Mash Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I have 6 cars ranging from 1967 to 1985, each has a specific reason for being in my fleet though the Sunny and Accord are a bit of a duplication at present.The issue I have is that all 6 of them require something doing either mechanically, bodily or both. Contrary to appearances I'm not the most handy person when it comes to diagnosing engine faults or fixing them and I'm at a bit of a low ebb at the moment because I can't decide what to do first. Added to which, I don't have a lot of time due to work.Now, the sunny has developed a rattle whn it warms up that dad thinks could be a little end and it heats up fairly rapidly even when not in traffic. The Mazda also needs some fettling and the Accord is SORNED waiting for me to do something with the suspension.The hypocritical part comes now; I saw a Proton Satria Neo the other day in that orangey-copper colour with some really smart black alloys and I tought it looked the bollox. I now find myself standing in the drive staring at my tat and having impure thoughts about the Proton....I think I need help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratdat Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Like this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Lobster Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I've been in that position too. Looking at all the tat around you, seeing what needs doing and then seeing something newish that you could just get in and use. It is quite tempting.I actually succumbed to this temptation about 12 years ago, got rid of my lovely but costly R11 TXE and bought a six month old Citroen AX Diesel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm trying to counteract this by having cars in reserve. My goal this year is to have everything in a usable condition with an MOT, then if the Galant daily throws a tantrum I'll have a load of other stuff I can stick a tax disc on. I made this decision before the Accord turned up so I haven't decided whether that is included yet, but I'm pressing on with the other stuff. I've probably made more progress with cars this year so far than all of last year put together! Even if I don't achieve my goal, at least it'll have done the fleet some good I guess.One thing that might help you Mash - it sometimes helps to push something into use that isn't quite "ready". A good example of this in my case was the Cuore, it was sat in my driveway on SORN whilst I was busy doing other stuff, but then the Galant threw a bit of a strop and I needed something else to use as a daily quick! I had the parts all ready for the Cuore but just not fitted (needed discs/pads and a few small things for test) so I had it sent over to the garage on a flatbed and about £100 (plus a tax disc) later I had myself a daily again. It still needed a few further things like a service and a freshen up, but I sorted all that over the course of a few weeks. After that I wondered why I'd left it so long, as I could have done all of that yonks ago.I'm sure you can blitz one of your cars in the same way, just pretend that the Sunny is totally knackered and you need another daily quick! No need for new Protons man! Wait until they're £200 like I have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Station Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'd say get rid of a few and buy the 'new' car. That's what I'm in process of doing now.It's really refreshing and a huge weight off my mind knowing that I don't have fart about with something that I don't really want for another year or more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Just 6?Where's the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket88 Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm in the process of have a clear out. El Dorado is on ebay, and has reached reserve, Scimitar has gone, BX has deposit received, Merc is going to the auction, which leaved with a '79 Buick Regal Turbo, and a 2002 Ocatvia 1.9 tdi to get rid of. I'm replacing iall of them with the Saab, and frees up some cash for any fettling that needs doing to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompei Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I had a clearout a couple of years back, although at the behest of The Fuhrer So now gone are the GS, CX, CRX, Fiat 127, 440 and Alfasud. The sale proceeds were minimal but helped keep the lupine from the door when I lost my job 18 months ago.The 500 almost went last month to my mate and may well still have to go to feed the Fuhrer's debt habit. When I got a new job, I did what I said I'd never do and hocked myself up with a used Lexarse. I do about 2 - 2500 miles a month for work and need something reliable and fairly civilised. Whilst I really do miss all the old shitters I had, there is certainly less stress in having one car that you know is going to start in the morning and not haunt you with strange noises during an important journey. Life is perhaps less exciting now, but I've got enough on at the moment without creating more hassle for myself especially with The Fuhrer to whom they were just glorified scrap.Having said all that, the Lex costs me far too much each month and is going to go shortly on the Paid 50% Hand It Back scheme and I'm going to be looking for something a lot cheaper ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I hate owning too many cars. At one stage (in Edinburgh) I had amassed six with off-road parking for only two and a third in a mates garage. Only one legal one - Mk3 Fiesta - with a tidy Mk2 Fiesta taxed and parked up on the street uninsured and another totally unroadworthy one sitting behind it fitted with false Channel Island plates (never ever got pulled up for that one). Living in a cul-de-sac on a quiet-ish estate helped though I tried never to leave anything untaxed on the public highway if at all possible. Nearly got into the most awful mess with it all and reality set in one day so in the space of a relatively short space of time I sold the mk3 Fiesta, insured the tidy mk2 then put it back on the