Datsuncog's Heaps: Sept 2023 - Another Year's T-Met Exemption Certificate...

[RoverFolkUs]

It's not all that bad! I've seen 10 (yes ten!) year old Mercedes with snapped rear subframes. Sometimes it's "lucky" and it's the lower swing arm that snaps off, other times not so lucky and it's the entire control arm that shears off and the wheels go for max camber and you lose control - that's a luxury brand (well, perceived luxury) Scary stuff! So for a 17 year old Subaru I think it can be forgiven. 

Regarding reparability, based on what I can see there - I would go with the general consensus here as I highly doubt its worth bothering with unless you were doing it yourself as a labour of love. By the time all the rot is cut out, you will be paying hundreds if not thousands for all the fabrication and welding it would need.

[Datsuncog]

12 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

I'm sorry you aren't having much luck with Subarus.

That's been rotten for ages by the look of it. No doubt salvageable by someone with the skills but whether you'd want to go down that route is quite another question.

Yeah, it's certainly sub-optimal - though I can't say I was unaware, as latent corrosion in this area was clearly stated as the primary reason JimH was moving it on. 

We all suspected it was a car approaching end-of-life, and although I'd hoped it might have a bit more strength in the general area for a while yet, it seems that the garage gave it a few thwacks with a rubber mallet - just as the MOT tester would have done - and the result is plain to see.

It seems that when Subarus go, they do so pretty quickly. I was kinda shocked to see just how fast the Forester had degraded in the space of 12 months, bearing in mind it had had a fair bit of work done under the wheelarches the previous August with no visible problems - and especially as it had been off the road between December and April, with the battery issue.

So I'd say this rear area on the Outback was likely not too bad a year or so ago when Minimad5 commissioned the necessary welding work to get it an MOT pass, but the old tinworm's been having a feast throughout the winter and this is the inevitable result. 

It's fixable, for sure, to someone with a bit of skill and space - though that ain't gonna be me. There's plainly some sort of fuelling problem too, the brake calipers need work plus there's other rust areas of concern up at the front end, which makes me wonder if any repair attempts might be throwing good money after bad.

And that's just the stuff I can see - the plastic trim covering the sills and wheelarches may mask all manner of horrors.

I'd hoped that I'd be able to use it as a load-lugger for the house move, but it now seems unlikely the sale will complete before the Sub's tax runs out at the end of April.

On the upside, it was better finding out at this stage than after I'd spent £500 replacing sensors and brake components for an MOT it undoubtedly wouldn't pass, so I'm not too upset.

Also on the plus side, scrap values are going up...

 

10 hours ago, RoverFolkUs said:

 Sometimes it's "lucky" and it's the lower swing arm that snaps off, other times not so lucky and it's the entire control arm that shears off and the wheels go for max camber and you lose control.

Heh, have you looked back a bit through this thread...?

On 10/21/2021 at 1:22 PM, Datsuncog said:

 

Yup, my previous Subaru suffered complete control arm failure, back in October. The collapse also broke the driveshaft - luckily, it occurred while being manoeuvred down at the garage, and not at speed. 

If I hadn't uncharacteristically stopped to check out an odd noise before heading out onto the M2, I wouldn't have realised that the swing arm had rusted through completely, and it could have all got very nasty very quickly...

You'd think I'd have learned, but noooooo...

Quote

Regarding reparability, based on what I can see there - I would go with the general consensus here as I highly doubt its worth bothering with unless you were doing it yourself as a labour of love. By the time all the rot is cut out, you will be paying hundreds if not thousands for all the fabrication and welding it would need.

Yeah, any sub-£1000 car is always going to be a bit of a gamble, and back last October there were so few second-hand cars for sale that my choices were pretty limited. On the plus side, it's been totally reliable, the heated seats are absolutely brilliant, and it's more than earned its keep during my five months of ownership while clearing the house and being loaded to the gunwhales for multiple tip runs.

It's a really nice steer, but I don't love it enough to pay someone to do the necessary work - and sadly, I think I'd never be done chasing rust on this car. 

