Shite for your spawn

[Bren]

My eldest passed his test last August. He has never shown much enthusiasm for cars ( he does like ford crown vics ). He goes to university in Salford and works part time but unfortunately his trains are being cancelled so often he conceded that it was time to look for a car.

I looked in the usual places for the usual suspects - fiesta, corsa etc. I then spied something on faceache marketplace in St Helens that caught my eye. A twenty minute trip away.

A 2009 astra life in 1.4 flavour. It really is poverty spec - no aircon and keep fit windows in the rear. It is also really clean - it has the odd mark but most of these are battered and this one certainly isn't.

The seats could do with a wet vac. All the plastics are immaculate. The reason the car is not worn is down to the mileage-

Sub 50k.

Engine is dirty and needs a clean. Even from cold it sounded like a little sewing machine - chap was selling it for his daughter - she needed a bigger car for her family.

I checked the car one of the scoring sites - out of 999 it scored nearly 800 which is good for an elderly vauxhall.

It was last serviced in June when it got it's last MOT - the tyres have plenty of tread and it came with a spare key and the wallet of books. I made an offer which was declined - son paid the asking price of 1600. Not cheap but you would struggle to find another like it. For comparison I looked a fiestas and corsas with well over 100k that were not much cheaper than this. I am proud he saved for the car himself rather than expecting bank of mum and dad to pay for it.

I had decided I didn’t really want him to have a diesel due to the bork factor and a smol petrol is easier to look after. Plus I had considered the possibility of Manchester becoming a clean air zone in the future.

I hope it serves him well. No doubt I will end up taking care of it.

[outlaw118]

57 minutes ago, Bren said:

I checked the car one of the scoring sites

Not heard of this, got a link please Sir?

Oh, and well bought, that's not had a hard life at all, hope it gives him and you no bother.

[Bren]

I think it was car score. Car vertical is another. They do a basic check free but you have to pay for an enhanced one.

[DVee8]

We bought our oldest on his 17th a Fiat 500,  I taught him to drive in it, he used it for his test. he ran it for a year then decided he wanted something quicker. 

 

At the time my mate's son who is 1 year older than my lad decided he wanted something a little less severe, larger and with more comfort, than what he had so my lad bought it for a good price.

Almost 200 bhp, lowered, great fun but it could rattle your fillings. He ran this for a year and then decided he wanted comfort.

A BMW 220i It's remapped, and lowered it's great.

 

N02 son. He got a MINI ONE on his 17th. Again I taught him to drive, he ran this for a year.

Then he bought a BMW 320i E93 folding hard top.

 

[Dobloseven]

1 hour ago, Bren said:

My eldest passed his test last August. He has never shown much enthusiasm for cars ( he does like ford crown vics ). He goes to university in Salford and works part time but unfortunately his trains are being cancelled so often he conceded that it was time to look for a car.

I looked in the usual places for the usual suspects - fiesta, corsa etc. I then spied something on faceache marketplace in St Helens that caught my eye. A twenty minute trip away.

A 2009 astra life in 1.4 flavour. It really is poverty spec - no aircon and keep fit windows in the rear. It is also really clean - it has the odd mark but most of these are battered and this one certainly isn't.

The seats could do with a wet vac. All the plastics are immaculate. The reason the car is not worn is down to the mileage-

Sub 50k.

Engine is dirty and needs a clean. Even from cold it sounded like a little sewing machine - chap was selling it for his daughter - she needed a bigger car for her family.

I checked the car one of the scoring sites - out of 999 it scored nearly 800 which is good for an elderly vauxhall.

It was last serviced in June when it got it's last MOT - the tyres have plenty of tread and it came with a spare key and the wallet of books. I made an offer which was declined - son paid the asking price of 1600. Not cheap but you would struggle to find another like it. For comparison I looked a fiestas and corsas with well over 100k that were not much cheaper than this. I am proud he saved for the car himself rather than expecting bank of mum and dad to pay for it.

I had decided I didn’t really want him to have a diesel due to the bork factor and a smol petrol is easier to look after. Plus I had considered the possibility of Manchester becoming a clean air zone in the future.

I hope it serves him well. No doubt I will end up taking care of it.

Surprised it's not got Aircon.Cousins 06 reg Life has,though I doubt it works.

[Bren]

39 minutes ago, Dobloseven said:

Surprised it's not got Aircon.Cousins 06 reg Life has,though I doubt it works.

It's one less thing to pack in.

[horriblemercedes]

I had one of those Astra, but mine was an SRi Turbo 200 (the top model until the VXR came out) 

 

Even that didn't have electric windows in the back 

[stuboy]

no1 son seems not interested in cars..

[bigstraight6]

Bought this for the youngest as a first motor back in 2016, it lasted until April 2024 when terminal engine problems brought about its demise. Other than the engine problem it was very good for a £500 shitter.

[bigstraight6]

Picked this A3 1.6 TDI for the elder son when he finally decided to pass his driving test at 29 back in last August, he’s very pleased with it and is starting to enjoy driving a bit..,

[Bren]

5 minutes ago, bigstraight6 said:

Bought this for the youngest as a first motor back in 2016, it lasted until April 2024 when terminal engine problems brought about its demise. Other than the engine problem it was very good for a £500 shitter.

