Audi A4 S-Line Avant 2.0TDI 2005-2008

Class:           Junior Executive

Rivals:         BMW 320d Tourer, Mercedes C-Class, Toyota Avensis, Lexis IS220d.

Sister Car:   VW Passat

Variants:     4 Door Saloon, 5 Door Avant (Estate), 2 Door Cabriolet

Engines:     Petrol, 1.6, 1.8 20v Turbo, 1.8 16v TFSI, 2.0 20v Turbo, 2.0 16v TFSI, 3.2 20vFSI 

                   Diesel, 1.9TDi, 2.0TDi, 2.7 V6 TDi, 3.0 V6 TDi

Gearbox:    5 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Tiptronic, 7 Speed Multitronic

Awards:     Top Safety Pick 2007 from the IIHS

This is easily, the best car I have ever owned, and because of the Irish economy, the best car I will own for quite the while.  It took three and a half months religiously searching through Auto Trader and ringing dealers to find the exact car I wanted and I eventually found one in England one late February weekend.  Two phone calls, a deposit and a ferry ride later and I was home with it and it was better then I imagined.  A serious head turner of a car, flash but very practical.  Serious power when you let loose and the 6 Speed short shift gear box is an absolute dream to drive!  I choose the front wheel drive version because after driving a few quattros, I found the system absorbed too much torque in anything under 200 bhp and it tended to kick out a small bit when leaning into a corner.  This car comes on RS6 alloys sporting 235/40 ZR18 tires that are seriously grippy.  The 2 liter TDI engine sports the phase II turbo system which means all the little bugs from the early 2.0TDI are well ironed out.  The only thing apart from regular servicing I have had to change is the Alternator in nearly 3 years owning the car.

The A4 B7 (VAG Chassis Name) derived a lot from the previous B6 chassis, but sported a heavily revised steering setup, suspension geometry, a new engine range as well as the new Bosch 8.0 Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) which is still top of the range in chassis electronics!  The chassis name given to the Avant is B7 8ED.

A new range of engines came with the new A4 B7, the 1.9TDI was now only available in 115bhp, where the 2.0tdi started at 140bhp.  It also saw the introduction of Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) on the 2.0 TFSI (Turbo) and the 3.2l V6 FSI.  The new 2.0 TDI now featured Pumpe Duse (PD) injectors with 16 valves for the first time.

According to 2007 Swedish Vehicle Inspection sheet, the Audi A4 Avant 2.0TDI, is the most reliable vehicle on the market in the 3-6 year old category with a vehicle inspection rejection rate of 0.0%.  This is the equivalent of our NCT.

With its Bosch ESP, ABS, side curtain and seat airbags, and its optional quattro system, The A4 B7 scored top marks in the Euro NCAP crash test results.

The S-Line Avant comes with Sports Suspension, Audi Concert Audio System, Riccardo Buckets Seats with Lumbar support and the 3 spoke Steering wheel.  As soon as you sit in you know your in something special.  Its extremely maneuverable and easy to park with a great turning circle for a car of its size. 

Your looking at spending at least €10,000 to pick up a clean 2nd hand car, but they are worth every penny.  At €614 to tax they are at the higher end of the spectrum but are well above the older 1.9tdi in terms of performance.

This without any doubt, is still our favourite car of the moment.

gary

BMW M5 2011

On first glimpse of the new 555BHP BMW M5, and we have to say, yes, we would!!

There are 2 cylinders missing from the previous models V10 but the new 4.4 liter V8, which has already featured in the X5M and the X6M, with its unique Exhaust Cross Bank technology gives the beast an amazing 530lb-ft of pure unadulterated torque!!

Due for release later this year with a price tag approaching the 6 figure sum.

Check out this video of the new M5 stretching its legs at Laguna Seca!! 



gary



Peugeot 107 2005-Present

Class:            City Car

Rivals:           Kia Picanto, Hyundai i10, Smart Car, Chevrolet Matiz,

Sister Cars:   Toyota Aygo, Citroen C1

Variants:       3 Door Hatch, 5 Door Hatch

Engine:         Petrol, 1.0

                     Diesel, 1.4HDi

Gearbox:       5 Speed Manual

The Peugeot 107 was developed along with Toyota as part of the B-Zero project in 2005 which saw 3 cars released under 3 different brands, The Peugeot 107, the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo.  All three were built in the new facilities of "Toyota Peugeot Citroen Automobile Czech" in Kolin in the Czech Republic.

The Peugeot 107 replaced the popular 106 after 12 years in production.  For a small car, it handles itself very well on the motorway, as long as your not going uphill!!  Around the town its nimble and smart, very easy to control and to park.  I wasn't a huge fan of the steering position in it as I found it too high and too flat, I found as well that if you were trying to go around a 90 degree sharp bend that it took a lot of work on the steering wheel to get you around the corner.

The 68bhp 1.0 liter engine wasn't exactly crying out no more on the motor way, although it didn't like to touch of acceleration when it was asked to overtake something.  Around the town it made the car feel light and zippy, even with four people in the car.

This is a cheap and easy to run car, very light on petrol, not much boot space to talk about, seeing as when we got to the car with our Ryanair acceptable bags, they wouldn't fit in the boot!  The cabin space is very basic but not too bad, plenty of cubby holes but no lockable glove box.

Breakdown statistics by the AA put the Peugeot 107 (including the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo) on top of the reliability stakes for the sub-small car class. 

We wouldn't rush out to buy this car, but wouldn't grumble too much if we were to be stuck with one. 

Gary



Motoring Costs, AA survey 2011

The cost of running an average sized car in the "Tax Band C" category, has risen by €646 on 2010 the AA has released today in it annual Cost of Motoring survey.  This means that it will cost on average, nearly €12,000 this year to run your car, up 5.8% on last year.  By comparison, a weekly bus pass on Dublin Bus would cost a mere €1000 for the year.

