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New to RS2's - Some guidance needed please!

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 8:06 pm
by nothctap
Hi everyone.

I've always loved the RS2, for a very long time and never really thought too seriously about owning one... until now!

I'm going to be receiving some money and I thought what better to spend it on that something I've always wanted, an RS2.

Now there are a few things I'd like to know first before delving in and I'm hoping you guys can help me out.

How reliable are they, obviously things go wrong with cars, are the RS2's notoriously good or bad for being reliable? Also I'm imagining that parts are pretty hard to source, am I correct with this assumption?

I'm hoping to see one this weekend, what sort of things do I need to look out for? Are there any common probems?

I don't want to be spending my money on something that's going to give me a lot of grief, I've done that! I've had a BMW E30 325i sport with a 2.8 litre engine that I've owned for the last 5 years or so and I don't think there's a part left on the car that I didn't change!!! I don't want any more hassle like that!

Any help would be very much appreciated and also if anyone knows of any nogaro blue RS2's for sale, I'd be interested to hear about it.

Thanks in advance.

Adam

RE: New to RS2

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 10:36 pm
by DickyC
Hello Adam,

You've done the right thing by enquiring first! There's a lot of advice already in the first dozen or so posts. Look at "Going to look at an RS2 on sunday..." - scillyisles gives you chapter and verse.

Maybe I was lucky, but I bought the third car I looked at and it has been 100% reliable. The feeling from the lads is it doesn't matter too much about the mileage, the important thing is history. If the car has been well maintained and everything that needed doing was done promptly, you can't go far wrong.

Mine was at 128,000 when I bought it last year and is now on 136,000. In that time I've had it serviced, MoT'd, new front seat inserts and a tidy up in the bodyshop. I use it a lot. It goes like stink. It sticks. It stops. Read the stuff on tyres too in the nearby posts, it's all fresh.

The experience you gained with your BMW should really tell you if you're on to a winner. When you find one you like, post the details and see if anyone recognises it.

Where are you? Maybe a couple of us can come and show what they sould be like!

Cheers,




Dicky C

Posted: Thu Apr 17, 2008 11:45 pm
by AlWyn
Hi Adam sure i cant tempt you with my black one? Theres 2 RS blue RS2 s for sale i know of. Whats your budget and where are you located? Al

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:55 pm
by nothctap
Thanks for your replies guys, I've had a good read through the other posts and there's some great info that I've noted down. I'm based In Bournemouth, Dorset and it would be great if there was someone in the area to show me their car. It would be a massive help.

The car I should be going to see on Sunday is a nogaro blue one on pistonheads http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/442095.htm

Does anyone know about this car? It's been written off in 1999 as a category d. THe guy tells me it's had a front end knock before he owned it and it's not adversely affected the car at all. Of course, when anyone mentions a writeoff, people immediately dismiss it but he assures me its nothing major. Is the car fairly priced taking this into account?

I could possibly be tempted by a black one but I've really got my heart set on a blue one with the blue alcantara interior. I'd be very interested in the 2 blue ones you know of for sale.

I'm receiveing £8.5k that I intend on spending and I don't mind travelling to get the right car. If the buyer was patient and wouldn't mind taking a deposit to hold it for a few weeks, then I could probably raise another £3k by putting my old car on ebay.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:02 pm
by AlWyn
Im only up the road in West Sussex with a black RS2 with blue alcantara up for grabs so pop in and have a look...plenty of pics on S2 forum :wink:

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:06 pm
by nothctap
Ooooh really!!!! Now that's not as bad as going 200 miles to look at one!!

I'll take a look at the pics now!

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:23 pm
by nothctap
You have PM, very interested.

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:04 pm
by s4sturge
Look at my post too for RHD Blue RS2

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:14 am
by DickyC
Adam,

Has anyone mentioned fuel? Use Shell V-Power. Why? Dunno, it just suits the car. Other brands make it seem like you have flat spots.

Dicky C

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:27 am
by alastairg
I tend to use V power but have no issues with Tesco 99 or BP ultimate. I would be concerned if I had 'flat spots' with other fuels on a regular basis. The main issue is to use a busy petrol station with 'fresh' fuel

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:10 am
by scillyisles
DickyC wrote:Adam,

Has anyone mentioned fuel? Use Shell V-Power. Why? Dunno, it just suits the car. Other brands make it seem like you have flat spots.

Dicky C
Does not sound right to me - I use Vpower and Tesco 99 - Tesco 99 is the better fuel but the RS2 is happy on either. If you are getting flat spots on Tesco 99 but not on Vpower then I would be concerned. Tesco garages tend to be very busy and therefore Tesco99 tends to be some of the freshest fuel you can buy. Independent tests have shown that more often than not Tesco99 has an octane rating of over 100.

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 12:57 pm
by DickyC
Thanks for that both.

Anyone any ideas what could cause it if it isn't the fuel? It really goes like stink on V-Power, happy at low revs, happy at high revs. It's smooth and tractable low down and pulls cleanly and powerfully all the way from 3500 (with all the Saturn V analogies I can think of).

While we're on fuel, has anyone used BP's 102 octane in an RS2? It's only available at nine sites. Oh, yes, and it's £2.42 a litre...

All Saints Self Serve, Commercial Road, Portsmouth, PO1 4BU

Tudor Filling Station, London Road, Allington, Kent, ME16 0HE

Newham Way Service Station, Newham Way, Canning Town, London, E16 1QX

Newbury Filling Station, 786 Eatern Avenue, Newbury Park, Essex, IG2 7HU

Wavendon Gate Connect, Newport Road, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AG

Chicheley Park Connect, Tickford Street, Newport Pagnell, MK16 9BD

Premier Connect, 99 Chaseside, Southgate, London, N14 5BU

Byron Connect, 407 High Road (A406 North Circular), North Finchley, London, N12 0AP

Egham Hill Connect, Egham Hill (A30), Egham, Surrey, TW20 0ET

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:41 pm
by alastairg
Not used 102

Think MAF initially OR small boost leak.

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 1:46 pm
by DickyC
Thanks for that. It's about due a service, so I'll get on to it.