New Astra Start/Stop ... Any good?

[smokeysmoo]

go two-stroke with a Fiat 500 twin-air?

and on the way back from placing the order, don't forget to call at the Doctor's to start your hormone therapy and book in at a specialist clinic for trans gender surgery so you will look the part behind the wheel

 

[smokeysmoo]

Last time I had Fiat it was unreliable, crap, and parts were eye-wateringly expensive.

Last weekend I had to price a new headlight for my Sister's Fiat Panda. I thought I'd probably get a non-genuine one for about £20, oh no, you can only get original ones and even at cost price, (I'm in the car trade), a new headlight would have cost me £88 +vat WTF?
So out came the silicone and it got dried out and re-sealed, total cost, zip

 

[roadrash]

i have a renault megane coupe 1.5 dci 2010 which averages 65mpg ive had fords ,volvo, nissan etc... the renault is the best and most economical ive ever owned ...does exactly what it says on the tin

 

[XmisterIS]

i have a renault megane coupe 1.5 dci 2010 which averages 65mpg ive had fords ,volvo, nissan etc... the renault is the best and most economical ive ever owned ...does exactly what it says on the tin

Interesting, Mr Bond, interesting ...

Can you also get a more practical (i.e. hatchback) version of your coupe? Same mpg?

 

[smokeysmoo]

Interesting, Mr Bond, interesting ...

Can you also get a more practical (i.e. hatchback) version of your coupe? Same mpg?

They do the Megane as a hatchback and as an estate, (called a sports tourer though). Not that any cars are particularly reliable now a days, but Renaults electrics are made of play doh

 

[roadrash]

yeah hatchback available as 2 or 4 door, estate also available , ive heard a few people say the electrics are crap in renaults but in my experience ...no problem ,oh dear im starting to sound like an advert for renault

 

[srw]

FWIW I drive a 4 month old 2 litre diesel auto estate, and according to the computer it's averaging low 30's mpg! Admittedly, I don't drive it like a Nun, but even so

Crumbs. My 7-year old 1.8 litre petrol Ford CMax gets 39mpg in the summer (slightly less in the winter). It's mostly used for M25 and A3 commuting, which is everything from stop-start to 80mph cruising. When we take it on long motorway journeys it dips down to 37mpg.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Last time I had Fiat it was unreliable, crap, and parts were eye-wateringly expensive.

times change

Apparently the 500's mpg is not all it's cracked up to be.

not my experience of the twin air

Rapid acceleration from standing is an absolute must! I remember the days of driving gutless hatchbacks when I was a nipper - pulling out into heavy traffic was an absolute nightmare because you'd put your foot on the gas and nothing would happen ...

then you will always get crap mpg whatever you drive.

toyota yaris for you then or anything with variable valve timing.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

and on the way back from placing the order, don't forget to call at the Doctor's to start your hormone therapy and book in at a specialist clinic for trans gender surgery so you will look the part behind the wheel

I don't need help from a car to be secure in my masculinity thanks.

My regular drive is a Fiat cinquecento btw. Cheap to own, repair and run. Not let me down yet.

 

[smokeysmoo]

times change

Sadly they don't if you want a headlight for a 2005 Fiat Panda, (same car/style still in production today).

FWIW I work for a company that shares some vehicles with Fiat, in the same way as the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo are the same car, (mechanically at least), and you might be surprised at how many people come to us because the Fiat dealer can't find the part, or they can't get the part, and our price always beats the price Fiat have quoted, (according to the customer anyway).

We actually sold a 500 last winter, (screaming yellow it was ), and it had actually had stop/start to get back to the OP. The guy brought it back as the stop/start was not working. We found no obvious fault, so we sent it to Fiat for diagnosis, their response was, nothing wrong. It transpired that because the owner had the audacity to use his heater, heated rear window, and possibly even his radio, (shock horror) during the old weather, that if the car had cut the engine the system did not have enough reserve to re-start it. So if you buy a 500 with stop/start don't expect any fuel savings if it's cold outside

 

[smokeysmoo]

Crumbs. My 7-year old 1.8 litre petrol Ford CMax gets 39mpg in the summer (slightly less in the winter). It's mostly used for M25 and A3 commuting, which is everything from stop-start to 80mph cruising. When we take it on long motorway journeys it dips down to 37mpg.

Don't get me wrong, it's utterly fantastic on a motorway, the computer regularly shows 50+ mpg, but 99.9% of what I do is a 3 mile commute through the town centre, from cold, and the car is an equivalent size to a VW Passat, plus the fact I drive it like I stole it

 

[srw]

99.9% of what I do is a 3 mile commute through the town centre

And you post on a cycling forum?!

 

[smokeysmoo]

And you post on a cycling forum?!

Yes because I own two bikes and ride them regularly, your point is?

 

[srw]

[QUOTE 1580166"]
I suspect he's questioning why you don't cycle to work.
[/quote]

I'm expressing surprise, rather than questioning. A 3-mile commute through the town centre is a short 15-minute pootle. No need for any change of clothes or shower at the end, a chance to unwind at the end of the day, and a perfect excuse for n+1.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Sadly they don't if you want a headlight for a 2005 Fiat Panda, (same car/style still in production today).

FWIW I work for a company that shares some vehicles with Fiat, in the same way as the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo are the same car, (mechanically at least), and you might be surprised at how many people come to us because the Fiat dealer can't find the part, or they can't get the part, and our price always beats the price Fiat have quoted, (according to the customer anyway).

We actually sold a 500 last winter, (screaming yellow it was ), and it had actually had stop/start to get back to the OP. The guy brought it back as the stop/start was not working. We found no obvious fault, so we sent it to Fiat for diagnosis, their response was, nothing wrong. It transpired that because the owner had the audacity to use his heater, heated rear window, and possibly even his radio, (shock horror) during the old weather, that if the car had cut the engine the system did not have enough reserve to re-start it. So if you buy a 500 with stop/start don't expect any fuel savings if it's cold outside

new parts on a six year old out of warranty car. unless safety related sounds like someone has more money than sense. plenty of cheap fiat parts on the web from breakers, specialists and on ebay. I'm not saying Fiat dealers are cheap, or give good customer service, but then most non-uk mass market marques are the same. Fix it again tomorrow is a bit of a myth these days.

I've had a stop/start on one of the older vee-dub refuse to stop/start because the electrical systems didn't have the capacity for lights, wipers, heated screen, radio etc, so that isn't unique to fiat. the alternative, as i understand it is a more powerful alternator; which impacts on mpg.

as to other marque main dealer buys; been doing it for years, my other car is always a SAAB, loads of cheap bits from the local GM dealer. and laods of specialists for the unique bits.