFs etc

I've had 2 Focuses wreck the clutch and DMF, one at 63000 miles, the other at 80000, around a grand to repair each time. Company car luckily.

[DannyVTS]

Prof Prolapse said:

Well I'm not quite sure if it will be as extravagant as a diesel "grande" punto but your a bit of a tight arse with your MPG!



Can't you just spend £4000 on a decent Civic Type R? It's hardly difficult to live with and if you run it for long enough the build quality should compensate for some of the fuel costs at a mere 30MPG.

Sorry I'm doing that thing where we suggest you change your criteria arent I? MX5? 330Ci? Clio Cup? Monkey tennis?

I can't insure a Type R till I'm 21! Not with admiral anyway :\

I can't believe I'm going to miss out on the MG, absolutely gutted, I hope it fetches 2k to make me feel better.

[collateral]

iirc there was talk on here a while back with people saying GM did fiddle with Fiat's engine design and thus they aren't as good under the bonnet of a VX.

mk1 Leon Cupra? Great looker, although the dervs seem a bit hen's teeth though, and even with 150 horses the 0-60 is over 8 seconds

[VeeFour]

collateral said:

iirc there was talk on here a while back with people saying GM did fiddle with Fiat's engine design and thus they aren't as good under the bonnet of a VX.

I believe they install their own ECU and inlet plumbing, which is what causes the problems.

[DannyVTS]

VeeFour said:

I believe they install their own ECU and inlet plumbing, which is what causes the problems.

Ahh, interesting !

Someone give me some wise words please, starting to get a bit mad over missing this MG

[Xavier259]

DannyVTS said:

Hmm, Do VX change anything on the engine then? I know 2 people who've had loads of problems with the 1.9 CDTi.. one in a Vauxhall Vivaro Van and one in a Astra H hatch..

Clutches, DMFs etc

collateral said:

iirc there was talk on here a while back with people saying GM did fiddle with Fiat's engine design and thus they aren't as good under the bonnet of a VX.

This maybe? A friend has a Grande Punto for the best part of 2 years and hasn't had any problems with it.

collateral said:

mk1 Leon Cupra? Great looker, although the dervs seem a bit hen's teeth though, and even with 150 horses the 0-60 is over 8 seconds

Good shout!