Help Car woes

[GimmlyThe3rd]

Love TVRs, wouldn't fancy any of the rest for a weekend car, pref the VXR8 for a vauxhall though.

Would want some Jap crap, something like this or a R34 http://one2car.com/TOYOTA_SUPRA/F10110013 o rhttp://one2car.com/TOYOTA_SUPRA/F21110022 . For pure crazy fun and speed, awesome on a track as well.

 

[Edmond]

Hmmmm, looked at a fully spec'd up S3 at the weekend March '10, spirit blue, s-tronic too

£26,999

 

[Tom]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2881419.htm

That's been resprayed, and badly. It's also overpriced, my Chimaera was an £11k private purchase and that was in 2005.

I do find myself looking back at Chims and wondering, but life's too short right now. If I were to buy another weekend car it might be an old 944 or similar. I also have a Boxster itch to scratch, but that comes after the recumbent I want, and the wooden road bike

 

[old.user4556]

Boxster is awesome, really is.

Porsche : Porsche Boxster S - 2001 (X) Arctic Silver / Special Boxster Red

*waits for cunty Clarkson-esque twat to say "only says you can't afford a 911"*

 

[Tom]

That is indeed very nice. I also keep thinking of 928s. Especially a brown 928, with that chequered seat fabric and a brown dashboard

I'd wear crushed velvet trousers while driving it

 

[TdC]

Boxster is awesome, really is.

Porsche : Porsche Boxster S - 2001 (X) Arctic Silver / Special Boxster Red

*waits for cunty Clarkson-esque twat to say "only says you can't afford a 911"*

don't mean to be rude, but he has spent a shit load of money on that car, and he hasn't even mentioned the past two years.

 

[Tom]

Looks like he's spent most of it at a dealer, which means he's an idiot.

 

[Raven]

He has probably ragged the shit out of it.

 

[old.user4556]

Well a lot of it is unncessary tarting up, it looks like the following is servicing:

4 Drive shaft gaiters replaced 11/05/09 £272
Indicator stalk replaced 29/01/2009 £193.36
Rear plastic screen replaced 26/03/2008 £420
Front under tray replaced due to broken clip
O-rings to coolant bottle replaced
Exhaust heat shield replaced 10/10/2006 £99.88
Replace clutch 16/08/2006 - done at 50% of price out of good will. £218.26

Replace front lower & trailing arms
Replace rear antiroll bar bushes
Replace rear tyres
19/08/2010 £1,601.03

Replace o/s radiator during 24,000 mile service (inc spark plugs and brake fluid service and high flow air filter) 01/07/2010 £1,356.82

Water pump replaced 06/01/2009 £487.28

 

[old.user4556]

Looks like he's spent most of it at a dealer, which means he's an idiot.

... and this. Porsche are likely to be £100 an hour.

 

[TdC]

tbh not everyone is a tech/auto head. I service my Polo at the dealer, and while not as hellishly expensive as that Porche, it's not exactly cheap. On the other hand, it's done by a presumably competent mechanic, and I can tell the next buyer it's fully dealer serviced.

 

[old.user4556]

Just depends on how much you're prepared to pay; I got my BMW done at a main dealer (and paid for it...) but if I kept it any longer it was going to a specialist because their labour rates were nearly half.

 

[Tom]

tbh not everyone is a tech/auto head. I service my Polo at the dealer, and while not as hellishly expensive as that Porche, it's not exactly cheap. On the other hand, it's done by a presumably competent mechanic, and I can tell the next buyer it's fully dealer serviced.

It'll be done by a competent fitter. Dealer servicing is no guide to quality or competency. Part of the reason I'll never buy another Audi (after owning two) is the outrageous lies I was told by two entirely separate dealerships.

 

[old.user4556]

Main dealers generally follow a technical guide anyway for complex items.

 

[TdC]

sure, nobody knows anything these days anyway. some bright spark comes up with a procedure, and the rest just connect the dots really.

I'm considering this a valid issue, because I am very seriously considering getting that Alfa GT I was banging on about (over a Golf -no soul-, and a BMW 1 series -meh gone off it-) and I am mindful of what people say about Alfa's.

now I am not that clueless that I can't do anything, but I draw the line at topping up windscreen cleaner and changing bulbs/fuses. Bangs, thumps, creaks and other scary noises, not to mention alarming flashings of light indicating whatever issue with the car's computer/sensors get sorted by an expert. Preferably at the Alfa dealership.

 

[GimmlyThe3rd]

Boxster is awesome, really is.

Porsche : Porsche Boxster S - 2001 (X) Arctic Silver / Special Boxster Red

*waits for cunty Clarkson-esque twat to say "only says you can't afford a 911"*

Rather have any of these cars than the boxer tbh, lhate the girly look of the car.

Honda : Honda S2000 AP1 Much Loved

Nissan : Nissan Fairlady Z 3.5 V6 GT (with out the chav mods ...)

