Hello Gents,
I'm new to the site so will start with a small introduction to get the ball rolling. I love cars, classics and modern classics in particular. Don't want to bore you guys with the details but I have some ability to work on cars however more the older stuff with less of the electronics. My first car was a mk2 fiesta. Swapped the little 1 litre lawn mower engine out for an 1.6 XR engine and box. Nothing amazing but was a fun little car which I drove around for 3 years. Since then. I've had a Renault Clio, BMW 520i e39 and currently drive an Audi 80 Cabriolet 1.8. It's a good car but can't justify the mediocre fuel economy with poor performance. And I've started missing my little fiesta and that go kart feeling! So I had decided to start looking for a hot hatch again which I could use as a daily. Oh, I'm also restoring a W123 280ce which is an ongoing project.
I always liked the Glanza. A 1.3 turbo engine which can go 0-60mph in 7 secs and can still achieve 35-40mpg is impressive even by today's standards. I've seen them around in their few numbers and always had a soft spot for them.
Picked one last week for sensible money from a 70 year old chap named Bob. It was Glanza V Automatic, which had failed it's MOT and had been abused, a couple of scrapes. Very untidy interior. It had failed it's MOT on the following:
Reason(s) for failure
Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage door wind deflector damaged sharp edges (6.1.C.1)
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)
Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)
Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Offside Headlamp aim too low (1. 8)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak very soft no oil (2.7.3)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Advisory notice item(s)
Oil leak ()
rear disc corroding
n/s rear tyre wear bars and stepped inner edge
Overall the car was looking very sorry. However it drove well and more importantly, went like stink! Sure, it was a bit rough, suspension sounded quiet unhealthy over the bumps but an honest car with a healthy engine. The car was screaming at me to save her from the abuse of the 70 year old haha.
Anyway, I've never owned a turbo car, and never owned a glanza so would like to ask for some advice:
1. The car is high mileage, has done about 230,000km (143,000 miles), so I'd like to give it a full service to avoid any failure. As well as your standard service (oil change, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, fuel filter?), what else would I need to consider servicing? Would I need to consider a rebuild?
2. The car is an Automatic and I would have preferred a manual. How hard is it to go from Auto to Manual? What parts would I need to gather for the change? Will add that I was surprised by the automatic experience in the Glanza, still very responsive and not a stupid amount of turbo lag either.
3. Being an import, I'm assuming parts are going to be a pain to get hold of. Any recommended suppliers? I wil need some parts to get it through it's MOT.
UPDATE: Car passed MOT with only 2 advisers...RESULT
Bumpers being repaired, should be ready for collection later today.
Look forward to hearing from you lads(and ladies).
I'm new to the site so will start with a small introduction to get the ball rolling. I love cars, classics and modern classics in particular. Don't want to bore you guys with the details but I have some ability to work on cars however more the older stuff with less of the electronics. My first car was a mk2 fiesta. Swapped the little 1 litre lawn mower engine out for an 1.6 XR engine and box. Nothing amazing but was a fun little car which I drove around for 3 years. Since then. I've had a Renault Clio, BMW 520i e39 and currently drive an Audi 80 Cabriolet 1.8. It's a good car but can't justify the mediocre fuel economy with poor performance. And I've started missing my little fiesta and that go kart feeling! So I had decided to start looking for a hot hatch again which I could use as a daily. Oh, I'm also restoring a W123 280ce which is an ongoing project.
I always liked the Glanza. A 1.3 turbo engine which can go 0-60mph in 7 secs and can still achieve 35-40mpg is impressive even by today's standards. I've seen them around in their few numbers and always had a soft spot for them.
Picked one last week for sensible money from a 70 year old chap named Bob. It was Glanza V Automatic, which had failed it's MOT and had been abused, a couple of scrapes. Very untidy interior. It had failed it's MOT on the following:
Reason(s) for failure
Offside Body has a sharp edge caused by damage door wind deflector damaged sharp edges (6.1.C.1)
Rear fog lamp tell tale not working (1.3.1b)
Rear fog lamp missing (1.3.2a)
Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
Offside Headlamp aim too low (1. 8)
Offside Front Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint dust cover excessively damaged so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Nearside Rear Shock absorber has a serious fluid leak very soft no oil (2.7.3)
Exhaust emissions carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle excessive (7.3.D.3)
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements (3.7.B.7)
Advisory notice item(s)
Oil leak ()
rear disc corroding
n/s rear tyre wear bars and stepped inner edge
Overall the car was looking very sorry. However it drove well and more importantly, went like stink! Sure, it was a bit rough, suspension sounded quiet unhealthy over the bumps but an honest car with a healthy engine. The car was screaming at me to save her from the abuse of the 70 year old haha.
Anyway, I've never owned a turbo car, and never owned a glanza so would like to ask for some advice:
1. The car is high mileage, has done about 230,000km (143,000 miles), so I'd like to give it a full service to avoid any failure. As well as your standard service (oil change, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, fuel filter?), what else would I need to consider servicing? Would I need to consider a rebuild?
2. The car is an Automatic and I would have preferred a manual. How hard is it to go from Auto to Manual? What parts would I need to gather for the change? Will add that I was surprised by the automatic experience in the Glanza, still very responsive and not a stupid amount of turbo lag either.
3. Being an import, I'm assuming parts are going to be a pain to get hold of. Any recommended suppliers? I wil need some parts to get it through it's MOT.
UPDATE: Car passed MOT with only 2 advisers...RESULT
Bumpers being repaired, should be ready for collection later today.
Look forward to hearing from you lads(and ladies).