Practically Classics Forum

f4

I found someone who knows! (On Autoshite, naturally). These engineering geniuses at Renault move the rear wheel on the long wheelbase side of the van forwards so that the rear driveshafts are both perpendicular to the diff, but they don't press the wheel arch in a different place to suit, so it looks even more bonkers! Brilliant, want one even more now, especially as the clever auto transmission system from the old shape R5 can be fitted up to a 4.
Why do you not buy that for your family motoring needs, Rich? Forget the dull tool with its Brazilian engine, buy another classic.

TerryG wrote:lol,
I do 5-600 miles a week in mine, it never misses a beat.

its french!! it will either break down or go on strike....
thought you might like the renault john

It's done it for the last few years and been pretty damn good. no more trouble than I would expect from a high mileage used car. Certainly less grief than my rust bucket of a range rover.

its just that having family who have all french cars that seem to break all the time kind of puts me off...maybe psa/ford have resolved the reliability issue...although who built the engine in my 02 transit?? too skint to buy anything at the moment but will need a second car sooner rather than later. wifey wants a small car i want something i can put the kids in & still have room for my chopsaw & tool box.

The bottom line is, if you like it, buy it.
Fords are good value for money
VWs have the cool factor
Jap cars are reliable but parts are more expensive
I know there is lots of Volvo love on this forum.

Looking at the price of cars over in the land of garlic and onions, if you can put up with the steering wheel being on the correct side of the car, you should come over here and get one!

thanks mate!! found one twice the price but half the milage.. now wifey is checking finances to see if we can afford it

Is she working out how many handbags she could buy instead of the car?

shes working out if we have enough money to pay the bills & eat..wifeys very good with money, she's managed to stop me buying anything shiny for years!!

TerryG wrote:Same engine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Duratorq_engine
It is actually a PSA, nothing to do with ford other than the logo stamped in to the plastic cover.

The PSA lump came into the new Mondeo in 2007, all MK3s have the chain driven version. Our S-Max has the PSA engine, and, it's not bad, again will drop into limp mode too at times, but I have a feeling it may be down to a Peirburg valve for the turbo, as FORScan had a DTC code for something to do with activation or similar. It's also loads better with the EGR blanked off, drives much nicer, and no black smoke out the back, but it still gets driven at high revs on some trips just to help burn the crap off, and occasionally it gets a dose of fuel cleaner too.

Out of the 2 lumps I'll take the PSA one, at least the French can make a decent diesel lump, I have to hand them that one.

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