 Conor Faughan of the AA said "Of course, the single biggest change is the cost of fuel, two thirds of the price of fuel is tax and most of this money is going to the Government.  If it wasn't for tax increases we would now be looking at retail prices of about 132c whereas now we are looking at about 150c"

Bear in mind this survey was based on actually owning your car, so any repayments are on top of this again!  Car Insurance rose slightly, averaging 1.2% higher than last year and the cost of servicing and repair has risen by about 2.7%, mostly in line with inflation. 

This time last year, petrol was about €1.27 a liter, now its at about €1.50, mainly due to Government taxes.  As Public Transport is a joke, and there is no infrastructure in place for any sort of alternative travel, looks like the Irish motorist will be burdened with double and treble taxation once again to tax our way out of the recession. 

The Irish Government is being brought to court next year by the European Union over its double taxation policy including VRT on all new and used vehicles which breaches Article 25 of the Treaty of Rome, which gives free movement of goods within the EU.

Gary



Volkswagen Golf Mk V TDI 2003-2008

Class:           Small Hatch, Compact

Rivals:          Ford Focus, Citron C4, Nissan Almera, Opel/Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 207

Sister Cars:  Audi A3 MkII, Audi TT MkII, VW Jetta, VW Eos, Seat Leon, Skoda Octavia,

Variants:      3 Door Hatch, 5 Door Hatch, 5 Door Compact MPV (Golf Plus), Estate

Engines:      Petrol, 1.4i 16v, 1.4i FSI, 1.6i FSI, 2.0i FSI, 2.0i Turbo FSI (GTI), 2.5i 20v,

                                3.2 VR6 24v (R32)

                    Diesel, 1.4 TSi, 1.9TDi, 2.0 SDi, 2.0TDi,

Gearbox       5 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Tiptronic, 6 Speed DSG

Awards        Top Gear Car of the Year 2004

                    Fifth Gear Car of the Year 2004

                    What Car? Car of the Year and Best Family Small Car 2004

                    CNN Best Sporty Car (GTI/R32) 2008

To commemorate the launch of the MkV Golf in October 2003, Wolfsburg, where the Headquarters of the VW/Audi group are based, was named "Golfsburg" for the week following the launch.

Thanks to a wide variation of body styles and a great selection of engines to choose from,  VW have ensured that their is a Golf to suit everyone!

To counter act the criticisms of the average dynamics of the MkIV Golf, Volkswagen introduced a new multi-link control blade independent rear suspension system on the MkV.  Along with chassis refinements, the MkV Golf became the class leader for ride and handling!  However, this led to having to increase the body size even though the boot size is still down on the MkIV.  The interior quality of the MkV is well ahead of its rivals, its not on a par anymore with its Audi A3 cousin which is a step ahead of it again in refinement.   

The 1.9T TDi MkV is definitely the Golf of choice to go for for the average motorist.  It combines decent road handling, good performance and great fuel economy with a return of on average of 50mpg mixed driving.  With the new rear suspension system and longer wheel base over the MkIV, the road handling and cornering is much improved over the traditional rear happy Golf of the previous generations.  The only compromise is an increase in road noise inside the cabin but still much better than its rivals.

The MkV Golf proved to be expensive to build, mainly due to the 50 hours taken to build from start to finish which is why the MkVI was released a year early in 2008.  This lead to a high residual value and genuine parts being slightly more expensive than average.  Now you can do a full engine service on the MkV from €90. 

You will buy a 1.4i 16v MkV cheaper than a TDi version but the diesel version is the pick of the range.  Unless of course you can stretch to the 200bhp GTI or the 250bhp 3.2 V6 R32 which still are the benchmark in terms of performance and handling for the Hot Hatch class.

The Golf has always been a fun car to drive, very reliable and mostly economical and as we said before on this blog, most people who have owned the MkV will definately go on to own the new MkVI. 

Gary

 

Mitsubishi Lancer 1995-2000

Class:      Compact

Rivals:     Ford Focus, Volkswagen Bora, Nissan Almera, Opel/Vauxhall Astra

Engines:  Petrol, 1.3i, 1.5 SOHC, 1.6 DOHC, 1.8 DOHC

                Diesel, 2.0

Gearbox: 5 Speed Manual, 4 Speed Auto, 4 Speed Semi-Auto

Layout:   FWD, 4WD

Between its introduction in 1973 and the present day, nearly 7 million Mitsubishi Lancers have been sold spanning ten generations of car.  The seventh generation which ran form 1995 to 2000 was arguably the most popular of the production run, with many clean examples still on our roads today.

The 1.3i was the most popular model sold in Ireland due to its low tax for a decent sized family car.  The engine is high revving and good to go in a car its size and although the suspension is typically soft of a Japanese car, the road handling was quite smooth and positive. 

The Lancer spawned many generations of Rally car, with the Evo V at the hands of Tommi Makinen proving to be the most successful winning 1 WRC constructors title with Tommi himself claiming 4 drivers titles between 1996 and 1999.

The Group N Evos are still a regular sight in the P-WRC as well as the Irish National Championships.

As with most Japanese cars, when looking at 2nd hand models, rust is your biggest enemy.  Check along the sills as well as the bottom of the door skins.  Engine wise they are fairly realible but check for cracks in the manifold and these tend to be a main dealer job only so can work out expensive to buy.  Check for your usual suspension rattles and oil leaks.

The lancer is a decent car, cheap to tax and insure.  They are cheap and easy to modify, per say you can get an Evo front bumper from €150. 

Gary

Toyota Corolla E100 1991-1998

Class:      Small Family Car/ Compact

Rivals:     Peugeot 205, Nissan Sunny, Honda Civic, Vauxhall/Opel Astra, Mazda 323

Variants: Saloon, 3&5 Door Hatchback, Van, Estate, Coupe,

Engines:  Petrol - 1.3i, 1.5i, 1.6i, 1.8i

                Diesel - 2.0L

Gearbox: 3 Speed Auto, 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Manual, 6 Speed Manual

                                                                   

Since its launch in 1966, there has been nearly 40million Toyota Corollas sold the world over.  We will skip a few decades and start talking about the E100 Corolla. 

