Daewoo Leganza Resurrection

[shedinagarden]

Firstly, I need to apologise for being PeopleShite. I've barely contributed a thing here since acquiring my beautiful Leganza around a year ago. Possibly the shittiest AutoShiter ever...?

Anyway, desperately hoping to make up for my significant shortcomings (a process I've learned a lot about over the course of my marriage), I come with motoring news and hopefully good news for every avid Daewoo enthusiast.

I have had an epiphany, but I need to elaborate first.

I first acquired the Daewoo when my 2003 Mercedes W220 S320CDI decided to cost me a fortune, and financial pressures at the time meant it needed to be laid up pending a property sale and it was cheaper to buy a temporary motor from the sub-£500 world of cars that probably won't see another MOT. 

In that year, the 2003 S320CDI was bodged and sold quickly, and a 2008 W221 S320CDI came along to replace it. When the Daewoo tax ran out, it was simply laid up and has stayed that way for 9 months. 

That was until last week, when I finally snapped.

The W221 has cost me £8k in maintenance alone since January. My other Merc, a 2003 W211 E320CDI estate has also managed to chew through front bushes in less than 18 months, and quite frankly I'm sick with Mercs. No sooner is one job done, another shockingly expensive one will come and bite me in the ass.

Meanwhile, my other bus-driving colleagues with their very average flotilla of Peugeots, Skodas, Fords and Vauxhalls have a much easier time of it. Even the company Vauxhall Zafira has managed 3 years of heavy-handed abuse with not so much as a single bush or arm needing replacement.

It was in this moment of contemplation that I realised the Mercs have to go if I am really going to be a responsible, mature 32 year old and put my family and future financial security ahead of running the big Benzes.

So, I have decided the S and E classes can be sold, leaving enough in the pot for a nice boring little family car for the missus to potter around in. Meanwhile, I'll simply go back to the Daewoo, right?

Well... almost. The Daewoo has other ideas. I threw it in for an MOT without so much as a look under the wheelarches after 9 months idle to find a significant "to do" list.

It was probably upon removing the offside sill cover that cleverer, logical men would walk away from the 12 inch cavern that greeted them, as opposed to the sill that really should be there. Never mind the 4 shitty discs, the corroded brake pipes, worn wheel bearing, damaged ABS sensor, cloudy headlamps blah blah.

Well, in some frankly ridiculous wave of sentimentality and a quick look at howmanyleft.co.uk, I decided I have some absurd duty of care to this remarkable* survivor - now one of only around 60 left, and as an auto, one of only 35. 

So, I have some remarkable deals on parts through work: very cheap discs and pads thanks to Euro Car Parts looking to clear stock. All the bits I need sourced from either ECP or FleaBay for £135 in total, a very friendly boss offering to do most of the work in exchange for me taking some shit Xmas party work over the next month or so, and a friendly welder only a phone call away means this piece of automotive history should live to tell the tale for another few years yet. I'm almost wondering if I can have the last Leganza standing in 5 years time. 

So, that's where we are. Everyone bored yet....?

Check back for more ramblings in the next few weeks as the Leganza comes back to life!

[brownnova]

Great work! Leganzas are good looking things! Good to see one being loved!! 

[spartacus]

Props to you for saving it. It's got to be worth it, I wouldn't normally comment on automotive finances because they never make much sense but £8000 on maintenance in 11 months is insane!

[Billy - Medhurst]

Can we see some more pictures of this. I liked the look of these but have not seen one up close for about 10 years!

[Spiny Norman]

Leganzas are fab!
I had one a few years back, bought from a local garage when my previous wheels went pop and it turned out to be a far nicer car than I'd hoped. I'd have kept it longer but someone waved a cheap XJ6 under my nose.
Nice to see one getting some love.
 

[dollywobbler]

Loving the Leganza. There's one in Horopito Motors New Zealand if you need parts and don't mind a long flight.

[shedinagarden]

7 hours ago, spartacus said:

Props to you for saving it. It's got to be worth it, I wouldn't normally comment on automotive finances because they never make much sense but £8000 on maintenance in 11 months is insane!

It certainly is sir! OK, much of it shouldn't need doing again for 100k+ miles: turbo, torque converter, brake pipes over the rear axle, one air strut etc etc. But when I earn £23k a year and commit 50% of that to paying the rent on my flat, then it's a considerable proportion of my income. 

