Aero TTid test drive - Oh dear!

[Mr Linear]

Went for a test drive this morning in an '08 Aero TTdi 52k miles.

Was going fine until the car went into limited performance mode,before conking out altogether!

Was showing 27 miles DTE.

Dealer seemed to think it was out of fuel.... don't think so myself as the EML light also came on before it stopped. :-(

Nice car though, but might stick to petrol!

[bigoz]

think how gutted you would have been if you had bought it, then it cut out first time you drove it! so suppose you've ben lucky there! does that mean its likely to be the EGR valve choked just like the older diesel engines suffered from?

any idea what MPG you'll get from the petrol if you go down that route?

[Mr Linear]

Phoned the guy back... He said he put some diesel in it and it started again.

Still not convinced...as we all know how intermittent these faults can be.

There was also a problem with the anti pinch on the drivers window and only one key!

He said he could get a key, but I think at the moment it takes months to get a key.

We had an '06 1.8t vert until May last year. It did around 26-27mpg.

To be honest SWMB will only be doing 6k per year, so I think diesel will give us nothing but trouble!

[Audax]

I'd really advise if you're doing anything less than 18k a year then you want to get a petrol as the reduced servicing costs and repair costs will save you far more than a diesel. I still reckon that one of the cheapest 9-3 variants to run (especially if you only do a low mileage) is the 2.8 V6 petrol as they seem to be incredibly reliable even with the extra money for the tax and insurance 

[bigoz]

...I still reckon that one of the cheapest 9-3 variants to run (especially if you only do a low mileage) is the 2.8 V6 petrol as they seem to be incredibly reliable even with the extra money for the tax and insurance 

what MPG does the 2.8 V6 give for combined?

[Audax]

what MPG does the 2.8 V6 give for combined?

The v6 will give anything from 20mpg to 35mpg depending on how you utilise it 

[Geoff1951]

Hi Mr L - Ditto what Audax says in both posts. And the V6 has more oomph than the diesel alternatives you were considering.

If you (or SWMBO) drive the V6 like you drove the 1.8t, you shouldn't see much worse consumption. I did 60k in a 2.0 Citroen Xantia (120bhp), 60k in a Galant 2.5 V6 (163bhp), 10k in a 9-3 2.0t (175bhp), and now 85k in a Hirsched 9-5 2.3t (220bhp), all autos, and while consumption per tankful varied between 22 and 35 mpg for each, over all those mileages all four gave around 26-28mpg.
Every now and again the performance just has to be enjoyed, but in normal driving (whatever that means) a V6 shouldn't make too much strain on the wallet (or purse).

[philmots]

I still reckon that one of the cheapest 9-3 variants to run (especially if you only do a low mileage) is the 2.8 V6 petrol as they seem to be incredibly reliable even with the extra money for the tax and insurance 

sssshhhhhHHHHHHHH!! Don't tell everyone!

[philmots]

what MPG does the 2.8 V6 give for combined?

It will do 35mpg sat on cruise at 70mph...

I average 26/27 mpg.. that's with no town work. It's opened up quite often, too.

More than acceptable - but i don't even do 6k a yr.

[Kev_Mc]

When my EGR valve went, mine went into limp home mode, and I was able to drive with no problem (apart from beggar all power).

There have been problems with the supply of keys for 9-3's, so I wouldn't expect them to easily be able to get hold of one..

[Mr Linear]

To be honest, SWMBO wasn't that keen on the TTid.
She felt it a bit light and skittish compared to my 9-5 and her old Vert and didn't like the way it revved out so quickly.

Also not great when you have to push a car on a test drive!

When I spoke to the seller afterwards I think he was actually trying to put me off... He was only going to drop by £300.00 on a straight sale, so no deal there!

Next week will be looking at an '07 Linear Sport Anniversary 1.8t SS with 34k and an '07 Linear. Anniversary Vert with 24k.

Hope they will be a bit better!