I want a simpler car

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Tue 2 Mar 2004 13:33
I want a simpler car - Nsar
My nightmare with the seemingly incurable ECU of my auto A6 continues. When I get it back, it's going. I took a risk with a "cheap" car that had 95k on it when I bought it, but that's life

It'll be my last auto, but what car has the least amount of electronic engine management to go wrong, but is still a "modern" car?

Perhaps I should be looking for reliable every day classic, I only do about 12k pa, mostly a 14 mile commute. I'm not that fussed by gadgets and gizmos, but I'd like a mixture of reliability, low cost servicing and prestige and a bit of stand out.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 13:48
I want a simpler car - Mapmaker
Mercedes W123. With the exception of a full engine rebuild (!) they're beautifully put together, good for 500k and a dream to work on. Loads of access space in the engine; nothing complicated to go wrong (well not really); parts are cheap. Quality/budget according to taste from £50 to £15,000. And there are loads of them around, too. And they're (virtually) all autos as well.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 13:54
I want a simpler car - patently
Mind who you buy them off though, mapmaker!
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 14:18
I want a simpler car - malteser
You know what you REALLY want - a Lada Riva 1200L. Simple, tough, chain cam and the added bonus is that it will give you arms and shoulders like a weight lifter!
Roger.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 14:31
I want a simpler car - madf
who has lowest repair costs?
Ford

madf


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Tue 2 Mar 2004 14:41
I want a simpler car - Mapmaker
below the belt, patently. (perhaps ND will turn that into PFD as well as it's slightly dodgy!)
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 15:06
I want a simpler car - patently
Sorry. Couldn't resist it.

No upset intended.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 14:50
I want a simpler car - Mapmaker
mmmm. Not CERTAIN about the prestige that goes with that car, but definitely low cost servicing and a bit of stand out - and quite good reliability as well.

Alternatiely, what's that car from Malaysia(?) that's basically a Mk II(?) Cavalier. No prestige though.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 16:18
I want a simpler car - alex
VW Golf Mark II or Mark III.

Check out what's on offer at some of the specialist VW dealers selling above-average vehicles.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 16:17
I want a simpler car - helicopter
Lada????

You get those weightlifters arms and shoulders from pushing it to your local mechanic for repair.

Get a Civic Type R.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 20:10
I want a simpler car - John Shelton
In November when I visited Germany I was given a lift in a base spec Mk2 Golf that had done 312000 Kilometers since 1984, virtually no rust, started 1st time cant say much more ! Oh, engine was fine.
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Tue 2 Mar 2004 22:15
I want a simpler car - Kuang
My 83 MkII was a German import and would have been absolutely wonderful had it not been for that flaming awful solex carb.. odds and ends notwithstanding, it drove as well at 130k as they did when new! For 300 notes, you couldn't fault it, although I'd definitely go for one of the larger engined versions if I got another.. the possibility of which I haven't entirely ruled out just yet ;)

Anything to get this ruddy Favorit off my back...
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Wed 3 Mar 2004 09:17
I want a simpler car - Nsar
Hmmm, I was thinking of something a bit more interesting than a Golf.
A bit of style, panache, elan, joie de vivre, even va va voom, but not French - reliability remember!
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Wed 3 Mar 2004 09:34
I want a simpler car - Mapmaker
So something out of the ordinary, then.

A barge maybe. Have a look at Richard Hall's excellent website bangernomics.tripod.com for a few suggestions of how to travel in style, cheaply. He's also got suggestions for other more interesting cars - how about a Triumph?

Alternatively search autotrader for 'leather' and under £1,000 and see what takes your fancy.

You need to do some lateral thinking, otherwise you're just going to be recommended a Golf GTSR3iXXXi (or whatever). Hence my W123 suggestion.

Remember, if it goes badly wrong, you just bin it!
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