Euro cars - image match reality?

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

Franco, What you need is right under your nose.....
a Cav, Sportmans' edition

Ironically before I bought my Caprice I was trying to chase up an AU Fairlane with a 302W and couldn't find one around the same price as the Caprice.

A week after I buy the Caprice I get a customer in my shop with a low km AU Fairlane with a 302W that needed an alternator, looking to sell

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

Have just acquired a Brocksport 850 wagon with wobbly autobox; no need for it, no value in it, too young for historic rego, seems too good for scrap.

Is that another name for the T5R?
Those T5R appear be to increasing in value, especially good condition wagons. Could be worth saving...

FC, is there some Dutch mixed in with the wog? Cause who buys a low spec 7series?! Tbh I think you’ll be just as disappointed with the underwhelming 7 series V12, which isn’t much different performance wise to the 4.4 v8.
For ultimate 90s Euro luxury give the v12 S class a go, which has an extra 50kw, 100nm and super flat torque curve. I have one in a W140 and it has no drama spinning the factory 255 18 inch rears off the line, despite weighing 2.3 tonne.
The 7series v12 is more comparable to the 740i or S500 V8s IMO.

After 17 years of mostly drama free Euro and Falcon ownership, the other Sunday I was bitten hard. Porsche Cayenne V8 made some horrible timing chain noise on start up and shut down. Now turns over but won’t fire. Hooked up to scanner and has codes for both cam sensors. Suspect timing chain has jumped. Got half way thru checking timing before having to shoot away for work... not the easiest thing to work on.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by smoo

Is that another name for the T5R?
Those T5R appear be to increasing in value, especially good condition wagons. Could be worth saving...

FC, is there some Dutch mixed in with the wog? Cause who buys a low spec 7series?! Tbh I think you’ll be just as disappointed with the underwhelming 7 series V12, which isn’t much different performance wise to the 4.4 v8.
For ultimate 90s Euro luxury give the v12 S class a go, which has an extra 50kw, 100nm and super flat torque curve. I have one in a W140 and it has no drama spinning the factory 255 18 inch rears off the line, despite weighing 2.3 tonne.
The 7series v12 is more comparable to the 740i or S500 V8s IMO.

After 17 years of mostly drama free Euro and Falcon ownership, the other Sunday I was bitten hard. Porsche Cayenne V8 made some horrible timing chain noise on start up and shut down. Now turns over but won’t fire. Hooked up to scanner and has codes for both cam sensors. Suspect timing chain has jumped. Got half way thru checking timing before having to shoot away for work... not the easiest thing to work on.

image

The original owner was one of the high ups from Linfox apparently, I guess the bean counters at Linfox drew the line at $180,000 for his company car so he ended up with the povvo spec tiny V8

V12 form it's only 240KW/500NM in an E38 with M73 and less in M70 form in the older E32.

S600L looks the goods, so woggy

Talking about old man cars, I'd love a 1990s Bentley Turbo R, they're god damn beasts:



I could look like Carl William's North London cousin.

I'm generally anti British cars (especially British Fords) but one of these would have a place in my imaginary garage.

Also I have a fetish for BMW 850CSi:

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by smoo

Is that another name for the T5R?
Those T5R appear be to increasing in value, especially good condition wagons. Could be worth saving...

The 850 I have is a funny one, 2.4, no turbo and auto box. Nil rust and reasonable paint. Where would I find the time and motivation to do anything with it?

[SumoDog68]

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

I've acquired a '99 S40 Volvo for fun. Car has been in the family since new. Only thing I've had to repair is the electric aerial, $19, and replace a slightly sagging headlining!
It's 20 years old 243k, and on original shock absorbers, bushes, rack, and rear brakes. No rust, all electrics work, doesn't use oil, no rattles.
Oh driver's leather seat has a year in the swab...which is expensive.
I've since put 18's in it and lowered it, about to adapt some big *** brembos and put a BTCC wing in the back. Will modifying it ruin it's longevity?
Great car and served mum well for 20 years.
JP

That is probably because that S40 is actually a Mitsubishi Carisma.

