Petrol Cars

[flyonthewall]

Yeh I've had a few.... couple of lemons amongst them but the others have been fine.

VW’s engineering has been a bit patchy, probably accountants maximising profit margins - I think certain pd units mid naughties would put a Conrad through the block at 150k as a result of reducing the size of the big end and main bearings - early units were perfect mind and I know a few mates that report brilliant mpg even cruising at 90 mph, like 50 mpg. That’s the type of thing as a farmer I’d moan about, ironically it’s said that vw oil specs are the toughest in the industry!

 

[JeepJeep]

VW’s engineering has been a bit patchy, probably accountants maximising profit margins - I think certain pd units mid naughties would put a Conrad through the block at 150k as a result of reducing the size of the big end and main bearings - early units were perfect mind and I know a few mates that report brilliant mpg even cruising at 90 mph, like 50 mpg. That’s the type of thing as a farmer I’d moan about, ironically it’s said that vw oil specs are the toughest in the industry!

The only VW here now was my old man's 07 Golf with the BXE 105bhp engine. This was kept when my Passats 2.0 PD cam belt tensioner sh!t itself after a whole world of expense taking if to 140k

The BXE is prone for chucking a rod. This ones on 105k and is tonked over 15k a year ish. It has VW oil and a Mahle oil filter every 10k and other filters by Mahle at 20k.

Averages 45mpg over a tank with 90% Motorway use at 80+

It's needing a clutch and DMF... It lets you know now and then. I'll order one up from my supplier in Germany one day and get it done.

 

[adzy]

My previous car was a seat Ibiza st (fr 1.4 ecotsi). For a small car, it had loads of room, was quick, powerful and extremely fuel efficient at average 58-60mpg. Start stop and active cylinder tech made a big difference.

Had one fault during my ownership when the Pano sunroof exploded for no reason at all on my way home from work with a loud bang and showering me in glass. Fixed by dealership but I had to pay half of the repair costs as warranty didn't cover glass.

I only got rid because I wanted a 4wd (I now have a Subaru xv which is very slow and gutless in comparison). My only complaint would be the harsh ride on our terrible Norfolk roads, but I knew it had a sporty set up when I bought it so I can only blame myself. Would highly recommend this as a small petrol car. P.s. tax is £30 per year.

 

[flyonthewall]

Think you can buy a diesel version of the mid-size Dodge/Chevy Colorado but for most part regular vehicles are gasoline until you get to the larger pickups.
Like you I thought small diesels would catch on, I bought 3 Jeeps all with Diesels over the years all traded now but around locally (the Grande Cherokee now has 325k miles and looks great)
Several reasons I think why the diesel thing never took off...........cost of fuel, it varies but is more expensive at the pump..70cents more per gal currently.
Climate, a lot of the country can be extreemly cold for several months, that means plugging in overnight...not always possible/hassle.
Purchase cost is higher, servicing costs are higher compared to gasoline/petrol.
The recent furor over VW/Audi diesels was the final nail..........they were sort of popular with owners who bought and liked them but all that evaporated with the emission scandle, most owners did the buyback thing, VW were forced to pay top book plus compensation.

Interesting, that’s probably a taxation thing as basic diesel is easier to refine than petrol. Uk diesel is the same but more expensive because of supply/demand. I stand corrected then on US made diesels if yours has made that mileage. I know jeep were sourcing Italian VM units around 20 years ago like Range Rover did before they developed their own 200 tdi in 1990. Dad used to run a Land Rover 110 v8 carb sw that did 240 miles to a tank, then went tdi and got 400 miles to a tank in 1995, still got that truck. Same torque just less power, good cold starters in the uk, but a bit rough.

To be fair if I could get a new car out of it I probably would, it’s all a bit too litegous for me - we’ve got a 2010 golf but it’s the 1.6 tdi, refuse to get the update done as it will just run egr constantly - a big free barrel of their engine oil will do though! Possibly the most boring car ever owned.

 

[flyonthewall]

The only VW here now was my old man's 07 Golf with the BXE 105bhp engine. This was kept when my Passats 2.0 PD cam belt tensioner sh!t itself after a whole world of expense taking if to 140k

The BXE is prone for chucking a rod. This ones on 105k and is tonked over 15k a year ish. It has VW oil and a Mahle oil filter every 10k and other filters by Mahle at 20k.

