Options on Upgrade?

Paris Hilton · 01-10-2005, 01:55 PM

OK well the EA has decided to die again, the clutch cable has started to come through the firewall. This will be repaired, but surely something more expensive will die next, So this has got me thinking, although I haven't owned it that long, maybe it's time for an upgrade? I only bought it as kind of a starting point into learning a few things about cars etc, and it has served this purpose pretty well. Anyways, I was thinking of an EF/L wagon, 4.0...would be looking at the $6k range. Now there is one thing it has to have - it has to be a manual. obviously this is going to be a bit of a problem, so i've thought of a few options which might work.

1) Fix and Sell EA. I don't know how much it would cost to repair, but the things that need to be done are: 1) Fix Handbrake (it is stuck in, ie) it is stuck off) 2) Fix Climate Control, but this I can do myself. 3) Fix Flat Spot at lower revs

2) Don't fix the firewall, Part out EA, walk/bus/borrow parents cars for a while, keep manual parts and put it in EF/L, make maybe, $500 from remaining parts? The 3.9 Still goes strong, doesn't drop any fluids etc etc

3) Take 5 Speed parts out of EA, find a cheap 3 Speed and sell it.

The EA has rego on it until October 2006, and brand new tyres on polished turboblades...so this would be a good selling point...although I wouldn't be looking at selling it until Janurary at the earliest. Just looking for ideas at the moment, At this rate it is being a stereotypical EA, and it's just going to keep eating more and more of my money.

TIKFD6 · 01-10-2005, 08:16 PM

Take it back to stock and sell it mate.

Biggoggs · 01-10-2005, 08:51 PM

lol only the handbrake, clutch, and aircon? That's not bad for an EA. Seriously though, try to figure out how much it'd cost you to fix the things wrong with it. New car, new problems...

Put it this way- if you replace something, it should mean one less thing to break in future

InitialD · 01-10-2005, 09:54 PM

I agree with Biggoggs.. Thats NOTHING compaired to most EA's.

Any other car you buy will have issues aswell somewhere along the line. The clutch cable thru the firewall happens to EVERY MANUAL FORD! Once its fixed you wont need to worry about it.

Dont give up now.. Just fix those few problems. Every car eats money and anyone who tells you otherwise isnt in reality. Plus being a EA you would get SFA for it.
Plus IIRC you said you had a EA GHIA wreck there aswell... use bits off that

Damo · 01-10-2005, 10:25 PM

Fix the Handbrake your self, it's easy. Get the firewall repaired and re-inforced.

I don't think parting it out is a viable option for you Matt. Removing gearboxes etc isn't the most easiest of things to do and you need the right tools to do it, I mean if you can't even be botherd fixing your handbrake then swaping gearboxes would be like an impossibilty. :S

I reckon you should just stick with the EA, save up as much as you can and then look at Maybe an ED or EF XR, they're easy to find manual ones and they're getting cheaper all the time.

BJ · 01-10-2005, 10:28 PM

Put a match to it. It will cost you less and then you can find something worthy of doing up.

InitialD · 01-10-2005, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH7472

Put a match to it. It will cost you less and then you can find something worthy of doing up.

Worthy doing up? What do you mean by that :yeees:
This is a club of people who own EA's onwards.

Damo · 01-10-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CH7472

Put a match to it. It will cost you less and then you can find something worthy of doing up.

What a great peice of advice, maybe he should get a reallly old car cause theyre soo tough and not made of plastic, then maybe spend thousands and thousands of dollars on it. That would be cool and worthwhile. :jab:

Seriously CH7472, this is the E-series section, the club originated from a bunch of guys who were passionate about there EA's and then moved to include all e-series. Next time think about what you're posting. I think there's a few people that are sik to death of you higher than mighty folk with your 'oldskool' cars bagging out e-series.

kthnksbye

:

Damo · 01-10-2005, 10:47 PM

Haha Mick, great minds think alike.

Now get this thread back on topic.

BJ · 01-10-2005, 11:25 PM

What i meant buy that was he might be better of finding something (e-series) that would need less work. Gessss guys i own a bloody NC Fairlane for god sake and be for that it was a Ea Fairmont.

