TRANSMISSION

Whether it’s the earlier four-speed or post-September 1983 five-speed, the 2.8i’s ‘box is strong. If hard use and age have affected it, the signs are a sloppy shift, tired synchromesh, jumping out of gear and rumbling bearings.The same symptoms also apply to the manual gearbox of other V6 versions. C3 auto gives few issues, but check for a reluctance to select third gear and oil leaks from the front where the torque convertor is.The doughnut coupling between the auto ’box and propshaft breaks up over time, the telltale being a vibration through the gearlever.