I hate cars

[VladTepes]

Well the Falcon is kind of buggered AGAIN.

Having spent $$$ to replace all the suspension bits, the gearbox and various ancillaries, the air-con has now buggered up. Oh, and the odometer just for good measure.

Air con is leaking in several places according to the dye.

Option 1) Replace all parts with new (new complete system) approx$2,000 - and this for an EB 6 cylinder. :roll:

Option 2) For about $450sih - Get some 'gunk' that the air con people can use to seal the under-dash leak from insie the system, and buy a 2nd hand compressor. Obvious risk is the compressor might fail, made even more likely by fact that 'gunk' thickens the oil. While the compressor may be covered by 3 month wreckers warranty, the rest of the system / gas etc etc won't be covered AT ALL.

Option 3) Regas the system every few months at $77 a pop.

I'd probably have to go at least option 2 if I wanted to trade the car.

Odometer problem is apparently a common one. Two teeth on one of the plastic cog wheel thingies inisde the speedo strip out and all tripmeter/odometer functions ceases. The plastic but itself is worth bugger all but the labour 8O involves striiping the dash out enough to get out the instrument cluster, stripping the speedo down to replace the but and reassembly. 1.5 hours work $180 says mr Ford thank you very bloody much.

So I (again) have a dilemma. We want a car with air con (well, she insists). We have not much money. We have already spent a $hitload of $$$ fixing the car so far - it works great except for the air con thing. Any new(er) car we might buy is likely to a) cost more and style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif have problems of its own that need addressing. The redbook 'value' of the Falcon is only about $3,000 (250,000K on the clock) but as I said new gearbox etc. Which is considerably less than we've already spent fixing the f'ing thing. (long story).

So any helpful advice :?:

[Phoenix]

Go with 2, or just trade it in as it is. The subaru i'm trtading in tomorrow I reakon needs about $2k of work. Exhaust holes, CV on the way out, engine tuneup (or new engine maybe), unterior going downhill, reupholster drivers seat, hole car needs a coat of paint, you get the picture :wink:

Get something newer (preferably with an extra small lever :wink: )

[VladTepes]

Yeah well like I said don't really have much cash and any, say, Rangie we might be able to afford (say up to a 93 model) I might be able to convince her to buy but given the age is going to need work itself so probably a false economy. (esp the fuel consumption :roll: )

I really don't know what to do.

Me very :cry:

[Phoenix]

I suspect that you will just have to get a different "Car" then, plenty of options out there depending on what you need. Some of the older imprezas are getting to some pretty good prices now, and are pretty reliable and economical vehicles.

[incisor]

Originally posted by VladTepes
Yeah well like I said don't really have much cash and any, say, Rangie we might be able to afford (say up to a 93 model) I might be able to convince her to buy but given the age is going to need work itself so probably a false economy. (esp the fuel consumption :roll: )

I really don't know what to do.

Me very :cry:

park the car in the NEW shed, shoot it with the NEW shotgun, pull up the NEW path put it in boot and push it into the NEW pool with the landie!

oh you dont want to spend money on divorce... you might need to buy nice new daihatsu sirion!

8O

[Pedro_The_Swift]

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

thats at Inc,, not you Vlad,,
(well maybe a little,,, :wink: )

trade the bloody thing in on ANYTHING.

buy something,,,
dont keep pouring money down a pit of a car you dont even like,,,

remember even sirions have aircon :wink:

[disco95]

Get rid of the damn thing vlad. Don't fall into the trap of another ford though, you'll be back to square one. You should go the Holden (gert that into ya ace) style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[VladTepes]

Don't let this degenerate into a Hold v Ford thing - not very helpful to me.

It's not that I don't like it - just that it keeps f*ing up on me.

Bastard !!!


Does anyone know how much Mrs Tdi paid for her Freebie ?

[Maggot4x4]

How much is not much in terms of $$$?

