AX diesels, any good?

[derskine]

Looking to buy a diesel AX as a commuter car/so I can actually drive places.

What sort of fuel economy can be expected, how are the cars in general, ie comfort, reliability, corrosion resistance.

Are they capable of running on omgvegoilz?

 

[Cavcraft]

Brilliant on fuel, pretty sure 60mpg is no bother. They rust a bit (inner wings etc) and the door hinges are the standard PSA 'made of brie' affair. Great little cars though and if it's cheap enough, it's a no brainer.

[derskine]

Not sourced one yet but I think it's going to be either an AX diesel or 205 diesel - though I've heard they're fairly similar anyway, just the AX's seem cheaper.

Any major difference between the 1.4 and 1.5 in the AX?

Don't mind doing a little welding but be good to buy a car that doesn't need any for once.

[Cavcraft]

From experience a 205 is going to be quite a bit more robust, to be fair.

[nacho man]

I am pretty sure most 1.4's and 1.5's are lucas pumps, I was looking at them a while back, and if I can remember* correctly the 1.5 is the tougher engine.

 

You looked at 106 dizzlers? there are loads more about and a old girlfriend had one and it was mega.

[derskine]

106 too new for me unfortunately, same with 306s.

AX I know isn't really old but it looks it.

 

Corsaviour can you elaborate on ax vs 205?

[Jim Bell]

I will just leave this here and walk away slowly.

 

[derskine]

What the hell! that's mad.

[willswitchengage]

Not sourced one yet but I think it's going to be either an AX diesel or 205 diesel - though I've heard they're fairly similar anyway, just the AX's seem cheaper.

Any major difference between the 1.4 and 1.5 in the AX?

Don't mind doing a little welding but be good to buy a car that doesn't need any for once.

 

Go for 1.4, aluminium engine (1.5 weirdly went back to iron), it's far lighter. better on fuel

[derskine]

Really with regards to AX/205 it'll be whatever comes along cheap first, I'm on a pretty tight budget.

Same applies to engine sizes/types but good to know which are the better ones to have.

[Rusty_Rocket]

No, avoid the 1.4, it is unreliable. 1527 is heavier but bomb-proof and just as good on fuel.

[Lankytim]

I seem to remember reading that the alloy block 1.4 is more fragile than the cast iron one, not that should be a deal breaker if a good one comes up! Some do have Bosch pumps, too.

 

I scrapped an N reg petrol one last year, and it didn't have an inch of corrosion on it. I cut it to bits with an angle grinder and it was mint! I still have a good rear axle and a set of mint wheels and tyres should you need them, gratis.

[dieselnutjob]

I think that the 1.4 had wet liners and the 1.5 didn't and so it's tougher.

[dave21478]

I have had an AX diesel and several 106's, of both 1.4 and 1.5 flavour. The 1.5s seemed to go a little bit better but not enough to be massively noticeable, however both 1.4s shat their head gaskets while the 1.5s took the same abuse in their stride.

 

The AX is lighter and flimsier, but nips along nicely. I wouldnt discount a 106 though, they are pretty basic too and the slightly better build makes them much more pleasant to live with.

Neither are particularly fast in a straight line, but trot along well enough in traffic and assuming decent tyres, will corner very well indeed. You get the good MPGs by keeping momentum up and never slowing down for corners.

 

65 real world mpg is easily achievable measuring from brim to brim.

 

The latest one I had was this little sweetie, which was given to me for nowt. It had been spanked on one side but a new wing and door from the scrappy sorted it, and it was pretty minty inside and out. It even came with a wee notebook started by the original giffer owner in which he detailed every single thing from purchase....servicing, tyres, replacement parts, even each fuel up were all noted with mileage, date and costs.

 

[willswitchengage]

 Some do have Bosch pumps, too.

 

 

My fllatmate has a 98 Saxo 1.5 and that has the Bosch. Pump needed replacing at 130k though after exploding, so not quite OMG! BOSCH! reliability

[derskine]

Here's a potentially stupid question, but I really only dabble in petrols, is it possible to fit a bosch fuel pump to a car that originally had a lucas pump?

