Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: jereboam on 01 July 2013, 12:45:23
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It would seem that my Omega is beyond economic repair - see this post http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=115848.15 (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/index.php?topic=115848.15).
So I've got to get something else. Don't know what. Since I retired, I don't really do much mileage - probably about 6000 a year, including 1500 on the annual holiday. Most of the rest consists of 4 mile trips to the supermarket or to take my wife to work, or 1 mile trips halfway into town to the bus stop so I can use my bus pass and don't have to pay the extortionate parking charges in Ipswich when I go to do my shift in the charity shop. Once a week I do a 55 mile round trip on the A14 to Bury St. Edmunds, again for voluntary work.
I don't think I can justify another Omega - too expensive to run. As would be anything of that size. Speed not an issue - don't go very fast these days. Would much prefer an automatic, and that probably rules out most diesels, as the 2.0 automatic Mondeo I had before the Omega was diabolically underpowered - never in the right gear. Don't think I'd be happy with anything less than a 1.5, more likely a 1.8. Needs to be a reasonable size, and have a reasonably capacious boot. Not sure about whether I'd want another estate - think I prefer saloons. Not really enthusiastic about hatchbacks, either.
Don't expect the same level of trim or all the toys the Omega had, but it needs to be reasonably comfortable. The garage man says to go for something Japanese, but I've got an irrational (but not insuperable) prejudice against Japanese cars. Wouldn't really fancy anything French, either.
Don't have any money either, so my top whack is about £1500, but I'd be happier if I can find something around the £1000 mark. Doesn't have to last forever - I won't (TBH, I thought the Omega would outlast me).
Any suggestions about what I should be looking for? And where?
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
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With a suitable second hand abs unit fitted for £100-£150, why spend a grand on an unknown car :-\
If you insist on a replacement car, then I would suggest a budget of £600 for the car, plus £400 for a service/cambelt/brake overhaul/tyres :-\ No point blowing the budget on a car only to find the exhaust falls off and you've no cash to sort it...
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
Dam dam and double dam. I hate it when I have to agree with STEMO. But what he says makes sense. An open mind on cars will pay dividends :y
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
Dam dam and double dam. I hate it when I have to agree with STEMO. But what he says makes sense. An open mind on cars will pay dividends :y
That's triple dam.
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I counted 4 ;D
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With a suitable second hand abs unit fitted for £100-£150, why spend a grand on an unknown car :-\
If you insist on a replacement car, then I would suggest a budget of £600 for the car, plus £400 for a service/cambelt/brake overhaul/tyres :-\ No point blowing the budget on a car only to find the exhaust falls off and you've no cash to sort it...
If I could get it fixed for £150, I'd leap at the chance. Unfortunately, the prevailing wisdom indicates that it might cost a lot more than that. It seems to be the ECU that's at fault, and it may not be that easy to get a second hand replacement - has to come from an identical model. A new one would cost (according to someone on here who investigated this a few years back) upwards of £300. In any case, I can't fit it myself, and it's apparently quite difficult to do because it's not easily accessible. The same source quoted £500 for fitting by Vauxhall, so it's obviously several hours labour whoever does it.
As for a replacement, I'm likely to go to a dealer - don't like buying privately. May cost a bit more, but when the exhaust falls off, I can go back and shout at them. Anyway, the man from my local garage, who knows a thing or two about cars, said he'd come with me to have a look at anything I was considering buying. Don't think a dealer would be too happy about that, but it'll work well if I do buy privately.
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
Sounds sensible to me. But as I said above, I'm quite likely to go to a dealer - even if I only get 30 days warranty, I can complain if doesn't do what it says on the tin.
But before I do anything else, I'm going to have an ask round among all my acquaintances to see if anyone knows anyone who's looking to sell a decent runner.
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With a suitable second hand abs unit fitted for £100-£150, why spend a grand on an unknown car :-\
If you insist on a replacement car, then I would suggest a budget of £600 for the car, plus £400 for a service/cambelt/brake overhaul/tyres :-\ No point blowing the budget on a car only to find the exhaust falls off and you've no cash to sort it...
