Next time you think Stags are expensive

[stustag]

Hi All

Just had a reality check of how expensive new cars are to run compared to the Stag!

2 examples one from fifth gear which stated that to change the cam chains on a VW VR6 engine costs £800:shock:

My wife's Peugeot 306 16V 1.8 needs a service which because of sketchy service info by the PO needs a new cam belt (47K on the clock). Along with this new rear discs and front wishbones (advisory on last MOT).

Peugeot dealer wants £700 to do this work which considering the parts cost £220 all in is practically daylight robbery. That is until I phone my local garage who wanted £860 to do the same jobs:shock:.

I will do the jobs myself I think except for the cam belt which requires special tools apparently

Stags and other Triumphs are so much cheaper to run I think the planned GT6 will need to be brought forwards.

Stuart

[dogsnadgers]

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Hi



How often do you have to change the cam chains on a VR6 though - I bet not very often! Cam belts are usually every 60,000 which for about £300 isn't too bad. I looked at spares for my wifes car the other day and couldn't belive how cheap they were (1.9tdi Skoda Fabia) ok so it's a Skoda. But it goes like you know what off a shovel and returns 50 plus to the gallon.

Dave

[Stag Beetle]

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Just had the fuel pump go on my new Nissan Pathfinder (4500 miles) the pump cost £1500 it took them half a day to get it out and half a day to put it back. So god knows what the labour charge would be.

[Guest]

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I will do the jobs myself I think except for the cam belt which requires special tools apparently

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Unsure about a Peugeot but the wifes Clio needed a cam belt replacement. Looking at the manual it also suggested special tools. done it myself without any of the special tools. Total cost including water pump £85:00, Renault dealer wanted £280:00.If you have a look at it may encourage you to try yourself.

http://www.donkennedy.co.uk/Clio/Clio.htm

The Peugeot may be different of course.


Good luck, Don Kennedy

[Sheepdip]

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Mondeo clutch - £750 (quote)

Mates Diesel Focus injector pump - £1100 (its apparently security coded with fuel pump, the electronics fail)

93 Fiesta rear brake hose support bracket, £0, I welded a bit of washing machine casing, MOT said it was excellent.

[STAG1973]

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My 1996 Rover 418 tourer

4 tyres, brake discs and pads, full exhaust, 3 part clutch and cable, full service for less than £600

Most reliable and cheapest carwe stillown swmbo uses,Rover 620 after 10 years ownership:shock:

Just wear and tear items, still on original clutch

Adrian

[Guest]

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The problem with new cars is it costs at least £70 just to be hooked up to a computer to tell you why there's an amber light on the dash. Because of this it cost us £156 to have a new temp sender fitted to (now sold) saab 93. £550 for a fuel pump, £100 for soft top limit switch ect, ect

Jason

[Sheepdip]

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STAG1973 wrote:

1996 Rover 418 tourer

4 tyres, brake discs and pads, full exhaust, 3 part clutch and cable, full service for less than £600

Most reliable and cheapest cari have owned Rover 620 after 10 years ownership:shock:

Just wear and tear items, still on original clutch

Adrian

1990 Rover 214 sadly now in the sky due to 2nd gearbox failure (I believe it was a VW or Peugeot box?). Likewise best car I've ever owned, 90k when bought, travelled Europe with trailer, 172k when it went, engine still strong, rust?whats that? Only down side was lack of PAS and rotting exhaust, but that 16v twin cam was a screamer.

[stustag]

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Sheepdip wrote:

STAG1973 wrote:

1996 Rover 418 tourer

4 tyres, brake discs and pads, full exhaust, 3 part clutch and cable, full service for less than £600

Most reliable and cheapest cari have owned Rover 620 after 10 years ownership:shock:

Just wear and tear items, still on original clutch

Adrian

1990 Rover 214 sadly now in the sky due to 2nd gearbox failure (I believe it was a VW or Peugeot box?). Likewise best car I've ever owned, 90k when bought, travelled Europe with trailer, 172k when it went, engine still strong, rust?whats that? Only down side was lack of PAS and rotting exhaust, but that 16v twin cam was a screamer.

Hi Paul

Gearbox was a Rover one R65 made inLongbridge, 1.4 K series 16V one of the best engines made. My Rover 25 1.4 iS used to pull 105mph in 3rd 75K never let me down.