[Cavcraft]

106 too new for me unfortunately, same with 306s.

AX I know isn't really old but it looks it.

 

Corsaviour can you elaborate on ax vs 205?

 

 

The 205 seems/feels a bit more solid and better built. Describing a Peugeot as 'better built' seems absolute madness, but they defo seem it, if nothing else. The AX is a blast' bit of character and are quite involving to drive, as they're definitely no modern car. 205 has the edge on room too (if you're arsed about that) but most were Lucas pump jobs I think, so for either option you may be knackered for veg. The AX will be better on fuel though, probably to the point where it won't matter they don't take veg.

[Rusty_Rocket]

The AX will be amazing on fuel assuming you're a relatively decent driver.

My 106 and I just returned from a camping trip in the New Forest. It did 435 miles at a reasonable 70/ 75mph and returned 68.1mpg on that tank.

Mine has the Bosch pump and drinks 100% bio all year round.

 

Check the AX rear beam very carefully. Lucas to Bosch pump swap is possible.

You'll need pump, injectors and their pipes. Everything else is the same. I have a Bosch setup in stock, just in case

[derskine]

My commute to work is a motorway and I always drive at 60mph anyway to save fuel in my petrol cars.

Maximizing mpg is important as I would like to do more pointless driving than I do currently.

[Cavcraft]

You probably need* a 1.1 petrol then. If only we knew someone selling one, etc.

[derskine]

If you can arrange to get 60mpg out of it, I'll have it.

[dollywobbler]

Try sitting in one before going too far down the road of buying one. I absolutely hate the driving position as the pedals seem to be in the middle of the car. 205 is much better in this regard and blue really is your colour. (I look forward to receiving my commission Billy).

[Cavcraft]

NP M8 C U AT DA TOP OV DE CORBETTS LOL 

[Lacquer Peel]

My fllatmate has a 98 Saxo 1.5 and that has the Bosch. Pump needed replacing at 130k though after exploding, so not quite OMG! BOSCH! reliability

 

I don't get that, never heard of a Bosch pump 'exploding'.

 

+1 on a 205 diesel? More choice of old/Bosch pumps and tougher. I looked at a 1991 model the other year and that had a Bosch pump if it helps.

[derskine]

Try sitting in one before going too far down the road of buying one. I absolutely hate the driving position as the pedals seem to be in the middle of the car. 205 is much better in this regard and blue really is your colour. (I look forward to receiving my commission Billy).

 

I recall you ranting in another post about the driving position now that I think about it, will keep this in mind and might become one of these test pilots I always hear about on ebay.

I think I've now established that the 205 is the better car, however it really depends what comes along cheap first - depending of course on the AX pedal woes as that does sound hateful.

[dollywobbler]

Some get on with it fine. I like a straight driving position though, especially if blatting up motorways.

[the judge]

Had lots of trouble with 1.4s when I was a mechanic, back in the day. OMGHGF was number 1, followed by bleeding. Never issues with 1.5's though. Mega mpg does outweigh bothering with veg as far as I can see.

 

Went to see an xr2 in a 1.4 once, and bottom hose popped off the AX. On side of M62. Pa Judge went off into a field and came back with huge bucket full of water

and leaves (cow drink?) and we filed a 5p piece down to tighten up the bottom hose clip. Lasted a few weeks before going through Tuebrook auctions and sticking 200 quid in my pocket.

 

Those were the days. Buy on monday from Kingy, sell in the Echo on thursday. same again next week!!!! Pete M and Bren know what I am on about!!!

[Lacquer Peel]

I don't know why mega MPG outweighs bothering with veg if you get it for nowt/pennies, my Skoda does 50-60MPG but that's still expensive running on diesel.

[Cavcraft]

Actually, depending on your budget of course, but a 206 1.4HDi are pretty much unbeatable in the MPG stakes.

[derskine]

Ideally I would prefer veg capabilities as it knocks nearly a third off the cost of the fuel if buying it clean from a shop.

206 is far too new for me