I’ve just bought two deceased OAP cars. NUMBER PL8 PR0N

[Angrydicky]

Just before Christmas a lineup of used cars started appearing outside a local farm. I drive past there everyday to work and back and always have a look, though it’s always dull modern stuff like Peugeot 207s and Ford C-Max, that sort of thing.

Earlier this week I did a double take as I drove past to see a pretty clean looking Mk1 Laguna, in ‘old man gold’. Obviously I stopped to have a look, the weather was miserable that day but it looked pretty tidy from what I could see. 
I’ve always liked these and they’ve really thinned out along with most of these 1990s family cars. Hadn’t seen one for at least a year or so. The price in the window was reasonable, and it was ONO.

I told my dad about it and he was keen to have a look, so we drove down on Saturday and had a poke around it. In the cold light of a warm sunny day I could see the rear arches were a bit scabby, seen a lot worse though, and it needed a pair of front discs soon. It was unlocked so we had a good poke about under the bonnet and inside, dipped the oil, it was on the full mark although dirty. It’s a 1.8 petrol manual in ‘Sport’ spec. I think that just means 16” alloys and a tailgate spoiler.

Rang the seller on the number in the window, he came out with the key and paperwork and fired it up. It sounded good and I couldn’t really fault it on a test drive. I was expecting it to have a slipping or at least high clutch, as it had been owned by an old man who had died, but it actually felt really good and pulled well.

Agreed a price, left a deposit and returned  half an hour later having made a visit to the post office to withdraw the balance.

On my return, we did the paperwork and were chatting about old cars when he said he had something else in the back that might interest me. Followed him down into his cavernous yard filled with all kinds of shite, old lorries, tractors and even a Peugeot 404 pickup. Right at the back was  a sorry looking red Rover 75. 
He explained it had belonged to his father, who died around Christmas and it’s just been sitting around since then. The mot had run out and it was pretty filthy, but what it did have in its favour was that it was a diesel auto, in Connoisseur SE spec with the lovely beige leather upholstery. It was pretty mint inside too, never smoked in. I agreed a price for that as well.

It started straight up with a jump and I drove it the mile or so home.

Back to the Renault.

All I could really fault with the way it drove was the clutch cable which was sticking a little bit when moving off in first or reverse. I disconnected it under the bonnet and hung it up, then dribbled 3-in-1 oil down it. This made a huge difference, and it feels incredibly smooth now. The clutch is also nice and light.
The interior was brown and sticky from all the nicotine. Everywhere the previous owner had touched was brown. It was pretty disgusting and I spent a whole day cleaning it and wet-vac’d the drivers seat. The others need doing as well but it’s not too bad now.

I’ve cleaned and polished the exterior and it’s come up really well, the chap who owned this car must have been a really careful driver as there’s no parking scrapes at all, the paintwork is in remarkable condition for a 24 year old motor. There’s a couple of tiny car park dings but you’ve got to look very hard to see them. In the boot, I found the original unused Michelin spare and the unused tool kit. The bonnet catches were very sticky, a weak point on the Laguna 1 and twice it jammed shut and I had to fiddle around with a screwdriver and pry bar to manipulate the catches from underneath and pop it open. Anyway,  I’ve cleaned and greased them up and they seem ok now, the plastic lever needs a good old pull up to release the bonnet but at least it does release every time now.

 

The mileage doesn’t show up, I googled it and it’s a common fault, the bulb blows so it can’t be illuminated but it’s still working. I shone a torch at it and managed to make out the actual mileage, 100,848.

I found the service book and, oh dear, the last stamp was for a major service in 2004 @ 40000 miles. Surely it had been serviced since then?

Unfortunately, I don’t think it had. The aux belt was a genuine Renault one and cracked all over, so the cambelt will be the original too. I’m not using it again until I replace it. I went to ECP and bought oil, oil filter,  air filter and plugs for it.

The oil had been in there so long it had a brown tinge to it, which had even stained the dipstick, the air filter was utterly filthy, and the spark plugs were seized in and when I did finally get them out, they were genuine Renault and the electrodes were all worn down.

Why do people neglect cars to this extent? I genuinely believe the last time this was serviced was 20 years and 60k ago.

I scrubbed up the dipstick to get the brown residue off it, and it’s looking a lot better now, but it’s so manky in there it really needs changing again. This abuse is testament to how strong these 1990s engines are, I’m sure a fragile modern engine wouldn’t take this abuse. It runs beautifully,  better than it did when I first got it but it really wasn’t bad then to be honest.

 

 

Over to the Rover.

