What Next? Went for the Xsara
- Thread starter 145db
- Start date
- Status
Rocko
RMS Regular
buy mooks astra
Gambit
RMS Regular
- Messages
- 13,641
- Location
- where the sun always rises
mk2 golf 16v 
jonny106
RMS Regular
200sx s13?
145db
RMS Regular
OP
- Messages
- 302
- Thread Starter
- #6
I can insure a group 16 car for not much more than the VTR, and I would like a bit more power than the saxo. The 325 would be fun but not practicle. I had originally thought VTS saxo but for another 2 insurance groups I could have a VTS Xsara, 50bhp more for 2 groups
Skillie
New Member
- Messages
- 273
- Location
- Cork, Ireland
325 all the way!! What ins group are these??
145db
RMS Regular
OP
- Messages
- 302
- Thread Starter
- #14
Skillie, 325's are group 16
Gaz, Unfortunately I live in the sticks and the last mile - 1.5 mile of my journey to the house is up a steep hill and I don't think the 325 would make it up home in the snow and I'm too lazy to walk it, lol
Can you tell me anymore about 325's Gaz??
Andy I have been thinking bout V-Tec power because for a 1.6 civic at 167bhp its class
Gaz, Unfortunately I live in the sticks and the last mile - 1.5 mile of my journey to the house is up a steep hill and I don't think the 325 would make it up home in the snow and I'm too lazy to walk it, lol
Can you tell me anymore about 325's Gaz??
Andy I have been thinking bout V-Tec power because for a 1.6 civic at 167bhp its class
Gambit
RMS Regular
- Messages
- 13,641
- Location
- where the sun always rises
if you think a RWD 2.5 BMW can not make it up a steep hill in snow then i think you need to be looking at 4-wheel drive cars and not FWD cars
The 325s are fairly reliable. The engine will go on forever if its had a proper service life, so make sure you buy one with a history. The weaker points of the car tend to be the body and some of the running gear - like many older cars, rust can be an issue. Check the usual places - arches, sills, inside boot and around door edges. Check all the roof edges and along the rear windows.
If you're test driving one, listen carefull for a whine around 50-70mph - this can be a sign that the diff has had abuse. If oil levels haven't been maintained properly the engine will become very ticky and this will not go away, so listen closely for that too. The 2.5 is a fairly torquey engine which builds up power progressively from around 2000rpm on, so make sure that it revs cleanly and freely.
General economy is a tough one to answer. My white 325 had 110k on the clock and did like a drink if driven hard, though it was fairly moderate the rest of the time - say 25mpg. The black one I had only had 47k on the clock however, and I only had to fill the tank every fortnight instead of every week - it was no harder on petrol than the Civic I had. If you can go for a lower mileage or recon engine then it will probably be a lot easier to run.
Maintenance wise, BMW are obviously expensive but you can get 90% of the parts you need from EuroCarParts or GermanSwedishFrench, both on the Boucher road - their prices are quite good.
I've prob missed loads of stuff but just ask if you've any more queries.
Gaz
If you're test driving one, listen carefull for a whine around 50-70mph - this can be a sign that the diff has had abuse. If oil levels haven't been maintained properly the engine will become very ticky and this will not go away, so listen closely for that too. The 2.5 is a fairly torquey engine which builds up power progressively from around 2000rpm on, so make sure that it revs cleanly and freely.
General economy is a tough one to answer. My white 325 had 110k on the clock and did like a drink if driven hard, though it was fairly moderate the rest of the time - say 25mpg. The black one I had only had 47k on the clock however, and I only had to fill the tank every fortnight instead of every week - it was no harder on petrol than the Civic I had. If you can go for a lower mileage or recon engine then it will probably be a lot easier to run.
Maintenance wise, BMW are obviously expensive but you can get 90% of the parts you need from EuroCarParts or GermanSwedishFrench, both on the Boucher road - their prices are quite good.
I've prob missed loads of stuff but just ask if you've any more queries.
Gaz
- Status