Ford and the griffin.

[Eyersey1234]

37 minutes ago, bub2006 said:

If we meet at a shitefest or something I'll throw you my keys. It handles pretty well for an estate. I think the 2.0 with auto box isn't much quicker than the 1.6 manual but has a fair bit more mid range grunt. 

Thank you, you'll be welcome to have a go in my 15 plate. 

[bub2006]

10k milestone. It had a clock change so mileage is approximately 45k though. 6 weeks ownership averaging 29 mpg. Could be worse I suppose. 

[bub2006]

Right then,I bit of an odd one. My trip computer worked fine on all settings then the other day it decided to not show anything on the range left in tank. Doesn't show zero,dashes,nothing just the picture of the petrol pump and and the small m for miles. Had it on forscan and it came up with p0460 but doesn't have an eml on.

I'm led to belive that is incorrect signal received from fuel sender so I also checked the level on forscan and compared to the hidden menu on trip computer. Hidden menu said 18 litres in tank at that time and forscan was reading 35% volume. 52 litre tank so that seems to tally up but the garage itself was bang on a quarter tank. 

I'm wondering if I'm on the right track of thinking the sender is a bit wonky which in turn is upsetting range as it can't compute the perceived level on trip computer against the gauge reading. I've currently disabled the trip computer via the secret menu so all it displays is external temperature until I get this issue sorted

It may seem a small issue but my old escort van had a wonky gauge and only found that our when it ran out of diesel on the a50 with indicated quarter of a tank left,the focus barely breaks 30mpg so don't fancy a wonky gauge!

Thanks in advance. 

[motorpunk]

On 31/10/2021 at 11:39, Longbridge Apologist said:

Yeah I'm always staggered by friends who decide they'll replace one 15 grand car with a 38 grand car in order to go from £155 VED a year to £60...

“The new one will do 50mpg!”

How many miles a year do you do?

”Oh, just the shops and back, maybe 5000 a year”

 

[sierraman]

The sender is built into the pump, obviously you can replace just the fag lighter sized internal pump but it’s all part of one big assembly. Personally I’d ignore it, there’s going to be minor faults like that at that age. So long as the gauge is reasonably accurate. If it’s not you could chuck another pump in, they aren’t expensive. 

[bub2006]

Thats the plan I think. From what I've seen a complete unit can be had new for less than a ton. It doesn't bother me in the slightest with computer not working right but with my old escort van gauge I don't want to really risk running out if it is a bit off. Just be my luck I'd need to get somewhere in an emergency and then I'd find gauge is out!

[bub2006]

Computer decided to work again of its own accord,how bizarre. An oddity is the fuel gauge light works on hidden menu led test but doesn't work other wise. Anyone with forscan know if it can be enabled like on pp2000/lexia? 

Fuel prices best start dropping soon though or me and the management may have to start having words. 30mpg isn't very good considering my wife has been dealt a nasty blow health wise and her psv licence may be on the block.

On the other foot though 30mpg isn't bad for a blacktop zetec auto in a hilly area. I also highly doubt I'd find a solid rust free auto car with under 50,000 miles that's fully loaded,service history etc with plenty of space for carrying my scooter which may be a bit better on fuel for what I'd sell the focus for.   I've fitted towbar,had cambelt done and aux belt along with 4 new tyres as well.

 After that last bit of a ramble I think I've just talked myself out of considering putting it up for sale.

 

[Jazoli]

I wouldn't personally, any savings in fuel will be wiped out the first time you have to spend money on repairs or maintenance for its replacement, which invariably you will have to, the focus is a known quantity and shouldn't spring any bills or surprises.

The difference between 30mpg and 40mpg doing 10k a year is around £350 (roughly)

[Missy Charm]

On 08/12/2021 at 00:23, bub2006 said:

10k milestone. It had a clock change so mileage is approximately 45k though. 6 weeks ownership averaging 29 mpg. Could be worse I suppose. 

29 mpg sounds about right.  I get about 32 mpg average in a Mk2 with a manual 'box.  

[bub2006]

The mk2 is meant to be slightly better as they have over 140bhp from the 2.0 duratec whereas mine is 127 I think zetec. Its going up a little,now around 30mpg. Manual will definitely be better than auto too.

[bub2006]

1 hour ago, Jazoli said:

I wouldn't personally, any savings in fuel will be wiped out the first time you have to spend money on repairs or maintenance for its replacement, which invariably you will have to, the focus is a known quantity and shouldn't spring any bills or surprises.

