Bad Buys/Money pits...

Oh yeah I appreciate exactly what you're saying; I just wasn't expecting it to be such a money pit. Everything seemed in really good condition when I made the purchase so it's just been bit of a shock that so much has gone wrong in such a short time.

The main thing that's getting me down is the lack of performance and that there's no clues as to what's causing the problem, which means it could be a long (and costly) process to get to the bottom of the problem.
 
My 2003 A8 4.2 Quattro

So much went wrong with it such a short period. I just couldn't believe a car so expensive and new (2 years old at the time, and less than 30k miles) could be so terrible. It completely ruined my image of the brand.

Gearbox replaced
Center diff replaced
Rear screen replaced
DVD reader replaced
ECU replaced
Some emissions control systems replaced
Tail light control module replaced
Electric window switches replaced
Pump for the air suspension replaced
Handbrake control module replaced

There was a ton of other stuff that I've forgotten but essentially, a month didn't go past without the car lighting up like a christmas tree with warning lights.
I got shot of it as soon as it was out of warranty. No way was I going to finance those kind of repairs out of my own pocket.

I will never buy another Audi or VAG car again as a daily drive. If they can't screw their flagship car together properly, then god knows what the rest of the range are like.
 
Booner! said:
So you had lots of problems with a Ford KA that convinced you to get rid of it and replace it....with another Ford KA?!

Surely having that many problems would make you think twice about another?! :confused: :eek: :)
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The old KA (1996-2002) was based on the 1300cc OHV Endura-E Engine which apparently dates back to the 1960s design.

I was told sell it before it requires spark plugs as they get stuck in the head due to rust.

The newer KA, Sport KA uses the much improved 95 hp 1.6-litre 8-valve Duratec engine, has uprated springs and a much tighter gearbox.

:)
 
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Pretty much everything that can break, broke on my polo, or needs replacing. Head, bottom end, gearbox, fuel tank, to name some. Inevitable on an almost 17 year old car with high mileage though i guess. The only thing thats in good nick is the shell, barely any rust, woot!
 
markyb said:
The old KA (1996-2002) was based on the 1300cc OHV Endura-E Engine which apparently dates back to the 1960s design.

I was told sell it before it requires spark plugs as they get stuck in the head due to rust.

The newer KA, Sport KA uses the much improved 95 hp 1.6-litre 8-valve Duratec engine, has uprated springs and a much tighter gearbox.

:)
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i thought it was a simple as just taking poping them out and back n again every service.
 
Everything i'm about to describe is age related so I can't moan but as I thought we were buying a Civic I was a little surprised when I discovered 'we' had in fact purchased a 1998 8v 1.6 Meganne! At the time it was an 8 year old car....

It managed to be survive the 120 miles from the ex's to our front door then promptly died. This was pretty much how life continued for a few months with job after job being required to sort it out.

2x Front CV joints
1x Engine mount
1x Rear p/s wheel bearing (mmm ball bearings)
1x Front p/s wheel bearing (ooo look more ball bearings!)
1x Head gasket kit
1x Water pump and timing/aux belts (do it at the same time)
1x Clutch (wish i'd done it at the same time and not 3 weeks later!)
1x Exhaust manifold (cracked C1 as they all do)
1x Rear P/S light cluster (i got sick of cleaning the connections)
1x Exhaust system including another new manifold (cracked C1 again - head gasket got so bad it destroyed the baffle material in the back box and the rest was blowing)
2x Front disks
2x Front pads (self explanatory)
2x Rear shoes (I was bored)
1x Rear D/S door (my fault - don't ask)
1x Front D/S window mech
Replaced/cleaned earthing straps and added extra earthing points.
Discovered the starter motor is at the back of the engine with exposed terminals - lots of cleaning/grease later it was fine.
Plugs/filters/fluids etc for normal service items.
Stripped/cleaned aux fuses as the nice French car builders put them under the scuttle tray for the water to drain into :)

I hated that car but retrospectively it was a fantastic buy. I let the ex keep it when we split... figured it was only fair :D
 
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Ive had my 106GTi for almost 6 years (i think), the 1st year went alright, ever since its been a real money pit. I bought it with about 19k on the clock, put about 90k on it since then.
From what I can remember, ive replaced:
Rear axel bushes/bearings
Rear axel complete
2 x Rear calipers
Complete handbrake cable
Exhuast system
ABS Pump x 3
2 x Rear ABS Sensors
2 x Front Wishbones
4 x Front link bars
Front ARB bushes
2 x Rear hub/bearing assembleys
2 x Clutch
2 x Clutch cables (a bit of a pig)
Heater matrix (absolute nightmare of a job)
Strut top bearing replaced
Engine mounts
Recent engine rebuild
Starter motor
Radiator
Aux belt tensioner
The N/S door hinge gave way, required welding
The PS pump leaks
The alarm control box was playing up, stops the indicators etc working (just disconnected it)
And many other annoying things.

