Suggestions for a high mile cheapo

[JPB]

Good call! The Safrane also benefits from a Galvanised bodyshell, which makes me wonder why so few are seen these days.

[Jodyone]

Thanks again everybody. Terry- of course you're right, a quick look finds loads of mk1 Focus's. I just hadn't noticed them on the roads so much. As a Merc fan I'm fond of timing chains, so the post 2001 development is interesting.

I had- and loved!- a Citroen XM years ago, so I'm up to speed on the secret that the suspension isn't all that complicated after all. The electrics however are another matter..! BX's however strike me as a bit deep into "modern" classic territory for short term daily abuse..?! I was wondering about C5's, actually, but they don't seem to be as deep into banger land as I'd guessed, and I don't know about economy: they look pretty aerodynamic, though.

I'm still keen on a passat despite my reservations- are there any specific things I should look for beyond the usual? I've heard about DMF trouble with small diesels and I'm wary. I found a 97 polo with a 1.9 diesel locally- is that the same engine? In a polo that seems like overkill, but it would do if the economy was there.

Rover are still high, partly because there seem to be loads of low mile old man ones around for very little. What about other Japanese normal cars? Corolla? Sunny?

[TerryG]

I suspect the handling is better on a Mk1 Focus than a Mk4 Golf - I suspect that the Golf is designed for comfort more than handling and a 40Kg weight difference isn't an awful lot more for the Golf to carry around. Certainly, a friend who has had both Mk1 and Mk2 Focuses prefers the ride comfort of the Mk2 - but the handling of the Mk1! He still had the Mk1 when I bought the Golf and commented on the Golf's smooth ride - and he hates VWs!

Everything is subjective. My dad drives a 1999 golf gti, I find the focus quicker and more entertaining to drive. The golf definitely has nicer seats than the ford and it is quieter. I do 85 miles a day and it takes it in it's stride averaging 34mpg with 60 miles on fast A roads and 25 in traffic. I have tried part-xing my mk1 in for both the mk2 and 2.5 and didn't like either on a test drive so have hung on to the Mk1. (I did like the ST but not the insurance cost)
The golf cost £1000 from the dealership my brother works at last year, 140,000 on the clock, full service history and a 3 month warranty (it was a part-x that he wanted rid of). He had to spend £100 on having the drivers electric window repalced but otherwise it has been perfect. I forget what the focus cost as it was so long ago. You could certainly do alot worse than either of them.
The only Japanese car i have ever had was a 1999 Honda Civic 1.6 as a company car and i can't remember anything about it other than at 6'1 the seat wouldn't go back far enough for me to sit in it comfortably and the brakes never felt like they would stop you from motorway speeds.

[tractorman]

I must admit, I didn't realise the Polo was 1.9 either! I suspect though that it's the AAZ engine - which is indirect injection, so not quite as economical as a TDi and if it's like the Golfs of that era, won't have a turbo, so won't be quick. A VW specialist had a Caddy with that engine and reckoned it wasn't very exciting to drive! My old Passat had an AAZ engine (which is how I know that code!) and did 44MPG. Cold starting won't be as good as a TDi, but they tend to be quieter outside the car - the TDi's always sound like a bag of bolts from outside (especially my neighbour's Audis!). So the Polo won't set the world alight, but if the engine is sound and the car is in good order, could do the job nicely.

The neighbour on the other side has a C5 estate and likes it well enough. He had a Xantia estate before it and reckoned it was really economical (60+ on long cruising journeys) so perhaps that might be the better buy? He said the old one was going to cost money but I saw it in the village last year and the new owner had bought it for his daughter or wife - but prefered to use it himself (delivering Yellow pages) and had had no problems other than a worn tailgate strut!