road, sold that, pulled my Escort out of storage and through a test, moved the one in matey's garage to the Escort's lock-up (still there), broke up the one on false plates and got the hell out of Scotland leaving in storage the sixth one which hasn't moved in the four years since acquiring it - sooner or later the cost of keeping that will doutbless sink in and I'll end up getting rid of that too!Was in danger of going down the same path again last year, had three cars on my parents drive, but have managed to sell two and the third one is now garaged elsewhere. Have so far managed to resist purchasing extra tat despite cheap Volvo estates tempting me everywhere I look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shite_meister Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Think alot of us are in the same position-I also have seven cars and instead of having one car and doing lots of work to it I have seven cars and fuck-all gets done to all of them. I keep telling myself that I'll offload a few to colc ( )However if you find that you need something a bit more modern or reliable then sure a 'modern' is a sound idea but make sure you have some shite put by, do not EVER be tempted to cash in all of your shite for this will lead to regret resulting in late night ebay tat-buying purchasing and that as we have all witnessed is a slipery slope to shite addiction. If you only have a modern car you will get bored of it very very quickly trust me I did the same some years ago and although the modern dross I had was entertaining enough it was just too dull there was nothing that you could upgrade or repair cheaply and repairing something no matter if its something very minor like the ashtray opening action is very satisfying is it not?The way I look at is is like this, some of my fleet are long termers, they're with me for the duration so these beauties are just biding their time and waiting for the big day when I spunk lots of wage packets on them, untill then I do little things here and there to each of them as and when finances allow and just make sure they drive and stretch their legs once in a while.Just keep telling yourself that it could be worse...you could be Mister Bickle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigel bickle Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Indeed.There is no hope,alas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r.welfare Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 It's sometimes a tough job to keep motivated, depending on how much of a perfectionist you are. When I had 6 cars on the go I felt that no weekend or summer evening could pass without at least an hour's fettling being done to try and improve one or more of the fleet's mechanical or bodywork condition. It got a bit much and now I'm down to one car it suits my personal circumstances (that have changed somewhat since the 6-car days, with a 9-month old baby in the house!) that much better. But I properly salute those individuals who have several motors and derive much enjoyment from it; I'm currently eyeing my empty garage as I type (as my PC resides where the workshop used to) and thinking hmm, another 70s car would be nice...I've never been tempted by a Satria Neo, orange paintwork or not, mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallyloud Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 I regularly face the same issues, I'm ok with basic stuff but incapable of ratdat/bo11okesque total commitment in a short time. It might take forever, but I would stick with them - its amazing what you can pick up when you have a go yourself - I make mistakes but thats how you learn - and besides when you screw things up get a mate to help out. I'm dealing with each car bit by bit. As for the Proton, while not common, I'm sure you won't get the same interaction, enjoyment and smugness you have when driving something you worked on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pandamonium Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 Buy a new Proton, then when it has depreciated to £300, I'll buy it off you. In fact, I'll give you my phone number now, as I don't plan on getting a new phone in the next 6 months! Seriously though, a nice reliable , low mileage J car can be purchased cheaply enough, and you get the best of both worlds. My 929 is just that - I just keep on top of the little jobs so they don't amass to a huge problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompei Posted May 13, 2009 Share Posted May 13, 2009 You probably live too near to the Proton dealer You neeed to move west .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mash Posted May 14, 2009 Author Share Posted May 14, 2009 You probably live too near to the Proton dealer You neeed to move west .... LOL it is just in the next village actually...!Had a bit of a think last night and the best thing seems to be to get stuck in and get all three 80s cars up to scratch, that is to say all potentially could be saleable with no problems. By rights I only need one of these and I need to come up with the pros and cons of each one. I would say my B11 Sunny will definitely go but I'd like to keep hold of the Mazda as it's a lot of fun and the most practical being a hatch. The Accord is probably the best car overall out of the three but I'd need to see if I can justify keeping a summer and winter ride.TBH buying a new car was never really an option - in order to fund the loan or finance I'd have to stop eating for the forseeable future. Alternatively spending 4 grand on something three years old is an option but I've driven all kinds of modern boxes for work and they bore me to tears "Ordinary" people tell me this is what I should do Spending some time and say 500 quid getting the shitters on top form is probably fairly sensible. That way I'd have a totally reliable, slightly obscure daily and recoup some cash back from a sale or two. You never know, next year might throw up a low mileage Honda Quintet in the next village and that'll solve all my problems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now