But yes, you are right. Motoring finances are the subject of much "man maths" and tenuous justification in all households! Haha

[shedinagarden]

6 hours ago, Billy - Medhurst said:

Can we see some more pictures of this. I liked the look of these but have not seen one up close for about 10 years!

You certainly can. This one was my favourite from Tuesday...

In all seriousness, if you wang yourself across to here, when I tried to sell the old girl, you should find a whole host of photos!

 

 

 

[eddyramrod]

Bored?  As if!  I love a Leganza though I've never owned one.  I drove one at launch back in 98 and I don't think I've so much as sat in one since, but the launch car made a good impression on me, despite having the learner box.  I'm a big BIG fan of auto, so extra Shite points for saving one so equipped.  Carry on young man, good work!

[tooSavvy]

I'd love the opportunity to swap *"mines bigger than yours" stories...

*about sill perforations

.... however my Carina seems to be immune from serious Weetabix - thus far.

A competent sparkly glue operator + fundamentally robust & reliable offering = Leganza heaven, in my book....

Auto FTW

[barefoot]

46 minutes ago, eddyramrod said:

... car made a good impression on me, despite having the learner box...

Liked for 'Learner Box'.

[shedinagarden]

4 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Bored?  As if!  I love a Leganza though I've never owned one.  I drove one at launch back in 98 and I don't think I've so much as sat in one since, but the launch car made a good impression on me, despite having the learner box.  I'm a big BIG fan of auto, so extra Shite points for saving one so equipped.  Carry on young man, good work!

I thank you, kind sir! I've always run auto Mercs, and driving a manual coach for a living always made me want a more relaxing drive in my own time.

When my good* lady needed to get a license with serious time pressure, she went auto only. I don't see the point in the expense of upgrading her to manual now: there's no shortage of decent autos out there. So, when I needed a spare car, it had to be auto just incase the missus ever needed it. Since she also drives a Merc, she has needed the Daewoo on numerous occasions, although she's not as keen on it as me! Then again, she doesn't get the bill from our local Mercedes specialist either! ??

4 hours ago, tooSavvy said:

I'd love the opportunity to swap *"mines bigger than yours" stories...

*about sill perforations

I'm taking this as a win. It's the first time I've been in any position to brag about having anything bigger!! 

Great news about your Carina though! Hopefully my next family purchase will prove to be as rust resistant as that!

[Billy - Medhurst]

14 hours ago, shedinagarden said:

You certainly can. This one was my favourite from Tuesday...

In all seriousness, if you wang yourself across to here, when I tried to sell the old girl, you should find a whole host of photos!

 

 

Cheers - Looks a good old beastie. Little bit of love should see it good.

[shedinagarden]

I have an update for y'all!

So, the Daewoo has been receiving some much needed attention over the last few days, getting those MOT failure boxes ticked off slowly.

I started with the most important* bit... polishing the headlamps back to life after it failed on a lack of beam pattern. Parked up to a wall after and quite a clear pattern now visible. 

My boss arranged for a local reputable mobile welder the company uses to come out and see to the sill. Unfortunately I wasn't there at the time, but more clean-up and protection is needed to keep his work good for years to come. He's used chassis silver by the look of it, but I'd rather clean up and protect the whole sill, front to back. Can anyone recommend a good product? The car is surrounded by high value buses and coaches, so something I can brush on rather than spray would be ideal.

Tomorrow we see to the brakes! New discs and pads all round!

[mrbenn]

Good work! Nice to see one of these being given the attention it deserves.

[TrabbieRonnie]

Excellent!  Wasn't the car I thought it was when I saw the thread title, I think it was an Espero(?!) or something I was thinking of?  Anyway, well done, this is how we're actually going to save the planet!  

[Fumbler]

23 hours ago, shedinagarden said:

Can anyone recommend a good product? The car is surrounded by high value buses and coaches, so something I can brush on rather than spray would be ideal.

 

I certainly can!

For here I'd use Bilt-Hamber Dynax UB, because hard wax that goes runny and heals in warm weather. It's good (stinky) heavy duty stuff.

For everything else I'd do the high zinc content primer treatment, stonechip and then the finest colour matched* paint you can find!

[shedinagarden]

12 hours ago, Fumbler said:

I certainly can!

