forddeliveryboy Posted April 12, 2015 Share Posted April 12, 2015 Betta character than a Golf - good buy, that mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 I had a call from the owner of this car, several calls in fact, as he'd still not heard anything from the bloke who said he'd have it. It was meant to have been collected on Wednesday and he was getting desperate as his new car is ready to be collected. I only got involved as he's an old chap (giffer) with a disabled wife and he was anxious about selling it. I was going to relist it on here but as time is short i decided that i couldn't take the risk. So, i did the only decent thing a shiter can do and bought it myself! Now, i am a bit short on storage space and as this will be my 4th car i have to decide what to do as one of the others must go soon. It will probably be the Alfa which will leave the Astra as my main car. So, how does it drive? Very well actually. I only took it for a short run and had quite low expectations and i was pleasantly surprised. While no fireball the engine pulled quite well. I was able to keep up with other traffic and by anticipating braking, gaps etc it didn't feel lacking. There is some wear in the suspension as it was a bit floaty but not that bad and i am coming from Alfa veloce suspension and 17" wheels. The power steering was a nice surprise too. The brakes, gearchange and clutch seemed ok. It's a bit tatty in places but overall it has been well loved. The seats are worn as you'd expect and the door cards rattle. He has taped the headlining around the sunroof where it has come unstuck. The sunroof hasn't been opened for a long time and i chickened out of putting too much torque through the handle in case it stuck open but it does work. Maybe some lubrication would help? All the electrics seem to work apart from the central locking and there is a nice face off sony cd player fitted. I had a look underneath at the back and there is a lot of untreated rust. There are gaps where it has rusted through completely. I would have thought it might have failed the MOT on this as it supports the fuel tank but apparently not. If it's going to fail next time i think this might be it. The other rust is to the rear arches as i've shown in the other photos but i can live with them. I might be tempted to rustproof and fill them but that might open up a whole can of worms. The only other issues are a squeeling power steering belt on full lock (according to him this was what it was), the tailgate rattles, the exhaust can occasionally make a knocking noise when started and the gearstick rattles unless you grease it regularly. All pretty minor things on an old piece of chod. I'm sure this list will grow quite a bit when i've driven it a bit more but so far, for £250, i'm feeling optimistic. So, i feel i have now popped my shiter cherry. Look forward to future posts with 'help' in the title! eddyramrod, forddeliveryboy, nacho man and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Good save. Is it Isuzu or lowblow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 Good save. Is it Isuzu or lowblow?I think it's the GM engine without a turbo, ie. the slowest one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobT Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 GM FTW! Good luck with it, and we need more pics of this fine conveyance please. stripped fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 GM FTW! Good luck with it, and we need more pics of this fine conveyance please.More pics will follow soon, some of them rust coloured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 17, 2015 Author Share Posted April 17, 2015 I might even try running it on veg if I can? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I think it's the GM engine without a turbo, ie. the slowest one!Ah right. Ive only ever seen one of them in the wild. Must be pretty rare now. Never driven one but I bet they're no slower than an XUD N/A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Ah right. Ive only ever seen one of them in the wild. Must be pretty rare now. Never driven one but I bet they're no slower than an XUD N/A.It felt alright in the few miles I drove it. I'm picking it up tomorrow and that will involve motorway so I'll see how it comes with that. I think it's 60hp where as the low blow is 67 and the Isuzu 70? Not sure what an n/a xud is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 The 1.9 in my 309 is 64bhp. Fine up to 70mph and will do 80 but that's about your lot. Totally usable if you're not majorly covered with being a traffic light warrior.Guessing the Astra will be resonably comparible. I don't think you want to be putting veg in it though. From my research it will not like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 The 1.9 in my 309 is 64bhp. Fine up to 70mph and will do 80 but that's about your lot. Totally usable if you're not majorly covered with being a traffic light warrior.Guessing the Astra will be resonably comparible. I don't think you want to be putting veg in it though. From my research it will not like it.OK, thanks for that. No worries. I'm sure it will be cheaper on fuel than my Alfa anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 According to biomotors it could be fitted with either a Bosch or Lucas injection pump, show us the engine! I like most old n/a diesels, the acceleration isn't great but they feel strong like a horse and will sit at decent speeds all day. Cavcraft, Jim Bell, stripped fred and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nacho man Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 There is definitely a charm to old na diesels I really liked the 1.9 xud in my old 306. I used to read threads on the 306 forum about the na beings dangerously slow and they should of never made them, what a bunch of donkey cock sniffers. There fine and bomb along nicely. Vince70, Lacquer Peel, stripped fred and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Even n/a 405s move well enough. 306s must be a hell of a lot lighter! stripped fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince70 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I'm not sure on the engine but my father had the 1.7 turbo diesel in his Cavalier and his was the Izuzu lump (the Diesel engine to have apparently )which was the same year as yours so it might be the same engine and it was the most reliable car he had owned. It was still running like clockwork when he sold it years ago and was still giving reliable service for years afterwards and it was the dreaded tin worm that finally finished it off. I was told by a mechanic those Izuzu lumps are highly sort after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I like most old n/a diesels, the acceleration isn't great but they feel strong like a horse and will sit at decent speeds all day. They're only ever slow if you're in a rush. Travel at a normal pace without trying to overtake the badly-driven over-powered cars which seem to go so slowly round bends and an old n/a diesel will feel strong and brimming with