The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

The Number One Club for owners of Triumph's range of small saloons from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 8:23 pm

All times are UTC




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:27 pm 
I'm asking on behalf of my sister, does anyone know any known problems with them?

Steve :D


Top
   
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 9:48 pm 
Offline
TDC Events Officer
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2006 4:50 pm
Posts: 5723
Location: Next to my Computer
You mean the:

Image

?

The one after that is the Mk6.

Since the Mk5 is more or less the same as the Mk4, which I have, I'll wade in.

It's a good driver's car (lift off oversteer is easy to find) but it's compromised by being a Mk3 fiesta with new body panels (the boots and doors interchange, as do the dashboards I believe) so you don't get a flat folding rear seat, the whole car is quite low, and the driving position isn't fantastic. Also you will be looking at the same old rust issues (rear arches, A-pillar).

Engine wise, the 1.3 is the worst (it's the old kent engine) as it is low powered and quite thirsty. The pick will be the 1.4 but the 1.25 will still be nice, just not so good on the motorway.

the big problem with them is that the bulkhead has the wiring loom passing through it vertically, which allows water to pool, and then leak into the footwell. I ended up with half an inch of standing water after leaving the car facing the wrong way for a few days. This can be sorted with a bit of mastic but I'm lazy.


Top
   
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:01 pm 
A mate of mine had a 1.6 ghia mk5. It was very quick but the rear arches started rusting, it was only 6 years old. Nice little car though.


Top
   
PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 11:23 pm 
A friend of mine ran one for a couple of years with no problems. I drove it a few times and it was a little cracker, great fun. I'd always assumed it had the Yamaha engine from the way it drove and i was gobsmacked when she asked me to check the oil and I found an Endura (kent) in it. She drives a 1970 Morris 1300 now


Top
   
PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:51 am 
Thanks for that all, I'll pass it on.

Steve :D


Top
   
PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 3:26 pm 
Offline
TDC Staffs Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:08 pm
Posts: 5429
Location: The Old Asylum
Great little cars in 1.25 form just keep the rear arches clean and they are pretty good. Way better than a Corsa.

_________________
Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:10 pm 
I also run a MK 4 Fiesta like Dave,

Great little cars, mine is the 1.25 Zetec LX so it has power steering, central locking etc etc

The mk5 isn't much different to the MK4 apart from the bumpers, front lights and some interior peices.

Rear wheel archs can be a problem but if wash it properly then you wont get and problems, mud etc gets up there so when you wash it scrape all the crap out with your fingers....you will be supprised!! same at the bottom of the archs where the drain hole is, clean it out and it'l be fine, mine is 11 years old now and with no rust on the archs at all!!

Front wishbones can be a problem and can last from 6 months or years...just depends how you drive it, dont hit speed bumps to hard etc, they did modify them for the MK5 though, also check that the factory fitted rear metal brake pipes have been changed as this is a comman fault, mine needed doing, the following year Vons need doing and her car is a year younger than nine

rear suspenion on the MK4 is quite soft and can be a paroblem with four up and a boot full, again think this was changes on the MK5

Engines are great...well the 1.25 is, motorway speeds are fine, strange you use less fuel cruising at 80mph than at 70mph, must be something to do with power/weight ratio!! Keep it below 3500rpm and you will save fuel as its at this rpm that the 16v kick in...great if you need a very quick pull off!! iv had mine 7 years, covered around 50000miles and not (fingers crossed) had any problems with it, if it has AC the 1.25 struggles with power when swiched on!!

Interiors are good but rear leg room as a bit of a squash, boot space is good but the triumphs swollow more....

Overall a good everyday car, there comfy, good around town and on motorways, iv had mine for 7 years, von has had hers for about 5 now and there is going strong, you only need to see how many are on the roads today!!

This is mine this year a chester Zoo

Image

Image

Nathan


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:19 pm 
Thanks for that Nathan, car looks great by the way.

Steve :D


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:26 pm 
Offline
Future Club member hopefully!
Future Club member hopefully!
User avatar

Joined: Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:33 pm
Posts: 4727
Location: hampshire
Diane buys and sells the odd car and these are sooooooooo easy to sell I agree with most of what has been said.
However some of them rattle at the front and a garage will happily replace the wishbones for you at great expense :wary: but the culprit is the antirollbar bushes that are poly and the bar rattles in them I just place a thin strip of alloy to distort bush and bingo success.

_________________
track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:56 pm 
Quote:
the culprit is the antirollbar bushes that are poly and the bar rattles in them I just place a thin strip of alloy to distort bush and bingo success.
Agree, we were quoted £100 to fix this, von went to have then done and the price shot to £150 (woman on her own etc etc) anyway went and bought then for £14 the pair and fitted them in just over an hour (never done them before) and job done!!

Nathan


Top
   
PostPosted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 4:59 pm 
Offline
TDC Staffs Area Organiser
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 2:08 pm
Posts: 5429
Location: The Old Asylum
They only sorted out the bushes on the last gen Fiesta having finally got it right on the Focus. Modeo, Escort and Fiesta etc are all heavy on fron bushes but they're cheap enough I suppose.

_________________
Mark

1961 Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier Sportswagon
1980 Dolomite Sprint project using brand new shell
2009 Mazda MX5 2.0 Sport
2018 Infiniti Q30


Top
   
PostPosted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 11:02 pm 
our 'twig' has recently purchased whats probably a mk 6 then, 51 plate 1.25 zetec, thats a nippy little motor, i tell thee, for what it is. should give my tolo a good run i reckon, not that i would condone street racing of course.

stepdaughter has the mk 5, again, a good little motor. was a bit of a duffer when bought, because i wasnt in the loop, oh well, that'll teach em. seized caliper piston, shortly resulting in fried clutch and of course replacement caliper, but people who were built with a brain would have figured that during and after a proper test drive, or if not built with a brain, got someone with one fitted to come along. still, all sorted, and a very nice runabout/commuter for her.

...pending death by lack of use and proper maintenance. :lol:


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 12 posts ] 

All times are UTC


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Amazon [Bot] and 15 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited