Conference terri::cars_uk

I recall something about the AA failing to detect an RS Turbo had had 2 major 
accidents in What car (or something similar).

I've not had the need of such a service but am not sure I'd be happy enough 
with them.

(If you want a copy of the article, contact me off-line)

Craig.

    I've had '91 GSi 4x4 for 3.5 years now.  The car is very quick,
    handles extremely well and is very well equipped.  Its standard 0-60 time 
    is 8.3 seconds (7.8 secs for the 2 wheel drive version) and last year in
    Germany I had an indicated 138 mph out of it before I had to ease off. 
    I'm sure that it would have gone of the clock if someone hadn't pulled
    out on me.....
    
    Whilst I enjoy owning and driving the car, I have had cause the curse
    it.  
    
    The 4 wheel drive system is far to complicated for what it does. 
    Ford's solution of a viscous coupling between front and back
    wheels to avoid axle wind up (the effect of the front wheels rotating at
    a different speed to the rear ones causing the transmission to `wind
    up') is fairly straight forward, cheap and is easily maintained.
    
    Vauxhall/Opel's solution is to have a transfer box which disconnects
    the drive to the rear wheels when braking at speeds of over 15 mph. 
    This is achieved by an electro/hydraulic system in the box. Obviously
    this makes the transfer box complex and therefore expensive to replace. 
    
    Last year, shortly after a Vauxhall recall to replace a pressure valve
    in the 4x4/power steering hydraulic system, an oil seal blew in the
    transfer box taking out the power steering and 4 wheel drive.  The box
    is not a service item - that is you have to buy a new one and give the
    old one back as an exchange.  I got �80.00 change out of 2 grand
    after fitting.  This on a vehicle which at the time was only worth
    �5000 - �6000 was devastating.  The oil seal probably cost 20 pence. 
    when braking.  Of course Vauxhall denied that there was any link
    between the recall work and the box failure.        
    
    Second draw back is that if you wreck one tyre, you have to replace all
    four if the tyres are worn more than a certain percentage (different
    circumference causes axle wind up).  This can make a bad puncture
    rather expensive.
    
    Saying all this, the car handles in every department much, much better
    than its 2 wheel drive counterpart and if you want a car which to me is
    a cross between a sports car and a saloon then get one.
    
    Great fun.......
    
    Paul  
    
        

    Hmmm...
    
    Sounds good.  Actually the transfer box was the only worry I had about
    the car.  Apparently the earlier ones (90G) are a bit flimsy.
    
    I like the look of the GSi 's but I can't find one that seems to be in
    good nick with reasonable mileage at a reasonable price.
    
    I am also looking at the 405 Mi16 and Mi16x4, but I haven't even driven
    one of these yet, so it is a bit hard to tell which to go for.
    
    Thanks for the feedback, this is the first opinion I've heard on them
    (apart from the bloke who tried to sell me a dodgy one!).
    
    
    Jamie. 

    Sorry if this is a bit late :-
    
    A couple of months ago I decided I wanted a quick saloon/hatchback of
    the cavalier size. Granted I wasn't desperate for 4 wheel drive since I
    thought it was too expensive to maintain on a second hand car.
    
    I decided on one of three cars :--
    
    Peugeot 405 MI16
    Nissan Primera eGT
    Cavalier GSI2000
    
    I test drove a couple of each - I thought that the Peugeot was slow ( K
    plate ) - I also drove a H plated version which was much faster but had
    the early dash. I thought that it drove very well - but really the
    build quality was so bad I couldn't of lived with it i.e. wondering
    what was going to fall off next ! The K plate was better but really had
    no go whatsoever.
    
    I drove a J plate GSI2000 and thought it was quick but too much power
    for the chassis - it just couldn't cope with it - first gear was spent
    trying to keep it going in a straight line and the steering was vague
    to say the least.
    
    I finally drove a Primera eGT, best steering of the three - not the
    best ride quality - but probably the best handling of the three
    although theres little between it and the Peugeot - the Cavalier was
    'DULL' in comparison. All three offered similar performance i.e. all
    have 150bhp+ the Primera also had longer service intervals and NO
    cambelt to snap ( its got a timing chain which is good for 150,000
    according to nissan ) 
    
    I would choose the Peugeot or the Primera ( I bought the Primera eGT )
    - the primera has all of the fun of the Peugeot with build quality
    thats in a different league. One problem with the Primera is the poor
    fuel economy around town - although once on a motorway its incredibly
    good 36.1mpg from Liverpool to Paris during the night at a steady
    90mph+
    
    Major plus points for the Primera are also the fact that although
    theres less of them than the other two - they seem to of been taken
    care of by their owners.
    
