New Alhambra reliabilty ?

[aclepob]

April issue of New Car Guide states that "there have been some reliability issues with the Alhambra". Can anyone shed any light on this remark please. Apart from the damn thing locking me out occasionally and the windscreen wipers seizing up I really like my T reg one I have and would think about getting a new one.

Nige

 

[roly]

At work we look after quiet a few Alhambra's, lots of them used for airport taxi work

Out of the 6-7 big mileage ones (circa 300k) there's only one that's ever had any major trouble.

Does the guide state what the reliability issues are ??

 

[aclepob]

Thanks for that roly. No, nothing specific given.

 

[1990gti]

I've just got one and when I was looking into them the only thing I saw more than once was problems with the air con.

 

[roverlander]

Hi

Had my 20vt for three years now and done some high mileage, only problem is the as stated air con. I have now decided to give up spending money on the air con and just open a window. Apart from that the car is so versatile that you would be hard pushed to find something better.

 

[Emily's dad]

You can have problems with the turbo on the 1.9TDI.
The vanes can stick causing overboost and then the engine shuts down into Limp mode.
Doesn't trouble all cars and if you do a search on here it has been mentioned before.

Dave.

 

[fredt]

air con failures are common, as well as wiring failures to the doors, hatches etc, autoboxes, manual box selector shafts, cables, front top mounts, aux heater problems, water pump impellors fall off, turbo problems, water ingress ..... the list of know problems is fairly big! but then again it is any vehicle if you look hard enough!

 

[Gazbangwallop]

I bought a 2003 1.9tdi with 65k on the clock and it is the best car i have owned. Apart form the front links replaced and a fly wheel recal it has never let me down. The pre heater will eventually smoke but disconnecting it in no biggy.
I will defo buy another one!

 

[zacknolden]

Do you know the new Alhambra Arena which is located at the corner of Swanson and Ritner Streets in South Philadelphia, Pa?
____________________________________________________
My fresh installs: buick riviera catalytic converter & buick riviera radiator

 

[Ian1957]

Hi,
I've had an R-reg 1.9 TDi from new. I think I have spent more on repairing the air con (evaporator, compressor) than on all other repairs put together (air mass meter, electric window motor) and have now given up throwing money at it. Has this been improved in more recent models? I see it now has climate control rather than air con, but does anyone know if it is basically the same unit under the bonnet? This the only thing that would put me off getting a new one as otherwise it has been a pleasure to own.

 

[Emily's dad]

Can't remember where I read it but there was an redesign of the air con on the 2004 models onwards, which is supposed to have increased the reliability.

I can't tell you anymore than that, if I can find the article again i'll post a link.

 

[Ian1957]

Thanks, Emily's Dad, that would be really helpful.

 

[Stu B]

On my second one - this one owned since new 2001 - Air Mass meter repleaced yesterday, and AC compressor. Thats it !!

Mind you now that I have installed Revo I expect to find a few other things wear out..... ah well..