ATR

Author
Discussion

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Sunday 2nd March 2008
quotequote all
Hey guys. In the market for a new car. Was thinking about an ATR, here they are a brillant car, but read some bad thngs about the timing belt tentioners and the sycro-mesh being quite faulty and expensive to repair. Anyone have some input for me?

akiff

4 posts

200 months

Sunday 2nd March 2008
quotequote all
hi, just make sure its not damaged or damage repaired, and the 5th gera/reverse syncro, apart from that they're spot on, a bit thirsty but awesome cars, i've hada couple of ATRs and loved them both, my last one was a facelift model and they dont have the syncro problem,

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Sunday 2nd March 2008
quotequote all
Some of the facelift cars do have the syncro problem.

Get over to www.accordr.org for more information, virtually every car out there should have had new belts and most owners will probably got the tensioners and w.pump done at the same time.

Great cars, I have had mine now for 5 or 6 years and still am not sure what to replace it with after 110000 miles it has virtually never missed a beat.

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Sunday 2nd March 2008
quotequote all
What year was the face lift model released? would a W or X reg be ok? or is it only Y and above that have been sorted?

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Monday 3rd March 2008
quotequote all
Facelift is 2001-Y onwards.

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd March 2008
quotequote all
so W and X would still have the same problems that the 99 model had?

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Monday 3rd March 2008
quotequote all
Go onto the owners website as above, join and then go to the problems section.

There is a detailed thread which is stickied at the top with the chassis numbers that cars should have had the modification picked up on during assembley when new.

I am guessing honda could also tell you which individiual cars have had the work done by them if you asked.

If a car hasn't has the work done Honda are charging approximately £1k to get it done, although you can get it done elsewhere, its a 9hr service job from memory with circa £1-200 quids worth of parts.

Edit: http://www.accordr.org/index.php?showtopic=9152&am...



Edited by ALawson on Monday 3rd March 13:39

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Monday 3rd March 2008
quotequote all
that's great mate. Thanks for your help

theturbs

949 posts

243 months

Saturday 8th March 2008
quotequote all
Better still to try and find a car with the clutch, fifth gear synchro and belts, etc. already done.

The ATR is a brilliant ownership proposition, just be careful when looking - there are a lot of dogs on the market.


Edited by theturbs on Saturday 8th March 22:57

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Sunday 9th March 2008
quotequote all
what should I look out for?

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Sunday 9th March 2008
quotequote all
Most cars will not be FHSH, so look for FHSH up 3 years ish and then full documented history from then onwards.

Oil - Optional changes at 4.5k, most cars will have had the oil changed at this frequency. Changes are easy so look for stamps in book or reciepts for oil and filters.
Clutch - As with most cars depending upon use will depend upon if its been done before. My car had a warrenty replacement at 40k and is now approaching 132k. There is the occasional noise when releasing the clutch which is probably the release bearing. There have been a few owners cars where parts of the clutch have failed but still allowed the car to be driven, side effects hava been crunching noise that mimic the symptons of the syncro problem.
Synco - Problem getting car into either 5th or reverse, so you will be able to tell immediately if the cars has the problem. GBox fluid changes can sometimes solve the problem but not for long (make sure any cars you are looking at haven't had the oil changed). Another way to tell is shift from 3rd to 5th at high revs, if there is a crunch the syncros could be iffy.
Cambelt - Should be changed at 67k and there after, most owners will have got the tensioners and water pump done at the same time.
Headlights - Apparently the controller on the headlight level can go.

Apart from these major cost points there isn't anything IMHO that should give you any major problems.

Clutch is a £800-900 quid job at a main dealer, cambelt and everything else is £400 ish, Synco £1000

As I have said above go to the owners website where most of the cars are known and have history etc. Just don't buy a car with out checking the above and be left looking at needing to spend £2k (main dealer prices) to get it up to scratch.


By the way I have done 114k in mine over 5 years and am keeping if for as long as possible

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Thanks for all your input, been a big help.

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Wednesday 12th March 2008
quotequote all
Just remember the tax will be over £400 next year!

Geo84

Original Poster:

9 posts

200 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
quotequote all
What?! Is that for all cars with this size of engine or just this spec?

billysan

49 posts

211 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
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That just gave me a shock too. Googled road tax and found this page;

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

According to this cars registered before 1st March 2001 will only have to pay £185 a year. Those registered after will get stung for £400!!

Except there is a bit in band G of the after 1/3/01 table that says 'Over 225 – for cars registered on or after 23/03/06'. Does this mean that all ATR's will get stung? Or will the early ones be ok still? Its not 100% clear either way.

ALawson

7,855 posts

258 months

Thursday 13th March 2008
quotequote all
I think pre 01.03.01 car will be ok, those after won't nice eh!