Thinking of moving back to Vauxhall

[blueleggy]

Hi everyone

I've had various Vauxhalls over many years and never had much trouble with them

Had a spell away and currently have a Subaru Legacy AWD diesel but thinking of moving back.

The BiTurbo 195 4x4 looks quite nice and looks to be in my price range (£7k to £8k) for a 2012 model.

This looks like a friendly forum so thought I would ask how are they for reliability, or should I get the 2 wheel drive version?

Graham

[0011728]

Hi Graham and welcome to the forum. I'd stay clear of the 4x4's as there are known problems with the Haldex system. That is unless you have a good warranty that covered this. If it goes you could be looking at £4k or more to repair!!! Lots on the internet if you want to do your own research. Thorney Motorsport do an upgrade for the Haldex system for the VXR and it may be worth finding out if it's the same system for the 2.0CDTI if you're dead set on getting a 4x4

[exclusiv.]

I would steer clear of the 4wd too,,too many horror stories to do with the haldex,, Biturbo is quite good,,good on diesel with a little extra under your right foot when needed

[Witty]

Welcome to the forum

[marko301]

Hi Graham,

[2000rpm]

Hi Graham and welcome to the forum. I'd stay clear of the 4x4's as there are known problems with the Haldex system.

There are known issues with defective seals in early models (pre-2011?) and buggy software which controls the 4wd but later ones (2012 onward) should be better.

Part of the problem with the 4wd is that unlike other manufacturers, Vauxhall didn't specify a service interval for the 4wd and most people like to run their car on the cheap so won't bother.
The Haldex oil degrades over time (about 3-4yrs or 20-30k, whichever comes first) and the Haldex oil filter gets clogged which then takes out the Haldex oil pump (or the pump wears out just like a cambelt/water pump) and if the pump goes the rear diff soon follows.
Also mismatched tyres or significant differences between tread across the four tyres can add extra wear to the 4wd system.

I also think it's very likely that Vauxhall tried to make some cost-savings and carried-over the 4wd which had been designed for older 350Nm engines but then pushed it to the limit in the VXR with torque of 400Nm (435Nm is only achieved briefly in the rpm range). People can't resist remapping their car but on a 4wd Vauxhall I'd leave it on standard map.

[sriray]

Welcome to the forum Graham, you are very right we are a friendly bunch and do kick out the trouble makers, keyboard warriors and trolls.
You certainly have done your research about the 4wd system. With them i do believe what 2000rpm is true, you have to service them to keep them well maintained. I do the same with my M32 chocolate gearbox.

[blueleggy]

Many thanks for the advice and warm welcome.

I must admit I do enjoy the 4 wheel drive of the Subaru. In wet weather you can put your foot down at a roundabout and just go, doesn't matter whether you want to go straight or turn it just gets on with it with no drama or effort from the driver.

However, the early diesels like mine are prone to crankshaft failure , the later ones are reliable but heavier, slower and lack handling. The petrols have mediocre performance with poor fuel economy, or fast with dreadful fuel economy. Just my opinion.

I have little faith in warranties. From personal experience I've found they are happy to pay a few hundred for something like an alternator but anything that runs into the thousands they find any excuse not to pay.

I'm looking for a family size car that is reliable but fun with good fuel economy, preferably with at least some element of being British. At the moment the 2wd BiTurbo looks like the closest fit.

Graham

[sriray]

Many thanks for the advice and warm welcome.
preferably with at least some element of being British.

We are built half american and half german. Now adopted by the french. The birth certificate should still say Mixed American/German. So the ancestry of being British is long gone.

[Howy]

Yes the M32 needs tlc when engine gets a service,the next job I did on mine after cam belt etc was to change the M32's oil.