We get company cars come up for sale from time to time. Generally 3yo with 100k's. All commodores, all serviced, last one went for $9250 for a VX II

[Yabbie]

I could fix problem #2 for you vlad but you is so far aways.

It seems like problem #1 Air con is more of a mrs Vlad problem, then again if memory serves me right when WOMEN get a problem somehow in automatically becomes the males problem and failing that they'll make sure it becomes your problem :wink:

My therory is that if you have spent so much on fixing everything so far and I imagine you have spent alot why get rid of it to buy someone elses problems they didn't want to fix. Carefully :wink: remind mrs Vlad of the financial position your in and explain the benifits of 2-40 aircon. Tell her i said that she can afford to up grade to 4-40 for little or no extra cost.

And remember while the Odometer cable isn't working you wont be running up the K's, and if using the 2-40 method you will be able to judge your speed much better. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif :roll: :wink:

[DiscoTDI]

get a freelander style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Ace]

Move to tassie, then you wont need air con. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

It sounds as thought you have put some time/effort/dollars into the old girl Vlad. Given this, it might be better to spend the dollars and get the old girl fixed, at least that way you know what has been done to the vehicle and how good it is.

If you were to buy another car, i would be looking at an early 90's Commodore. I holden ford debate aside, you can pick up early model commodores for well under $4000, with air con and the 3.8 V6 will go for ages if it has been looked after. Mine had done 325000km before i sold it to buy the disco, the air con was spot on, the engine went like new and never used a drop of oil between changes. Also has a VN commodore, her x went with her to buy it, they paid $1800, it has done 170000km, the oil hadnt been changed, it had water in the radiatior, no coolant, i gave it a full service and it goes like new. If you find a reasonably well maintained one you cant go far wrong. Oh and they are better on fuel than the earlier fords, thats why i bought mine. I regularily got under 10L/100km using premium.

Matt

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by DiscoTDI
get a freelander style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

What did she pay for hers ?

[Ace]

Forget all the crap i just dribbled, Vlad, and get a freelander. Thats the only useful thing i have heard from DiscoTDi in a long time. :wink: Matt

[VladTepes]

What makes you think I remember the crap you dribble :?: style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[adm333]

Hey Vlad

If it makes you feel any better, I just grabbed my ankles today for the radiator guy (figuratively speaking of course - I won't go that far for a discount).

$700 for a new core in the radiator ( and the TEFBA coolant filter - what's $50 for a bit of insurance when you just spent $650)

The problem is - you never know what or when something will go wrong. Statistically speaking, with this car, even if you fix this round of problems you can't guarantee nothing else will happen.

Best change to a car that you really love, then at least when something goes wrong you can fix it less begrudgingly (is that spelling OK Ron ?).

SWMBO still thinks mine is a money pit, but then she got the car she wanted (<span style="font-size:36pt;line-height:100%">CR-V</span>). And yes she too is the Aircon queen. She could hardly handle turning it off up steep hills on the way back from Sydney (overheating problem which is now fixed).

Dave

[Ace]

Just shop around vlad, dont rush into anything. Buy a car which you like and which you feel is a good deal, dont go out and buy a car just so you can have air con. Matt

[hiline]

dont buy a crappy land cruiser either :evil: :evil:

[Ace]

Originally posted by hiline
dont buy a crappy land cruiser either :evil: :evil:

I dont think vlad would do that. Mind you there has been alot of people buying outside the camp lately. matt

[hiline]

must be somthing in the water :!: :!:

[adm333]

As they say its better to have someone inside the tent pi$$ing out than have someone oustide the tent pi$$ing in.

Trouble is these people buying Cruisers is like they're inside the tent pi$$ing in.

