How many AXs on this board?
Moderator: RichardW
How many AXs on this board?
As I have now bought a 92 AX 1100 Echo 5 door with 102K on the clock, was wondering who else was running a AX of any type on this list. Seem few and far between. A quick mention of what you are running and your view of it!
I've a 1100 AX on the dirve at home, my others half old car.
It failed the MOT 18 months ago and I've been a bit busy to get it back on the road - summer just seem to come and go.
Good car for the time we had it on the road. My main view of it would be economical, reliable but flimsy. We had it a year and the only work I did on it (apart from normal servicing) was a driveshaft replcement.
mipzter
It failed the MOT 18 months ago and I've been a bit busy to get it back on the road - summer just seem to come and go.
Good car for the time we had it on the road. My main view of it would be economical, reliable but flimsy. We had it a year and the only work I did on it (apart from normal servicing) was a driveshaft replcement.
mipzter
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I've got a P reg AX 1.5 Diesel. Absolutely cracking motor. Only had it a week and had to put a new driveshaft in. Also needs new injector seals. Shifts when you put your foot down and apparently does 75mpg, which is a bit better than the fiesta that it replaced (33mpg). Only problem I have with it is the flimsyness and small size on the motorway. Other car is a Xantia Estate though.
Ste
Ste
An old F-Reg 1.4 diesel has been my main car for just over 3 years until I recently brought the Xantia Estate. I've put nearly 100k miles on the poor AX in that time.
My views are slightly mixed - I'm not a small car person, but I needed the economy when I brought it. For a small car it is excellent: surprisingly roomy, fairly sprightly (unless you get too many hills), reliable and very cheap to run and maintain. The down side is a tight and awkward driving position and an alloy engine that loves to throw its head gasket every 50k or so (one day I’ll get it all skimmed up – or maybe I won’t).
I don’t believe there are any older small cars that come close to it for cheap, reliable running. I could do with keeping a second car and I have been toying with replacing the AX with something else small (low tax), frugal, cheap to buy and reliable – I really haven’t come up with anything else except, maybe, a Pug 106. Silly really, as the only reason I’d like to replace it is the driving position…
In over 95,000 miles I have done the head gasket 3 times (with cooling problems between the second and third), replaced CV gaiters (a real 5h1+ of a job), had a new set of glow plugs and had to weld up the clutch release arm (that snapped due to a poor design). Most of the exhaust hasn’t been changed and the clutch and gearbox has been excellent; and it still starts first time - pretty darn good if you ask me.
My views are slightly mixed - I'm not a small car person, but I needed the economy when I brought it. For a small car it is excellent: surprisingly roomy, fairly sprightly (unless you get too many hills), reliable and very cheap to run and maintain. The down side is a tight and awkward driving position and an alloy engine that loves to throw its head gasket every 50k or so (one day I’ll get it all skimmed up – or maybe I won’t).
I don’t believe there are any older small cars that come close to it for cheap, reliable running. I could do with keeping a second car and I have been toying with replacing the AX with something else small (low tax), frugal, cheap to buy and reliable – I really haven’t come up with anything else except, maybe, a Pug 106. Silly really, as the only reason I’d like to replace it is the driving position…
In over 95,000 miles I have done the head gasket 3 times (with cooling problems between the second and third), replaced CV gaiters (a real 5h1+ of a job), had a new set of glow plugs and had to weld up the clutch release arm (that snapped due to a poor design). Most of the exhaust hasn’t been changed and the clutch and gearbox has been excellent; and it still starts first time - pretty darn good if you ask me.
Wife has a 1990 AX 1.4 GT for her to learn to drive in.
Its a very economical little around town car with plenty of power (GT model)
Very small and flimsy but fun to drive(away from motorway). Great little engine, lots of noise, strong pull....loads of torque steer on hard acceleration. Horrible on Motorway, noisy and causes concerns that engine will blow due to the high revs at cruising speeds.
Decent handling although a little lacking in grip and does not feel very stable at high speeds.
Small Pedals dont work with big feet. Seats are big and soft but anoying as they tend to push your shirt up at the back making it uncomfortable. Electric windows and Central locking are nice for a car of this age and type, even if their operation is a little crude.
Its poorly made from very cheap materials but seems reliable and does what is was designed for.
Not entirely sure it actually uses any fuel, parts and insurance is cheap(especially compared to similar performance cars of era(Gti's..etc).
David
91 BMW 535i Sport (Mine)
90 AX GT (Wife's)
89 VW Golf Gti (Project)
Its a very economical little around town car with plenty of power (GT model)
Very small and flimsy but fun to drive(away from motorway). Great little engine, lots of noise, strong pull....loads of torque steer on hard acceleration. Horrible on Motorway, noisy and causes concerns that engine will blow due to the high revs at cruising speeds.
Decent handling although a little lacking in grip and does not feel very stable at high speeds.
Small Pedals dont work with big feet. Seats are big and soft but anoying as they tend to push your shirt up at the back making it uncomfortable. Electric windows and Central locking are nice for a car of this age and type, even if their operation is a little crude.
Its poorly made from very cheap materials but seems reliable and does what is was designed for.
Not entirely sure it actually uses any fuel, parts and insurance is cheap(especially compared to similar performance cars of era(Gti's..etc).
David
91 BMW 535i Sport (Mine)
90 AX GT (Wife's)
89 VW Golf Gti (Project)
I look after a 1.5D Elation N-reg (my mums) if that counts?
Personally i hate it, but thats probably because i only ever fix it! I like a car that is big enough to get a tonne of camping gear in, 5 people and a stack of kayaks on the roof, and more importantly a car i can climb on, just to get the kayaks off the roof!!
on the other hand when we bought it brand new, my dad did many fuel tests on it just to see if he had been conned (only bought it for ecconomy!). If it was driven 'gently' down the motorway kind of 55 ish then it generally did about 72MPG which for a booked value of 75MPG is fantastic!
Still pretty economical and nippy!
Personally i hate it, but thats probably because i only ever fix it! I like a car that is big enough to get a tonne of camping gear in, 5 people and a stack of kayaks on the roof, and more importantly a car i can climb on, just to get the kayaks off the roof!!
on the other hand when we bought it brand new, my dad did many fuel tests on it just to see if he had been conned (only bought it for ecconomy!). If it was driven 'gently' down the motorway kind of 55 ish then it generally did about 72MPG which for a booked value of 75MPG is fantastic!
Still pretty economical and nippy!