The 12v engine is stronger than the 24v. The 24v has a single row timing chain that lasts at best 100,000 miles. The 12v has a duplex chain, and usually last the life of the engine.

What Car test figures from 1988:

177 Bhp, 177 lb/ft
0 > 60 : 7.8 seconds
Max speed: 142 mph

I have had two 12v's now and they are so much fun you wouldn't believe it.

Yes, the 24v may be marginally the better car, but there is far more to go wrong (head gaskets for instance) and the 12v is so simple to maintain, I know where my money would go (and has gone)

My first one: Bought for £275 in need of an MOT.



My second one (Bought a week ago for about £300 with a years MOT. It now has alloys on it too and the awful black indicators will be going soon.)



Just do it: You won't regret it.


[Edited by Steve V8 - 10/7/2003 10:58:00 PM]

 

Hi all

Thinking of buying a 12 valve carlton gsi as a cheap replacement for the lancia and I am trying to find out specs for the 12 valve such as power, 0-60, does it have a LSD etc. Does anyone know about these cars or know anyone who does please?

Thanks

Paul

 

The 24v version has an LSD, the 12valve doesn't.

I think on the 12v its about 8.9 to 60, and it tops out at 148mph.

To be honest mate, you can pick up some quite cheap GSi3000 24v's with the half leather and fully specced up LSD and sports suspension. There are a couple on Ebay that seem well sorted for only £700!

Try www.autobahnstormers.co.uk, what they don't know, no-one does

And there are a few 24v Carltons in there for sale I seem to remember.

 

according to the brochures i had for a 12 valve they had the lsd, i bought one registered 29.5.87, no lsd, just assumed the early ones missed out
mark

 

I am going to look at it on saturday sounds like cheap, fast luxury

 

Anyone else know anything about these before I go and look tomorrow please?

Ta

 

The police still reckon the Senator was the best motorway patrol car ever -- and the Carlton is basically a Senator with a few different panels. If plod like 'em, you can bet they are pretty strong cars

 

Basically:

-Check inside the oil filler cap for black sludge.
-Check the sills and rear arches (especially under the bodykit). Most will be suffering from some corrosion there, but repair panels are cheap and not difficult to do.
-Check for excessive backlash in the transmission (when you put the power on do you get a noticeable amount of slack taken up.
-Make sure the digital dash all works OK.
-Check inside the engine bay right at the back corners by the wipers and scuttle. There are drain holes here and they frequently block up with dirt and can flood some of the electrics. The ignition control module is mounted there and is susceptible. All it neesds is for you to stick a long screwdriver down the hole every once in a while to clean it out. Problem solved.
-Headlamps are very expensive to replace (£200 ish). However you can get lenses for about £25.
-Check the fuel tank for obvious leaks. These can fail around the seams.
-Propshaft centre bearing support rubber can wear and collapse. (About £22 from Vauxhall with the mounting bracket.)
-Pattern exhausts are more expensive than genuine ones bought through the Vauxhall trade club. A tailbox with chrome tailpipe is only about £35. The two centre pipes about £35 each.


This may look like a lot, but the fact is the Carlton GSi is a very strong car. I recommend them without hesitation.

My current one has 149,000 miles on it and the engine still sounds sweet.



[Edited by Steve V8 - 10/10/2003 5:05:27 PM]

 

My Uncle had a 12v Senator for years, before chopping it in for an Omega. He took the Omega back after two days & got his Senator back.

I only ever went in it a few times, but I always loved it, fantastic luxurious ride, went like stink & depreciated in a way that a Mercedes couldn't if it tried

BTW: 3000 12v - 160bhp, 24v - 204bhp

[Edited by CrisPDuk - 10/10/2003 5:06:23 PM]

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I will bear all of this in mind when I take a look

 

I had the Carlton 24V before the Scoob. There is a big difference between the 12V and the 24V, I recall that one of the magazine reviews when the 24V came out was entitled 'What a difference a heart transplant makes'.

I was always staggered at the distance mine would go on a full tank: on a long trip something like 600 miles before filling up !
(mind you, it is a big tank - 85 litres IIRC !)

 

I bought it at the weekend and it's a great car This one does apear to have an LSD too It has a couple of niggling faults to fix but is otherwise great

Paul

 

How much did you get it for Paul?

Get ready for tail-wagging at roundabouts

 

I paid £300 for it

Here it is

The tail has already done quite a bit of wagging and I am hoping for rain later

Paul

[Edited by paulpalmer - 10/13/2003 2:32:43 PM]

 

bargain motoring- just make sure you get a steering lock for it to deter the local toe-rags! They are very easy to steal- ideal for some pissed up ned to use as a free taxi on a Saturday night.

 

Nacro

Fortunately I live a mile and a half from town so I don't get any trouble where I live and it looks like a decent immobiliser on there.

Paul

 

Nice

I remember when Car did a LTT on one, they commented that not many cars can carry 5 people & luggage at 140mph on the autoroute ... nice one!

 

might have to try that

 

It's quite rare to have the analogue dash in a GSi. (It was a no cost delete option).

Looks good though.

(My new one now it has it's proper alloys on, and I removed the black paint on the indicators yesterday )

 

Bloody hell Paul, just had a close look at the pics, the interior's in good shape for a £300 motor! Got yerself a bargain there, guv'nor

 

Damn, wish I hadn't bought my £300 205 xs now...

 

UPDATE

I just got it back from the MOT centre and it only failed on the windscreen being cracked and I knew about that and had already sorted out the insurance to get it done the guy reckons it's a really good car

Paul

Thanks for the comments

 

NICE ONE BRUVVA!!!
astraboy.