While it looks very modern to my eyes, the fact that it's seventeen years old means that it's already exceeded its design lifespan by quite some margin.

My 1986 Fiesta was far more rotten at the point I sold it for scrap in 2003 when it was the same age, yet at that time it felt (and looked) like an 'old car' - so it didn't create the same kind of mental dissonance.

And my Mk6 Escort was only 12 at the point it was condemned as too rusty to remain on the road, in 2008.

Them's the brokes, as they say...

[Split_Pin]

It looks like it's done it's job for you then and the scrap price is pretty decent.

As you indicated above, it's the finding of a suitable replacement that could be a challenge in the current climate. Maybe something will pop up on here.

[JMotor]

Oh that's not good.

Totally the right call for getting shot.

That'll be major surgery to put it right. Then what else does it need? It just a snowball effect by then.

My Vectra has taught me (again) that it does get worse and sometimes it's better to walk away instead. However I'm stupid, so I'm fixing it.

As Mr Pin says, something might well turn up on here or you might get lucky with something local? Hope it does for you anyway.

[Zelandeth]

Japanese cars do tend to go spectacularly when they go.

Exhibit A: My Cappuccino.  12 months prior there was a bit of surface rust on the floorpans which we treated and undersealed.

Then we found this when looking it over for the next test.

That extended right across the rear of the driver's side floorpan and virtually to the front wheel along the sill.  Basically the only thing holding the rear of the seat in were the fuel lines...

[Datsuncog]

 

5 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

It looks like it's done it's job for you then and the scrap price is pretty decent.

Yes, indeed - plus I know of an Outback licker over in Lisburn, who has one in the same colour. He bought the spare set of winter tyres off me late last year. 

I might drop him a line and see if he's interested in buying mine at around the £500 mark, as he'd mentioned he was looking for a replacement bonnet. My example also has a pair of nearly-new Uniroyals on the front plus a decent leather interior, so it's possible he could swap a number of bits round from his, and strip other useful spares items like central locking modules and seat motors, then still collect £360 for the remains...

Quote

As you indicated above, it's the finding of a suitable replacement that could be a challenge in the current climate. Maybe something will pop up on here.

Surprisingly, a few candidates have popped up locally today at my preferred price point.

This was kinda the thing I was looking for back in October:

Looks not bad, for the money. Provided 'small whine coming from either gearbox or diff' doesn't mean imminent total failure...

And also...

It's not quite in showroom condition, but it does look very clean and cared for. Probably not a ball of fire to drive with 84bhp, but I like the simplicity and it's probably roomy enough for my needs.

Toyota, COROLLA, Hatchback, 2000, Manual, 1332 (cc), 5 doors | in Bangor, County Down | Gumtree

 

4 hours ago, JMotor said:

Oh that's not good.

Totally the right call for getting shot.

That'll be major surgery to put it right. Then what else does it need? It just a snowball effect by then.

My Vectra has taught me (again) that it does get worse and sometimes it's better to walk away instead. However I'm stupid, so I'm fixing it.

As Mr Pin says, something might well turn up on here or you might get lucky with something local? Hope it does for you anyway.

Yup, I totally agree! I've done this before, where I sink a load of money into a car only for something else to fail, which necessitates further expenditure, and it ends up a fruitless exercise in chasing sunk costs... no. Nope. Never again.

 

4 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Japanese cars do tend to go spectacularly when they go.

Exhibit A: My Cappuccino.  12 months prior there was a bit of surface rust on the floorpans which we treated and undersealed.

Then we found this when looking it over for the next test.

That extended right across the rear of the driver's side floorpan and virtually to the front wheel along the sill.  Basically the only thing holding the rear of the seat in were the fuel lines...

Crikey, that's bad going... but entirely in line with the sort of alarming deconstruction I've encountered along underside panel joins on the Subarus.

Pity, as Cappucinos were lovely little cars - a guy at school drove a brand new one in sixth form (well-off parents) and even though I was already mired deep in rusty old 70s heaps, I thought it looked pretty ace. Haven't seen one in a long, long time - and I guess that's why!