First Launched in 1991, the E100 was the seventh generation Corolla. 

It catered for all tastes.  From the 1.3i for economical driving to the 1.6l with up to 168bhp unmodified.  It has been known for some Japanese Imported 20v machines to has over 200bhp!!

The Corolla made its name with its shear reliability and economy.  In 1995 the Corolla topped the small family car class for reliability of cars aged 4 to 5 years old in a survey taken by the AA.  There were only 5.3 breakdowns per 1000 5 year old cars, compared to 12 per 1000 for the VW Golf and 38.3 per 1000 for the Fiat Tipo.  It says a lot about them when they are still so many clean examples on our roads.

The 1.8i are still making a lot of money as it is very hard to find a clean version.  It was even possible to get a 4wd estate version with 168bhp.

They were never a bad car to drive, personally I preferred them to the E110 (1998-2002).  They were nicer to drive and seemed better on fuel but well come to the E110 later in the series.

They were a very light car compare to their German rivals, but never the less, even the 1.3i was good to go.  The handling, as with most Japanese front wheel drive cars is neutral touching on under steer with a soft suspension set up.

The Corolla was one of the 1st mass production cars to come with drivers side Airbag as standard and anti-lock brakes as an option.  They score an Average rating on safety from the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

They are a lot of very clean examples out there for sale.  You have to be careful because it is now an old car, and although reliable, try to find one with as recent as possible NCT.

Depending on spec, you will pay anything from a few hundred euros, to a few thousand for a rare example.  The Corolla Levin and the Twin-Cams are a completely different kettle of fish and well also talk about them later in the series.

Parts are easy to source and for the most part inexpensive.  The Corolla E100 is still a regular sight on our roads, just a testimony to what Toyota could once build!

gary

   

Honda Civic 1988-1991

Class:       Compact Car



Rivals:     Vauxhall/Opel Nova/Corsa, Ford Fiesta, Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 205,
Variants:  Saloon, Hatchback, CRX,
Engines:  1.3i, 1.5, 1.6i,
Gearbox: 4 Speed Auto, 4 Speed Manual, 5 Speed Manual
Awards:  Car and Driver Magazine Top Ten Rated Cars 1988-1991

Car Advertisements sure have come a long way in the last twenty or so years!!

A lot has to be said about this model Civic, twenty years after end of production, and they are still good examples regularly spotted on our roads!  Because it was easy to run, cheap to fix and easy to modify, it became a firm favourite with young drivers and car modifiers all around the world.  Even the 1.3 basic engine lends itself easily to a cheap air induction kit and a sports exhaust!

This was also the 1st model of Civic to feature the famous 1.6i DOHC D16A9 VTEC engines.  This produced about 160bhp and red lining at 9,000rpm in a car with a Kerb Weight of about a ton!  Although examples of these are now extremely rare, there are many 1.3s about that had later model VTEC engines fitted, and are just as much fun to drive!

The Civic has had a long production history since 1st rolling off the factory floor back in 1973 and has to date, sold over 17million units worldwide.  We are presently on the ninth generation Civic, which we will talk about later in the coming months.

For a car of its age, it actually scores quite well for safety, with a slightly above average rating from the American National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is their version of our European NCAP tests. 

If you are going to look at an example of this Civic, you need to remember that it is up on 20years old and you more than likely will have 20year old problems.  Rust will be your biggest killer, especially on Japanese Imports if they have not been undersealed properly.  Now it is still easy and not too expensive to source parts and there are still a lot of parts available on the 2nd hand market.

These are a difficult car to price at the moment.  Expect to pay premium prices for anything with a VTEC under the bonnet,  but you can still, if your lucky and willing to wait for one to come up, pick up a clean standard version for a few hundred Euros.  Its also worth looking at the Japanese market to see what you can bring in relatively cheap.. There are collectors out there for these cars so you will never have trouble getting rid of even a basic shell.

This generation Civic is still a very fun car to drive, a nice laid back, low sitting position and a good handling and easy to control car.  Perfect for the beginner although probably moving out of their price range.

gary



Nissan Skyline R33 1993-1998

Class:       Sports Compact

Rivals:     Mitsubishi Evo 6, Subaru Impreza S5, Audi S4 MKI, BMW M3 E36

Engines:  Petrol, 2.0, 2.5, 2.5Turbo, 2.6 Turbo (GT-R), 2.8 (400bhp)

Gearbox: 4 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Auto, 5 Speed Manual

Awards:  A R33 GT-R Lapped Nordschleife in 7 mins and 59seconds!! That's Award Enough!!

OK the keen eyed blogger may have noticed that the video is actually of the R34 around the Nurburgring but its still very cool and gives a very good idea of the challenge of the Nordschleife!

The R33 Skyline was launched in 1993 as successor to the very popular R32 and although heavier, did come with 6 cylinder engines from 2liter up and there was also a 4pot 1.8liter available!

The very 1st Skyline rolled off the production line of the Prince Motor Company in 1957 which went on to become Datsun and then Nissan.  It wasn't until the 1980s that the Skyline legacy really took off with the introduction of the R31!! A 2 liter turbo, rear wheel drive beast!

The R33 was seen as the every day sports car, it was the 1st in its class to have airbags fitted (post 1996).  Parts are interchangeable and very affordable and easy to source!

The Straight 2 liter model boasts 130bhp standard and its not unheard of to hear of a R33 tuned to over 1000bhp!!!

The 130bhp R33 will not set the world alight, but it is enough fun and has enough power to light the rear tyres when required and you will not be left short on over taking.  A bit more torque would be nice but you can always fit a 2.5 turbo engine for less than €1000!!!

