Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: jjleonard on 01 September 2008, 16:05:10
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I'm in the market (in the next 3 months or so) for an Omega Elite - 2.5V6 upwards. I'm replacing a boggo diesel mundaneo that i've had for five years and fancy a bit of luxury. (and a petrol engine, I've gone right off diesels).
The problem is, I'm short on cash (the mundano cost me 1800 quid to replace the turbo two months ago - OUCH), and so I've only got a budget of about £2500. The elites i've seen on ebay and autotrader seem to be OK, with mileage between about 76k and 140k. (I'm talking about 'new shape' ones, 2001 plate onwards, I think!)
Am I insane to believe that I can pick an elite up for 2500 quid? Is there anything I should be looking out for - apart from checking all the electrical bits and pieces. I've never owned one before so I'm a bit nervous.
Or should I get over myself and buy a CDX instead? I would like leather and decent size alloys, which I think are the only differences between the CDX and Elites.
Any advice would be really welcomed. Thanks!
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Hi and welcome to the forum :)
Have a look in the for sale section, Danny has a very nice low mileage Elite which is a good price ;)
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Member here, Danny, is trying to flog his 3.0 (I think) Elite for £2k.... .....see for sale section.
It has an LPG kit on as well, but this doesn't idle too well on gas, but apparently fine on petrol.
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Easily get a very nice elite for 2.5k!
Don't forget if you go Y and newer, you'll have to fork out 400 quid a year road tax soon. You can get facelifts on W & X plates. Going a bit older might be sensible (I have an N-reg and its been as good as gold so I'd say don't worry about it!)
Look for a genuine, well looked after car- add wheels & stuff later!
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;D
I'm one of the watchers on Danny's ebay auction - I'd have it if I had the cash to hand, but I don't right now, dammit. Looks like a mint car.
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Thanks Gino - I did have a look at the road tax, and I can handle 400 quid a year (I lived in ireland for 3 years, it cost me 600 euro a year to tax a 2 litre mundaneo).
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The Omega is a little secret... They give lots of luxury car for not a lot of money :D :D :D :y :y :y
However... To keep them in good running order it's advisable to do your own work. Then you know what has happened and you can use genuine Vx parts for a reasonable cost!
Welcome to OOF and good luck in the hunt! That price range should get you a very nice example :y :y :y :y
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From someone whos owned 3 omegas, take a look at the endless faults and problems on here, and buy an
AUDI !
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From someone whos owned 3 omegas, take a look at the endless faults and problems on here, and buy an
AUDI !
Its a problem solving forum, you will find lots of discussions about the car ;D
Having spent most of the last year underneath 3 Audis, I would never want to own one :y
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I was thinking of bailing out & buying an audi.
Saw a nice one was mailing the guy. He paid 22kEuro in 04.
This was his reply when I asked what work had been done. I think it's still for sale. I decided that my mig would do. 40 K miles with only Pads tyres shocks cat back. Purchase cost2k value now????
Reply below. I don't know how to hilight.
Total spent on refurb / replacement since Feb 2004 purchase = € 14,556
engine re-build inc timing belt
battery replaced
new steering rack
new alternator
ABS control unit refurb ( they all fail )
AMD Teknik tuning
New fan belt and spline/ pulley etc
+ servicing
+ extra Four alloy wheels & good Pirelli P6000 tyres
( new audi alloy x1 = €350 )
( new Pirelli P6000 x1 = @200 )
Approx value not include above costs ~11,000
Minus i. dash pixellating ( they all do…)
ii. n/s Xenon headlight casing cracked – beam ok
iii. n/s front wing paint defect – post “robowash” car wash (never again)
Asking price €11,500 on Carzone.
Am open to offers, taking into consideration the
~ €14,500 new parts/ fitting in last 4 years
and the i – iii as below.
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From someone whos owned 3 omegas, take a look at the endless faults and problems on here, and buy an
AUDI !
