Faults:
Burnt out auto box (auto oil leak) - expensive rebuild (£1000+)
Bulbs fail quite a bit.
Cruise packed up 3 years ago (but not used anyway)
Alternator replaced.
Rear suspension rubber bushes replaced.
3 exhaust replacements since new.
All disks and pads replaced twice since new.
4 sets of spark plugs since new.
Sun roof needs manual help to close.
Rust showing on the extreme edges of the doors and inside the sunroof drainage margin, but not major yet.
The boot leaks a little.
General Comments:
So I've had this car for 10 years now as a daily driver and it's only now failed its MOT with a problem (only one fail before with worn rear suspension bushes). I'm amazed how reliable its been (probably due to it being built in Germany) - only stopped on me 4 times in 10 years
1) Failed fuel relay (£10).
2) Dead battery (£50).
3) Burnt out auto box (£1100).
4) Alternator failure (£65).
It's on 140,000 miles now and I'm still impressed at how well it drives - so are others who have had a ride. Still get it up to 120mph from time to time. The suspension is great - there is a hump back bridge I sometimes take at 60 and you can never bottom it out! Loads of space and easy to maintain. But I have the feeling the end is nigh - not sure the £600 required to weld plates to the sub-frame runners is worth it (2 rust holes have appeared).
Would I get another? Yes - except you can't find them easily any more with reasonable mileage.
1st Feb 2005, 13:04
£600 for the welding you mention? Seems a bit steep. My local garages (and good ones, not usually cheap) quote £350 maximum.