[Cav]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm at the point where I'm shopping around for a new daily, I keep coming back to FG MKII Falcon Ecoboost or VF Commodore - the Commodore would essentially double my fuel cost as I'm coming from a TDCI Focus that does 5.5L/100km all day every day regardless of how much I beat on it.

I've been considering 2010 onward BMW 330d - 3L TD I6, it would be good on fuel and still pack a punch with some basic mods and tuning, I'm not interested in driving some torqueless ****heap (inb4 SIDIDIDIDI V6 jokes) as I want something with some balls but its still good on fuel within reason.

But its a Euro, and Euro means expensive.

I keep coming back to Falcon or Commodore

VF Commodore prices are a bit out there

[Cav]

Chicks attracted to Euro cars



Chicks attracted to Fords

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Cav

VF Commodore prices are a bit out there

The Calais V and SV6 variants are fairly cheap on the second hand market for something good - $20K-$25K

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

That's how I got my 7 series, it was a customer's car with the water cooled alternator housed inside the block.

Alternator RRP $2500
8+ hours labour to replace

Mind you it also crapped out it's timing chain guides at 130,000km

E38 with an LS engine is a cracker idea, absolutely.

Cripes, that 8+ hours and $2500 cost is up there with birthing a child.

LS not a bad idea - how about Barra swap on every Euro car that goes off warranty?

Edit: how does one go about making the alternator internal and water cooling it? I could link a 'best of Pikachu' vid but you get the point.

Added for background info:

https://tankandafvnews.com/2015/11/1...r-reliability/

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm at the point where I'm shopping around for a new daily, I keep coming back to FG MKII Falcon Ecoboost or VF Commodore - the Commodore would essentially double my fuel cost as I'm coming from a TDCI Focus that does 5.5L/100km all day every day regardless of how much I beat on it.

I've been considering 2010 onward BMW 330d - 3L TD I6, it would be good on fuel and still pack a punch with some basic mods and tuning, I'm not interested in driving some torqueless ****heap (inb4 SIDIDIDIDI V6 jokes) as I want something with some balls but its still good on fuel within reason.

But its a Euro, and Euro means expensive.

I keep coming back to Falcon or Commodore

Have watched son's mates nearly all come around to the FG, after mechanical heartache in other cars. When looking, I told him to buy a good one, buy it once, don't be like the old man swapping out a Kingswood every 2 years. He replied those Kingswoods are all worth 25K and you should have kept them - touche. Edit: when we were looking the local FGs were asking a bit more than the Commy VF, probably because harder to find, they were shifting from dealers more quickly too.

With the Ecoboost, do you still get the same carbonation behind the inlet valves that the Euros get? Brilliant car otherwise.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

With the Ecoboost, do you still get the same carbonation behind the inlet valves that the Euros get? Brilliant car otherwise.

You get it with every direct injection engine, they have a process to clear it up like Subaru's 'upper engine cleaner' stuff.

Ecoboost could be an interesting daily - they're cheap as and just about stacked 10 high at the tip cause no one wanted them.

If they can be tuned it could be a good economical daily and nice long distance tourer with some balls with some minor mods.

Have been using the old boys Fiesta ST for interstate trips, good on fuel, fun to drive but doing 600km drives before stopping I get out with a sore back and just about need to wear a sports bra to keep my man boobs from slapping me in the face on our lovely crappy roads

Mondildo wagon was on the consideration list until I saw it has a DSG.

[smoo]

Originally Posted by Citroënbender

The 850 I have is a funny one, 2.4, no turbo and auto box. Nil rust and reasonable paint. Where would I find the time and motivation to do anything with it?

Reads as though it needs to be sent for scrap (unfortunately), even if the name alludes to something it isnt.
My mate had the 850 successor when we were at school, late 90s S70, also with the 2.4 non turbo. With one of the best OE equiped stereos for the time (back in the mid 2000s,). He owned it for a further 7 years and despite the theme of thread, the only drama he had was a MAF sensor - $350 or so, but before the days of online shopping.

