Swap "The Pond". Shite Car Swap Shop

[Alan_Green]

I've been meaning to start a thread entitled "Let's Get Organised" or something like that since I started reading this forum. I think most people on here are like me and get the shakes if they've not bought a car in a while. You buy something and you feel normal at first but then the symptoms start and you find yourself spending hours scouring Ebay/Gumtree/Autotrader when you should be working...sleeping...looking after the baby. Then you end up with a fleet of old cars at the same time to feed your habit. At my peak I had 8 cars in 4 countries and there are so many crap cars out there I'd still like to try.

 

The cars for sale on here are so cheap that the sale price hardly matters. It's the insurance, road tax, and time & effort in getting rid of the old one and collecting the new one that counts.  So, why not have a "Pond" of shite cars people can dip in and out of?  Here's the plan:

• Buy some tat like that £400 Glasgow Jag or £300 Saab 900 or £350 Lada Samara. Just anything that no longer depreciates.
• Take out insurance with Aviva or Direct Line or another company that doesn't charge admin fees for changing vehicles if done online.
• When you've had your fun offer it up in "The Pond". E.G. "Volvo 440 WLTM something sporty".  The same photos & description could be used over and over again. Maybe using the Garage feature.
• Co-ordinate with the other swapper so the swap takes place on the 1st of the month (as far as the paperwork is concerned) so no one loses money on Road Tax.
• Meet the other swapper in a cafe at the half-way point between your two homes. That way you can be pretty sure both cars will make it back. Swap keys and V5s over a cuppa. Use the cafe wifi to swap insurance. If there is a big difference in values hand over some cash. Triangular swaps, chain swaps, and meet-ups would also work.  
• Short term loans and then swapping back would also work. It hardly matters that there are extra owners on the V5s with these kind of cars.
• Stick the vehicle back in "The Pond" again when you get the shakes and fancy a change. Or you need a van for that removal. Or a convertible for the winter.

So a continual supply of ever changing shite cars for minimal cost and effort. Sounds like heaven to me, and think of all the work I could get through if I wasn't looking at Ebay all day long. For starters I quite fancy trying one of those boxy Volvos since I started reading this forum. 240s/850s/760s or whatever they are called. Don't think they need a bunch of different names. Or a tatty Rover P6.

 

So, any appetite for "The Pond"?

[sporty-shite]

Top idea. Would it also work for partially dismantled Celicas?

[Negative Creep]

Good idea, hope it takes off. The y10 needs a new home, yours for a £120 refundable deposit!

[Jimblob]

Like the idea let's do it

[JohnK]

I would have a bash at this.

[purplebargeken]

Hmmm, good idea!

[beko1987]

Happy to swap my ZX for something Xantia/rover/old and deiselly!

[Junkman]

Does anyone want to swap a shagged knob van that doesn't belong to me for a Renault 16?

 

Thought so...

[Negative Creep]

I'd consider swapping the 406 coupe for something. Would need to be Focus size or above and, because I'm a soft southern fairy, have working air con

[Jollyfckr]

Hello everyone, some may remember me as Torsten.

My name is now Jollyfckr and I have a problem...too many cars, happy to swap:

2002 Volvo S60, 2.0T 150,000 miles, cam belt done, MOT Nov

2001 Citroen Picasso diesel, 180,000 miles, MOT June

1998 Mercedes E240 & seat Estate, 106,000 miles, MOT Mar

Prob'ly more! Anything considered

[daveb47]

Were you once Torsten2001?

If so i can either merge both accounts using either username or recover your login details for torsten2001 if you wish.

[garbaldy]

Does anyone want to swap a shagged knob van that doesn't belong to me for a Renault 16?

 

Thought so...

Would left hand drive be alright for you?

[Billy SR]

Anyone got anything to swap for a 2000 Toyota Corolla? It's the VVTI SR model in black with 102k on the clock. MOT until July, but I could put a year on it next month. Tyres are only a few months old and it had goodyears all around Only problem is its suffering from the infamous vvti rattle, which doesn't affect the way it drives just idles a little high on startup and makes a bit of a tapping sound at higher revs. Anyone who knows these engines knows that its a common problem. Any oil burning problems from the one time it burn through quickly seem to have rectified themselves since I did a flush and service around 4000 miles ago as i've had no problems since. MPG consumption is great for a 1.6 16v due to the 6 speed gearbox. The electric sunroof is awesome, but the air con doesn't work.

[Twiggy]

An excellent idea !

[Alan_Green]

 

Hello everyone, some may remember me as Torsten.

My name is now Jollyfckr and I have a problem...too many cars, happy to swap:

2002 Volvo S60, 2.0T 150,000 miles, cam belt done, MOT Nov

2001 Citroen Picasso diesel, 180,000 miles, MOT June

1998 Mercedes E240 & seat Estate, 106,000 miles, MOT Mar

Prob'ly more! Anything considered

Carlo wants to try a Volvo S60 according to the post below. I've already scratched that itch. The dimensions of the S40 and S80 are all wrong, but the S60 is just right.

