Good idea, just like in the Middle Ages all the rich people are in Asia not Europe. I wonder how long it will be before economic migrants start queueing up to replace slave labour in China because the pay is better than in Europe... And its stupid to ship cars a third of the way round the world when you have a well educated obedient workforce in Singapore.. if you step out of line your collar will be felt. We have the heritage of a couple of hundred years of industrialisation and unionization that mean workers have rights that get in the way of factories making money.
[QUOTE="mikedjames, post: 1527505, member: And my now departed Peugeot 306 was actually built at Gaydon. It was sad seeing the last car off the line at the Coventry motor museum. My 306 was falling to bits. I remember depressurising the coolant system and topping it up just prior to the part-exchange valuation...[/QUOTE] I had to do the same with my Cortina in the 80's ....and it was only a couple of years old.
I bought my brother in law’s Mini Cooper S for ‘a good price’ after a few things needed doing to it. Turns out this German designed and built car has a Peugeot engine in it, and that’s the whole problem with it. It’s un piece de merde. More known issues than the mini original namesake they stole and 20 times more expensive to fix. It’s cost me nearly as much to ‘fix’ things as the car cost and it still runs like the old minis used to after driving through a foot of standing water. At least with those a quick wipe of the dizzy cap would fix it. Meanwhile the Subaru with double the mileage soldiers on with minimal fuss. Modern French cars are one good reason for Brexit. Add Minis to that steaming pile of poop, I’m beginning to think it’s some kind of retribution, smuggling French crap under our noses disguised as German crap to disable the country by stealth. They can keep the lot of them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Minis are far too chic and tricksy. Stuffed with kit that just goes wrong. And they rot. My Sis is forever having bits pack up on her Clubman. Triumph of marketing over engineering...
Well, that had been my opinion, style over substance and kitschy, and I should have kept that in mind and not bought the flipping thing. Seemed like a good idea at the time so I could semi-retire the Scooby. Bad idea. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Think they're basically ok, quite handsome from outside. They just stuffed the insides with everything BMW had on the shelf, which then proceeds to go wrong. That tacky plastic speedo/radio buttons on the earlier ones ! Seen better mouldings out of a Christmas cracker.
I would worry too much about the French cars my last 2 the current Renault Kadjar has a lot Nissan bits in it. The Citroen C1 was mainly toyota and I’m not admitting to owning a Citroen berlingo.
I have a 2007 Mini Cooper S that been fairly modified and the electrics and water sealing are shocking. But then it's got around 270bhp and track suspension and tyres and drives not unlike the original Mini's so makes up for it in laughs. My girfiriends Mini Cooper D had been great since I've replaced all the brakes, replaced the rear hubs, front dampers, fuel tank strap and chased a dozen electrical gremlins. I thought both had been pretty good (hers has over 140k on the German diesel) but reading this post reminded me both have actually needed a fair amount of ballsing about.
I think the attitude of "less is more" would've improved the things. Not bad motors, but they tried too hard on stuff that doesn't matter. Too tricksy. Just heard from my Sis that her Clubman has packed up...again.
We have a 2004 mini apart from new clutch,alternator,thermostat, coolant filler and crank seal it’s not too bad and better than the Alfa I had years ago. It is a pain that to do anything to the engine you have to take most of it apart. Lucky our other cars a Focus,although it’s boring it’s easy
