Car (or bike) Chat!

[Ali Tait]

Three years old, but still a relevant article-

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/c...lter-trap.html

[brian2957]

Jeep are getting some serious power out of their smaller petrol engines lately.

Mind you Ford, Vauxhall and Dacia ain't doing too bad either. They're just repeating what Daihatsu did in the eighties though, the Charade GTti was a wicked little tool!

I road tested a Dacia Sandero Stepway recently and I was quite surprised when the salesman told me it had a 1 litre engine . I thought it would be totally under powered . When I took it out on to the road I was very surprised at how much poke this car had . I could accelerate up a mild incline in 5th gear .

[walpurgis]

Too much techno trickery on modern cars for my liking.

The DPF can be a real pain with some diesel cars.

Turbos are a necessary evil to an extent, but I don't like them. If the oils seal on the induction side fails it can wreck the engine.

EGR's are no big deal, easy to sort out yourself as a rule. As is the MAF sensor/box and Lambda sensor. It's just a question of figuring out which item is causing problems.

Then there are various camshaft, flywheel and crank sensors, which can give bother.

Catalytic converters tend to be trouble free, but around here there's a bunch of jokers that go round at night stealing them off motors, so you get in your car in the morning and find half your exhust system has gone walkies.

I detest timing belts too. Both my cars have cam chains, which should last the life of the engine if the oil is kept clean.

Diesel injector pumps tend to be relatively trouble free. Good job, 'cos they cost a bomb. Some manufacturers are using electronic injectors with a low pressure feed instead of pumps. Each injector can cost over £300 to replace. That's a grand if all four go. Current Renault diesels seem to have a bit of an issue with these. I'm keeping well clear of their DCi models for that reason and I fail to see any real point in their sixteen valve diesels anyway.


Seems to me the safest option is to buy a 1988 Mercedes 190E 2.5 diesel. No turbo, chain cam and the rest of the car is virtually everlasting!

[spendorman]

I road tested a Dacia Sandero Stepway recently and I was quite surprised when the salesman told me it had a 1 litre engine . I thought it would be totally under powered . When I took it out on to the road I was very surprised at how much poke this car had . I could accelerate up a mild incline in 5th gear .

Decades ago, I was surprised at my Dad's 1.1 litre Allegro, much nippier than I thought it would be, economical too.

[CageyH]

You forgot the MAP sensor, knock sensor, dual mass flywheels etc.

Every car has it's problems. You just have to pick what problems you can live with.

[Ali Tait]

Yep, but a DPF can run you thousands to replace.

Agree with Geoff that cars are far too complicated these days.

[struth]

My car is as aerodynamic as a breezeblock and thus gets poor mpg. On plus side its easy to get into, comfy and has plenty room. Quite quick too thanks to it 1800 petrol engine. Cant afford to replace it so it will have to outlast me. Actually its in better nick than i am and its about 11 years old

[walpurgis]

Yep, but a DPF can run you thousands to replace.

The DMF can cost a packet too. Diesel VWs have had a major problem with them for over ten years. Even replacements lasting only months and costing up to £1300 each time depending on where it's done. I'd not buy a VW manual diesel from 2004 onwards.

[walpurgis]

Decades ago, I was surprised at my Dad's 1.1 litre Allegro, much nippier than I thought it would be, economical too.

I had a 1.3 Allegro many years ago. They always got slagged off, but I found it a decent little motor. Mine was nippy too, faster than the BMW 316 I'd had prior to it and it handled way better. Decent ride also. That A Series BMC engine was always good.

[struth]

Never was in an Allegro.. Quite liked the princess..cant remember if it was austin or morris though. Remember the maxi too. Twas leylands first hatchback ...maybe their only?