With my Cayenne dying, I looked for something cheap until I figure out what to do.
The options I wanted were AU-BF wagon, pre V70 Volvo wagon, or something French.
I've always wanted a Citroen DS or XM. Not a lot of them on the market, so I picked up a C5 hdi wagon with hydro pneumatic suspension for $2k.
Smoothest riding car I've owned or ridden in, and it returns between 5.0-6.2l/100km. No regrets.

[anobserver]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

I'm at the point where I'm shopping around for a new daily, I keep coming back to FG MKII Falcon Ecoboost or VF Commodore - the Commodore would essentially double my fuel cost as I'm coming from a TDCI Focus that does 5.5L/100km all day every day regardless of how much I beat on it......

..... I keep coming back to Falcon or Commodore

Browsing around it seems that fgs are going for a song, tbe ecoboost even more so.

But why stop there, when classy cruising is within your reach....?


https://www.carsguide.com.au/cars-fo...4a0ed0a30#pos4

[Citroënbender]

Originally Posted by smoo

I've always wanted a Citroen DS or XM. Not a lot of them on the market, so I picked up a C5 hdi wagon with hydro pneumatic suspension for $2k.
Smoothest riding car I've owned or ridden in, and it returns between 5.0-6.2l/100km. No regrets.

Ping me if you have questions you can’t resolve with it. Sold my ‘63 Dee for a pittance this year; it felt like Steinbeck’s The Pearl.

[jpblue1000]

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

That is probably because that S40 is actually a Mitsubishi Carisma.

Yeah, but still has Volvo engine and gearbox, and Volvo specific brakes, and wiringv and body and interior. And made in the Netherlands so still euro! But that's probably why it is not falling apart.
I've also got a Hungarian built Subaru which hasn't done enough miles to be unreliable despite being 22 years old!

[mike_nofx]

Originally Posted by Cav

Chicks attracted to Euro cars

image

Chicks attracted to Fords

image

Haha look, I love fords, and to me they crap all over euro cars but sadly this is not the opinion of the majority of chicks.

The ‘chicks’ impressed by a nice Ford tend to have a Winnie blue in one hand and a VB in the other.

[jphanna]

so......that leaves the JAPS, as the only real reliable car companies. i suspect The Koreans are catching up though.

The YANK cars may have had a period of reliability maybe in the 50's? people i know who have bought USA FORD (v6 Coupe mid 2000's) , Chrysler and JEEP all had WOEFUL stories to tell. Last time a GM product had a bad run in AUS was the original GEN3 5.7, that came out in the VT? i think in early 2000's every Holden dealer in Australia had them in pieces in their workshops.

[XR Martin]

Yank stuff is normally OK, if you don't mind diy.
Parts are cheap and there's plenty of stuff online on how to fix them.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by anobserver

Browsing around it seems that fgs are going for a song, tbe ecoboost even more so.

But why stop there, when classy cruising is within your reach....?


https://www.carsguide.com.au/cars-fo...4a0ed0a30#pos4

Cam, set of alloy heads, full exhaust and a tune, in that champagne colour known as 'Old man Cav Gold' and I too can be hitting up the esplanade for chicks!

I'm sure the car will make up for the baby face and hairy manboobs

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by mike_nofx

Haha look, I love fords, and to me they crap all over euro cars but sadly this is not the opinion of the majority of chicks.

The ‘chicks’ impressed by a nice Ford tend to have a Winnie blue in one hand and a VB in the other.

Nothing wrong with Winnie blues and VB mate, wife material - low upkeep (like the car )

Though with the price of tobacco these days might have to get her on the vape.

[Sprintey]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Mondildo wagon was on the consideration list until I saw it has a DSG.

Haha, I immediately thought of this (why can no-one have good quality clip of this important vehicle):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JscQXDsSgco