Top buy for a bargain price
Battery, alternator and a couple of minor electrical gremlins.
This has got to be best car I've owned. Got it for a bargain price.
Handles well, comfortable, feels very sturdy on the road, and fun to drive.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 12th August, 2015
Cost free motoring in comfort
Absolutely nothing has gone wrong so far other than the usual 4 series moisture build up.
I cannot express the value of this vehicle, it was brought as a part ex for £350 with full MOT, electric everything, and air con that all worked. 1200000 miles, yet it still drives so tightly and like new.
The engine and gearbox feel slick, it is not a racer's car, but if you want cheap comfort (the seats are armchairs!) good fuel economy, reliability, all the gizmos (electric windows/mirrors, heated seats, air con and a heater that will melt you), then this is an excellent buy.
The interior is quite drab, but ever so comfortable and functional. Mine is still in excellent condition nearly 15 years after manufacture with no marks. The bodywork is in good condition, there is slight rust starting on both back arches and some of the black roof/window screen trim has started to peel away, but overall this car is worth at least twice what I paid for it.
With the economy, comfort, insurance and running costs, this car is cost free motoring at the purchase price of £335. If you want a cheap, comfortable, relaxing, reliable car, I would seriously consider buying one of these, spend up to £700 to get a good one, and if looked after, it will give you many more years of trouble free motoring.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th January, 2010
A tough car that is relaxing to drive
The car was bought with a known damaged CV joint rubber, had that fixed after I bougt the car.
Oil flow sensor failed, fixed in 5 minutes by a ford/volvo dealer. (Free of charge)
I drove over a railway sleeper with 50km/h!!! causing MOT to fail that year because of a slight grinding noise in one of the rear bearings.
It is a great car for the price. Bought it in 2001 and since then it only cost me about 100 Euro per year of maintenance and fixes.
Long distance driving is a bliss. The seats are comfortable.
The Steering is light, but certainly with enough detail.
Dashboard cracks and rattles at random moments. (Best fix is a mild bash) Interior sound insulation could be better, but is good as is.
The engine... Technologically: boring, at best. But it did always start, always run even in the worst conditions -23C/37C). It has plenty of pulling power and can practically be driven as a diesel.
The bumpers are tough. (They flex instead of crack)
- No leaks.
- Oil usage is zero. (Always put full synthetic in it, the magnetic type)
- MOT CO2 values are always spot on.
-Replaced the clutch and thermostat at 195000km, to make at least another lap around the earth :-)
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th April, 2007
Superb value, comfort with excellent performance!!
When I got the car home from the dealer's garage, the first things I needed to do were:
Change the oil and filter - much needed!
Fit a new cam belt - 9000miles overdue!!
Oil and free the wastegate actuator rod, as it was over-boosting.
Fill up the PAS, Brake and coolant reservoirs - way below 'min' mark.
Nothing has actually gone wrong with the car though (touch wood) just silly things that the cheap dealer couldn't be bothered to do himself!!
Unfortunately, I found out that buying from a dealer can be as much of a gamble as buying from ebay or anywhere else! It had been well-maintained, but then allowed to sit around to rot. However, I picked it up in Feb 2005 with only 69000miles on it (N-reg), got it home and gave it a much-deserved service.
The cam belt was the first thing to do, along with the oil and filter. Once they were done, I was happy, and it drove really really well. A bit too well, and then I found out that the turbo was in fact over-boosting. But with some advice and a little oil, that problem was fixed, and now it's running superbly.
Really quick, surprisingly quick, not just compared to my previous 340 1.7, but I managed to race and beat a 2002 Golf GTi, but that was when the turbo was over-boosting, but I can't believe it's much slower now.
Perfect on the motorway, which is why I upgraded to it, as I do lots of miles and need a comfortable car to drive all day long, at decent speeds!! This does it all perfectly.
My 340 seats were probably the most comfortable seats, but these are good enough, and it's really quiet and refined.
Fuel-wise...I worked out as 29.7mpg, but that was driving up and down hills in Bristol, and not exactly driving slowly either. So I would expect much more when I try it going slowly on the motorway - (60mph!) Although it's quite hard to keep it below ridiculous speeds, as it seems to want to go and go, which it does if you give in!!
Just waiting for my MBC to come through, then it'll be even better!But like I say, even as standard, it really is surprisingly quick, and is so subtle about it too!!
I cannot fault the handling either. So in general, this car is a perfect cruiser, and is up-to-date with technology, yet seems to be going really cheaply, so get one quick while they are still around!! Just watch out for dodgy turbos!
(Oh yes, I'm only 19, and insurance is relatively cheap too (Old man's Volvo!!) )
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 5th March, 2005
I have an L -plated 460i SE (1.8) with 158,000 on the clock. Returns at least 40mpg on motorway runs.
Electric seats packed up and I have had an oil leak for about 3 yrs (no idea where it is coming from, but needs a litre a week which is only costing me 93 pence at Tesco!)
Other than that it is a quick, safe reliable beast and I will get another one when this one packs up.
Well, the engine's now tuned to 175bhp (193ftlb) and has a 2.5" Stainless Steel exhaust system on it now, and I am getting 44mpg on the motorway! I have spent an awful lot on the car since I bought it now, although I bought it cheap, and knew that it would need a few things doing to it.
If you drive gently and look after the car, it'll be fine. However, if you drive it harshly, things will wear out, quickly, and in general will cost a lot to replace. The one thing that is virtually bullet-proof is the engine itself. Never gone wrong, and the next upgrade (~250bhp) is on it's way!!
Bottom line, if you do drive relatively harshly, expect expensive MOTs when wishbones and the like will need renewing!!
21st Apr 2005, 07:47
Just to say, car is running perfectly now - estimated at about 140-150bhp, and fuel-wise, on a long trip sticking strictly to 56-70mph it returned a promising 40mpg!!
So all is well, and I highly recommend one!