Passats from the 98 model on have much a more complex front suspension (from the A4) which can cost a bomb. The 1.9 TDi's are much the same as the Golf's, but I gather they need to be 130 BHP and have a 6-speed box to be worthwhile - more expensive to buy and insure! The pre '98 ones are more like a large Golf underneath and, IMHO are perfectly adequate! Perhaps a look on the VW-Audi forum might help spot potential problems:

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/

I notice Terry mentioned window problems on the Golf. The door locks can be a problem on pre-2001 models too. One thing about the Mk4 was that there were a lot of problems with electric windows and door locks on early models, but mods in 2001/2 improved them - one thing VW are good about is recall stuff, I had a recall on the Mk2 Golf when it was about eight years old - the heater matrix was replaced FOC! I had thought of selling mine next year (when the bank loan gets paid off) and was told by three indy garages to stick with the Mk4 as it was better than the Mk5/6! My personal favourite is the Mk2, though the Mk1 is the prettiest! And no, I'm still not recommending a Golf!

[Landy Mann]

Sir TB.

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but could you enlighten me about the Montego/Meastro TDI into series Land Rover thing? I thought that the current trend was for the Land Rover 200TDi as the engine mounts are in thesame place.

Yep thats the current trend but about 10 years ago it was the 2.0 Perkins Prima everyone wanted as the disco hadn't become cheep enough to start breaking for the engines, and before the Perkins everyone put V8's in, just wait another 3-4 years and you'll probably find people regularly putting Td5's in instead.

[alabbasi]

Find another W123 like a 240D. If it has 200k, don't worry, it's still good for another 300-400k.

[Maaarrghk]

Thanks for the info Landy Mann.

With regard to dual mass flywheel problems, I have heard of them being welded up on vans when they go wrong. I think you have to choose between a bit more vibration at low revs or a bit less pulling power.

[SirTainleyBarking]

Sir TB.

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but could you enlighten me about the Montego/Meastro TDI into series Land Rover thing? I thought that the current trend was for the Land Rover 200TDi as the engine mounts are in thesame place.

There is/was a trend to go for the Perkins Prima lump as it was considered less likely to lunch the gearbox of a series vehicle compared to the 200Tdi.
There was also the added benefit that at one point the prima lump was a lot more available in scrappers (Being fitted to Maestro's , Montego's and LDV vans )than the 200Tdi, which was made out of unobtainium

Either Google "Landrover Perkins Prima" or follow a few links.
The Intergerspin one was the person who either started doing this, or was one of the first to document it fully

http://www.nhua.co.uk/conversion/perkins.htm
http://www.integerspin.co.uk/landrover01.htm
http://www.lro.com/forum3/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=55358

A case of you pays your money and takes your choice. I'm somewhat limited in the types of engine I could potentially fit to my series as it is a six cylinder job. That means that although the bulkhead will accomodate most things, the chassis and gearbox placement (as well as the bellhousing) are different which means using a tried and tested route for a 4 cylinder isn't as "Plug n Play" as you'd think

[Young Farmer]

There is a Maestro turbo deisel on e bay at the moment, looks a good one, only problem is it's in Durham. perhaps one of the boys on here will have a look for you. I had a non turbo one of these and it was one of the most reliable cars ever . The local police had them and failed to break them unlike Escorts . The police fitters were getting worried that one of them could be made redundant. If you buy this car change the cambelt and the breather valve on the engine, a tip from the police fitters. It will do 50+ mpg and cruise all day at 80mph ( the new speed limit )

[Jodyone]

Find another W123 like a 240D. If it has 200k, don't worry, it's still good for another 300-400k.

I'd love to, believe me, but though they're much less thirsty than my 280, I think the loss on mpg makes it an expensive choice. Also, I'd get attached (I know) and start spending money on MB parts to rebuild everything. Then my girlfriend would leave me, because I'm now spending most of my life underneath two W123's.

Thanks to everybody who replied! I'll update this thread if I get anything, but if anybody knows of anything that might suit, in the Cornwall area (recap: very economical, generally reliable, a bit rubbish is ok, 1K-ish tops but happily much less), let me know here!