[Dyslexic Viking]

If you are looking for something economical and reliable for little money, this Corolla seems like a good choice, but strange that the seller does not mention anything about the timing belt.

[Zelandeth]

Guy who bought it off me sorted it.  Two new floorpans (significantly adapted MX5 panels I believe), complete new inner and outer sills both sides, plus significant reconstruction of the rear suspension mounts - plus sorting the bodywork which was majorly scruffy anyway from many a track day and not much care by the previous owners.

I'd love another one though, definitely the most fun car to drive I've ever owned.  So long as you didn't need to move anything big it did a fine job of being An Car too.  So long as you could find it in the car park anyway!

[Datsuncog]

Well, the Volvo has already sold - just received a message back to say it's gone, which is annoying as it would have made a decent replacement.

There is another similar V70 for sale, but it's described as having an engine fault and running in limp mode, so that doesn't exactly inspire much confidence. Plus it's still priced at £900.

The E110 Corolla is calling to me quite strongly - MrsDC's long had a hankering for one of these, and it does look like quite a good 'un. Though yes, ascertaining the timing belt status might be no bad idea - I'd hope there'd be some evidence that it had been changed in recent years.

 

Some of you may recall this rather uninspiring heap was in the running last year as a potential Forester replacement, more to illustrate a deplorable lack of cheap cars than anything else:

On 11/1/2021 at 11:08 AM, Datsuncog said:

An appliance white Mk1 Focus Estate is listed locally for £850, but the wonkily-plated sills (with a quick puff of grey primer over the functional rather than aesthetically pleasing welds) and kiddy-sticky interior makes it seem even less appealing,..

There's not much at all around the £1k mark.

Well, it's back on Gumtree again - supposedly with a different owner, though reusing the same pics from last October.

The DVLA database shows the last V5 was issued in December, so I suppose that checks out if it was bought as a quick stop-gap. It's also £100 cheaper than last year, and apparently has a new starter motor.

It's not all that pretty, but it could be a contender... I know there's a powerful amount of appreciation for the Mk1 Focus on here.

Hmmm.

[JMotor]

Worth an ask anyway.

It's a car and it's tested. Should do for a while?

However, is it worth holding out a little longer for something you do want?

[Datsuncog]

Oh, and it may be pertinent to mention that I took MrsDC's Yaris down to Tesco last night, and noticed a godawful rubbing noise which definitely wasn't there when it was last driven. It disappeared when making right turns, but got much worse on left turns.

I had a quick look underneath but couldn't see anything that might be rubbing - inner arch liners might have been a prime suspect, but they seemed ok and roughly in the right place.

It didn't sound like the sort of clicking you might get with a faulty driveshaft, definitely more like something making contact with the wheel. But then, my car whispering abilities seem to have deserted me a while ago.

I may get the trolley jack out later and investigate...

[Datsuncog]

9 minutes ago, JMotor said:

Worth an ask anyway.

It's a car and it's tested. Should do for a while?

However, is it worth holding out a little longer for something you do want?

Yeah, quite possibly... the Focus might be a useful load-lugger for the house move, even if it's a fairly compact estate compared to what I currently have - though the Corolla might take a fair amount in the back too. We're not moving far, so even if the tailgate needs to be kept open it shouldn't be an issue.

I'd probably be more interested in the Corolla in a general sense, as it looks fairly basic and I do quite like them, in a plug-ugly way. I've previously found that after the heartache of a 'modern', sometimes something older and simpler can restore my car mojo (see also Citroen XM -> Volvo 240; Alfa 156 -> Polo breadvan).

In all honesty, I've no idea what I really want - a V70 or XC70 appeals, but at the same time I get a weird feeling that at this sort of price point they're a potential liability.

I've never really gone out to look for a specific car model, really - it's always been more a case of finding something from the small-ads that looks like it has a bit of life in it but won't break the bank.

Basically, it's all about the Bangernomics... so I don't know why I have such an antipathy to Focuses/ Foci!

