My Latest Aquisition

[Negative Creep]

As previously mentioned, I saw this end on ebay with no bids so thought I'd go and have a look. Owned by an old lady who has given up driving but since 2006 did nothing except have it driven to the MOT centre then put back in the garage, just checked the MOT online and since February 2006 it's done 80 miles! It's the 2.0 manual and totally original. Starts and drives fine with everything working as it should. Nice to be back in the realms of miserable transport. GR6!

 

 

 

 

 

There is one fly in the ointment though. On the way home it did chuck out a big plume of blue smoke along with the smell of burning oil on the overrun. Doesn't do it on start up, idle or at low revs, just after going above about 5k. It does seem to have too much oil in it as well, so I'm hoping it's that or maybe a side effect of being stood up for so long?

[R9UKE]

Beautifully shit. I love it.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

It doesn't really seem that miserable. I bet the 2-litre engine is punchy enough to shift it comfortably, and it should have at least leccy windows/mirrors/central locking...Not bad at all.

[dollywobbler]

Nice one. Blue smoke sounds a little worrying, but probably not 'owt too serious unless it's doing it all the time. As you say, overfilled oil could be the issue. If it's only been out once a year, things like valve stem seals can dry out though.

[Negative Creep]

No central locking, keep fit windows - but electric mirrors.

 

You can get additives for valve seals so I wonder if that might help?

[lancashireclamper]

Probably stating the obvious as usual but do you know when the oil was last changed?

Often found engines that are hardly used tend to cough and belch a bit, maybe drain the lot out, give it a flush and put some decent old school oil in it and see what happens.

[baldrickthecunning]

Hoiw much did that beast set you back? Looks pretty tidy.

[Station]

Valve stem seals should smoke all the time, esp when warm? Not just over 5,000 rpm.

Check the breather pipes, if it's not used much, I doubt it'll be anything terminal?? (I use question marks to avoid being proved wrong).

I'd change everything as per new car, give it a good servicing!

[Negative Creep]

I paid £295 without any tax. To be honest at that price I'm not overly worried about smoke at high revs, especially as I'll mostly be driving around town. In fact given the last owner was an elderly lady I wouldn't be surprised if it's never even been above 4k

[eddyramrod]

Well spotted! As others have suggested, it doesn't look all that miserable, I'm sure I could even live with that paint if there was a 2.0 to play with. Definitely change the oil, and inspect all the pipes in case one's decided to give up. Should then serve you well for some time.

[baldrickthecunning]

That is a very fair price, and 2 mileage trips for the price of one.

[boobydoo]

That looks very clean! Is it a low mileage one?

 

I bet the old bint would raz that to Bingo every Thursday night and that's about it!

[ProgRocker]

Wow, I like that! Designed by an origami expert on an etch-a-sketch!

 

Wouldn't mind one myself to keep the Almera company. Like the indestructable Toyota Carina IIs, I still see a few of these knocking around being driven by old duffers, I guess financed on fixed income pensions.

 

My sister and her then husband had a black F reg 1.6 LS model in the 1990s. It was the base model at the time (before the 'Premium' spec was launched) but even that was well kitted out with electric windows, sunroof and central locking. Only thing that it did lack was power steering and that was the reason why it was sold on. Before that, the guy who sold it spotted it one day and left a note on the windscreen asking to buy the car back, it was so good. I took it for a spin once and it felt rather barge like. I was always conscious of the rectangular bonnet always in view from the windcreen whereas in my Escort it curved out of view.