If I could get it fixed for £150, I'd leap at the chance. Unfortunately, the prevailing wisdom indicates that it might cost a lot more than that. It seems to be the ECU that's at fault, and it may not be that easy to get a second hand replacement - has to come from an identical model. A new one would cost (according to someone on here who investigated this a few years back) upwards of £300. In any case, I can't fit it myself, and it's apparently quite difficult to do because it's not easily accessible. The same source quoted £500 for fitting by Vauxhall, so it's obviously several hours labour whoever does it.
As for a replacement, I'm likely to go to a dealer - don't like buying privately. May cost a bit more, but when the exhaust falls off, I can go back and shout at them. Anyway, the man from my local garage, who knows a thing or two about cars, said he'd come with me to have a look at anything I was considering buying. Don't think a dealer would be too happy about that, but it'll work well if I do buy privately.
Believe you can get your existing ecu repaired for around £100 - other members who have had it done will no doubt confirm.
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
Dam dam and double dam. I hate it when I have to agree with STEMO. But what he says makes sense. An open mind on cars will pay dividends :y
I agree with the old reprobate, too.
Very worrying. ;) :)
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http://www.ecutesting.com/vauxhall_vectra_omega_abs_pump.html
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http://www.ecutesting.com/vauxhall_vectra_omega_abs_pump.html
For £100 this makes sense. :y
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http://www.ecutesting.com/vauxhall_vectra_omega_abs_pump.html
For £100 this makes sense. :y
...............and the car can still be used whilst awaiting the return of repaired unit
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Can't suggest an actual make or model, J, but why not try auto trader? Just put in the distance you are willing to travel, your £1000 budget, engine size and body style and see what pops up. There really are some bargains out there.
Plus...if you keep an open mind, rather than looking for something in particular, you're more likely to succeed...probably. ;D
Sounds sensible to me. But as I said above, I'm quite likely to go to a dealer - even if I only get 30 days warranty, I can complain if doesn't do what it says on the tin.
But before I do anything else, I'm going to have an ask round among all my acquaintances to see if anyone knows anyone who's looking to sell a decent runner.
Dealers sell sub-£1000 cars on the trader.
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I paid £20 for an abs unit off ebay inc postage. The seller also had the speedo from the same car for sale which showed 170k. My reckoning was that it had already been overhauled. 1.5 hour to fit if you have done it before.
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Dealers sell sub-£1000 cars on the trader.
Had a brief look - everything over 1.4l within 60 miles of here which is less than £1k seems to be older than the Omega...
Don't want a 1997 Renault clit, thank you very much.
Or am I being a bit picky?
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I paid £20 for an abs unit off ebay inc postage. The seller also had the speedo from the same car for sale which showed 170k. My reckoning was that it had already been overhauled. 1.5 hour to fit if you have done it before.
It's likely I could get replacement parts from the second hand market, but I don't have the capability to carry out the replacement work myself, nor do I know anyone who could do it for me, and the man at the garage has made it quite clear that he never wants to see my car again!
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When my ABS ECU went a few years ago, I found a garage that removed it for me, I sent it off for repair and when it came back they refitted it! :)
They charged me £60 and IIRC the repair cost £125 from BBA Reman in Kent, so it cost £185 to sort! :y
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Still a damn sight cheaper than an unknown replacement car ::)
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Still a damn sight cheaper than an unknown replacement car ::)
My point exactly..... :y
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I have got a 3.0 ecu-under my bench--out of plod estate that was v reg---any use?
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I have got a 3.0 ecu-under my bench--out of plod estate that was v reg---any use?
If auto, yes. If manual, will need a TechII tweak
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manual :-\ but only cost post :y if wanted/useful :) if not-stay were it is---under bench
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Will have to think about this.
Very disappointed with what I found on Auto Trader, but still reluctant to spend more money on the Omega.
