What can I expect from a VTR

[Lew_C]

Hi everyone!
should be picking up my mates VTR in the next few weeks, it's been cam'd with kent fast road cams, chipped to suit, 1.4 gear box (quicksilver maybe, think he might have said?) induction kit and with a standard exhaust because he took it off the car to sell which didn't bother me.

I drive about 200 miles a week on mostly quiet 60mph A roads as I start work at 6:45 and finish at 4:00 so miss the main lot of traffic anyway. Ive currently got a 306 DT which I treat like shit basically and get about 40-45 mpg on a typical run.

If I drive the saxo a bit more sensibly than im driving my Derv what do you think I could expect? :P

Any help would be much appreciated
Thanks, Lew!

[camTcar]

expect mutiple problems

[Lew_C]

expect mutiple problems

Lol, thanks for such informative advice mate.. what such problems?

[DanT]

expect mutiple problems

Lol......genius.

On a more serious note, i have filled my tank before now up the the max and made it click twice. Then i have driven my car gently and smoothly through out the motorways and B roads etc and managed 450miles before needed to fill up again. That was taking it about half way into the red light zone....

[Lew_C]

just had its cambelt, headgasket, aux belt, new thrust bearing and gearbox..they're the main things aint they?

[camTcar]

sorry mate, ive been lucky with my vtr so far no problems, but if you click on new posts there's probablys a number of threads been started about problems people have with there saxo's there a newsance, but they are such fun imo

[Ashleyp]

dont expect higher MPG than the derv

[Add91289]

what age vtr are you gettin?, the 98bhp engine is better on fule the the older 90bhp engine. cheaper to tax also

[Lew_C]

hi mate, its a mk1 so earlier 90bhp engine! I'm not expecting anywhere near as good as my diseasel lol.. Insurance is an absolutely killer as I can't get a loan to pay all in one go so monthly is almost 50% bloody interest on it, and with the mods declared. ouch.

Any rough ideas how much the tax is for 6 months?

[Lew_C]

Lol......genius.

On a more serious note, i have filled my tank before now up the the max and made it click twice. Then i have driven my car gently and smoothly through out the motorways and B roads etc and managed 450miles before needed to fill up again. That was taking it about half way into the red light zone....

Oh okay! thanks for that mate.. not terrible IF i resist my lead footed moments..;)

[lukeyyyyyyy21]

They aren't the fastest thing ever but not forget they are just an 8v so quite impressive when up against 16vs.. They can hold their own though. handle well. not the most reliable car ever but if you are getting a good one and it's how you drive it more than anything really. for eg if you drive sensible you will still get good fuel milage. if you take care it should be alright. i get 100 miles to £10 driving to 3k rpm that's with the fuel prices gone up...a good all round car for a small 1.6 I'd say. like the gear box, interior quite comfy compared to other models. responsive at the begining of the gear where the 8vs haven't lost out quite so bad yet.. my opinion of 'em.

welcome to the vtr club

[Lew_C]

They aren't the fastest thing ever but not forget they are just an 8v so quite impressive when up against 16vs.. They can hold their own though. handle well. not the most reliable car ever but if you are getting a good one and it's how you drive it more than anything really. for eg if you drive sensible you will still get good fuel milage. if you take care it should be alright. i get 100 miles to £10 driving to 3k rpm that's with the fuel prices gone up...a good all round car for a small 1.6 I'd say. like the gear box, interior quite comfy compared to other models. responsive at the begining of the gear where the 8vs haven't lost out quite so bad yet.. my opinion of 'em.

welcome to the vtr club

Thank you very much! :hug: haha ;)

[sexoturbs]

i havent known any1 to drive a saxo sensibly when they 1st got it its just too much fun. had my saxo a year and no problems at all. if u do decide to have a fun day then expect to be looking for a new driveshaft... i went thru loads when i 1st got it but i was a bit crazy...

[Ashleyp]

They aren't the fastest thing ever but not forget they are just an 8v so quite impressive when up against 16vs.. They can hold their own though. handle well. not the most reliable car ever but if you are getting a good one and it's how you drive it more than anything really. for eg if you drive sensible you will still get good fuel milage. if you take care it should be alright. i get 100 miles to £10 driving to 3k rpm that's with the fuel prices gone up...a good all round car for a small 1.6 I'd say. like the gear box, interior quite comfy compared to other models. responsive at the begining of the gear where the 8vs haven't lost out quite so bad yet.. my opinion of 'em.

welcome to the vtr club

8v is shite compared to 16v - fact

100 miles to £10 is deffo acheiveable though

[Lew_C]

i havent known any1 to drive a saxo sensibly when they 1st got it its just too much fun. had my saxo a year and no problems at all. if u do decide to have a fun day then expect to be looking for a new driveshaft... i went thru loads when i 1st got it but i was a bit crazy...

lol, i know i can see me thraping it. are driveshafts that easy to go through?

