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        General >> Problems >> Car Getting Old - Help!
        
(Message started by: roger_howes on May 30^th, 2008, 12:04pm)

Title: Car Getting Old - Help!
Post by roger_howes on May 30^th, 2008, 12:04pm

Hello all.

The car (P-reg Cossie estate) has got to the stage where things need doing to it, i.e. exhaust very rusty, needs 2 tyres, 2 wheels have flats on their inner rims which means, despite careful balancing, they vibrate at about 75mph (at least we think it's that), radiator leaks at the matrix-header joint, power steering rack worn, power save circuit keeps blowing fuses, plus some other things that won't be long needing attention.

The engine and gearbox are both OK, and I had all the timing chain gear replaced not so long ago (cost me over £2K!). Also, the car has only done 78K miles.

I've seriously thought about moving on, I quite fancy the Subaru Outback, but it can never come close to the Cossie performance, and although a roomy 4x4 estate, not as big as the Scorpio estate.

But my problem is that I have been quoted £900 for an after market exhaust (not including down pipes and cats - just from the flexible couplings to the back) which I can't afford and don't want to spend on an old car anyway. The cheapest garage price I could find was £675, but I've tried cheap from there before and it was hopeless!

So, can I get the exhaust parts from someone breaking a cossie estate? Has someone got a pair of 16-inch cossie wheels (that do not have flats on them and preferably come with 2 good tyres). How can I sort the radiator leak - I've tried Radweld but it only worked for a very short time. Also, new rads are very expensive and, being plastic, a future leak is always possible!

I would really like to keep the cossie estate, especially if the new road tax banding comes into force, as it means a very big engine with (comparatively) low road tax. We also use the estate and roof rails a lot.

Can anyone help with these needs, or have any advice/suggestions?

Many thanks.

Roger.

Title: Re: Car Getting Old - Help!
Post by Jeff on Jun 3^rd, 2008, 10:40am

Why don't you buy another one and salvage parts from it. Do you have space to park a donor car - out of sight preferably? I have a high mileage estate with good wheels but bad tyres, but exhaust is ok. It also has a new heater rad that cost me about a grand recently. I'm in Woking...

Title: Re: Car Getting Old - Help!
Post by roger_howes on Jun 4^th, 2008, 11:48am

Many thanks for your suggestions Jeff. I don't have the room or the facilities. I have been busy on the problems over the weekend though.

I found a car the same as mine (but N-reg) at a breakers yard near me. I got 4 excellent wheels with decent tyres (2 nearly new Firestone Powergy), a good metal rad for £30 (the coolant level in this car was full, so no leaks), and some exhaust sections.

Unfortunately regarding the exhaust, someone had previously removed the cats by sawing through the pipes instead of unclamping them, but the garage I use say they can weld them. They seem reasonably good except the box immediately after the flexibles, which has the outer skin layer starting to un-wrap (the garage tells me that this box is built like an onion and that the outer skin is coming adrift). Is this section on your system OK?

If we do have any problems with the exhaust, perhaps I could come back to you? The car is in for the work on Thursday of next week.

Out of general interest, there is company in Walsall who will supply and fit a stainless steel system (back from the cats - but not including the cats) for £450 all in. They do a lot of specialist and 'sporty' work and have a smart, modern facility.

Regards.

Roger.