acceleration. I also subscribe to the idea that there's no such thing as a slow car - it's the driver. I've made blisteringly quick journeys on B-roads in 19RDs, with rear spheres softened slightly to improve the roadholding. There was rarely any need to acclerate to overtake anyone - you just maintained the speed differential. KruJoe, stripped fred, Lacquer Peel and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShiteRider Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I used have a k-reg n/a 1.7d in glorious pogweasel, even with 150k on the clock it was strong as an ox and would return 50+mpg and that was being driven by a leaden footed 19yo totally devoid of mechanical sympathy.Body rot, and apathy condemned it to an early-ish grave. stripped fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 I used to make good progress in a Beetle and a Uno, both with circa 50hp. The Uno especially you just got up to Vmax and left it there - motorway, city, multistory carparks. stripped fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Momentum is key!wee 1.9d polo can be persuaded along at a fair old clip. Just got to have faith on the linglongs on the back stripped fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince70 Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 One of my favourite cars to drive ( and most reliable ) was a naturally aspirated 1.9 XUD Xantia which I bought low mileage off my elderly next door neighbour..it was a slow old beast but it kept up with modern traffic ok and I found it a real joy to drive on the motorway with the stereo on and would sit all day at 70 unless you got to a steep hill and I can say I preferred driving it to any old hot hatch which I would normally drive at the time. I went all over the country in that car and lent it to family and friends to go away on Hols in as everyone I know loved that car for doing long distances plus its reliability. It was one of those cars I really wish I never sold till it was to late.. It had keep fit windows and I think it didn't even have central locking but being French that was a big bonus plus it had the most comfy seats and of course that lovely sphere suspension which is so smooth.. It got run over by a dustcart while parked outside my parents while I was visiting and got repaired.. In the meantime I was given a brand new Mazda 626 petrol for 4.months which felt horrid in comparison and the weird thing the Mazda never felt as well screwed together as that old Xantia. The only thing that ever put me off with getting another N/A diesel would be that I don't think I could find another as good as that old motor. KruJoe, RobT and stripped fred 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 Thanks for all the replies. It certainly felt strong on the test drive. No turbo lag either which has spoilt my previous cars a bit to be honest. Less to go wrong too. If I can get 45mpg+ I will be very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 I'm not sure on the engine but my father had the 1.7 turbo diesel in his Cavalier and his was the Izuzu lump (the Diesel engine to have apparently )which was the same year as yours so it might be the same engine and it was the most reliable car he had owned. It was still running like clockwork when he sold it years ago and was still giving reliable service for years afterwards and it was the dreaded tin worm that finally finished it off. I was told by a mechanic those Izuzu lumps are highly sort after.Mine's the GM engine I think but I'll confirm when I pick it up tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripped fred Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 I've just remembered a Corsa I had as a company car back in the 90's. I'd just started the job and I was hoping for something like an Escort or Cavalier. They then wheeled out a bright green 5dr Corsa with the 1.5 N/A engine, about 50bhp I think. It was not a thing of beauty. I took it on long trips at the weekend with my mates as I didn't have to pay for fuel (those were the days). It wasn't quick but could be wound up. I think that would have been an Isuzu engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bell Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 It would. Yellow sticker on the top? There was a 1.5 td Isuzu too. Great engines. Shame Corsas rot so readily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
320touring Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Thanks for all the replies. It certainly felt strong on the test drive. No turbo lag either which has spoilt my previous cars a bit to be honest. Less to go wrong too. If I can get 45mpg+ I will be very happy.That is fair comment-you stop being a lazy driver and work at rowing it along:) I'm running the polo on 10-20% veg oil(lucas pump) and getting 45mpg round the houses, and 54mpg on a run at 65-70mph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 Anything slower than 10 seconds to 60 MPH is DANGEROUS.©all of the motoring rags The slowest vehicle I've owned was a Nissan Vanette 2.3 diesel (0-60MPH in 29 secs) and I never felt vulnerable in it. Even pulling away from junctions and roundabouts, the low down torque and low gearing made for decent low speed progress.I can imagine some vehicles with less ideal characteristics feeling very sluggish though. My Xantia 1.9D felt really breathless, but perhaps long distance commuting over highland A and B roads wasn't its forte. RobT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 This wasn't anywhere near Battleflat was it? I've just come up the A511 to head shopping, past two fellas poking over an identical car like it was in the midst of a purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 As above, the n/a XUD isn't a ball of fire, but driven properly you can keep up with modern traffic and cruise at motorway speeds. I found about 75-80 was best as you'd have just enough left to accelerate a bit if you needed to.It's all about reading the road in front of you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KruJoe Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 NA diesels make you a better driver imho. Turbos spoil you and make you lazy. See: VAG TDI brigade. Rusty_Rocket, Pillock and Lacquer Peel 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forddeliveryboy Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 And so often you end up altering your driving to suit the blown engine, unless it's something ultra-modern with a VNT. In built-up areas, a n/a is far easier and more relaxing (and just as quick, if not more so) to drive provided the engine is big enough. Those Xantias were a bit heavy for the 1.9, from what I remember, whereas the lightweight BX managed better. But on quieter, not too hilly roads my n/a Xantia was quite lovely. The early Clio 1.9D was a decent performer and the light weight allowed longish-gearing. Let's face it, who'd choose a little 1.2 with two turbos and shed-loads of bolt-ons to make it deliver, rather than a straightforwards 2.5 six? Jim Bell 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now