Bramz cars. A new thread. ANOTHER one

[bramz7]

I have had far too many cars in my not quite 8 years on the road. It went absolutely ballistic around 2017-2020, and then calmed down a little. It's still buried in there, waiting for me to relax and talk myself into buying something I don't need. 

So, here are the last few years of my automotive tapestry. (When you use words like that, it sounds dreamy, rather than a living nightmare).

This E39 was quite a good buy. It had been one owner, said former owner was only selling it due to ULEZ in his area. I think it cost me £800. He'd apparently got it new through some work scheme through the BBC. It drove well, it had lived outside it's whole life so the paintwork was not great. And of course, as per all my cars, it failed an MOT on rust. Once rectified I kept it for a little while longer but swapped it for something else....

In the meantime, I'd really been wanting something old and French. As if by magic, a MK1 Clio in absolute base spec appeared. One of the last 4 speed cars, manual everything. It was wonderful. I would have this back tomorrow if I could.  It had bare steel wheels when I got it, but a few years prior I'd managed to get some of those centre caps at a scrapyard, so finally put them to use. Good foresight eh?!!!

I swapped it for this. It was ok. I like the E46 but the 318 is so dull (competently so). Didn't keep this one long. 

Dunno how I ended up with this. 

Well actually I do, I won it on eBay for very little. It was a 16v 2.0, which sounded mega but it always felt like it wanted to explode. The paint was glittery, someone had gone to insane expense to repaint it. Unfortunately they'd neglected all the bodywork as it was insanely rusty so I sold it for parts. 

This is what I swapped my E39 for. A genuinely good car which had a nice bit of go to it, but I found it a bit numb dynamics wise so sold it. I sold it to someone who seemed a bit preoccupied mentally, which later turned out to be true.

I obsess over Stilos to this day, so when a nice enough three door JTD came up, I had to have it. Unfortunately it was in Carlisle, but I calculated that going up to buy it, driving up to my mum's and then driving it back after a train journey back home and back up for a holiday at hers made perfect sense. Kept it for a few months but I was walking to work by this point so barely used it. 

I swapped it for this early-ish Marea 115. Not a bad car, but scruffy enough to be a bit annoying and the 1.7, while nimble, was not to my tastes. 

In came this in response. Another cheap eBay buy. I went out to deepest London (Kent) to get it, the man selling it said the owner (the only owner) had got rid due to ULEZ. It was compliant though....I didn't mention this. Just a 1.8, but it was lovely. Comfortable and effortless in a sort of 'once it's up to speed it's fine' way. It did however blow all it's coolant on the MOT testers floor though, due to a pipe. That went down well. It passed shortly after and I've never been back. 

I then ended up with this stunner. 2.4 turbo IIRC, it went like stink if you booted it. It also drank like Oliver Reed. And the gearbox always made weird noises and clangs, so I was never too happy to drive it in traffic. As it was, I was only a custodian of it, friend of mine sold it for £alot recently, apparently they have a good following now.

BCA special Kangoo, 1.5 diesel. When I got it, the inside was absolutely soaking. The previous owner had never cleaned the drainage holes out so the water was coming behind the dashboard. It took ages and ages to dry it out, and the amount of mud I dug out was disgusting. Bloody good car though.

Another BCA buy, but this was fucking crap. I liked it for about three days and then hated it..they are dreadful cars in every way. Handles like it's on stilts, the seats are comfy for about 0.8 seconds before you have to adjust them again, there was brake fluid going into the intake, which also made the brakes pants...yeah never again. 

I'll post my current duo in the nest post. 

[bramz7]

And as some know, I currently have two on fleet which are:

Clio MK3 DCi, bought off of here. Really impressed with it, super cheap to run, quick enough to not ever be bothered, comfortable enough, just good at being a car. It somehow has had 13 owners, and has definitely been hit up the bum but it doesn't seem to mind. It may be unneeded in a few weeks or so, but I might just keep it as it's so damn dependable. Calculated about 60mpg out of it, how can I grumble?!

And this. I'd been missing a car which just seemed 'me'. And this is it. I was owed a car from a friend (who doubtless some of you know), and he had this up for grabs, so I asked, and I got. I had a 155 Marea a few years ago that I sold on here and regretted, so it was bound to happen again. I took it out earlier as I seldom have time to take a car for an impulse spin at the moment, and ashamedly, it made my day. The mid range on these things is stunning, it just seems to go quicker without any fanfare, aside from the 5 cylinder shriek. Lovely. 

I like the interior too. Not quite in keeping with the car. A period TG road test suggested it was boring to drive, which suggests to me the tester was a dullard who spent too long in supercars. 

There may be some incoming, if all falls into place. I hope so. 

[Lord Sterling]

Out of the above in the first post, only the BMW 5er, Clio and Volvo are still surviving. The Marea ran out of tax and test last year.

Also, I have some mats for the Fiat, I grabbed them out of a scrapped Bravo years ago "just in case". I haven't seen them since but I should still have them somewhere...