    Rick Barrett
    92 Primera eGT 
    cost me �6,000 with FSH, Mint all round, 24,000 miles which is genuine.

    Richard,
    
    Haven't you had your Primera "chipped"? Thus the 150+ bhp?
    
    
    Alan.

    Alan,
    
    The Primera eGT is 150bhp as standard - mine has had the cat removed (
    which since its a 92' variant im allowed to do ) and the ECU has been
    informed of this - but its not been chipped or modified in any other
    way. 
    
    The Nissan dealers have a computer called a consult which gives power
    readings which are based on airflow and fuel rate of the engine
    and seem to think its producing 165bhp at the flywheel.
    
    How accurate this method of power readings is I dont know - but the car
    definately feels quicker - especially over 7000rpm 
    
    Rick.
    

    It must be pretty quick with 165bhp!
    
    Is it the saloon or the hatch?
    
    Going back to the comparison earlier, I always thought that the GSi had
    only 130bhp.  Mi16's, I know, had 160bhp up until K plate, when they
    dropped to 155bhp.
    
                               
    Jamie

    It is fairly quick - one of the guys in Warrington who drives a
    2.0litre Astra managed to scare himself in it. Mind you it was worse
    for me - I was in the passengers seat. 
    
    Its the hatch - I wanted a saloon but their not exactly common so in
    the end I found a low mileage Hatch which was too good to miss.
    
    The Cavalier SRI has 130bhp, the GSI has 156bhp, the Mi16 does have
    160bhp but you really need to rev it till it drops to get it to move -
    the engines in the Primera and Cavalier are better even though they
    have slightly less power.
    
    Personally I think its the best car I've ever owned and I've gone
    through a lot ( MG Metro, Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9, Renault 5 GT Turbo, Fiat
    Punto (1.2 & GT Turbo), Fiat Bravo 1.8HLX) and I've still got a G reg
    Toyota MR2 - I've actually had a few more cars but the list was getting
    too long.
    
    If you had �6k I would go for a Nissan - its going to cost you less to
    maintain in the long run, directline wanted less for insurance on the 
    Primera than on either of the others and it still brings a huge smile
    to my face.
    
    
    

    I think maybe I should have a look at them!
    
    I must admit that I hadn't even considered a Nissan - no particular
    reason, it just didn't occur to me that they made fast cars!  I have
    been looking for a car for about 4months now, I just don't seem to be
    able to find the car I want at a price I am prepared to pay for it (+
    insurance is a factor).
    
    Thanks for the pointers!
    
    
    Jamie

    jamie,
    
    One last point - depending on age of the car your looking at - before J
    reg - the Primera eGT was called a Primera eZX - same car though - just
    a different name. These are the only two models with the 150bhp engine
    - all the other 2.0 have 123bhp. You can tell straight away anyhow -
    the 150bhp models have a red cam cover on the engine.
    
    Rick
    

    
 >>   the 150bhp models have a red cam cover on the engine.
    
    this sounds like a 70's 'tuning' trick %^) a bit like the 'it must be
    a real RS2000, it's got fish-net headrests....'
    
    
    G.
    

    Rick,
    
    Thanks for the tip.
    
    
    
    Jamie
    

    Richard,
    
    Your car does sound good. We must meet up one dinner or weekend and
    have a drive of each others cars. 
    
    It would be nice to feel 150 bhp, and compare it to my 130bhp Astra,
    ( I think thats the right figure).
    
    Alan.

    Back to the original topic,
    
    have you tried our fleet suppliers, Hertz & PHH ? They sell ex-company
    cars. These are probably a better bet than most places.
    
    
    Tony.

    Have you considered the Cavalier Turbo ?
    
    I drove one for 18 months (35k miles) and was very happy with it.
    200 bhp
    4x4
    leather
    air con
    
    It's certainly not the best handling car on the road but there isn;t
    much that can keep up in the wet !
    
    Graham.
    

