its a bit like squashed V4 is how i look at it, the spark plugs look like a right ball ache to get to!

 

You should read a bit further where I say "I always get my decent cars fully serviced", so suit yourself

Tony

 

I honestly don't have a clue what you are talking about?

 

 

Scoobs are high maintenance cars, the cambelt will scare you its about twice as long as a normal cambelt, but if you have not serviced one of these before, you nay get a shock
Diffs and gearbox are every 2 years, cambelt is 3 years, oil changes every 6 months (ensuring the filter is filled or this can lead to problems), so a ramp is needed for a few bits, and you have to remove a few bits to get the spark plugs out, the cooling system can suffer issues as the plastic hardens an certain parts leading to leaks, they are fikkle things.
But you will need to get the car fully inspected at a garage, with nearly 100k on the clock there will be things you will have to replace that's a little harder than just brakes

Tony

 

If there as high maintainance and fikkle as you say, why do so many people say they are great and really reliable?

 

Because if you do everything right then they are reliable but you have to keep on top of the maintenance and they can be fikkle things if you dont (normally the big end bearing) goes, costing you a packet to fix (around 2.5k).

For example, my car did all of 1k in the last 6 months, but she still had an oil change (she had everything done shortly after I purchased her, all belts, oils, coolant, plugs etc), and she runs sweet as a nut but there are cars out there that are not kept up to standard (you only need look on here and you see 3-4 posts a month when someone comes on after buying a real sh1tter and the engine goes pop after 50 miles and you wonder why ) so maintain regardless and yes, reliable, but it is still an older car and age does take its toll (though 2 of the 3 scoobs I have owned have been brand new )

Tony