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What Post 2000 year cars do you fancy for 2 to 3000 quid?


Rally Pack 2000

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Both my lads went through the saxo Clio stage, tbh people rag the French but all the lads cars gave great service been ragged to death from day one. Bloody great cars, handle/ go well and very easy to repair. Not that we had a lot of trouble with them. Certainly a couple of  future classics.

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Car Shopping today. What caught my attention was a 2001 Audi A4 b5 Estate 1.8 FWD Turbo. Full leather interior with mahogany inlay across the dash and doors that looked pristine. 172,000 kms for 3000 quid. What do you reckon? Being a turbo bothers me a bit for reliability but how are they for other things like timing belts and the like? Seemed awfully upmarket compared to the vinyl and plastic Toyotas I have been looking at for the same money.

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14 minutes ago, Miniliteman said:

Isn't that a bit too powerful for mum? Unless it's got a FSH I would let it pass.

I did think that when I popped the bonnet and saw it was a turbo model but I dont think the car is all that powerful 150bhp or so, unlike the V6 versions that are over 200. She has told me her driving will be rare from now on and mostly we will have to drive it for her. If there is a situation she does have to drive it it will be not more than 2 to 3 kms. She has a license restriction due to her age of 15kms so she is well under her allowable range.

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Some Audi's seem to manage stratospheric mileages with good servicing - generally water pumps have a tendency for leaking (that could be the bigger engines though) Cam belts a just regular service item - 30k miles or 3-5 years whatever the condition.

A licence restriction - now that's a good idea! Let's them keep a degree of independence whilst not clogging up motorways for example + they should be banded from driving Automatics! With a choice of only two pedals, there are far too many - 'sorry I hit the wrong pedal' incidents !

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3 minutes ago, katana said:

Some Audi's seem to manage stratospheric mileages with good servicing - generally water pumps have a tendency for leaking (that could be the bigger engines though) Cam belts a just regular service item - 30k miles or 3-5 years whatever the condition.

A licence restriction - now that's a good idea! Let's them keep a degree of independence whilst not clogging up motorways for example + they should be banded from driving Automatics! With a choice of only two pedals, there are far too many - 'sorry I hit the wrong pedal' incidents !

Thanks for that I will ask to see when it last had a belt change. Overall it seems quite good condition for its age and the interior was amazing almost like new. (The leather stank though LOL)

Oh you don't have distance restrictions for your elderly there? I thought it was an idea most likely stolen from you guys actually. When you turn 85 you have to go on the restricted license. Usually its 10kms but because she never had an accident or infringement she got a bonus and is allowed 15kms. But for the past few years even before the restricted licence she only drove a few kms to the grocery store and doctors and chemist and to the local coffee shop with the ladies and that was it. So it didnt really impact her at all although she complained and moaned it was taking away her freedom for the first few months! No night driving and we also have manual and automatic licences, you cant drive a manual if you just have an auto license.

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2 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Thanks for that I will ask to see when it last had a belt change. Overall it seems quite good condition for its age and the interior was amazing almost like new. (The leather stank though LOL)

Oh you don't have distance restrictions for your elderly there? I thought it was an idea most likely stolen from you guys actually. When you turn 85 you have to go on the restricted license. Usually its 10kms but because she never had an accident or infringement she got a bonus and is allowed 15kms. But for the past few years even before the restricted licence she only drove a few kms to the grocery store and doctors and chemist and to the local coffee shop with the ladies and that was it. So it didnt really impact her at all although she complained and moaned it was taking away her freedom for the first few months! No night driving and we also have manual and automatic licences, you cant drive a manual if you just have an auto license.

Definitely no restricted licences here. Though after 70 (I think) a driver has to undergo additional checks. What age does a 15km restriction kick in in Australia? That seems very restrictive!

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As Vista says - no restricted licences and no additional checks - Licence renewal required after 70 and to be done every 3 years. All entitlements ie. PSV / HGV etc. can be retained as long as no medical conditions preclude them! We have similar manual / auto licencing but its the fact lots of wrinklies get confused with auto's - forget they are in drive or reverse and go bumping into things ! It may be discriminatory but a manual does take a bit of thinking about to avoid an uncontrolled take off! Is the distance thing in each direction or daily total - I could just barely get to town and back if its daily total - 10kms / 6 miles would be totally impractical!

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1 hour ago, Vista said:

Definitely no restricted licences here. Though after 70 (I think) a driver has to undergo additional checks. What age does a 15km restriction kick in in Australia? That seems very restrictive!