Biggoggs · 02-10-2005, 12:09 AM

Off the top of my head; my EA's suspension squeaks, it needs four new tyres, is missing the idle motor, the power steering whirs, the back right brake locks up if I use the handbrake (heh), the electric sunroof leaks and doesn't slide (an arm broke), the heater makes a racket, the front & back bumpers don't line up properly, the front & back squirters don't work, casettes get stuck in the casette/radio + only the driver's-side speakers work, the lifters tick, the power steering whirrs (very loudly when lower on fluid), the back-left window winder fell off (nfi, intox passengers probably), and there's the proverbial small water crack in the brake lights (wtf is it with that). We've replaced the clutch, clutch cable, passenger window winder, lifters (despite the previous owner replacing the engine), ignition, front brake rotors, front brake pads, radiator, headlight globes, and alternator bushes. Despite this, I'm not planning on `getting rid of it' anytime soon. Not sure where my EA troubles are in comparison, but I figure I'm on my provisionals so things are going to break anyway despite how I drive it. Your troubles seem to be somewhat isolated, I wouldn't worry too much

It'd be interesting to see how long everyone elses fixed list goes...

Paris Hilton · 02-10-2005, 01:01 AM

Hmmm fine then, i'll list everything

:

front brakes squeak, horrible engine tick, front right suspension strut leaks, clutch cable, handbrake, air con/heater, indicators randomly speed up and slow down in blinking pace, headlights randomly dim then come back to normal (only at idle though), bad flatsport at low revvs, boot struts don't hold the boot up (but c'mon, i doubt they even worked when new), aerial is stuck half way...things i've had to get fixed? 4 new tyres (doesn't count, consumable)...boot strut snapped off the chassis and went through the right hand passenger seat belt, thermostat got stuck closed, causing the car to boil, ECU/MAP sensor carked it causing 45l/100km fuel economy, cleaned injectors in the process...hmm actually not that much at all...still, next thing'll be a head gasket...

CruizinEB · 02-10-2005, 02:22 AM

hand brakes are easy,i replaced the cable and all, first thing i did to the car

CruizinEB · 02-10-2005, 03:30 AM

Now what was the point of that post???????

Walkinshaw · 02-10-2005, 04:47 AM

BWHAHAHHAHA TOLD.

(before the post was deleted)

PULLY6 · 02-10-2005, 10:01 AM

had more point than most of your posts. at least it was related to the topic

NZ · 02-10-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slection

Hmmm fine then, i'll list everything

:

front brakes squeak, horrible engine tick, front right suspension strut leaks, clutch cable, handbrake, air con/heater, indicators randomly speed up and slow down in blinking pace, headlights randomly dim then come back to normal (only at idle though), bad flatsport at low revvs, boot struts don't hold the boot up (but c'mon, i doubt they even worked when new), aerial is stuck half way...things i've had to get fixed? 4 new tyres (doesn't count, consumable)...boot strut snapped off the chassis and went through the right hand passenger seat belt, thermostat got stuck closed, causing the car to boil, ECU/MAP sensor carked it causing 45l/100km fuel economy, cleaned injectors in the process...hmm actually not that much at all...still, next thing'll be a head gasket...

Although that list looks long and unachevible to fix I'd still be inclined to tackle it rather than getting another car. You reckon 6k for another car. You'll get maybe 1k for yours maybe 1500 if you hang out for someone who will pay that. Your still 4.5k down and who's to say the new car doesnt need a set of shocks, brakes overhauled then theres the stamp duty, possible a year of rego you'll have to fork out. You've already got a car that needs work, no point buying another that needs work as well. Cheap cars are usually cheap for a reason remember.

ilsautomotive · 02-10-2005, 12:26 PM

Depending on whether you have space or not, a parts car such as a rear-ended ED Fairmont would be a very good compromise. Many of the issues you mention would be fixable for about $20 at a wrecker - one has to keep on top of the small things on a fairly regular basis or it gets out of hand.

Papa Smurf · 02-10-2005, 01:46 PM

Slection, I would be taking the advice of the guys here. KEEP the car and put all the TLC you want into it. It will be YOURS and NOT a finance comapny's? Any car you buy WILL cost you money to run and ALL cars have their faults and some more than others. I think the E series looks stylish STILL today and I cant think of anything else to say that would put you OFF it so....... KEEP IT MATE

I have an EBII and I think it is Shi* hot