Car (or bike) Chat!

[nat8808]

My Alfa 155 (a forgotten excellent drivers car) seems to have had a bit of a dodgy MOT when I bought it and has serious rust troubles meaning I'll have to sell if to an enthusiast.

So, I'm looking for a new car which MUST qualify for classic insurance for me to afford it, meaning probably 1997 or earlier, might stretch to 1998.


Am looking at Audi A6 Avants (estate) at the moment.. that's a C4 version, pretty much an Audi 100.

Does anyone have any experience of them?

I've seen stories of them lasting for 500k miles, many reviews of people being comfortably into the late 200s or even 300k miles - they seem to be unburstable in petrol form at least.. Some say that the interiors of this era are more solid than recent (C6?) versions too.

And Quattro.. what difference does that make for every day driving? Does it make an A6 more unreliable and so a 2WD version the better bet?

Your thoughts please

[Dan W]

Don't get a Quattro unless you really need four wheel drive, they cost more to buy, run and service and are heavier on tyres and fuel. That age A6 is pre PD engine (the newer type diesels) which isn't a bad thing, the earlier engines are fantasticly reliable and near bullet proof. Avoid high mileage 1.8t. They all have very complicated front suspension setups so have a good listen for knocks and bangs over bumps, there's 8 front suspension arms alone so many joints to wear out!

[Gordon Steadman]

My Alfa 155 (a forgotten excellent drivers car) seems to have had a bit of a dodgy MOT when I bought it and has serious rust troubles meaning I'll have to sell if to an enthusiast.

So, I'm looking for a new car which MUST qualify for classic insurance for me to afford it, meaning probably 1997 or earlier, might stretch to 1998.


Am looking at Audi A6 Avants (estate) at the moment.. that's a C4 version, pretty much an Audi 100.

Does anyone have any experience of them?

I've seen stories of them lasting for 500k miles, many reviews of people being comfortably into the late 200s or even 300k miles - they seem to be unburstable in petrol form at least.. Some say that the interiors of this era are more solid than recent (C6?) versions too.

And Quattro.. what difference does that make for every day driving? Does it make an A6 more unreliable and so a 2WD version the better bet?

Your thoughts please

Can't speak for the A6 but we have just bought a 1998 A4 with 140,000 on the clock for €750 ie about £600! It drives like new, very quiet, no knocks and bangs and seems good on petrol. Its a 1.8!! This is the first Audi I have driven and if its typical, they have to be a good bet. Much as I hate the front wheel drive (Used to old Alfas too) its a pleasure to travel in. I wouldn't describe it as a driver's car by any means but as a method of getting around in comfort its great.

[Reffc]

Volvo 850 T5 Estate? Good for 250 to 300K if looked after; cheap servicing, great performance and build quality. Should be a few around from 1996 or 1997. Fuel costs are the major consideration. 35mpg on a run or 20 to 25mpg around town. Way better imho than earlier A6 estates...far more of a drivers car and with genuine performance.

For lower insurance on the same theme, later S60 Diesels are great vfm and have real go. D5 is as quick as the older T5 (mine has been fettled by Superchips to 215BHP/360ft-lbs torque yet still returns 50+mpg on a run)

[nat8808]

Thanks for those opinions and suggestion. I've never really checked out Volvos before.. oddly at first look they appear to be more expensive than Audi A6s which I somehow wouldn't expect.

[Reffc]

S60's are wolves in sheep's clothing. Very individual styling too and a massive boot space. Mine has more load space when the rear seats are folded down than our estate car can muster. The only changes I intend to mine are to up-rate the suspension to something a little firmer. Other than that, good build, reliable, fast and relatively frugal. Possibly the most comfortable car I have ever sat in too. Adjustable everything. Not so keen on the newer 4 cylinder models though.

[nat8808]

Bit too recent for me personally, the S60.

Have been spotting A6's with full or almost full service histories for between £500 and £700, the former a private sale with 2.8 Quattro although a bit away from me and with leather seats which I don't actually like.. 2.8 Quattro might be a little too much fuel wise, maintanance wise and insurance wise. So perhaps a 2.6SE might be a better bet even if a little more.

Will start to research some 850 prices..

[nat8808]

Have changed my mind about the classic insurance bit, Im hoping that something as recent as 2000 might afford me low enough insurance..

The volvo suggestion ended up getting me looking at Saabs, first 9-3s then I realised how similar priced some 9-5 estates are compared to 9-3s, no brainer between the two!

So, anyone had a Saab 9-5 estate? Anyone experienced using LPG either?

Have seen one for £650 with LPG conversion but the damned long weekend means I cant sort out insurance with my favoured broker to test drive it! I hate weekends and bank holidays.. so unproductive (Im freelance so weekends and holidays mean nothing to me other than over-crowded public spaces..)

[Ninanina]

So, anyone had a Saab 9-5 estate? Anyone experienced using LPG either?

Nat, I had a 93 convertible for a little while which had nearly 200,000 on the clock and it ran like a train, it was the HOT version, 'High Output Turbo', and it really did shift

However i got rid of it as i kept getting the lights on the dash saying something was wrong with it, and I don't think there was anything really wrong, but it annoyed me!

A neighbour has the 95 with LPG conversion..... now you have to watch out with LPG conversions, they need to have the 'Valve Saver Oiler System' fitted otherwise if they've done about 50-60,000 on the LPG the valves tend to burn out apparently

Hope that helps

We looked into a Toyota Amazon petrol with LPG but decided it was safer to go with the petrol without LPG fitted....

[goraman]

It doesn't quite go with the current topic but I have been bringing an old Raliegh 3 speed from 75-76 up to a nice functional daily rider.
I have been robbing the U.K. of parts via ebay as most of the parts I have needed seem hard to get here,it is easier to find rusty complete bikes than a 22 tooth rear cog or the red R nuts or crank pins.
Not that I haven't visited this before but no local bike shop will touch them as most of the bike is Witworth or British Standard Fractional and when I sold my Triumph Bonneville I gave the new owner my complete set of Snail Witworth wrenches and sockets to go with it ,so I am buying wrenches on ebay too. I don't like using an adjustable wrench but it has got me by.
When did the U.K. fully switch to Metric? I thought by early 70's but this bike is dated 12/75 frame 76 rear hub.
There must still be a lot of pre metric stuff in the U.K. I would think?
I still run into U.S. fractional or SAE hear all the time but it is becoming lesser and lesser.