[AnnoyingPentium]

4 hours ago, bramz7 said:

I swapped it for this. It was ok. I like the E46 but the 318 is so dull (competently so). Didn't keep this one long. 

 

There was a silver 318 (I think) with the plate W953SCS near me for ages, sadly now scrapped. Probably from the same dealer, it's an Ayrshire registration code too.

[bramz7]

9 hours ago, Lord Sterling said:

Out of the above in the first post, only the BMW 5er, Clio and Volvo are still surviving. The Marea ran out of tax and test last year.

Also, I have some mats for the Fiat, I grabbed them out of a scrapped Bravo years ago "just in case". I haven't seen them since but I should still have them somewhere...

I'd happily take those mats if you've still got them, happy to pay you ofc.

Shame about the Saab, but it just wasn't me. The 75 was a great car, sometimes owning a car changes your perspective of something positively or negatively, and that was firmly the former. It's still even got valid MOT until March, but anything could have happened. 

7 hours ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

There was a silver 318 (I think) with the plate W953SCS near me for ages, sadly now scrapped. Probably from the same dealer, it's an Ayrshire registration code too.

Ah well, they're good cars but a 318 is pretty porridge. 

[Lord Sterling]

2 hours ago, bramz7 said:

I'd happily take those mats if you've still got them, happy to pay you ofc. 

Sweet, no worries. I'll try and find them. 

[bramz7]

Feels a bit alien to say nothing much has changed, when it used to be the case I'd be changing cars every two weeks.

Went to view a really tidy Stilo yesterday, the guy had owned it since new and it had done 20k. Yes, 20k. And it was a manual 2.4. With a working piano roof!

I agreed to buy it for the asking price, he then asked if I'd offer more...to which I said no. He's got other people wanting to view it so I just said to give it to them if they offer more. It's also got an electrical fault which could very well be easy to fix, or not, as it's a Fiat, but given the mileage I was willing to give it a punt. Not anymore!

 

Should be collecting the 405 in the coming week or so, which is great as I've not had a 'proper' French car for far too long. 

 

The Marea is, or should be, for sale. I seem to attract bellends when I drive it, I've been cut up and pulled out on endlessly which has never happened in any other car. And I enquired to get some heavy servicing done at a well regarded Coupe specialist who utterly ignored me. So I'm not sure who or what I've upset by owning this car! Anyone want a scruffy 20v for £750? 

[adw1977]

2 hours ago, bramz7 said:

I agreed to buy it for the asking price, he then asked if I'd offer more...to which I said no. He's got other people wanting to view it

What a bellend.  Who is going to offer more than the asking price?  I hope he wastes a huge amount of his time and ends up selling it for less.

[bramz7]

Further to the above Stilo seller, he contacted me a few days ago saying someone had offered £3500 unseen. What sort of mental moneybags does that? 

Anyway, enough of that bizarre encounter. Today was good as I collected this:

I had always wanted another 2.0 auto 405, and for once I actually made good in what I'd said, and got one. Thanks to @carlo for a very easy and smooth transaction and for picking me up from the station.

The drive back was marred by some genuinely terrible driving, awful traffic and slightly too warm weather, but myself and the car got back in one piece and I barely ache at all, I'd forgotten how good the 405 is at being a car. 

Nice to have a nice old car again. 

Anybody want a Marea? Genuinely would take any offer above £450 at this point. 

 

[Wibble]

I’ll be keeping an eye out for you, looks ace.

[bramz7]

I think the 405 deserves some better photos so here goes:

 

 

It really is a brilliantly lovely car, and one that has made me like owning old cars properly again. 

 

I would quite like to get some new tyres put on, the tread on the ones it has is fine, but they are showing their age. Not really much else to worry about, the scabby bit on the roof aside but it doesn't look terrifying and doesn't react to a prod so that can be left for the moment. 

 

Someone please buy my Marea. I just want it to go to someone who appreciates it for what it is. I will regret it, I know. 

[carlo]

You'll never sell a good 405 Sam 😉.

(Unless you have another one).

[bramz7]

3 minutes ago, carlo said:

You'll never sell a good 405 Sam 😉.

(Unless you have another one).

Not yet. I'd quite enjoy the idea of a 1.9D in base flavour I think. 

[Kringle]

I'm really liking the seats in that 405, when did we stop doing piping around the edges?

[High Jetter]

4 minutes ago, Kringle said:

I'm really liking the seats in that 405, when did we stop doing piping around the edges?

When craftsmanship became too expensive.

[Matty]

1 hour ago, High Jetter said:

When craftsmanship became too expensive.

When leather became the default luxury choice. A well done velour interior and some bugger thought leather was better 🙄

[Low ontime]

Interesting cars! Never seen a Fiat merea before…

what was the Fiat coupe like to drive? I think they look great… 

[bramz7]

7 hours ago, Low ontime said:

Interesting cars! Never seen a Fiat merea before…

what was the Fiat coupe like to drive? I think they look great… 

Very direct handling, the throttle was almost instant when touched. It was a fun car but the rust was quite unsettling, obviously I expected some given it's a 90s Fiat but I've not managed to prod a hole in a boot floor with my finger for a while. 

