Car maintenance

[AlanD]

What are the current options, if I may ask?

We had a few options suck as:

 

Seat Leon

Ford Focus

VW Golf

Renault Capture

Peugeot 308

Citroen DS4

 

Although we wanted an SUV, its just not worth getting a really older model and they tend to be uneconomical and high CO2.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

We had a few options suck as:

 

Seat Leon

Ford Focus

VW Golf

Renault Capture

Peugeot 308

Citroen DS4

 

Although we wanted an SUV, its just not worth getting a really older model and they tend to be uneconomical and high CO2.

Have you looked at a VW Touran or Caddy Maxi?

[PhilipV]

I

 

You can't just say Manual/TC gearbox ftw because 'the rest will give problems' There are some manual cars that are terribly unreliable, and 'eat clutches for breakfast'.

 

Alan, I would not be scared of a CVT, or DSG for that matter. Of how many Jazz gearbox failures has anyone heard?

.

Very good point about box reliability. Manuals also fail.

I have one Toyota in my fleet of trucks, and that is the only one to have had gearbox issues. Just under 200k km and I ended up putting in a new box (it was only slightly more expensive than a reconditioned box and had a 2 year warranty.) Now I need to use that truck for 2 more years to recoup that (not inconsiderable) cost.

 

I would however avoid CVTs like the plague, but that is just because I hate how they sound. I also don't like the Oupa box in my dad's bakkie, but it makes it a very lekker tool to tow heavy loads.

 

If you are only going to use the car as a utilitarian tool, then the type of box doesn't really matter that much, it is more a case of what will be most comfortable in traffic.

I like driving and I like shifting. Making me very biased against autos of all sorts.

[Slowbee]

no no no, I mean a car thread on a bike forum ... thats like what .. a bike thread on a car forum

 

#ihavethepowerhere

[gazzacpt]

OK ...so I bought a 2016 Corolla ....1.6 cvt....is this just as bad as the others....[emoji52]

Haven't heard anything about the corolla but the Verso's had terrible versions of the CVT that would put the car in limp home mode or leave you stranded up a hill in traffic. Its been a while since I checked out newer Toyota's the last two new cars we got are VW.

 

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[The Ouzo]

Which TDI's? Where did you read/hear that?

the 2.0's

 

I've got a mate who specialises in VAG products. More often than not he fixes issues on cars when the dealer has made a mess of things. He is pedantic about everything being 100% on the cars he works on. 

When our 2.0T gave issues I had long chats with him looking at possible replacements.

 

But do some googling on the Audi 2.0 TDi and the information is there for all to see. Its not as bad as the 2.0T, but bad enough to make me want to stay away.

 

A R110k repair bill is not something I want to see again anytime soon.

[Kalahari Vegmot]

the 2.0's

 

I've got a mate who specialises in VAG products. More often than not he fixes issues on cars when the dealer has made a mess of things. He is pedantic about everything being 100% on the cars he works on. 

When our 2.0T gave issues I had long chats with him looking at possible replacements.

 

But do some googling on the Audi 2.0 TDi and the information is there for all to see. Its not as bad as the 2.0T, but bad enough to make me want to stay away.

 

A R110k repair bill is not something I want to see again anytime soon.

The more I hear about dealers, the more I want to throw up...

 

And that means that a "full agents service history" does not mean much when looking for used cars.

 

I did do some googling, and couldn't find anything that suggests it's unreliable. Maybe I didn't do enough research...

[Skylark]

 

 

I wonder if that was me? I had one that I bought with 180 000 kms on the clock. I took it up to 500 000 before selling. Those seats just didn't wear.

My wife now drives a 2013 2.0 litre . The new shape. Spares, I think they are expensive. But that is a general problem with " genuine " parts. I am lucky to have a mechanic that trained at Merc and Honda to work on mine out of warranty. He also knows when to stick with the real thing or not. Timing belt for instance - always original.

Not a sexy car at all I agree . But it will seldom, if ever let you down.

It must have been you, thanks mate, what a great car!

 

I didn't know you took it to 500,000 that's very impressive but I'm not surprised to hear that. What issues did you have along the way, did you eventually get the exhaust valve seat erosion issue that's supposed to be common on those engines?

 

I spoke to a guy the other day with one at 350,000km and it still purred. The Gen 1 is one of the best lookers I reckon, timeless shape

 

Used

You are in the UK?

