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[foofaroo]

Hi

Just joined as I am considering buying an Omega as my daily driver to and from the station.

I have spotted this car near me.  Seems to have low miles for age and full 12m MOT.  I am not very engine literate so any advice on what to check and whether given I'm far from a mechanic I should think again about running an omega?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201303205858436/sort/default/usedcars/model/omega/make/vauxhall/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/quicksearch/true/page/1/radius/30/postcode/rg404ul?logcode=p

Many thanks

Nick

[Selseybill]

Nice car but a bit juicy for just popping done the station each day

[amba]

It depends on how far the station is each day,as being a large engined car it will take a while to be upto its most efficient and you will be paying a large fuel bill.

Also remember Omegas do suffer oil/breather issues with lots of short runs so factor your requirements against cost.

Saying that it looks a fair car and about the right price.

Hope you make the right decision

[ted_one]

Hi and welcome to a fellow Berkshire man     If you wait a while there will a few members as the afternoon progresses to advise you..but for me the number one question would be ''at what mileage was the cambelt last changed''  it should be replaced every 40.000miles or every 4 years which ever comes sooner and if possible see if there is any proof of the work having been carried out. There are other items that I would also be interested in including any service history. Good luck with your purchase
                                                                     

[tidla]

Hi and welcome to a fellow Berkshire man     If you wait a while there will a few members as the afternoon progresses to advise you..but for me the number one question would be ''at what mileage was the cambelt last changed''  it should be replaced every 40.000miles or every 4 years which ever comes sooner and if possible see if there is any proof of the work having been carried out. There are other items that I would also be interested in including any service history. Good luck with your purchase
                                                                     

As above, has the true 80k service been carried out and to satisfaction.

Otherwise you have the job of spending instead of just driving.

[ted_one]

Looking at where you live,would that be Reading station? and if so I think Amba's comments should be heeded as the short journeys will have a twofold effect on your wallet i.e prohibitive fuel consumption and with the breathers getting a bit gunky you will either have to learn to do the preventative maintainenance or pay some one to do it for you. So buy the Omega for the weekends and bike it to the station

[2boxerdogs]

Sound advice so far, however a lot of car for very little money .

[OmegaAnglesey]

Was going to see this Omega next week when he's back possibly if i have time 

[GastronomicKleptomaniac]

Buy that as a proper car, and a bicycle for doing the station run.

That looks bloody lovely from afar, but you'll get appalling fuel consumption and engine wear if it's only a short journey to the station.

[Webby the Bear]

looks reeeeeeeally nice! 

cambelt history (if no proof then factor in a replacement immediately)

pop out a spark plug wire (no. 1 is easy to do and to get to)... if theres oil on the bit that attaches to the spark plug your cam cover gaskets will need doing

factor in the fact that your short journeys (presumably short?!) will cost you a lot in petrol. and youll need to keep to a regular routine maintenance of breather cleans

other than that just all the other used car stuff to check for.

this series of vids is good if you aint got a Scooby do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Tvgaix4jZ0

note this is just part 1... watch all 4 parts

hth

 

[foofaroo]

Looking at where you live,would that be Reading station? and if so I think Amba's comments should be heeded as the short journeys will have a twofold effect on your wallet i.e prohibitive fuel consumption and with the breathers getting a bit gunky you will either have to learn to do the preventative maintainenance or pay some one to do it for you. So buy the Omega for the weekends and bike it to the station

Thanks all for the great advice.

Reading is my nearest station but I drive to Twyford which is a faster line and better when I get to London. This is approx 7 miles each way. Do all the comments still apply? Is this still too short to get up to peak operation? My working assumption was c.25mpg does this sound about right?

[Webby the Bear]

Looking at where you live,would that be Reading station? and if so I think Amba's comments should be heeded as the short journeys will have a twofold effect on your wallet i.e prohibitive fuel consumption and with the breathers getting a bit gunky you will either have to learn to do the preventative maintainenance or pay some one to do it for you. So buy the Omega for the weekends and bike it to the station

Thanks all for the great advice.

Reading is my nearest station but I drive to Twyford which is a faster line and better when I get to London. This is approx 7 miles each way. Do all the comments still apply? Is this still too short to get up to peak operation? My working assumption was c.25mpg does this sound about right?

a 7 mile run wouldn't be too bad i wouldn't have thought. although you may like it so much you decide to drive straight to London 

[ted_one]

Agreed....as we are talking an area that we both know,then that run over to Twyford will be over some reasonably fast country roads so I would probably say that from where you are I would just about think of using an Omega. A nice steady poodle through the twisties on a spring morning in an Omega.....Heaven

[amba]

With 2 cold starts and only a 7 mile run each way you would be better getting a taxi to take you and save on the road tax and insurance.

Honestly buying a top end 3.0 litre automatic for that run is not great economics. ..you will not be doing the car any favours..oil will need changing very regularly along with those breathers.

Best advise ..honest..give it a miss for what you want it for 

[Andy B]

With 2 cold starts and only a 7 mile run each way you would be better getting a taxi to take you and save on the road tax and insurance.

Honestly buying a top end 3.0 litre automatic for that run is not great economics. ..you will not be doing the car any favours..oil will need changing very regularly along with those breathers.

Best advise ..honest..give it a miss for what you want it for 

I ran two 3.0 Senators (one 12v & one 24v) for years & at the time commuted about 3 miles each way      Sod the taxi