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[456lbft]

The whole Omega car scene has declined massively, despite being a great drivers car time has moved on, rust has crept in and fuel consumption (while never being it's strong point) is unacceptable when compared to other more modern offerings.

It's sad because they are possibly one the best cars i've driven based on work requirements dictating a comfy motorway car with plenty of boot space and the driver enjoyment of a half decent chassis.

I'm sure there will be a few well kept examples kicking around for a few years yet but they will be more enthusiast own cars, much like the Senator / Carlton scene.

The problem is, as always, what next if you want more of the same in a more modern, fuel efficient package... a question that everyone has a different answer for.

That question is surely worthy of it's own thread...

[dave the builder]

what next if you want more of the same in a more modern, fuel efficient package... a question that everyone has a different answer for.

That question is surely worthy of it's own thread...

There's plenty of threads already about what do you try and find to replace an Omega 
everyone has different ideas
I just offset the 24 MPG running cost of an Omega against the depreciation on something newer
everything else about the Omega i'm happy with /suites my needs

[Doctor Gollum]

It's a bebate that has raged since about 2010. The answers haven't changed much...

[ronnyd]

It's a bebate that has raged since about 2010. The answers haven't changed much...

That's bebatable. 

[Doctor Gollum]

It's a bebate that has raged since about 2010. The answers haven't changed much...

That's bebatable. 

That too

[Raeturbo]

I like a good bebate
                                C22H29FO5

[johnnydog]

That was talked out in the 80's within my Triumph classic car club when I ran a Mk1 2000 as my daily car - what would we buy as a replacement when the rust decided their fate.
I still have the actual same car today, but I took all the available precautions available at the time to reduce the effects of corrosion, collected a good selection of new spare parts, and I still use it, not as a daily driver, but for enjoyable driving. My Omega was my daily, but they have now been resigned to more occasional use with some donors for parts.
With the appropriate care, they will last for many more years than was intended when they were built

[cam.in.head]

they certainly will.
i and no doubt many older members on here will remember cars from the sixties and seventies which normally lasted between 10 to 15 years absolute maximum until, the rust got them.door skins flapping loose,front and rear valance made entirely of filler ,the majority of cars over 5 years old had a yearly rising underseal layer all around the car !.
ive worked and restored many a car from this era and to be honest its a pleasant change to have something newer like an omega which doesnt realy rust compared to the older stuff.
yes sills will rust,wheelarches,etc etc but nothing even remotely like the older stuff and nothing that will ever render them scrap except in the most severe of cases.
modern cars die of electrical issues nowadays ( or garages that dont want to work on them so quote silly repair prices)rendering them "uneconomical to repair" to an average owner.
omegas will undoubtably remain in the hands of enthusiasts like some of us and will gain the same appreciation as any car would which was originally classed as an "everyday car".

[456lbft]

Well since yesterday, there is one less on the road.



At least I have at least one left that's worth saving .  I do wonder whether these cars will ever be viable to fully restore, because it will take far too long to strip down to a shell and do it properly.
So it is definitely worth preserving the good ones, which should be what this forum is all about.

[Doctor Gollum]

Cars are built to last 100k miles.

Most modern cars will do double this with the minimum of fuss with the odd notable exception.

Scrappage schemes serve only to fuel the economy, but have the consequence of destroying thousands of perfectly decent cars. 

[Doctor Gollum]

 

[Mister Rog]

they certainly will.
i and no doubt many older members on here will remember cars from the sixties and seventies which normally lasted between 10 to 15 years absolute maximum until, the rust got them.door skins flapping loose,front and rear valance made entirely of filler ,the majority of cars over 5 years old had a yearly rising underseal layer all around the car !.
ive worked and restored many a car from this era and to be honest its a pleasant change to have something newer like an omega which doesnt realy rust compared to the older stuff.
yes sills will rust,wheelarches,etc etc but nothing even remotely like the older stuff and nothing that will ever render them scrap except in the most severe of cases.
modern cars die of electrical issues nowadays ( or garages that dont want to work on them so quote silly repair prices)rendering them "uneconomical to repair" to an average owner.
omegas will undoubtably remain in the hands of enthusiasts like some of us and will gain the same appreciation as any car would which was originally classed as an "everyday car".

Yep. I remember having an 8 year old car that was an utter rustbucket (Hillman Hunter). Cars are a lot less disposable now than they were then. I've not long bought a 6 year old and it's almost like new.

I did like my Omegas though. I had four. But I really need reliability on long hauls. And, I don't do my own work, so I can't have a car as a hobby. I don't have the time, interest, or aptitude for tinkering.

[Raeturbo]

I had a hunter 1725 Gt, I thought it was a rocket then! I also got a Sunbeam Rapier H120 later,  Jesus I thought that was quick! Although I suppose when I owned both they were. Next was 2.5 PI triumph, that was faster still but unreliable and had a greater thirst than I did at that time👀👀 2.4 and 3.4 mk2 Jags  followed but Even harder to maintain😟 In case of confusion they were all old and well used by the time I had them😎😂

[johnnydog]

I had a hunter 1725 Gt, I thought it was a rocket then! I also got a Sunbeam Rapier H120 later,  Jesus I thought that was quick! Although I suppose when I owned both they were. Next was 2.5 PI triumph, that was faster still but unreliable and had a greater thirst than I did at that time👀👀 2.4 and 3.4 mk2 Jags  followed but Even harder to maintain😟 In case of confusion they were all old and well used by the time I had them😎😂

Still got two Mk2 Triumph 2.5PI's - superb cars! Very fast in their day, although they were let down by the lack of knowledge of the 'new' Lucas fuel injection system. Owning one today, when all the gremlins have been long overcome and owners are far more knowledgeable about the fuel system, still brings a smile to my face when I drive them. Although rated at only 132 bhp, they feel phenomially quick compared with their carburettered siblings. One I have owned since 1993, and the other since 1998 during which time you learn a lot about the mechanical fuel injection! Everyone has it easy today with it all being controlled electrically......

[dave the builder]

I had a T reg orange Dolomite sprint back in the day with a laurel wreath emblem on the bonnet
that was fast car ,comfy , thirsty , rusty , pretty much like an Omega then