[Dyslexic Viking]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

In all honesty, I've no idea what I really want - a V70 or XC70 appeals, but at the same time I get a weird feeling that at this sort of price point they're a potential liability.

We all have different opinions but I think they are. I was active on Volvo forums for a while and these are demanding to keep going as they get older. Remember that those who owned these always had to fix something and it could also be expensive as they are complicated in some areas. Which is a shame as they are nice cars.

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

Oh, and it may be pertinent to mention that I took MrsDC's Yaris down to Tesco last night, and noticed a godawful rubbing noise which definitely wasn't there when it was last driven. It disappeared when making right turns, but got much worse on left turns.

I had a quick look underneath but couldn't see anything that might be rubbing - inner arch liners might have been a prime suspect, but they seemed ok and roughly in the right place.

It didn't sound like the sort of clicking you might get with a faulty driveshaft, definitely more like something making contact with the wheel. But then, my car whispering abilities seem to have deserted me a while ago.

I may get the trolley jack out later and investigate...

Pads down to metal on one side. Backing plate sits against the disc and rubs turning one way but falls away from it turning the other way. Could be a million other things to be fair 😁

[320touring]

@Datsuncog ahem

 

 

Relive your youth

 

[SiC]

4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

In all honesty, I've no idea what I really want - a V70 or XC70 appeals, but at the same time I get a weird feeling that at this sort of price point they're a potential liability.

Yeah they are. Mate is a massive Volvo fan and had a few ones that were near EOL. Always needed something and usually the gearbox, oil leaks or electrical issues that became the biggest problems. You need a Volvo DICE really and I understand it's not easy for modules to be swapped around.

Nice cars to drive and sit in, but needy machines as they get older. Bit like Saab, the owners fall in love with them and like an old family pet dog, they open up their wallets when they are needing something again. Hence they hang around longer than perhaps they should.

What about a mid to late 00-era Renault petrol? They'd sorted out most of their electrical troubles by then and they seem pretty rust resistant. 

[Ghosty]

AWD Volvos eat tyres, and you need to change all four at a time as the haldex can go fucky. 

V70s seem to have poor long term potential, I can't see many if any lasting much longer. Most of the ones you find now are pretty well fucked.

What about a V50 2.0d? They're basically DW10s with a twin scroll turbo, they're a decent steer and pretty practical, and can be picked up for £little. 

[Datsuncog]

17 hours ago, Matty said:

Pads down to metal on one side. Backing plate sits against the disc and rubs turning one way but falls away from it turning the other way. Could be a million other things to be fair 😁

I didn't get a chance to have a look at the Yaris yesterday evening, after all - ended up taking a load of rescue plants over to the MiL's place in the Outback, since our house buyers have absolutely no interest in the garden, and just want to turf over the whole lot.

Which, y'know, is fair enough - and I'd sooner pass plants on to people who'll appreciate them, than later find out everything was pulled out and binned.

I'll certainly take a look at the pads, though I'm fairly sure I put a new set on less than 5,000 miles ago! Having said that, there could be a bit of road debris stuck in there or something, so I'll hopefully have a proper look later on. Cheers for that!

[Split_Pin]

Nice one on removing the plants. I'm the world's worst gardener but like cars, I guess I prefer to see something live on and perhaps continue to be appreciated.

Hopefully its just some road debris in the pads of the Yaris. I've experienced that a few times and it makes some noise!

[Supernaut]

 

Spiny Norman seems to be shifting the Volvo estate of many shiters. Located in Glasgow, and there are plenty of us in the area who can help with logistics.

 

[Datsuncog]

18 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

I was active on Volvo forums for a while and these are demanding to keep going as they get older. Remember that those who owned these always had to fix something and it could also be expensive as they are complicated in some areas. Which is a shame as they are nice cars.

 

15 hours ago, SiC said:

Yeah they are. Mate is a massive Volvo fan and had a few ones that were near EOL. Always needed something and usually the gearbox, oil leaks or electrical issues that became the biggest problems. You need a Volvo DICE really and I understand it's not easy for modules to be swapped around.

