Renamed... Will's boring car blog

[willswitchengage]

Tomorrow this will be getting an MOT extension to March 2014:

 

P1030983 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

It's getting a new coil spring, some floorpan welding and a new petrol filler cap (apparently a bathplug just doesn't cut it these days).

 

It also has tax until August, was owned by an elderly couple for 22 years until they cleared out the garage and I bought it, and has comprehensive FDSH (40 stamps in the book and an extensive folder and handy "servicing diary").

 

Further statistics:

 

+ It's covered 143000 miles.

+ It was graced with a new timing belt, tensioner, engine oil and coolant flush at 140,000 miles, when I bought it (had only left their shed to get MOTs for a few years).

+ It had a new battery in 2011.

+ Everything else has been done on the dot by a Subaru/tractor merchant in Newbury.

+ On average, I'd say the tyres are at about 50%.

+ The rear demist and foglight don't work, everything else does.

+ It's had sewn in seat covers on until I bought it, so the seats are like new. They're still on in the back, but are tatty. Take them off and you will have shiny new seats, I just don't have many friends.

+ For some reason the back is quite tatty with missing bits of trim, the front is fine.

+ The exterior is generally dent and scratch free.

+ It's been heavily undersealed but the battle against rust is ongoing. There's bubbling around both rear arches, the MOT man has seen to the worst for now.

+ I'll add more infos/pictures when it's sunny and I can be bothered.

 

I'm looking for £500, when I've got a new car, which brings me onto...

 

Well, the Subaru is dependable, nippy and fairly frugal, but a bit boring and just too small. I'd like something estate/large hatch, ideally diesel. Blue sky thinking suggests Montego, Maestro, 740, 240, W123, BX, 405, Savannah, XM to name but a few that make it into my daily ebay hunt. I need it by mid-March for a road trip, otherwise the Subaru stays. Current contenders from the "favourites" list:

 

+ The practical choice. Ticks all boxes.

- It won't get the ladies excited downstairs.

 

+ Simply a stunner, unique opportunity. Bargain classic.

- It's not a daily, and will break down lots. Probably.

 

+ Cavernous load carrier. Stylish. Need the roof bars for kayaks, bikes, illegal immigrants and that.

- No history. Bit pricey for a 6 month MOT and no tax, will be shit on fuel. Probably stolen.

 

+ I'd like to one day own an XM.

- high insurance group, it will break down lots. Sadly not an estate.

 

+ The ideal tool for the brief.

- It's not actually for sale.

 

Realistically I'll probably settle for the 405, but any advice/offers/ebay finds would be appreciated. Maybe make a sneaky offer on the Accord too. Maybe...

[Timewaster]

will break down lots. Probably.

 

No it wont, its a Honda!

 

I'd still have the 405 though.

[hairnet]

honda will be gr12 but body stuff might be hard to find if you share the roads with blind nob jockeys

 

405 all day bx hmmm (least its a late one- whatya mean its not for sale?)

[warren t claim]

You need a Kia Sportage and a session with the lovely Celeste.

[dollywobbler]

Hold on. Surely the lil' Subaru must have a working rear fog light if it's got fresh ticket on it?

 

I'm in no place to make vehicle recommendations as my small, economical hatchback appears to be large, fuel-swilling and saloon-shaped.

[Lacquer Peel]

SWOP 4 XANTIA TD ESTATE?

[skattrd]

If i wasn't at shite overload I'd suggest a deal with my S80 diesel, but I need to reduce numbers, not just the size of the cars

 

I'd be looking at the XM if I was you mate

[wuvvum]

I honestly don't think that diesel 740 is overpriced at £450 - those things are rare and hold their money pretty well. They're also quite pokey and sound nice for a diesel, and they're a lot more economical than a pez 740, alhough still not wonderful by diesel standards. I bought a diesel 940 estate a few years back for a road trip down to the south of France to collect some assorted crap from my parents' loft / garage, and it was brilliant.

[Junkman]

...bx hmmm (least its a late one- whatya mean its not for sale?)

 

It means I cannot let it go before the end of March.

[willswitchengage]

They're dropping like flies! It turns out the lovely Peugeot isn't for sale either. It was nice though of the seller to reply to my polite message instead of just taking the advert down. Egalitarianism.

 

This looks very nice too, but has a few more miles and a few less taxes for £1000.

 

 

Car hunting is shit...

[messerschmitt owner]

Can you cope with an estate Xm auto in petrol variety. I may know someone who would perhaps do a px on a justy.

[willswitchengage]

Think I've found what I want now so here are some pictures of the Subaru that I've taken today:

 

NB as you can see from the state of the drive it does leak oil (part of it though is a spill when I was changing it - sorry environment people ). There's a small leak through the dizzy cap, haven't needed to top it up for 2000 miles though so I would hardly call it debilitating. Weirdly, two distributor seals are the only "spares" I have, though...

 

P1040324 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040325 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040326 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040327 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040328 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040329 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040330 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040331 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040332 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040333 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040334 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040335 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040336 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040337 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

P1040338 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

It retains the full set of original wheeltrims (albeit quite badly kerbed), the parcel shelf and seat belt covers which I removed for more boot space.

