Is the VRS going to do it for me?

I'm thinking of buying an early VRs as they're getting down to the 6k mark (and bellow if you can hunt one out at auction) so I was wondering if there's anything nasty that I need to be wary of? I know that they can be remapped, is there any history of turbo problems on cars which have had this done?

I've only ever driven new VRs' (My mum is on her second one) and I've always been impressed with them so thinking of buying one to save some cash on fuel and possibly pention my Saxo VTS off onto track detail.

Out of interest, has anyone also taken one around the Nordschliefe? If so, how did it hold up?

Cheers for your help

Dave

Dave on this forum there is a general concensus that no matter what prices on these things are sky high and will stay like that....even with a new model they seem to blindly believe that this has no impact on prices...

The 130TDI engine is the same as in the Superb Leon Ibiza A3 A4 A6 Golf Passat Bora Polo Alta Toledo Albhrama Shannon - so that unit is as reliable as in any of those vehicles.

It is a very good city car you can slam those doors just like any VW and the same Thunk will happen. I'd say one thing which has always concerned me is the seats they are very light and mark easily.

Appart from that £6k this car is really starting to become a good bargin runabout.

If you need reliability then statistically you need Japanese.

If you need reliability then statistically you need Japanese.

That agrees with my experience too

Chris

hahaha, it is typical forum mentality that the price of the car won't go down, though to be fair it takes 4 years and about 80k miles to loose 50% of it's new value, which is very impressive. My mum only lost 1500quid when trading a 22k mile old 54 plate for a brand new one last year.

I was just interested to know if there were any week points on the car, I've spotted a front ARB problem highlighted at the top of the page so that could well be a help

One interesting point he raised did anyone take it to THE track.... to be honest why would anyone bother to take a city car to a race track. if you want a track car buy one if you want a reliable A-B city car buy one.

Unless you buy a modern Porche you will not get the best of both worlds.

hahaha, it is typical forum mentality that the price of the car won't go down, though to be fair it takes 4 years and about 80k miles to loose 50% of it's new value, which is very impressive. My mum only lost 1500quid when trading a 22k mile old 54 plate for a brand new one last year.

I was just interested to know if there were any week points on the car, I've spotted a front ARB problem highlighted at the top of the page so that could well be a help

What was the total trade up cost.... they may offer you a great trade in however the deal you could get on the car you are going to buy may not be so good.

Key thing is to get the total cost of change as low as possible.

I guess on the M3 E30 forums its the same people seriously thinking that their track thrashed M3 will never lose them a penny... get real they are very main stream cars and until the number remaining falls to a very low qty prices will always fall and with higher ins & fuel costs running such cars will become less & less attractive to the ave punter.

My issue is that I travel around 30k miles a year and love a weekend away with mates over at the 'ring in Germany. Up till now I've driven a Saxo VTS, which has been fab on track and at the ring and just about acceptable for 30k per year, though after chucking it's second ECU in 6 months it's had it's chips. While I'm not expecting a great deal from a derv skoda, in fact I'm sure it'll never go round Germany's finest piece of road with any sort of anger, I'm just interested to see if anyone's taken one round andhow well it coped with the experience

What was the total trade up cost.... they may offer you a great trade in however the deal you could get on the car you are going to buy may not be so good.

Key thing is to get the total cost of change as low as possible.

I guess on the M3 E30 forums its the same people seriously thinking that their track thrashed M3 will never lose them a penny... get real they are very main stream cars and until the number remaining falls to a very low qty prices will always fall and with higher ins & fuel costs running such cars will become less & less attractive to the ave punter.

True, but check the prices of E30 M3s, they've been on a slight upward curve for the passed few years.

totally agree with above... most reliable car ive ever owned was my nissan - hondas n toyotas also v v good

If you need reliability then statistically you need Japanese.

Indeed, but are there any decent diesel Jap cars out there. I've been fairly amazed by the fact that there doesn't seem to be any

Buy a Toyota....or a Honda. The vRS is about as reliable as VAG cars get, as in very very average.

I've owned mine since mid Jan and it's been in the dealers about 5 times for warranty claims.

True, but check the prices of E30 M3s, they've been on a slight upward curve for the passed few years.

look today at the E36 M3 & M3 Evo their prices are plumeting its a great car BUT they are a mainstream model and there are many dogs out there.

To be honest I'd say the M3 E36 (Non Evo 286bhp) 3.0ltr is probably the bargin of the moment great looks great seats 165mph (non limited) and you can pick them up from

Yes that Vanos failure costs upwards of £2k for parts.... ouch.

Do the E36 non Evo M3's have Airbags?

If so I may have tempted myself too far and go out with the $$

As far as I can remember early 93 cars it was an option, on all others there is a driver bag as standard. Tempting cars. I'd have one, though not for 30k per year. Not as shockingly cheap to run as people seem to think now days though, and all of them are 11+ years old

As far as I can remember early 93 cars it was an option, on all others there is a driver bag as standard. Tempting cars. I'd have one, though not for 30k per year. Not as shockingly cheap to run as people seem to think now days though, and all of them are 11+ years old

Well they may need new discs & pads & shocks maybe a new clutch but appart from that then its any of the usual niggling faults all cars suffer from.

Best bit of all is the cam chain so no huge cost there.

Does the cam chain not have to be done at 100K miles , like the E30 M3?

Cant say I've had any major problem but then swmbo clio has never been back the garage. I've lost count the amount of times mines been in.

Does the cam chain not have to be done at 100K miles , like the E30 M3?

Nope - the cam chain on the E36 onwards dont need changing until min 180k and really you dont ever need to change it.