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Post by gainsb1 on Jun 27, 2014 21:17:27 GMT 1
In fact, this is about changing the starter motor on my wife's Renault Megane CC (in itself, not a bad car - quite impressed with the drive, handling and economy etc.) which started playing up. I'm thinking to myself "Whip it up onto the ramps, slide underneath with my sockets, three bolts and a lead to disconnect and Bob's yer Uncle (..and Fanny's yer Aunt - as they say). 
Things started to go wrong when I couldn't even see the starter motor from up top and the splash tray underneath prevents seeing from below. No problemo.... onto the handy Renault Forum and You Tube.
Ye Gods! Removing intercoolers, turbos, air-boxes, exhaust down tube and wiring bits and bobs had me heading inside for a cuppa with the realisation that this is a garage job as you really need a lift and a degree in motor mechanics.  
The Datsun really is a couple of bolts and the lead (disconnect the battery first) and the rest of the time is for polishing, driving and enjoying! 
New cars-Nil
Old cars-one
No contest.....
Leigh (Area rep)
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Post by reallyloud on Jun 29, 2014 11:23:49 GMT 1
Renault's seem to bear the burden of negative criticism of owning a modern car a lot, but this does highlight the argument against owning a modern car - great showroom appeal, safety, economy and random gadgets but marred by crippling depreciation, DIY-unfriendly repairs, garage charges and losing the thing in the car park (and don't get me started on modern car design). We have a 6 year old Panda which is a fine little appliance, it is simpler than the Megane, but still a nasty DIY proposition. Maybe replace your car with something from the mid 90's? There are some neat cabriolets with a touch of style at the moment for reasonable money (and will almost certainly appreciate in value) One owner cars for this market are still around (Saab 900/BMW E36/Mazda MX5/Mercedes 300/Audi 80) that still have that element of modernity without compromising too much.
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Post by roddyc130 on Jun 29, 2014 18:50:35 GMT 1
I have and still do owned Renault for years, and I have to confess that I love them ..  ... Its always been the sporty variants that I have driven and I certainly believe nothing can touch them in that bracket, but I would have to agree that they can be a pain to work on, although in their defence and as far as the modern car is concerned they are not the only car that's guilty of that now, most other manufacturers are just as bad and the reality is that its really just a case of that most cars now are a pain when it come to D.I.Y sadly, the modern BMW wont even let you check the oil as there is no dipstick !!!! .... The company's now are trying to cram sooo much into tight confines in the name of reducing space, due to market demand we get soo much more on a modern car compared to the older generation that trying to find places for it all to go is part of the issue. I had to recently change the fuse for the side lights on my Renault, it involved removing the battery, battery tray and the ECU, then sliding out the fuse box whilst rotating it !! .... madness !! Thankfully Renault had designed them items to be easily removed so the job didn't take that long but still annoying, but after all was said and done I still love the car. When it comes to modern V's old ..... they both have there place, agreed the old is better to maintain, pleasing to the eye, full of character etc etc, but I get just as many people being positive and liking my Renault as I do my Laurel, im guilty of loving both the old and modern, and when all is said and done and when I have had a nice day driving the Laurel and I close the garage door and hop into my Renault with its cracking seats, stonking engine, grip like a leach then I don't care that I cant reach the alternator if it goes ..... I wont be changing it !!! lol |
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Post by gainsb1 on Jun 29, 2014 23:38:20 GMT 1
.... and just to add that I had a 2005 Corsa that needed a front wing.It's a bolt on wing but one of the bolts is beneath the the fixed glass panel. Solution - break the glass! There is either some complete T--T of a designer (yes, I know they've all got degrees, including one in gross stupidity) or the makers have deliberately designed their cars so that their dealers have to do all the repairs etc. so they can make money.
My friend is looking for a new mobility car and took a shine to a Peugeot with a "Head-up" display that pops up out of the top of the dash. I wonder how much that will cost when it goes wrong?
