Volvo 480 turbo - are high miles bad?

[blimp]

While I await for a pitifully low insurance payput, I need to find me a car. Can anyone reccommend or talk me out of the following motors that I have so far had vague urges for. I have up to £2k to spend, but would prefer to spend lots less. So far I have been torn between going topless, or senisble and dieselly

 

My options so far:

 

97 Saab 900 Convertible S 2.0 n/a. £1695 (or a hatchback)

 

98ish Peugeot 306 Convertibles 1.8 or 2.0 £2000ish

 

W reg Rover 75 CDT, 70k miles £1599

 

X reg Xantia HDi110 £1100ish

 

I'm torn between having a mid life crisis and going topless, or being all sensible and old and having a frugal diesel. Equally I want something sensible and reliable (not the Xantia then) and something a bit different (mmm Xantia).

[dollywobbler]

Citroen BX. Way cooler and less complicated than a Xantia (though I would really like a Xant V6 at the mo...) and stupid cheap. Just got mine back after some fettling. It's fuggin ace. TZD Turbos are getting hard to find now though - the enthusiasts love 'em.

[r.welfare]

75 CDTs are nice but looking at the Rover forums have problems with the MAF sensors, clutch and fuel pumps. The ECU is also sited in a daft place (under the scuttle) where it can flood with water, as the drain holes are rarely checked.

 

Saab convertibles seem to have issues with the electric roof, but look good. I like the hatchbacks; of course you get the "it's not a real Saab, it's just a fancy Calibra" comments and 98-on engines seem to be prone to oil sludging that ruin the bottom end, but you might just strike lucky with a cherished example.

 

HDi engines on the Xantias also seem to be prone to fuel pump issues. Having said that, perhaps a perusal of the ads on the French Car Forum might find one with a caring previous owner. For £2k you could (if you so desired!) get a C5 instead. Or a late Xsara or 406? Depends how you measure comfort from a suspension medium perspective.

 

No idea on the 306 convertible. Good looking car though, and the petrol engines are quite simple and hardy from what I can make out (having come across a 1.8 405 with 260k on the clock a while ago).

 

I'd keep an open mind and try and find something with a low number of previous owners and plenty of evidence (receipts as well as stamps in the book) of service and repairs.

[blimp]

Have considered a BX, but there don't seem to be any even vaguely local to me. Boo.

[Formula Autos]

A decent sized VAG product with the 1.9 TD engine would probably fit the bill nicely.

 

If you're after a bit of flash (hence the penchant for cabrios), how about Audis? A late 80, or an A4 Mk 1 are both nice steeds, and should last forever if looked after.

 

Or how about going to the auctions or on the 'Bay and trying to bag a Mondeo with the 130 TDCi lump? Possibly just about do-able for 2K. Great cars (I have one, so I'm a bit biased) - though not really shite enough to boast about on here.

[eddyramrod]

Of the choices listed, I'd be going for the 306 cabrio with the 2.0. I had one as a rental in Teneriffic and it was a load of fun. But, I'm not you. Good luck

[Milford Cubicle]

Aren't Mondeo TDCis a bit fragile as far as fuel injection components go?

 

If I was going for something newish, I'd avoid common fail diesels altogether and select a simpler petrol equivalent.

[Formula Autos]

Of the choices listed, I'd be going for the 306 cabrio with the 2.0. I had one as a rental in Teneriffic and it was a load of fun. But, I'm not you. Good luck

What are the chances of the roof on a 12 to 15 year old French cabrio keeping you snug and dry in the depths of a Wiltshire winter?

 

Slim to nil I'd guess, so possibly not the best choice for a daily driver.

 

They are nice cars though ......

[blimp]

I'm very open to suggestions - I only think about the Xanta and BXs because I have an urge to experience the suspension - both when it works and when its starts costing silly money!

 

Frankly I'm a bit scared by modern cars as I have a, perhaps irrational, fear of all the fancy ecus and dual mass fly wheels and sensors that make reading any of the honest john car reviews a nightmare.

 

So best not go near a Xantia then!

 

I basically want something frugalish and reliable - my 309 was super reliable, so I have become a little spoilt inthe last 9 years.

[Guest]

Why not get another 309?

[eddyramrod]

In that case, spend your two grand on an Austin A40! That money will get you some of the best examples on the web, and what's more frugal and reliable than an A-series? Also simple, and in the A40 you can have a hatchback too! Not just any old hatch either, but a cool horizontally-split type. Could it get any better?

