beez Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 So here's the thing... My tutor's selling his J reg renault 19 (1.8 16v) - it's had a full engine rebuild so it's really only done about 50 - 70k on it, it's got an induction kit and all that kinda stuff (performance modded rather than looks although it's got a modest sporty trim, a spoiler and a pathetic hump on the hood) 0-60 in 7 seconds...£450, looks good on the outside, electric windows and that kinda jazzy stuff...should I sell my escort and get it or not? I mean, there's nothing particularly wrong with my escort; the 19's simply faster, and at my young, speed loving age, the fastness is what is lovely. What do people think? Edit: Here's a picture of what it looks like that's pretty much the car, but I'm not sure if its a less boy racer trim than that, and I don't think it's got alloys either. But it is blue and has that spoiler and hump on the hood, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 You'll have a lot of trouble insuring it, especially since you'll have to declare the modifications. At 17 the premium will be massive if you can get one at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Bet you can't afford the insurance! It was a nice looking car, bit prone to the 'french' build factor, pretty sure it was group 16 / 17 and don't forget you need to declare any mods to the insurers. I'd give it a miss, very likely to be a money pit, or down the yard in 6 months time. Just because it's had a rebuild of the engine, it doesn't mean the car has done less miles! Brakes, chassis, bearings, wiring, electro mechanical bits were not part of the rebuild engine and will fail. You've been warned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 Other question you've got to ask is why it needed the rebuild. How many miles has it ACTUALLY done. If its around 100,000 well what happened for the engine to need a rebuild at 50,000 miles, its been flogged to death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez Posted May 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 All good points. Shall I give it a miss and get one of these instead? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I mean, there's nothing particularly wrong with my escort; the 19's simply faster, and at my young, speed loving age, the fastness is what is lovely. [/ QUOTE ] In my opinion that is probably the biggest reason not to. I know from, well not my friends but people I know back home, that giving someone inexperienced a car thats 'fast' is a terrible idea. Its all too easy for someone to show off 'there skills' in a fast car by putting there foot down too early, or going into a corner too fast, only to find themselves running dramatically out of talent and finding themselves rather red faced. If there lucky it'll be because it was embarising. Get a few years experience behind you first, theres a reason why insurance costs a fortune the first few years. I could very easily get into trouble with my car even though it's 0-60 time is 'only' 10 seconds and a combination of a lot of luck and a little bit of experience has kept me from punting it on the occasion where I have overstepped the mark. Same goes for anyone here, all the safety systems in a world won't help you if you simply try to enter a corner far too fast, that M3 CSL or RS6 will try its best to help you out but you can't beat the laws of physics. Restraint is the key and at 17 you just won't have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez Posted May 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 It's true, I have no will power whatsoever to not give things a go, and as a mistake the other day going fast on an empty back road I didn't realise there was a sharp corner going down a rather steep hill, so I turned and could feel it leaning like buggery and I'm surprised it didn't tip over. So you're right, I should definately wait a few years for any more speed than I've got now. You and me have the same engine, and you've got a lighter car...I would have thought your 0-60 would be quicker by more than a second than mine. I'm pretty sure I've got mine there faster than 11 anyway. So's my pal. I really don't need any more speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 19, 2005 Report Share Posted May 19, 2005 I've got the 1994 Autocar with the review of the Escort Si and Fiesta Si 1.6 and they quoted 11.4 for the Escort and 10.4 for the Fiesta. At the time however Fords quoted times were quite conservative however after the phenominal cost of insurance for the XR2 and XR3 that the Si's replaced. In mine testing with my G-Tech monitor I got a best reading of 9.5 seconds to 60 before the engine problems developed, and now I get between about 10 and 12 seconds depending on how its running. The Escort is far from slow for a first car, my first Fiesta took 12 seconds to hit 60, my second car was actually slightly slower, and they were both quick enough. Funny thing is my second car, a Civic, felt faster because of the lower seating position and stiffer suspension compared to the high up seat and roll-y shopping cart set up of the Fiesta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez Posted May 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 I love my escort. My tutor can go to hell!! I won't buy his Renault, I'll stick to old reliable, in which people know and love me. It most certainly is fast enough for a first car and I think I'm pretty lucky to have a 1.6 this early on in my career. How come you got rid of your civic to have another fiesta? