ric220 Posted October 1, 2015 Report Posted October 1, 2015 My '99 Sharan is getting old and crusty and I'm starting to think about replacing it. Due to my limited budget I'll be look at 2002 to 2004 ish. I'd be interested to know what people think is the most reliable engine and gearbox combination is (including the vw 1.8t and 2.0 options). 2.3 or tdi? I'm not bothered about power and not too concerned about mpg. Hoping you can help. Cheers. Quote
sparky Paul Posted October 1, 2015 Report Posted October 1, 2015 I would think the most reliable mk.2 combination is always going to be the 2.3 petrol with the 5 speed VTX75 gearbox - both are pretty bomb proof. Autos are a disaster waiting to happen, and all of the manual VW-engined mk.2s are fitted with the 6-speed VW box, which can give problems. Not bad, but not as reliable as the Ford box. On the other hand... you could repair quite a few gearboxes with the fuel costs saved driving a diesel. Quote
viperclive Posted October 1, 2015 Report Posted October 1, 2015 Now the Mk2 2.3 with the VTX75 box combined with an LPG conversion and you have the economy of a diesel without all the troubles of turbos, auxiliary heaters, cam belts need I go on! Quote
ric220 Posted October 1, 2015 Author Report Posted October 1, 2015 So the 2.3 has a chain rather than a belt? Do the tensioners need doing every so often? To be honest the 130k engine in my sharan is a peach - more poke than the other options and not too thirsty either. It's rust that's killing it. Failed mot on corrosion for 2nd year running. Is that so common or was I just unlucky? Also, did the wiring through the doors improve at any particular point or can I still expect a 2004 model to flash it's lights every time I hit the brakes? Quote
xavier Posted October 1, 2015 Report Posted October 1, 2015 Is the corrosion not mainly superficial though? The age you're talking about, cars could still have problems, is it proving more expensive to MOT than to get another one that could have other problems? Quote
sparky Paul Posted October 1, 2015 Report Posted October 1, 2015 Yes, the Ford engines have chain driven cams. Mines done 140,000-plus and still sounds sweet. The rust will always be a problem, unless you find one that has been looked after meticulously... but it is fixable. I had to fend it off this year, around the front body outriggers and a few bits on the bodyshell - front wing bottoms and a few bits around the tailgate, it looks great now. The problem with the coating on the Galaxy is that once the wet gets in, it remains trapped and rots away merrily. At the first sign of any lifting of the underbody coating, the best thing to do is scrape it off and blast it with body Schutz. Quote
Russats Posted October 3, 2015 Report Posted October 3, 2015 Are the newer 2.0l VW engines as good as the 1.9? In Sharans and Alhambra I mean Quote
gregers Posted October 3, 2015 Report Posted October 3, 2015 well that depends,if it hasnt had a special box fitted to it to con the fuel economy then yes probably. dunno what engine is in the wifes tiguan blue-motion.but straight off the forecourt it was registering over 40 to the gallon and is averaging just over round town.whereas the wifes smax didnt get above 38 odd driving up to wales. Quote
ric220 Posted October 4, 2015 Author Report Posted October 4, 2015 Can I just check whether the most annoying thing about my sharan - the appalling issue with rubbish wiring looms passing into doors - was never redesigned during the life of the mk 1 or 2? Are the later ones any better? Quote
Russats Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 I keep thinking of getting a Tiguan it would have the be the TDi R line though I think Quote
BrianH Posted October 4, 2015 Report Posted October 4, 2015 Can I just check whether the most annoying thing about my sharan - the appalling issue with rubbish wiring looms passing into doors - was never redesigned during the life of the mk 1 or 2? Are the later ones any better? Don't believe it has been, its difficult particularly on the boot to design it out due to the angles involved, doors could have been done much better though. Quote
sparky Paul Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 The wiring is also poor quality and the sheathing goes brittle, VWs of the same sort of age seem to be similarly afflicted. Quote
gregers Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 I keep thinking of getting a Tiguan it would have the be the TDi R line though I thinkreally quick acceleration on ours,bit scary at 1st when your hurtling down a road in 2nd gear then look at the speedo.very comfy.they might well start getting cheaper now all the fuss has kicked off. my next car is going to be a touareg sat in a really nice 1 at the dealers,but its a tad out of reach at 50 odd grand.might be able to afford it when its about 20 years old so fingers crossed :lol: Quote
Russats Posted October 5, 2015 Report Posted October 5, 2015 I hired a Golf Couple of weeks ago..... Stunning drive and it was petrol but The seating position is no good for me though at 6'5" so I either need another Galaxy or I'm going for a Tiguan. Quote
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