One of my problems is that I'm not a mechanic - I used to service my Triumph Herald and the Sprite, but that was 40 years ago, and they weren't quite as complicated as modern cars. I actually went outside and had a look under the bonnet of the Omega a bit earlier. I couldn't even identify the ABS/ECU unit, let alone remove it from the car.
Now, I use a very good local garage - reasonable prices, thorough, skilled. I fell out with them a couple of years back, and started trying to find someone else to maintain the car. I paid one bloke best part of £800 to fix a number of problems over a period of a few months, and, quite frankly, he systematically destroyed the car - most of the present difficulties can be traced back to the various lousy jobs he did on bits that were were working fine before he went near them. So I've made it up with local garage and he has gradually been putting things right. But, even though he knows how much I like the car, he says I'd be an idiot to try and fix the speedo/ABS problem - waste of money.
What this boils down to is that even if I buy replacement parts, I haven't got any way of replacing the broken bits. And if I did find someone to do it for me, it's going to cost bomb. And next week, something else might go wrong.
On the other hand, on the sort of limited budget I have for finding a replacement vehicle, that last comment is likely to be just as true of any new acquisition.
I'm beginning to think I'm going to be very reliant on my bus pass...
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he says I'd be an idiot to try and fix the speedo/ABS problem - waste of money.
Nonsense, why would you be an idiot to put something (which is a commono issue) right on a car you otherwise love? Sounds like he just can't be @rsed with the work.
What this boils down to is that even if I buy replacement parts, I haven't got any way of replacing the broken bits.
Yep you have. Myself, and numerous other members will almost certainly help you.
And if I did find someone to do it for me, it's going to cost bomb.
Not in the slightest. Your comment about doing it all within £150 sounds quite realistic to me ;)
And next week, something else might go wrong.
And exactly the same could be said for any Sub 4k car you buy on the used market.....
On the other hand, on the sort of limited budget I have for finding a replacement vehicle, that last comment is likely to be just as true of any new acquisition.
Exactly!
I'm beginning to think I'm going to be very reliant on my bus pass...
Please don't be so glass half empty... it's a common problem, which can be fixed, cheaply.... I honestly think you're just in a negative mindset because, with the greatest of respect, you've been using a $hit garage who don't give a toss, and you've had enough!
If I paid a few hundred notes to get something back unfixed, I'd be off to the small claims court quicker than you can say the word cowboy!! :y
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So I've made it up with local garage and he has gradually been putting things right. But, even though he knows how much I like the car, he says I'd be an idiot to try and fix the speedo/ABS problem - waste of money.
If you're friends again with your local garage, it wouldn't hurt to find out how much it would cost to remove/replace the ABS/ECU. As I said it cost me £60, but that was 5 years ago so I'm guessing a bit more than that. You can source the part or send yours off to be repaired yourself. ;)
The garage I used thought I was absolutely nuts and were laughing at me when they handed over the unit, but I was laughing at them a few days later after they refitted it and it worked fine!! :)
As Al has pointed out it would be cheaper than an unknown replacement! Better the devil you know!! :y
Wise words from James, as well as an offer of assistance!!! :y :y :y
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he says I'd be an idiot to try and fix the speedo/ABS problem - waste of money.
Nonsense, why would you be an idiot to put something (which is a commono issue) right on a car you otherwise love? Sounds like he just can't be @rsed with the work.
Don't love the car. Like it a lot, but it's just a car, and if it it has to go, I'll get used to something else. The garage man, let's call him David, 'cos that's his name, is one of those blokes that would do anything for anybody. His advice was purely financial - he described the car as a "money pit".
[Please don't be so glass half empty... it's a common problem, which can be fixed, cheaply.... I honestly think you're just in a negative mindset because, with the greatest of respect, you've been using a $hit garage who don't give a toss, and you've had enough!