Porsche : Porsche 911 Carrera (996) / Porsche : porsche 911 carrera 2 manual

 

[DaGaffer]

sure, nobody knows anything these days anyway. some bright spark comes up with a procedure, and the rest just connect the dots really.

I'm considering this a valid issue, because I am very seriously considering getting that Alfa GT I was banging on about (over a Golf -no soul-, and a BMW 1 series -meh gone off it-) and I am mindful of what people say about Alfa's.

now I am not that clueless that I can't do anything, but I draw the line at topping up windscreen cleaner and changing bulbs/fuses. Bangs, thumps, creaks and other scary noises, not to mention alarming flashings of light indicating whatever issue with the car's computer/sensors get sorted by an expert. Preferably at the Alfa dealership.

Don't know about Dutchie-land but in the UK Alfa dealers are fucking rubbish (or they were when I had to deal with them). You need dealer servicing for the life of the warranty, but if you're buying second hand, I'd be very surprised if you can't find a specialist Italian car garage that'll do the work cheaper and better (in London there was one in Notting Hill that every other Italian car owner I spoke to told me to go to).

Did you like the JTD? NB. If you decide to get a Twin Spark, get the cam chains checked; I had a truly spectacular engine failure in my 156 because of those pesky chains.

 

[DaGaffer]

Rather have any of these cars than the boxer tbh, lhate the girly look of the car.

Honda : Honda S2000 AP1 Much Loved

Nissan : Nissan Fairlady Z 3.5 V6 GT (with out the chav mods ...)

Porsche : Porsche 911 Carrera (996) / Porsche : porsche 911 carrera 2 manual

Never, ever, buy an import 350Z, the UK spec ones have much better interiors and suspensions tuned for Europe. That one also has a nasty bodykit. Its also overpriced. Huge fun if you can get a good one though, I loved mine.

Same with the S2000, there's no need to get an import, there are plenty of UK-spec cars knocking around for fair prices.

That Porsche looks suspiciously cheap tbh, and that's a fucking hideous interior.

 

[Tom]

£11k 911s, "bargepole" comes to mind.

 

[TdC]

Don't know about Dutchie-land but in the UK Alfa dealers are fucking rubbish (or they were when I had to deal with them). You need dealer servicing for the life of the warranty, but if you're buying second hand, I'd be very surprised if you can't find a specialist Italian car garage that'll do the work cheaper and better (in London there was one in Notting Hill that every other Italian car owner I spoke to told me to go to).

Did you like the JTD? NB. If you decide to get a Twin Spark, get the cam chains checked; I had a truly spectacular engine failure in my 156 because of those pesky chains.

JTS mate. I'm doing this to get rid of my diesel, as the road tax is horrendous here (because though diesel is cheaper than unleaded). the flipover point where it becomes economical is about 24000km/year. The tax for the petrol car is much less, even though the petrol itself is more expensive by about 35 euro cents per liter...

 

[DaGaffer]

JTS mate. I'm doing this to get rid of my diesel, as the road tax is horrendous here (because though diesel is cheaper than unleaded). the flipover point where it becomes economical is about 24000km/year. The tax for the petrol car is much less, even though the petrol itself is more expensive by about 35 euro cents per liter...

Wow, that's kinda perverse. Normally diesels win on tax simply because of C02 (they tend to have much lower tax rates over here). In that case, as I said, get that engine thoroughly checked and get the cam chains pre-emptively changed before 60,000KMs (mine actually blew up at 18000 miles!). Is it a manual or a selespeed? Because Selespeed boxes are shite, but manual clutches need early replacement (I hope I'm not putting you off here). The Selespeed in my 156 needed new actuators...twice, and the clutch in my GTV went at about 25K miles (lot of London heavy traffic, but still...) On the other hand my 145 Cloverleaf didn't miss a beat in nearly 3 years.

 

[GimmlyThe3rd]

Never, ever, buy an import 350Z, the UK spec ones have much better interiors and suspensions tuned for Europe. That one also has a nasty bodykit. Its also overpriced. Huge fun if you can get a good one though, I loved mine.

Same with the S2000, there's no need to get an import, there are plenty of UK-spec cars knocking around for fair prices.

That Porsche looks suspiciously cheap tbh, and that's a fucking hideous interior.

I did say (with out the chav mods ...) my dad had a Jap import before and 90% of the Jap cars here are imported. Just yesterday I was praising an imported Toyota about how the interior was much nicer than the UK version I've driven. So I'm not sure about that ...

First thing I would do is get it on a rolling road and change the stock suspension anyway, so it wouldn't put me off .........

 

[MYstIC G]

... and this. Porsche are likely to be £100 an hour.

Any Porsche owner with more then 2 braincells would have it under Porsche warranty.

 

[ST^]

Part of the reason I'll never buy another Audi (after owning two) is the outrageous lies I was told by two entirely separate dealerships.