They are easy to source cars 2nd hand and if your brave enough to import directly from Japan yourself, you can save a small fortune, but you will have the hassle of paying VAT (because your importing from outside the EU), VRT, NCT and if you can put up with all that, not exactly knowing what you are getting!  If you have the patience to do it, we would recommend it, but if you don't there are plenty of specialised importers of Japanese cars along the Ports in Dublin or in the UK.

The Skyline has always been the boy racers wet dream, and we would reckon tongue in cheek that there are a disproportionate amount of middle aged women down as owning several Skylines around the country!!

There isn't a petrol head on the planet that will not raise more than a passing glance as one of these cars pass!

Take time to watch the video because its is serious driving and remember, the speedometer is in MPH, not KPH!!

Here at Allparts.ie, we will be adding one of these to our ever expanding virtual car collection!

Gary

Speed Cameras - The Facts on Avoiding Accidents!

Loath them or hate them, the story is that the mobile speed camera units are here to stay.  Here in allparts.ie we welcome the idea they represent, we are all for road safety and we support the http://www.makeroadssafe.org/ campaign run by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA).  Even though we can understand that the safety of the operator in the van is paramount,  and the van is not meant to cause a hindrance to traffic,  what we don't understand why they always park on the widest and straightest part of the roads,  which are the safest!!

The fact is that speed cameras do save lives!  Since their introduction in November 2010; figures show that up to March 2011, up to 26,000 motorists have been issued with a fixed penalty fine of €80, up from 9,500 the previous year.  Although 61 people have been killed to date on out roads, up 5 on this time this year.

At time of writing, the sun is splitting the stones outside, we're in the lead up to 2 long weekend in a row, it is inevitable that there will be accidents! 

What can we do to avoid accidents?  Its often said the all accidents can be avoided, well in reality they can't but we can take our fair share of responsibility to make sure we are always best prepared!!

We can look at the obvious factors- driving under the influence, driving while tired, we could look at these till were blue in the face and people will never learn so well leave that up to the ads on tv.

Instead we will have a quick look at how car maintenance will insure your in the safest possible position in case of accident.

• Tyres!! Your point of contact with the road! Match your tires with what your car Manufacture recommended for you vehicle.  I'm not a fan of cheap tires but they are no harm if your doing low mileage.  If your tires are worn, you will not have good grip under load, aka braking and cornering!  There are tire wear indicators on each and every tyre that anyone can check to see how worn your tires are.  Also, keep a check on your tire pressures, an under or over inflated tyre could lead to a blow out!
• Brakes!  Brakes can be visually inspected by any mechanic for wear and tear.  Any steel brake pipes on older cars and vans should be visually inspected for signs of pitting and weeping!  Buy your brakes from reputable dealers, cheap pads you buy on eBay could be made of dust and give up when you really really require them.
• Suspension!! Suspension component failure disrupts the handling of your car.  Get what ever knocks and funny feelings you have with your motors handling checked out by some reputable as soon as your can!
• Engine!! Regular servicing will lead to better reliability that will help prevent you breaking down on a dangerous stretch of the road at night  time.
• Pedisterains! Oh man I don't like these guys either! I can't understand why they must walk at dusk, along the main road with no hi-vis vest on!!  Especially where we are based in the west as we are beside a lovely and scenic 8km of fabulous beach in Enniscrone, as well as the castle and river walk in Easkey!  But we must share our roads with them, especially in this weather so keep an eye out for them.
• Bikers!! Always keep a good look out for bikers when pulling out of a junction!  A bike has a small profile and can be hard to spot!  Bikes should travel with headlamps on at all times to aid visibility as well as following all the same rule for maintenance as every other road user!
• Cyclists! Obey the rules of the road!  Red lights means stop!!!!!  Cyclists should also wear hi-vis clothing and make sure their lights are working in the evening time.
• Agricultural!  Its getting into silly season again where tractors and large machinery will be on the roads 24/7.  Have patience when stuck behind a tractor, most contractors and lads that do a lot of work will pull in when they have chance!  They have a job to do as well so they will not appreciate some one in his Range Rover refusing to pull in in case it gets dirty and then annoyingly lying on the horn as they pass!  All Agricultural vehicles should follow the same points as above and make sure their trailer implement lights are also working!  

The speed cameras, as well as the GardaTtraffic Corps are there for your safety, and you generally wont attract their attention unless you deserve to do so!

Remember, keep the race in its place!! I'll never be known as a slow driver but I'm not crazy!! For serious racing there are plenty of karting facilities around that will keep the speed out of your system for a while at least!

You can look up the Safety Camea locations at http://www.garda.ie/GoSafe.htm

For some sat navs you can download warnings that will let you know when approaching a safety camera zone, look up the website revelant to your unit for more information!

Take it easy, but keep her lit!!!

gary

The Allparts Fuel Saving Guide

With the price of Diesel closing in on €1.50 a liter and Petrol on €1.60, the average cost of topping up your beloved motor is costing more and more on each and every visit to the pumps!

So here are a few tips from Allparts.ie that everyone can follow:

• Tire Pressures: Keeping you tires pumped and regularly checking their pressures will ensure you car is not over working every time it has to rotate its wheels.  Tires with incorrect pressures can cost up to €10 in an average tank of fuel.  Most vehicles have a manufactures guideline on tire pressures either on the drivers side door sill, or inside the fuel cap cover on the car itself, or in the owners manual if you can't find it on the car.

• If your car comes with cruise control, ignore it!! This keeps the car at a constant speed, even up and down slopes.  When travelling downhill, ease back on the throttle and work with gravity to keep a constant speed, use the momentum you have built up then to get you up hill.  Don't mash the throttle pedal going up hill, this is just a waste of time.

• Anticipate the road ahead.  This will avoid heavy braking and harsh acceleration. Which Burns Fuel!

• When pulling off, accelerate smartly, not like Lewis Hamilton but not like Granny either!  Get into top gear as quickly as reasonable.

