Faults:
Oil filter housing failed days after buying.
Poor (Early) Tornado Red paint that fades despite what you do with it.
Seized rear calipers at 150,000.
Front indicator fell out twice!
Suspension bushes and drive-shafts replaced at 180,00.
Clutch failed at 190,00.
Dampers failed at 200,000.
Water pump replaced at 202,000.
Fan relay failed causing head gasket failure at 205,00.
Drivers door lock failed at 210,00.
Persistent problems with brakes, poor feel with heavy pad and disc wear. Cured by changing to later brake disc size.
Brake master cylinder failed at 220,000, rear brake bias valve showed water ingress and replaced at same time.
Timing solenoid in injection pump failed at 304,00 causing advance in timing then head gasket failure and all four pistons to crack.
General Comments:
That's an extensive list of faults, but it's the best car we've EVER owned.
We live in Ireland and in the country at that where roads are poor and violent on your car, plus we're farmers too!
The car is worked ridiculously hard all the time.
Without fail it would return a minimum of 42mpg, normally 46mpg and up to 48mpg. Wheter towing a half a ton behind you or driving at 100mph or a combination of the two the fuel economy was always astounding.
It's performance is decent, not astoundingly fast, but relentless up to its 125mph top speed.
As we approached 300,000 noticeable oil burning of a litre every 1000.
It's a car that handles partcularly well over poor surfaces.
I used this car to commute a 100 miles a day to my second job, along poor roads at high speed, averaging 75mph.
The chassis was not as rigid as a MK2 Jetta and did not handle jumping humpback bridges to the same degree.
Galvanised chassis meaning a complete absence of rust.
High class looks that age very slowly.
Fabulous interior build quality and feel.
We found this car so good we're having the engine rebuilt to do 500,000 this time!
24th Apr 2006, 06:24
With regard to the accident you had, I don't think your Audi would fair too well. The Ford has a four star Euro NCAP award while I don't think your 80 would gain more than 1, yet it comes with the Pro-Con Ten safety system.