I completely get the Coupe hype after briefly owning one, that's for sure. I think the 16v Lampredi is a superb engine. 

[Lord Sterling]

Very nice. I was passing up past Halesowen towards Stourbridge when I spotted this example of a white 20p stuck-in-the-handbrake 405;

[Scruffy Bodger]

Glad you're enjoying the 405, passengers have remarked several times on just how comfy the seats are and how good the ride is in mine. They just do everything a car needs to do and the only time they moan at you is to tell you you've left the lights on, no other nonsense.

Wish I had a set of those centre caps!

[Low ontime]

On 19/08/2024 at 08:00, bramz7 said:

Very direct handling, the throttle was almost instant when touched. It was a fun car but the rust was quite unsettling, obviously I expected some given it's a 90s Fiat but I've not managed to prod a hole in a boot floor with my finger for a while. 

I completely get the Coupe hype after briefly owning one, that's for sure. I think the 16v Lampredi is a superb engine. 

Same engine  as lancias intergrale ? 

The lancia is still the only car that made my belly muscles ache from the acceleration pull….. over 20 years ago as a passenger 

[HMC]

I loved my 405 Dturbo estate i bought (for £500) in 2009 off a mate; N170VRW. he had if from almost new (bought from rootes maidstone) and  he used to like showing off the ride and handing prowess by never slowing  down for speed bumps 😂 plus scaring me by chucking it into corners and overtaking wherever possible ( he used to switch the a/c off for maximum attack)

[bramz7]

The only 405 diesel I ever had was a GLDTurbo I bought from a very old man in Finsbury Park, a particularly rough part as well..he was so old he could barely talk so his neighbour did all the speaking. 

I remember driving it out of London on a particularly warm day and seeing a lot of smoke coming out of the exhaust, presumably due to it actually being used and driven. I spent about 15 painful minutes in traffic on the north circular thinking it was going to cook itself, but the fans finally kicked in before the gauge got to the red. It was fully kitted out with brown velour, but had the early eggshell dashboard which creaked and moaned if you even looked at it. 

 

I think I sold it as I had bought yet another 605. Not my worst move but in the end I preferred and still do prefer the 405. 

I had a Renault 21 at the same time! Madness. I love old French tat so much, I'd do bad bad things for a Citroen ZX in 1.9D flavour now. 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I've still got the old Volvo S80 D5 I bought from you a few years ago. Its on 252k now, was about 185k when I bought it I think. I've done the cam belt and water pump twice now! Last year was a bit spendy with a new genuine volvo clutch and DMF, and also new shocks all round and new front springs. But, it just keeps going and I still love driving it. Had a brief panic last week when it forgot how to play CD's in its fantastic 7-speaker stereo, but I pulled the fuses and put them back which jogged its memory. Doing a genuine 50mpg too.

[bramz7]

Ha! That S80 was a good car, I think I bought it off some 18 year old in Farnborough who got me to meet him in a Wetherspoons when he was halfway through a meal with a friend, which was proper odd now I look back. 

Glad it is still serving you well. 

[Lord Sterling]

A Renault 21 Savannah! One of most favourite of Renaults. Anymore pics? What was the story with it?

I am honestly wanting to buy a 21 estate just for the utter usefulness of them and comfy squishy seats. A daily 21 would be lovely.

I've got a great combination of cars now that I'll be looking to keep long term, but sometime back when I had my 407 I wouldn't have minded a 405 to compliment it.

[bramz7]

@Lord Sterling

It was a 1.7 petrol. It drove quite well, not especially quickly or economically but it was marshmallow like but also felt quite dainty. It didn't feel quite as tough as a 405, which showed as it was obscenely rusty in weird places despite being so tidy on top. 

Someone drove it around untaxed and uninsured for ages as I got a fine for it. Soured the car a little bit tbh. Overall, would buy again but personally I enjoyed my R18 and MK1 Laguna's more so. The former was so much more solid. 

[Six-cylinder]

I preferred your mad stage when in about 2 years I bought 3 x Citroen AXs from you!

I still have the last one, the MK1 14TRS in good condition I bought in Dec 2019. 

[bramz7]

Very pleased you still have it. Unfortunately the social club car park owners or whatever were really upset with me having a car in there that wasn't road legal at the time, which in hindsight was me pushing my luck. One of them threatened scrapping it, typical angry bumpkin. 

 

Does anyone know what happened to the Forte which Bucketeer ended up with? That was a great AX too. 

[Jerzy Woking]

 

This is said AX that I bought from you, including its' comedy boxing gloves. These covered the A-Frame mounting points that were so heavy, and so well welded to the chassis, they must have increased the car structural rigidity by 1000%.

I used it a few times in the winter instead on commuting on the bike. The heater was one of the best heaters I can remember ever having.

Found that if I didn't shut off going through my local lanes, it sailed around the bends. Last seen after Bucketeer drove it away from my house.

Think Castro Bros collected all the A Frame gubbins that was in the hatch.