Opinions and help please.

[vexorg]

Nissan and renault share a lot betwen cars, and not many people slag of nissan for reliability, which is odd.

I've got a citroen, and love it as a car, ok it's the top spec older DS4, but the engine is amazing for torque and power and giving 50+mpg. Sadly it doesn't meet the emission for the new LEZ cities in scotland. And it's not just a pay as you enter here, it's a fine, that doubles every time you go into the city. Ive been looking round for a while, and cannot see any car I'd like as a daily driver. I dont like the modern tiny engine turbos, or all the overly complex systems not that need specialist diagnostics. I like to work on my car and fix it until it's no longer viable to sort.

 

[eeeno]

I have a good memory of my dad's Peugeot 306 which he bought 25 years ago. It's going to some hobbyist or he scraps it because the rear axle is stuck on the other side. It's more of an emotional thing for him now. But I'll be honest the car has been crap for the past 15 years already. During the ownership it has been more high maintenance than many other cars. Of course if it was a Toyota with a timing chain, he'd probably just keep driving it.

Of course 25 years have passed and cars are better now. But many Peugeots fail even after ten years and need a complete new rear axle. I think it's dumb french design. I drove similar low mileage Peugeot for years and it was like a wheelbarrow too. Now I'm done with the french cars. This is the thing Toyota fans were telling me, and they were right. I'd not put Fiats into the same group. To me italian cars are far superiour to french. Why aren't people buying them?

 

[bugsymike]

Nivas we’re great cars until GM got their hands on them, that SPI setup was a PITA, and whoever designed the fuel return wanted shooting
My grandads Renault 12 auto lasted 300K +miles and 27yrs and was only binned because we couldn’t justify sticking a new gearbox in it, and that’s if we found one outside Romania
He had, however, had it waxoiled from new

Lada Niva's were just coming in when I left and went self employed, so I only saw a few, as I recall the early ones had carbs, terrible tyres and massive vibration due to the transfer box being out of line with the axles.
I prefer Lada 1200s etc to Polski Fiat for quality from a low bar and did own a Lada estate 1200 at one time, I fitted 14inch Lancia steel wheels, but it didn't help much in the snow when I managed to drive onto new father in laws lawn!
Sills and other metal work was much thicker than the current Fiats, presumably to last more than ten minutes in a Russian Winter.

 

[portland_bill]

The DAFs took a couple of hours at most to PDI and in fact we rarely found a problem,

I started doing DAF PDIs, my introduction to the motor trade. In addition to the normal listed checks, we also always removed the rear side trim panels, and removed the empty coffee cups. They were the white plastic small cups, like we still see at water jugs, etc. Somewhere on the production line, workers would throw them into the rear quarters, before the trim panels were fitted. If not removed, they might remain unnoticed, but often they'd create funny noises, so once discovered, we checked every car.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I never had much to do with Ladas but my friend owned a 1200 saloon which I drove a few times. Seem to remember the throttle pedal was in a strange position, too high up, caused no doubt by trying to fit it with the wheel arch on right hand drive? which meant your right leg got very tired/sore after any great length of time. I also disliked the steering which had very little self centring so you ended up making constant corrections on straight sections of road. When I worked for Firestone my standard hire car in Italy was the Fiat 124 and I remember them being a far nicer drive altogether. the throttle pedal didn't have any problem - but of course those were left hand drive - Steering could have been something wrong with my friend's Lada I suppose? or maybe the weight of the Russian engine?

PS. can still hear the "sporty" rasp of the 124 exhaust!

 

[AndyRKett]

If I were advising anyone to get a new car right now, and they were not looking at something electric or a hybrid, then I would say to get a Qashqai.

The current model holds the title of most reliable car in the uk, build in the uk and designed in the uk, not the mention the fact that the equipment levels are good and the finish is bang on what you’d expect (that is to say you’re not getting a car with a leather dash and solid gold buttons but it’s pretty good)

I suppose it does also very much depend on the budget, I don’t know what you’re seat was when you got it but there is no such thing as a sub £10k car anymore ironically the Ibiza is still one of the cheapest cars in the uk and comes in at £18,500 for the cheapest models.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

If I were advising anyone to get a new car right now, and they were not looking at something electric or a hybrid, then I would say to get a Qashqai.

