rusty nuts
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 08:14 AM |
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I notice a few people reply saying they have never had one and go on to say they are crap , obviously they are not speaking from personal experience.
Yes, they haven't got the best trim or electrics but the engines are good even if they are a bit different to work on. My old Citroen XM 2.1TD
estate cost me £350 when i brought it with the clutch gone and 150000 on the clock , the only reason I got it was for my dog, 13 years later with
300000 on the clock it had only let me down once due to a faulty battery. The best part I got 2 grand for it under the scrappage scheme. It was the
best ride of any car I have ever driven and with 45 years in the motor trade I have driven a few
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adithorp
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:10 AM |
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I'm often asked at work by customers, what car/make would I recommend. "Don't buy Italian or French unless you want to see more of
me" is my standard answer.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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adithorp
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:14 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Simon
I've had my Espace for nearly 5 years...
...It's the longest I've ever kept a tintop...
Simon
Off topic but... Can you still call it a tin-top when the roof is plastic?
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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mark chandler
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:28 AM |
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My oil burning V40 is fitted with a Renault engine, it is very good 
I have run Peugeot for years without any issues, 305, 306, 205 gti, 405, 206 and the SWBO has a 207 they were known as the best builder of diesel
cars, their engines appeared in many other manufacturers cars including ford, rover, land rover etc.
Never had to buy anything mechanical, just rear wheel bearing on the 205 gti which also needed the heater motor kicking every now and then to get it
to work quietly.
The diesel ones were excellent and covered high miles, just looked after the oil changes, none of them rusted either.
Regards Mark
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Simon
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 10:12 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
quote:
Originally posted by Simon
I've had my Espace for nearly 5 years...
...It's the longest I've ever kept a tintop...
Simon
Off topic but... Can you still call it a tin-top when the roof is plastic?
Well, glass (sunroof) actually. But point taken
ATB
Simon
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probablyleon
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 10:17 AM |
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At the risk of sounding contrary, two of the best cars I've ever had were French (for very different reasons). I had an AX GT about ten years
ago which was great fun, handled really well and went like a rocket. I paid £700 for it and ran it for three or four almost trouble free years. The
406 estate I had up until last month was also brilliant, cheap and comfortable on a run with masses of room. It just wouldn't die. If I'm
honest I could have kept it limping along for another year but after having it for six years I really just fancied a change. That was another sub
£1000 / almost trouble free car
I think the trick with French cars is to never buy new, let someone else deal with all the bits falling off and then buy the remainder of the car and
run it into the ground javascript:icon(' '
I should add, the worst car I ever had was also French. A friend gifted me a 2cv... not one single redeeming feature!
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Jasper
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 10:59 AM |
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I had one of the new shape Espace (the largest size with all the toys) a year after it was launched. It spent more time at the dealers being fixed
than me driving it, loads of electrical problems and a blow turbo and engine. Total piece of crap, and whilst in the queue spoke to loads of other
Renault owners all moaning about the crap electrics on they're nearly new cars. And they advertised +38mpg on the 2.2 diesel, never got more
than 25. I would never buy a French car again, I would stick to Ford or German.
If you're not living life on the edge you're taking up too much room.
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Simon
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 11:09 AM |
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I think that's the prob with new models - I reckon the probs were sorted by the time I got mine
Re the crap electrics, bear in mind that Audi think it's clever to run a water pipe through the car to the rear washwipe inside the conduit
cabling for rear lights etc. Best bit, is there's a join in the middle, so guess what happens when the plastic perishes
ATB
Simon
[Edited on 17/11/12 by Simon]
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whitestu
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 11:16 AM |
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I've had loads of Citroens - GSA's, BXs, Xantia, Xsara, C8, plus a Peugeot 405. All pretty much perfect as fas as reliability is
concerned. Also all much better quality than the VWs (Golf and Passat) I've had.
Luckily my current Mondeo also has a PSA engine!
Stu
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scootz
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 12:15 PM |
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Thanks again guys!
Bought a Golf this morning!
It's Evolution Baby!
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Ninehigh
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:32 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Thanks again guys!
Bought a Golf this morning!
Very French
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Simon
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:39 PM |
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And people carrier/estate ish
ATB
Simon
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mookaloid
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 09:39 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Thanks again guys!
Bought a Golf this morning!
good choice 
"That thing you're thinking - it wont be that."
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britishtrident
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 10:14 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
I'm often asked at work by customers, what car/make would I recommend. "Don't buy Italian or French unless you want to see more of
me" is my standard answer.
Every ten years or so a new generation of drivers don't know that Fiats and the damp climate in northern Europe just don't mix,
nothing changes. But at least unlike the French the guys in Turin design cars so the parts fit together in some sort of logical order.
[I] “ What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .”
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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steve m
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| posted on 17/11/12 at 10:18 PM |
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Golf backwards is flog, so nearly french
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Simon
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| posted on 18/11/12 at 12:42 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Thanks again guys!
Bought a Golf this morning!
Have you sold it yet
ATB
Simon
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Angel Acevedo
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| posted on 21/11/12 at 01:19 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scootz
Thanks again guys!
Bought a Golf this morning!
FIRST DIBS!!
HHH...
Beware of what you wish.. for it may come true....
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