FTO AUSTRALIA

So my FTO died on me a week ago. It had been making a pretty bad, jackhammer like, noise for a couple of weeks and when I got the auto serviced they told me it was because the box was fucked and apparently they found bits of metal and/or brass when doing the service. Quoted 2k+ to recondition it. A few days pass after this and all of a sudden the car stops making the noise. I'm cheering. Thought the service place mighta been talking sh*t as I didn't trust them 100%(vibe + expensive quote + close to 1/4 tank of fuel gone while they had the car).

Now we skip to last week, I'm on my way to my game and as I'm going up Dunheved Rd, the car starts revving like crazy. First thought was that I've accidently bumped it into tip mode, so I pull over to check and it turns out I hadn't. So I try returning into the traffic and when I'd accelerate the car would rev but not move. I turn it off to see if this will help any. Nope. Won't start now.

Later my brother(who has ALL the mechanical genes in the family, lol) and a mate with a tow truck came to pick it up. They tried to start it and no luck either, they said the starter motor is fucked and who knows what else. Next day we find a wreckers with both the starter motor and a g/box mount I previously needed(original had snapped a little while back), so my bro goes to change them and apparently discovers that the current starter is turning the fly wheel and converter but not the motor, tells me this is really bad.

Seems to me like this is gonna be pretty expensive to fix, plus I've got the trademark FTO roof rust and the car definitely needs a respray too. It's got me wondering whether it's worth sticking with it, or cutting my losses(how?) and buying another, especially if it's gonna be around the same price. I found one on Carsales that looks alright: http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/pri ... __Qpb=true if I go with the latter option.

Any ideas, advice, etc would be appreciated GREATLY guys!

I'd cut my losses and get the other one. Just make sure u check it thoroughly. Seems a bit too cheap to be true. Mine cost 6.5k and it's giving me a shitload of problems.

If I do cut my losses though, what is the smartest thing (financial wise) to do with the one I've currently got?

What model do you currently have? Financially wise you'll potentially make more back from it by stripping it and selling off the parts, though this can be a pain in the arse and can take a while. If u've got a bit of spare time though it's a good way to bring your mechanical knowledge up a step or two

i think i'd cut my losses and buy another one,just to have the roof fixed will cost about a grand,and god nows how much the rest of the stuff will cost,the other car looks ok ,but make sure u check it out

I would say just stuffed torque convertor.

If you like just replace whole box incl torque convertor just to be sure.
Fairly easy and much cheaper than cutting losses.

vipfto wrote:I would say just stuffed torque convertor.

If you like just replace whole box incl torque convertor just to be sure.
Fairly easy and much cheaper than cutting losses.

^^^^This.

I would buy a second hand box and torque converter for arounf $400 and install it yourself. A pain in the ass but not technically demanding.

As for then selling her or not well that depends on the condition of the rest of the car. Roof rust repair and spray job your looking at an easy 3.5K + +.

i have a 4 sp box and torque converter for sale for 250,as for roof rust stef just paid around 850 to have his cut out

i would personally stick with your own car

because you know it

once you get the engine sorted and roof rust it will be as god as new

taffysturbo wrote:i have a 4 sp box and torque converter for sale for 250,as for roof rust stef just paid around 850 to have his cut out

Thanks for the offer, mine's a 5spd though.

Where abouts did that person go to get that price for the rust removal? And was it a good job? All of it gone?

queensland he is Kustomfto if u want to ask him

My car had to go back about 8 times for the rust repair. I dont think $850 is a realistic price for that type of work and the guy who is doing it for $850 doesnt know what he is in for. Missfto went to the same guy after me for a quote on her roof and + respray and got quoted 6.5K. Thats 2K more than mine cause he knew what he was in for after having to do mine and also mine was no where near as bad as as her's or kustom's for that matter.

Just my 2 cents. But i would definitly get in writting what the both parties expect the outcome to be from said job. Hope it goes well for you.

I8A4RE wrote:My car had to go back about 8 times for the rust repair. I dont think $850 is a realistic price for that type of work and the guy who is doing it for $850 doesnt know what he is in for. Missfto went to the same guy after me for a quote on her roof and + respray and got quoted 6.5K. Thats 2K more than mine cause he knew what he was in for after having to do mine and also mine was no where near as bad as as her's or kustom's for that matter.

Just my 2 cents. But i would definitly get in writting what the both parties expect the outcome to be from said job. Hope it goes well for you.

yours doesnt even have a sunroof does it ?

Gholdwayne wrote:

I8A4RE wrote:My car had to go back about 8 times for the rust repair. I dont think $850 is a realistic price for that type of work and the guy who is doing it for $850 doesnt know what he is in for. Missfto went to the same guy after me for a quote on her roof and + respray and got quoted 6.5K. Thats 2K more than mine cause he knew what he was in for after having to do mine and also mine was no where near as bad as as her's or kustom's for that matter.

Just my 2 cents. But i would definitly get in writting what the both parties expect the outcome to be from said job. Hope it goes well for you.

yours doesnt even have a sunroof does it ?

Nope.

yeah, given that simon, i think yours is the only sunroofless fto iv heard of that had roof rust... did it bubble though or did u just check on account of curiosity ?

I dont have a sunroof and still have roof rust (mines a pre 97 model), I was under the impression that it doesn't really matter wether they have sunroofs or not but more the fact if that glue was there

And mine bubbled through the roof soo much infact itm actually cracked the paint

Gholdwayne wrote:yeah, given that simon, i think yours is the only sunroofless fto iv heard of that had roof rust... did it bubble though or did u just check on account of curiosity ?

No mate it happens regardless of whether you have a sunroof or not. Most people dont have a sunroof and it happens to most cars pre 96/97. They changed the glue somewhere round that time frame.

Mine had bubbles and so did missfto's and she didnt have a sunroof either.

ic, its just not as bad as sunroof models, but i believe that the glue type has been changed on 98 and above as mine was made on july/aug97 and it still had rust

I got the roof rust fixed in my previous FTO, did a little bit o the work myself and it cost 1K. This had a sunroof, but the bubbles at the time were less that 1cm. In a non sunroof FTO, it would be significantly ness work. 2 years later, the rust still hadnt shown any signs of returning. You cant get rid of the rust by filling, itll just come back. Have to weld up the holes.

I would say find out exactly whats wrong before going out and buying another. Better the devil you know.... Also, have to say there is a real trend beginning to happen with people buying cheap FTO's (<8K). At this point, its looking as though the chances of getting a good one at that price seems to be around 30%. Tread carefully....

i wonder if anyone would be intrested in my car for 8K


But i 2nd the knowing all the bad things in your car first then assess whether its worth fixing up