Faults:
Passenger side windscreen wiper broken when bought, garage charged £100 to replace motor and linkage.
Noisy gearbox (again, when bought). Have been told it's a bearing. No worse after 6000 miles!
Needed new battery, as the old one finally let me down in the thick snow. Was given an almost new one from a 1.8 VW Passat, so no costs there.
That's it, no other problems.
General Comments:
I love it :) As a first car, what more could you want? £380 for a incredibly reliable car with only 43000 miles on the clock.
Group 6 insurance for a 1.8 litre petrol engine!
More torquey than the 1.6 Ford Focus I learned to drive in, which is impressive for a 16 year old car.
Some people say the Bluebird looks like, and is, an older gentleman's car. I beg to differ... With some 15" alloys and a spoiler made for the executive models, it looks brilliant.
Although the interior was a little too brown for my liking, but that's sorted with some seat covers and spray paint. (Sounds shoddy, but trust me - it looks good).
The handling seems good, although I don't have much to compare it to. I've given it some tyre screeching driving and it's never once let go.
Has never let me down - absolutely solid and reliable piece of kit. Kudos to Japanese engineering (even though it was built in the UK).
I think petrol consumption is average, it gets worse if you cruise at much above 70 on the motorway. It loves super unleaded, runs so much better on it. But the petrol costs are offset by the fact I don't have to pay for anything else.
Noisy gearbox does kinda detract from the altogether solidness of the car, which is a shame.
7th Sep 2006, 09:02
Just to say, my Dad's got a 2 litre Bluebird with all the trimmings on it..It's a 1986 model and a bit ragged round the edges now, but it has never failed to start or get him where he's going... unlike some of the Fords etc that I've had! Body is galvanised on it so very little rust. Very comfortable car to drive, handles OK for a heavy car and the brakes are half decent too.I'd rather have one of these older cars than a new un anyday, but I will say that the fuel economy isn't very good even with a manual box... he struggles to get 25mpg out of his! Good luck with yours mate and good on you for not going down the Saxo/Corsa route for your first car.. Cheers.