RIP 407 1.6HDi

[jadamcp]

With 116,000 miles on the clock the turbo failed and when the garage were searching for the cause (removed sump and were feeling around) they found excess movement in the driveshaft within and are sure at least one of the bearings has collapsed. So as I just spent £1000 in July getting it through the MOT I decided to scrap it as we were getting close to another £2000.

Pity as it was great to drive and reasonably econonomical averaging 50mpg but repair costs were regular and a bit excessive

I've listed my faults and costs underneath over the 6 and a bit years I had it

o - Radiator fan/relay failed - regeneration problems £446
o - Lower ball joints failing at 49K+ miles £331
o - Lower ball joints failing at 75K+ miles £165 (peugeot paid 50%)
o - Lower ball joints failing at 110K+ miles £300
o - Glow plugs, preheating relay - regeneration problems £150
o - 3 x abs sensors failed 3 x £85
o - 1 wheel bearing replaced £95
o - Elau fluid top up - although it didn't really need it. £110
o - Bad earth on rear lights causing brake light problems/dash warning
o - Display in centre console fading when warm but his only stated in the past year.
o - tyre sensor failed - never replaced it

Summing up - Regulary serviced give or take a couple of thousand miles, same exhaust system from new and the bodywork was still in excellent condition. Never quite got to changing that timing belt either so I'll see that as a positive.

On a more serious note can anyone recommend a car, I've looked at the 308 1.6HDi and a VW Passat 2.0 HDi both around a year old (Older Passats get slaughtered though) My budget is £9000 - 11000. Thanks....

[jmkent]

I've driven 2 of the Passat 2.0 BlueMotion TDi (11 plate), and it is a very economical engine... average 57/58mpg on a motorway and mid 40s for general use (not bad for the size of car and power output). It is a comfortable car to drive too, and not too badly spec'd (obviously depending on model/budget). Only downside to it for me, not as quiet as the Peugeot, and doesn't have much grunt when down in low revs (<2k) compared to the Peugeot.... my 407 will pull like a train from whatever revs, but the Passat needs the revs building first

Your 407 hasn't done too bad in 6 yrs then really.... there isn't anything on your list that is out of the ordinary for them. Its a shame that it is quoted as being £2k to repair, but I suspect majority of that is the turbo?

[sebasteeno]

Why replace a car thats given you nothing but problems with basically the same car and engine in the 308? And what do people see in Passats? To me they are the epitomy of average with boring looks and questionable reliability. How about an Alfa 159 1.9 mjtd?

[jmkent]

Originally Posted by sebasteeno

And what do people see in Passats? To me they are the epitomy of average with boring looks

I've been driving the CC with GT spec..... bit better looking than a normal Passat granted, and very well spec'd too. Don't think I would say no if given one

Originally Posted by sebasteeno

How about an Alfa 159 1.9 mjtd?

Aren't Alfas supposed to be even more unreliable though than even Peugeots? And depreciate quicker than any other car?

[chopper1192]

Older Passats suffer painfully with DMF failure, and it's about half as much again as a 407 to fix if you use genuine kit. This hewn from granite build quality rubbish about VW's is tripe. To be fair to all though, if you don't want big, complex bills, then any big complex car has the potential to make you an unhappy man.

308 could be good - I loved mine, and at the top end of your budget you may get one under 2 years old with a reasonable mileage if you're really persistent.

However, the cars you cite aren't really natural competitors and have rather different intended uses and markets. I'd sit down and list the type of car you want, the attributes it must have, draw up a shortlist of 3, and stick to it. The moment you become diverted by something not on your list, but too tempting to pass up, is the moment it WILL start to go wrong.

[sebasteeno]

Originally Posted by jmkent

I've been driving the CC with GT spec..... bit better looking than a normal Passat granted, and very well spec'd too. Don't think I would say no if given one



Aren't Alfas supposed to be even more unreliable though than even Peugeots? And depreciate quicker than any other car?

The CCs are better ill admit but still not for me and expensive too are they not.

The 159 is a great car using the Fiat JTD engine which is proven to be reliable, quick and good mpg. the 159 is the best looking large family car on the road imo.

[john_h]

personally with that budget id get myself a focus or mondeo which is only a year or so old. you could easily get a titanium with that budget and get all the toys

[chopper1192]

[QUOTE=sebasteeno;77779
The 159 is a great car using the Fiat JTD engine which is proven to be reliable, quick and good mpg...[/QUOTE]...as well as the most noisy and unrefined large bore 4 pot diseael you can get.

And the 159 goes round corners like a drunken fat slag with a heel missing off one stiletto.

[bettyswollocks]

Originally Posted by john_h

personally with that budget id get myself a focus or mondeo which is only a year or so old. you could easily get a titanium with that budget and get all the toys

Anything happen to your Ford recently John?

[jmkent]

Originally Posted by sebasteeno

The CCs are better ill admit but still not for me and expensive too are they not.

Yes, they are.... ones I've had are rrp £26.5k.... i.e. a lot, but on the other hand, how much would a 508 with the same spec have cost? Doubt it would be much less at all