If its not one problem its another, having replaced the clutch and flywheel and given sufficient wearing in time I've been able to stretch the legs a little on my VRS. However, I've found only occasionally under gently acceleration and always under heavier acceleration that I have a horrid vibration which runs through the chassis of the car, it feels like its coming from underneath the car from around the handbrake area, if i place my hand down against the centre console (cup holder) the vibration is really pronounced.

I've looked underneath as best i can (without yet lying down on the rain soaked pavements) and cannot see anything untoward, appears to be good clearance between exhaust and bodywork.

Could it be that under the strain of engine load that the engine moves in its mounts enough to move the exhaust enough to touch the bodywork?

OR, did i remember reading once that this could be a problem with the handbrake cables becoming loose and vibrate like crazy?

Also aside from that problem my fuel consumption has dropped significantly, I 've seen loads on other threads about it being linked to the cold weather and the like but I'm struggling to get 20mpg around town and 30mgh on a motorway run of approx 70mph.

I had it checked on a snap on diagnostics computer which indicated a intermittent fault referring to the EVAP and air temp. It was reading 48 degrees for the air intake temp (actually abround 4 degrees this morning when testing!)

Any ideas or advice on how to go about this?

I've ordered a new air temp sensor, will be here on Mon (then I'll have to locate where it is). And I'm planning on checking/replacing the thermostat, temp sender and cleaning of throttle body this weekend having read the other threads as this appears to be similar, i can travel 3 miles to work in the morning and the temp gauge is only just starting to rise plus i have the odd shudder/flutter on idle.

Beginning to think this has been the most problematic car I've ever bought, so any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Unless you're spending a lot of time idling whilst snow/ice clearing there's no real reason why a petrol engined car should drop mpg in cold weather. Even if it was a diesel, you normally lose more like 10% to fuel anti-freeze.

From your post, I'd thin you do have a stuck open thermostat though.

As for the resonance thing, the standard exhausts are big heavy pieces of kit, but the centre and front brackets are made of plastacene so one of them could easily have broken, or the catalytic convertor heat shield welds broken. A "local garage" with a lift will let you inspect, and probably sort the probelm for a fiver or so.

Your thermostat is knackered for a start. Sounds like your on too that though

Not sure about the vibrations though.