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorburn Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 The Fiesta belonged first to my mum and then was given to my grandad because he needed a car with power steering. He's had hip problems recently however and the 'winged' seats of the Si meant that he couldn't turn around properly to see when he was reversing, theres a scrape on the rear bumper from where he caught the wall trying to reverse into his garage and so he wanted to replace it, plus the rather stiff suspension didn't really help things for him or my grandma, even I find it rather jarring. At the same time I was starting university and didn't want to face the depreciation on the Civic when I was barely going to be using it so we did a swap, I got the Fiesta + cash and my grandad got the Civic. As for 'old reliable' Fords, no such thing, you just wait The Zetec-E engine was a bit of a misfit, a slightly strengthed CVH block with a 16v head attached to it and one of the worst electical systems you'll find but at least they fixed the CVH's problem of the cam becoming starved of oil. The fact its a 1.6 isn't really a blessing either, its not got that much power for the size and sticks you in the higher road tax bracket. The 1.4 Zetec-S in the Mk4 Fiesta is a far better engine, equal on peak power, much smoother and keen to rev, plus its in the lower tax band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomk Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 think you can only make a judgment by driving it and see if you prefer it , no point swapping if you are happy with what you have got ! i had my 1st car ( 1.6 golf cl ) for the first 2 years of my driving and loved it , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez Posted May 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Also another good point. I'll see if he'll let me have a test drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Theold adage comes to mind - never buy a car from some-one you know. However, over the Escort, I'd have the Renault. There are not enough electircal gizmo's in it to go wrong. They are a good car. Engine is good too. Induction Kit is probably a waste of time for an N/A engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Beez, eitherway get an insurance quote. It will be interesting to see how much they want for a 17 y.o. in a £450 group 17/18 car. My bet is no change from £2.5k third party fire and thieft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 I had a R19 16v executive (one of the last ones so called it executive and chucked leather seats in as std). I was 19 at the time, so this was nearly 6 years ago. My insurance was £1500, but I can't remember if that was 1 or 2 years no claims (started on my Dad's insurance). I had a claim going at the time due to a drunk driver hitting me so I initially had to take the insurance with no no claims, then they refunded the money when it was sorted. Without any NCD is was £2050. The 16v models all had alloys as std (I think). They are a fairly quick car with good handling. In gear acceleration is not as good as some. The biggest issue with them is rust on the rear arches, they all get it! I owned mine for 18 months before I got rid of it due to rust starting to win the battle (car about 6 years old around that point). Also I had the head gasket go, which cost £850 to get sorted. The head gasket went because the radiator blocked and I did not notice. Sods law it happened when I was stuck in traffic on a really hot day, even then the temp did not go above 1/2, so I did't realise it was a problem, until later in the day it started kangooring when accelerating, then left me on the side of the road! Still, glad I bought it and was still cheaper to run than the 306 gti-6 I replaced it with!! It was then I decided no more French cars! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 Shame about the bad experiences, 306GTi was a real hoot if you drove it well, hard, as 'Tony' would say, woman are like cars, treat them well and they expect it forever. Treat them mean and they will be back for more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Shame about the bad experiences, 306GTi was a real hoot if you drove it well, hard, as 'Tony' would say, woman are like cars, treat them well and they expect it forever. Treat them mean and they will be back for more. [/ QUOTE ] Don't get me wrong I loved the 306, but the head gasket ended up going on that too! I was starting to think it was my driving! That car did not actually break down, it was a small split between one of the cylinders and the coolant, just caused it to misfire a little now and again. Had it back and fourth to Pug dealer for 6 months trying to sort it! They kept giving it back to me saying this was the cause, or there was nothing wrong! It was when I was filling the coolant on a daily basis they decided it was worth stripping the cylinder head off! Then they tried to rip me off and convince me I needed an entire new engine! Then the annoying air bag light! I won't even start with that! As I said I loved it, but was always just waiting for the next bill, so I vowed never to buy French and bought the S3. So much better!!!!! Although I have to confess, just before I decided to part with that, the ABS control module packed up. Covered under warranty but otherwise would have been £1500. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activa Posted May 20, 2005 Report Share Posted May 20, 2005 If you can afford the insurance Beez go for the 19. Far better in every respect than an Escort and that bend you overcooked your Ford into? The Renault would be far more forgiving due to its compliant chassis and would send you nicely out the other side without complaint. Nicer to drive,nicer to look at,more cred(which I know you pups are after )and any car is only as fast as you wanna drive it.Give it some respect for a while so you can get use to it.Once the trial period is up then you can start having a bit of fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beez Posted May 21, 2005 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2005 Alternatively I think I might start saving some cash up for a nice little sporty car with no lid. Sort out my no claims for a few years, so I can get the insurance on it and cruise around in the summer time with my roof down. And go to meets in the 'cab' section of the car park!! (Rather than the 'outcast' section) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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