Thank you Fumbler for the excellent and thorough recommdation.

Unfortunately, in the meantime, the deed has been done: there's a hefty three coats of stonechip on there now, after cleaning up any other crusty looking bits. 

Fortunately, no colour match is required because all my sins will be covered when the original sill covers are refitted post-test. 

Sill covers, because That'll be the Daewoo!

[Fumbler]

Should be fine however Bilt-Hamber and most other dedicated undercoats are breathable and heal by design so they don't corrode the metal underneath and make the siruation worse. As far as I'm aware, stonechip isn't breathable so as long as the place was dry when you applied it, you should be fine. Just check periodically and all that jazz

7 hours ago, shedinagarden said:

Thank you Fumbler for the excellent and thorough recommdation.

Unfortunately, in the meantime, the deed has been done: there's a hefty three coats of stonechip on there now, after cleaning up any other crusty looking bits. 

Fortunately, no colour match is required because all my sins will be covered when the original sill covers are refitted post-test. 

Sill covers, because That'll be the Daewoo!

 

[shedinagarden]

@Fumbler Thank you for that too! I am new to this rustproofing thing, as you can tell. Rather surprising, considering I'm a recovering Mercaholic. 

It was stored in a dry workshop while I did the work, so hopefully will be OK.

In a years time, I'll crack the sill covers off again and have a check. 

 

[shedinagarden]

22 hours ago, TrabbieRonnie said:

Excellent!  Wasn't the car I thought it was when I saw the thread title, I think it was an Espero(?!) or something I was thinking of?  Anyway, well done, this is how we're actually going to save the planet!  

Since the Leganza came in to my life, I've become a lot more knowledgeable* about the Daewoo line-up!

Yes, there was an Espero, and that was the wedge-shaped saloon that preceded the Leganza: actually a much better looker it was too, but shhh, don't tell the Leganza I said that. The last thing I want is for it to revolt further!

As an aside, there's a £595 Daewoo Nexia auto (you know, the facelifted Astra MK2) in red with 12 months MOT on AutoTrader if anyone else wants to join the Daewoo Owners Club!?!?

[bigfella2]

Stone chip is porous in the same way primer is, so I would suggest going over it with paint or underseal before the sill covers go back on.

[shedinagarden]

3 minutes ago, bigfella2 said:

Stone chip is porous in the same way primer is, so I would suggest going over it with paint or underseal before the sill covers go back on.

Thank you for that @bigfella2 - I'm on it! 

[Wingz123]

For what it's worth I saw a green (were they ever in any other colour) Daewoo Espero today looking extremely messy in Putney. I would have loved to get a picture of it but I had people in the back and would have just looked weird had I asked them if I could stop to take a picture "....of that Daewoo Espero..." ?

[shedinagarden]

@Wingz123 - shocking excuse! Haha!

What is it the kids say?? Y.O.L.O (for an Espero)??

[Parky]

Lovely Leganza and it wears those wheels well.   So nearly a Jag too (Kensington concept).

 

[shedinagarden]

19 hours ago, Parky said:

Lovely Leganza and it wears those wheels well.   So nearly a Jag too (Kensington concept).

She is a beauty for sure - I actually prefer the Daewoo front compared to the very Octavia-esque look of the headlamps and grille on the Jag.

Good grief. This car is changing me.

[Chris2cv]

Good to see this being saved, Daewoos seem to have completely died out around here. My uncle had a Lanos, which was a nice car. Maybe not the greatest, but a great warranty and that made a lot of people (including him) confident enough to buy one. My brother inherited it, but as a 17 year old, drove it in a very different was to the average Daewoo driver and it was not well when he sold it. It seems to have died a couple of years later, just before it's 10th birthday and with barely 50,000 miles. 

[shedinagarden]

@Chris2cv - mine is a smidgeon shy of 50k and also, by rights, should have died this year. Any "normal" car owner would have sent it for scrap at this MOT.

They're old motors now, but the average Daewoo owner never went very far - village shop 4 times a week and once a week to the nearest supermarket is about the sum total of it I think!

[robinmasters]

On 11/14/2019 at 10:14 PM, shedinagarden said:

...The W221 has cost me £8k in maintenance alone since January...

As the kids say (or did say some time ago and I haven't caught up), WTAF?