The new news 24 thread

[scruff]

Just sent an email about one of my dream cars. Been pondering about it for a couple of years now, and it's time for a change in direction. I do love it and the price is right but is it perhaps a bit too scruffy (the engine's had a full rebuild though). Guess the interior is easy to sort out and the front axle etc would be easy to get looking smarter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[fordperv]

Most of the rotten cars I've had were from Dagenham

[Junkman]

Just sent an email about one of my dream cars. Been pondering about it for a couple of years now, and it's time for a change in direction. I do love it and the price is right but is it perhaps a bit too scruffy (the engine's had a full rebuild though). Guess the interior is easy to sort out and the front axle etc would be easy to get looking smarter.

 

Screenshot 2015-10-09 22.28.39.png

 

Do not paint!

[scruff]

Yes Junkers I agree it does look fabulous, would certainly make a change at shows. I had a look at a couple which are very nice but the paint is far too good, I know Austin did a nice job on them but they were cheap cars for years and years not Rolls-Royces.

[vulgalour]

Stuck at the parent's place with a car which needs push starting and lacks a functioning clutch.

 

It's grim times for sure.

Might Sir be interested in a cheap, reliable, not-rusty Vauxhall that's eligible for Classic insurance but doesn't look disgustingly ancient? Wonderfully basic, surprisingly comfortable and five doors for excellent practicality. For the price of one Finance payment you could have a road legal, reliable, frugal motor vehicle to tide you over until you get your proper motor cars repaired to a state they can be used without need of a push once more.

 

TL:DR got a tidy little Corsa B in turqoise with MoT into 2016 ready to go to a loving new home. Shiter's discount applies. Located in Stockton-on-Tees, so not too far south.

[dave21478]

Stuck at the parent's place with a car which needs push starting and lacks a functioning clutch.

 

They are dead set against the whole "shite" thing, in Dad's words "You need £3k to buy a good car. Cheap cars are cheap for a reason". Words have been said, Scotland is crap for cheap cars that aren't rotten and at this rate I'm going to end up back on finance...

 

It's grim times for sure.

 

The ShitPeas/Wilson 405 estate is pretty much the perfect car - modern enough to be comfortable in any situation, old enough to not be laden with too much electrickery, a proven and relaible engine, massive load capacity, decent French ride and roadholding, sharps looks, comfortable seats and they tend not to rust. Yours for a grand-ish and its not even that far outside of Scotland.

[Eddie Honda]

in Dad's words "You need £3k to buy a good car".

With all due respect* your dad is talking mince.

 

£1k is the absolutely max you'll need to buy a good car and that includes the train/plane/bus ticket (if required) and pez to fetch it.

 

I've only ever spent over £4k on a car once (£4375 - April 2014) because I was being particularly lazy and just wanted to relieve the earache I was getting from the Mrs, pronto. Fourteen months later some dopey cock pulled out on me, writing it off. Replacement exactly the same model/spec only a year older, 10k more miles on the clock a couple of city dings and a slightly dodgy 'box for £1650.

 

All the rest of my motors have been sub £1400, the best bargain being in 2004: A 1980 Austin Maxi 1750HL auto with 19k on the clock, 11 months MOT and completely dull paintwork for a mere £100. It was sloooow as hell for the first few days until the SU piston decided to un-stick itself and let a bit more air in!

[Tam]

Tam, our shed must be a barn. This scared the shit out of me tonight when it almost flew into my face.

 

image.jpg

Excellent!! I hope I FIND something worth a fortune next time I go to the Barn 

Do you think my P6's will be worth more with genuine Barn Owl shit on them !! 

[Bear]

Been out looking at cars, always good to meet new people who are clearly mad about cars of all kinds.

[barrett]

I've managed a full eight days with a five-car fleet. Eight glorious days. Because I'm broke and have enough projects and certainly don't need another French car that is gonna need a load of cash thrown at it before it can be driven.

 

I'm an idiot

[scruff]

Ratty Dutch A7 has, as suspected

 

 

some body rotten... you must maintaian this

 

Also, zilcho history, which is a big shame as I love that kind of thing.

He also has a 80% restored box saloon with my wife and I's initials on the original GB plates and buff log book, but I'm not sure the arsedness or skillz reach to vintage car bodging (and it would be a bodge from me, the work so far looks superb) and besides which he has taken a deposit on it. 