• Don't carry unnecessary weight!  There is no need to be carrying around the golf clubs all week if your only playing on a Saturday afternoon, thrust me, they won't impress the new secretary in the office!

• Regular Servicing keeps a check on tires, refreshes engine lubrication and keeps an eye on brakes and suspension components that keep your vehicle running smoothly!  A restricted air filter can drastically increase fuel consumption, try breathing through your sleeve for a minute and you'll see how difficult it becomes.

• Wash you Car, not only will a bit of TLC bring out the shine in your motor but reduces weight and aerodynamic drag!

• Turn off the Air Conditioning. Consider opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.

• If stuck in traffic, and you car doesn't come with one of those fancy stop/start didgeridoo's, if you're idling over 45 seconds, knock off your engine providing it is safe to do so!

Some magazines will tell you to buy a hybrid, or down size your car or walk everywhere and car poole, well, we are not going to tell you to do that here at Allparts.ie as these are all down to personal preferance.  The builder with the V10 TDI Tourag could be far more fuel effecient than the 17year old with her Nissan Micra, if you can follow these tips and match your vehicle to its application, then you should reduce your fuel bills.

Gary

PS: Don't Buy a Prius!!!!!

Ford Focus 1998- Present

Class:      Compact/Small Family Car

Rivals:     Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla/Auris

Variants:  Hatch, Saloon, Estate,Van, Coupe Cabriolet

Engines:   Petrol: 1.4 Zetec, 1.6 Zetec, 2.0 Zetec

               Diesel: 1.8 TDDI, 1.8 TDCI

Gearbox: 4 speed auto, 5 speed manual, 6 speed manual

Awards:  Top Gear Car of the Year 1999 for the MKI

               Fifth Gear, Best Family Car 2004 for the MKII

             

The Ford Focus has just reached the milestone of 100,000 units in Ireland and has been the top seller on ten separate occasions since its launch in 1998! This means the Ford Focus is Ireland's fastest selling car...ever!

The Focus took over from its Iconic predecessor, the Escort in 1998.  The Escort ran in limited production beside the Focus for two years before it was discontinued to allow customers get used of the distinctive new Ford design, previously seen on the Ka, the Puma and the Cougar.

In 2008, the Focus took over from the Cortina as Britain's best selling car, a record that stood for 27 years.  It was beaten in 2009 by the smaller Fiesta.

Ford has just released the MKIV Focus in March!

Being better used of driving German car I always found Fords difficult to drive, everything seems chunky, and not quite in the correct position!   That was until the Focus came out.  Everything was right, the ride was smooth, the handling is very good, and the noise levels and overall comfort are decent!  I'm not a huge fan, but this is a decent reliable car that unless you go for the RS or the ST your not going to get too many trills out of driving!

When looking at one to buy 2nd hand, keep an eye out for a history of clutch and gearbox problems, what ever it is with the Focus, once they start to give trouble they seldom stop.  But there are reports of petrol cars reaching over 200,000 miles without seeing so much as a spanner so mach sure you have a good mechanic with you when you go to view a 2nd hand model.

The MKI Focus scored 4 out of 5 stars in its EURO NCAP Tests and the MKII onwards scored 5 Stars.

Running costs for the Focus are very reasonable, with your average petrol model running at approx 40mpg mixed driving.  They are reasonable to tax and the new models fall into tax band B which is €146 a year!

The Ford Focus RS WRC won over 30 World Rally Events and won the World Rally Manufactures Championship in 2006 and 2007.  Driven by Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz, Markko Martin and Marcus Gronholm, the Focus became one of the top competitors in World Rally competitions until replace by the smaller Fiesta ST this year.

The Focus comes with a great pedigree, replicating past honors of its predecessors!  Its a great A to B car that will not let you down and is not hard to maintain.  This car will suit any type of driver, from beginner onwards.

gary

Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro 2006-Present

Class:      Sports Car
Rivals:     Porsche 911 Carrera 4s, Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6, Nissan GT-R
Engines:  Petrol 4.2 V8 FSi, 5.2 V10 FSI,
               Diesel, 6.0 V12 TDI
Gearbox: 6 Speed Manual, 6 Speed R-Tronic Single Clutch Semi Automatic
Awards:  Top Gear Car of the Year 2007
               5th Gear Car of the Year and Best Fast Car 2007
               World Car of the Year 2008 Best Design and World Best Performance Car
               Playboy Magazine Car of the Year 2008
               European Car of the Year 2008

This is far and away the best car we have ever tested for the Allparts Review!!  I could not believe my ears when i answered the phone which went something like this; "Mr Conway would you be available next week to test drive the Audi R8" to which my reply was, after I picked myself up off the floor was "yes, yes I am"!!!
As I rolled up the The Radisson Hotel there she was in all her royal blue spectacle! The tell tale badge on the wing that let you know it was the 5.2l V10 520bhp beast glistening in the winter sunlight! 

This is the much anticipated Audi R8!!!  The car all the big car magazines were fighting over to get the 1st test drive!

The car is amazing to drive, as we pulled out slowly onto the carriage way, made sure the car was in a straight line as I did not want to fishtail out of control in the 1st 5 minutes, and gunned it!!!  No feeling can describe it, the G-Forces pushed my stomach beyond my spine!!  I just about had enough power left in my hands to reach the flappy paddles to change gear!  The Gearbox is amazing, we had the 6speed semi-auto flappy paddle gear box and when your open the throttle the gear change is unbeatable!  The noise and the sound of the gear changes is indescribable!!!  As soon as you sit in this car and feel the bucket seat suck you in, there is an instant smile on your face! 

Absolutely everything is in the right position in this car, from the red starter button on the steering wheel to the stereo and the air con! The R8 does share some chassis components, the flappy paddel gear box, and the revised V10 engine with its sister car the Lamborghini Gallardo, on which were still waiting on that phone call to go test!!!