My sons friend was bought a three - pot polo by his father. Punted on before he even passed his test because the engine started making a noise.

Fiesta - 2009 on - was my first choice. However the do rot and they feel " flimsy" compared to the previous model.

The astra is petrol and has a chain and no dual mass flywheel. I just want simplicity because it will be me fixing it.

[Popsicle]

5 hours ago, Bren said:

No doubt I will end up taking care of it.

This bit never ends, my eldest is 25, I still get to do all the mending in exchange for cups of tea and reports back to Mrs P about how much swearing I'm doing!

[Dobloseven]

First cars.Takes deep breath....Number 1 son C reg Metro 1.0 City X,Number 2 son L reg Rover Metro 1.1 Nightfire.Number 3 son N reg Golf 1.4 Driver(I think).Number 1 daughter P reg Fiat Cinquecento.Number 4 son,the Golf from Number 3 son.Number 2 daughter started driving with her then boyfriends X reg Focus as he had a works van.Number 5 son has never actually learned to drive and now lives in China.Number 6 son,54 reg Nissan Micra 1.2.Most of the cars were hand me downs from other family members.

[UltraWomble]

Spawn 1: ROFFL Yaris then Pug 108

Spawn 2: 50cc Revival, then Pug 107, currently car sharing my Polo as not passed test.

Spawn 3: Nowt currently because no interest in driving despite being 20

[hairnet]

7 hours ago, Bren said:

 

Plus I had considered the possibility of Manchester becoming a clean air zone in the future

They immediately got told to fro and its looking now after a long time under review that it wont happen ( not immediately anyway ( we can stand up to the arseholes lol)

[hairnet]

@Parky

what fell off

its not wit so ya cahnt blame the wither

 

[Marshall2810]

9 hours ago, Bren said:

My sons friend was bought a three - pot polo by his father. Punted on before he even passed his test because the engine started making a noise.

Fiesta - 2009 on - was my first choice. However the do rot and they feel " flimsy" compared to the previous model.

The astra is petrol and has a chain and no dual mass flywheel. I just want simplicity because it will be me fixing it.

Also found later shape fiestas flimsy and dash was too fussy. Much newer ones have screens and simplified things. The astra is very well bought. I'd always prefer something not the latest shape with low miles/owners and yours looks a genuine one. 

[Marina door handles]

My little ones seem to have difficulty reaching the pedals and steering wheel at the same time, maybe I should get them an Invacar?

[r.welfare]

Will be braving the market to do this in the spring, ready for my daughter turning 17.  Will mean my SLK will be put up for sale as soon as the sun’s out!

[TrabbieRonnie]

Eldest Spawn is still driving the 323 of this parish (ex Uncle Fester, and I think was roffled off before that), which with a few repairs has covered some serious mileage...

As bought...

And with the 'new' wheels...

He really could do with a bigger motor now, he carries a lot of band gear, but loves the Mazda too much to let go... especially for something modern.  He was sorely tempted by a nice looking Rover 416 Tourer the other day.  If anyone has a 90's estate for sale, please get in touch!

Youngest Spawn is on the road in our venerable old Toyota...

A wee while ago (I think we've had this for about ten years now, I've changed the cambelt twice!)...

And now, after a protracted mechanical and cosmetic freshen up...

So, the pattern continues, they both love the older stuff... and I think it might have made them better drivers.  They're certainly very hands on with the maintenance, which is good.  

Also, when you pass on fleet vehicles, they're technically 'off-the-books', so I can buy more old chod!  Win win.

 

 

 

[Bren]

Today I told my lad that we would give the car a once over. I entrusted him with an oil can and he lubed the hinges and locks as they were a tad stiff. I lobbed some forte petrol treatment the tank and set about the engine bay.

Much better.

One tyre looked soft. Doing them all revealed the poundland ben hur wheel trims had no apertures for the valves and were razor sharp on the inner edges - these will be lobbed in the sea once a set of replacements have been sourced.

I had my first drive. Typical notchy gear change which improves as car warms up. You wouldn't want to travel great distances on motorways as it only has five gears and 50 mph in fifth is around 2500 rpm. It's a bit buzzy! But for the money it appears to have been a good buy.

[Parky]

On 02/02/2025 at 14:07, hairnet said:

@Parky

what fell off

its not wit so ya cahnt blame the wither

 

Its pretty tired now.  Just changed water pump and cambelt on it but totally lost interest in it.  Going to sell it next weekend and wont be replacing it

[Dj_efk]

On 02/02/2025 at 16:07, Bren said:

Today I told my lad that we would give the car a once over. I entrusted him with an oil can and he lubed the hinges and locks as they were a tad stiff. I lobbed some forte petrol treatment the tank and set about the engine bay.

Much better.

One tyre looked soft. Doing them all revealed the poundland ben hur wheel trims had no apertures for the valves and were razor sharp on the inner edges - these will be lobbed in the sea once a set of replacements have been sourced.

I had my first drive. Typical notchy gear change which improves as car warms up. You wouldn't want to travel great distances on motorways as it only has five gears and 50 mph in fifth is around 2500 rpm. It's a bit buzzy! But for the money it appears to have been a good buy.

Sounds like an all-fluid and filter “birthday service” will set it up for the next 5-10 years of low-cost service. Nice find.