Timing belts versus timing chains

Yes, diesels can have them too.

You need to go a little bit further than chust the make and model of car - you need to look at the exact engine used. I think you might find a list of chain-cam engines on the Honest John website - you could certainly ask on there if the info ain;t obviously available. (Bearing in mind that, just as on this forum, the info given will only be as good as the person giving it...)

Another possible thing to look out for are DMF (is that the acronym?) - Dual Mass Flywheels. These fancy beasts have moving parts (no, I don't just mean they spin...) and they have a hellish reputation for breaking up - at significant cost.

Post the exact engine models on here and we'll have a delve in a quiet moment...

 

PS. I know, I know, I know, that a brand new car is a wonderful thing, but...

Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to save around half the cost and buying a nearly-new?

Our aging Zafira (diesel - chain cam...) was a new purchase, and that was all good and well. What a treat...

One week into our ownership, wifie reversed out her folk's drive thinking she'd cleared the low border wall. She hadn't. Nice low gouge in rear door.

2 weeks later, when I was clearing a forest of fekkin' conifers from t'front garden, I tripped over a branch with a pair of secateurs in my hand. That took care of the front passenger's door.

We'll no doubt have to replace the '03 wagon pretty soon. I'm seeing high spec, low mileage '09 plate models for around £6-7k. Will I pay £20k+ for the same model? Not a fuffing chance...

 

Oh, and if you go diesel, check out DPFs. (Ok, I've prob got that wrong too...) Diesel Particulate Filters or similar. These are good things in that they capture all that nasty carp wot comes out t'exhaust (and it is horrible stuff...), but it relies on the car being given a few good, longish runs at regular intervals so's the carp gets burned off.

Having said that, my in-laws have a MINI Cooper diesel and do tonnes of very short runs to the shops with an occasional 10-mile trip being the longest trip. Never had a problem...

 

Woooohooo, you're thinking to yourself; I've had 4 replies to my post!

Oh...

 

Mazda petrol engines are mostly chain driven, Ford use Mazda engines in their cars. Toyota petrols engines are often chain drive too.


You would be mad to buy diesel now. Small petrol engines is where the future is. Look at the amazing 1.0ltr engine in the Focus for example.

 

The Mondeo is selling very badly and is overpriced and oversized, it depreciates like a bomb. Previous Mondeos were good cars, not anymore. It is a bloated Yank Tank now.  Look at the Focus. A much better car for your money. The Ford diesel is made by Peugeot and is belt driven as is the VW engined Skoda.

 

Nothing wrong with a nearly new car, perhaps a few years old. can be well under half the cost of a new car. Remember a new car can have just as many problems as a secondhand one.

 

The Skodas are good, very good. My missus has a Fabia vRS hatch. Nice n nippy! Dead reliable too. I always buy my cars new and have done for years...no  - it does not make sense! the depreciation makes a huge dent in the economics...but I do like a new car! I have to decide what to get next when my BMW 1M coupe gets to three years old!

 

Steer well clear of Merc's. My older brother had one. After 22 months the gearbox failed.  Mercedes were so concerned that they shipped the gearbox back to Germany to find out what had failed and put it down to "mechanical failure" (but still didn't offer to replace it unless my brother paid for a new gearbox) Not much change out of £6000.:'(

 

Diesels are on the way out. Mark my words. Small petrols are making a big comeback. In another ten years diesels will only be found in lorries and buses.

 

Hmmm, the MINI Cooper I mentioned above has - I think - a 1.6 diesel with stop/start. Purrs like a petrol, very very nippy, and returns over 60 mpg. And free road tax.

Anyways, there is an Honest John list of chain-cam cars - see?

DIY, if you like a new car, then you like a new car - no probs with that. Also, your logic in wanting to know that it's been cared for throughout its long life is fine too.

However, I think your arguments start to fall apart pretty soon after that... Diesels being revved at their MOTs? Yep, fair enough - they can handle it (especially if chain cam...). Battery and exhaust failing? Not necessarily - my Zaf's on its originals. Brake pads? Yep - but that's going to be a regular issue anyways (just did the Zaf - £50 for new front discs and pads - the maost straight-forward task to replace). New tyres? Well, yes - you'll need a new set virtually every year. Costs soon adds up? Yep - but not to £10k...

Anyways, if you plan to hold on to it for a long time, then fair enough.

Check out places like this. Sis-in-law used it to knock around £4k off her RCZ - at her local dealer... These are not imports - they are supplied by proper UK dealers of each make. They just compete for your business.

 

Chust did a drive the deal on your Moneo. List price is £20,350. DtD price - delivered to your door, fully taxed, is £16, 310.

And my cut is around...