The current model holds the title of most reliable car in the uk, build in the uk and designed in the uk, not the mention the fact that the equipment levels are good and the finish is bang on what you’d expect (that is to say you’re not getting a car with a leather dash and solid gold buttons but it’s pretty good)

I suppose it does also very much depend on the budget, I don’t know what you’re seat was when you got it but there is no such thing as a sub £10k car anymore ironically the Ibiza is still one of the cheapest cars in the uk and comes in at £18,500 for the cheapest models

Thanks Andy. The Ibiza was financially a very good buy - until the gearbox fiasco anyway! - My version retailed at around £13,750 (I think?) back in 2016 and my local wee man got it for me at a little over £11,000. Croyde valued it at £5,000 as it stood or around £8,000 once the box was repaired in exchange for the new Arona which I would have had to pitch in a further £7,500 to buy the showroom car (around £25,000 full retail for a new one he told me so he was going to do me a very good deal but I guess it would have been prereg so technically a one owner used vehicle?) and I've had two local valuations up here in the last week where my local man valued it at around £7,500 and the local Renault main dealer spoke about a rather indefinite £7,000, depending on what I was intending to buy from him. It's a big hit to take when you are looking at around 15 to 18 thousand for a Mark2 (2020 onwards) Captur. So I've got to get a bit more out of the Ibiza I think. Trouble is, silly as it sounds with all my technical knowledge, I've just lost faith in it and am quite reluctant to undertake a long journey in it ever again. Hoping I'll get over this soon as we've a big family wedding to go to down south later in the year and the car would be the most convenient and economic way to go. I don't fancy carting my heavy kilt and all the highland get up on the train, it weighs a ton!

 

[bugsymike]

I never had much to do with Ladas but my friend owned a 1200 saloon which I drove a few times. Seem to remember the throttle pedal was in a strange position, too high up, caused no doubt by trying to fit it with the wheel arch on right hand drive? which meant your right leg got very tired/sore after any great length of time. I also disliked the steering which had very little self centring so you ended up making constant corrections on straight sections of road. When I worked for Firestone my standard hire car in Italy was the Fiat 124 and I remember them being a far nicer drive altogether. the throttle pedal didn't have any problem - but of course those were left hand drive - Steering could have been something wrong with my friend's Lada I suppose? or maybe the weight of the Russian engine?

PS. can still hear the "sporty" rasp of the 124 exhaust!

Yes Jock, steering and throttle were a problem amongst other things, the throttle linkages often broke the plastic joints and knuckles, got out of adjustment resulting in only half the butterfly opening, when fixed the customers thought we had suddenly tuned the engines as it brought in the second choke on the Russian carb.
On steering geometry we had brand new cars with only 600 miles with worn out tyres before the first service. The joke was any female drivers had arms like Russian shot putters due to the heavy steering. We soon put our Dunlop castor and camber gauge to good use to improve the situation and on my own I added shims to the lower wishbone to give a little negative camber.
I mentioned before that on a "factory" at the importers in Bridlington on Carnaby Airfield we complained to the instructor about handling, he then took us onto the main runway (unused) I recall 5 of us in a 1500 estate doing 80mph and he suddenly gave it full lock to reverse direction saying we are now on three wheels, to which we all cried bo**ocks, he then straightened the steering and we all felt it drop back on the runway, apparently he used to compete in local rally's!
Fuel economy was another issue, I was given a 1200 estate sales car by my boss to drive the around 400 miles to the course, driving nearly flat out all the way it achieved 18mpg! Others on the course were fiddling the fuel bills, I wouldn't have done that anyway, but how could I have told my boss it was doing anything worse than 18mpg when he was renowned for getting in the high 30s with a Wartburg three cylinder two stroke.

 

[StevenRB45]

Trouble is, silly as it sounds with all my technical knowledge, I've just lost faith in it and am quite reluctant to undertake a long journey in it ever again.

I understand this is an emotional thing rather than logical. But you know as well as I do the chances of it failing again in a similar way are pretty small, also buying a new vehicle is no guarantee of not buying a new set of issues.

A friend recently picked up a Golf mk8..it's been recovered/attended by breakdown providers more times in it's first few months on the road than all the cars I've ever owned combined.

That and even if it does fail...the bill will likely be less than 12 grand or so. By all means get shot but you're in a situation where you've got time you don't need to buy the first thing that turns your head or by a certain deadline.

There's a good chance the bloke who owns yours after you is gonna get 90k miles of very little bother.

If you're worried about size of bills it may generate you should be able to get a reasonable aftermarket warranty for it given its low miles and full history.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Yes Jock, steering and throttle were a problem amongst other things, the throttle linkages often broke the plastic joints and knuckles, got out of adjustment resulting in only half the butterfly opening, when fixed the customers thought we had suddenly tuned the engines as it brought in the second choke on the Russian carb.
On steering geometry we had brand new cars with only 600 miles with worn out tyres before the first service. The joke was any female drivers had arms like Russian shot putters due to the heavy steering. We soon put our Dunlop castor and camber gauge to good use to improve the situation and on my own I added shims to the lower wishbone to give a little negative camber.
I mentioned before that on a "factory" at the importers in Bridlington on Carnaby Airfield we complained to the instructor about handling, he then took us onto the main runway (unused) I recall 5 of us in a 1500 estate doing 80mph and he suddenly gave it full lock to reverse direction saying we are now on three wheels, to which we all cried bo**ocks, he then straightened the steering and we all felt it drop back on the runway, apparently he used to compete in local rally's!
Fuel economy was another issue, I was given a 1200 estate sales car by my boss to drive the around 400 miles to the course, driving nearly flat out all the way it achieved 18mpg! Others on the course were fiddling the fuel bills, I wouldn't have done that anyway, but how could I have told my boss it was doing anything worse than 18mpg when he was renowned for getting in the high 30s with a Wartburg three cylinder two stroke.