Averages 45mpg over a tank with 90% Motorway use at 80+

It's needing a clutch and DMF... It lets you know now and then. I'll order one up from my supplier in Germany one day and get it done.

You stand a better chance with that level of maintaince surely, if you ever change don’t touch a bmw n47 diesel another disastrous piece of German prestige engineering. Have to say I’m impressed by Merc diesels, everything’s just bigger and more industrial, some of the mini cabs for sale have made 350,000 miles!

 

[JeepJeep]

You stand a better chance with that level of maintaince surely, if you ever change don’t touch a bmw n47 diesel another disastrous piece of German prestige engineering. Have to say I’m impressed by Merc diesels, everything’s just bigger and more industrial, some of the mini cabs for sale have made 350,000 miles!

I like the Merc stuff... we ran sprinters to mega miles and they were abused..same principle Merc Oil every 12k and Merc or Mahle filters...

I'm after a big estate at the moment. Been reading about the N47 farce. Leaning towards an E250/350 CDI or a 530D at the minute although it sounds like the 6 Pot Bmws aren't quite as good anymore.

 

[flyonthewall]

Not into bmw s but I think it’s not unheard of for the same issues on the 6 pot as the 4, but less so as it’s properly balanced. The tactile quality of the later e classes I think you’d be hard to better this side of a rolls! The hybrid diesel is £30 year tax, but I’d worry about the cost/complication of the system.

 

[JeepJeep]

Their seems to be some of the later 6 Pot BMWs wrecking their bottom ends from what I've read.

There's the odd earlier 6 Pot with chain problems but nowhere near like the 4 Pot.

 

[flyonthewall]

Stop/start system also causes premature wear, on the n47/57 if the chain wears its an engine out and split job. It’s been engineered as a white good to my mind, perhaps the engineering team did their apprenticeship at Longbridge?

 

[Roger Perry]

Interesting, that’s probably a taxation thing as basic diesel is easier to refine than petrol. Uk diesel is the same but more expensive because of supply/demand. I stand corrected then on US made diesels if yours has made that mileage. I know jeep were sourcing Italian VM units around 20 years ago like Range Rover did before they developed their own 200 tdi in 1990. Dad used to run a Land Rover 110 v8 carb sw that did 240 miles to a tank, then went tdi and got 400 miles to a tank in 1995, still got that truck. Same torque just less power, good cold starters in the uk, but a bit rough.

To be fair if I could get a new car out of it I probably would, it’s all a bit too litegous for me - we’ve got a 2010 golf but it’s the 1.6 tdi, refuse to get the update done as it will just run egr constantly - a big free barrel of their engine oil will do though! Possibly the most boring car ever owned.

Dont' think there was much lawyering up over here, VW/Audi were forced to get with the program by the feds'
They payed top book plus up to the $15,000 per vehicle. They collected the vehicles around the country and put them into large outdoor storage here in the western states...........not sure what their fate is, crusher I guess.

 

[Roger Perry]

The gal that bought my Grande Cherokee has put some big miles on it, think she said 1500-2000 a week.
Apart from regular service its' not needed any work, its 9 yrs old now but she would like to run it to 600,000 if she can........from memory its' a Mercedes Diesel..........been an excellent vehicle.

 

[JeepJeep]

The gal that bought my Grande Cherokee has put some big miles on it, think she said 1500-2000 a week.
Apart from regular service its' not needed any work, its 9 yrs old now but she would like to run it to 600,000 if she can........from memory its' a Mercedes Diesel..........been an excellent vehicle.

Be a WK with the 3.0 Merc motor?

 

[Roger Perry]

Be a WK with the 3.0 Merc motor?

Yep, 3ltr rings a bell...........I see this gal once in a while and she always raves how reliable the vehicle has been.

 

[Kildare]

I would see the odd Mercedes diesel with 400k kilometers fo sale. Heat plugs going regularly is a problem I have.

 

[Courier]

Not a car but - - now retired to last resort vehicle when the rest are busy...

 

[ollandroverman]

Not a car but - - now retired to last resort vehicle when the rest are busy...
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Renault Master van?