It kicks in at 85 and its only usually 10km but you go in for an interview and they sort of negotiate whats best for you but my mother was given the extra 5km on hers to total 15kms

57 minutes ago, katana said:

As Vista says - no restricted licences and no additional checks - Licence renewal required after 70 and to be done every 3 years. All entitlements ie. PSV / HGV etc. can be retained as long as no medical conditions preclude them! We have similar manual / auto licencing but its the fact lots of wrinklies get confused with auto's - forget they are in drive or reverse and go bumping into things ! It may be discriminatory but a manual does take a bit of thinking about to avoid an uncontrolled take off! Is the distance thing in each direction or daily total - I could just barely get to town and back if its daily total - 10kms / 6 miles would be totally impractical!

Its not a total but a radius from your home so at 85 your limited to drive to 10kms as the crow flies in a circle radius of 10km. Sort of like your lockdown radius in that  you limit yourself only to very familiar roads close to your home within that 10km radius. My mum has a bit larger though a 15km radius but doesn't come close to ever using that much. Its renewable yearly but you have to get a medical check form to submit with it so you effectively have to MOT yourself.

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I really do like this Audi. Is being Tiptronic likely to cause any major issues or expense? Here in Australia people panic at anything European thinking it will be overly expensive for parts so we default to the blandest and most boring cars the Japanese and Koreans have to offer.

Audi3.thumb.jpg.57a04af9848af706cfa28dd954e25d42.jpg

Audi1.thumb.jpg.375d4d2fc5a6c76427cf0d654b787251.jpg

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9 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

I really do like this Audi. Is being Tiptronic likely to cause any major issues or expense? Here in Australia people panic at anything European thinking it will be overly expensive for parts so we default to the blandest and most boring cars the Japanese and Koreans have to offer.

Audi3.thumb.jpg.57a04af9848af706cfa28dd954e25d42.jpg

Audi1.thumb.jpg.375d4d2fc5a6c76427cf0d654b787251.jpg

Nice little run about. 

Stick it in D and forget about the Tiptronic functions or manual shifting. 

I have a DSG box on my daily VW and the only time it comes out of Auto D is if I'm going backwards or parking up. 

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15 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

On a Pinto you could do a beltswap in 15 minutes with your eyes closed. On an Audi, well at least some Audi's, I believe the complete front end has to come of.

Yes its that sort of stuff that is unknown to me on a car like this and I believe the belt change is like a $1000 to $1500 repair. So much so they sell a kit that has the water pump tension pulley, best and front seals in a kit so that you change them all at the same time to make it more worth your time.

10 hours ago, dt36 said:

Nice little run about. 

Stick it in D and forget about the Tiptronic functions or manual shifting. 

I have a DSG box on my daily VW and the only time it comes out of Auto D is if I'm going backwards or parking up. 

Thats the thing for this car the Tiptronic like the extra turbo power is really not wanted for a run around like this, its the added repair issues that they bring is what concerns me.

I didn't know you had VW?

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6 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Thats the thing for this car the Tiptronic like the extra turbo power is really not wanted for a run around like this, its the added repair issues that they bring is what concerns me.

I didn't know you had VW?

You shouldn't get any drama out of the gearbox or the turbo if driven sensibly.  Use a good oil on service intervals in any VAG derivative and they are mostly ok.  It's the mapped and over boosted cars that generally see DMF, turbos or box failures, as they get driven like they're stolen.

With regards to my VW, we actually have two :-) : 

Our daily is a 1.5 Petrol VW Tiguan with the DSG box.  Really good car, comfortable and so easy to drive when eating my crisps.

Latest project is a VW T5 Caravelle that I'm quietly shaking down and prepping for touring next spring.  Currently use it for throwing our bikes in if we go further afield on a weekend.

Mondeo ST was meant to be my project for this winter and local Ford meets, but I got ahead of that.  Currently use that for pottering about back and fore to work etc.  This is fun to drive and has a little bit of a kick to it :-).  Minor jobs are ongoing with this, mainly age related that didn't really bother the previous owner.

Mk2 Escort is now in bed for our winter.  I have a few minor jobs to do to it, but the T5 is taking my time at the moment.  Intend to change the spring saddles that Carey kindly gave me, now powder coated.  Gearbox selector saddle bush to give me a better feel and finally renew the washer hoses with my quest to getting everything that was blue off this car.