My mind is reeling at the thought of those Russian shot putters! come to think of it, my pal's Mrs was a pretty "hefty" lass!

I always loved the sound of those three cyl 2 strokes. When ever I hear one, which isn't often these days, I immediately think of the happy hours I spent in the wet and cold, deep in the Cardrona Forest in the 1960's watching Saabs hurtling past on their door handles at totally ridiculous speeds with the wee 2 strokes howling away - sends shivers up the spine.



Of course what later far outstripped them for spectacle was the Audi Quatro. For the uninitiated, take a deco at this:



Totally addictive and thrilling but insanely dangerous what with the lack of crowd control at the time

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I understand this is an emotional thing rather than logical. But you know as well as I do the chances of it failing again in a similar way are pretty small, also buying a new vehicle is no guarantee of not buying a new set of issues.

That and even if it does fail...the bill will likely be less than 12 grand or so. By all means get shot but you're in a situation where you've got time you don't need to buy the first thing that turns your head or by a certain deadline.

There's a good chance the bloke who owns yours after you is gonna get 90k miles of very little bother.

If you're worried about size of bills it may generate you should be able to get a reasonable aftermarket warranty for it given its low miles and full history.

You're right about it being an emotional issue at this time. I've always been emotionally involved with my cars, should have never started giving them names!

Logically I know I'll soon calm down and it's very likely I'll just carry on with the Ibiza for a number of years. I probably wouldn't even be thinking this way if I hadn't been given a lift in that Captur and been so impressed by it. I've been looking at reviews for them and there seems to be quite a number of reports of major failures of the centre console and display panel so that is helping to inject reality into my fantasizing!

I suppose an extended warranty might work, but, from experience and with my trade contacts, I suspect it would only come into it's own if a situation arose when I was a long way from home and that is becoming a less frequent possibility as we age further. Looking on the gloomy side, Mrs J's sister is 10 years older than us and in poor health so I suspect our Devon trips won't be a feature of our lives for much longer and my daughter, living near Salisbury, visits us far more frequently than we do them. I think that once we are no longer combining the visits we'll probably not make the journey south just for a long weekend with them? If that's where we end up, doing pretty much local running only, an electric car starts to make a lot of sense, so maybe running the Ibiza for a few more years and seeing how life turns out, is the way to go. Life often serves you a curved ball and knocks all your best laid plans into the ditch!

 

[mowermender70]

I never had much to do with Ladas but my friend owned a 1200 saloon which I drove a few times. Seem to remember the throttle pedal was in a strange position, too high up, caused no doubt by trying to fit it with the wheel arch on right hand drive? which meant your right leg got very tired/sore after any great length of time. I also disliked the steering which had very little self centring so you ended up making constant corrections on straight sections of road. When I worked for Firestone my standard hire car in Italy was the Fiat 124 and I remember them being a far nicer drive altogether. the throttle pedal didn't have any problem - but of course those were left hand drive - Steering could have been something wrong with my friend's Lada I suppose? or maybe the weight of the Russian engine?

PS. can still hear the "sporty" rasp of the 124 exhaust!

hi paj you have just jogged my memory back 35 years ago started our garden machinery business we had lada 1500 estate and a lada niva cossack our opposition had early range rover and turned up in his fur lined jacket to give quote for jobs we turned up in the ladas and 9 times out of 10 got the jobs . when we moved over here in1999 west wales had a lada huzzar which was sold and ended up at borth shifting boats out of the water mower mender70

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

hi paj you have just jogged my memory back 35 years ago started our garden machinery business we had lada 1500 estate and a lada niva cossack our opposition had early range rover and turned up in his fur lined jacket to give quote for jobs we turned up in the ladas and 9 times out of 10 got the jobs . when we moved over here in1999 west wales had a lada huzzar which was sold and ended up at borth shifting boats out of the water mower mender70

Oh Borth beach! Back in the 60's my best friend, the one who lived near Kidderminster, and some other friends spent a long weekend there. Spent all our money on booze and women so slept on the beach. Some dug pits under the cars where they slept to escape the weather - in fact it didn't rain so my sleeping inside my car was by far the better, if rather muggy, option. But, one of the lads cars settled into the sand during the night and we were woken in the morning by him begging us to dig him out! Oh happy carefree days!