+ Usual servicing parts.

Bonnet/Windscreen/Wing replaced - Although not really a problem with the car. Bad weather + roof tiles = damaged car.

Put 12.5k on the (then) 112k ST24 in the last 12 months and its not cost a penny in repairs/parts.

MR2 is the same again, but ive done less than 1000miles in that so far.
 
I was strongly dissuaded by my dad from buying a Triumph Spitfire 1500 back when I was 18. It was in british racing green with white GT stripes & looked mint. The asking price was £1800. He said, "Son, it'll be like pouring money into a hole in the ground!"

A few months later & he came with me when I went to view, & ultimately buy, a 1303 VW Beetle. Having owned a couple of bugs back in the day I though he'd kind of know what's what.

"Looks ok to me" he says and I part with £1600 in exchange for 'Marge'.

A couple of months later & I take her for a tune up. I get a call from my friendly local mechanic that afternoon.

"You should come & have a look" he says "I've left it up on the ramps for you."

I go down after work & we have a quick chat about the car as we walk to where she is, up on the ramps. He takes a screwdriver out of the breat pocket of his overalls and gently pushes it straight up through the fron frame-head, which should have been solid metal.

The whole front end of the frame was shot through with rust & he advised me not to drive it any more. If I'd been hit at the front it wouldn't have been very pretty for me or the car. It would've been an MOT failiure & I was quoted the best part of £3k to get it roadworthy again.

Marge sat on my folks drive for nearly 2 years as I failed to raise the cash to get her done. Eventually I stripped out the bits that were worth keeping (if anyone wants a set of VW stud patter Centerlines...) & had her taken away.:(

RIP Marge - it was great while it lasted.
*sob*
 
[TW]Fox;12649498 said:
I cant imagine hooning in the sort of car that returns 60mpg is anything more than awful, frankly.
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You don't need speed to have fun. You just don't brake for the roundabouts and bends, it's more fun that way. ;)

The 20mpg method is reserved for weekends.
 
Mark A said:
Oh and the cam belt should be replaced around now (silver top). Think its booked in sometime this week for that.
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Car got picked up this morning by the mechanic and is now sat back outside my house. I'm dreading looking at the invoice :eek:. At least nothing else should need spending on it now for a bit.
 
Ghuraba said:
Rear wheel bearings & Drum £180
Timing belt £200
Front discs & pads £80
Back box & middle pipe £160
New Battery £75
Two Yokohama C-drive front tyres £116
Front track rod £90
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Other than the track rod, that all looks like consumables and normal service items to me? Hardly a money pit.
 
Rilot said:
My 2003 A8 4.2 Quattro

So much went wrong with it such a short period. I just couldn't believe a car so expensive and new (2 years old at the time, and less than 30k miles) could be so terrible. It completely ruined my image of the brand.

Gearbox replaced
Center diff replaced
Rear screen replaced
DVD reader replaced
ECU replaced
Some emissions control systems replaced
Tail light control module replaced
Electric window switches replaced
Pump for the air suspension replaced
Handbrake control module replaced
Click to expand...

That is dire. Perhaps Peugeot have been giving them lessons in QA?
 
My worst money pit was a Mini that i bought for a couple of hundred quid.

Boy did i learn my lesson.

Engine was basically an oil eater
Chassis needed welding
Indicators needed fitting on wings
Replacement handbrake cable
New exhaust

All just to pass it's first mot.

Then it was pushed into service driving 2 and a half hours eachway over each weekend from the lake district to north yorkshire to visit my GF.

Only managed the full journey 4 times with a bit of driving over the weekend (total came to around 1300 miles in that month) and around 1000 miles into this total i began having clutch problems.

1st, 2nd and 3rd were fine but in 4th and going beyond 50mph would result in the car slowing down while the revs climbed.

Limped it to hers and then at the end of the weekend limped it the full 130 miles back.

Probably my most stressfull drive ever!!! :(

After that it got garaged and then was sold for £350 so i pretty much broke even on the cost of car and interior fixes. All the repairs were basically a loss though.

gt
 
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