24th Feb 2003, 10:06

2.0 GSXi, 1989 model.

Just failed MOT on play in the steering rack.

Apparently it is a complete unit and costs £220'ish new, if you can get one.

Putting the money into it as it is an excellent car.

12th Apr 2003, 13:57

I bought a Bluebird 2.0 SGX Automatic which had done 6000 miles. That was in 1988 and I wouldn't part with it. It has now done 150000 miles and has cost me two shock absorbers and a starter motor. It has never failed me or an MOT. There is not a spot of rust on it even underneath. I recently had it checked over by a pro and was told he couldn't find anything wrong with it. It still has factory compressions in the cylinders and will still cruise at around 120mph with no problem. I can leave most cars standing.

28th Jul 2003, 12:49

I got my 89 2.0DLX from a local scrap yard 220,000 miles on the clock - one old colonel as a former owner who'd obviously used it to tow a horse box. Rear shocks BADLY worn and the top of the shock absorber completely rusted away, but other than that no major faults yet (!) My father reckons these diesel are popular around Weston-super-mere (Somerset) as Taxis and the engines are good for around 350K miles. I was warned at last MOT that the Power steering rack was a bit worn, but currently acceptable - so I too will be keeping my eyes open for a replacement. Only quibble about engine is not as much grunt in 4/5th between 1500-2500 RPM as I would like in a diesel.

I have (as a donor for spares) a petrol 1.6 LX that I used to drive - most of the interior trim is the same across the whole range which is useful if you're scrap yarding for spares!

One other niggle is that the Haynes manual does NOT cover the diesel variant - although the wiring diagrams are broken down into sections common to several models with differences between them indicated - the diesel only bits are absent and guess where I've got a minor problem, yep my glow plug warning light (though not the plugs themselves) is lighting up at random times...