what shall i do?

[woody]

well i have been offered a white 1.4sx r reg bravo for 150quid, but i have heard bad things about the 1.4, so shall i buy it, go for a 1.2 or maybe a 1.6, the only other thing is would i be able to afford the insurance on a 1.6 only be 18.

is the 1.2 16v as fast as the 1.4 12v because i do alot of motorway driving and just hate a slow car when trying to get upto speed

 

[lee]

1.2 or 1.6. Put ur folks on the insurance as named drivers as it should make it cheaper.

 

[James]

personally id go with the 1.6 goes they have a goodish top speed and mine is quick enough for me for the time! but insurance its simple all you have to do is be clever!! im 18 with no no-claims or owt so ive got my pass plus, cat 1 alarm, steeringwheel lock and 24hr cctv rigged up in my bedroom to keep my insurance company sweet and i pay 1300 fully comp a year!!

 

[Buzz]

the naysayers strike again.

for £150 you cant really go wrong with the 1.4
if it dies after 6 months (it shouldn't if you service it),then you only paid 150 for a car for 6 months. new cars depreciate by that much in a month!

also, you'll find the 1.4 perfectly adequate on a motorway. if you can get the smaller NEWER (post 1999) 1.2 for £150 then get that. i suspect you'll need well over a grand for that though. the older 1.2 is slower.

Buzz (formerly LightWarrior)
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
Owner of the Bravo 1.8
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/members/59ianalexandria.htm

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think they made an 'older' 1.2 did they?

Wasnt the 1.2 a replacement of the 1.4?

Daz

 

[Ozric-Al]

I have to wholeheartedly agree with Buzz here. Granted the 1.4 isn't the best engine, in fact it's the worst, and it's not the most economical but for £150, if it's got a full MOT you really can't go wrong. Something breaks that's going to cost you then just scrap it. Just taking things like the lights, parcel shelf and interior out will make you your money back on it.

And if you don't buy it maybe I will.

"What's the word on the street Huggy Bear? "

http://www.billhicks.com/ New Ozrics Site now up: - http://www.ozrics.com/

Abarth Valve Caps ; Clear Repeaters; ****** cat-back;
Bonnet Lifters; Personalised High Level Brake Light; Starsky Cardigan

 

[steve]

You have to ask?

As someone said above, get a years motoring out of it.

If it has small cheap faults, fix em, run it for a year, flog it get an ya money back.

If it has large expensive faults, strip it, sell a few bits and get your money back.

Virtually no way to lose (virtually).

You can't get a bus pass for £150 a year can ya?

 

[woody]

thing is i have big plans for a bravo and i wouldnt want to get the 1.4, do all the mods to it for me to have to take everything off in a years time

 

[Zenith]

Why does everyone keep thinking the 1.4 is gonna break down?

Mine is a 1996 and I've had it for 3 years. It has never broken down and I have only ever had to replace wear items like brakes, tyres and 1 clutch.

I read every day on the forums, people with the supposedly better engines having loads of problems.

Didn't Daz have loads of problems with his top of the bravo range 155 HGT? I have seen lots of JTD owners having to replace sensors etc.

In my limited experience the 1.4 is the most reliable

Sure its slower than equivalent 1.4's but thats because its an over 10 year old design. MPG is just irrelevant to me personally.

For £150 I would want to know what is wrong with it though. Not many people sell cars that cheap...

 

[woody]

nothing wrong with it at all, just the owner has died, still got 6 months tax and mot on it, but now you have just said its slower than other 1.4's i am tempted to look for a 1.6, i would really want a 1.6 16v.

 

[steve]

if the basic car is sound, why not run it for a while, then think about a 1.6 motor transplant at a later date?

you could even buy it and sell it straight on. should be worth more than £5-600

 

[woody]

last night i was actually thinking bout getting it, doing all the styling mods i wanted to do, then next year put a 2 litre into it

 

[Kev]

for £150 dabs u cant go wrong even if it is a 1.4

http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/members/67kevmerseyside.htm

 

[rsmallwo]

1.2

get the 1.2 and get it angel tuned

its a much better engine, still low insurance, really good fuel economy and is 16v so has "the torque" when revved.

if you are gunna be spending money on this car then don't buy a banger for 150 quid

you want a run about get the 1.4, but don't spend money on a banger, false economy

 

[Anonymous]

Re: 1.2

for £150 with 6 months tax and mot buy it, then sell it and make profit to put towards a deposit on the 1.2 or 1.6.

i dont think the 1.4 is as bad as it seems if looked after, but i have the 1.2 and love it to bits, for a relatively gutless engine it is pretty damn good.

i have 2 yrs ncb am 20 and have mine insured for work purposes with alloys exhaust induction kit lowered and stereo(just to make sure) included fully comp for 800, which is pretty good if you ask me as i live in a dodgy area and the work thing jumps it up a fair bit

Andy_sx

 

[woody]

Re: 1.2

i think i might just go the salvage auction and see if i can pick a 1.6 up for a cheap amount

 

[Tom]

Re: 1.2

At £150 its a steal, even if it only last you 6 months.

You never know, it might last years.

 

[woody]

Re: 1.2

the thing is i want to get a car now and mod it now, i don't want to do that to have the car die in 6 months

 

[Tom]

Re: 1.2

Rack up some NCB then you can insure and mod something with a bit more poke without paying through the nose for insurance.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: 1.2

just buy it and sell it straight on for a profit, at 150 you cant miss the oppertunity, doubt itll happen again and would give you more spending money for the auction

Andy_sx