Uncle Silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK & South West Retro Rides Admin
Posts: 1,492
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Hi all, There maybe a chance I may be getting a much better job soon (fingers crossed) but its an hours commute there and back each day. As the money will be better Ive been pondering over getting a nicer and dare I say it newer car for daily duties rather than my 1.0 k11 Micra. I'm considering trying a BMW E46 320d (or 325d) or similar, maybe even a 5 series with the same engine and either in a saloon or estate for tat haulin'  . Audi A4 TDIs were on the list too. I'd love something Japanese but I cant think of anything that will do the eco thing in a decent sized car as diesels are unusual. Any thoughts on this or any other ideas that I may not have thought of? No French though please lol Cheers |
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 1981 KE70 Corolla 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty 1998 Subaru Domingo |
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Volvo V series ? Skoda Octavia ? Saab 93 /95 estate ? Cadillac BLS Wagon (Saab 9-3 in drag)? All available as diesels.
Paul H
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Cadillac BLS Wagon (Saab 9-3 in drag) People say the 9-3 doesn't get enough love but I don't think anyone's ever given the BLS any love. That said, there's not many around to love: I can only find one on ebay and two on Autotrader, one of which is the ebay one. |
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Uncle Silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK & South West Retro Rides Admin
Posts: 1,492
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Jan 24, 2014 12:52:18 GMT
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Volvo V series ? Skoda Octavia ? Saab 93 /95 estate ? Cadillac BLS Wagon (Saab 9-3 in drag)? All available as diesels. Paul H Some good suggestions there, thanks :-). Funny, I saw a Saab 9-5 estate earlier which looked nice, and on our forecourt (I do some part time work for a local used car dealer) there is a nice 53 plate diesel Volvo V40 estate for £1700 but it's an auto! I'm sure a manual can be found for around that away from dealers. I think I liked the BMW idea because it has a little bit of badge about it which will keep the missis happy and RWD to keep me happy lol. What's the differences in running costs between a 320d and 325d and anything to look out for particularly when the mileage creeps up!? I've seen lots around 150k - 200k mark which claim to be reliable and cheap to run!? Defo going to look into the other model tho. |
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1981 KE70 Corolla 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty 1998 Subaru Domingo |
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Jan 24, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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I've just moved into 'modern car' territory with the purchase of a Volvo V70 D5 (diesel) estate.
Best automotive move I've *ever* made for a daily. SOOO much comfort, refinement and mile munching capability. Masses of space, huge boot, flexible interior and so many neat touches.
Add to that all the toys (way too many to list) that make driving it like being in the first class lounge of an executive club (heated leather seats and Dolby surround sound system are my faves) ....now factor in the 52mpg I'm getting, I simply cannot get my head around how so much car can be had for £1k!!
That 52mpg is covering 3,500 miles of city driving, towing other cars or heavy trailers and lots of country roads. Not just motorway where the figure is nearer 60mpg on a good run.
They look quite nice (IMHO) and certainly hold their own as a 12 year old car (mine's a 52 plate) which is one of the reasons I bought it. You'd never think its a £1k car to look at.
As I say, best car purchase ever for a main daily transport.
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Jan 24, 2014 19:22:06 GMT
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Pleasedon'tget a 320d, it's a horrible engine, spoils the car.
I was told that before I bought one and I have to agree.
330d/530d or a Volvo would be my choice.
Volvo's have possibly the comffiest seats you will ever find.
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Last Edit: Jan 24, 2014 19:24:03 GMT by joem83
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Jan 24, 2014 20:45:17 GMT
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Pleasedon'tget a 320d, it's a horrible engine, spoils the car. I was told that before I bought one and I have to agree. 330d/530d or a Volvo would be my choice. Volvo's have possibly the comffiest seats you will ever find. Neighbour bought a 52 reg 320d and whilst he liked it the engine caused numerous problems / money pit. In the end turbo started to play up and quotes for even secondhand parts were frightening so he got rid before it went bang ! He replaced it with a Saab 9-3 convertible and, whilst basically a Vectra, has been trouble free. Even towing a caravan with his petrol 9-3 the economy is quite good and solo, on a run, he reckons not far off the BMW diesel sort of mpg. Paul H |
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Uncle Silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK & South West Retro Rides Admin
Posts: 1,492
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Jan 27, 2014 21:25:49 GMT
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Why is the 330d so much better than the 320d (apart from obviously being bigger!)? It's not as good on fuel tho!
What about the 325d
Some say these are good engines and some not! I've heard something about swirl flaps can fail BUT can be removed to solve this!
I've seen cars with rebuilt gearboxes/new turbos and all the other bits fixed with FSH going for under £2000!
