What estate car?

[oracleslave]

What year? (Anything older than two years have problems.)

2010 - I took a 3 year comprehensive warranty as well just in case.

[bobspud]

There is a reason why Taxi drivers could buy Mark 1 Octavias up to last year. VAGs are well built but all modern engines have a life expectancy far below what they used to have.

I wouldn't say they were built well. My 3.2 Audi TT went to the breakers with just 47,000 miles on the clock (5years old) thanks to a £6000 gearbox fail and the company denying that there was anything wrong with their dsg boxes despite a class action suit loss in the US.

Personally I have not seen issues with engine life longevity in other brands though.

[Troll]

I wouldn't say they were built well. My 3.2 Audi TT went to the breakers with just 47,000 miles on the clock (5years old) thanks to a £6000 gearbox fail and the company denying that there was anything wrong with their dsg boxes despite a class action suit loss in the US.

Personally I have not seen issues with engine life longevity in other brands though.

Not worth getting a gearbox from a write off?

[BolshieBastard]

A modern engine will outlast the actual car if looked after. Its an utter fallacy to say modern engines wont last.

Trouble is, people glibly accept 'extended mileage' service intervals without checking the facts. If you drive a car 20k between services because the manufacturer says it is 'ok for the car' etc, etc, you're asking for trouble.

Dont miss regular services either, its false economy.

Change you engine and gearbox oil (ok some gearboxes are sealed, not a lot you can do) no more than every 12000 if doing high mileage ie 20,000 - 25,000+ miles pa and every 6000 miles if only driving between 3000 - 10000 miles pa.

As a lot of cars have a turbo, dont rag the ar*e off the car then immediately switch off the engine without letting the turbo cool first ie idle the engine for a minute before switching off.

[bobspud]

Not worth getting a gearbox from a write off?

Unfortunately not I could have spent 2-3k on a breakers part and ended up with exactly the same problem all over again. Choice was 6k out on new parts or 6k in my pocket. Shame because it was an ok car other otherwise.

[Old Hack]

A modern engine will outlast the actual car if looked after. Its an utter fallacy to say modern engines wont last.

Trouble is, people glibly accept 'extended mileage' service intervals without checking the facts. If you drive a car 20k between services because the manufacturer says it is 'ok for the car' etc, etc, you're asking for trouble.

Dont miss regular services either, its false economy.

Change you engine and gearbox oil (ok some gearboxes are sealed, not a lot you can do) no more than every 12000 if doing high mileage ie 20,000 - 25,000+ miles pa and every 6000 miles if only driving between 3000 - 10000 miles pa.

As a lot of cars have a turbo, dont rag the ar*e off the car then immediately switch off the engine without letting the turbo cool first ie idle the engine for a minute before switching off.

WBBS

If you have a performance model, it's actually best to change oil every 6000 miles, especially if you rag it a lot, or even if you have a stock car that you rag a lot. Always leave a turbo to cool if you have been ragging it, as if you simply turn the engine off, the oil will cook, and eventually total the turbo main bearing, and other tulip.

Unfortunately, warranties mean quite a lot less than they used to and as most dealers are franchises, they will go out of their way to pay for anything they don't physically have to, and you really have to be quite stern with them if you believe you are in the right.

[gingerjedi]

A modern engine will outlast the actual car if looked after. Its an utter fallacy to say modern engines wont last.

Trouble is, people glibly accept 'extended mileage' service intervals without checking the facts. If you drive a car 20k between services because the manufacturer says it is 'ok for the car' etc, etc, you're asking for trouble.

Dont miss regular services either, its false economy.

Change you engine and gearbox oil (ok some gearboxes are sealed, not a lot you can do) no more than every 12000 if doing high mileage ie 20,000 - 25,000+ miles pa and every 6000 miles if only driving between 3000 - 10000 miles pa.

As a lot of cars have a turbo, dont rag the ar*e off the car then immediately switch off the engine without letting the turbo cool first ie idle the engine for a minute before switching off.

WHS^

Motorway miles don't really count, very little wear trundling along at low revs.

I ignore the manufacturers 12k schedule (when the warranty has expired) and just tend to get it serviced at 12 month intervals, when my tyres are lasting 60,000 miles I hardly expect my engine to be wearing prematurely.

I once had an A4 1.8T and the Audi service centre told me the break pads were only going to last another 6 months (without enquiring what type of driving I do), 3 years and 80,000 miles later they were telling me the same thing.

[Troll]

WHS^

Motorway miles don't really count, very little wear trundling along at low revs.

I ignore the manufacturers 12k schedule (when the warranty has expired) and just tend to get it serviced at 12 month intervals, when my tyres are lasting 60,000 miles I hardly expect my engine to be wearing prematurely.

I once had an A4 1.8T and the Audi service centre told me the break pads were only going to last another 6 months (without enquiring what type of driving I do), 3 years and 80,000 miles later they were telling me the same thing.

Just about to book my Merc in for its first service - looking at what they actually do for a "Service A" it appears to be a £250 oil change

[Old Greg]

Just about to book my Merc in for its first service - looking at what they actually do for a "Service A" it appears to be a £250 oil change

Don't you have a good local garage?

[Troll]

Don't you have a good local garage?

If you use other than the Merc chain you get issues with the leasing company - so what you save on cheaper service they claw back as 'devaluing' the car baarstewards