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[Ace]

Originally posted by hiline
must be somthing in the water :!: :!:

I must take some to school for my science class to test. It may be poluted with valvoline, after all when John Laws drinks it it makes him want to drive a toyo. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif Matt

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Ace+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ace)</div><div class='quotemain'>Just shop around vlad, dont rush into anything. Buy a car which you like and which you feel is a good deal, dont go out and buy a car just so you can have air con. Matt[/b]

Mrs Vlad can live without air con but she does like it in the car.
She won't even LET me put some in the house. Doesn;t like it she says. :roll:


Originally posted by Ace@

<!--QuoteBegin-Hiline
dont buy a crappy land cruiser either

I dont think vlad would do that. Mind you there has been alot of people buying outside the camp lately. matt[/quote]

But all Land Cruisers are crap so thats tautological (that's a word I put in for Ron). And no, I wouldn't buy one.


I'd buy two.













No. Not really.








Mrs Vlad needs a car that will fit in the multi-storey low-clearance car parks that abound in town, which rules out another Defender. And any rangie we might afford would be too old. She's not averse to a Disco or Freelander BUT they cost $ you know. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[Ace]

Just keep an open mind, as long as its a model within the Land Rover range. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif Matt

[Phoenix]

Freelander is a good vehicle, but whatever you do, don't get the 1.8L petrol engine. If you need any convincing of this, talk to DionM, he has all the info. I've aquited a lot of it in my recent travels looking at freelanders. I still like them better than what we are getting, but I won;t go into that too much.

And who said you never need aircon here in tassie :evil:

Have you ever been here :?:

It was 27 in our bedroom night before last before we went to bed, aircon is nice here too!!!! style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[medic455]

Hmmmmmm............Pick yourself up a tidy pre-loved PATROL........ :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif .... :wink:

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by medic455
Hmmmmmm............Pick yourself up a tidy pre-loved PATROL........ :twisted: style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif :wink:

Hmm, I have a mate who has had a GQ since new and is still very happy with it.
I might just do that.






































<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">
NOT !!</span>

[incisor]

this is the blank line police speaking...

Vlad, front and center!

[VladTepes]

problem, officer :?:

[medic455]

nothing that a bullet wont fix......... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Redback]

Ace Wrote;
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Just keep an open mind, as long as its a model within the Land Rover range. Matt
[/b][/quote]

What was the make of your second car again, Matt :wink:

Vlad i know where you can pick up a cheap Ford style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif just been washed style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Redback
Ace Wrote;
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Just keep an open mind, as long as its a model within the Land Rover range. Matt


What was the make of your second car again, Matt :wink:

Vlad i know where you can pick up a cheap Ford style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif just been washed style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/b][/quote]

It's a FORD :!: style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif :roll:

[Redback]

Vlad Wrote;

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>It's a FORD [/b][/quote]

But it's clean :?: and besides so are Landrovers now, well owned buy.

[VladTepes]

No, I mean my current car is a FORD. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Yabbie]

Originally posted by Redback
Vlad Wrote;

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>It's a FORD

But it's clean :?: and besides so are Landrovers now, well owned buy.[/b][/quote]

<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">WHAT YOU BROUGHT A LANDROVER?????</span>

[Ace]

Originally posted by Redback
Ace Wrote;
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>Just keep an open mind, as long as its a model within the Land Rover range. Matt


What was the make of your second car again, Matt :wink:

Vlad i know where you can pick up a cheap Ford style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif just been washed style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif[/b][/quote]

It was a holden commodore, Why? If you are wondering why i had a holden its because i was a holden fan, and still would be if Russell Ingall hadnt moved to Ford. I dont really have a preference, I do prefer the BA to the new holdens, but i got the commodore because they are more economical than the equivalent falcon, that needs to be taken into consideration when you are a uni student. matt

[PeterM]

Vlad, with any car (especially an Australian one) that age you will have things to attend to. With the money you have put into this one you would be ****ing it up against the wall to get rid of it now.

My advice would be to try and live without the a/c and save some $ so you can buy the best car you can afford. Unless you and the missus are planning on taking separate vehicles 4wdriving stay with a car, you don't need the extra maintenance and fuel burden.

