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 😉)

 

[Gray]

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

...and my old mark 1 Focus, 20 years old last year.
Currently just starting out with a new owner.

Good luck with the future of motoring.
Anyone with the BBC News app has probably seen today's video of the driverless car, taking its passenger for a ride in circles.
To say the technology isn't quite ready would be an understatement.

 

[Friesiansam]

...and my old mark 1 Focus, 20 years old last year.
Currently just starting out with a new owner.

Good luck with the future of motoring.
Anyone with the BBC News app has probably seen today's video of the driverless car, taking its passenger for a ride in circles.
To say the technology isn't quite ready would be an understatement.

I saw that on the BBC News website. They should market it as the world's first self-driving roundabout car, $5 for 2 minutes...

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Mine was 18 on Tuesday - should be buying me a pint I think...

 

[plastic penguin]

Mine is 20 years old this year... it's absolutely faultless.

Since the cold weather it's been flying, feels like I have 20 additional ponies under the bonnet.

The Alf specialist who rebuilt the engine has done an excellent job.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Not having much fun in that respect at present. Sump pan needed replacing for a (very) small leak, but better safe than sorry as I hope to get another 20 years out of the RS4. Trying not to break forum rules, this would have been utterly straightforward if it had happened in 2015, but a proper plum-ache thereafter. Turns out that some of the bolts seem to be seized, and if so it's a front-of-the-car-off kind of job. Was supposed to be a one-day job, and I'm now suspecting it'll be more like ten.

Even after 18 years, I still absolutely loathe being without my car...

 

[plastic penguin]

Not having much fun in that respect at present. Sump pan needed replacing for a (very) small leak, but better safe than sorry as I hope to get another 20 years out of the RS4. Trying not to break forum rules, this would have been utterly straightforward if it had happened in 2015, but a proper plum-ache thereafter. Turns out that some of the bolts seem to be seized, and if so it's a front-of-the-car-off kind of job. Was supposed to be a one-day job, and I'm now suspecting it'll be more like ten.

Even after 18 years, I still absolutely loathe being without my car...

Sounds expensive. If the garage know what they are doing it shouldn't be up to 10 days. That sounds bonkers to me. Are they an Audi independent specialist or one man and his dog, side street set up?

 

[DougK1]

Not having much fun in that respect at present. Sump pan needed replacing for a (very) small leak, but better safe than sorry as I hope to get another 20 years out of the RS4. Trying not to break forum rules, this would have been utterly straightforward if it had happened in 2015, but a proper plum-ache thereafter. Turns out that some of the bolts seem to be seized, and if so it's a front-of-the-car-off kind of job. Was supposed to be a one-day job, and I'm now suspecting it'll be more like ten.

Even after 18 years, I still absolutely loathe being without my car...

Why the difference between utterly straightforward in 2015 but now a ball ache in 2025? Was it undergoing surgery in 2015?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Why the difference between utterly straightforward in 2015 but now a ball ache in 2025? Was it undergoing surgery in 2015?

Us no longer being part of the EU. Which we can't discuss here. The work on the car is not affected by this, but supply of parts very much is - took more than two months. My previous post was not clear, re-reading it.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Sounds expensive. If the garage know what they are doing it shouldn't be up to 10 days. That sounds bonkers to me. Are they an Audi independent specialist or one man and his dog, side street set up?

They are independent*, but not just Audi. They've always done good work for me (far better and more truthful than Audi itself), and try to do things without spending your money unnecessarily - in other words they'll fix something if possible rather than automatically replace it.

There are two bolts that seem to be seized, and the chap in question has 40 years of mechanical experience. If the bolts break, it'll mean a much more involved job to drill them out, so they are trying to coax them, thereby saving me money even if it costs some time. They're applying (gentle) heat and lubrication and letting it settle over the weekend, after which hopefully they'll be able to be removed without breaking. If not, it's a bigger job. I guess some of this sort of stuff has to be expected with bolts that have been in place for 18 years now.

(*The state we are now in means that Audi itself cannot supply the part, so I have no option but to use an indy even if I wasn't minded to.)