The volvos were also on my list too
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1981 KE70 Corolla 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty 1998 Subaru Domingo |
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Jan 27, 2014 21:48:42 GMT
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i would agree on volvo i had a t5 auto only auto car i ever bought with money
i loved it and that yolk could shift
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Jan 27, 2014 21:56:19 GMT
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Why is the 330d so much better than the 320d (apart from obviously being bigger!)? Cant comment on the 330d, but ive had & driven lot's of diesels and the 320d is the only one ive ever stalled, it's so slow to rev off boost & if you try setting off on boost you just get tc light flashing at you. It runs out of torque the second your off boost on hills, they are ok on the motorway but thats about it. Mine was a 4 year old 1 owner car, on 80k with FSH - only issue I has was the cat snapped & the ERG valve needed to be cleaned out (easy job) It did drive a little bit better with a EGR bypass on, but that throws up the EML on euro 4 cars. Everything bar the engine was very good, such a comfy refined car & felt so well put together. From talking on the BMW forums the 3.0's have none of the issues I moaned about. Most BMW diesels have the swirl flaps - best to get rid of them tbh, or it just sits in the back of your mind. |
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Jan 28, 2014 10:45:43 GMT
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Jan 28, 2014 11:36:51 GMT
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I commute 50km each way, which takes one hour on the way there and about an hour and a half on the way home in traffic.
My current fleet for this purpose:
1995 Suzuki Sierra - Economical, reliable, has character. The leaf springs are rock hard, but it goes great offroad for weekend trips. 10 litres/100km.
1990 Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four - Despite being 24 years old this has all the mod cons, including power windows, mirrors and remote central locking. Most importantly, very good air-conditioning, since it was 43 degrees Celsius today! It did decide to puke it's coolant up though, so I'll be taking the Sierra for the rest of the week. Surprisingly, this does the same mileage as the Sierra! Needs to have premium fuel though, especially since I've turned the boost up to 13psi. The contrast in performance between a 50 horsepower Sierra and a 200+ horsepower GT-Four is very amusing, they're both fun in their own way. The Sierra is fun because you get to pin it to redline in third gear on the way to 60km/h, while the GT-Four is fun because it absolutely flies once on boost.
2007 Suzuki DR650 - Even more economical than the other two at 5 litres/100km. Maneuverable in traffic and fun to ride, I find that riding once a week helps break up the monotony of driving to work. It's nearly new, but still counts as retro because they've been making the same bike since the '80s. Unfortunately, it's not much fun above 40 degrees C in a black nylon jacket! All the gear, all the time.
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Jan 28, 2014 13:00:32 GMT
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Another vote for Volvo from me. I have an S60 and agree with what Bruce said about his V. Just a very enjoyable way to travel. I've got the wrong engine for economy though, so wouldn't suggest getting a T5.
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Uncle Silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK & South West Retro Rides Admin
Posts: 1,492
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Jan 28, 2014 21:23:16 GMT
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I commute 50km each way, which takes one hour on the way there and about an hour and a half on the way home in traffic. My current fleet for this purpose: 1995 Suzuki Sierra - Economical, reliable, has character. The leaf springs are rock hard, but it goes great offroad for weekend trips. 10 litres/100km. 1990 Toyota Celica ST185 GT-Four - Despite being 24 years old this has all the mod cons, including power windows, mirrors and remote central locking. Most importantly, very good air-conditioning, since it was 43 degrees Celsius today! It did decide to puke it's coolant up though, so I'll be taking the Sierra for the rest of the week. Surprisingly, this does the same mileage as the Sierra! Needs to have premium fuel though, especially since I've turned the boost up to 13psi. The contrast in performance between a 50 horsepower Sierra and a 200+ horsepower GT-Four is very amusing, they're both fun in their own way. The Sierra is fun because you get to pin it to redline in third gear on the way to 60km/h, while the GT-Four is fun because it absolutely flies once on boost. 2007 Suzuki DR650 - Even more economical than the other two at 5 litres/100km. Maneuverable in traffic and fun to ride, I find that riding once a week helps break up the monotony of driving to work. It's nearly new, but still counts as retro because they've been making the same bike since the '80s. Unfortunately, it's not much fun above 40 degrees C in a black nylon jacket! All the gear, all the time. Apart from the bike I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna get the 50+ mpg I need from these. Nor the space, comfort and practicality I'm looking for. But thanks  |
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1981 KE70 Corolla 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty 1998 Subaru Domingo |
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Uncle Silvia
Posted a lot
Datsun Club UK & South West Retro Rides Admin
Posts: 1,492
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Jan 28, 2014 21:37:31 GMT
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Ive also had a soft spot for the BMW e39 525TDS...... any thoughts compared to the newer cars?
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1981 KE70 Corolla 1978 B310 Sunny Coupe 1977 Pink Clubman Mini Shorty 1998 Subaru Domingo |
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Jan 28, 2014 22:10:19 GMT
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Great cars , nice drive. I've been told by numerous people who have driven both extensively that the E34 525tds is even better overall.
I had said E34 for 6 months and loved it to bits covering many thousands of miles, however, bring brutally honest it's not a patch on the newer Volvo.
