How realistic is it to expect to get ... - Page 2

new2ford · 07-03-2013, 08:59 PM

Somebody is driving a beautifully maintained Austin 1800 mk 1 around Nowra as a daily driver - it would be 50 years old next year (and still nicer inside than most modern cars on the market)!

I know some of my fellow Territory owners (like Mechan1k - we've both owned since 2004) have been lucky with their car. Our first one wasn't so good in the long run, the usual Ford lackadaisical stuff. The second one has a few little "signs" so fingers are crossed. Yes the engine will probably last a very long time but that's not all there is to a car.

Very likely our next car will be a Skoda - at least the body and mechanics, as well as the engine, are still solid after 200,000 (in 6 years for that car), as I found last year. The Octavia is just a rock of a car.

XR Martin · 07-03-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford_The_Win

I used to have an EL as my daily driver. I was the most gentle owner a car could have but I had lots of electrical issues, issues with the transmission, brakes, fuel system and suspension. Final straw was when the boot strut bracket broke off the body of the car and I needed a piece of wood to hold the boot up. It's a clunky old piece of junk, collects dust in the shed and hasn't been driven in months. It has 140,000 on the clock.

It didn't cost an awful lot to keep on the road, not compared to other cars, but the constant stream of maintenance drove me crazy and really soured the car for me. It was very rare to have a period where everything worked properly. I hope you like fixing cars Peter.

225k on my EL and nothing like the issues youve had.

Iggypoppin' · 08-03-2013, 04:14 AM

I want to put this the nicest way possible rodge but...we will all probably die before the AU does!

Marquis · 08-03-2013, 09:43 AM

Almost 346000 on my el and had no dramas at all in the 3 or so years I have had it. Treat the Au nice and it will be nice back

MattSAU2XR8 · 08-03-2013, 02:29 PM

I've got an AU XR8 with gas injection which I'm also entertaining the idea of keeping till it's 20 years old, in spite of it having caused me a few headaches so far (camshaft synchroniser, clutch, diff, front rotors, numerous suspension bushes). I'd agree with most people above that the main issue would be routine maintenance, assuming that the basic body shell and interior are sound. I'd probably include a few more different fluids etc as follows:

1. Engine oil and filter every 7500 km. Good mineral oil and Ryco filter are probably good enough if you're not giving it a hiding. Easy to do yourself.

2. Transmission oil and filter (auto) every 50,000 km. Transmission cooler would be a good addition if you're a lead foot or tow with this car, otherwise maybe fresh fluid is enough. If it's auto you'll probably need to pay someone to change the fluid and filter.

3. Diff oil every 50,000 km. Easy to do yourself.

4. Coolant flush and properly concentrated glycol coolant replacement (i.e. 50 % coolant and 50 % water) every 3 to 4 years. And get some chemical 'test strips' to make sure it has enough base in it. Often changing the coolant in an old car may show up a pin hole leak somewhere - a packet of Silver Seal will often fix it. Easy to do yourself - although note that a few drain/fill cycles with fresh water may be needed since you can't get all the water out in the first place.

5. Power steering fluid flush every 50,000 kms. Easy to do if a mate helps you. Just put return line in a large bucket, start car, pour more fluid into reservoir while very slowly turning steering from full left to full right with the front wheels parked on wet soil or something else slippery. Probably pump out the old fluid and two litres of new fluid, and then connect it back up and refill.

6. Flush the brake fluid each time you change the pads. Calipers less likely to corrode and or bind up with new fluid. Easy to do with a mate to help you.

7. Try and park it under cover when possible - 20 years of sun will probably trash the paint/plastics/interior quite a bit.

This is roughly what I'm doing with mine. Main point being that quite often power steering, cooling system, rear axle, less so brake system, may wear out before the engine or the transmission. Some of them cane be very annoying to have to repair to - eg. pulling the dash out to replace a $100 heater core that rusted out from bad coolant.

greenfoam · 08-03-2013, 02:44 PM

Big sixes last for ages, there care a ton of LPG au taxis with a million is on them and I've personally seen a heap of VNs make it past 500,000 on petrol. The killer of AUs is rust and falling to bits trim and window winders etc Lol mechanically they are really good. 200,000 is barely run in even on a high revving four cylinder with modern metals and oils. Its not like the old days when engines were blowing smoke by then.

There was a bloke on the news thats done a million kms in a diesel Gemini and the only part its ever needed was a fuel pump I believe

.

I've already done near 200,000 in the WS fiesta and it still runs and drives exactly as it did the day it came out of the showroom. And I'm still on original coolant and brake fluid Lol! neither have needed topping up ever. I did change the rotors and pads at 150,000 but they had more left in therm.

peterljohnson55 · 08-03-2013, 05:43 PM

Hey giys, I am really appreciating your thoughts and experience and advice here. Its helping me rethink my approach to keeping the old lady happy and functional till 20, or more. I have already busted my bank on the transmission, mid last year, so its in fine form and will be nursed very tenderly for the duration. I have since adopted a proactive approach to repairs and maintenance. It may cost a little more in the long run, but the longer I can put off having to buy another 2nd hand car the better. Am 57 now and God knows if this will be the last car I will own, even if its 30+ years old by the time my crank shaft siezes and my head gasket blows (i.e. mine, not the car's).