ive got a red one on the forecourt, came in part ex. now i keep looking at it and i must admit im a triffle tempted by it. ive had a little drive in it and its good, theres a purge valve of some sort on there as when you let off the throttle theres a nice little turbo chatter noise i had a similar noise on a bora we took in a while back, and it does make me smile!

what do owners of the 4x4 think of them? this is a red 35k 2001 version hatch. its good condition apart from a bit of fading on the rear lip spoiler.

whats the running costs and real world mpg like? im REALLY rather tempted by it, almost to the point where i want someone to buy it to stop me spending out on it lol!!

i know theres a good chance to tune these upto being quite a car and being its the same 20v turbo engine as the vrs (almost anyway) i know they are pretty good engines. it would take allot to get me out of my vectra, and if this was a estate version i might not even be asking the question and had just gone and bought it! lol!!

so are they any good???

I've had one a year, the door electrics are the only thing that have gave me problems in standard form.

Real world MPG over 15K is around 32mpg.

like he said they are quite reasonable and decent cars, the engines exactly the same as the vrs!! a standard 1.8t!

A good foundaton for a nice sleeper car, 4WD is ideal for getting the power down.

I'm more than happy with mine and its certainly suprised anyone who's ever driven it too.

be careful if going for decent power(250 or above) and caning it with launches etc as you'll destroy boxes

sounds like your speaking for experience there mate

be careful if going for decent power(250 or above) and caning it with launches etc as you'll destroy boxes

lol wouldnt be happening too many times but it certainly catches the imagination. ive felt how fast the vrs is, modding the 4x4 really does tempt me, as does this car in particular. just gota to weigh up running costs as a whole. what about oil changes to the transfer boxes? expensive?

well i've broken 2 gearboxes and never had a fault with the transfer box

and oil changes etc can stay the same unless you go for big turbo's and cane it on track very often.

and yeah matt i can't wait to get myt car up and running with a 6 speed so i hopefully have no more issue's

Just get it bought mate as you wont be sorry

Just get it bought mate as you wont be sorry

well being ex vectra yourself you should know

If you remap it and boot it around you won't be seeing 32mpg or even 22!

Go on Dean you know you want to, better than driving round a demo all the time.

You can then tell your customers "that ones mine"

As for servicing costs, Don't you have a big workshop out back

Cheap spares and labour

It did look very nice.

Deans New Car

Hello,

Ive had a 4x4 saloon since new. Its on an 02 plate. Now done 37,000 miles. Fantastic car, especially since the re map at Awesome.

210bhp now so fast enough and ive had the Haldex system sorted so more like 50/50 drive on all wheels, she really holds the corners well!!!!

MPG? a recent motorway trip showed an average of 35mpg on the computer. You will lose that if you re map and are hard on the right foot.

Its the longest ive kept a car and I have no plans of replacing her as

there is nothing out there that fulfills what I want.

I drive quite a lot on fields and in mud and tow a trailer, she goes through it all, no problem.

Keep her serviced on a regular basis and you should have no problems. Recently had to change the front ARB bushes but thats due the the off roading.

For the price you can get one for now they are well worth it

I like it when the boy racers think im a private hire and the look on their faces when I leave them for dust :D:D

Ive had a 4x4 saloon since new.

Rare one that, only did a hatch and estate

Haldex oil change required every 20k, oil and filter every 40k.

Haldex oil and filter changes are cheap - about £40 IIRC.

The chatter you're hearing is probably a knackered bypass valve. I replaced mine and the noise went away. It wasn't holding vacuum so boosted air was hitting the closed throttle plated and bouncing back into the turbo.

Can you make the 4x4 permanent 50/50 split and can a 02M six speed box be fitted.

There's no "easy" way of altering the 4x4 split - the Haldex "just works". Don't know what could be achieved by meddling more deeply.

The chatter you're hearing is probably a knackered bypass valve.

Correct, was just about to post this myself. It is well worth replacing the DV ASAP.

an o2m box certainly does fit Des

eddy had one, stuart had one and mine is currently fitted to the engine but neither are in the car yet

not sure on making it a constant 50/50 split but the uprated haldex controller means that if you boot it it makes it 50/50 without waiting for wheel slip

the newer haldex unit can be controlled so i don't see why the old one couldn't but it might take some clever electronics

well guess what peeps

ive just sold the car.......................

.................to my MUM!!! so its going to a loving family and i finally get her away from the devils sporn, FORDS!!! lol

ive got the boss to do it at basically what it owes (as it was about to go to auction) but include a years skoda warranty. i was joking about with her the other night as she wanted a newer car than her ford.

i joked "i've got a lovely car at work, shame its a turbo with 4 wheel drive!" and she surprised me by saying " well we have a few turbo fords in the past and dont forget your dad had a 4x4 scorpio too, so if its any good lets have a look"

the only downside is ive promised to keep it polished up as the flat red colour needs a good looking after!

Good news Dean

So will you be telling her how to make it better

and you might have to borrow it every now and again

Good news Dean

So will you be telling her how to make it better

and you might have to borrow it every now and again

lol i certainly will be! shes just told me she filled it up yesterday to the top to see how much shes used. £20 quid later and its full! she said thats pretty much the same as her ford did!

does anyone still advise to let the engine run after a drive to let the oil circulate through the turbo? or is that a throw back to the early rs turbo days?

does anyone still advise to let the engine run after a drive to let the oil circulate through the turbo? or is that a throw back to the early rs turbo days?

I do it as a matter of course and I think most do. Certainly doesn't do it any harm.