Stuart

[STAG1973]

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My sister owns a 2003Renault megane from new and has cost £1000`s in parts and repairs

1 windscreen cracked on it`s own accord, handbrake lever ratchet failed, countless electrical faults,and the best one the cam shaft pulley weakens makes a grinding noise as it rubs on surrounding partsafter so many mlies and Renault charged her £800 for the privilege common fault apparently..:shock::shock:a truly s**te car.

Adrian

[Sheepdip]

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stustag wrote:

Sheepdip wrote:

STAG1973 wrote:

1996 Rover 418 tourer

4 tyres, brake discs and pads, full exhaust, 3 part clutch and cable, full service for less than £600

Most reliable and cheapest cari have owned Rover 620 after 10 years ownership:shock:

Just wear and tear items, still on original clutch

Adrian

1990 Rover 214 sadly now in the sky due to 2nd gearbox failure (I believe it was a VW or Peugeot box?). Likewise best car I've ever owned, 90k when bought, travelled Europe with trailer, 172k when it went, engine still strong, rust?whats that? Only down side was lack of PAS and rotting exhaust, but that 16v twin cam was a screamer.

Hi Paul

Gearbox was a Rover one R65 made inLongbridge, 1.4 K series 16V one of the best engines made. My Rover 25 1.4 iS used to pull 105mph in 3rd 75K never let me down.

Stuart

Stu, I stand corrected and apologise for maligning VW and Peugeot (well a little bit). Unfortunately the gearbox 5th gear broke twice and was weak, although to be fair the replacement was from a scrappie.

I thought the engine was on way out when it refused to rev > 3500, after lots of checks found the cam belt tensioning spring had broken, wrapped round a pulley andjumped the belt a few notches. New belt, retimed and good as ever. The head gasket did go once, gave me loads of warning which I put off and when it expired, engine seized.Used water from washer bottle, limped to garage for water, replaced gasket at home and off it went round France with family and trailer. Fantastic.

[STAG1973]

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stustag wrote:

Sheepdip wrote:

STAG1973 wrote:

1996 Rover 418 tourer

4 tyres, brake discs and pads, full exhaust, 3 part clutch and cable, full service for less than £600

Most reliable and cheapest cari have owned Rover 620 after 10 years ownership:shock:

Just wear and tear items, still on original clutch

Adrian

1990 Rover 214 sadly now in the sky due to 2nd gearbox failure (I believe it was a VW or Peugeot box?). Likewise best car I've ever owned, 90k when bought, travelled Europe with trailer, 172k when it went, engine still strong, rust?whats that? Only down side was lack of PAS and rotting exhaust, but that 16v twin cam was a screamer.

Hi Paul

Gearbox was a Rover one R65 made inLongbridge, 1.4 K series 16V one of the best engines made. My Rover 25 1.4 iS used to pull 105mph in 3rd 75K never let me down.

Stuart

The engine in my Tourer is a Peugeot xud diesel engine turbo charged, the 620 has the Honda 16vgreat engine. i had a 1991 414 i went to 166k,

Adrian

[Giles]

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you guys are getting me worried - Karen wants to change our old Discovery for a Audi A3 and looking at some of these costs if something goes wrong with it I will never be able to afford to fix it :shock:

[Sheepdip]

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The cam belt change costs annoy me, why did it become a lifed item with a £++ service cost? The old A series engine rattled from new but I never heard of a chain snapping.

[DJT]

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With the exception of the Stag, we are all VW/Audi diesels in our family. The only failure we have had was with my Son's '03' 1.9 TDIGolf when the drive pulley sheared off the alternator. This resulted in recovery back home and me taking him where he was supposed to be going in the Stag! Relatively easy job to replace the pulley and fit a new belt. Whilst I was at it, I looked at the cam belt which had been changed just before he bought it. Doesn't look too difficult a job.

A tip I was told some time ago with timing belts is to cut the old onethroughout its length down its middle and remove half the belt. Slide the new one over the pulleys until it meets the remaining half of the old one. Cut off the rest of the old one and fully slide the new one into place. This ensures that nothing moves and everything is still timed up as it was.

Don't think for one minute that it would work in every case, but may be worth exploring before you cut the old one off.

Dave