Done with old shit.

[sierraman]

I think from a Bangernomics perspective, you just got to buy wisely. Ignore the sheds or stuff that’s beyond what you can comfortably run and you should be ok. There’s an absolute plethora of decent cars for the grand mark.

[eddyramrod]

I barely know what I'm doing one week to the next with cars but being done with old shit is something I've often decided, and then the next week I buy a clapped out old crate and repeat the process.

Agreed.  I'm at the "done with it" point at the moment, but I think that's just SAD hitting me, as it does every year.  I could really do with making some kind of big change right now.  Unfortunately I can't think of any such thing I'm able to do that would be in any way positive... which is normal!  Got a break in Inverness coming up, maybe that'll help.  A few days of Asda breakfasts just about makes up for having to suffer the interminable A9.

[Split_Pin]

You know what? Me too.

[danthecapriman]

I think from a Bangernomics perspective, you just got to buy wisely. Ignore the sheds or stuff that’s beyond what you can comfortably run and you should be ok. There’s an absolute plethora of decent cars for the grand mark.

I used to work with a Polish guy, he used to say pretty much exactly that.

He couldn't believe the quality of cars we had here at pretty much throw away money. He loved it as it meant he could pick up some great cars cheap and drive them back to Poland to either sell on or break for valuable parts.

He had all sorts over the years from Mondeo's to stuff like a Lexus Soarer.

 

If you think back to say the 80's and you bought a 20 year old Jag cheap to tool around in, there's a high chance it'd be rotten and about on its last legs.

If you go out and buy a 20 year old Lexus ls400 (just for instance!) it's unlikely to be in anything like that state. It might have a few electrical gremlins and silly stuff but on the whole it won't be half bad. And stuff like that is almost worthless now.

 

Got to say though, I'd still rather have the rotten Jag!!

[uk_senator]

Me three.. It is the bloody weather as much as anything. Pissing about with cars, outdoors at this time of years is beyond shite..

Despite that, I left my card on 3 shiteboxes today (A Lada Riva Estate, a knackered Triumph 1500 & a Rover 213).

When am I gonna bloody learn..

[bangernomics]

After running many shitters for the last 5 post divorce skint years (mostly on veg oil) I've run a mk5 transit di, combo 1.7d and a polo sdi. I bought a diesel xj 5-6 years ago and I have used it for European tours when needed without any issue covering 50k in the 5 years I've owned it having panic sold the xjr I had before.

 

Well taken the plunge and bought from my pals ex co car an e300 hybrid as I'm sick of a shitty commute in a banger.... anyone want a diesel xj or a polo sdi? For sensible money?

 

Gah it's hard to stop with the old bangers isn't it? That sdi just keeps going whatever the miles you do.

[stripped fred]

I'm also off fixing old cars at the moment. I just don't have the time and it ends up turning into a bigger, panic inducing job. I also need something reliable with my new job. If could afford something newer and duller I would. I will always be drawn to old cars though, it's in the blood.

[eddyramrod]

It is, that's true.

[Snipes]

I had to give up on “project” cars to fund an NVQ but I haven’t really missed it and it’s actually been very liberating. I don’t have to worry about a treasured thing sat ouside in the weather, being stolen or vandalised. I don’t have to spend hours on the net trying to find obscure parts in foreign countries (which usually turn up wrong). If I had a garage, and could close the doors and walk away if it’s being an arse, it might be different but for now I don’t miss it.

[AMC Rebel]

.......car that looks good with chrome and ......

I don't even think my AMC looks that good - I get perverse enjoyment from the fact everyone seems to hate it - really.

[danthecapriman]

I don't even think my AMC looks that good - I get perverse enjoyment from the fact everyone seems to hate it - really.

Even an AMC Gremlin looks good imho! But I am weird!

[Captain Furious]

I had my shite mojo reinvigorated last weekend when I finally fixed the rough idling issue on my Granada, it was valve clearances by the way, which meant it was even more satisfying because I fixed it with spanners and feeler gauges and precision rather than blindly swapping some sealed box of electronics and hoping it makes a difference.

 

The high was tempered somewhat yesterday though, when efforts to cure the brake pulling problem failed.

[Bren]

My audi needs money spending on it to get it through an MOT.

Likewise wife's vectra - I spent £60 making the headlights better - so.it could be driven at night - after three weeks one side has failed.

Got a battery for the granada yesterday - it wont fit. My factor cannot get hold of one with square poles, sorry but I am not doing a heath robinson installation that may end up going up in smoke.

My SD1? I dont think I will ever get it on the road - life just keeps getting in the way.

 

I really am ready to bail out of old cars completely.

[sierraman]

Change the terminal connectors. Like anything when it becomes a chore you have over committed yourself.

 

I’d think about moving the Vectra on, while it’s running. Then get something Petrol if you don’t need diesel. It’s easy to start going a bit rash in these circumstances, you’d feel a lot more hard done to paying out £350 a month out to rent something.

[Bren]

Not as easy as changing the connectors.

The + has a plate with the various feeds bolted to it. The heavy feed for the starter is seperate. There is not enough room around the pole to fit the plate.