[dieselnutjob]

the subaru legacy that it's another thread for £950

[CIH]

Bad rover 75s are a real money pit so personally I'd forget that. Just about all the Ford CRDs suffer from the dual mass flywheel failing, though there are kits to convert to single-mass. Get Hirst's Mazza and cruise in real STYLE.

[Baz]

None of your list appeals to me personally....Although I did have a 75 V6, which was a fantastic car....Have you considered going Japanese/Korean?

 

I've only recently seen the light with the Jap stuff....There's so much out there that's cheap, reliable, practical, different, and surprisingly fulfilling to own!

[trigger]

Ok it's a bit predictable from me but what about a VW TDi car, I had a 2000 Passat TDi PD, It cost me £2000 18 months ago with 98k on the clock and was totally faultless, Drove really well, and still pulled 50mpg, If it wasn't for my crash I'd of kept it for another year or two.

 

I was looking at Mondeo TDCi's at your budget but they are all very high mileage stuff and looking tatty, plus the constant fear of EPIC DMF failure was forever pending.

 

I drove a MG ZT CDTi a few years ago but i wasn't overly keen of the small windscreen, it felt as if i was driving a post box.

 

I do think you'll struggle a bit with £2000 though, I could only find shite really when i was looking, Sadly most the decent stuff got fragged in the scrappage scheme and that brought all the prices of the crude that's left up.

 

Although this Bora TDi I'm picking up in a bit was only £2500 for a 2002 plate though it does have 119k on it.

 

Hope this helps a bit.

[pandamonium]

Perodua Nippa.

[Cavcraft]

Aren't Mondeo TDCis a bit fragile as far as fuel injection components go?

 

If I was going for something newish, I'd avoid common fail diesels altogether and select a simpler petrol equivalent.

And DMFS.

 

I'd imagine for a grand or two you'll have a fair old choice of motors. The Citroen Xsara seems pretty unloved and therefore you should be able to score a decent one for little money, even in diesel form.

 

How about the 406HDi that Pete M's mate is selling?

[alfetta]

90's non turbo saab motors are pretty bullet proof. It's mainly 2000-2003 turbos that are sludge prone, due to a dodgy crankcase vent setup.

[Milford Cubicle]

Lloyd 600

[Guest]

Doble Series E Steam Car.

[Milford Cubicle]

Is that fitted with a Rover K-series?

[Guest]

We're here all week folks.

[Cavcraft]

Is that fitted with a Rover K-series?

[hennabm]

Skoda Octavia TDI.

 

This has the diesel without all the fancy gizmos and is a roomy economical car.

 

Just avoid those that have been taxis and zillions of miles.

[blimp]

Thanks for the ideas guys'n'girls. To deal with a couple of suggestions:

 

Nippa - hmmmm, no ta.

 

VAG TDIs - I have always had a fondness for a Octavia TDI but there seem to be none round this way with decentish miles - I think they aren't exactly a secret any more. There seem to be a handful of 90's A4 TDIs on the autotrader around the £1400 mark - but these seem suspiciously cheap to me.

 

As for Jap tin, there is a V reg Primera (P11-144?) up the road from me up for £995 or there abouts - it is a 2 litre with 120,000 miles in green with beige leather interior and plastic wood on the steering wheel and round the gear stick.

 

Are they any good? Sort of tempted but not.

 

I always thought the Rover Diesels were meant to be quite good, but again all there seems to be are the old-fogey specials in manky gold.

[Guest]

Still confused as to why you'd want to move from a lovely 309 to some dull nondescript thing. Just get another man!

[blimp]

Well I fancy somethng different and possibly a little bigger - my large frame meant the 309 was a little snug with me and anything bigger than a packet of bourbons on board.

 

Parts other than the oily type bits were a bit of a sod to find - unless its a GTI there often isn't a lot out there on the bay, and scrappies round here never had more than 1 in a year.

 

I'd really love a Triumph 2000 or soemthing of equal vintage and class, but don't feel I could particularly trust it to work every day. Plus it would be quite thirsty - well thirstier than modern stuff.

[Milford Cubicle]

How about a big French exec then?

[blimp]

But wouldn't that mean questionable electricals?

[Lord Sterling]

Buy a Standard 10.