Thats a nice encouraging reply... ::)
Ive owned three 2.0 ltr one 3.0 a 2.5ltr and now a 2.2ltr....and apart from odds and sods needing replacing they have all been solid reliable cars and had bugger all spent on them.
So i don't agree with endless faults and problems your suggesting.
Maybe you would like too sign up too this forum
www.moaningpillocksrus.co.uk
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Thanks all - I've been spending the evening reading through the forum, reading up on the models on 'honest john', and getting a feel for what may need to be done, and when. I'll certainly want to maintain it myself when I get one, although having never twirled a spanner before I may be better off taking it slow and easy, reading the guides on here an a haynes manual quite heavily before starting - I know the girlfriend is going to be bored sh*tless with me but at least she'll have a comfy passenger seat to be driven around in....
I was considering popping up to a meet once I've got one, just to get someone experienced to tell me what might need doing - is that taking the p*ss? :)
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I was considering popping up to a meet once I've got one, just to get someone experienced to tell me what might need doing - is that taking the p*ss? :)
Not at all. :y
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welcome to the forum JJ.
mate of myn had an audi a4 quatro diesel, sold it with 130 on the clock, nothing went wrong with it, except the normal missing pixels problem. Its still going now with 200 plus miles on it. He was probably lucky. But heres the problem, for me at least, you will not get an audi with the same level of equipment/miles/age for comparable money. No chance.
The omega depreciated like nothing else in the exec. car market. And its basicaly sound. The v engine is pretty much bullet proof, for all but the most ham fisted. As is the stearing box, gear box(when serviced every 60k) and dif. Ecu,s never fail appart from unlucky Alfs. The rest is easily fixed, esp. with the help of all on here. The only real issue with it is fuel economy, and there is lpg conversion for that.
Fill your boots, for the money,you cant beat it.
But dont take my word for it, put your price range and desired spec in the auto trader search and see what comes up. A load of crap, except the Omega!
Be quick tho, Elites are getting hard to find. Best of luck.
Ps have a look through the maintenance sections etc there is a buyers guide somewhere.
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I was considering popping up to a meet once I've got one, just to get someone experienced to tell me what might need doing - is that taking the p*ss? :)
Not at all. :y
Taking the piss? No chance, exactly what i did, they love it. Was made to feel very welcome. Saved me a fortune in time effort and money.
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Thanks Chris.
I've already done the autotrader search and you're spot on - for the money there is nothing to touch the Omega. I did a quick poll around the office (full of consultants in their 50's) and they all rate the Omega - one of them had three elites and loved them all!
I've had a good look through the maintenance sections, and i'll hunt down the buyers guide so I can be sure of what i'm buying. I'm not a total mechanical moron but I always want to be sure of what I'm doing BEFORE I start!
Spending the last 3 hours reading through the forum posts has led me to believe I'm making the right choice - the sheer helpfulness of the members and the posts is really comforting.
See you all at a meet when I've got one!
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Pity you're not near Newent mate. I'm sure if you had a wander around at the meet this weekend you would have got a lot more info and advice on models, common failures etc than any amount of internet browsing and you'd find out that we don't bite...well mostly ;D.
Hope you find a nice motor and for that kind of cash you certainly should do, my V reg 2.5 only cost me £1600 last year before the road tax depreciation business started.
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From someone whos owned 3 omegas, take a look at the endless faults and problems on here, and buy an
AUDI !
Go to the TTOC Forum (audi TT) you would think the car struggles to get off the drive each day, plus OE parts cost the earth
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If you can wait 6 months mine will be for sale ;)
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Pity you're not near Newent mate. I'm sure if you had a wander around at the meet this weekend you would have got a lot more info and advice on models, common failures etc than any amount of internet browsing and you'd find out that we don't bite...well mostly ;D.
Hope you find a nice motor and for that kind of cash you certainly should do, my V reg 2.5 only cost me £1600 last year before the road tax depreciation business started.