 

The 2hnd market is insanely good there, from what I've seen vehicles are typically priced at a 1/4 of the Sa resale value, especially once they go past 10yrs old, in Sa the same vehicle will be over 200,000km and well worn and the UK one could easily have 80,000km and be pristine. As long as it will pass the mot or preferably currently has a valid mot and insurance the savings over a newer vehicle is a no brainer, it will cover any extra fuel or emissions fees for many years to come or repairs for that matter, newer vehicles out of warranty can slaughter your piggy bank.

 

Once you've settled down, in a few years time you can better afford to comfortably get a newer vehicle then do it.

 

The older Audi Avant 1.9TDI is a winner, any Honda Crv, a Vauxhal, the sky is the limit over there 2hnd, so jealous

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Just (yesterday) blew my caddy's head gasket. ????

 

Cooling system had an air block the size of fkn Africa. Luckily I had a 5l water bottle with me. Was on my way to swellendam for my lighties first camping weekend. Managed to limp back to Silverton rads in SWest where they bled the system and performed a gas test.

 

Blegh.

[Blokman]

Skylark , I had no big issues with the car. The valve seat problem I didn't know about . I had mostly small niggles due to wear. Window switches worn out and the like. Aircon went and I had recon units put in twice. Only other thing was, that it developed a clunking sound coming from the chassis. Apparently this is due to some kind of rubber in the suspension that becomes worn. But I never had it replaced.

I agree on the shape. It's held up pretty well over 20 years.

May you have many trouble free miles in yours.

 

[Skylark]

Skylark , I had no big issues with the car. The valve seat problem I didn't know about . I had mostly small niggles due to wear. Window switches worn out and the like. Aircon went and I had recon units put in twice. Only other thing was, that it developed a clunking sound coming from the chassis. Apparently this is due to some kind of rubber in the suspension that becomes worn. But I never had it replaced.

I agree on the shape. It's held up pretty well over 20 years.

May you have many trouble free miles in yours.

Thanks Blokman

 

Did you ever need to replace the aircon radiator?

 

The suspension is quite complex perhaps the one slight drawback of what is otherwise a very easy vehicle to maintain, double wishbone front and back, many many bushings and joints that can wear out and need replacing. Fortunately they share suspension parts with Civic/Ballades etc so some suspension spares are available at affordable aftermarket prices locally. I've also found full suspension rebuild kits for great prices on eBay so I may just replace everything one time, at the moment I'm trying to not get carried away fixing everything, with older cars if you are too pedantic with fixing every niggle perfectly it gets ridiculous!

[Vetseun]

Just (yesterday) blew my caddy's head gasket.

Cooling system had an air block the size of fkn Africa. Luckily I had a 5l water bottle with me. Was on my way to swellendam for my lighties first camping weekend. Managed to limp back to Silverton rads in SWest where they bled the system and performed a gas test.

Blegh.

Did the dealer shnaai you?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Did the dealer shnaai you?

I honestly don't know, and there's no way to tell to be honest. could have been my mechanic not bleeding the system when he put the new thermostat in, causing the thing to overheat just a bit too much and then cause it to blow. Could have been there before, but much smaller (sure as fk wasn't overheating when I bought it) so.... Ja I dunno dude. Going back to the dealer now that my mechanic has worked on it would be a bit schnaai, and would start a super finger pointing exercise.

 

I'm gonna get it fixed and see what I can do to recoup some of the expenses. Good news is that even with this, it's still within budget even with worst case.

 

Mate of mine in Ceres is a diesel mechanic and he's got a few connections he can pull in. Still love this thing tho.

[Let's Ride]

Always had good service with MACE in Tokai and they don't replace things just for fun.

 

For a cheaper alternative allan edwards motors in Claremont.

 

Myles, who serviced your car? Bosch or the dealers?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Always had good service with MACE in Tokai and they don't replace things just for fun.

 

For a cheaper alternative allan edwards motors in Claremont.

 

Myles, who serviced your car? Bosch or the dealers?

Neither. Private mechanic.

[New Landy new life]

Speaking of thermostats, my old man replaced his water pump on his 1976 Merc 230.4 and filled the system with water but the temp gauge went sky high on the first run but the top hose off the radiator was cold.

I gave him a hand and drilled a 1mm hole in the Thermostat flange to allow the air to escape and thus bleed the system allowing water to be at the thermostat instead of just air and not allowing it to open.

My old Landrover Series III had a small hole in the thermostat and a little floating ball type goodie that did that automatically and then shut the bleed hole when the water floated the tiny ball.

 

I think a lot of airlocks are caused by air not being able to go past the thermostat that is well sealed in the housing.