[lukeyyyyyyy21]

8v is shite compared to 16v - fact

100 miles to £10 is deffo acheiveable though

Well I wasn't comparing it to a saxo vts 1.6 16v or clio 1.6 16v both with 120 odd hp

But against a fiesta zetec s 1.6 16v - the vtr 8v 1.6 is quicker which is impresssive considering its getting half the fuel and has half the valves yet have the same hp of 98hp

[Junaid]

mmmm the ball joints go on it easily
i've had a broken ball joint instead of jus replacing it u have to replace the whole wish bone!!!
gear linkage went
betterry went
all the saxos i been in generally make odd noises from places:L

but there fast :P thts the only gd reason to have 1

[Lew_C]

Yep, speed is certainly appealing to me, and the fact they handle like they are on the rails..

[lukeyyyyyyy21]

expect the odd rattle though here and there once you get used to it and the odd thing going as well due to it being french but overall I really enjoy mine. You also shouldn't have to worry about rust either or ever engine seems pretty strong as well and shouldn't tap like fords do with age not at that level anyway.

[Lew_C]

expect the odd rattle though here and there once you get used to it and the odd thing going as well due to it being french but overall I really enjoy mine. You also shouldn't have to worry about rust either or ever engine seems pretty strong as well and shouldn't tap like fords do with age not at that level anyway.

Cheers mate, thanks for the info. Yeah of all the ones i've seen body work is rust free and spot on bar a few dents!

Can you not sort the tappets by adjusting the valve clearance anyway?

[maddison_vts]

i don't know where everyone keeps getting the idea they are fast :wacko:

if you want a saxo to be fast, you need to get spending!

and there's nothing wrong with the driveshafts as long as you don't get a cheap patent one like a chinese one. The driveshafts for the vtr are identical to the ones in a vts except for the abs ring so if you break them on vtr power you need to think about your driving style.
:panic:

[Lew_C]

i don't know where everyone keeps getting the idea they are fast :wacko:

if you want a saxo to be fast, you need to get spending!

and there's nothing wrong with the driveshafts as long as you don't get a cheap patent one like a chinese one. The driveshafts for the vtr are identical to the ones in a vts except for the abs ring so if you break them on vtr power you need to think about your driving style.
:panic:

Im not expecting a rocket but being camm'd and chipped its not slow either hey!
So you don't think driveshafts go that easily?

[parsonsvtr52]

alright mate, ive had a fair few problems with mine, the worst was the gearbox/diff, clutch, and universal joints all go at once. god knows how prob cause i love the lift understeer round a roundabout. Ive chewed brake discs, warped 4 sets in 2 years, standard discs these are. and my rear axle was bent when i got it so that needed changing aswell. However, everytime it brakes i just repair it and crack on cause its way too much fun to drive. I love it. Fuel, 100 miles to a tank isnt unheard of by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is 290 to a tank when you got 5 of you flyin up the a1 at rediculous speeds. Enjoy it mate, there awesom fun

[maddison_vts]

Im not expecting a rocket but being camm'd and chipped its not slow either hey!
So you don't think driveshafts go that easily?

no not at all imo.

don't expect much over standard to be honest bud if its got a standard manifold and cat etc, a tubular manifold and de-cat is a must imo if you have an aftermarket cam.

[Lew_C]

no not at all imo.

don't expect much over standard to be honest bud if its got a standard manifold and cat etc, a tubular manifold and de-cat is a must imo if you have an aftermarket cam.

Yeah I need to chuck one on really!
it's just insurance, don't mind about the cam because "i don't know about it" but exhaust is obvious because of the noise etc. and that makes the insurance another £100 dearer.. need to ask myself is it really worth it?

[Lew_C]

alright mate, ive had a fair few problems with mine, the worst was the gearbox/diff, clutch, and universal joints all go at once. god knows how prob cause i love the lift understeer round a roundabout. Ive chewed brake discs, warped 4 sets in 2 years, standard discs these are. and my rear axle was bent when i got it so that needed changing aswell. However, everytime it brakes i just repair it and crack on cause its way too much fun to drive. I love it. Fuel, 100 miles to a tank isnt unheard of by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is 290 to a tank when you got 5 of you flyin up the a1 at rediculous speeds. Enjoy it mate, there awesom fun

haha, awesome 5 up at ridiculous speeds in a saxo doesn't sound like the safest thing but hey-ho! haahah sounds like much fun though!