This is a mid-engined, 4wd sports car, that also come in a diesel via the V12 TDI 500bhp unit with 738lb-ft of torque and it does 23miles to the gallon!!!  Not bad for an oil burner!!!

I only had half an hour with this car! Which was no where near enough!  All we can say is that it seems a very easy to live with sports car, compared to a lot of horror stories you do hear about old Ferraris or old Lambos.

Hopefully in 15-20 years or so, if the prices come down enough and petrol isn't €300 a liter, then we will have one, but for now, €150,000 is a tad out of our price range!

Gary










              

Nissan Micra/March 1982- Present

Class:     Supermini
Rivals:    Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Honda Jazz, Ford Fiesta, Vw Polo,
Variants: 3 door hatch, 5 door hatch, Cabriolet, Saloon (Japan Only), Estate (Japan Only)
Engines:  Petrol 1.0, 1.3, 1.4,
              Diesel 1.5 (Japan Only)
Awards: European Car of the Year 1993

Yes a Nissan Micra!!!  The often used as an excuse for being late for work! "Why you late?" "Well Sir I got stuck behind a bloody Micra!!"

This is not my favourite car what so ever, but the reason we are featuring it is because of its longevity!! Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the Launch of the Micra and with a new model out this year, it will be around for another while!  The Micra was also the first European built Japanese car to hit the milestone of over one million models built in its Sunderland Factory in 1998!
Now I would love just to write about the Micra SuperTurbo, which had a supercharger and a turbo on a 930cc 8 valve 4pot developing 110bhp which by comparison is like 300bhp in your average 4 door family car! But unfortunately there is not too many of them around!

The Micra has won many plaudits from different automobile associations for its sheer realibility and if you pay attention your sure to see a few '95/'96 MkII models still around!

The MkII Micra scored a 2 star rating in the Euro NCAP crash tests which is no bad feat, the MKIII scored 4 stars the the New MKIV has also scored 4.

The MkII micra came in many variations, probably most exclusive is the Nissan Figaro, which was sold by lottery when it came out first in Japan.  Many have reached Irish shores and have reach cult status for chic!

You have to admire the mkIII Micras styling, and to be honest I was excited to see what they would come up with next; and when I did I was utterly dissappointed! It looks like a drab, boring plastic toy car you buy in Lidl for your baby cousin for him just to throw it out of the pram because thats how bad it looks!  Although it was designed to have a drag co-efficient of 0.32 (how slippery it moves through the air) and returns 18km per liter, its just so bad to look at!

Theres not much to look out for when buying a used micra apart from the usual wear and tear on any car.
They are cheap to tax and to insure for any driver. You can pick one up for anything from a few hundred euros to 7 or 8,000 for a new one.

The Micra is a good easy to drive car, and a favourite with driving instructors!
If your looking for something cheap and cheerful, its ideal, but don't expect much respect from other road users!!!

Gary

BMW 3 Series E46 1998-2005

Class:       Junior Executive
Rivals:      Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, Ford Mondeo, Lexus IS
Variants:   2 Door Coupe,2 Door Convertible, 4 Door Saloon, 5 Door Touring (Estate), M3
Engines:    Petrol, 1.6i, 1.8i, 2.0i, 2.3i, 2.5i, 2.8i, 3.0i, 3.2i, 4.0V8
                Diesel 2.0td, 2.5td, 3.0td
Gearbox:  5 speed manual, 6 speed seq manual, 6 speed automatic

We were lucky enough to be able to test drive 2 different models from the E46 range, the 318i and the amazing 325ci!  You'll find that we will mainly test drive diesel cars of this size on the blog, but for two mid range cars, they were not that heavy on petrol.  Our recommended BMW 3 Series E46 to go for is with out doubt the 150bhp 320d, but lets talk about out two test models.

The 2003 318i 4 Door Saloon was no slouch pumping nearly 143bhp to the rear wheel drive system.  This car is very comfortable with its handling tending a little toward understeer but not enough to scare you.  I drove this car for a week around Dublin and with mixed and city driving, I was averaging approx 35-40 mpg, which was not bad as I didn't spare the throttle when ever I had a chance to stretch the legs a little.  I love the dash and the cabin lay out of the E46, the dash is easy to read and understand, and the stereo and Air Conditioning Controls are all within easy reach.  The E46 318i is not known for too many faults so just make sure and give the car a good going over with your mechanic before you buy.

The 2003 325ci is as BMW proclaim, the Ultimate Driving Experience!!!
Our test car came with electric leather seats, air-con, 6cd changer, auto-dim mirrors, M3 wing mirrors and 192bhp pushing you along!  As with the 318i, this car is planted at speed with a slight tendency towards understeer which isn't bad for a rear wheel drive car.
When you first drive the car, make sure to keep a good eye on the speedo and this car nearly landed me an overnight stay in a welsh prison courtesy of a heavy foot and a keen eyed policeman!

The 318i should cost from €2,500 up to €6,000 or €7,000. It will cost €593 to tax and is a BMW so it will be quite expensive to service and repair.
The 325ci can be bought for as little as €4,000 and will cost €935 a year to tax.

The BMW 3 Series, E46 range has scored a 5 star rating from the Euro Ncap Crash Tests.

Although these cars are fun to drive, the rising costs of petrol compared to diesel really means they are very under valued for the sheer quality of car you get in return.
Expect to pay more for a 320d, which at approx 50mpg is definitely the car to go for!

Gary

Toyota Avensis 2.0 D4D 1997-Present

Class:       Large Family Car

Rivals:      Opel Vectra/Insignia, Ford Mondeo, VW Passat, Mazda 6

Variants:  Saloon, Hatchback, Estate

Engines:   Petrol, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0

               Diesel, 2.0, 2.2

Gearbox: 5 speed manual, 6speed manual, 5 speed Automatic

Awards:  Semperit Irish Car of the Year 2004

First introduced in 1997 as a replacement to the Carina E, the Avensis proved itself by continuing on Toyota's reputation for reliability! Smooth and refined on country roads as well as long journeys, and a decent list of "as standard" extras, the Avensis proved to be a big seller, but offered very little in terms of excitement!

