MK1 Subaru Imprezas

Not an issue these days.

Main dealers used to want to remove the engine to do it - but there are lots of marque specialists who'll do the job for £400.

Parts are not cheap.

MX5 that's had a V8 conversion, or 7 type kit that has been built properly.

Which is hardly anything. (c:

I changed my MX-5s timing belt for the price of the belt and a couple of pulleys - around £30. Water pump is about £50. The engine is non-interference.

They handle awesomely, road tests at the time of release of the Ford Racing Puma suggested it was one of the best setup road cars ever, the handling was that good. Unfortunately the best engine they ever got was that 133bhp

That and you said, "However, if gearboxes and bits start to fail, then it's a no-go as far as I'm concerned. It's got to last me at least 2 years until we move and be pretty reliable."

Obviously, don't buy either of those heh. Whilst they may not do anything majorly wrong to you, you can guarantee some small problems... And they might just break something major :-)

Hmm, I'm with you on that. I'd rather not have to pay 25-30% of the value of the car to get a belt changed, that's for sure.

That sounds more like it! I've not had a problem doing belts on anything yet myself. I suspect the FIAT is a pig for a home mechanic/bodger. Easy is good :-)

Looks like I'm going looking at some MX-5s at the weekend then!

thanks all

Mike P

The Fiat 5-pot is generally regarded as being a strong and reliable lump, they don't even usually break belts early....

You may get minor electrical niggles with one, but no more so than anything else of similar age.

Yeah, spot on mate. After my experience with a Punto, I'd never, ever have another Fiat again.

Mike P

It's only a fancy Tipo with an over-sized engine up front.

Aside from the cambelt (which only needs doing once every 72k miles / 5 years - although I'd be cautious and do it on 60k / 4 years personally), the rest of it is pretty simple stuff.

A guy on our street is selling a mint W-plater with 56k on it in dark blue. It does look nice. I could actually buy that for the missus and buy an old MX-5 for me if I wanted to stretch the budget a little by selling the Xantia, which is getting old and tired now.

Reliability is a consideration. If I wanted a quick saloon with reliablity issues, I'd hunt down a Xantia Activa Turbo!

Mike P

Well, the Puma is unlikely to go majorly wrong at all, and is probably even manlier than an MX-5 incase you 'have' to use it ;-) They are gay as f*ck, but they're meant to be good cars, oft-over looked because of the image, like the MX5/New Mini etc.

Exactly. Ok so you can't guarantee getting a reliable car when you buy one, but there are things you can do to 'lessen' the chances of getting an unreliable one...

I like old Skodas - the Estelle, 2CVs, Capris and Citroens. Image doesn't bother me a f*ck :-)

ta for the input!

Mike P

Says the man who has bought 2 Renault Clios....

Each to their own innit? People say Citroens and French crap is unreliable, I've *never* had a problem with any of the french cars I've had, apart from a ZX snapping a cambelt because it had done 140k without being changed. You'll defend Alfas in exactly the same way ;-)

Mike P

"DanB" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Isn't the 1.7 the Yamaha engine with a fairly short lifespan and impossible to rebuild?

Then there's the rot to worry about, too.

Calling it a "Yamaha engine" is like callling the 2.7 V6 TT Diesel in Jags a "French Engine" - but it'll make SteveH happy so go with it heh :-) I haven't heard of them having major common issue, but it's only a Zetec at the end of the day so I doubt it's the most advanced/specialist thing ever.

And Re: rot - just don't buy one that's rusty? I don't think I've ever noticed a rusty one, but then, it's not the kinda thing I look at when it passes heh. But if he's keeping it for 2 years and buys a rot free one, I doubt it'll become a major problem.

Neither of which have cost me any money in repairs, I must have a good eye :-)

Mind you, I've never stipulated reliability as one of my criteria in any of my "What car shall I buy?" posts anyway heh, it's not like I depend on my car to commute or anything.