[maddison_vts]

alright mate, ive had a fair few problems with mine, the worst was the gearbox/diff, clutch, and universal joints all go at once. god knows how prob cause i love the lift understeer round a roundabout. Ive chewed brake discs, warped 4 sets in 2 years, standard discs these are. and my rear axle was bent when i got it so that needed changing aswell. However, everytime it brakes i just repair it and crack on cause its way too much fun to drive. I love it. Fuel, 100 miles to a tank isnt unheard of by any stretch of the imagination, but neither is 290 to a tank when you got 5 of you flyin up the a1 at rediculous speeds. Enjoy it mate, there awesom fun

gearbox, diff and clutch problems is 100% your fault unless your running crazy power.

brake discs again is completely your fault.

and the fuel? 100 miles to a full tank? not possible unless you have majour issues.

sounds like all of your problems are due to a combination of a lack of driving ability and a lack of common sense.

[maddison_vts]

Yeah I need to chuck one on really!
it's just insurance, don't mind about the cam because "i don't know about it" but exhaust is obvious because of the noise etc. and that makes the insurance another £100 dearer.. need to ask myself is it really worth it?

if you aren't going to declare everything then why bother declaring anything? ignorance is no defence in the eyes of an insurance company

but yeah, it would be worth it. the gains you would get from fitting an aftermarket cam with a standard exhast would probably be so little you wouldn't notice.

[MathewVTR]

I Have an X reg 2000 mk2 VTR but its only got the 90bhp engine in it. Tax is £105 for six months and £190 for 12 months I think >.<

[Lew_C]

I Have an X reg 2000 mk2 VTR but its only got the 90bhp engine in it. Tax is £105 for six months and £190 for 12 months I think >.<

Cheers mate, thanks for that!

[Lew_C]

if you aren't going to declare everything then why bother declaring anything? ignorance is no defence in the eyes of an insurance company

but yeah, it would be worth it. the gains you would get from fitting an aftermarket cam with a standard exhast would probably be so little you wouldn't notice.

Well I mean, by looking at the car for all i know it hasn't been cam'd i've just been told that, its easy enough to say but there might be no proof. Can you even tell it's been cammed if you took it all apart a cam is a cam right? I don't think insurers would be that anal, would they :geek:

[maddison_vts]

Well I mean, by looking at the car for all i know it hasn't been cam'd i've just been told that, its easy enough to say but there might be no proof. Can you even tell it's been cammed if you took it all apart a cam is a cam right? I don't think insurers would be that anal, would they :geek:

depeding on the claim then yeah they will be that anal. if they thought it would save them money by taking it apart then they would.
aftermarket camshafts usually have markings and are stamped. at least mine were anyway. Judging by the fact it has a standard manifold i'd go with it probably isn't cammed because it would make no sense to do things that way round.

[Lew_C]

depeding on the claim then yeah they will be that anal. if they thought it would save them money by taking it apart then they would.
aftermarket camshafts usually have markings and are stamped. at least mine were anyway. Judging by the fact it has a standard manifold i'd go with it probably isn't cammed because it would make no sense to do things that way round.

Okay right, i've bought the car for £1200 but he's keeping the Janspeed 4-2-1 on for me and the strut brace. Instead he offered £1100 without but I know the price of the 2 items and how much the manifold will help the cams being less restrictive so it was definitely worth it for me!

[sexoturbs]

haha good man, you will enjoy. their has been alot of problems posted about saxos but most are caused by the driver. like i sed i went a bit mad when i first got mine. since i have calmed down ive had no troubles. but if you do come across any problems you have alot of people here willing to help and the car is usualy easy and cheap to fix. all my parts have bn cheap ( thanks to those that cant drive ) and i have done all the work my self.

welcome to saxoville :D

[Lew_C]

haha good man, you will enjoy. their has been alot of problems posted about saxos but most are caused by the driver. like i sed i went a bit mad when i first got mine. since i have calmed down ive had no troubles. but if you do come across any problems you have alot of people here willing to help and the car is usualy easy and cheap to fix. all my parts have bn cheap ( thanks to those that cant drive ) and i have done all the work my self.

