New Car Time / Paging the Car-isti

SteveH banged the rocks together and said:

What is it with you and oil levels?

I can't remember a car I've had where its burnt oil to such an extent,
or the oil warning light doesn't give me enough warning.

You said the same about the Alfa and I never had a problem with that,
didn't use any oil at all.

This Passat I've got now burns a little oil (1.9 TDI 130), but the oil
warning light comes on, i chuck some in (once since I've had it), and
no damage is done. From new it was absolutely thrashed by its owner,
and I rev the bollocks off it when I'm pissed off, the engines just
shrugged it shoulders and laughed.

Must be something with the way you drive them, or you're unlucky when
it comes to buying cars re. oil consumption, or maybe dodgy oil pumps,
or dodgy oil level sensors?

 

It's that bloody time again (or will be in a couple or so months).

My youngest will (hopefully) be demanding the return of her
shiteoldhyundai shortly, which means that I will be needing to get
myself something to use.

My criteria is mostly:
It has to be easy on the eye (no box shaped econo wagons or sensible
family cars, as I am paying for it, not my employer)
It will only ever be me and possibly 1 other in it, so rear doors and
legroom are of no interest to me, although I do need a reasonable boot
for work stuff.
Reasonable amount of poke (2.0l ish size lump should hit the spot)
Probably an auto-box (yeah, I know...)
Preferably no more than 1-2 years old
£12 to £16k

Top of my list currently is (don't laugh), another Hyundai (Coupe S3).
Had a test drive of manual and auto today and have to say I like very
much. I have to admit that until I had had to live with a Hyundai as
my every day car (I have done about 16k miles in the old Accent), I
would not have even considered looking at them. The Accent, although
spectacularly shite, has proven to be a remarkable little car, very
tough and dependable, with a certain shiteness-induced charm, sad I
know, but there you go.

Other possible candidates are:
3 series coupe of some description (prolly the 318i, or some diesel
engined variant)
Golf GTI (I used to have a 2.0 Mk4. It was not a bad car for my needs,
but quality wise it did not live up to my expectations. I would prolly
go for a 1.8T or 150bhp diesel this time)
Jaguar X-Type (prolly the diesel variant as the 2.5 and 3.0 are too
thirsty)
Merc C Class or CLK (dunno too much about these)
Saab 9-3 (something around the 170BHP mark?)
Mazda 6
Mazda RX8 (not the 230BHP version)

Realistically, only the Hyundai will meet my age criteria, so one of
the above would be somewhat older.

Whilst I am not really a "car person" these days, as I spend a lot of
time in the bloody thing it might as well be what I want, rather than
what I "ought" to have. Bear's comment on the interior of his Saab
being a nice environment to be in just about sums it up.

The other alternative is to say **** to having a new-ish car and buying
another disposable one.

Thoughts from the UKRM car-isti would be much appreciated.


--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Me mentioning that Motorpoint have new Octavia hatch 1.9TDi in Ambiente
spec for 10,995 doesn't help the. Great value, but doesn't match any of
the requirements :-(

 

Overpriced for what you get, diesels are good, but if the quality of a
MkIV Golf disappointed you, then you don't want a new-ish 3-series.

1.8T is a great engine, but the GT-TDI is probably a better everyday
car.

It's a Mondeo in pretty clothes, and a generation behind the current
car, too.

See 3-series. Hugely disappointing build quality and reliability.

Vectra in pretty clothes.

Late ones have the Fiat / Alfa sourced 1.9JTD engines, which are very
good, if you fancy a diesel.

Don't know much about them, but they're meant to be good. ISTR they
share a lot with the current shape Mondeo - but have much better build
quality.

Are you mad? - fuel consumption is crippling.

FWIW, I love my Passat, however, it's the only 2lt TDI on our fleet that
hasn't broken. Yet. Although I put that down to others not checking oil
levels and killing turbos.

My boss has an A4 - that is beautifully built, but they're not cheap.

 

That's bloody good - new shape, assume? - the only downside I can see is
that it'll only be the 100bhp TDI lump, which is a but sluggish.

I've been eyeing up the vRS TDI as my next company car. Don't know if
I'll be able to swing it, though, 'cos of the residuals.

 

Heh, I've need autotradering for weeks now, both in paper form and
on-line.

I need to balance silliness with every day practicality and
live-able-with-ness. I also have the need to shut the missus the
****-up, as she does have fairly strong opinions when it comes to cars.

The 5 series doesn't really appeal. My old Passat was similar, and a
great car (paid for my my company), but was a bit of a PITA around town
(I am in London 2 or 3 times a week). Prior to that my old GTI Golf
(not a company car) worked well from this POV as it was fast (ish,
anyway, a good power to weight ratio), and was easy to manouevre /
park, and looked pretty smart too.

I really am quite taken with the Hyundai Coupe, does this make me a
total arse?

The 3 door Saab appeals (my old man had a 900 EMS many moons ago, a
very handsome car), I reckon I'll have to take a deeper look.

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Akkshirley, the Octavia is not a bad looking motor at all.