 

PXL_20211011_163420416.jpg

PXL_20211025_082003963.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 23/10/2021 at 08:35, Johnny Boy said:

Focus with a boot 👍

Well today found this nice 2007 Focus Sedan Ghia with 173k on the clock. Not sure if that's good or bad on a Duratech? But everything was pretty clean on it. Very attractive Tan leather interior was a nice touch with the usual Ghia wood flashes. Climate controlled air although seemed overly complex electronics rather than the usual dials. Strange that the battery had to be connected to open the boot which seemed strange to me but its been so long since I bought a car. Wasn't expecting a key bonnet release under the front Ford badge! Equivalent of 3,000 quid. So what you guys reckon any red flags? You guys know Duratechs and Focus' better than any one I could ever find locally. The Auto transmissions on these are pretty common and basic? One local mechanic said they have transmission problems but I cant find anything online. I did like it out of all the cars I looked at today and wasnt expecting too and almost walked past it but took a look inside and it was just brighter and less cheap than your average Japanese bland and boring things I saw.

Got sunburnt though!

 

Focus1.thumb.jpg.40f2a0219ae5e3c812f9dc92389f7214.jpg

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I think it would have a zetec. I dont know about the autos, they are not common here.

All very basic , I don't think any more trouble than any moderish car, all modern cars and vans start to go wrong around 10yrs old, mainly the electronics suffer wiring issues.

Part here are redily available new and second hand, that may not be the case in Australia.  

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16 minutes ago, Johnny Boy said:

I think it would have a zetec. I dont know about the autos, they are not common here.

All very basic , I don't think any more trouble than any moderish car, all modern cars and vans start to go wrong around 10yrs old, mainly the electronics suffer wiring issues.

Part here are redily available new and second hand, that may not be the case in Australia.  

It was a definitely a Duratech as it has that plastered across the top of the engine as I was expecting a Zetec as well. All this electronic stuff scares me but in a way im cutting down on alot more of that getting a much older car, there are no Satnav screens and cameras and sensors all over the place. I found that in order to fit all that they raise the height of the dash and make then deeper that you can barely see over the dash and definitely no view of any part of the front of the car. For old mum, as short as she is, it means her view forward is of the glovebox! LOL

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4 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

It was a definitely a Duratech as it has that plastered across the top of the engine as I was expecting a Zetec as well. All this electronic stuff scares me but in a way im cutting down on alot more of that getting a much older car, there are no Satnav screens and cameras and sensors all over the place. I found that in order to fit all that they raise the height of the dash and make then deeper that you can barely see over the dash and definitely no view of any part of the front of the car. For old mum, as short as she is, it means her view forward is of the glovebox! LOL

Our focus st170 2.0 are a zetec, but it says duratec on the cam cover.

But they are zetec engines

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4 hours ago, Johnny Boy said:

Our focus st170 2.0 are a zetec, but it says duratec on the cam cover.

But they are zetec engines

 

3 hours ago, Miniliteman said:

Late Zetec engines were "dressed" like they are Duratec engines. Just check if it has a belt or a chain.

My initial research and a current owner of one since new assures me the Australian Focus of that vintage are 2.0L chain driven Durtatecs. There was supposedly platform sharing concessions here in Australia and as such shared engines with the Mazda 3 and Volvo S40. Is that better or worse?

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6 minutes ago, dt36 said:

Both OK engines and decent parts availability. 

Thanks, booked in this week to have a test drive. Did the dept and theft checks. So If I like how it drives I'm going to get it. I was initially concerned about the mileage but from what I have read it has many more miles up its sleeve with these engines noted for twice that. Never driven a Focus before, I know they are everywhere there so everyone on the Forum has probably driven several but not so much here and were outsold by popular Japanese blandness. So I hope it drives as good as it looks. I don't want to be car shopping close to Christmas. A white European Ford 2lt 4 door sedan, I wonder where I picked up a liking for something like that? 🤔

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I should recount the story of the salesman at various dealers before I found the Focus. One chap didn't want to unlock the car because he didn't want to have to walk all the way to the back of the office to get the keys. Another when I asked if they had any small Estate cars replied yes he had a Mitsubishi Golf. I asked him if you had to go to two different dealers to get the various parts you may need? But he didn't get it. He then showed me a standard hatch VW Golf to which I said that's not an Estate its a hatch to which he then replied, "Its what ever you want to imagine it to be" I hit back with I will imagine its a Lamborghini then if that's how it works. My sister wondered if they give you bags of the good stuff with every car sold? Trouble was he wasn't the worst car salesman of the day he was only down at number 5 or so. The best turned out to be a 14yo kid who showed me the Focus whose dad wasn't at the lot at the time. Funny that?

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