 

[StevenRB45]

I suppose an extended warranty might work, but, from experience and with my trade contacts, I suspect it would only come into it's own if a situation arose when I was a long way from home and that is becoming a less frequent possibility as we age further.

Well logical head on you've got a few years before it reaches the age most warranty companies don't cover (10+).

It will come in exactly the situation you are buying a new car to avoid.

Without ours the C3 would have been gone a while ago. Last 18 months would probably have cost nearly 3k with all work done at a main agent.

At this point the understandable reaction would be "you mad man why is that turd still in your life?". But i've actually paid about a third of that for things like brakes and the timing belt.

At the end of the process I now have a car with all of the common faults sorted that runs better than new and should be good for another 4 years..if it's not I ain't paying the bill.

So I can enjoy it for what it is without worrying it's gonna bankrupt me at random.

 

[porta]

Lada Niva's were just coming in when I left and went self employed, so I only saw a few, as I recall the early ones had carbs, terrible tyres and massive vibration due to the transfer box being out of line with the axles.
I prefer Lada 1200s etc to Polski Fiat for quality from a low bar and did own a Lada estate 1200 at one time, I fitted 14inch Lancia steel wheels, but it didn't help much in the snow when I managed to drive onto new father in laws lawn!
Sills and other metal work was much thicker than the current Fiats, presumably to last more than ten minutes in a Russian Winter.

The transfer box issues were on the very early ones and was rectified on later mark 1 ones. A common issue on both early and late ones was weak metal on the selector forks, the simple fix was adding 1/2 to 3/4 of extra oil in the gearbox…you could lift the niva by 4” without any detrimental effect to prop and driveshaft angles (except on full lock without spacers on transfer box)
The carb was ‘just about’ upto the job and many swapped them out for webers. The SPI 1700 were hit n miss, you got a bad one and nothing you did cured it, get a good one and they were alright…I think, where lada was concerned, that the Friday cars were the better ones, Monday to Thursday ones were the weekend hangover built cars!

 

[vexorg]

Of course what later far outstripped them for spectacle was the Audi Quatro. For the uninitiated, take a deco at this:

I was a big fan of rallying in the 80's and 90's then it just got a bit dull as they made it safer, also the lack of homologation cars meant they had little relation to road cars too.

 

[portland_bill]

Teh time to get rid of a car, is just before it all goes wrong. Whereas most people react to a series of failures, and get rid, once all is mended. Estimating where you are on that scale the difficult bit.
The axle and wheel bearing have a fair bit of life in them yet, and are not difficult jobs, if a tad expensive on bits. The wheel bearing of course needs a press, but a hub delivered to a garage can sort that.

My thoughts are that you are over the current peak, and heading downhill. At least keep it until the gearbox warranty runs out. But, emotions are often more powerful than logic.

I spend a lot of time looking at things to buy. But by giving it a lot of careful thought, over an extended period, the enthusiasm wanes, and the next 'want' appears. I can spend a lot of time dreaming, without spending any money. Make sure you research every option very thoroughly, until Mrs J's desire to change disappears. If looking at used, always do so on a Sunday evening, when they're shut, then you don't get bothered by salesmen.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Teh time to get rid of a car, is just before it all goes wrong. Whereas most people react to a series of failures, and get rid, once all is mended. Estimating where you are on that scale the difficult bit.
The axle and wheel bearing have a fair bit of life in them yet, and are not difficult jobs, if a tad expensive on bits. The wheel bearing of course needs a press, but a hub delivered to a garage can sort that.

My thoughts are that you are over the current peak, and heading downhill. At least keep it until the gearbox warranty runs out. But, emotions are often more powerful than logic.

I spend a lot of time looking at things to buy. But by giving it a lot of careful thought, over an extended period, the enthusiasm wanes, and the next 'want' appears. I can spend a lot of time dreaming, without spending any money. Make sure you research every option very thoroughly, until Mrs J's desire to change disappears. If looking at used, always do so on a Sunday evening, when they're shut, then you don't get bothered by salesmen.

Oh I really like the idea of keeping it until the gearbox warranty runs out PB. That's definitely a good plan and let the dust settle for a while. If our friend at AVW is to be taken at face value, and I can see no reason why not, then the worst that might happen is front wheel bearing failure and if I take him the hubs for him to use his press on, that surely won't be a very big bill.

I'm still very interested in the Captur and I've recently become aware of a wee company near me, maybe 15 to 20 minutes drive away, who are Renault specialists: https://www.rentecautocare.co.uk/ It would seem they are heavily involved in racing, which I would think would mean that they pay a lot of attention to detail and quality. I'm going to stick my head round the door and see what I can find out and sound them out for an opinion on the Captur and what to watch out for on them.

 

[porta]

 

[bugsymike]

Bit of an eye opener