Toyota question, anyone know ?

[Welly]

OK that's good.

My 'early' model is actually better in a few respects, especially where Volvo/Ford decided it would be good to fit a quick-release multi-plug to the door wiring harness (this gives trouble) mines done the more expensive way and more reliable.

In fact mine's 7 years old now but it's been completely reliable, not a single fault. The suspension has suffered wear but it's probably unfair to criticise a 7 year old wishbone for wearing out - especially with our roads.

[sirwiggum]

Wasnt overly impressed with the HDi. Just seemed to change sensors and the engine mounts weren't great, it kangarooed all over the place in stop-start commuting traffic. Very annoying.

Was eyeing up a Corolla diesel on the used cars sites, its the one with the XUD, a proper diesel engine.

[steve_earwig]

And the word on Japanese cars is... up to 1998/99 brilliant, after that avoid like the plague (and this is from a guy who earns his money fixing them...)

Chances of Steve Earwig ever owning another - zero

[Doggy]

Ford have got a 1.6 Turbo Petrol which produces impressive torque and bhp and does a reliable 40 mpg - makes you wonder

Makes you wonder for how long too.
I have serious doubts the 1.4 VW TFSI, (turbo + supercharged), lump will last.
Nothing I've seen to date suggests a Ford will do any better.

[sirwiggum]

And the word on Japanese cars is... up to 1998/99 brilliant, after that avoid like the plague (and this is from a guy who earns his money fixing them...)

Chances of Steve Earwig ever owning another - zero

Yea the Accord forum woes with the iCDTi are enough to put me off.

So then I need a reliable diesel commuting car (40 mile daily) that isn't going to bankrupt me in repairs.
What suggestions are there?
Was considering maybe an XUD Xsara.

[steve_earwig]

Amen to the XUD, ok they go wrong but not as much or as expensively as anything "modern"

[Doggy]

So then I need a reliable diesel commuting car (40 mile daily) that isn't going to bankrupt me in repairs.
What suggestions are there?
Was considering maybe an XUD Xsara.

Well, I do 60 miles/day.
4 years with a Xsara HDi 90 + 3.5 with the 406.
7.5 years / 170k between them, without a day off the road.
I'll settle for that.

[lozz]

And the word on Japanese cars is... up to 1998/99 brilliant, after that avoid like the plague (and this is from a guy who earns his money fixing them...)

Chances of Steve Earwig ever owning another - zero

Yea the Accord forum woes with the iCDTi are enough to put me off.

So then I need a reliable diesel commuting car (40 mile daily) that isn't going to bankrupt me in repairs.
What suggestions are there?
Was considering maybe an XUD Xsara.

Get an Hdi one mate,

nowt wrong with xud but in a smaller tin it can sound abit like something off a farm,
even the hdi sounds loud in the xsara, everythings shoe horn'd in there so obviously abit more noise than a 406

ive just got 42mpg out of mine on a run, and it holds steady at 120 on the motorway

[sirwiggum]

To be honest, my old 406 was an HDi and wasn't impressed.
Kangarooed all over the place in stop-start traffic due to chewing gum mounts.
Needed new MAF, clutch pedal sensor, fuel filter housing, flexi-hose (+cat), EGR blanking to make it run anywhere near acceptable. Only used to get 40mpg.
The old XUD ZXs went on forever (well except for needing Glow plugs, and that nightmare 4th one that never seems to get changed!) and sipped diesel.

I fear that modern diesels are too complicated, I yearn for the old school clattery bulletproof diesels of old.

[lozz]

There not all the same mate,

Hdi is agood lump, perhaps you was just unlucky and got a bad-en

[Welly]

With HDi's I think you get good one's and bad one's depending on how they were run in, serviced, driven etc.

Your one that kangaroo'd is uncommon and it might have been something silly like a wiring loom short caused by some previous repair or something.

Something I like about them is that they are well within tolerances and de-tuned really so are long lasting mechanically.

To be honest I believe motor manufacturers don't really see a future for their cars after 5/6 years old, they just want you to buy the new version every 3 years this is bad news for the second-hand motorist. I dread to think what it will be like buying an old motor in 10 years time - you'd most likely plug in an interface and ask it how it feels

[Doggy]

you'd most likely plug in an interface and ask it how it feels

Doesn't everyone?

[sirwiggum]

In the future your Peugeot 5009 (by then the 508-509 saloon car range will have been canned - compare Laguna, Primera etc. everything will be crossover blobs) will use a whirlpool tumble dryer motor to run, no worrying about MAFs and EGRs.