The most modern old shite you can get away with?

[Datsuncog]

I haven't yet found this thing fail to cope with anything I've thrown at it.

Load-lugging, motorway driving, mobile skip, fording flooded roads... it just gets on with it, no drama. Only 1300cc but goes well enough.

All it's needed so far has been tyres and a couple of bulbs.

It even has cup holders and central locking.

Not exactly outstanding at anything, but good at pretty much everything.

Would recommend.

[Muniphobia]

6 hours ago, New POD said:

It's red, but not that shade. 

I don't think it is the colour of the car that is being referred to

[tom13]

1 hour ago, Datsuncog said:

I haven't yet found this thing fail to cope with anything I've thrown at it.

Load-lugging, motorway driving, mobile skip, fording flooded roads... it just gets on with it, no drama. Only 1300cc but goes well enough.

All it's needed so far has been tyres and a couple of bulbs.

It even has cup holders and central locking.

Not exactly outstanding at anything, but good at pretty much everything.

Would recommend.

Close the thread now. You won't do better than one of these. Will just go on and on. Keep on top of the underbody protection though.

[CrapCarNerd]

Thanks for all the car choices! I guess i'm thinking: mk1/2 Focus , Volvo C30 (what are Volvo S40 's like?) , Most Toyota stuff or Mk8 Civics although i'm not totally keen on the look. I also heard on a youtube video Merc C or E classes are good (w203) but I always though that wasnt the case? 

I should have mentioned I tried to get into the modern world of Car last year with a Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI .Which was cared for and 2 owners. In my month long ownership it died due to a failed oil pump just after I had a timing belt. I know this doesnt reflect a whole brand but I was a bit gutted... I had plans for that van so probably wont go back to vauxhall immediately. 

[sierraman]

A Mk1 Focus could be good but most left are rusty old rubbish. Occasionally you see a nice one that someone’s had years could be worth having. Japanese cars, whilst good, seem to get kept until they’re fucked. But likewise if you can find one that hasn’t done time on the taxi circuit or deliveries then could be ok. 

[New POD]

9 hours ago, Supernaut said:

Oh, get you Mr Fancypants, requiring a colour-coded brick for your throttle pedal!

Doh.  Thanks for explaining the joke. I thought you were likening it to a brick. Or offering to put a brick through the window.

 

[jon.k]

I saw an amazing Carina going down the M4 with bikes on the roof on the weekend, but an avensis might be more the trick these days?

[De Selby]

4 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

I haven't yet found this thing fail to cope with anything I've thrown at it.

Load-lugging, motorway driving, mobile skip, fording flooded roads... it just gets on with it, no drama. Only 1300cc but goes well enough.

All it's needed so far has been tyres and a couple of bulbs.

It even has cup holders and central locking.

Not exactly outstanding at anything, but good at pretty much everything.

Would recommend.

This is spot on. I've had a series of these in the next (early 2000s) body shape and they are nearly indestructible; with proper maintenance they should achieve spacecraft mileages. Not overly fond of the gearboxes but you can't have everything.

[wuvvum]

9 hours ago, warch said:

I never really liked the FIAT engined diesel variants, they went well but seemed prone to borkage.

The 8-valve versions aren't too bad, it's the 16-valve engine which was a pain in the arse.  Both were paragons of reliability compared to the smeg-awful 3-litre V6 Isuzu engine though.

[warch]

26 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

The 8-valve versions aren't too bad, it's the 16-valve engine which was a pain in the arse.  Both were paragons of reliability compared to the smeg-awful 3-litre V6 Isuzu engine though.

I quite liked the 1.9 engine, even though it was pretty ropey when fitted with a dpf. I know they sold Cora’s 1.3s by the thousand but I do remember quite a few mechanically fucked ones clogging up eBay and the Trader back in the day. 

[DSdriver]

On 10/19/2022 at 7:29 PM, horriblemercedes said:

I think the main things I really want in a car to use every day are these:

 

1: electronic fuel injection

2: electronic ignition

3: not horribly rusty

 

Really, I could go back pretty far with that criteria, as long as I got one that's not rusty 

My 1973 DS23 ticks all those boxes! (but I have spent a fortune on it)

[Stanky]

4 hours ago, CrapCarNerd said:

I also heard on a youtube video Merc C or E classes are good (w203) but I always though that wasnt the case?