Nice cars to drive and sit in, but needy machines as they get older. Bit like Saab, the owners fall in love with them and like an old family pet dog, they open up their wallets when they are needing something again. Hence they hang around longer than perhaps they should.

Yep, this is exactly what I'd been thinking - an elderly Volvo of this era has a high likelihood of becoming an expensive headache. And that's maybe not a good route to go down.

If I'd owned one from new/ nearly new, then I can see how it can become 'one of the family' and I'd be rather more tolerant of throwing money at its aging foibles - kinda the way people might make excuses for an old and incontinent labrador. There's been so many good times in the past, that the bad times don't seem so troublesome.

And that's a fair point that although there still seem to be more Saabs and Volvos hanging around than Mondeos and Vectras of the same age, it could be because owners feel more emotional investment in their Swedish barges, and not because they're actually more reliable or durable.

So yeah... I think I'm backing away from the concept of a V70, as what I'm really needing these days is just An Car to provide basic, reliable transport as we begin what's likely to be a significant home renovation project in the new place.

Although if I ever reach a stage where I find myself in need of more stress in my life, then an XC70 would definitely be the way to go... a really clean local one-owner example in metallic red cropped up for sale a few years ago, and I didn't go for it as I'd been bankrupted by the Alfa 156. I've regretted it ever since, and still feel I've an itch to scratch there.

 

10 hours ago, Ghosty said:

AWD Volvos eat tyres, and you need to change all four at a time as the haldex can go fucky. 

V70s seem to have poor long term potential, I can't see many if any lasting much longer. Most of the ones you find now are pretty well fucked.

What about a V50 2.0d? They're basically DW10s with a twin scroll turbo, they're a decent steer and pretty practical, and can be picked up for £little. 

I've kinda got used to the AWD thing with the Subarus - learning that matched sets of tyres are a necessity, as the Forester was transformed early on when I fitted a full set of Bridgestones to it. But I don't do a lot of miles these days - if I was up and down the motorways all day, then replacing tyres all the time could get pretty annoying.

But yes, any V70s that come on the market do seem to have a number of faults, and it's rare for cars to become unfucked while in my care... I agree it's quite likely in another two or three years those currently in the banger category will drop off entirely, leaving only the really cossetted examples for the next generation of classic fans to drool over.

A few V50s in the classifieds have caught my eye, though annoyingly they've all been out of MOT or otherwise displaying engine problems - "easy fix, just not got time" - hmmm.

The current MOT situation over in Northern Ireland is deeply annoying - right now, the earliest dates being given out for an MOT test are in July. So while owners can continue to drive their car without a current MOT certificate provided they have a test booked and it's generally roadworthy, because the tax no longer transfers when sold, then a car with a lapsed MOT can't be taxed by the new owner. Effectively, that now means a four month wait before you can get a car tested, taxed, and then legally use it. It's an absolute mess.

But yes - a V50 might be a much better prospect than a V70.

I quite fancied a V40 a few years ago, but every single one I went to look at was totally shagged, yet still very expensive. Haven't seen one on the road for yonks.

 

Quote

What about a mid to late 00-era Renault petrol? They'd sorted out most of their electrical troubles by then and they seem pretty rust resistant. 

Maybe, although Renaults of that era are surprisingly thin on the ground over here, other than Clios - it's hard to overstate just how badly Renault trashed their reputation in Northern Ireland in the early 2000s with the Laguna II, and the Modus/ Mégane/ Scénic to a lesser extent.

They went from the most popular new car brand in NI to mid-ranking; there used to be two Renault dealerships in my hometown and another in a neighbouring town - but they'd all closed by 2005. I'm not even sure where I'd go to look at a new Renault these days; probably Belfast. Going by the sheer amount of anger I heard during my time at Halfords from formerly loyal Renault owners, they really pissed on their chips with duff electrics and fuel pump issues.

CogSr quite liked his '04 Mégane Sport Tourer (diesel), but I really haven't seen another on the road for years now...

 

17 hours ago, 320touring said:

@Datsuncog ahem

Relive your youth

Oh, crumbs... now that is rather nice. Same silver with blue interior as my '88 example, and that's a seriously tempting price...

