Saxo VTR

[face]

I'm planning on taking a look at one of these over the weekend.

 

It's a 2003, with a sound history and 90K mileage.

 

I know they get barryed to buggery, but that has not happened to this one at all.

 

Anything to look out for?

Opinions?

[ashmicro]

Had one years ago, and then a VTS. I didn't have either one for very long. No issues to report, other than a dodgy bonnet catch on the VTS. Both were great fun in my opinion. Don't crash it (as we all know).

 

Known faults from Autodata

 

Seatbelt pretensioner connector under the seat makes the SRS light come on. Solder it (easy fix)

Check the wiring under the battery for damage

IACV gives wonky idle. Replace it

Wiring to HO2 sensors can burn out

Injectors aren't long-lived

Ignition barrel contacts are a bit shit - manifested mainly in U/S HRW and blower.

Apparently they NOM NOM rear gearbox mounts

[cobblers]

They are great little cars, use bugger all fuel, fun and comfy to drive even at 85mph all day. Generally reliable, but generally easily anc chealy fixed apart from the following problems, listen in order of importance:

 

 

• 
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.
  [*:3r232929]Rear axle bearings collapse and make the back wheels go wonkey. 2nd hand beams are £100 ish and almost always fucked, recon are £300 ish. Takes half a day for a novice to swap one, providing brake lines don't shear.

 

Finally, check the rear axle by jacking it up and the back and pulling the back of the wheel in and out, if there is any play in the trailing arm walk away.

[Lacquer Peel]

I guess they're a common failure point on cars like Saxos that tend to be thrashed, but I've not had any troubles with the very similar rear axles on 405s, on cars with 125-175k on the odometer.

[cobblers]

I don't think it's cos they're thrashed so much, I reckon it's lowering them and disturbing the bearings (which are usually dried out and "just hanging in there" to start with) tends to make them pack in not long after. The bearing inner and outer races are't replaceable and by the time you notice some play, the grease has long gone and the needles have worn deep pits in the outer races - replacing the needles might get you through the next MOT at best.

Once a beam is worn it's pretty much scrap unless you've got loads of machinery to sleeve it. If one arm is loose, the whole thing is scrap (unless you're happy to cut the whole thing in half and weld two good sides together)

On top of that, the grease seals are crap and let water in and grease out so that at this age, many un dicked about cars are getting ready for rear axles, driving the price of supposed "good" used ones up.

 

206s have a similar problem, but I think you can replace the bearing races at home.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think its just a 'weak point' on all those PSA torsion bar suspensions - 205's, 405's, BX's and so on, they all get it eventually. To be fair all those are tough old cars and its not like the axles are particularly fragile knackering up after 30k or whatever, but because the rest of the car just goes on and on they tend to be one of the few major mechanical maladies that happen to them.

[John F]

The bonnet catch is attached to some of the thinnest metal known to man, and this metal can tear with use (yes, it's that thin).

 

I welded one up for someone a while ago, and I had to use a lower setting on the welder than I've been using on the Maserati's bodywork...!

[Cavcraft]

The last few Saxos I'd looked at had a boot floor like mouse nibbled Swiss cheese. They are brill little cars that are very underrated and not fully deserving of their boy racer image.

[face]

Thanks chaps.

 

Going to look this evening all being well.

[cobblers]

Oh, and the front suspension clunks on all of them so don't let a minor knock worry you too much unless it's pulling you all over the road.

[dollywobbler]

I think its just a 'weak point' on all those PSA torsion bar suspensions - 205's, 405's, BX's and so on, they all get it eventually. To be fair all those are tough old cars and its not like the axles are particularly fragile knackering up after 30k or whatever, but because the rest of the car just goes on and on they tend to be one of the few major mechanical maladies that happen to them.

 

This. They are under-engineered, but you should still get over 80,000 miles out of them. The problem is that people don't change them early enough, and their worn state then knackers up the arms.