I've got a W/S203 and its OK. I won it on a raffle on here for £19, 3 years ago. First MOT it needed a few bits but nothing awful, subsequent MOTs have been incident free. Rust is the big thing, they do like to rot. Arches, door bottoms, leading edges of bonnets. Underneath is a lottery. Mine is weirdly fine, but the MOT place always mention that 'its the best one we see' - which is slightly worrying considering the horrific lacquer peel, (treated, but lazily) rust on doors, boot, arches and bonnet. 

You also get the machine gunning of door locks due to extreme penny pinching in the lock springs, which are cheap to buy but a pain in the todger to change, including running the gauntlet of insta-death removing and refitting the airbag module in the door cards. The direction flap things in the cabin blower systems WILL make the clickety noise for 30s on every startup. Again, a cheap job but you will need to deconstruct the entire dashboard to fix so no-one bothers. 

The footbrake/handbrake idea is maximo retardo, tenfold on a manual car where I literally do not have enough legs to do a hill start. Its less of a concern on an auto though.

TBH parts aren't very expensive, its a duplex chain cam on my M111 (2.0 four cylinder) engine, the sump holds a ludicrous 6.5 litres of oil so it can tolerate longer service intervals (I still change the oil every 5-7k) and I get 32 mpg on a shitty commute or nearly 40mpg on a motorway run. 

TL;DR - its alright but you need to keep on top of the rust.

[Ghosty]

Another one for mk8 Civic; I have a 2008 Type R GT but you can't go wrong with any - look for a 1.8 Sport or similar in terms of sheer pragmatism. The petrols are chain driven, and have massive service intervals to boot - on the Type R, the chain interval is 130k and valve clearances (manual tappets!) at 100k. Great cars: comfortable and very well specced. The styling is an acquired taste for sure, but the ergonomics are absolutely fantastic, everything is laid out for the driver's ease of use and convenience. They're a great steer too. 

 

I'd also say literally any Corolla/Auris will do the job. 

[brownnova]

On 19/10/2022 at 18:59, CrapCarNerd said:

what is the most modern older shite you can buy/get away with? 

This. 

 

On 19/10/2022 at 18:59, CrapCarNerd said:

Love to hear what shite you come up! 

If I had to sell the fleet and only keep one to do everything it would be my Saab. Comfy, reliable (mostly) and feels safe and well made too. 

On 19/10/2022 at 18:59, CrapCarNerd said:

I'd prefer a 940 but in reality thats probably too old and not as safe.

I’d tend to disagree with that. The 940 would be a very capable daily as well, and they’re hewn from granite, very safe. 

 

[Dan302]

Mk1 Kia Ceed, mines a 2007 1.6 petrol and its great

[sierraman]

Probably an Insignia 1.8 petrol would be a decent shout, big, comfortable, not too much agg from the 1.8 Z18XER. £2,000 should get you a straight early one. Also about as desirable as a tramps shoe, so this could work in your favour. 

[motorpunk]

This is just a list of cars that rust like fuck, isn't it?

[LoftyvRS]

Clue's in my username.

Best car I have ever owned, and would still own today if it was not for ULEZ (when visiting clients in Birmingham and London) and getting a Labrador was my old Fabia vRS.

Pictured here in France in 2018 it was used for family holidays, 40k a year (mostly commuting), and I piled over 100k onto it in 2.5 years, taking it to 200k, it was solid, reliable, quick (ish) and good on fuel. Never ever let me down, could jump in and cover any distance without even thinking about reliability. Even modified it was ultra solid. Regular fastidious maint helped of course.

Used to get 52mpg tank after tank, and still adore PD's to this day. 

Yes the majority on the road are shitboxes now and they have the kind of reputation that is not exactly savoury but i'd still run one as a daily no bother if needed to.