 

Also also, add in ferries etc and it's not a lot cheaper than a really smart but 'lived in' one. Next!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Stuck at the parent's place with a car which needs push starting and lacks a functioning clutch.

 

They are dead set against the whole "shite" thing, in Dad's words "You need £3k to buy a good car. Cheap cars are cheap for a reason". Words have been said, Scotland is crap for cheap cars that aren't rotten and at this rate I'm going to end up back on finance...

 

It's grim times for sure.

 

This is balls man, there are floods of cheap late 90's cars knocking about that are worthless but are perfectly good transport. Spend £500 on a Rover 620 or summert and you'll still be driving it in 10 years time if you chuck a bit of waxoyl in its rear arches now and then.

[drum]

Excellent!! I hope I FIND something worth a fortune next time I go to the Barn

Do you think my P6's will be worth more with genuine Barn Owl shit on them !!

I'll try and get a pic of the owl sitting on your '64 P6 for confirmation of its barn find status. It might have scratchy toe nails though.

[Asimo]

SWMBO's Subaru failed it's mot: rear subframe needs welding, brake pipe, drop link, wheel bearing, exhaust hanger welding. As it is due a cambelt and the immobiliser is playing up, maybe this is time to trade it in (with a month of mot left to run)?

 

So I was mulling all this over while the tester was completing his test screen, and he starts swearing and shouting at the computer - he had clicked on pass rather than fail! He reckons there is no way to correct the error and didn't want to let the car go until it WAS roadworthy as he had just given it a ticket. He was in a real panic about this, offered to do all the work for nothing to prove he wasn't scamming me. This is a proper old fashioned rural garage who have been "on my side" for years so I don't think he was trying it on, but a good discount will be welcome as I have already spent £250 there this week on mot and belts for the van.

 

Proper stupid this new mot computer system, if you really can't undo a simple wrong click!

[Richard]

You definitely won't find a car to end your worries at £3000, and it'll be a £500 car within a year or two no matter how much money you sink into it.

 

Talking of £500 cars, I put the 850 in for its MOT this morning. I'd had a look over and fixed the things I could see- rear shock top mount (the cause of the jiggling that DW observed in his video), fitted the missing bolt to the ex-Krujoe towbar (total chancer, dropped half the towbar on the M6. Avoid.), replaced both drop links again, quick roll call of the lights and replaced a CV boot. It sailed through with no advisories, although I did get a "wheels look shit" verbal advisory.

[JohnK]

Agreed it is bollocks.

 

Took the missus out for a meal last night, mode of transport was the £200 Avensis.

 

Reason?

 

10k BMW has shredded a tyre due to suspension issues caused by the other halves driving, costing £££££ to sort.

 

£1300 Civic has developed a horrendous thudding sound over bumps, it does sound and feel like the exhaust banging the subframe but it progressively got worse on the journey from our house that we had to stop at my dads on the way to swap into the Avensis.

 

Proof that you don't need mega bucks for reliable transport.

[Bear]

This is balls man, there are floods of cheap late 90's cars knocking about that are worthless but are perfectly good transport. Spend £500 on a Rover 620 or summert and you'll still be driving it in 10 years time if you chuck a bit of waxoyl in its rear arches now and then.

 

Yep. Jen's Saab 9-3 - 2.0i auto, climate control, £395 in April, hasn't had anything spent except fuel and a new antenna stalk, everything works, no rust... Hell, the Honda - £170 and sticky brake aside it did a 250 mile drive without a hitch, in comfort.

 

My dad always had the manta that you couldn't get a GOOD car for under £1000. I think he was fair in that - most bangers have needed wear & tear items to be safe and reliable which push them up to £1000 particularly if you don't DIY - but then he's from an era when cars rusted horribly. Their Razoredge Karmann Ghia was scrapped at 8 years old because the body rot and a seized steering box killed it. These days things like Peugeots barely rust.

[Bear]

Proof that you don't need mega bucks for reliable transport.

 

But you do need half a brain to keep it reliable - either in driving approach or maintenance.

[dollywobbler]

I think you definitely need a serious dose of dedication to keep pre-1980s stuff going as daily transport. I admire those that do (Seth, Angry Dicky to name just two on here) a great deal. Note that both those two are handy with bodywork...