I drove it home and the only thing I noticed was it was pulling to one side a bit. Checked the tyre pressures, 38, 33, 12, and 13. Well I guess it’s to be expected after months sitting around. Set them all at 30.

I’ve given it a once over for the mot and all it seems to need is one rear tyre (sidewall all split open) a windscreen washer pump and a small 3x2” patch on the os sill. It’s never been welded before and is in fantastic condition underneath for one of these. It’s only done 96k so has loads of life left in it.

Obviously it’s nowhere near as good bodily as the Renner but it looked quite presentable after a wash and polish.

First one I’ve had to use a toothbrush on to get the greenery out from around the windows, for quite a while. The boot on this one was full of water and the carpet and spare wheel were all mouldy, lovely. It runs and drives fantastically, it has only done 2000 miles since the last service. I’ve cleared out the bulkhead drains and a lot of water came out, once I got all the leaves out.

Bodywise it’s nowhere near as mint as the Laguna with a lot of parking dents and scrapes but being the SE it’s incredibly well-specced and all the toys still work, including the rear window blind!

Fatha-AD has taken a shine to the Rover so he’ll probably be having that. 
I’ll take the plate off the Laguna and will probably roffle it if there’s likely to be any interest in it, it will then hopefully revert back to its original reg X47 FBP and I’ll get some decent number plates made up for it. It’ll be good to get rid of the previous giffer’s homemade effort, as amazing as it was to save £15.

Once I’ve done the discs, pads and belts on the Renault I think it’ll be up for grabs as well as I just don’t have any use for it.

Personally I think getting two nice cars for a grand is pretty good going in 2024. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

[Lord Sterling]

Nice. Good set of cars those. The last time I drove a Laguna of that vintage was when @alcyonecorporation bought one off here from another shiter, I picked it up and delivered it for him. I honestly found it a good drive.

Loving the 'made-for-TV-by-a-US-production-team' looking numberplate, looks as if it was made in the US by someone who was told to make an "Bridish" looking number plate to make the car look British.

Not seen many 2.0 diesel 75s as autos. Must admit though, as much as I like the 75, I just don't think I'd ever go as far as buying one. I'll happily drive them, but it just doesn't do it for me as far as actually owning one.

And I love your garage where you're storing your cars. Especially the one where the 75 is kept.

[Matty]

Looks a good end result. Nice cars mk1 lagunas. Another example of the 90s being peak car in many respects 

[cpjitservices]

That gooner looks tremendous! Ya just dont get interiors like that anymore.

[Angrydicky]

12 minutes ago, Lord Sterling said:

Nice. Good set of cars those. The last time I drove a Laguna of that vintage was when @alcyonecorporation bought one off here from another shiter, I picked it up and delivered it for him. I honestly found it a good drive.

Loving the 'made-for-TV-by-a-US-production-team' looking numberplate, looks as if it was made in the US by someone who was told to make an "Bridish" looking number plate to make the car look British.

Not seen many 2.0 diesel 75s as autos. Must admit though, as much as I like the 75, I just don't think I'd ever go as far as buying one. I'll happily drive them, but it just doesn't do it for me as far as actually owning one.

And I love your garage where you're storing your cars. Especially the one where the 75 is kept.

I feel much the same as you do about the 75. They are nice cars but just don’t ’do it’ for me like the 600 and 800 do. I think it’s probably because they’re still fairly common. 
It will be the second one my dad has owned and this one is better specced than his last, a cheap KV6 with a blown head gasket that the previous owner had bodged with K seal and PX’d. It had been run out of coolant and cooked on the motorway (as the cooling fans didn’t work) hence the HgF.

[mk2_craig]

40 minutes ago, Angrydicky said:

Why do people neglect cars to this extent? I genuinely believe the last time this was serviced was 20 years and 60k ago.

I’ve caught my dad doing this, I think it’s largely down to advancing years. 1, five years in his world is probably six months in mine, and 2, he probably has some mental image of the car only having been serviced 1000 miles ago. This is of course exacerbated when the car has either an unreadable mileage, as in your case, or is an old Volvo where the odometer has Volvoed  (as with my dad). 

[bunglebus]

That rear plate looks like a lot of the ones seen in Ireland, don't know why they have oddball fonts sometimes 

[brownnova]

Great value from that trader!! Two great buys there by the looks of it! 

[Split_Pin]

Not sure on the Renner but the 75 is superb. Diesel Auto is the way to go for peace of mind. Personally I much prefer the 75 as earlier Rovers are just Hondas in my eyes. The 75 was the Company's swansong and they put everything into it. They are pretty well built and the metal used is thick. They are certainly few and far between up in Scotland now, I always get a nod from other 75 drivers, mainly because its like 'holy crap there are others still on the road!'. 

