A Question of Moderns

[gordonbennet]

Remember on the 2.0 litre engines, dunno about the others, the valve clearances are adjustable, so find yer old feeler gauges and get down and dirty, easy job (sequence is on one of the honda forums) specced for about 75k miles if i remember right, you're half way there when you renew the spark plugs and 1/2 an hour later you've done the valve clearances.

My only gripe is where they put the oil filter, unless you've got double joints you have to drop the undertray at least on the offside, and best to do that anyway cos oil pisses all over the cover and spills out all over the shop and its still on my effin block paving.

[LessThanEqual]

Just read upon the adjustable valves, all petrol models look to have them. Will definitely keep an ear out if I come to buy one.

[twosmoke300]

Valve clearances on petrols of that era are every 25k . Once they have been done once they don't tend to move . Most dealers never do them- shocker . Well worth doing if you have any idle issues . Once you have done the tappets let the car tick over with no electrical load until the cooling fan cuts in twice . This is the idle learning procedure

[chaseracer]

My sage advice for anything made after 2000... Avoid the diesel...

 

HDi 90: the exception that proves the rule...

[chaseracer]

...look for the warning signs with the owner - teeth missing, inability to write properly. Follow this and you shouldn't go far wrong.

 

This, however, is indisputable.

 

[hairnet]

01 on civic ftw

 

in 4 years an 11k its had only a battery two tyres a starter (and only cos it was making noise  it didnt die)

 

and front pads and oil changes

 

1.6 petrol - rag it and can get 30 - did a trackday and got 25 from it

 

slowly or motorway and 40-45

 

tax is 180 tho :/

 

nothings dropped off broken and its had the grandkids in it most days for all that time

 

dash gearchange - mum loves it as it doesnt hurt shoulder

 

WOOD USE AGAIN

[Junkman]

I've come to the conclusion that my Polo is just too small for someone who is 6'3. I'd like something that's one size up and a bit more modern, as I'm not the most mechanically gifted.

 

Step right this way, sir.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BUICK-SKYLARK-SALOON-80S-2-5-CLASSIC-/121841827169

[LessThanEqual]

Step right this way, sir.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BUICK-SKYLARK-SALOON-80S-2-5-CLASSIC-/121841827169

 

An American barge with a 3 speed badermatic is just what I've always* wanted!

[SiC]

I don't know why no one has mentioned this.

A Vauxhall Astra.

 

We currently own a Astra G (mk4). If I didn't already own a 8th gen civic, I'd totally replace it with a 7th gen like I had before. Massively more comfortable, looks far nicer and doesn't need to be constantly repaired because its made by GM...

 

Astra H (mk5) look a lot nicer, but my mechanic says they're not a patch on the Astra mk4 reliability. Despite having a good, low mileage and garaged example of a Astra mk4, its not a patch on the 7th gen Civics my family+I've had.

[chaseracer]

An American barge with a 3 speed badermatic is just what I've always* wanted!

 

JRG - the perfect colour!

[Junkman]

An American barge with a 3 speed badermatic is just what I've always* wanted!

 

See, I can read* your* mind.

[chaseracer]

^ Scary, isn't it? 

[New POD]

If there are Never going to be more than one person in the back seat, then a Generation one Cowley built BINI has all the seat adjustment you'll ever need. You can get the seat right back and very low, plus the steering wheel has loads of adjustment. Get an S for most Fun.

[Rocket88]

Chrysler 300 obviously..............................

[LessThanEqual]

Drove my mate's 1.6 Sport today, it's so much nicer than my Polo. The ride is a bit harder but it's nice in the corners. Definitely going to get one now.