[sierraman]

Not as easy as changing the connectors.

The + has a plate with the various feeds bolted to it. The heavy feed for the starter is seperate. There is not enough room around the pole to fit the plate.

.

 

I’d be fairly sure you could adapt it with some more cable. Not a lot but enough to give you enough to clear the posts.

[Timewaster]

I had to get a battery from euro car prats for the Sierra.

Local place could get an 097 but it was a Lion or some similar shit.

[sierraman]

I’ve got a Lion on the Focus. Came with a 3 year guarantee for £27. Can’t complain at that.

[danthecapriman]

For my old Fords I've bought each car a set of these: http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/garage-equipment/battery-chargers-jump-starters/halfords-battery-terminal-adapters

 

Square to round adapters. Not had any problems on any of the cars they're on, one of which was a Granada though that was a mk2.

[Bren]

See grumpy thread. Sorted.

[sierraman]

Done. If it’s not going to plan go back indoors and do something else for a bit. Mostly you’ll find when you come back it’s easily sorted when you can think clearly.

[alf892]

Probably! Get em while they're cheap, store them somewhere and then use them to retire on.

Btw, I've got a sticker on my toolbox from one of the old Ford mags, it says 'old Fords never die! Cos some idiots keep bodgin' em back together again'.

Very true!

There is a Willie Nelson track called Nothing lasts Forever.......except old Fords and natural stone.".

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Even when it’s time to call it a day they still last a sight longer than they did 30 years ago. A 15 year old Focus would be approaching the end of its life, you’d have spent a lot more time laid on your back keeping a 15 year old Escort Mk2 going.

 

 

 

Go back to 1970, and a 1962 1100/Anglia/Viva was near enough scrap. After 7/8 years and 70'000 miles most cars were junk. Rusty, leaking oil, tatty seats, big end knock, smoking. There used to be a photo in a local yard taken in 1965 and there were Mark II Zephyrs, A55 Mark II's etc in there. It was only popular stuff that was easy to patch up and resell that lived longer in the seventies - Escorts, Minis etc.

[cpjitservices]

My 'old' 'shite' Volvo as people keep referring to it as, has just seen the best part of £500 quid spent on it, Yes! I could of picked up something more modern for that. Even after £500 its not perfect, door cards are still a mess and speedo is still broken - but hey, I like it. I like it when I sail past shop windows and see the reflection. Yep.

 

I'd rather spend £500 on this, than anything more modern and this I guarantee will have a lot less rust and will likely outlive a lot of modern stuff.

 

Plus I like tinkering.

[Squire_Dawson]

Also much depended on how well the cylinder blocks were machined, as much of the plant was clapped out, and whether or not the car was assembled on a Monday or Friday. Pot luck.

[danthecapriman]

The reality is now, that cars aren't really lasting any longer. I went to the local scrappy not long ago and the vast majority of cars in there for fragging or parts are between 10 and 15 years old. Same as it ever was. There's the odd much older or much newer car but generally 10 - 15 years is your lot.

The big difference though is what kills the cars, it used to be rot, now it's expensive repairs making the car uneconomic to bother fixing or electronic issues.

The other big difference of course is mileage. Cars generally cover way more miles now than they ever have done before they're weighed in.

[hpi_matrix]

Not as easy as changing the connectors.

The + has a plate with the various feeds bolted to it. The heavy feed for the starter is seperate. There is not enough room around the pole to fit the plate.

 

Cant you just use these? https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-batteries/battery/other-batteries/other-car-batteries/?412772050&0&cc5_1026

[Lacquer Peel]

Many of the cars in scrapyards are probably fine, it's a consumerist throwaway culture and people get shot of cars for stupid reasons like it needs new tyres or an exhaust.

[danthecapriman]

Many of the cars in scrapyards are probably fine, it's a consumerist throwaway culture and people get shot of cars for stupid reasons like it needs new tyres or an exhaust.

Most likely. Back when I was in the garage a guy came in with a mk2 Mondeo. Clutch had gone, when given the price to change it he said no way. A few days later that same Mondy was in the local breakers yard.

Granted, the clutch wasn't it's only fault but it was the only fault preventing it being used. I thought then what a waste it was.

It seems now people will only let a car get to a certain point before they won't entertain the idea of spending money on it. Personally I don't think replacing suspension, exhausts, tyres etc etc is time to weigh in and buy new. That stuffs just wear and tear items. Lots of people do just that though, like it's all the excuse they need to run off to the nearest showroom to buy new.

Imho we're much better keeping stuff going (as long as it's properly repaired) than creating huge piles of waste every few years as we absolutely must have a new one.

[sierraman]

Of course finances come into it. If you are running a 15 year old car and within the next few months you are looking at a set of 4 tyres and an exhaust, then something like a clutch starts to go, I think most people would sink the several hundred into a better prospect.

 

It’s when people complain a car had done them a bad turn by requiring tyres and an MOT that’s it’s a sign of someone who doesn’t understand that all cars cost money. They’ll complain about an occasional bill for £200 but quite happily sink £250 a month into renting a new one.