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posted on February 6, 2010, 3:08 am
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While the seating position was too high, and the mirror obstructive, and
the washer jets totally failed front and rear (yes checked fluid and
jets and fuse), generally the car was excellent. Love the low end torque
and the turbo woosh, after getting back in the IS it felt like I was in
a gutless slug until I got used to revving again. But the seating
position was much better in the IS, and generally felt ligher.
Turbo diesel in a low seating rwd car would be spot on. Might be looking
for an IS250D when can't change time comes around in a year or two.
On the plus side, apart from having to get them to polish out the fog
light scratching which they neglected to do (and it was on the job
sheet), they have done an excellent job. Colour match is excellent,
which is difficult with a metallic, especially one with glitter/mica
chips in. Checked it in daylight just to be sure.
And they gave it a proper wash polish and valet. Never seen the wheels
so clean despite what I do them when I clean it. Now keeping some
nicotine lozenges in the car because it smells too nice to smoke in.
--
Carl Robson
Get cashback on your purchases
Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm
Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
It pains me to say it, but I get your point.
Seeing as my daily commute consists of dawdling up the M73 at 60mph with
some 40mph limits filled with traffic at either end, it kind of suits me.
Hence, the Golf is for the off and has been replaced by something with a
2.0HDI engine which I think I like very much.
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
I got so pissed off with 24-ish mpg from the SAAB that I slung it on
eBay[1].
I bought it for £350 and it sold a year later for £560, it's the first car
in over 20 years I've ever made a profit on :)
It's been replaced by a Pug 306 HDi...
Bit of a difference going from a Petrol 2.3 to a 2.0 diesel, but I think I
like the HDi engine a fair bit.
I've been driving my brother's Xantia HDi since the SAAB went, and almost
bought one, but in the end the better MPG of the 306 (and the expensive
problems I've had in the past with Xantias) swung it :)
I used to fill the SAAB with 60-odd quid and get just over 300 miles, I've
put 40 quid in the 306, done 100 miles and used around a quarter of it :)
As with all my cars, I buy cheap, then fix 'em up as funds allow, so I've a
looong list of repairs.
Car prices are mad at the mo, 'specially for smallish diesel hatchbacks.
[1] Not only the fuel expense, but I'm due another son in a few days, and
the missus just wasn't having a 2 door as our main car :)
--
Tony Bond / UncleFista
www.bradford7.co.uk
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
You and me both brother...
Clutch - bit of a curved ball that one, but it's not too sore. Would have
cost me £95 for the bits.
It's getting done on tuesday for £195 all in which is much better than doing
it yourself with only a 77 year old friend who I would not ask to help me
lift gearboxes.
In a situation like that and for not needing to take a whole weekend in
someone elses garage discovering the joys of disengaging a pull clutch
without the special tool, £100 labour is a no-brainer.
Whatever the case, with this one bill, we're still in budget for the whole
deal.
It only slips in fifth on the mtorway if I gun it, but it would only be a
matter of time before that gets worse, so it's getting done right away.
Slightly fecked mechanism on the NSR door, still trying to work that one
out.
Coupla dash light behind the LCD displays.
Carpet require shampooing.
Overall though, I like. It's good sitting up there without being in a
chelsea tractor.
What's the drill with the 306, any sizeable repairs ?
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
Nah, just niggles, hopefully :)
Passenger side electric window not working
Airbag light flashing
Dodgy drivers door stop strap
None existant rear passenger door stop strap
Various squeaks and rattles
Crease in the rear door thanks to the missing stop strap
That's about it, it's a much shorter list than I thought :)
Still smarts a bit though, shelling out £1100 for a 10 year old car, but it
should halve my £100 per month (at least) fuel bill :)
--
Tony Bond / UncleFista
www.bradford7.co.uk
Love is like a snowmobile, speeding across the frozen tundra.
Which suddenly flips, pinning you underneath.
At night the ice-weasels come...
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
Not so fast, your evil spell hasn't got me yet.
(Although I'm still amazed the BMW averages more than 30 mpg. It's a
whole new world!)
--
Pete M - OMF#9
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 BMW 318is Coupé
"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
You really are a sick pup, Dervy.
The E30 M3 is the four pot BMW to have, not BMW's diesel equivalent to a
Chevette.
--
Pete M - OMF#9
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 BMW 318is Coupé
"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
Oh not again?
--
Pete M - OMF#9
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 BMW 318is Coupé
"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
I imagine Pious monthly contributions have just nose dived
significantly, but I'd still go for BMW's Chevette.
--
Pete M - OMF#9
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 BMW 318is Coupé
"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
Did they offer the TTid convert in XWD, or was it just the hard top?
That would be something.
--
Carl Robson
Get cashback on your purchases
Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm
Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
The diesel isn't available with XWD at all. Even the 9-3x is FWD only
with XWD, same with the new 9-5. Whether it's a shortage of space or
inability to handle the torque, I dunno, but there's apparently total
show-stopped problems with it.
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
Bit of a git that, design an grunty twin turbo diesel, and not have a
4wd system to make the most of it. Could really have pushed it up there
as a car to have out side of the rep market.
--
Carl Robson
Get cashback on your purchases
Topcashback http://www.TopCashBack.co.uk/skraggy_uk/ref/index.htm
Greasypalm http://www.greasypalm.co.uk/r/?l=1006553
Re: Right, the Insignia has gone back and I have the IS back.
IT IS DIESEL. Diesel owners are only interested in saving money. 4x4 is
expensive, therefore it wouldn't sell.
HTH :)
--
Pete M - OMF#9
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 BMW 318is Coupé
"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."
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