Cars I'd like to sample currently are Mercedes W202/W203 C Class, early Volvo S60 and older Subaru Legacys.

 

[Alan_Green]

Right, I've refined this idea.  It's going to work and it's going to be great. But for me it'll be a winter sport. Here's the plan. Others might find it useful.

 

I have an '82 Mazda Montrose 626 Coupe. It's currently on a classic policy for £95. When it comes up for renewal I'll take out a normal Aviva car policy instead for £188.  Then on the 1st of Nov I'll SORN the 626 ...buy some tat...swap the insurance over (for free)...then swap once per month until Spring.   

 

So if everyone currently selling Audi A8's, LPG Discos and boxy Volvo's could just hold off for 5 months that'd be great and I'll buy/swap them all one by one. Just wish I'd thought this through 6 months ago.

[Rocket88]

To stick some jump leads on this thread, anyone got anything they'd like to trade for a Rav 4 [OMGSNOKAOS approaching.........!]

[gadgetgricey]

To stick some jump leads on this thread, anyone got anything they'd like to trade for a Rav 4 [OMGSNOKAOS approaching.........!]

 

Auto or Manual?

[Rocket88]

Manual..................

[gadgetgricey]

Manual..................

 

Bugger. (wife will only drive an Auto)

[Rocket88]

Got an auto Honda HRV to get rid of as well...............

[D Spares & Tyres]

OK I'm up for this.

 

Its a 1998 5 door hatchback with a 1.3 engine. 5 speed manual. 135,000 miles.loads of history.drives well and tidy other than some minor rust spots.11 months mot. For sale at £395. Swap for something of similar value.

 

No I'm not telling you what it is, its a lucky dip

[Cavcraft]

This could actually work quite well, maybe if enough people are interested we could have a central swap day and general meeting?

[chaseracer]

Domestic Management has just asked whether this involves keys thrown into a bowl and, if so, she wants no part of it.  Not without seeing photos first, anyway.

 

I think she means the cars...

 

[Lord Sterling]

I know this'll come across as sacrilege but...

 

Happy to swap my rather ropey KV6 Rover 825 Sterling (+ maybe a bit of cash your way) for something interesting. Possibly a ropey old Jag/Merc/Rover 75 etc...

 

Rover will shortly be getting new brake pads all around. Bodywork isn't too bad but sills need a tickle with a welder, interior is Ok, very comfy but ageing. Miles is something like 110k or whatever.

 

Since I took possession in 2013, it's had:

 

New exhaust

New ball joints both sides

Refurbed alternator

Coolant flush, refilled with OAT

New battery

Sills welded

Hammerited underneath

Minor Service (oil/oil filter/air filter)

Drivers side wing replaced

Rear bumper replaced with used example

6 CD Changer replaced with working example

 

Additionally it has a bootlid to go with it if anyone wants it, current bootlid has rust showing through.

 

Don't be fooled by the above, it still needs work, mostly to the body. Maybe when I get some compo money I might have bits and bobs done to tidy it up.

 

It'll soon be receiving new brake pads and 2 new tyres on the front.

 

I like European, leather, autoboxes and 2.5+ V6/V8/Straight 6 or 8 engines. I'm simply bored of the Rover, nowt more. Maybe I should just concentrate on getting it sorted.

 

Talk me in or out of it please.

 

Additionally, we could swap temporarily possibly? Or is that just a shit idea?

[Bear]

Got an auto Honda HRV to get rid of as well...............

 

4x4 or FWD?

[Tetleysmooth]

This chap wants to swap for something retro, and Civic related.

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/183309/1997-lexus-gs300-south-wales

[red5]

 

To stick some jump leads on this thread, anyone got anything they'd like to trade for a Rav 4 [OMGSNOKAOS approaching.........!]

 

 

I need a small 4x4 - pref 5 dr but not critical.

 

Lovel(!) Suzuki Baleno 1.6 4dr manual (with 2x new Uniroyals) of any interest?

 

Sam

[Rocket88]

List...............

 

Rav 4, manual, long MOT, big miles, good history [recent cambelt]

HRV auto not 4x4 ,again, recent cambelt, good history,

Rover 75 Tourer[Conny]turbo diesel auto, long MOT, knackered gearbox, but everything else in good nick

 

 

HRV now departed, but would like to out the Rav4

[Bear]

If I can repair my E320's mystery gearbox problem (seems electrical) then I'll swap it for a 4x4 something.

 

If I can't repair my E320's mystery gearbox problem, I'll swap it for a not-very-good 4x4 something. 114K miles OM613 in excellent health, leather 7-seater interior, COMAND, Westfalia detachable towbar, carphone and all sorts of other useful bits.