If I paid a few hundred notes to get something back unfixed, I'd be off to the small claims court quicker than you can say the word cowboy!! :y
Don't think I didn't think about it! But I decided that given the age and general condition of the car, I'd find it difficult to prove that he'd actually caused the problems. I didn't even take the car back to him to get the faults rectified, as I really didn't trust the b****r not to mess up something else. However, I did go in there a couple of months back and gave him something of a tongue lashing. He asked why I hadn't brought the car back to complain at the time - see comment 2 sentences back!
I don't have much time today, but I think I'm going to spend tomorrow morning touring the local used car dealers to see what I could get, then I'll make a decision about what I'm going to do.
I should mention that my wife, the only source of funding available to me these days, isn't enthusiastic about spending more money on the Omega. Having failed to win any argument for the past 40 years, I am not sure I can convince her that the Omega would be preferable to a 10 year old Renault clit (or whatever) when we drive up to Scotland next month. She'll be sorry...
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Sorry - messed up editing the last post. Seriously thinking about getting it fixed - PM sent to JamesV6CDX.
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This one looks nice ;D ;) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-Vauxhall-Omega-2-2DTi-CDX-DIESEL-LEATHER-/281116733856?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4173dcf1a0
Like the colour and diseasal ..
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As sure as 'eggs is eggs' you're going to buy another Omega, Mr EMD.
I'd lay money on it. :y
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The amount of newer Omega's you could pick up for £1000 is unreal. The ABS ECU is a common fault and easily rectified, exactly as James said :y.
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The amount of newer Omega's you could pick up for £1000 is unreal. The ABS ECU is a common fault and easily rectified, exactly as James said :y.
+1 :y
Trade the old girl in , the car i mean ::) ;D
P.s Dont buy a peugeot ::) :-[ :-[ :-X
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This one looks nice ;D ;) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-Vauxhall-Omega-2-2DTi-CDX-DIESEL-LEATHER-/281116733856?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4173dcf1a0
Like the colour and diseasal ..
and i would like to shoot mine ;D ;D
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and i would like to shoot mine ;D ;D
Stick one o' these in yours Wilf:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43954633/GardnerLW33.jpg)
... pretty straightforward ... I reckon ;)
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and i would like to shoot mine ;D ;D
Stick one o' these in yours Wilf:
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43954633/GardnerLW33.jpg)
... pretty straightforward ... I reckon ;)
Might be a bit too much grunt there if you're used to a 4 pot. ;)
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Can't see the clutch lasting too long with that in there ;D
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Might be a bit too much grunt there if you're used to a 4 pot. ;)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43954633/GardnerLW33.jpg)
Gardner 6HLW - 8.4 litres and 112 horses @ 1700 RPM ... from memory!
Can't see the clutch lasting too long with that in there ;D
Discard the VX clutch, and use the OE set-up. 8)
I read somewhere that the clutches on these were guaranteed to cover 100k miles without needing adjustment!
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Might be a bit too much grunt there if you're used to a 4 pot. ;)
(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43954633/GardnerLW33.jpg)
Gardner 6HLW - 8.4 litres and 112 horses @ 1700 RPM ... from memory!
Can't see the clutch lasting too long with that in there ;D
Discard the VX clutch, and use the OE set-up. 8)
I read somewhere that the clutches on these were guaranteed to cover 100k miles without needing adjustment!
Looks like an army tank engine to me ;D ;D ;)
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Here you go: a Tiger V12 tank engine
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/TigerTankEngine.jpg)
:D :D :D ;) ;)
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Here you go: a Tiger V12 tank engine
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/TigerTankEngine.jpg)
:D :D :D ;) ;)
That might upset the neutral balance of the handling Lizzie, if you drop it in your Elite.. ;) ;D ;D :-* :-* :-*
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Here you go: a Tiger V12 tank engine
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/TigerTankEngine.jpg)
:D :D :D ;) ;)
That might upset the neutral balance of the handling, Lizzie if you drop it in your Elite.. ;) ;D ;D :-* :-* :-*
I was wondering about utilizing the boot space............and rear seats................in fact ALL the seats! I'll sit and drive where the present engine is! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
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Here you go: a Tiger V12 tank engine
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/TigerTankEngine.jpg)
:D :D :D ;) ;)
That might upset the neutral balance of the handling Lizzie, if you drop it in your Elite.. ;) ;D ;D :-* :-* :-*
It'll probably upset the front springs more :-X
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Here you go: a Tiger V12 tank engine
(http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk247/lizziefreeman/TigerTankEngine.jpg)
:D :D :D ;) ;)
That might upset the neutral balance of the handling Lizzie, if you drop it in your Elite.. ;) ;D ;D :-* :-* :-*
It'll probably upset the front springs more :-X
Mmmmmmmmm................maybe some ballast up front would help? ??? ???