The cabin is comfortable and plenty of space.  The handling is as with any Japanese car, neutral, and with a fairly soft suspension is very comfortable on the most arduous of roads.

The early model 2.0td engines suffered largely from turbo lag, and up to the new model introduction in 2003, failure of the dual mass flywheel was common place.

The new model launched in 2004 came with updated engines including Toyota's Variable Valve Timing (VVT) and updated diesels lead to a much improved and involved drive.

The newer model had a few set backs with suspensions and steering problems but nothing too serious.

The 2004- present Avensis scored a 5 star rating from the Euro Ncap Crash Tests.

We recommend you go for the 2.0 D4D Avensis.  Its €614 to tax up to 2008 and €156 after. It will return on average 50mpg mixed driving.

The new 2010 model is a french designed car and as well as all the previous models, is built in Derbyshire in the Uk.

For a nice clean 05/06 avensis you can pay up to €5000, early models can be picked up for next to nothing and the new Model can go for up to €25,000 for an ex demo.

Gary

Audi A6 2.0TDI 140bhp 2004-2011

Class:        Executive

Rivals:       Mercedes E Class, BMW 5series, Lexus GS, Volvo V70,

Variants:   Saloon, Avant, Allroad, S6, RS6

Engines:    Petrol 2.0l, 2.4l, 2.8l, 3.2l, 4.2 V8

                Diesel 2.0tdi, 2.7tdi, 3.0tdi

Gearbox:  6 speed manual, 6 speed automatic, 7 speed CVT Tiptronic

Awards:   World Car of the Year 2005

Ever since I started this blog I have been dying to feature this car.  The car we tested was the 2010 A6 S-Line Avant 3.0TDI V6 Quattro 7 Speed Tiptronic and my word what a car!  We had the perfect drive from Frankfurt, through Luxembourg and into the Lorraine Region of France on which we had German Motorway Driving, tight and twisty mountain passes as well as City Driving and the car handled beautifully on each.

Now if your thinking that after 3 car reviews we have gone all Top Gear already, don't forget this car has been around since 2004 and the Irish model to go for is the 2.0TDI Avant.  Our Rental Car is the last in the current line for the C6 chassis as a new model on the new C7 chassis to set for launch in 2011.

Now I'm not a huge fan of the Quattro system, in the A4 I found it takes a lot of horsepower to drive and will sometimes just give you a twitch when your really leaning into a corner as the rear wheels receive more power to keep you straight, especially in any car less than 200bhp! But, in the 225bhp 3.0TDI V6 version, its a different animal!  To drive, the car feels very similar to the 333bhp S4, you can push hard along the autobahn or just for cruising from A to B. The cabin is unreal, the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) is spot on, every button is exactly where it should be without having to stretch for it.  There is more than enough space in the rear for 3 6ft plus passengers.  The Tiptronic gearbox is smooth in auto-mode, but in sports mode is useless at cruising speed, but floor it and it comes into its own!  Its a big car without feeling cumbersome on the road.

All Variants of the A6 come with a 5 star rating from the Euro Ncap Crash Tests.

When looking at a car to buy 2nd hand, we recommend you go for the 2.0TDI 6 speed manual.  At 140bhp its no slouch.  Like with any Audi, check for signs of clocking, you can contact your local Audi Dealer for help on this aspect.  When looking at the engine bay, make sure there are no signs of any major oil leaks and no excessive smoke from the exhausts!  In some rare examples, the dual-mass Flywheel can cause problems so if you feel any strange vibration through the car on the test drive you may as well leave it there because this is a very expensive problem to fix.

Up to 2008, this car is €614 to tax and after its only €302 per year to tax.  A standard service should be running at about €150 including oil.  You're looking at about 55mpg mixed driving.

There is no doubt that there are some bargains to be picked up in the UK, but make sure and check the VRT before you import as it can be extortionate.  You are looking at somewhere between €5,000 for a 04 model, all the way up to €60,000 for a new model!!!! On average for a nice clean 05/06 car with a good service history you should only be paying about €8,000 to €10,000

Here at Allparts, we want this car! 

Gary



Volkswagen Golf Mk IV 1.4i 16v 1999-2005

Class: Small Hatch
Rivals: Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Ford Focus, Nissan Micra, Alfa Romeo 147, Peugeot 206
Sister Cars: Audi A3, Audi TT, Skoda Fabia, Seat Ibiza, VW Bora, New Beetle,
Variants: Hatchback, Cabriolet, Station Wagon, Van
Engines: Petrol 1.4 16v, 1.6, 1.8 20v, 2.0, 2.3 V5, 2.8VR6, 2.8VR6 24v, 3.2VR6 24v
Diesel: 1.9 tdi (80bhp-150bhp)
Gearbox: 5 speed manual, 5 speed automatic
Awards:
1998 What Car? Best Small Hatch
1998 Top Gear Magazine Best Small Family Car

I have decided to separate the Golf variants to talk about them because otherwise well be here all day! You will notice that we didn't put the Bora down as a variant, even though its often called the Golf saloon, it only shares the chassis and the front door panels with its Golf sister.
There is so much that car be said about the Golf through out its 33 year history, so we will start with the 1.4 16v.

In our opinion, this is the ideal starter car, its a car that crosses the generations as well as the sexes! it can never be called a girls car or never a lads car either! The spotty nosed teen or the old age pensioner never looks out of place in the drivers seat!
This car is so easy to drive with is neutral handling and comfortable driving position, it make the driver, no matter how nervous they are, feel in complete control of the vehicle.
It doesn't feel like a small car to sit in, there is ample room for 4 adults and the solid drive makes you feel like your in a car twice its size.

The CL spec is the definite car to go for with its all around electric windows, lighting kit and comfort line seats.