Yeah, damn shame I can't make it to Newent, but the GF insists I spend time building a step on the patio and being a responsive boyfriend, rather than talking cars with a bunch of blokes across the other side of the country... ::)
I'm actually looking forward to buying one now - just have to save some cash and I'll be sorted! Bloody shame that I can't afford Dannys' one right now. :(
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If you can wait 6 months mine will be for sale ;)
Sorry mate, can't wait that long! ;)
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I recently bought an 01 Elite 3.0 83k on the clock - immaculate condition - with 3months warranty on mechanicals - absolutely love it :)
cost £1650 - i've spent £100 on a service and £50 sorting the aircon - so far so good - its my 2nd Omega - just a pity they dont make em anymore - its getting hard to find them now but £2500 will get you a good elite :y
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"The car is as good as its owner (or last owner) " rule applies here I think..
After spending some serious cash (enough to buy 2 mint miggies in UK) , mine come into balance finally..
However fuel costs are also serious, so buy a miggy which is
very well looked and LPG installation done with a good multipoint system ..
and please check
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152602457
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Thanks cem, I was looking for the buyers guide. As with any second hand (and cheap) car, a careful inspection and being aware of what to look for are paramount. Thanks for the tips!
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Some extra warning may be
close the doors turn on the climate for cold and check it works, then turn it for heating if you smell sweet coolant it means the heater matrix leak..
and have a test drive for at least 20-30 miles..
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Most important check of all when buying a new miggy IMHO ...
Ignition on without starting engine ... do EML and Emissions warning lights illuminate for a few seconds then go out once engine started.
If they DON'T come on initially then someone has probably removed the bulbs to hide a fault, after all few folks would buy a car with the warning lights on ....... at that point walk away as the seller is patently dishonest .. :)
EML is a car with a spanner through its roof, Emissions is a picture of an engine
Just my 2.35 p's worth (inc VAT) :)
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thanks Entwood - i've already had a look at the EML warning light video so I know where that is - I'll make sure I know where the emissions light is too!
I wish I could get one quicker now - never mind, patience, patience. ;D
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dont hurry..you will find a good one :y
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i know it has been said a few times, Danny's would be a good buy.
It needs a bit of time spent on it to get the gas to run properly, but at the price he is asking for it you would still have money left in your budget, alternative there are a few members on here who have a bit of knowledge of LPG powered Omegas.
If that's not your cup of tea then look for one with low mileage, and make sure that the cambelt and tensioners have been replaced at 40K or 4 years, if someone tries to tell you differently then i would walk away.....
there are plenty of bargains to be had out there, it is very much a buyers market.
and welcome to OOF :y
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Cheers Jay - I've just been looking in the gallery at turbomegas modded cdx with snowflake alloys, modified headlights, grill and kit - what a beauty. :y
Once i've got one i'll be sure to bring it to a meet and say thanks to you all!
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Pity you're not near Newent mate. I'm sure if you had a wander around at the meet this weekend you would have got a lot more info and advice on models, common failures etc than any amount of internet browsing and you'd find out that we don't bite...well mostly ;D.
Hope you find a nice motor and for that kind of cash you certainly should do, my V reg 2.5 only cost me £1600 last year before the road tax depreciation business started.
Yeah, darn shame I can't make it to Newent, but the GF insists I spend time building a step on the patio and being a responsive boyfriend, rather than talking cars with a bunch of blokes across the other side of the country... ::)
I'm actually looking forward to buying one now - just have to save some cash and I'll be sorted! Bloody shame that I can't afford Dannys' one right now. :(
and quite tragic that i really cant drop it any more than what it is, disregarding its LPG kit its a fantastic car with a fantastic price tag
the mileage may climb by about 200 miles, i plan on temporarily insuring it for a bit cos i like driving it!!
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I have a 2001 Elite 3.0 saloon in the for sale section ... pics hopefully up later.
Only looking for circa 1500 , long MOT , 98K , almost new towbar , £300 alarm ... black with black leather and all the goodies.
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thanks mate, but unfortunately I won't have the cash until about January. Sorry to get everyones' hopes up..... :D