 

[plastic penguin]

They are independent*, but not just Audi. They've always done good work for me (far better and more truthful than Audi itself), and try to do things without spending your money unnecessarily - in other words they'll fix something if possible rather than automatically replace it.

There are two bolts that seem to be seized, and the chap in question has 40 years of mechanical experience. If the bolts break, it'll mean a much more involved job to drill them out, so they are trying to coax them, thereby saving me money even if it costs some time. They're applying (gentle) heat and lubrication and letting it settle over the weekend, after which hopefully they'll be able to be removed without breaking. If not, it's a bigger job. I guess some of this sort of stuff has to be expected with bolts that have been in place for 18 years now.

(*The state we are now in means that Audi itself cannot supply the part, so I have no option but to use an indy even if I wasn't minded to.)

Many OEM parts for the 156 Alfa are no longer made. So I have to use aftermarket or secondhand or recon replacements. Joys of owning a 20 year old car. I still wouldn't let my car loose with a generic mechanic. They have to be familiar with Italian cars at the very least.

 

[DougK1]

They are independent*, but not just Audi. They've always done good work for me (far better and more truthful than Audi itself), and try to do things without spending your money unnecessarily - in other words they'll fix something if possible rather than automatically replace it.

There are two bolts that seem to be seized, and the chap in question has 40 years of mechanical experience. If the bolts break, it'll mean a much more involved job to drill them out, so they are trying to coax them, thereby saving me money even if it costs some time. They're applying (gentle) heat and lubrication and letting it settle over the weekend, after which hopefully they'll be able to be removed without breaking. If not, it's a bigger job. I guess some of this sort of stuff has to be expected with bolts that have been in place for 18 years now.

(*The state we are now in means that Audi itself cannot supply the part, so I have no option but to use an indy even if I wasn't minded to.)

Any news?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Any news?

Not yet. Being honest, their communication isn't as good as it was before ownership changed hands. I'll be giving them a shout shortly. Fingers (etc) crossed...

EDIT - it's a front-off job, alas. Trying to be philosophical. Hard not to think I shouldn't have put up with the (very) small oil leak, but then if it had gone pop it would have probably been curtains for the engine.

 

[DougK1]

Not yet. Being honest, their communication isn't as good as it was before ownership changed hands. I'll be giving them a shout shortly. Fingers (etc) crossed...

EDIT - it's a front-off job, alas. Trying to be philosophical. Hard not to think I shouldn't have put up with the (very) small oil leak, but then if it had gone pop it would have probably been curtains for the engine.

Always best to be on the safe side. Hope it does end in good news 🤞

 

[DougK1]

Over the last few months I’ve been seriously considering an EV as my next car, (Nissan Leaf), I’ve even gone as far as joining a Leaf EV forum. Second-hand they drop like a stone, zero VED, cheap to charge at home on an EV tariff, very little to go wrong. When working I used to cover about 13K miles pa, now retired, about 2500 miles pa so it seemed like a good time to jump. I tend to keep my cars for a long time so I’m used to them being worthless at the end of their lives.

However, researching this has led me to question my motives, which was ultimately cheap motoring.

To charge at home I really need a dedicated charger, which requires updating my domestic consumer unit, (currently and old fuse box). My garage is at the base of my garden and the most direct route would be an underground armoured 30m EV cable from the consumer unit. I could dig the trench myself so no issues here.

When I started pricing the installation costs: charging station, new consumer unit, 30m of EV cable, it became apparent I would need to invest circa £2K before I even purchase an EV. There are no savings against an ICE car if you use forecourt charging stations, the only saving is with home-charging.

The smaller battery version of the Leaf has a range of 160 miles, the larger battery 250 miles. What is not well known is these are summer ranges, in the winter these ranges can drop to as low as 80 miles and 160 miles respectively.

This year VED tariffs for EV’s are changing, as they should because they’re ruddy heavy cars. The new VED tariff will be £195pa, applied retrospectively for any EV registered after 2017, new EV’s will be charged £10 for the first year only.

In consideration of all this I have decided £2K will buy me fuel for an ICE vehicle for 6 years at my current mileage pa. This is a no brainer decision!