;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
After all these engines were fitted to the rear of the tank. ;)
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This one looks nice ;D ;) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-Vauxhall-Omega-2-2DTi-CDX-DIESEL-LEATHER-/281116733856?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4173dcf1a0
Like the colour and diseasal ..
Very nice car, not too far from here, only: - I don't particularly want another Omega
- My wife doesn't want another Omega
- It ain't an automatic
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This one looks nice ;D ;) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2002-52-Vauxhall-Omega-2-2DTi-CDX-DIESEL-LEATHER-/281116733856?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4173dcf1a0
Like the colour and diseasal ..
Very nice car, not too far from here, only: - I don't particularly want another Omega
- My wife doesn't want another Omega
- It ain't an automatic
Plus....that seller has no feedback, apart from buying buttons or something :-\
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Went over to Bury today. 20-odd miles on the A14. Couple of observations:
- If whatever car I get next doesn't have cruise control, I am likely to get speeding points and lose my licence.
- Without the ABS/ECU, the car seems to be drinking petrol at an even greater rate than usual.
- Standard of driving on the A14 between Bury St. Edmunds and Ipswich between 17:15 and 17:45 this evening can only be described as abysmal. Doesn't anybody apart from me know that you are supposed to use BOTH lanes? WTF is the point of all queuing up to drive at 60 in the outside lane when there is absolutely no traffic at all in the inside lane?
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sorry chap but abs is cheaper than another car TBH so you have to decide what you going to do--your cash after all ;) there are people on here who could check your car-but up to you mate-sorry if seem abrupt but some come on here whinge whine and moan yet never follow advice given--harsh-but true--only you can decide what you going to do-I would consider PM to mech in your area first-99% garages aint got a clue with miggys :'(
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sorry chap but abs is cheaper than another car TBH so you have to decide what you going to do--your cash after all ;) there are people on here who could check your car-but up to you mate-sorry if seem abrupt but some come on here whinge whine and moan yet never follow advice given--harsh-but true--only you can decide what you going to do-I would consider PM to mech in your area first-99% garages aint got a clue with miggys :'(
That's me!
But I really don't know what to do. Already talking to someone on here who can fix the ABS. That's the cheapest option, but there may be other problems looming:
- Steering geometry
- Power steering
- Exhaust/rear suspension/something's going clunk
- Headlight switch
- Gearbox (possibly)
- Rust
Not to mention some minor details:
- Some of the switch lamps don't work
- CD magazine jammed - can't get my discs out
- Paintwork not good, even on the non-rusty bits
- Front bumper blue, rest of car black(ish)
- Big dent in boot lid
Runs well, though, mostly. :)
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crikey mate--that is a list--my old man got himself a micra--06 plate---not the square one--its nice to drive and he wishes he got one years ago :y as for your miggy--mmmm lot going on-but all said and done tough call eh ---my mig done 247+k and worth about £100 scrap--with head gaskets shot--cheaper to change engine--We did---still got it :D :D mad i know-but part of family--no sense i know-more an emotional thing really :y some will say do it up-others will say get another car--only you can decide mate--contact breakers--albitz-is one--but there are a few--all i get is engines to make coffee tables--all v6 worth to me ;) ;) ;) good luck with whatever you do mate--if i was nearer i would gladly help-am sure others are same :y