Just how many of these things do the Autoshite collective currently own? Got to be over half a dozen. Why are they so popular, apart from the fact they are cheap?
Here’s mine that I purchased from @DaveDorson at the beginning of May. 2001 facelift 230 manual, 150k miles and like @Rod/b it’s resplendent in dog dick red. A fiscally prudent way to have my midlife crisis.
Dave had done a fair bit sorting ball joints, brakes and tyres so it drives really well. Steering is a bit inert compared to an MX-5 but that’s to be expected given it’s a cut-down C Class, and the gearchange is horrible (but I appreciate manuals are rare).
I’m dailying it at the moment (and have done about 1500 miles so far) and it goes like a stabbed rat when you prod it yet will do 35mpg with restraint.
Since buying it I’ve serviced it (oil filter £3, air filter £7, spark plugs £10 a set etc), replaced the belts, replaced the bonnet with a non-rusty one, repaired the bootlid rust (badly), replaced a rear wheel and tyre because the original was buckled ( my fault, Dave did warn me), repainted the mirrors (badly), and patched up the torn driver’s seat (badly).
Next job is to reactivate the air conditioning - I’ve a new condenser and receiver dryer to fit when I have some spare time. I’ll flush the coolant while I’m at it.
The only real fault it has is water leaks onto the seats directly beneath the windscreen header and roof join, although I discovered some drain holes in the A pillars which were clogged with dirt so hopefully that’s sorted. But if anyone else has suffered and solved this, let me know.
Over to the other (current and former) owners!