You must have bad luck with your vehicles. I have had two radiator
failures in a total of about 20 vehicles over 50 years. About two ball
joint failures (both Fords), no ignition locks, only one whee bearing
9and that was in a tractor).
I would change your 80k to 150k. And there is a good chance that, apart
from consumables like tyres, batteries, starters, you can think of 200k
(assuming you look after your vehicles).
I have never had window problems - even when they were manual and never
in the current era (though I consider motorised windows perhaps the
most unnecessary 'improvement' in motor vehicles). Motorised seats -
and memories for at least two users - must, in contrast, be one of the
major improvements in vehicle technology since the self-starter.
> You must have bad luck with your vehicles. I have had two radiator
> failures in a total of about 20 vehicles over 50 years.
I've had three fail - on a 106, a 205 and a 405. Plus a leaky one on a
Xantia. It's not a problem in the grand scheme of things; all those cars
were very reliable, and under £100 to replace a radiator in several
years of high mileage motoring isn't a major expense or hassle.
> About two ball
> joint failures (both Fords), no ignition locks, only one whee bearing
> 9and that was in a tractor).
I had a 1976 Opel Kadett that ate wheel bearings every few thousand
miles, but that was a dodgy front hub which would cost more than the car
was worth to replace, so a tenner for bearings and fifteen minutes work
every few months wasn't too much of a problem (being a cash-strapped
student at the time). My last Jaguar XJ8 had a front wheel bearing fail
at speed, which was fun - but those cars are heavy and have a lot of
stress placed on the bearings when driven enthusiastically, so I fully
expect the same to happen on my current one at some point. I've not had
a wheel bearing fail on a Pug.
> I would change your 80k to 150k. And there is a good chance that, apart
> from consumables like tyres, batteries, starters, you can think of 200k
> (assuming you look after your vehicles).
I have to agree; generally modern vehicles are easily good for that
mileage with a little care. If you have a reasonably reliable vehicle it
really doesn't make sense to even think about replacing it before 6
years or 150K - the savings in depreciation easily pay for whatever
maintenance is needed (even a "big" job like a clutch replacement is
only one or two months typical finance payments on a new car).
> I have never had window problems - even when they were manual and never
> in the current era (though I consider motorised windows perhaps the
> most unnecessary 'improvement' in motor vehicles).
Our (hopefully soon to be ex-)807 has had seven replacement window
motors. Every one has been replaced, one door has had three failures in
the last year. But this car is a complete heap of junk.
> Motorised seats -
> and memories for at least two users - must, in contrast, be one of the
> major improvements in vehicle technology since the self-starter.
When they work - which isn't a given on the 807 (wiring looms too short,
so the wires pull out as the seat moves, all the switches replaced, I
think the controller has been replaced on that too, but I lose track).
My wife is significantly shorter than I am, so it does make life _much_
easier. I'm not overweight, just reasonably tall; she has the seat so
close to the steering wheel that I can't get in without a real squeeze
on her setting. Having the seat move back with a single button press or
when the car is unlocked with my key is a real knee-saver (though the
Jag is even easier - when you pull the ignition key the driver's seat
moves fully back and the steering wheel retracts and moves up out of the
way).
Matt
http://www.807faults.co.uk
Ken - 29 Mar 2006 05:32 GMT
<When they work (motorised seats) - which isn't a given on the 807
(wiring looms too short,
so the wires pull out as the seat moves, all the switches replaced, I
think the controller has been replaced on that too, but I lose track).
The 807 is not offered in Australia. Probably just as well!
rondeco30@btinternet.com - 31 Mar 2006 10:24 GMT
My 97 diesel 406 est has done 148,000 and has needed nothing except
for regular servicing and the parts you might expect to need replacing
, brakes , tyres , radiator at 110,000 ,cambelt at 70,000 and 140,000
.It still performs faultlessly and drives like a car with a much lower
mileage ( did somebody say something about tempting fate ? ;P ).
I previously had a petrol engined 405 est and when I traded it in
against the 406 it had done 236,000 miles and had never had any major
mechanical failures.
Chris - 31 Mar 2006 19:27 GMT
I got a 405 and 248,876 on the clock and it has done me very well, all i had to replace is two front tyres, rear shoes and cyls. and had the deisel pump seals replaced, so aslong as you keep the oil change and filters it should keep going and going.
from chris Addlestone Surrey
> My 97 diesel 406 est has done 148,000 and has needed nothing except
> for regular servicing and the parts you might expect to need replacing
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> against the 406 it had done 236,000 miles and had never had any major
> mechanical failures.