    Hello,
    
    Yes I had considered the Cav Turbo, but the insurance is a bit of a
    problem.
    
    However, I am now the owner of a 90(G) GSi2000.  I am very happy with
    it, apart from the fact that it seems to be running a bit lumpy -
    especially when cold.  Does anyone know if this is normal for the GSi?
    
    Thanks for all the replies so far.
    
    
    
    Jamie
         

    Is it 4wd?
    
    I seem to remember that there was a problem on the '90 models
    synchronising the ABS and 4WD.  Vauxhall's answer was a recommendation
    to take out the fuse for the ABS system.
    
    I'm not sure what the long term resolution was (if one was ever found).
    
    Chris

    Hi Chris,
    
    No it is not a 4WD.  It is actually the engine that is lumpy.  One
    other point is that in the engine there is a funny plug that sets the
    engine for different octane rated fuels.  In the manual it says that
    the plug has the octane rating written on it - but mine has "A" and
    "B".  At the moment it is set to "A" and running on Super Plus
    Unleaded.  I have tried it on "B" with the same fuel.  It doesn't seem
    to make a lot of difference, but there is a smell of petrol????
    
    I think maybe I need to get it on a diagnostic machine.
    
    
    Jamie

>but there is a smell of petrol????

    Gulp!!  As  Peugeot  claim  in their 306 recall letter, you may have 
    "significant risk of fire!!". On the GSi injection system  (as  with 
    most others), the fuel is presurised in the spraybar manifold by the 
    pump in the tank; a pressure relief valve at the end of the manifold 
    allows  excess  fuel  volume  back  to  the  tank  (except  when the 
    so-called `cranking' signal is on). I can't  remember  the  pressure 
    inside  the  manifold,  but it is NOT insignificant.....can you find 
    any evidence of frayed fuel hoses or fuel deposits??

    re .18
    
    I didn't mean to suggest that he lumpiness was in any way related to
    the ABS vs 4x4.
    
    If the smell of petrol is in the engine bay, then I would also support
    Chris's last reply warning of fire hazard.  If its from the tail pipe,
    then its probably due to misfiring problems.  I presume that it doesn't
    have a cat, but if it does, then fix it quick, or it'll 'poison' the
    cat.
    
    The octane setting key is merely a dongle which tells the EMU to change
    the ignition mapping for the petrol in use.  It should not affect the
    engine to the extent that you notice any lumpiness.
    
    Good luck
    Chris

    I don't *think* there is a problem with the hoses.  The petrol smell
    is only present when I reverse the Octane switch in the engine.
    
    I'll give a bit more background...
    
    I had the car inspected by an engineer, who said that it was okay
    except for a small engine noise above 3500rpm (definately not the
    big-end.).  This was acconted for by the fact that the bloke I bought
    it off had a larger bore manifold fitted to it, which resonates more
    than normal when 'the cams come on'.
    
    The car was fine when I picked it up, but the engine was warm so it is
    difficult to say how well it was running because the problem comes when
    the engine is cold.  I drove it home in the torrential rain, which
    continued for the rest of the weekend.  The car seemed fine then, even
    when it was cold.  However on the Monday or Tuesday, I noticed that it
    was 'hunting' at tickover.  Also for the first 15mins of driving it
    tends to 'kangaroo' a bit - it missess quite badly sometimes when you
    move off, and apply the throttle in 2nd.
    
    I am a bit baffled.  If it had only lasted a few days I would have
    thought it was damp in the engine somewhere (I did go through some
    flooded roads), but...
    
    
    
    Jamie  

>    I noticed that it
>    was 'hunting' at tickover.  Also for the first 15mins of driving it
>    tends to 'kangaroo' a bit - it missess quite badly sometimes when you
>    move off, and apply the throttle in 2nd.

    I had a remarkably similar problem on my SRi 16v after some work was 
    done  by a `reputable' Service agent; it turned out that they bodged 
    the Air Mass-flow sensor  connector...once  Ralph's  Garage  took  a 
    look, it was soon fixed!!

    Well,  I got home last night and located the Mass Air Flow Meter. Took
    the connector off, decided I didn't know anything about modern engines,
    put the connector back on again and...Hey Presto.  Problem fixed
    (touch wood!).
    
    
    Cheers for the tip.
    
    Jamie.

>Problem fixed

    Remote Support works again!!