I didn't find the BMW six pot diesels to be that economical, I was averaging 35mpg in the E34 - a noticeable 17mpg less than I'm currently getting from the V70 doing exact the same kind of driving.
Having also recently driven an E39 525tds for a brief time (saloon, not wagon ), I found it more cramped and a lot less solid feeling than both the E34 and the V70. It was only a short trip but it was telling that I was so glad to be back in the Volvo afterwards. I don't know if it was just this particular one , but it was a lot rustier than I'd have expected from a 12yr old 5 series.
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Jan 28, 2014 23:04:15 GMT
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I have a Rover 75 Touring with the BMW 2.0 engine and I love it. Economical round town (about 35-40+) and good on a run (50+mpg). It's big, very comfortable and cheap. Mine has been remapped to 160bhp and it quite nippy. If you don't mind wearing the flat cap and having a picnic rug on display it's a great option. I have had a few BMWs and prefer the Rover.  |
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Jan 28, 2014 23:27:23 GMT
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Actually, an Alfa 156 SW JTD might not be as bad as it sounds at first sight (or hearing?)
Don't forget about the Audi A6 Avant with the V6 TDI, although I do recall that they can have some kind of engine trouble as well.
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A few rundowns, if you'll allow me the liberty of claiming I know what I'm talking about...
320d is a 4 cyl 2 litre which is as rattly as they come. Can be coaxed to 60mpg. No torque. Common failures include the crank pulley completely failing - it is metal around rubber centre to quieten it which just disintegrates with no warning, injectors, turbo, MAP, MAF, EGR, swirls are later than most E46s so not an issue, the crank as a whole is known to run it's bearings - I have one for breaking with an INCH of play in the crank, heads crack under stress, DMFs let go, ECUs burn out... it is curse word. Do NOT buy one.
325d is a 6 cyl 2.5 litre (smaller version of 330d engine). It will do 50mpg+, lots of torque, easily remapped up to 200bhp or 240bhp for the 330. Common failures include the injectors failing, and also seizing into the head, turbo, EGR, swirls are later than most E46 again, prone to HGF and big ends running, injection pump seals go often and fill the sump with diesel, leading to blown up engines and turbos full of oil. it is also curse word but slightly less so than the 20d.
Also, E46s rot for fun and eat wishbones. They are a curse word car overall, built down to a cost and best avoided at all costs. The M3 version cracks subframes under torque and every single petrol engine in them blows up for fun, clearly not a well designed car - if you buy one you are asking for trouble.
E39 is a superior car in all ways, unfortunately lumbered with the same 6 cyl diesel in the 525d/530d. The 525tds is not in any way efficient and only in the pre-facelift so look terribly dated now. That engine was more reliable a few years back but given they are all aged now, they are starting to let go more often and a good engine will cost more than the car probably will to begin with.
as above
Alfa 156 JTD - buy a 10v 2.4 and you will have no issues. Body can rust on the floorpan so check that out, and front top wishbones need replaced every 2 years, electrics are dodgy in the facelift so buy a pre-03 one for least troubles, but later one is still ok. Can feel a bit skittish at times as they're not that heavy at the back and not 50/50. 60mpg to be expected, decent torque.
Audi V6 TDI will also be a good solid choice, hold their price though so you may end up in an older one, all look the same since 1994 though so meh. Will do upwards of 50mpg and lots of torque, major disaster if one goes bad though, best just buy another.
I will say the 2.0d BMW engine seems to give far less trouble in the Rover 75, and that car has no issues I'm aware of otherwise, I rate them highly and would have an MG version if my Alfa V6 wasn't perfect in every way.
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m30rmf
Part of things
Posts: 62
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Jan 29, 2014 20:31:36 GMT
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I've just moved into 'modern car' territory with the purchase of a Volvo V70 D5 (diesel) estate. Best automotive move I've *ever* made for a daily. SOOO much comfort, refinement and mile munching capability. Masses of space, huge boot, flexible interior and so many neat touches. Add to that all the toys (way too many to list) that make driving it like being in the first class lounge of an executive club (heated leather seats and Dolby surround sound system are my faves) ....now factor in the 52mpg I'm getting, I simply cannot get my head around how so much car can be had for £1k!! That 52mpg is covering 3,500 miles of city driving, towing other cars or heavy trailers and lots of country roads. Not just motorway where the figure is nearer 60mpg on a good run. They look quite nice (IMHO) and certainly hold their own as a 12 year old car (mine's a 52 plate) which is one of the reasons I bought it. You'd never think its a £1k car to look at. As I say, best car purchase ever for a main daily transport. I have one of these myself albeit a 2003 car, can only echo what bruce has said, awesome cars for what they are, mines currently on 157000 and runs like half that.... Anyway Bruce lets see some pics of yours(put mine to shame no doubt as not been washed for months!!!) |
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. Audi A4 TDIs were on the list too.
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