He bought a Fiat 500 that sustained minor damage but was written off because the air-bags had deployed and it would cost over.... wait for it............. £2000-00 (YES, Two thousand pounds) to replace them.
I agree about the 90's cars though. Got a lovely Primera with one air-bag, no additional warning lights and probably no ecu to worry about. Hmmm.... now, that Saab suggestion is worth considering.....
Leigh (Area rep)
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cakie
club Member
Posts: 113 
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Post by cakie on Jun 30, 2014 6:36:59 GMT 1
2k for airbags isn't too bad. I work for Citroen, you should see the price of those. Lucky (or not so lucky for me) citroens tend to not be too bad to work on, and they're starting to get a bit competitive with parts prices. Still, give me an old car any day! My mg midget ran on the second turn over after sitting for at least 9 years (previous owner wasn't the brightest button) so easy to work on compared to modern cars... The BMW we have is a right pain to work on. Getting to things in the engine bay is a nightmare unless you've done it before. Too much plastic!
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Post by spottedlaurel on Jul 1, 2014 21:11:03 GMT 1
Until last Christmas I was still more than happy with my '93 Camry as a daily driver. If I wasn't doing so many miles for work (and it hadn't been written-off after someone drove into it, though I am looking to repair it soon) then I'd still happily be using it. I couldn't say that about the Laurel, much as I like the old thing. Yes, I know I used to cars like it as my daily driver but a car of the '90s with ABS, fuel injection and good heating/ventilation is a lot better as an day-to-day proposition. Other than significantly better economy there isn't that much my 2010 Avensis does that the Camry didn't.
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Post by gainsb1 on Jul 2, 2014 8:59:53 GMT 1
Agreed. My original point being about repairs and servicing. I "admire"those who drive their classics to work daily as they are not as "up to it" as the newer cars. Then again, at what point did our not-so-comfortable classics become more-comfortable classics for the daily grind? Up to mid-80's?
Leigh (Area rep)
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sunny
Full Member
B11 expert
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Post by sunny on Jul 3, 2014 0:15:07 GMT 1
Not only that, the modern car not as rigid as old car. That's the way car manufacturer earn profit. Most of simple part not service-able except dealer. Mitsubishi Mirage 2014 vs. Mercedes-Benz 1984  |
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bananahamuck
Full Member
Posts: 286
Location: Littlerock Washington USA
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Post by bananahamuck on Jul 8, 2014 18:07:27 GMT 1
The 2001 Dodge Grand caravan we have gets 21 mpg traveling 75 mph with 6 people and a 100Lb dog all day. My 71 510 gets 18 mpg traveling at 75 and if anything is in back seat it squats like crazy.. BUT i can pull all 4 plugs out of the Datsun do a compression check put plugs back in and test drive , ( probably even stop for pizza) , in the time it takes to get the front plug out of that Dodge 3.3 on the firewall side..
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Post by gainsb1 on Jul 9, 2014 8:47:14 GMT 1
Got a lovely Primera with one air-bag, no additional warning lights and probably no ecu to worry about.
Leigh (Area rep)  ... well, I did have. Body-styling by HGV Conversions (Located on the M25). But, just to add to the conversation, I have two colour-matched doors arriving soon from the breakers for the sum of £120-00. Another good reason for older cars. Leigh (Area rep) |
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... Its always been the sporty variants that I have driven and I certainly believe nothing can touch them in that bracket, but I would have to agree that they can be a pain to work on, although in their defence and as far as the modern car is concerned they are not the only car that's guilty of that now, most other manufacturers are just as bad and the reality is that its really just a case of that most cars now are a pain when it come to D.I.Y sadly, the modern BMW wont even let you check the oil as there is no dipstick !!!! .... The company's now are trying to cram sooo much into tight confines in the name of reducing space, due to market demand we get soo much more on a modern car compared to the older generation that trying to find places for it all to go is part of the issue.
