200k Mile Club
Turbo Mini Forums

The N15 Almera is a beast. My brother has a 1.4. It's an absolute slug but I always drive it when the mini is dead. Everything about it is so relaxed. It's the type of car you drive without ever having to think about driving. It hasn't given a single bit of trouble either.

I agree with Tom about the later ones though. The later ones are shite. They feel horribly cheap and are nowhere near as reliable

On 12th Nov, 2009 Paul S said:

I think Gary OS has taken over my role as the forum smart arse

Well it can't handle worse than the Citroen. The ones I am looking at are the 2.2 dci with 140bhp and 230lb/ft. Most write ups say they handle as well as most stuff bar the focus. The problem with the focus, astra and golf is that people like them and therefore the prices reflect this. Ge an Almera, Xsara or something less liked and you get a lot more for your money.

I really don't care how it handles. If it does 50mpg, tows the race car and is reliable the that is fine for me. There is little fun to be had on the roads so why prioritise the handling, I have a race car for my kicks (oh and a 250bhp Saab). The almera ticks all my boxes. I have seen a few Megans with the same engine, but those do a lot worse in the reliability tables. Anyway I am easy if something comes up for the right price I will look at it. Here is my long list of suitable cars

Citroen C4, C5. Pugeot 407, Almera, Megan, Corola. Before you add to the list consider the following. It needs to be Diesel, around £3k, no more then 5 years old (prefer 3 or 4, obviously), needs to be able to tow the trailer (so a 110bhp diesel minimum), do 50mpg, Think that it. I am asking for a lot, but I am in no rush either.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Why do you need a 2.2 to get 140bhp??

Get a passat tdi 130 and have it mapped to 170. should do 60mpg+ all day long.

The hdi/dci stuff are not great with the dual mass flywheels. (read that as neearly a service item)

EDIT: I have to agree with Tom. I had an Almera as a hire car a few years back. It was awfull. At motorway speeds the dash, steering wheel and gear nob vibrate so no where to put your spare hand...

Edited by apbellamy on 27th Nov, 2009.

Yes mate it's a Passat 130 sport.

It is funny how not to long ago if your car had done 100,000 it was well done mate she is doing well!, not long on were 100,000 miles more, where will it end :)

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

http://www.mattwoodsphotography.com

You don't need 2.2 to get 140, but you are asking the wrong man, try Mr Renault. Ok find me a 3 year old passat 130 for £3k. Its not going to happen. And seroiusly you need to drive my Xsara before you tell me how bad cars handle. I am looking for value for money, but not something that has seen 8 winters already.

I already have a 200k HDI and had no problems with the clutch, well apart from replacing it at 150k, whiche seemed fair enough. If you go on to youtube and search for pole vaulting all you see are people breaking poles, to an outsider looking in it would seem that this is the point of the sport. It is the same with cars, people are happy to post about the horror stories, but nobody goes to any length to praise a car. I trust the sources I read and not forum theories. Also do a search on chipping and mpg. If I can get 60mpg I will be living in the land of make believe. Plus I would never chip a car, don't see the point of mods on the daily hack.

Thanks for everybody's advice, all input is digested.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

Bora? no one wants em or Signum

Edited by gr4h4m on 27th Nov, 2009.

I run a supercharger and I don't care the TB is on the wrong side.
VEMS + 12 PSI + Liquid Intercooler = Small Bore FUN!

Chap I know has 130 Bora 52 plate remapped to 197 - he has done a season's sprinting in it bought it and mapped it at 30k now has 178K on it

On 5th Sep, 2011 Vegard said:
I stand corrected. You should know

ive ahd two citroens ,a 1900bx, just over 200k and loved it , then a few years aleter a 405 turbo diesel , it towed a drean and if it was not for a buggered radiater cooking the engine i'd probably still be using it,but it died on me with a couple of K under 200,000.

both cars started fist time and never got serviced . just like my 406 i have now, lol

carl

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

What colour is your 406 carl?

metalic red,

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

The clockwork 406 diesels are good, but the injectors wear out on the 2.0 hdi's. Brother had a 110 hdi exec and it was a lovelly car. Unfortunatly the injectors where on their way at 140k and then the fan belt snapped jamming the timing belt...

Ben I wasn't having a go or anything. The dual mass flywheels are poorly constructed on the later hdis and fail at about 60k. The one you have now is probably one of the earlier, better ones.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 1.9 SE TDI 130 5dr Diesel Estate

5 Door Estate, Black, Diesel, Manual, Folding rear seats, Alloy wheels, PAS, Height adjustable drivers seat, Rear headrests, Cloth seat trim,NEW TIMENG BELT,NEW SERVISE,CD,MOT till 19/10/2010,3 FORMER KEEPERS,CAT C. £3,250.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/adv...96576&logcode=p

I was starting to think about moving on the audi with 141k on the clock - think there are a few more miles left in her yet!

The question is why is it a CAT C? And 3 owners and little history, not sure I am interested.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

I've driven a 270k mile Cavalier SRi and that was pretty decent. The only complaint was third gear was a little hard to select!

my car is a high spec thing and already has them, lol

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

i am sure lol, i always grab extra complete mirors from scrappys when i own a car as twats seem to knock them off

2.2 nissan diesels occationaly suffer timing chain tensioner failure matey, replaced 2, the spot welds tha thold a bit of the guide together fail, starts rattling and before long the guide disintigrates and starts jamming up in the chain, causing all sorts of damage. not too hard a job to do and parts alone arnt overly dear IIRC, but be aware of it. :)

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Was just an example.

If you're not overly fusy about the badge, what about a Skoda Octavia? I've driven loads as taxis and they where pretty bullet proof. A 1.9tdi ambienty from 03 onwards gets you descent power, ellectric windows all round, remote c.l., air con, 50mpg and VW build qualty.

All you need to watch out for is the gearboxes. They don't have traditional synchros. the gears sit in fluid, which slops to one side on hard cornering... Only really a problem if you get an ex taxi or a car that has been abussed. Something that has 3 -4 years of motorway driving should be bullet proof for years...

Yep skodas and Seats are on the list, but people know that they are really VWs so bargins are still hard to find. I am not fussy about the car at all really. I just have a few ideas that I think will get me something reliable for the right money. Other people will have other ideas, but you have do do what you think is right, otherwise you will never be happy. This is general advice for life as well as car buying.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

You might be better of going to the auctions then. you'll get more for your money by cutting the dealer out.

Another good suggestion, but most of the cars I have been looking at are trade auctions so no public, as far as I understand it. I could be way off though. My only experiance of auctions is of people getting rid of shit.

http://www.twin-turbo.co.uk
http://www.hillclimbandsprint.co.uk/default.asp

A man without a project is like a like a woman without a shopping list.

auctions are two fold, as far as im concerned.. traders getting rid of dross they cant sell case it has an underlying fault. or big dealers shifting trade-ins that have a wee scrape ona wing they cant stick on a forcourt. the art is in picking out the good from the bad. And having seen and had to repair alot of cars that are flung through the auctions , its a tough one. especially as if your non-trade you have to pay extra fee's . reduceing your bargain potential.

turbo 16v k-series 11.9@118.9 :)

Denis O'Brien.

Carl your interior was from reciepts and invoices, plus the glove compartment was made of money! I currently have mk3 golf 1.6 petrol with 160k on the clock! Paid 600 squid for it and it runs like a dream!

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/