[barefoot]

I'm planning to run my current daily drivers; an '87 Scirocco an an '02 Rover 75 for as long as possible. While parts are still available I see no reason to change... And I've got a 944 & a T2 tucked away for Sunday best & for holidays.

[Surface Rust]

I'm going to add my name to list for the mk8 civic ( you should have run a poll, like an AS equivalent to the monthly Tory leadership contest we now have).

I had to buy 'an modern car' when the first mini Surface Rust was born 8 years ago and I got a 58 plate 1.8 petrol. It hasn't put a foot wrong since (150k now) with just annual oil changes in that time. Averages 40-45mpg on short runs, and over 50mpg on motorway journeys.

It's a sweet engine too and loads of space inside.

[straightSix]

I think I'm one of the few people on here that hates their mk8 Civic. Haven't found it any more reliable than anything else tbh and the ride is gash. My usual answer to this is mk4 Astra with the 1.7 diesel although it's harder to find a good one nowadays or 3.0 legacy if mpg isn't an issue 

[Liggle]

I'm very happy with my MK2 Mazda 3 daily blend of simplicity, modern-ness and value.

2.0 N/A petrol Duratec/MZR engine so relatively simple apart from it being the direct injection version but its on 112k and still does 40+ MPG on a run and runs like a sewing machine.

People often think its newer than 2009, but its actually running most mechanical bits from early 00's Ford's and Mazda's. Its better specced than my neighbours 2019 Qashqai

[CrapCarNerd]

2 hours ago, motorpunk said:

This is just a list of cars that rust like fuck, isn't it?

haha most likely! 

 

1 hour ago, barefoot said:

I'm planning to run my current daily drivers; an '87 Scirocco an an '02 Rover 75 for as long as possible. While parts are still available I see no reason to change... And I've got a 944 & a T2 tucked away for Sunday best & for holidays.

I had this plan with my Escort mk3 but of course it got really rusty. Also to buy a "modern" car i'm probably going to have to sell my Escort or Capri... starting to look at nicer stuff too on Auutotrader that might be a bit too modern. I do like the idea of buying a Merc or something nice if I sell the Capri (feels like a bit of burn buying a normal car after this) I noticed the 2.1 W04 (c classes) seem to have dropped loads. is this due to them being gas guzzelers? Just an observation... Probably going off topic now. 

[sierraman]

Three pages in and nobodies suggested a Talbot Horizon Diesel. Tch this place...

[CrapCarNerd]

This is the more modern Merc I was talking about. Are these shite? they seem about £2k cheeper than last year when I was dreaming ...

[sierraman]

4 minutes ago, CrapCarNerd said:

This is the more modern Merc I was talking about. Are these shite? they seem about £2k cheeper than last year when I was dreaming ...

A mate had one with no issues. I’d try and find one that’s not been run on a shoestring though. 

[maxxo]

to add in

what's the most modern car i could get away with

well i suppose one that's registered really

or at the very least one that's actually finished being made

it's rather hard to drive the shells around before the rest of the car has been manufactured

[EyesWeldedShut]

On 10/20/2022 at 9:10 AM, Supernaut said:

Oh, get you Mr Fancypants, requiring a colour-coded brick for your throttle pedal!

I can get it bound in double contrast stitched calf hide in any colour to match any upholstery, 
£300 a brick,
Find me on etsy #cheaptatsolddear

[EyesWeldedShut]

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

Three pages in and nobodies suggested a Talbot Horizon Diesel. Tch this place...

My Dad had one  and thought it dire, then he bought a new Skoda Rapide. I left home....

Back to the thread - the Legacy already recommended is maybe worth a punt or an early Outback in the newer shape (2009 or so). I had a 2010  2.5 n/a petrol one and it was a really solid car - fairly easy to work on and nice to drive too. 

[Dobloseven]

14 minutes ago, maxxo said:

to add in

what's the most modern car i could get away with

well i suppose one that's registered really

or at the very least one that's actually finished being made

it's rather hard to drive the shells around before the rest of the car has been manufactured

Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines! Guess they mean something thats as new as possible, but with as little to go wrong as possible.