European Cars

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#730331 11-Dec-2012 12:03

i remember working in a garage in my youth and someone bought there Mercedes in for a tune up, and a set of points were $120 compared to $5 for a Toyota and the whole tune-up cost him just over $500 , (25 years ago) so i would be surprised if much has changed.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

dickytim

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#730332 11-Dec-2012 12:05

I don't have a problem with Euro's as mostly I service and maintain my own vehicles.

I have actually found that Mitsi's are on par with Euro's for servicing costs, the only saving grace with the Mitsi's is the mountain of second hand parts available.

robjg63

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#730339 11-Dec-2012 12:09

lxsw20:
After they fixed that the temperature gauge barely moves now, while before it was always around 50% of the scale.

50% of the way up the gauge is normal operating temp, barely moving is bad, means the car is not warming up and is possibly staying in cold start mode the whole time - using more fuel. You might want to get that checked out, could be as simple as a stuck thermostat....although how simple a thermostat is on a PT Cruiser I am unsure.

+1
Not moving into the normal range is a bad thing - It does sound like its stuck open.

I found this:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5643178_change-thermostat-pt-cruiser.html
Doesnt sound too hard to do - or hopefully not too expensive if a workshop does it.

I wouldnt contemplate a longish drive without getting that sorted....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Lurch

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#730344 11-Dec-2012 12:13

Don't purchase an old VW Golf. Especially 2000-2005 range, had one. Sensors fail and there's not just one and they usually cost $500 each for some unknown reason even though in the UK it's nowhere near that.

Then theres other things, the glove boxes are known to break, internal body trim falls off. Electronic boot lock for the boot fails. the eletric windows are also known to fail and get stuck inside the door and many more known faults.

The engine itself never caused me an issue it was all the electronics in the car. If you read some VW forums there is lists of all these known issues :-)

Servicing was the same price as a Japanese car if you find a good mechanic.

However after saying all that, loved it. The recaro seats, the solid clunk of the door shutting...

old3eyes

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#730345 11-Dec-2012 12:15

freitasm: I wouldn't get a Chrysler again - but these are American cars, not European.

This is my second PT Cruiser. Ten years old now, had to replace the windshield due to multiple cracks after some road stones hit it, just to find out the entire frame around the glass was corroded. It wasn't that bad to get it fixed but I didn't expect a ten year old car to have that much rust.

Then there are the services. After five years I stopped going to Chrysler because it's not funny paying that much money for services. This year had a problem with exhaust and was asked $ 2,000 to have the part imported as it wasn't available here. Midas managed to create a part for us from another car which brought the cost down to around $1,000.

I have an air con fault that no one seems to fix. Air con specialists tell me to take to Chrysler as there is some funny readings out of the OBD II, Chrysler told me there is nothing wrong. Midas found the fan belt wasn't going at all - luck never overheated. After they fixed that the temperature gauge barely moves now, while before it was always around 50% of the scale. They thought it could be related to the air con problem, but alas it's not. Still not resolved, and I dread having to drive it to HB during summer now :(

Isn't the Chrysler vehicles we get here made in Belgium and other parts of Europe.

Regards,

Old3eyes

Krishant007

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#730347 11-Dec-2012 12:19

Hondas are decent. I was considering a VW Polo but ended up getitng Honda Jazz. Saves me a lot of money on gas. Also, maintenance is reasonable, parts are readily available.

On the whole, i think Jap cars are cheaper on the parts just because getting parts from Jap doesnt cost as much as getting parts from Europe..

And I found that there are more garages ready to service Jap cars than there are garages for Euro cars..

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ajobbins

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#730350 11-Dec-2012 12:22

I agree with the statement that if you can't afford to buy a new Euro, you certainly can't afford an old one.

I know of too many people who have had expensive problems with Euro's - some even only a few years old.

At least if you buy new you are going to be covered for the first few years by the manufacturers warranty.

