Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 15:25
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Vauxhall Astra owner
I’m trying to find some ideas for my next car but everything I read points towards some issue or another. The TSI Engines have timing chain and oil consumption issues, same with the Hyundai and Kia petrols, fords with wet belts, then the most reliable petrols are on the Hondas and Toyotas but they rot like hell. I don’t see the point in having a bullet proof Honda engine if the floor rots out of it. I want something that I can go to work in and then also go on holiday on without any issues. I don’t drive down motorways during the week so I reckon o would clog up a diesel. Can I have some feedback or advice please.
I’m looking at spending between 5 and 8 grand

Edited by Vauxhall Astra owner on 02/01/2025 at 15:30

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 16:00
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Heidfirst

Toyota Auris & Avensis don't rot like hell imo. If they do rust it's usually something exposed & replaceable like rear suspension or brake lines but at ~12+ years.

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 17:29
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - gordonbennet

Hondas and Toyotas don't have any worse rust problem than anything else, like all Japanese cars they need regular brake maintenance because the pistons can seize in the bores.

If anything because they are so reliable they get neglected by many owners, and if no one's going underneath for service or brake maintenance no one will see salt residue and resulting rust building up, perish the thought someone in the life of the car might actually think to hose the underbody clean of salt after a winter.

My daughter has run Civics for years, putting hundreds of thousands of miles on her cars, all thrashed mercilessly, all but one bought well used, the oldest one in her fleet a 2006 dog carrier/shopping/camping/holiday knockabout is like all the others have been completely reliable and shows no signs of terminal rust.

Its safe to say Civics tend to some suspension work around the 80k miles, top mounts maybe a shocker or two, but unlike some comparable German cars the bolts all come undone thereby not turning the job into a massive drama.

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 21:51
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Vauxhall Astra owner
I’d like to stick to Honda or Toyota if I can find a tidy one
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 17:30
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Halmerend
I’ve never topped my 2.0 Audi TFSI engine up in three and a half years. Likewise, the 1.0 Audi TFSI engine in the family has rarely if ever been topped up. I think the 0/30W oil I bought when the vehicle was new is still unopened in the shed somewhere.
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 17:59
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Adampr

A very small amount of very early TSIs had timing chain issues. Most don't even have chains.

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 18:59
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - SLO76

A very small amount of very early TSIs had timing chain issues. Most don't even have chains.

The belt driven TSi’s have a very good reputation for reliability. But on this money you’ll need to be sure you’re buying the later belt driven cars and you’ll need to price in a belt and water pump change as most dealers won’t do it for you on a lower value car. I wouldn’t touch a chain driven 4cyl VAG car.
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 18:56
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - SLO76

Toyota Auris & Avensis don't rot like hell imo. If they do rust it's usually something exposed & replaceable like rear suspension or brake lines but at ~12+ years.

As above. The 14yr old Toyota I sold last year after 6yrs of pain free motoring was starting to cost money replacing rusty suspension components and the rear subframe is showing as an advisory on the latest Mot done by the new owner. But if you looked underneath the actual structure of the body was fine, despite living its life on the salt crusted winter roads of the west coast of Scotland and being parked in gravel yard 100m from the beach while I was at work. It’s by no means rotten and will continue on for many a year yet if the current owner is willing to replace the occasional suspension component. In a more hospitable environment south of the border it would be much longer lasting too with plenty of 20yr old plus Corolla’s and Avensis models still running about. I have every faith in Toyota, certain Honda models and any petrol Mazda.
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 19:05
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - SLO76
At this money I’d shortlist the Toyota Auris 1.2t/1.6 Estate, Avensis 1.8 Estate, Honda Civic 1.8 estate, Mazda 6 2.0 Skyactiv estate. I would leave DPF equipped diesels well alone as you have already said but I’d also be wary of SUV’s unless you need the extra ground clearance as they’re really no more spacious inside than an estate car but they’re worse on fuel and typically cost more. If I had to have one I’d probably favour the Mk IV Honda CRV 2.0 2wd which isn’t too terrible on fuel and has no real vices other than weak clutches.

Edited by SLO76 on 02/01/2025 at 19:05

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 21:47
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - madf

on's Yaris is 12 years old and rust free as was my 12 year old Honda Jazz when I p'exed it for a BMW I3.

Our 2002 Yaris D4D has had no welding or body repairs due to rust

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Thu 2 Jan 2025 22:02
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Vauxhall Astra owner
I like the idea of being a bit higher up if you know what I mean. It’s not the end of the world if it’s not great on petrol
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 22:27
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - SLO76
I like the idea of being a bit higher up if you know what I mean. It’s not the end of the world if it’s not great on petrol

Fair enough, I get that. Try to find a good CRV 2.0 2wd, a Hyundai Tucson 1.6, Kia Sportage 1.6 or a Mazda CX-5 2.0. The Mazda is by far the best driver but the suspension is particularly prone to rust due to a l lack of protection, though the actual body is as long lived as anything else these days. The Kia and Hyundai are a bit dull and slow to drive but there’s loads around and they’re not bad on fuel. My no one choice if all things were equal would be the Honda however. They’re huge inside, decently comfortable and there’s not much to go wrong. As with any car you view listen for rattles when you start it, get underneath to check for major rot issues and try the clutch from cold - they almost all judder a bit until they warm up but it shouldn’t be too bad and it shouldn’t slip. It’s a bit of a weak point on most Honda’s but more so on the diesels. Condition and history mean more than mileage with these, and watch for clocking - check the service record and Mot history, look for mysteriously low annual mileages in year 3/4 in particular, many are clocked before handing them back on PCP/Lease. We ran a 1.6 diesel for 4yrs and very much rated it as a family wagon.

Edited by SLO76 on 02/01/2025 at 22:29

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Fri 3 Jan 2025 15:13
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Vauxhall Astra owner
When I refer to rust I’m not bothered if changeable items rust. It’s just the chassis I’m bothered about. Structural stuff
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Fri 3 Jan 2025 19:19
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - SLO76
Give me a rough search area and I’ll have a wee nosy at what’s on sale nearby.
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Thu 2 Jan 2025 22:39
Petrols - Petrol SUVs or estates - Big John
The TSI Engines have timing chain and oil consumption issues

I had one of the last tsi EA111 cam chain engines in my 2014 1.4 Superb owned from near new until last year sold with about 120k miles on the clock. It had been on fixed servicing since I bought it (9.5k miles) and the engine sounded just as quiet and never really needed topping up between services. Mpg was still fabulous averaging circa 46mpg with a potential of 50+ on a steady run. Fabulous car overall.

Most small VAG tsi engines after this date have the EA211 cam belt engine which is standing up to the test of time. My son has one in his 2016 1.2 Octavia, no oil top ups and even more economical.

Edited by Big John on 02/01/2025 at 22:46

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