Hmm, food for thought perhaps...

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Gyp wrote

The Octavia owners I've chatted with have all been pretty pleased on the
whole. I don't know how quick they can be though - that is so important.

 

Hmm, a mate has a 318Ci. Quite likes it, but I am not too sure. SWMBO
doesn't like BMW's, says the ride is "all wrong".

Swot I fort. Bora 150 Diesel would be even better value, but too bland.

I loved my old S-Type, despite it's vices (incredible thirst for petrol
being top of the list). I teste drove an X-Type when they 1st came out
and was disappointed, but having had to drive the Hyundai for the last
6 months has sort of "hard reset" my thoughts on cars generally.

Hmm, much as I thought (and had heard, mainly second hand though).

Not necessarily a bad thing then.

Nope, no FIAT / Alfa based stuff, this is my money, not someone else's.

SWMBO's Mazda 3 is a very nice motah indeed, very well built and solid
feeling, unlike anything Japanese I have encountered previously.

Bugger, I like the quirkyness.

My old Golf drank oil likeno other car I have ever owned, which was
normal apparently. My Passat was the old shape 1.9Tdi 130, which I had
always liked the styling of. Not sure about the new one, although the
new Jetta looks nice.

Audis are driven by cunts that can't afford BMW's




--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Heh, guilty as charged m'lud, may as well have the car to prove it.

<FX books test drive>

Erm, what colour is yours...



--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

Sorry, checking it was 11,995, but still it's good value.

http://tinyurl.com/36ds28

It's the 105bhp lump, but it's the PD, rather than the previous
generation like what I've got.

 

On second thoughts, how about I have a go in yours whilst you try on my
lad's gay leathers...

--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11

 

IME the smaller engines BMW models aren't really worth having with the
potential exception of an E30 318iS aka Mini-M3.

Drive both to find out if you get along with the engine
characteristics. Also, the slushbox variant wasn't sold in the UK but
as far as I know, is available as a gray import. It's not necessarily
that great a choice though as these engines need revving hard from time
to time to prevent carbon buildup around the tips and the slushbox
won't let them unless you go pseudo-manual.

And unless you get one that's still under warranty, find out where the
nearest rotary specialist is as that'll make the pain in the wallet
more bearable, plus they tend to be a tad more clued up regarding the
engines. If you let me know where you are I can probably recommend
someone.

The Hyundai is supposed to be a really good car but if I were you I'd
probably try to get the top of the range version (2.7l).

What sort of mileage are we talking here, by the way?

Or something a tad offbeat. Depends on how many miles you do and what
you like and don't like, though.

 

Getting a bit old now, the Jetta is a great car, though. Another on the
list when the Passat is up for renewal in 12 months time.

Nothing wrong with the engine - it's much better than the old
boat-anchor Izusu based diesels GM used in the past. No known
reliability issues with them. If they were an issue, GM wouldn't have
bought them in.

As I said above, the Jetta is a lovely car. Not a lot smaller than the
Passat, with similar styling and largely the same engines, however, the
styling looks better balanced on the smaller car. Same caveat applies
with the 2lt TDI, unfortunately, which is a shame, 'cos it's a good
engine whilst it works and can also be had in 170bhp form.

Heh.

They have strange ride quality - as if they've been factory fitted with
chav springs, but you can't fault the way they're bolted together.

Totally off the wall suggestion..... VW Phaeton 3lt TDIs aren't stupidly
expensive these days.

 

A couple of colleagues have the 1.9TDI in their Passats (to save them a
whole tenner a month) - just about all of them wish they'd had the 2lt
instead.

On the other hand, none of the 1.9s have broken down.

 

My thoughts would be with the Saab. I had a 9000CSE which I loved,
and could do many miles in without fatigue and it's 2.3 engine never
had a problem. A friend had a 900, then a 9000, and now he has the
9,5 aero and loves it too. He does massive mileages in it.

 

I'm not saying it's all that bad, just that, depending on which model
you want, the choice is to pay peanuts for a Vectra or a hefty premium
for the Saab badge, for what is essentially a very closely related car.

 

I was actually thinking of an S2000 myself. Voted No.1 best car by Top
Gear and JDP for about the last 3 years. Two seats, bloody good fun, and
reliable to boot.

If you want a quick Honda, the new shape Civic i-CTDi 2.2 is pretty fast
(I bottled out at 130 in one of those), and handles very well with the
18" wheels.

 

Nothing at all, 'cos I've never had problems with them.

Often, when the light comes on, it's too late.

Strangely, our 156 doesn't - but lots do, hence all the cheapies on ebay
/ Autotrader with knackered big end bearings.

The 1.9s are generally fine.

Erm, no. I've not had issues. I know some colleagues have, though - a
couple of knackered turbos and other issues. Mine has been fine 'cos I
check the oil and give the turbo time to cool before I switch off.

 

Heh, sounds like a plan.



--
Dan L

http://thebikeshed.spaces.live.com/
1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr

BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6/7)
X-FOT#000
DIAABTCOD #26
BOMB#18 (slow)
OMF#11