The difference between 30mpg and 40mpg doing 10k a year is around £350 (roughly)

Thats my point,this has service history etc and I've done nearly 1.5k in 2 months or so. It's wanted for nothing all its life and even of I got say a grand for it,a grand doesn't get much anymore. 

[bub2006]

Fords finest pushed into towing duties. I've no use for a 4 berth trailer tent but it was rather cheap so will inspect it tomorrow and probably just hang on to it till end of February then sell it,if the canvas is knackered it will be converted to either a triple bike trailer or a teardrop caravan 

 

In other news my friend has shut up shop for Christmas so I've sneaked his A frame into my car just incase a cheap motor pops up that me and my father in law could make a few quid beer money on,saves my friend travelling to the garage over Christmas!

Anyway folks,just a little update and I wish you all a happy Christmas to all and your families.

Daz

[bangernomics]

I wouldn't personally, any savings in fuel will be wiped out the first time you have to spend money on repairs or maintenance for its replacement, which invariably you will have to, the focus is a known quantity and shouldn't spring any bills or surprises.
The difference between 30mpg and 40mpg doing 10k a year is around £350 (roughly)

Is that really all it works out at? I may have to revisit that red Bentley on TDW. How much is petrol? £1.50 per litre?

[bub2006]

Near me its between 140.9 and 144.9,diesel is around 145.9 but don't use it so nit followed price as much. 

[Jazoli]

17 hours ago, bangernomics said:

Is that really all it works out at? I may have to revisit that red Bentley on TDW. How much is petrol? £1.50 per litre?

Assuming fuel is £6.50 gallon its

(10000/40) x 6.5 = £1625

(10000/30) x 6.5 = £2166

so £550, it was a back of a fag packet calculation and a little way out, it's enough to make more of a difference than I originally thought, the price of fuel pisses me off, it was under £4.50 a gallon 18 months ago, if any other essential good had gone up as much there'd be people protesting in the streets but everyone seems to be just sucking it up, its certainly making me reconsider my vehicle choices.

 

[Matty]

17 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Assuming fuel is £6.50 gallon its

(10000/40) x 6.5 = £1625

(10000/30) x 6.5 = £2166

so £550, it was a back of a fag packet calculation and a little way out, it's enough to make more of a difference than I originally thought, the price of fuel pisses me off, it was under £4.50 a gallon 18 months ago, if any other essential good had gone up as much there'd be people protesting in the streets but everyone seems to be just sucking it up, its certainly making me reconsider my vehicle choices.

 

When you consider its going to be banned in the future my philosophy is to use it powering stuff I like and balls to worrying about fuel consumption

[bub2006]

I cant see this bam coming to fruition anytime soon to be fair but that's an opinion for another day. Trying super unleaded for a few weeks. It works out that for 20 quid I get about 1 litre less than e10 so will see if mpg increases a little. 

[sierraman]

It’s funny isn’t it. Your gas price can go up 150% but you’d not think twice about putting the heating on, petrol goes up 50% and people will think about swapping the car. I’ve got a diesel, bloody love diesels, real world they out accelerate petrol, will with care do 250k but to get there you’ve to be bloody lucky. FiL has just had a £1,200 bill for 2 injectors, then I’m starting to think £1,200 buys a lot of unleaded.

[Jazoli]

37 minutes ago, sierraman said:

 real world they out accelerate petrol

Not when you compare like for like, my friends 2.0TDI Scirocco is about as quick as my 2.0 petrol turbo Saab until he has to change gear at 4.5k, then it isn't, exactly the same as when his tdi golf could keep up with my tfsi A3 for a bit, then it didn't, the only benefit to having a diesel is fuel economy and cheaper running costs until something goes wrong, I understand why a lot of people have them and there wasn't the same choice of boosted petrol engines in common cars until recently but in the real world a turbo petrol is far superior in most ways to a noisy vibratory heavy oil burning lump.

[sierraman]

10 minutes ago, Jazoli said:

Not when you compare like for like, my friends 2.0TDI Scirocco is about as quick as my 2.0 petrol turbo Saab until he has to change gear at 4.5k, then it isn't, exactly the same as when his tdi golf could keep up with my tfsi A3 for a bit, then it didn't, the only benefit to having a diesel is fuel economy and cheaper running costs until something goes wrong, I understand why a lot of people have them and there wasn't the same choice of boosted petrol engines in common cars until recently but in the real world a turbo petrol is far superior in most ways to a noisy vibratory heavy oil burning lump.