 

Location: Reading

[willswitchengage]

I think the silence says "no one gives a shit stop spamming and self-promoting" but due to lack of interest here the Subaru is now on ebay.

[skattrd]

I'll break the silence then ...

The car looks great and I'd love a Justy for the OMGSNOKAOS, but am currently skint/at tat overload.

A rather large and heavy footed mate of mine had one, and loved it. It was always given lots of abuse and the little thing just kept going, they're gr9 little cars.

[Station]

I love that, someone buy my Sunny!

[Station]

Btw, 'is this 4wd'? Some were only 2wd

[oman5]

This any good? I'd come to some sort of deal for the justy

 

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16112

[Lacquer Peel]

Btw, 'is this 4wd'? Some were only 2wd

 

It's 4WD.

I'm pretty sure all UK Justys are 4WD.

I've seen a 2WD ECVT on eBay UK, but it was some weird grey import, and 1.0 2WD models in Cyprus.

[Guest]

How much do you want to spend?

 

How about the following?

 

2001 Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon Veloce, 2.5 V6 petrol. 73,000 miles, cam belts done at 72,000, MoT to November 2013. Silver, light tan Momo leather, sixteen inch clover leaf alloys, almost new Michelin Primacy tyres, tow bar. Looks clean. No rust apparent.

 

Known defects: Minor scratches at loading area. Minor parking scuff on nearside flank. One front foglamp busted. Fusebox cover loose. Aircon needs a re-gas. Red Key and handbook/service book present, with stamps for all services.

 

If interested, I cam post photies tomorrow.

[willswitchengage]

Thanks for all the offers gents but its replacement was bought today, will proper post tomorrow when I'm a bit more alert and I can take a lovely photo.

[messerschmitt owner]

There was also the Xm estate option and a swap with cash.

[willswitchengage]

Oh fuck I forgot to reply to your message, sincere apologies, but no, as generous at it was, the proposition of a big petrol auto was probably still a little rich for me.

[messerschmitt owner]

Oh fuck I forgot to reply to your message, sincere apologies, but no, as generous at it was, the proposition of a big petrol auto was probably still a little rich for me.

No need to apologise. Lol

 

 

Glws

[willswitchengage]

Oh yeah, the new car...

 

P1040416 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Can you guess what it is yet?

 

It's a TXD, which I think is slightly lower specced than my old TGS, and has the ubiquitous XUD9 engine.

 

Slower than I expected but comfortably sat at 70 on the way home, and impressively the fuel needle managed to not move from "brimmed" for the duration of the 80 mile drive. Lots of slack in the accelerator cable which involved much fuel pump meddling this afternoon to make it what it should be.

 

Average miles 120,000, a few old receipts (fortunately with a recent-ish timing belt) and a brand new clutch and pressure regulator, apparently. Quite "pushy" but nice seller from the BXClub who managed to overlook a whole zoo of problems in the advert:

 

+ LHM is Julian-Assanging from a few places

+ Rain coming inside

+ No radio, broken glovebox

+ Inside it's really very untidy and smelly

 

Not the end of the world by any means, but hey ho I was given some free diesel and roof bars as a sweetener. Desperately needed an oil change though so that was task one, as shown in the above picture (not a great car photographer, me)

 

Incidentally I did try to buy that lovely Subaru Leone that was on ebay last week. Rang up the seller twice on Monday and Tuesday offering him an e-deposit if I bought it blind, on both occasions he said "no it's yours just come down on Saturday". So I rings him on Friday to confirm the arrangements "oh yeah it's been sold, bye", so thanks a lot John "prick" from Newton Abbott.

[Jim Bell]

^ Noice.

[Lacquer Peel]

That does look smart.

 

N/a diesels take a while to get used to, especially if you're used to a free revving small petrol engine.

[KruJoe]

The BX looks well in that pic. Enjoy it!

 

Justy now ont'bay:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190805859212? ... 1438.l2649

 

I'm sure it'll sell at that, with SNO KAOS still fresh in punters' memories. GLWS etc.

[willswitchengage]

P1040419 by willswitchengage, on Flickr

 

Roof racks for the win. Gratuitous photo of "the fleet", rusting in the rain, hopefully get some shiny newer ones of the BX soon as tomorrow it's being run in with an 1000 mile roadtrip to Fort Willy and back with the local FUCK YEAH outward bounds massive.

[catsinthewelder]

That looks pretty smart

 

Good to have you back in the BX fold

[dollywobbler]

I somehow missed this thread entirely. I suspect you're underselling it with the title!

 

Congrats on the BX purchase. I think any cheap car is likely to come with undisclosed issues - by the time you've listed all possible minor faults, you've lost the will to live.

 

Rain coming in will be either blocked sunroof drain tubes (very common - blow out with compressed air ideally) or knackered door seals. These can be a bugger to trace, but any nicks in the seal are a clue that water might be getting in. Is very possible for rear door seals to leak into the front footwell and vice versa. Glovebox lid can be repaired in a very classy manner. Or like this.

 

 

Actually, don't repair it like that. It's rubbish. (thankfully not my work!)