how reliable

[Lenny_mc]

So how reliable are the ftos?

Would it be up to 70 miles a day commute - mostly motorway with a small bit of town driving?

Are there any tell tale signs of th e4 speed tip box about to give up the ghost?

Lenny

[Dave]

i drive about a 70 mile round trip everyday and never had any problems, mine is a manual GS though but with regular servicing they are bullit proof, tip box may give up areound the 140klms mark though.

[Lenny_mc]

the one i was looking at has about 110kms on the clock, so that would leave me (rough maths) about 8 months before i hit 140kms......

how big of a job is a new gearbox if it goes?

[soc]

the one i was looking at has about 110kms on the clock, so that would leave me (rough maths) about 8 months before i hit 140kms......

how big of a job is a new gearbox if it goes?

if box goes the choices are

1) recondition existing box which will cost approx €2,000
2) fit a 2nd hand tipbox (which I did) which cost me €1000 all in
3) go to the UK and get giles (at japco) to do a manual box conversion - this will cost approx €2,500

[Lenny_mc]

ouch - expensive options. How are the manual boxes compared to the tip boxes?

Think i would prefer a manual anyway.....
How common are GPX manuals?

[Dave]

hen's teeth

[Lenny_mc]

do hen have teeth ?

[Dave]

nope!

[soc]

ouch - expensive options. How are the manual boxes compared to the tip boxes?

Think i would prefer a manual anyway.....
How common are GPX manuals?

by the sounds of things, if you really want a good GPX manual the best bet would be to look at importing direct from japan - adrian and gav022 could fill you in. check our www.ibcjapan.co.jp

[Dave]

yeah i would reckon that this is probably the only way to go, i couldn't find a decent one in this country and there are loads still left over there, although it's all a pain in the ass you will get it on the cheap as well, but probably the best bet would be to try and appoint an agent for when it lands in the country to organise clearing it through customs and getting the VAT paid on it, then they'll hand it over to you and all you'd have to do is get it VRT'd and taxed, NCT'd and sorted then!!

can be done, best person to talk to is either kev or adrian, i think kev is actually in the process of importing one right now!

[Kace]

I have a manual GPX and have 5 years of hassle free motoring . I don't do massive miles but as the guys say, the car is generally bulletproof. Even the tiny Jap battery that came in the car from original lasted about 3 years !

[kevinod]

yeah i would reckon that this is probably the only way to go, i couldn't find a decent one in this country and there are loads still left over there, although it's all a pain in the ass you will get it on the cheap as well, but probably the best bet would be to try and appoint an agent for when it lands in the country to organise clearing it through customs and getting the VAT paid on it, then they'll hand it over to you and all you'd have to do is get it VRT'd and taxed, NCT'd and sorted then!!

can be done, best person to talk to is either kev or adrian, i think kev is actually in the process of importing one right now!

Yup, just waiting for it to be shipped now... Got onto Gandhara Motors myself, www.gmjcars.com, they seem ok but I haven't physically got anything from them yet so will hold on judgement, but they're quick to reply and seem pretty straight forward, reply to emails and answer phones.

Asked them for a price on a 2L Manual FTO, and silver, and they asked for 50% deposit, and then went off and found one in an auction for me. Silver common colour, so found quickly enough but if you look for an unusual colour prob take longer I guess.

The process from here seems to be:
- they'll ship the car, one shipment a month so next is ~25th March. Shipping takes 37-40 days by the way!
- once the car is on the boat on the way they'll send me the proof of shipping, with that I'll verify the car is on the boat
- then I send them the remaining 50% of the cost, and they send me the documents for the car.
- from there I talk to the shipping company who supposedly can tell me exactly how the importing process works at this end.
- car arrives, gets cleared through customs, I guess a day or two for this, I pay Customs & VAT
- get car brought to VRO for inspection (by end of next working day after its out of customs), pay the VRT, and the VRO give me a licence plate number.
- Once I have the vehicle registration cert I can get it taxed and NCT'd.

Insurance will have to fit in there somewhere, I guess once I have the licence plate number I'll be able to insure it, but prob depends on insurers.

So, still some unknowns but that seems to be more or less how it'll work.

Kev.

[Daz]

So how reliable are the ftos?

Would it be up to 70 miles a day commute - mostly motorway with a small bit of town driving?

Are there any tell tale signs of th e4 speed tip box about to give up the ghost?

Lenny

FTO's are as reliable as the next car if looked after correctly as reguards the tip box yes they are a little on the week side hence the 5sp in later years, but i was doing a 120 mile a day round trip to work and managed to drive for over two years doing that sort of mileage before my box gave up the ghost but i think that was down to me using dextron II as a stop gap till i could source dextron III i guess i should have waited but thats easy to say after the problem. Anyway don't be put off by a tiptronic, yes the manuals are that bit better and more powerfull but nothing can beat the tip for long distance driving.

Daz...