 

My opinion? I dislike them enormously but that's because I find the driving position absolutely horrific. A matter of opinion though.

[Pillock]

I had the use of a 1.1 a couple of years back and found it very kart-like so I'd imagine a VTsummat would be a right hoot. Very direct steering, body roll was a bit OTT but I'd imagine the sporty ones have that sorted. Only problems on that one in two years was consumables, it needed a clutch (which was dirt cheap fitted at a garage), and both rear tyres went a funny shape. The only reason I'd not have a sporty one is image, but if you're thick skinned go for it.

 

Give it five years and I reckon these will be getting towards 205GTI status, both through most of them exiting the world backwards through a hedge and thus becoming rare, and the fact they're pretty good fun, light, and French.

[Morgan84]

Flimsy built tat,with awful pedals ... Buy a proper fast frenchie like a 205 Gti or a Clio Williams

[face]

Had a look last night. Here's the link: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201212104573083/usedcars?atcide=emgm6&logcode=emf

 

94K but good history, cambelt at 70K.

 

New discs/pads up front. New rear silencer (rattles a bit when pulling off).

 

Started first time - I didn't have my insurance with me but it went bloody well through the gears, heated up and idled well.

 

All the electrics worked.

 

Tidy bodywork - couple of minor scrapes but no rust and all seemed solid enough.

 

But it has the Saxo water ingress problems - causing the passenger front footwell to get "wet" but not puddled. This happens when the car is stood in heavy rain (the guy always garages it). I know these can be a bitch to sort out as it could be one of many things - sunroof, screen, door rubbers etc.

 

Also could do with a new starter motor as "one in ten times" it clicks - but a simple 'off and try again' always sorts it.

 

Master key missing, so just open by the door lock - doesn't bother me.

 

Oh, and both front seats rocked back a 1/4 inch or so as you put your weight into them, I understand the mounts are prone to tearing away from the floor - but it might not be that.

 

Not being much of a spannerer, I left it for the time being. The leaking would piss me off - even more if I couldn't trace it.

[CortinaDave]

My only experience of saxos is to have pumped a girl i pulled in a nightclub in one many moons ago. It was a bit cramped and in retrospect taking her to my mk5 cortina ghia instead would have made for a more pleasant experience... Can't offer much more to the discussion than that as I didnt get to drive the thing or ask what it had needed for its MoT.

[face]

Thanks Dave - that could explain the loose seats in the one I looked at.........

[cobblers]

But it has the Saxo water ingress problems - causing the passenger front footwell to get "wet" but not puddled. This happens when the car is stood in heavy rain (the guy always garages it). I know these can be a bitch to sort out as it could be one of many things - sunroof, screen, door rubbers etc.

This will be a loose aerial or dodgy rubber seal, they all do that sir

 

Also could do with a new starter motor as "one in ten times" it clicks - but a simple 'off and try again' always sorts it.

Quite common, starters aren't expensive, but they are not nice to fit - hidden up on the back of the engine. Doesn't take skill, just bendy arms and patience

 

Master key missing, so just open by the door lock - doesn't bother me.

RCL kits that do away with the crappy IR setup are £10 posted from China, and just takes 4 wires to fit (12v, Ground, Lock, Unlock), which are all ready in a connector above the glovebox.

 

Oh, and both front seats rocked back a 1/4 inch or so as you put your weight into them, I understand the mounts are prone to tearing away from the floor - but it might not be that.

They all do that sir, the seats are a bit shit. Even 20k mile cars seem to do it, the seat mounts do sometimes tear but they don't seem to allow the seat to rock backwards much, you'll just feel the front pull up a few mm when you lean back really hard.

 

Not being much of a spannerer, I left it for the time being. The leaking would piss me off - even more if I couldn't trace it.

#

Doesn't seem a bad do overall for one of these, If the axle is good and you could bum a couple of hundred off it, you'd have it fixed up in a few hours.