HMC- Return of the Cheeky 500

[bramz7]

I frequently have to help sellers understand V5s. Suppose I'm not exactly normal however.

 

I'm in awe at your almost constant revolving door fleet HMC. You've certainly got a much better eye than me.

[HMC]

All my cars have to be able to function as cars in the context of transporting a 5 and 3 year old. The Rover 800 is a lovely thing. Giffer ownership has preserved the interior so well, I could only conclude that my lads would trash it pretty quickly. As far as I can see it’s also completely rust free. Step in Mr x, a shiteist of repute who is taking it on- I will leave it to themselves to do a reveal as and when (I know you know who it is anyway Sam)

 

Long term ownership does tend to save stuff from oblivion and I recon Mr and mrs giffer keeping that old barge for 20 years has saved it, hat duely doffed (a trilby?)

[HMC]

P.S. the immediate neighbour of the Astra vendor was a bit keen on Land rovers and MG Rover stuff....

 

[Marm Toastsmith]

P.S. the immediate neighbour of the Astra vendor was a bit keen on Land rovers and MG Rover stuff....

 

E97C743C-E279-4F9D-AA01-805F1517BF2E.jpeg

 

I know exactly where that is, too!

[cms206]

That looks ace. I adore Mk3 estates, they just look right.

 

Mine was a white K-reg n/a 1.7D Merit. No PAS, bugger all. Loved it.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[Cavcraft]

   Does rusty rocket know his Vauxhalls ?    I have a   x16xel  problem engine in an Astra  on the kent &sussex border....

 

Aside from the fact they can smoke a bit and sometimes use a little oil occasionally, those engines are great. 

[Shirley Knott]

For £150 that's a massive bargain!

 

I used to get a lift into work in one of these during my apprenticeship for Layland-Daf back in the 90's, lots of space in the back and the fitter who owned it was really proud of it. He had it over the pit steam cleaning underneath once a week in winter.

[sierraman]

Aye they aren't the best things to drive.

I was working on an Astra H this morning, they have NOT improved with time. That said they are all fairly simple beasts apart from the usual repairs they are all simple enough to mend.

[Rusty_Rocket]

   Does rusty rocket know his Vauxhalls ?    I have a   x16xel  problem engine in an Astra  on the kent &sussex border....

 

I did an apprenticeship with Vauxhall in the mid 90s.  Astra-F, Cavalier, Corsa-B were the bread and butter back then and I ended up knowing all those cars well.

Believe me when I say, there were no major inherent/ built-in faults with any of that era of Vauxhalls.  They were well made and designed to be reliable, cheap to run and easy to fix.  They were never particularly exciting but built to a job.  I remember with the Vectra-B came along, and sadly that had issues from the beginning and the brand never recovered.

 

Like Cavcraft says above, the 16XE/XEL are usually ok, head gaskets can fail if the coolant is never changed and some use oil but I'd imagine most of those are long out of service now.

[Christine]

Mine lived in London , so never  did over 30 mph i guess . And a 16 valver needs a thrash now and again dunnit ? ..  It has had regular services , and extra oil changes due to "adverse conditions " ( low use, low speed ) but the exhaust valves are clogged with carbon, so there's no compression on one cylinder ...

  There's an x16xel engine and gearbox  in Deal ,on ebay at the moment,  but it's 200 quid and really an unknown quantity..might have the same fault as mine ?  I think i might just scrap it , but it's only done 50k and is in brilliant condition ..

 

This was on the Mk3 Astra forum ..

 

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/31014-astra-mk3-collection-home-home/

[mrbenn]

Common fault on the 16v wasn't it? Seem to remember an AA bloke got ours (N plate 1.6 16v) running properly at the side of the M56 with a hammer though sadly I couldn't tell you how...

[HMC]

Some youthful 1992 Carol Vordeman action in this dry and factual dealer training vid......

 

 

I’ll have a C and a D please Carol

[HMC]

Anyone fancy an avensis estate?

 

Im planning a move to a house that has no parking of any kind anywhere nearby. The avensis is a bit more capable than the Astra, and is less rusty, and hence will be the first for the chop.

 

2000 avensis estate, long mot to some time in 2020. 1.8 VVTI, lovely gearbox, clutch, brakes. Drives spot on, new battery and recent tyres. Everything works except the radio. A lot of history right back to the supplying dealer. Few age related marks but very tidy in and out on the whole. Remote locking, roof bars, ummm it’s blue. Currently half a tank of fuel. Located Tavistock and I’d like £350

[loserone]

That's some serious value.

 

This house move sounds like a bad plan

[Matty]

Keep hold of it till the start of November and then I'll have it. Perfect winter car. Thanks in advance of a positive response!!!!

[BorniteIdentity]

With the work done on the engine this will now carry on indefinitely. My garage had a VVTi taxi that was heading back from the moon.

 

You won’t need it, but GLWS. This is all the car anyone will ever really need.

[Matty]

Aye. From following posts on yours I get that impression. Most of the late 90s/early 2000s cars I've owned have been the same. Loads of high milers that work like new. Where have all the good cars gone??

[Brodders]

Mirroring pretty much what has been said above, this is surely the best value for money option around if you want "a car" which will simply keep going.

 

It has also reminded me that it has been ages since I last saw one of this generation of Avensis (Avensi?). They used to be a semi regular sight not long ago.

[HMC]

As an alternative- the Astra £150 -

[HMC]

Whichever sells first goes

[HMC]

Who stays? YOU DECIDE

[HMC]

The Astra-

1998 Astra 1.6 LS estate. Long MOT, lots of history, drives OK ruined lacquer on the bonnet and roof but £150- what I paid the long term giffer owners for it. Rust wise sills and most of underbody excellent, rear inner arches bit rusty though, with 1 bit not an MOT fail but could do with a bit of welding on the offside inner arch trailing edge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gadgetgricey]

If its any help, I've so far had four cars off HMC, Still have two of them and all exactly as described.

 

Also if collecting by train, split ticketing is your friend.

 

B'ham to Plymouth was £300 first class, but split ticketing got the price down to £50 on the same F*&ing train.

 

If I had not just purchased the CLK from him, would be all over that Astra...

[The Moog]

And Bucketeer with BDS has him on favourite on his satnav***

 

*** His 1993 paper Michelin road atlas, circled in red

[Minimad5]

Shit the bed !

How have I missed this thread !?

You've smashed the car count already squire, and three bargain Mercedes to boot too.

[AnthonyG]

The Avensis looks absolutely perfect for CMS206 to replace his CarinaE.

[SRi05]

One hundred and fifty pounds. Incredible

[Cavcraft]

That Astra is essentially free at £150.

[DoctorRetro]

I fecking love that Astra.

If it wasn't 7 hours on the bloody train.... Etc etc.

 

And yes, £150 for an MoT'd car is a steal!

[HMC]

Sit rep- decided to keep the avensis as it’s a bit more credible as my only car- I’ve just bunged a new battery on it- and would you believe the battery on the Astra has not been holding charge- a test for it confirmed a dead cell so the buyer will need to bring a battery with themselves, also as per the advert from the former keeper a few pages back, the drivers window doesn’t work and it wants a thermostat as it struggles to get up to temperature.