BitWrangler wrote on 2023-07-15, 04:25:
Yeah I'd loved to have found a vehicle like that in Canada, the Jetta and Passat wagons are here with diesels but not all that common/cheap. We had Astras twice, but only with petrol, once way back, it was an Asuna or Pontiac maybe, for a year or two, then 2008 it was a Saturn, only the hatch and with a larger petrol motor. Ppl who got them were happy, but feels too much of a risk for lack of spares for me. In theory there's BMW and Merc diesel wagons but they're super uncommon, I think a lot of years only the sedan/saloon was available with the diesel, and some years no wagon was available at all.
edit: heh that 90s "Astra" we had is a whole 'nother level of "it's complicated" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daewoo_LeMans
NO THANKS, VW no way not for me. I had seen fair share of issues that required parts and many fussy stuff breaking, the big bucks parts and small parts that is difficult to replace. In comparison, I had 1987 caravan with 2.2L 3 speed auto from 2003 but actually put it on road in 2006 due to money and priorities repair, saving up more money, (had 2 week vacation in 2005), and drove it daily for few years more. The main issues was initial neglect by previous owner and sloppy repairs that I had to deal with before putting it on road, replace the head just in case to assess the engine's condition and exhaust and intake gaskets. Cylinders walls are fine, pistons are fine. Replaced original carb that was destroyed by previous mechanics with weber carburetor from a VW bus, Once done, it gave me no issues and the "mayor" issue was transmission once midway through it's life with me. It took one adjustment of bands and change filter and fluid to get it back into happy mode. Eventually the rust got the body and engine finally got stuck when cold weather comes around, engine preferred warm weather or heat it up when plugged in. Cylinder two was partially bad whole time.
For what I spent on it is pretty good. I'd consider Toyota, some GM models or Chrysler some models is great. Ford and Mercedes can keep their money.
Worst thing to get that car that was neglected that I was not aware especially that 'van, that is what gives issues for sure, except if for example VW known issues that needed constant repair then that not good to have.
Cheers,
Great Northern aka Canada.