Anyway, great buy on both and I hope the 75 does your dad a good turn.

[artdjones]

The Rovers are lovely, and very impressive looking, but the Laguna is a better car( in my opinion). Those 1.8s are really smooth and durable, the seats are incredibly comfortable, and it's very nice to have a low dash that slopes away from you. My brother owned a 96 RN for 17 years in Spain with very little trouble, and it was one of the most pleasant cars to drive or be driven in I've ever experienced.

Here it is being dropped off at the breakers in 2019 aged 23. The paint was awful after all those summers of 30-40° sunshine. Replaced by a Kia Venga!😓

[fatharris]

MK1 Laguna's are excellent and you should give serious thought to keeping it

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[Spottedlaurel]

Nice purchasing AD!

The Laguna is the one I find more interesting. I used to have the odd drive of one back in the '90s, borrowing a colleague's company car for work trips. IIRC that was a 2.0 petrol, I remember it as having a supple, relaxed feel and I preferred it to 406s and Mondeos.

[Mrcento]

That Laguna is SEXY. Well bought on the pair of them.

[barefoot]

8 minutes ago, Spottedlaurel said:

The Laguna is the one I find more interesting. 

But only because I already own a Rover 75. Well bought, Sir. 

[danthecapriman]

Blimey, you got a right bargain on them I think.

The Rover is nice, but they just don’t really do much for me. I can see why people like them but they’re just not me!

The Laguna though… I’m not into French cars. But the mk1 Laguna’s were a good car! I remember working on them when they were much newer, the mk2 had just come out back then but there were loads of the mk1’s about still. I don’t really remember them causing much grief tbh, although the sticky bonnet catch I do remember!  
Always remember they were very comfortable cars to drive, very smooth and the seats were excellent.

The last one I worked on was an earlier one with the old engine and even with pretty high mileage on it was still a nice thing to drive. 
Another one of those cars that seemed to get to a point then almost disappear overnight.

[Jim Bell]

What a pair of bargains. Well bought man. Two cars for less than the price of a single rail ticket from Manchester to London on a Monday at peak times. 

 

 

 

Probably. 

[cpjitservices]

What a place to sit!

[eddyramrod]

Some darn good buying there, AD!  OK, neither car is one I would jump at but they both look like excellent value.  Well done sir!

[Bren]

I like mine - had the 2.0 8 valve. But it was auto - and trouble.

[cort16]

That Laguna is a good looking car.

[Datsuncog]

I do love a Mk1 Laguna (despite everything), and it's been a right few years now since I've seen one on the roads over here.

I'm impressed this one has survived with so much neglect, but delighted to see it getting a bit of much-needed servicing and deep-cleaning.

Still very capable and comfortable cruisers - hopefully you'll get to enjoy this for a bit!

[Datsuncog]

Sticky bonnet releases were dealt with on one of my Phase 1 Lagunas with some giffer home-brew quick release pins...

Think it was on the ill-starred 1.8 RT Sport.

Also had a 2.0 RT Sport in the same Fuji Green, which cost me £50.

It went off to be an engine donor, though.

Still miss my bASe spec 1.8 RN.

A truly great An Car.

 

[Richard_FM]

From what I remember the Laguna looks was designed by the same stylist as the Sierra.  I spot the odd one around, but they are hard to see these days near me.

[wuvvum]

Welcome to the wonderful world of copperleaf 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi automatic ownership.  They are fantastic old barges, if a tad underpowered in standard form. 

I do like that Gooner though.  Looks like it'll be a wonderfully comfortable thing to waft around in once it's had a service and valet.

[fatharris]

It's been five years since I took these so I'm airing them out again

Keep the Laguna!






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[sierraman]

Another one for the Laguna, very underrated car, tarnished with the reputation of the absolute dog egg that followed it. 

[BorniteIdentity]

Great work old chap. 

[wesacosa]

well bought. That Laguna is a fine looking machine 

[RoadworkUK]

Laguna really does look terrific.

75 is a bit of a find, too. They're at their most charismatic with the KV6, but the dizzle lump is probably better suited to their relaxed demeanour; just turn Classic FM loud enough to drown the clatter.

[Lankytim]

I keep forgetting what a handsome motor the Mk1 Laguna is. They’ve really died out now but there’s still a giffer motoring around in a silver one locally, complete with 500kgs of stick on tat, plus a couple in the abandoned 1990s breakers near here.