My younger brother is a mechanic and has recently left working at a Holden dealership to work for BMW. If he was flying over a yard full of those cars he'd cross his legs until he could get to a toilet to relieve himself.

Whenever buying a car look at how it has been maintained and don't pay too much attention to the km. See if you can get the missus into a small-mid sized jap car, they do tend to build them quite well, despite our feeling towards 'Cruisers.

Something like a Honda Civic, Pulsar etc may suit. I don't know what $ you've got but do shop around and get the best you can afford. It's worth it in the long run.

As a side note my brother is almost finished converting an '88 Mazda 929 to manual. It has a/c and runs quite well (new ignition loom and all injectors cleaned) but I don't know when he'll have it finished and the body needs a decent polish which he is going to get done. I think he'd expect about $3k for it, not sure.

[noddy]

Vlad -- how about this, I am being serious.

1. Get rid of the Falcon. Don't spend money, time and STRESS on something you don't like. Life is simply too short!
2. Work out how much you have spent on it in recent times.
3. Start looking for a 2-door Rangie (~$3,000). You want one that can be a bit ratty, but runs well and has good long-term potential. Start thinking about how you could have spent all that money on improving the Rangie.
4. Keep it, love it and start doing it up slowly. When you get some cash start doing it up. Air con might be the first cab off the rank.
5. In 5 years time you will have a beautifully restored Rangie that Mrs Vlad will never part with.
6. An old, well maintained Rangie is a GOOD investment, both financially and personally.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[DiscoTDI]

Originally posted by VladTepes+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(VladTepes)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-DiscoTDI
get a freelander style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

What did she pay for hers ?[/b][/quote]


do you really want to know :wink:

[Ace]

Oh, I do, I do. Matt

[DiscoTDI]

well Im not telling style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[Ace]

Vee have vays of making you talk!!! Matt

[VladTepes]

Noddy - that's an option I had seriously considered and been in favour of BUT Mrs Vlad isn't interested in getting an older car. It scares her.

[VladTepes]

PeterM - that's probably looking like the only option at the moment - just putting up with it.

[incisor]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi...4517463478&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32552&item=4517463478&rd=1)

[Ace]

Originally posted by VladTepes
PeterM - that's probably looking like the only option at the moment - just putting up with it.

Putting up with it for a while will also give you time to save up and buy the car you really want, its better to do that than go out and buy something for the sake of it, its not like you cant drive the car or anything. Matt

[Pedro_The_Swift]

[quote="incisor"]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32552&item=4517463478&rd=1[/quote

talk about overcapitalisation,,,,



nice find though Inc,,,
8)

[Ace]

[quote=incisor]http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32552&item=4517463478&rd=1[/quote

talk about overcapitalisation,,,,



nice find though Inc,,,
8)

$20? I wonder if it works. Matt

[DiscoTDI]

20 bucks seems worth the risk 8)

[Ace]

Originally posted by DiscoTDI
20 bucks seems worth the risk 8)

There are probably paper weights worth more than that. If it is buggered it will be useful for something, even a door stop in the shed. Give it a go vlad what have you got to loose. Matt

[VladTepes]

Bidding has finished.
Doesn't help me seal the unit inside the dash either, or every other bit which is stuffed. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

[Ace]

Originally posted by VladTepes
Bidding has finished.
Doesn't help me seal the unit inside the dash either, or every other bit which is stuffed. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif

What did it go for? Matt

[VladTepes]

I don't think it went.

[Ace]

Originally posted by VladTepes
I don't think it went.

No bidders at all, i would have thought someone would havee been willing to have a go at that price. Matt

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Originally posted by Pedro_The_Swift


talk about overcapitalisation,,,,




style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif

[VladTepes]

Originally posted by Pedro_The_Swift+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pedro_The_Swift)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Pedro_The_Swift

talk about overcapitalisation,,,,

style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/b][/quote]

I'm inclined to agree.

I just hope my next purchase (whenever it may be) doesn't have similar problems.