Goodbye my friend

[Sockpuppet]

I was wondering why the engine power wasn’t quite up to its usual enthusiastic levels yesterday.

If the cam belt goes then it will just go. The engine shouldn't lose power unless the belt stretched first which I don't think would happen.

As its an old car you'll get it cheaper for a new engine. Get one from a scrappy. Won't be sub £1000 though with labour.

[wobbegong]

I'm with you TW, Bangernomics is the way forward. Leave expensive cars to people with inadequate personalities and todgers. Anyone who buys an expensive car in this country where you can't enjoy it is a fool.

Well said! I totally agree; buy a car for a grand, run it into the ground over 2/3 years then throw it away.

[wobbegong]

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/11/stor...1161870100.htm

Brand new car for just over a grand !!!!

A "peoples car", eh? Now where have we heard that before . . .

[BlasterBates]

RIP Mondeo my faithful runabout

My beloved Mondeo, born 1995 died January 2008 is no more. It is deceased, defunct, kaput; it has ceased to be a mode of transport. Died peacefully today without warning after 10 years dutiful service. No previous illnesses, aside from an exhaust backbox replaced some years back. I had recently bought new wiper blades and had you MOT’d too. You will be sadly missed my friend.

The AA man said the cam belt had gone, and this often requires that the engine will enter into a mode of knackering itself to destruction and beyond economical repair. He was not confident about its future prospects in the field of independent travel, and towed me to a garage of its possible final resting place. A post-mortem will be carried out in the morning, but I am not hopeful that it can be restoring back to life. The AA man was diligent and proficient in his services and also gave me a contact name of possible engine donors, but I suspect performing such a large transplant operation would not be a practical proposition for such an old timer. I was wondering why the engine power wasn’t quite up to its usual enthusiastic levels yesterday. And I bet the garage didn’t replace your timing belt 40,000 miles ago, as I suspected at the time.

Oh well, I may be in the market for another sub £1000 car. I might get something smaller this time. <sob>

Donations can be sent to your local scarp yard.

Get a Jap car I got one £1500 about 4 years ago, it is 1992 and still going strong (fingers crossed), an engine like a new sewing machine, and nearly 300,000 km. Never had the slightest problem with the engine.

[rootsnall]

RIP Mondeo my faithful runabout.

My beloved long serving Vectra died in similar circumstances a few months back, timing belt snapped. I tried to find a new <£1K bangernomics replacement but didn't come up with anything suitable so I bought a one year old Mondeo. Must say I'm pleased with it, the heated front windscreen has come in handy. I'm looking for 10+ years and 150K+ miles out of it or I'll be miffed.

[BoredBloke]

If the cam belt goes then it will just go. The engine shouldn't lose power unless the belt stretched first which I don't think would happen.

As its an old car you'll get it cheaper for a new engine. Get one from a scarppy. Won't be sub £1000 though with labour.

Well that is what happened when mine went many years ago. The belt will stretch before going meaning that the timing goes and so the power drops off.

[oracleslave]

flip me, it's made by VW... are you mad or what?

I forgot the at the end.

[Sockpuppet]

It can hop a tooth first... the timing goes out... hence less power.

Could do I suppose. Maybe you could hope that its a non interference engine?

[rootsnall]

How fast were you going when it went?

I was doing 90 when my Vectra timing belt went, quite a bang and instant engine death. There was no significant loss of power leading up to it but I had detected a rattle I chose to ignore that morning.

[DimPrawn]

Agree with bangeromics. I always try to make sure my top of the range Porsche is a few years old.

People who buy brand new Zondas or Bugattis are idiots.