Do elaborate

My first dealing with Audi was about a week ago when I asked for a price on A3 quattro rear coil springs (had trouble finding some aftermarket ones) and they came back with £535 fitted for a pair. Fuck me. I told them I didn't want them fitted and it turns out the springs are just £60 each. So £415 labour to fit a couple of rear springs. Scandalous.

 

[GimmlyThe3rd]

I did say (with out the chav mods ...) my dad had a Jap import before and 90% of the Jap cars here are imported. Just yesterday I was praising an imported Toyota about how the interior was much nicer than the UK version I've driven. So I'm not sure about that ...

First thing I would do is get it on a rolling road and change the stock suspension anyway, so it wouldn't put me off .........

Will say though, one of the reasons I would want it on a rolling road is because the fuel octane is much higher in Japan. Getting it remapped is a must, the usual octane in Japan is like 101, the UK highest is shell optimex 98 octane?

Makes a huge difference.

 

[old.user4556]

Tesco 99

 

[DaGaffer]

Will say though, one of the reasons I would want it on a rolling road is because the fuel octane is much higher in Japan. Getting it remapped is a must, the usual octane in Japan is like 101, the UK highest is shell optimex 98 octane?

Makes a huge difference.

Nonsense. Japanese hi-oku can be 100 RON but is usually 98 RON, pretty much the same as the UK. UK spec 350Z is recommended to run on super-unleaded but running on regular 95 will do it absolutely no harm, and unless you're doing track days you'll never notice the difference (the ECU in pretty much every modern car just remaps itself if its running lower octane, unless you get down to 91 RON shite you sometimes find in the US and Canada). There was a big test done on this a few years back and Shell Optimax was the only brand of high octane fuel that made any appreciable difference to engine performance at all.

 

[Tom]

Do elaborate

My first dealing with Audi was about a week ago when I asked for a price on A3 quattro rear coil springs (had trouble finding some aftermarket ones) and they came back with £535 fitted for a pair. Fuck me. I told them I didn't want them fitted and it turns out the springs are just £60 each. So £415 labour to fit a couple of rear springs. Scandalous.

First instance was being told that wheel bearings on an A4 "only last about 100,000 miles", and that the funny noise I was hearing was "definitely the wheel bearing". Only once I'd paid the £100 to replace it (well before I discovered how easy they are), the noise didn't go away. Replacing the fucked tyre on that axle solved it, and it was me who figured that out, not them.

Second, being charged nearly £200 for a new MAF, when the part was likely about £50, and only about 10 minutes labour.

Third, being told that the finance deal was at about 8% APR, when actually it was 8% base rate.

Fourth, being told that the crunching noise on my TT's gearchanges could be solved by a new exhaust and timing chain (under warranty). Yes the noise went away, and returned about a month later. The dealer just wanted some nice juicy warranty work. That's when I decided to get rid of the fucker, and buy a TVR.

I will never buy anything from VAG again.

 

[GimmlyThe3rd]

Nonsense. Japanese hi-oku can be 100 RON but is usually 98 RON, pretty much the same as the UK. UK spec 350Z is recommended to run on super-unleaded but running on regular 95 will do it absolutely no harm, and unless you're doing track days you'll never notice the difference (the ECU in pretty much every modern car just remaps itself if its running lower octane, unless you get down to 91 RON shite you sometimes find in the US and Canada). There was a big test done on this a few years back and Shell Optimax was the only brand of high octane fuel that made any appreciable difference to engine performance at all.

Fuel additives and fuel octane rating


I was talking about jap imports, not UK cars? If you don't get a import remapped and you put 98 in and spank it, there is a very good chance of it going bang. You have no idea what kind of mapping that person has on it, usually always 100+.

I had a friend (idiot) that had a WRX pushing on close to 400bhp, he put normal unleaded in (the car was maped for 98 iirc) to pass a MOT (no cat and had to pass the eco test) . Was driving home after the mot, forgot about the fuel, had a typical AUDI TT driver up his rear, tail gating him on a bend. Spanked it, red lined it in 4th, and it went boom, even put the crank through the casing (got the pic somewhere). How you forget I don't know (well hes stupid), but it cost him 3k+ for a new engine and labour.

My mum has a 350z UK, she said drives nice but shes a women I haven't been back to compare it to a import. And who buys a high performance car (esp Jap) not to push it to the limits? They were not made to be driven to Tesco and back at 40mph.

 

[Bodhi]

£11k 911s, "bargepole" comes to mind.

This. I have two lots of TLA's for anyone looking at an early 996 with the 3.4 litre engine - IMS and RMS. Two fairly major issues with a habit of making a very expensive Porsche engine go bang.

My 11k would go on a manual E46 M3 in all honesty. Fairly bulletproof, and a lot of fun. If you're after something a bit more "special", probably an Elise or a TVR (and a lot of brave pills).

Or how about an E39 M5? 11k would get you a cracker.