welcome to saxoville :D

Thanks for a warm welcome mate! Much appreciated :hug: haha
Well I know a fair crack at cars im doing an apprenticeship with jaguar/land rover at the minute in special vehicles working on armoured cars and stuff so I know a bit about cars, but i'm used to working on brand new cars makes me ill working on my own car when there is all rust pitted in places and that lol. Also im doing auto electrics so good with loom repairs, making custom wiring looms and the like, mechanics is a bit more dirty

Heres a piccy for you :A:

[Ashleyp]

the worlds worst gearbox ratio. and the dream of owninga 16v engine

[Lew_C]

the worlds worst gearbox ratio. and the dream of owninga 16v engine

Lol, well insuring that thing is £2400 for 10 months, wouldn't even entertain a VTS till im 22ish by that time I'd like a civic type R :P

[col101]

the worlds worst gearbox ratio. and the dream of owninga 16v engine

Dude, not everyone wants a vts engine.
And if he's doing 200 miles a week, the vtr box is much better for him anyway.

[Ashleyp]

Dude, not everyone wants a vts engine.
And if he's doing 200 miles a week, the vtr box is much better for him anyway.

why would you want an 8v? lol

and he's using the derv for daily commute ;)

[Lew_C]

I don't mean to piss anyone off but I don't really want a 16v VTS because when I can afford the insurance id prefer to have something a little nicer i.e. civic type R or something Jap.. Not the quickest but they drive lovely :)

[lukeyyyyyyy21]

i'd have a vts over a vtr i'm sure most people would but due to insurance it's pretty hard.

[Lew_C]

i'd have a vts over a vtr i'm sure most people would but due to insurance it's pretty hard.

Yeah course you would its like saying youd rather have an ST over a 1.4 fiesta isnt it but considering the difference in insurance groups, there are far better cars up there in my opinion than the VTS

[saxova]

what can i expect from a vtr?

It'll be alot faster than the 1.9dt :). I know this, as my alternator bearings collasped in my vtr. So i'm drving my mums bf's 306 td, and its soooo slow compared to my near std vtr (1.1 box de-cat and cold air intake). So your cammed vtr with 1.4 ratio will be quicker, Your gonna love it ;)

[ricksimmonds]

well i used to get about 350 miles from a full tank in my 90 bhp VTR.

that was mainly town driving with a little bit of spirited driving here and there

You may be able to squeeze more out if your doing longer distances at constant speeds :D

[Lew_C]

well i used to get about 350 miles from a full tank in my 90 bhp VTR.

that was mainly town driving with a little bit of spirited driving here and there

You may be able to squeeze more out if your doing longer distances at constant speeds :D

I'll probably be the same, I do love some spirited driving.. lol.
Don't think it will cost much more than my car to run to be fair :A:

[saxova]

even with spirted driving i get 70-80 miles from £10 @ 0.99p a litre, If i twinkletoe around, 90-100 max. So i know how many miles from my £10 i'd rather get... ^_^

[Lew_C]

even with spirted driving i get 70-80 miles from £10 @ 0.99p a litre, If i twinkletoe around, 90-100 max. So i know how many miles from my £10 i'd rather get... ^_^

lol, i'd rather more miles, but i go for smiles per gallon over miles per gallon, something someone said on a forum once haha.

in my diesel ive had about 120 miles per tenner if im seriously chuggin around

[saxova]

[QUOTE=Lew_C;3534704]lol, i'd rather more miles, but i go for smiles per gallon over miles per gallon, something someone said on a forum once haha.

Haha that's quality. :y:

[Lew_C]

[QUOTE=Lew_C;3534704]lol, i'd rather more miles, but i go for smiles per gallon over miles per gallon, something someone said on a forum once haha.

Haha that's quality. :y:

What's the nova like? Bet that's a beast..

[saxova]

;) blown it up twice now, so i sold it. Was immense fun tho, But 6k miles since the last rebuild.. It wasn't worth doing again.

[Lew_C]

;) blown it up twice now, so i sold it. Was immense fun tho, But 6k miles since the last rebuild.. It wasn't worth doing again.

Fuck! blew up 6K from a rebuild, why was it always blowing up, was it the internals couldn't cope with all the stress?

[saxova]

Yeah, and the fact it was running std ecu, ignition etc. Fuel to air ratio would of been funked.

Oh and 12 psi on std internals. Ah well 'you live to learn'. (twice) lol.

[Lew_C]

Yeah, and the fact it was running std ecu, ignition etc. Fuel to air ratio would of been funked.

