Team-BHP - what to watch out for in used opels/fords?

hi guys

i was wondering, these days there are many used opel astra, ford escorts and old fiat sienas in the 1.5 to 2 lac range

what are the points to look into before picking up one?

ie i have seen an 1997 opel astra petrol for 1.50 lacs! and a 1999 diesel for 1.95 lacs

what to look out in them? ie how can one say that the engine is good or not?
and what are the tell tale signs to look out for?

also seen a ford escort 1997 petrol for 1.40 lacs

how expensive the servicing will be??

the 75k servicing for my esteem was rs 4,200!! (oil change, all the filters, front bearings, a/c gas) so in comparsion with this how much?(not at a maruti centra, but a good service centre called "tristar motors"

I cant tell about the signs but you should definetly get the gear bix checked if you are looking at the intial lot of the Astra. My cousin some time back had bough a model from that lot( dont rember year but it was arnd 97-99) the car had run just 27k & he had to change the clutch plates & other gear box related stuff which costed him a whooping 30k.

Hey aadix,

Chack out these 2 threads on the Astra. Should answer your questions.

Topic 1

Topic 2

About the Ford, I can't help you there. Not too many of those around anymore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat

That was probably a one-off incident as the previous owner must have abused the hell outa the clutch, or more likely the odo reading must have been changed.

Astra clutches are some of the toughest you can find. They easily last upto 90,000 km's. When I sold my Astra with 68,XXXkm on the clock, the original clutch was still in great shape.

could be but the tampering with odo was not done as it was confirmed through reliable sources. The only problem was that the car had not move from ots place since past 1.5 years, could that be the reason ??

Avoid Ford escort 1.3 petrol, they are dreadfully underpowered and their drivetrains would be strained.
Astras have rock-solid mechanicals, but their trims and interior would have deteriorated badly from the aesthetic point of view.
Ikons are the best bet according to me, but try avoiding too-high mileage( although that is difficult when the prices are this low)
Siena, well, great car , but, to be honest, fingers crossed.

I have a 97 ford diesel 1.07 lac km, normal service- oil and filters is about 2000/- suspension overhaul costs 20K, proper wheel alignment a must, else your tyres will get chewed. no resale value, so be prepared to ride your car to the ground. On the plus side, you get a luxury ride, interiors keep well, and an engine that is trouble-free.

I have a 1997 Ford Escort diesel, have clocked 95,000KM. Repairs: 1)suspension repairs, it costs 20K, 2)Diesel pump , costs 4K, 3)Total replacement of brake system 10K, and very very high on maintanence. But it is a lovely car with amazing handling and brilliant cornering and pretty luxurious inside, interiors hold pretty well with age.

have a 97 astra which i picked up a 15 months back for 1.3 lacs. have done 13000 km from then on and have changed parts worth 50k. the only reason i have it is because it is a really comfortable car and if driven "nicely" can last for years. the money you save on the cost price is easily compensated on maintanence on which there is no comparision with the esteem.