Which Way To Jump

[gordon lonsdale]

For the last 5 years I've been running my 2001 tdi suffered quite a few niggles but nothing major mileage is 100 000.......but I've just aquired very very cheaply 99 /2000 mk1 2.3 petrol auto thats done only 42000 with full service history , underneath its miles better than my diesel and as I only do 5000 miles a year could this be the one to keep..its certainly lovely to drive and Ide be

[gregers]

do a search on auto boxes on the forum a few should come up,then you can decide whether its cost effective,but like any car its either a gooden or a wrongen.

also as its a 2.3 you will notice a considerable difference in fuel consumption,mind you your get to your distention a lot quickerhttp://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif.

42k its nicely run inhttp://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/public/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif.

[big boy stevie]

ive read so many horror stories of auto boxes and and a friend of mine has an auto his is 03 plate auto not sure if mark 1's use the same boxes but you see so many of them for sale on ebay with problems with boxes he has loads of problems with his loss of reverse not going in certain gears the lot and they are so expensive to replace or get fixed, i would stick with niggles if it was me as if it goes wrong it could be costly, ive just got rid of a mk 1 2.3 glx as it was getting to expensive to run we also only do very low millage ours is only 4,000 a year, had our bus 4 years and done 12,000 in that time only replacing service items in that time never broke down on us one thing i will say is your new car has low millage with probably not a lot of wear on the gearbox it would be a gamble i think, a hard one to make a decision on i think.

[radioman]

Go for it ! If you want to get there in silence and comfort then you won't beat a 2.3 auto.Takes all the strain out of driving in traffic,pulls like a train and is very reliable.

But - and it's a BIG but - be prepared to put your hand in your pocket with amazing regularity to feed it.

You'll never get more than 30mpg on a steady run (with a following wind) and you'll probably manage about 18 -20 mpg

around town. I know - I drive a 2.3 auto. But I wouldn't swap it for anything, it's so reliable.

So I suppose what you save in repairs you'll spend at the filling station.

Happy motoring!