Help on possible car purchase

[jims-terrano]

SWMBO has a Scenic Megane, low mileage 05 plate, electric windows packed in within 2 years, cost a bomb to fix, then failed again due to acknowledged design fault. Now fixed at low cost, thanks to tinternet search, not an economical car at all on fuel and its only a small bodied 1600cc.
Seems to run OK most of the time, except strange starting problems, but our garage in UK is always telling her to get rid of it as they don't rate renault full stop.......

Just wait for the electric parking brake to fail, it'll be written off then. I had the same motor but 1.5dci, great car when it wasn't broken. The engine just sniffed the diesel and did 100 miles. Went through 4 os drive shafts, no idea why and all on the same side.

 

[briggie]

I have a French car ( citroen berlingo multispace airdream 1.6 hdi ) ..... it sniffs diesel too ......... around 66 mpg on a run and 43mpg around town ..... and its very hilly around here ...... very pokey engine loads of room inside .

 

[cncfabs]

I recon quite the opposite, she doesn't feel safe in the Terrano, and is fed up of carrying a step ladder around in order to get in.:lol
Plus it breaks down too often. Also she needs transport to pick you up from the MOT test Station soon...:augie

Looking at it that way... the Clio looks a good buy...lol...
Only Joking...:lol:lol

Seriously, I wouldn't touch a renault, when things go wrong, they can cost big time.
The Xtrail uses renault engines...
I rest my case.:augie

The xtrail uses nissan engines

 

[rustic]

The xtrail uses nissan engines

I thought the 2.2 dci engine was renault based:nenau

 

[graham terrano]

Only renault i had was the 5 gt turbo it was a good wee car pocket rocket but had a 106 there bad for the axles messing up

 

[briggie]

I thought the 2.2 dci engine was renault based:nenau

I did too :nenau

 

[Sweety]

I thought the 2.2 dci engine was renault based:nenau

So did I like the 2.5's in the Navara's:augie Nissan does build the engines thou as I was chatting to a guy who used to work at the Sunderland Nissan plant the other day

 

[perelaar]

I have sworn, and my wife with me, never again a French car, whatever make. Have a look at Ford Fiesta, Seat Ibiza, Skoda Fabia, ... or any of the small asian cars.
But whatever you do, don't go French

 

[Sweety]

Infact Alex stop being tight get your Mrs a nice tidy SWB T2:thumb2

 

[cncfabs]

here the info on the yd series engine used in the xtrail and navara no mention of renault here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_YD_engine

 

[makeitfit]

My son works at a local garage and absolutely confirms comments on here . Do not go Renault and pref not French. You're not a hands on kinda dude and a wonky froggy motor will cost more than a mortgage.
My daughter has had 2 bubble shape micras now and loves 'em. Cheap to run and insure.
Fiestas again cheap to buy and fix.

 

[t2chris]

Again I confirm not a Renault mate - Garage I work out we wont sell them cos they are sh*te, corsa, fiesta, ka!

 

[AlexD333]

Very interesting comments thanks all for the wealth of info :bow

As it happens we didn't view it today. We were looking at so many cars.

My missus has confirmed colour and shape are the 2 important factors, fair enough I guess. Previously she said she got in a ford Ka but was put off because it was cramped... But she never adjusted the seat :doh so tomorrow we are going to Hemel Hempstead to look at this "ford Ka world place" :lol

I'm hoping she likes it as they seem very friendly to work on and fix, parts seem cheap, bumpers cheap, and reliable if looked after :thumb2

 

[Sweety]

At 6ft with 34" legs I can drive a Ka fine & find them comfy as they are built of a fiesta floor pan so your Mrs should fit in fine:augie almost bomb proof engines as the have the 1.3 (OHV) HCS engine which is just an updated version of the old ford cross flow engine & have had 2 of these engines & never had one problem with them even & they are quick to:thumbs Check for oil leaks on the drive shaft oil seals on the gear box if they are leaking the diff bearings are going but managed to get 55K out of my box before it gave up, check for rust some rot badly others don't but around the petrol flap is the worst area

 

[AlexD333]

At 6ft with 34" legs I can drive a Ka fine & find them comfy as they are built of a fiesta floor pan so your Mrs should fit in fine:augie almost bomb proof engines as the have the 1.3 (OHV) HCS engine which is just an updated version of the old ford cross flow engine & have had 2 of these engines & never had one problem with them even & they are quick to:thumbs Check for oil leaks on the drive shaft oil seals on the gear box if they are leaking the diff bearings are going but managed to get 55K out of my box before it gave up, check for rust some rot badly others don't but around the petrol flap is the worst area

Cheers dude, that's what I was after, shall I take my jack too :nenau

 

[elty001]

My daughter had a 53 plate ford ka with the 1.2 dura tec engine.
Timing chain so no belt to worry about.i had to do quite a big repair on the rear quarter panel around the filler cap area but other than that it was a solid,cheap little motor.

 

[Ogri]

We had an 03 1.3 Ka and can confirm the rustiness around the petrol flap but ours also rusted through at the base of the A pillar (near bottom corner of the windscreen), and also sills. Quite good fun to drive and quite economical though.​

 

[rustic]

If you buy an old car, you need to buy one that was very popular, so when you need parts, you can source them easily. New brakes, disks, exhaust etc
Second hand parts like doors or body panels... sorted.
Also, look through the Haynes Manual list and see if they have one for it too.
:thumb2

 

[AlexD333]

Thankyou chaps. I will keep my eyes open :thumb2

 

[firebobby]

Honda Jazz, ultra reliable, good on fuel, nice to drive, coverts into a van with the back seats folded, good build quality. :thumb2