The 1.416v engine at 75bhp is no slouch. It will not scare the pants off you but is as good on a motorway as it is on the tight country lanes. On high mileage units you need to look out for a creamy discharge on the underside of the oil cap and the dip stick. They can also be difficult to pass the NCT emissions test but this is normally down to either a faulty Lambda sensor or the Catalytic Converter, both of which are easy to repair.

The 1.4 16v only cost €333 a year to put road tax on, about €70 to service and for a petrol car is very economical on fuel, averaging approximately 35-45mpg mixed driving.
It is very easy to source parts, and with all the on line forums dedicated to the Mk IV, it is very easy to access any information on the car.

The 1.4 16v is the cheapest of the model range to buy, you should be looking at between €1200 up to €2,500 and for a low mileage late model you can pay up to €4,000. There are bargains to be had to keep a good look out, if you have any mechanical experience you can even pick up a nice car for less than a thousand euros! Be careful of aftermarket extras as these don't add to the value of the car.

Most people who ever own a golf will never own anything else, this says a lot about this car!

Gary

Vauxhall/Opel Vectra B 2.0dti 1996-2002

Class: Family Saloon
Rivals: Ford Focus, Alfa Romeo 155, Nissan Primera, Toyota Avensis
Variants: Saloon, Hatchback, Estate
Engines: Petrol 1.6, 2.0, 2.2, 2.5 V6
Diesel 1.7td, 2.0dti, 2.2dti
Gearbox: Manual 5 speed
Automatic 5speed

I never knew exactly why but I always prefered the Vauxhall to the Opel Vectra, even though they were both built in the same factory in Luton, the Vauxhall always seems to be a tighter built and higher spec-ed car!! The face lift model from '99 onwards is definitely the car to go for with its single piece headlamps, color coded bumpers and modified back end, and somewhat improved handling!
The Vectra will never be known for its sportiness, its understeers at speed and its in no way intended for high speed cornering! But as a motorway cruiser, a from A to B car its hard beat!
At motorway speeds the cabin noise is low and you feel in control of the car, not push on past this limit and your opinion of the car will start to waine!! But, on rough and bumpy roads, the Vectra B will give you a relatively comfortable ride compared to some of its more illustrious German rivals.
The Hatch back would also be the recommended buy, with the extra boot space and fold down seat there isn't much that you will fail to carry. There is plenty of room in the cabin for up to 5 average adults.

The 2.0dti is the best car in the class, although it runs at €614 road tax per year, its actually quite an economical car, normally returning an average of 50mpg providing the engine is kept well serviced! When looking at the engine, watch out for any leaks, especially around the turbo and rocker cover, check the fluid levels, dip the oil several times to check an accurate level and check the color of the coolant in the bottle after the car has been driven. Anything other than the color of antifreeze and your as well to walk away. Also check all the water pipes and hoses for any sign of corrosion as the car is that age where these pipes just start to wear out.

The Vectra B only have a 2 star rating for the Euro NCAP Crash and Safety tests. From driving the car I never liked the ABS system in place, I always found it kicked in far too early and from searching for parts in scrapyards, its evident on how hard it is to find parts for the front of the car. But parts are easily sourced new and not an expensive car to service or maintain.

Price wise for a very clean car with low mileage and a good service history you could be looking at anywhere up to €3,250, but on average you should pay around €2,400 for a decent car.

This is a nice comfortable and relatively reliable car for your ever day day to day driving. It will never set the word alight but it will get you there!

Gary

Audi A4 1.9tdi 130bhp 2000-2005

Class: Junior Executive
Rivals: BMW 3series, Mercedes C220, Ford Mondeo, Opel/Vauxhall Vectra
Variants: Saloon, Avant (Estate), Cabriolet
Engines: Petrol 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.4, 3.0, 4.2
Diesel 1.9tdi (105bhp, 115bhp, 130bhp), 2.5tdi, 3.0tdi
Gearbox: Manual 5 or 6 speed
Automatic (CVT, Multitronic) 5 or 6 speed

The 2002 Audi A4 is one of my favourite run of the mill standard road cars, one of which I actually owned. A mixture of horsepower and fuel economy made it a firm favourite with who ever drove one. The 1.9tdi 130bhp is arguably the best and most popular of the production line, although the RS4 is with out doubt some car with 420bhp, the 1.9tdi had followed its sporting pedigree with its responsive chassis and classy looks.

The 6 speed manual gear box is definitely the best buy even though 1st through 3rd gears are fairly short, you can cruise at 100kph at less than 2000rpms where as the 5 speed box will reach 100kph at 2300rpm saving approx 5mpg!!

The engine is fantastic, torquey and has a lovely rumble at high revs. Its tried and tested as its many variants have been best sellers for the Volkswagen/Audi group over many car generations. A good engine will be clean to look at with out looking polished, the odd slight oil weep but nothing dirty or dripping. There should be no smoke and should rev out smoothly.

This is a real drivers car, mixed with impressive good looks, easy to source new or 2nd hand parts, easy to insure and although it will cost €582 a year in road tax, for anyone who is doing over 100 miles a week will reap the benefit in fuel savings! It has good road handling, very tight with no rattles or squeaks, a nice roomy cabin with little road noise.

All models of the A4 come with a 4star rating from the Euro NCAP safety and crash tests which is very impressive for a 10year old design.

If thinking of making a purchase, make sure to get the a high specification model because believe it or not, the lower spec cars may not even come with folding rear seats!

As regard to prices, about €7,500 for an extremely clean example with low mileage but on average you will be looking at a nice reliable car with modest mileage for between €3,500 to €4,500. Beware of clocked models, any Audi dealership should help with verification on mileage.
For the best examples you might be better off looking at the UK for a bargain!

This is a fine example of a good strong reliable German diesel car, yes it will cost slightly more to service than your average japanese saloon, it more than makes up for it in class!

Gary