Hi,
At long last we are hoping to get our Royal Lounge (after some considerable hunting).
We have just found out (RAC inspection) that the one we hope to buy has the 2C and *not* the more common 2CT engine. Could someone please help us with likely differences e.g. in performance, mpg, etc. (Obviously maintenance should be simpler but...)
It's unlikely to stop us buying it as we are (self-evidently!) not really interested in a 'performance vehicle' - it's a new import, in good condition and with all the other stuff we desire but we do want to know more fully what compromises there might be.
The tale of our attempt to find a good/right Townie with the spec we're after has been long and twisty (been looking since March), hopefully we'll write it up and let all of you who had less trouble bask in a glow of self-satisfaction!
Many TIA
Alan, Rhoda and the (very patient) children
- (#10211) Alan Lock, 19 Aug 03 13:20
Alan,
BHP output is not greatly increased by the addition of the turbo, BUT torque is the big winner. With most of these vehicles being auto box, the extra torque is needed to aid acceleration off the mark. As you rightly say, the 2C engine is quite uncommon, compared to the 2CT, I am also surprised that a Royal Lounge is devoid of the turbo at any year, as they tended to be top spec vehicles, therefore heavier than others therefore needing the extra oomph of the turbo motor. Have a check to see if it is definately a non turbo, or if it's had an engine swap to lose the turbo. As regards economy, you'd find very little in it, if anything the Turbo diesel might turn in better economy.
Regards Rob.
- (#10212) Rob Drinkwater, 19 Aug 03 15:48
Rob,
Thanks for speedy reply - not like this (just come back from a short holiday).
Because we hadn't come across a Turboless Townace before we thought it likely that the RAC man had made a mistake. So we had already decided to check it out, we contacted the place we're buying from and "of course it's got a Turbo, I'll just take it out and check to see if dash lights come on..." - and they did.
Rang RAC to express our unhappiness at paying out almost 200GBP to get things checked out that we're not competent/confident about checking (e.g. the Turbo) and now we don't have confidence in the results. RAC sent out someone else to check the Turbo, the results were waiting for us when we got back - yes, it has one and it's fine. Saw a Townace sometime ago that had a suspect Turbo that Clive spotted (thanks again Clive), so being extra careful.
Yet another twist in a (long) tale of trying to get a decent/suitable Townace - only the SVA and DVLA reg'n to go now...
Regards
Alan
- (#10703) Alan Lock, 1 Sep 03 14:06
Well done at last. For those of you at the Brean Ace Jam Mrs Lock was having a test drive in Dave H's Liteace. Happy to give you a tour of what's what, when you get it.
May the Ace be with you.
Clive
- (#10704) Clive, 2 Sep 03 1:47
unless the one you are buying was manufactured after August 1993, it will not need to be SVA'd, any vehicle over ten years old when imported into UK does not need 'Single Vehicle Approval', simply an MOT in order to be able to tax it. That's why so many importers declare newer cars to be 10 years old, so that they don't need to SVA it. I saw what turned out to be a '95 Eunos roadster (MX3) registered on a 'K' Plate the other day (1992) obviously to avoid the SVA, bloody nightmare when trying to sort out a problem as the garage concerned were adamant that it was a '92, it wasn't until I looked at chassis code that I found it to be a '95.
Hope this helps, regards Rob.
- (#10705) Rob Drinkwater, 3 Sep 03 14:19
saw it at last, and right posh it is too.
sports or normal electric switched tems, electric curtains with nets - i liked the safety cut out switch on the dash that needs to be on for the center console switches to be activated - heated and folding door mirrors, and so on.
engine nice and rattle free, shame about the mechanic pouring oil all over it!
need to change the radiator cap, the nippon one fitted may lead to problems.
not sure about all the bing bongs from the ign switch and the auto door lock after 20 m.p.h.
oh and the steering wheel, i think that one is best talked over on an acejam...........
- (#11010) Clive, 6 Oct 03 3:18