Somerset...

[Noel Tidybeard]

get the toyoyo as surely mrs cog would entertain the idea of a yaris replacement?

 

...which then means you'll need a new car🤔

[Datsuncog]

42 minutes ago, Supernaut said:

Spiny Norman seems to be shifting the Volvo estate of many shiters. Located in Glasgow, and there are plenty of us in the area who can help with logistics.

This one?

Oho... that could be the kind of thing that might work. MOT until October, too.

 

25 minutes ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

get the toyoyo as surely mrs cog would entertain the idea of a yaris replacement?

 

...which then means you'll need a new car🤔

MrsDC has sworn never to sell her owned-from-new Yaris - although it's far from in its first flush of youth and she's quite resigned to the fact that someday soon it'll be too far gone for reasonable repair.

A few years ago, pre-pandemic, she was interested in getting 'something else' to drive for a while, just for a change - and a Corolla E110 was in the running, along with a Saab 9-5 estate.

But yeah, I was mulling over my various vehicular options last night, and her opinion was very much "Buy the Corolla".

So yes... that's looking like a reasonable scenario...

 

[Supernaut]

Yeah, that one.

[Split_Pin]

4 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

This one?

Oho... that could be the kind of thing that might work. MOT until October, too.

 

MrsDC has sworn never to sell her owned-from-new Yaris - although it's far from in its first flush of youth and she's quite resigned to the fact that someday soon it'll be too far gone for reasonable repair.

A few years ago, pre-pandemic, she was interested in getting 'something else' to drive for a while, just for a change - and a Corolla E110 was in the running, along with a Saab 9-5 estate.

But yeah, I was mulling over my various vehicular options last night, and her opinion was very much "Buy the Corolla".

So yes... that's looking like a reasonable scenario...

 

The Corolla is what was in my mind as well.

[Noel Tidybeard]

2 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

This one?

Oho... that could be the kind of thing that might work. MOT until October, too.

 

MrsDC has sworn never to sell her owned-from-new Yaris - although it's far from in its first flush of youth and she's quite resigned to the fact that someday soon it'll be too far gone for reasonable repair.

A few years ago, pre-pandemic, she was interested in getting 'something else' to drive for a while, just for a change - and a Corolla E110 was in the running, along with a Saab 9-5 estate.

But yeah, I was mulling over my various vehicular options last night, and her opinion was very much "Buy the Corolla".

So yes... that's looking like a reasonable scenario...

 

you could take over the yaris and accidently run it into the ground😁

[Datsuncog]

1 minute ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

you could take over the yaris and accidently run it into the ground😁

I already ran it into a ditch on an icy morning about ten years ago... it just meant I had to fix it!

No, I am quite fond of the Little Cockroach, which has got me out of a pickle on many an occasion when my assorted old nails have Failed To Proceed for one reason or another... and I have no real qualms about becoming a two-Toyota family.

[BeEP]

Pending MOT tomorrow the brown Avensis of a few shiters will be available; flight to Stansted, direct train to March... (although quite a long drive home!)

[Dyslexic Viking]

Just a thought, are there small vans in your price range in your area? As it could have been convenient with house renovation.

[Datsuncog]

4 hours ago, BeEP said:

Pending MOT tomorrow the brown Avensis of a few shiters will be available; flight to Stansted, direct train to March... (although quite a long drive home!)

Mmm, is that the liftback version? Could be of interest... though the ferry services are sadly all to cock at the minute; the CogParents (travelling from Holyhead to Dublin with Stena) ended up having their sailing cancelled at the last minute yesterday, causing all sorts of fuckabout.

I'd maybe be a little bit reluctant to travel mega miles for a collection thread, but you never know!

2 hours ago, Dyslexic Viking said:

Just a thought, are there small vans in your price range in your area? As it could have been convenient with house renovation.

Sadly not; while it could well be a useful thing to have, vans are even more pricey than cars at the minute!

I can't find anything local that's tested and legal, or not suffering from some major engine fault or serious rust, for under £1500.