Oh and 12 psi on std internals. Ah well 'you live to learn'. (twice) lol.

my 306 is running 18psi.. but thats different i suppose

[saxova]

iye, just used to spit piston rings out for fun. No joy in having a car whats off road more than on road. The sax not let me down yet (3rd gearbox, 2nd clutch, new rear beam, electrical problems, alternator) But it keeps going lol!

[Lew_C]

iye, just used to spit piston rings out for fun. No joy in having a car whats off road more than on road. The sax not let me down yet (3rd gearbox, 2nd clutch, new rear beam, electrical problems, alternator) But it keeps going lol!

Ha, im used to my 306 which are known for exactly the same things as the saxo's.. typical french stuff lol

[ashwilson]

depends how well the saxo has been looked after .. if its good then sound have no problems!

[shayne_vtr]

great mpg as it will spent most of its life on the back of an AA truck (other road assistance services are available hahahah)

[WestyVTR]

lots of off track chat here... 306's !?! this is a VTR thred iirc...!

nothing wrong with a VTR yes valvers are the better engine, faster, slightly quicker, but hay double the insurace group... and the handling isnt massively different. If you want a nippy fun car to drive the VTR is the better pound for pound... with a few simpel mods you get a quick car for your money, cheap to fix, cheap to run and lots of fun!! youy can get 380 miles to the tank and more if you drive carefully... RaySax was the best at the MPG game lol now he drives a Scooby STi lol

whats your budget and what do you want from the VTR ??

[Lew_C]

lots of off track chat here... 306's !?! this is a VTR thred iirc...!

nothing wrong with a VTR yes valvers are the better engine, faster, slightly quicker, but hay double the insurace group... and the handling isnt massively different. If you want a nippy fun car to drive the VTR is the better pound for pound... with a few simpel mods you get a quick car for your money, cheap to fix, cheap to run and lots of fun!! youy can get 380 miles to the tank and more if you drive carefully... RaySax was the best at the MPG game lol now he drives a Scooby STi lol

whats your budget and what do you want from the VTR ??

I've already bought it, picking it up in a few weeks, i'm buying from my mate so he's just finding a car before I get it, £1200 I got it for and I do everything literally.. motorway, single track roads, A roads, town driving..

and yes there is a lot of off topic because I had asked about someone about their turbo'd nova then I said about my car. I'm not one to get pissed off on forums, we're all here to chat and socialise and its my thread, im laid back and not so bothered. I'm sorry every single word in this threadypoo isn't VTR VTR VTR mate! :clapping::y:

[Lew_C]

great mpg as it will spent most of its life on the back of an AA truck (other road assistance services are available hahahah)

haha, that is legendary :y:

[scottyvtr]

our vtr has had little probs the inaugral rear beam, ball joints and drop links, as said seviced regularly great wee car had ours 4years and still love it, the last time i whent to engerland full tank (johnstone scotland to brighouse yorks just under half a tank) worked out at 47mpg :y:

[WestyVTR]

my sax is sitting on 144K on a v plate and runs like a dream after being at for 18months or more... VTR VTR VTR VTR..... LMBO :y::drink::afro:

[Lew_C]

my sax is sitting on 144K on a v plate and runs like a dream after being at for 18months or more... VTR VTR VTR VTR..... LMBO :y::drink::afro:

Nice one mate, that's really impressive. The one im buying has had got pretty much spot on 100k on it, just had headgasket, cambelt and aux belt done, brake pads, clutch, gearbox new beam.. its a great little car! Hopefully nothing will go tits up for a while. With a capital Hopefully..:p

[Lew_C]

our vtr has had little probs the inaugral rear beam, ball joints and drop links, as said seviced regularly great wee car had ours 4years and still love it, the last time i whent to engerland full tank (johnstone scotland to brighouse yorks just under half a tank) worked out at 47mpg :y:

Glad it's all been not so bad for you! Hope I have the same experiences but have fairly bad luck... haha

[liam-o]

sorry mate, ive been lucky with my vtr so far no problems, but if you click on new posts there's probablys a number of threads been started about problems people have with there saxo's there a newsance, but they are such fun imo

not had one problem with my VTR... came with like 73k miles, no service history for the last 5 or so years and considering the way most VTR's are treated (since there more affordable to youngsters) touch wood nothings gone wrong, running smoother than anything :)

[Lew_C]

not had one problem with my VTR... came with like 73k miles, no service history for the last 5 or so years and considering the way most VTR's are treated (since there more affordable to youngsters) touch wood nothings gone wrong, running smoother than anything :)

Where abouts in the west mids you from pal?