Who in the real world wumps it up to 4500rpm? I’d bet the SAAB will be chomping through the unleaded at a phenomenal rate as well. But then on the other hand you’ve a DMF/injectors etc to balls up. I don’t know, there’s no perfect answer on this. 

[bub2006]

I was having this discussion with a mechanic friend. Modern diesels (post 2005 ish) at lower price range are one bill from the scaryard. Dmf,coded injectors,dpf and turbo issues. Older decent diesels tend to either be expensive to buy for a decent one or absolutely rotten. My dad is a cabby and he's said the more modern diesels don't rack up the miles like older ones. He had a early 406 td on his fleet which seen over 400k,vectra b di and early octavias have seen 300+ . His dv6 Peugeot partner was pretty much had it at 160k and the mondeos on the fleet are bastards for turbos and fuel pumps/coding apparently also.

As for the heating bill,wife hates a warm house,I've learnt to just put a jumper on and not to argue...

[Neil clark]

16 hours ago, bub2006 said:

I was having this discussion with a mechanic friend. Modern diesels (post 2005 ish) at lower price range are one bill from the scaryard. Dmf,coded injectors,dpf and turbo issues. Older decent diesels tend to either be expensive to buy for a decent one or absolutely rotten. My dad is a cabby and he's said the more modern diesels don't rack up the miles like older ones. He had a early 406 td on his fleet which seen over 400k,vectra b di and early octavias have seen 300+ . His dv6 Peugeot partner was pretty much had it at 160k and the mondeos on the fleet are bastards for turbos and fuel pumps/coding apparently also.

As for the heating bill,wife hates a warm house,I've learnt to just put a jumper on and not to argue...

Shes a keeper!!!

[sierraman]

They were probably a bill from the scrapyard a year ago but now most stuff is worth sinking money into fixing compared to buying another. 

[Dobloseven]

Took wifes Ssangyong for Mot at the end of last month. At the garage was a Transit tipper having a brand new engine fitted. Couldn't see the reg as front end was off, but must have been around 10 years old. 

[bub2006]

My mate had a 61 plate transit in for engine rebuild. That did have 261k on the clock though. My dad had a 56 plate tourneo taxi and that seen just over 500k. Like triggers broom though,if I recall it was 3 engines and 2 gearboxes. The tide mark was nearly up to the windows by the time it succumbed to the bridge. 

[paulplom]

My transit custom shit it's gearbox, clutch and flywheel last January with 42k on it. Gearbox needed a rebuild. It then shit the engine in March with 45k on it. That along with turbo, injectors, dpf, springs, power steering pipes, battery, two ignition barrels, door hinges due to bad design and That's just what I can remember off the top of my head. It's a '16 with 51k on it now, serviced mot time and I drop the oil at six months. It's just started pissing oil from the oil cooler. Utter fucking garbage along with all moderns. A petrol one wouldn't have cost £8k in repairs the last year. I could buy quite a bit of petrol for that. The fucker only does 30mpg as it is.

I bought it because it had the same engine and box as my last 2010 transit. I did 125k in that with no bother at all. I think the emissions software in moderns is strangling them.

[bangernomics]

You were exceptionally unlucky with that one. I’ve heard some right horror stories and that’s the problem when you’re spuds deep on the box clutch and dmf you have to do the engine. Next round pump and some injectors and so the cycle continues until you bin it.

I wonder if an EV van might make sense for you if you’re doing big miles and if it would prove more reliable?

[bub2006]

I know you can get a transit hybrid but I think the engine in it is a 1.0 ecobpost which acts as pretty much a generator for batteries. 

[paulplom]

My next financed purchase will be electric. I only average about 40 miles a day. The problem would be charging it. I have no off street parking.

My fil says I can keep it at his but it's five miles away in Whitley Bay.

[bub2006]

A quick question regarding fuel. I've been using super unleaded for past couple of tanks and I've noticed a signif6rise in fuel economy. Its risen from 28.5-30 on computer to between 33 and 34.5. Driving style hasn't changed nor has the area I drive in. Seen it rise to nearly 37 on bypass at 70 once too but fell back down to between 33 and 34 in town.

Has anyone else noticed an increase on super to standard 95 unleaded? 

Thanks