I've had enough of the shitebox. Every time I fix something, something else goes wrong. There is only so much money I am willing to throw at it and that has now been surpassed!
The story of this utterly loathesome piece of 'Cowley Crap' is as follows:
Bought in April with 69,000 on it. Looked good, bodywork really nice, good service and MOT history. Saw it needed new discs and pads, but those are easy and cheap; paid £2700.
First was having to cut the locking wheel nuts off as two were mullered and the key supplied didn't fit the others!
Then found that 3 wheels were badly buckled, the fourth being buckled AND cracked. Got three straightened and had to buy one used wheel.
Tyres were all perished. So four new tyres (non RFTs).
New discs and pads fitted.
A/C had no refrigerant in it. I'm in that trade so did a pressure test. Condenser had a hole in it. Too expensive and difficult to bother with!
About a week later there was a loud ticking noise from the engine when warm, and often when cold too. Did some research and found the crap Peugeot engine in the thing was prone to cam chain failure. Sounded like it was coming from there. Got it into a garage to have this replaced. Turns out it wasn't the cam chain but the auxillary belt was shredded and catching on stuff on the way round.
Got that changed and gave it an oil and filter change whilst there.
Three days later it spewed it's coolant all over the floor. Took ages to find the leak, as it was a hairline crack in the thermostat housing. So I changed the coolant and thermostat, which is a horrible job on these, as the whole engine wiring loom had be disconnected and got out of the way. Did it eventually and sorted the coolant. The old coolant was like thick pea soup!
All good for about three weeks; well as good as these can be! Now it has started leaking fluid on the drive again. I can't find out what it is or where it's coming from, but I have a suspicion it is power steering fluid by where it's leaking and it's not oil.
So I've had it with the bloody thing. Even when it does work it is crap to drive; the stupid massive centre speedo is unreadable as it is at the wrong angle, the switches are all in stupid places and the seats are uncomfortable.
The car has done less than 600 miles in seven months and cost me in all over £4,500! It is worth about £1500 to the trade (without the new leak).
That's my rant for the day!
