Shite buying advice, french diesel chod.

[ShiteRider]

Need a car for commuting to work on the motorway (350+ miles a week) currently two cortina's share this burden but both are starting to suffer. They are/were immaculate, my black car has very expensive 3 stage pearl black paint which is getting chipped and scratched to fuck, and my beige car has racked up an extra 3000 miles the last few months (only had 19,000 to start with). So although the drive is tolerable in them they are being devalued.......and i'd rather run something i don't give two shits about as the yard at work is a gauntlet at the best of times. I used to do a lot of foriegners on taxi's and the drivers seemed to prefer french stuff to the skodas that now dominate.

i'd be looking to spend a grand ( give or take £500)

it'd have to be reliable

capable of returning 40+mpg (i drive like a pussy these days, i'm getting 30+ out of a cortina with a four speed box, so should get good figures from a diesel)

HAS to be comfy

So what are peoples thoughts on these local "beauties",

Seems a nice car at a price i'd be fairly happy to pay for a fourteen year old dealer car

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181061636204? ... 1423.l2649

Little older but less miles, and enthusiast owned. 2.1td, is that better or worse than a hdi?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181064966555? ... 1423.l2649

Bonney looking car, but a bit up on miles

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290823179967? ... 1423.l2649

top of the price range

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221175858298? ... 1423.l2649

and bottom (at this age don't know if it would be a can of worms, i want some thing i can just use for work so the weekend is free for cortina tinkerage)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261149450306? ... 1423.l2649

Sorry i don't know how to attach images, you'll have to clicky.

Cheers peeps, Rob.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Have you thought about buying something with LPG? Shouldn't have a problem finding something decent for just over a grand.

[ShiteRider]

Not really sure where i'd get LPG by me (must be a site with stations listed though), i work in a busy body shop with an average of 20-ish cars a week getting written off. The boss makes sure they are all drained of fuel (health and safety ) and it's then spread out amongst the lads (after works cars) with out that subsidy my cortina fuel bill is £70 a week, with it it's around £50

[Lacquer Peel]

I think the 405 diesel would be the least hassle in the long run, because it's so basic. If your commute is urban you won't notice the lack of puff.

A lot of people slate the 2.1TD engine, but from what I've read they are stronger than the 1.9TD. Unfortunately late ones are fitted with Lucas EPIC fuel pumps which are a bit fragile.

2.2 HDis come with diesel particulate filters. 2.0 HDis are reliable.

[ruffgeezer]

Watch out for hydro pipes over the back axle on the later Xantias, also check the rear of the sills as I've seen quite a few that have got crunchy under there.

 

The 110 hdi will have a dual mass flywheel, but unless they've been driven by a weapons grade wanker, they'll see 150k quite happily. I have to say, a 1.9td would be my choice, plenty of parts availability, less of a pain in the arse to work on than the 2.1 but not as prone to shitting all the magic out like an Hdi.

 

Failing that, buy my C15, I don't wanna sell but nobody wants the Ax, and I'm fed up of not having a pot to piss in.

[Doctormop]

Another vote for the 405, a one owner dizzler at that money has to be worth a shot and as previously stated, bugger all to go wrong with it really.

[Cavcraft]

'A Fantastic Clean and Cherished Privately Used Car'

 

With no mention of service history and has been used to tow a caravan for some of it's 140,000 odd miles.

 

I'd have a bash at the 405 too, might be worth asking the seller if you can take it to a local [to him] MOT station at your cost to see what it will want for the next test.

[Richard]

The 110 hdi will have a dual mass flywheel

 

Not on a Xantia or Xsara.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Personally, I'd go with the Xantia because they are supremely comfortable. The 405 is quite good, too, but the Xantia is in a different league.