 

You have to be prepared to do a fair bit of tinkering too. Even with my 90s XM, I have to put the effort in every now and then, even if it's something small and easy like replacing ARB drop links, or just doing a basic service. 

[Bear]

The Mercs keep me busy - E320 is right now intakeless as I'm cleaning it all and sorting the gearbox leak. Car cost £900. Service was about £100 in materials. Now, take away time, space and tools - how much is the invoice for A-service, new ATF oil/filter/pin bushing and clean & refurb EGR etc...

[Lacquer Peel]

You can't go far wrong with a decent quality 1990s car. My Volvo has lived in the north of Scotland for most of its 18 years and has hardly any rust.

As others have said, a £3k car could have as many if not more problems than a decent £500 one. I'm not saying a £500 1990s car won't need attention, but the right one won't need the constant fettling you're sick of.

[dave21478]

The main problem with a £3k car is that if / when it needs £1200 in repairs you HAVE to spend it, but a car in the 300 - 800 price range is disposable when the big bills arrive and can be replaced for another in the same price range.

[cort16]

The a2 a 1.4 se. We don't need a dirty diesel and I read 1.6fsi is more complex and we don't need anything fast. It still does 40mpg. It very modern inside other than it has a cassette player. The body on this one is very tidy and the best thing is there'll never be any rust!

 

[Lacquer Peel]

Someone at my work has a diesel one, it sounds like a Kubota 3-pot tractor. Very appealing.

[wuvvum]

I do like those A2s.  The only thing I hold against them is that they were (iirc) the first car deliberately designed so the engine wasn't accessible by the owner.  Because of this I see them as kind of "the beginning of the end".  They're still a nice looking little thing though, and I'd have one if one came up at the right price.

[Cavcraft]

I hardly ever see an A2, yet recently there's been floods of the things locally. One road a few hundred yards away must hold half the owner's club worth of 'em.

 

In not exactly exciting news, the now-not-for-sale-as-I've-fixed-the-handbrake-myself-thanks-to-the-internet FIAT is shortly going to be wearing a nearly new tyre from the part worn place, a new (from the scrapyard) rear light and a jump start, as it's stood for weeks. Thena  'fingers crossed' MOT appointment next week.

 

Oh, I drove the Berlingo to get he parts today, no sign of a fuel leak now and it went very nicely indeed and started first time. God knows what caused the diesel/veg to leak out then stop, bit of a mystery but I'm not complaining.

[dollywobbler]

I like A2s, BUT the decision to put style ahead of rear visibility is rather annoying (see also Honda Civic). However, pantograph wiper is ALL OF TEH WINS.

[Sigmund Fraud]

Due to total fleet fail, I'm in urgent need of a daily driver... I shall therefore be spending the weekend resurrecting my hideous Lupo, which I rescued from the frag machine six months ago and which has been sitting in a field untouched since then... Expect a long, anti-VW rant later today !

[Lacquer Peel]

The only thing I hold against them is that they were (iirc) the first car deliberately designed so the engine wasn't accessible by the owner.

 

That's a fallacy, the bonnet is quite easy to open via two catches IIRC. Engine access doesn't look amazing once you open it up but no worse than a "cab forward" van.

[scaryoldcortina]

SWMBO's Subaru failed it's mot: rear subframe needs welding, brake pipe, drop link, wheel bearing, exhaust hanger welding. As it is due a cambelt and the immobiliser is playing up, maybe this is time to trade it in (with a month of mot left to run)?

 

So I was mulling all this over while the tester was completing his test screen, and he starts swearing and shouting at the computer - he had clicked on pass rather than fail! He reckons there is no way to correct the error and didn't want to let the car go until it WAS roadworthy as he had just given it a ticket. He was in a real panic about this, offered to do all the work for nothing to prove he wasn't scamming me. This is a proper old fashioned rural garage who have been "on my side" for years so I don't think he was trying it on, but a good discount will be welcome as I have already spent £250 there this week on mot and belts for the van.

 

Proper stupid this new mot computer system, if you really can't undo a simple wrong click!

 

 

I don't know what he did there! If you have entered any failure items, the computer only lets you issue a fail and if you haven't you can only pass. There isn't a box where you can choose either. Also, just in case he accidently clicked "issue MOT" from the bottom of the page before adding the failures the system will ask for his PIN number to confirm before going ahead.

 

Having said that, it's the sort of thing my AE manages to cock up too.