I would love to own a Euro some day, but it won't be until I can afford to buy one new (or still under warranty) and then flick it before the warranty runs out. Sadly that likely is some many years away.

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Chainsaw

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#730447 11-Dec-2012 13:49

While on cars - I did some searching and took a list of possibles to my mechanic, he immediately crossed off the Fiats (drat, I have a soft spot for them) and said don't go Euro.

So i'm looking at a 2007 and a 2008 Suzuki SX4 1.6. Any thoughts good or bad on that one?

mrphil

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#730517 11-Dec-2012 15:07

a thing to remember is that if you get your car serviced at a dealership they charge about $120 a hour and use genuine parts

a local workshop is about $60ish a hour and use aftermarket parts which makes things alot cheaper, plus you can always as for a cash deal

what brand are you looking at? brand new or second hand import?

billgates

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#730520 11-Dec-2012 15:19

I drive a Skoda Fabia vRS. Has the same engine as VW GT Polo with better style and design. Really like mine. First service was due after 30,000KM. Cost me $300. If you look at it, It's $150 for 15,000KM which is pretty good considering I got it done from the official Skoda Dealer. Second service is now due after 15,000KM.

Do whatever you want to do man.

TinyTim

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#730551 11-Dec-2012 15:46

billgates: I drive a Skoda Fabia vRS. Has the same engine as VW GT Polo with better style and design. Really like mine. First service was due after 30,000KM. Cost me $300. If you look at it, It's $150 for 15,000KM which is pretty good considering I got it done from the official Skoda Dealer. Second service is now due after 15,000KM.

And it's also the same as the Audi A1 and the SEAT Ibiza.

So presumably they would all cost the same to service.

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rossmnz

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#730552 11-Dec-2012 15:47

Have got to say I have always had subarus and none of them have ever missed a beat for me.

But then I live by the theory for motoring that preventative maintenance is cheaper in the long run than forced maintainance down the track.

Id just got for a small, newish japanese car.

They run on the smell of an oily reg and are easy to do the basics yourself too.

The force is strong with this one!

mattwnz

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#730591 11-Dec-2012 16:15

I remember when Paul Henry did auto reviews, and remember his motto. Don't buy a second hand european, and only keep a new European while it is in warranty. Once it is out of warranty flick it on. I have found this with all the europeon cars I have had. They have all been dogs after 5 years. Expensive to repair and things go wrong with them, inclduing lot os electrical problems. My local garage did a lot of the servicing etc, but most had electrical problems after time, and those problems were very expensve to repair.
The dog and lemon guide will tell you what goes wrong, and it is very accurate based on my own expereicnces. I dont' think it is harsh on European cars either, I think it is fairly accurate, and it is only based on actual facts, such as recalls and reported faults. It is also quite harsh now on some top japanese brands. Some Honda, Subaru and Mazda, and some toyota models are all supposed to be very reliable second hand vehicles.

Technofreak

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#730601 11-Dec-2012 16:20

I don't put as much stock on Consumer reviews after reading one or two that have been rather average and poorly researched.

As for the Suzuki

Chainsaw:
So i'm looking at a 2007 and a 2008 Suzuki SX4 1.6. Any thoughts good or bad on that one?

I've been told their parts can be expensive otherwise a good vehicle, other may be able to confirm or deny the parts cost issue.

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mattwnz

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#730603 11-Dec-2012 16:22

Technofreak: I don't put as much stock on Consumer reviews after reading one or two that have been rather average and poorly researched.

As for the Suzuki

Chainsaw:
So i'm looking at a 2007 and a 2008 Suzuki SX4 1.6. Any thoughts good or bad on that one?

I've been told their parts can be expensive otherwise a good vehicle, other may be able to confirm or deny the parts cost issue.

Many of their reviews don't cover reliability of products. Just features and general use. The dog and lemon guide is really the best source for information on second hand car reliability.

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