The Car Thread.

[plastic penguin]

I know this is probably a bit busy for you, but gotta love a car with no unnecessary extras.

That's fine, except I doubt it has a roof.

 

[plastic penguin]

I've decided to buy a Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost as my everyday car. It's dirt cheap to tax & insure. I'm keeping the Alfa, but scared stiff some idiot will crash into it: I'd be devastated as it's so rare. I'll still use the Alfa at weekends, but if someone smashes into a Focus, I wouldn't lose any sleep.

 

[Gray]

I've just sold a Mark 1, 2 litre Focus Ghia because the tax was too much at £415.
Great 20 year old car, I owned it for about 12 of those.
No car of mine has ever flown through so many MOTs.
A mechanic has told its new owner, "built like a tank, they got it right with the Mk1, it just works"
No coincidence that you still see plenty about.

 

[DougK1]

I've decided to buy a Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost as my everyday car. It's dirt cheap to tax & insure. I'm keeping the Alfa, but scared stiff some idiot will crash into it: I'd be devastated as it's so rare. I'll still use the Alfa at weekends, but if someone smashes into a Focus, I wouldn't lose any sleep.

Your money PP, but I wouldn't touch one of those wet cambelt engines with a bargepole.

 

[DougK1]

I've just sold a Mark 1, 2 litre Focus Ghia because the tax was too much at £415.
Great 20 year old car, I owned it for about 12 of those.
No car of mine has ever flown through so many MOTs.
A mechanic has told its new owner, "built like a tank, they got it right with the Mk1, it just works"
No coincidence that you still see plenty about.

Ruddy good car Gray, only ruined by stupidly high road fund licence. I'll keep my old Bora TDI as long as possible before I do the change to something like a Picanto, i20, or something of similar size.

 

[plastic penguin]

Your money PP, but I wouldn't touch one of those wet cambelt engines with a bargepole.

Agreed, Doug. Other than darn cam belts they are pretty bullet proof. My brother's had his EcoBoost for years and loves it. Road tax is £35 a year, other than having the cam belt (every 60-80 thou miles) they are pretty good. I've driven it many times and impressed by the performance. And it sips petrol like budgie drinks water.

 

[DougK1]

Agreed, Doug. Other than darn cam belts they are pretty bullet proof. My brother's had his EcoBoost for years and loves it. Road tax is £35 a year, other than having the cam belt (every 60-80 thou miles) they are pretty good. I've driven it many times and impressed by the performance. And it sips petrol like budgie drinks water.

Understood PP

However, whoever came up with the idea of an internal cambelt running in oil was an idiot. These highly-tuned and fragile engines require religious and meticulous servicing, and when it's time to change the belt it's a huge bill, I believe the main dealer charge is approx. £1800! Ford are not alone with installing these ridiculous cambelts, most manufacturers have adopted them. These engines are for the PCP brigade... keep them three years then get a new one.

External cambelts and camchains have their issues but my next car will have either of these in preference to a wet belt... it will definitely be a deciding factor for me. It's the old adage... if it ain't broke don't fix it!

 

[plastic penguin]

Understood PP

However, whoever came up with the idea of an internal cambelt running in oil was an idiot. These highly-tuned and fragile engines require religious and meticulous servicing, and when it's time to change the belt it's a huge bill, I believe the main dealer charge is approx. £1800! Ford are not alone with installing these ridiculous cambelts, most manufacturers have adopted them. These engines are for the PCP brigade... keep them three years then get a new one.

External cambelts and camchains have their issues but my next car will have either of these in preference to a wet belt... it will definitely be a deciding factor for me. It's the old adage... if it ain't broke don't fix it!

Seems a strange thing having the belt running around in oil. The faster ST version has the trad external cam belt. I seem to remember my brother spent around £900 about 2 years ago on the cam belt replacement.

However, the ST, although really nice to drive, doesn't fall into my low running costs for an everyday car.

 

[DougK1]

Seems a strange thing having the belt running around in oil. The faster ST version has the trad external cam belt. I seem to remember my brother spent around £900 about 2 years ago on the cam belt replacement.

However, the ST, although really nice to drive, doesn't fall into my low running costs for an everyday car.

I'm sure you'll be fine PP Don't need to tell you cos you're not stupid but a full pukka service history on these engines really is a must. And it's a must to keep the servicing up too, plenty of good indies around without paying stupid main dealer prices.

It is ruddy crazy to put a synthetic belt running in oil. There is an additional oil strainer gauze to stop bits of belt getting into the engine but if this gets blocked then same thing still happens - oil starvation. I hate these engines, but all ICE's are heading the same way... engineered obsolescence.

I seriously doubt the cars of today will still be running in 20 years time, unlike your Alfa or my VW, which I believe both celebrated their 20th birthday this year

 

[plastic penguin]

I'm sure you'll be fine PP Don't need to tell you cos you're not stupid but a full pukka service history on these engines really is a must. And it's a must to keep the servicing up too, plenty of good indies around without paying stupid main dealer prices.

It is ruddy crazy to put a synthetic belt running in oil. There is an additional oil strainer gauze to stop bits of belt getting into the engine but if this gets blocked then same thing still happens - oil starvation. I hate these engines, but all ICE's are heading the same way... engineered obsolescence.

I seriously doubt the cars of today will still be running in 20 years time, unlike your Alfa or my VW, which I believe both celebrated their 20th birthday this year

Thanks Doug. I think all petrol cars have their quirks, as a long-term Alfa owner I have first hand experience. But it'll be 20 years old next May, it's still holding up nicely. Diesels are the best for all-rounders for reliability. I hate diesels and the MOTs are a lot stricter than petrol versions.

Many of my cars have come with dodgy reliability record: 2 x Dolly Sprints & 1850 & a Stag, all proned to head gasket issues. I never had issues with overheating. Also owned a 1968 Lotus Elan + 2 - great engines but need a lot of TLC & constant tuning. And the electrics are iffy, typical with all plastic bodied cars. And I've had a shed load of different Alfas. The best Alfas are diesels but sound like a black cab. There's been others. For some reason I'm attracted to the naughty cars 😂

 

[plastic penguin]

On Saturday I met my brother & sister-in-law in a country pub about six miles from my house. They followed my Alfa in his Focus EcoBoost. When we arrived there, he said, your car is still in immaculate condition for the age. My sis-in-law said, my car is so nippy around the Surrey bends. It's the first time he's seen my car in the daylight for ages.

The old girl is flying at the moment (the car not the sis-in-law 😉)