Another swap for Astra

[Pillock]

A V6 Astra sounds cool. A Turbo 850 Estate also sounds cool.

 

Toss a coin. Only once, mind, and you HAVE to follow what it says. Heads you keep the Astra, tails you get the Volvo.

 

Toss it.

[Torsten2001]

I have had zillions of Volvos, almost literally, and never had one any problem selling any of them, even the sheds with all their faults listed!

[Gompo]

I reckon it would be a good exchange, even if you dont get on with it I'd imagine it'd be a lot easier to move on than the Astra if you know what I mean.

 

 

It'd probably be easier to get rid of Osama Bin Laden and Aids than that Volvo.

I have far less experience of getting rid of cars than you, one of the main reasons for my thinking was because the Astra iss modified in a way that wouldnt appeal to many; but admittedly did think the Volvos were relatively in demand.

[Cavcraft]

The Astra *should* be relatively easy to get rid of. As you say being modified won't help it in some circumstances but I would certainly see it at more money than the Volvo.

I'd have another Volvo in a flash, GR8 cars but I have found them hard(er) to move on and people are scared of economy/servicing/repairs and I don't see the 4x4 system helping matters to the great unwashed who are driven by running costs alone.

The Volvo (if maintained properly) should last for years (and more than the Astra it must be said) and they are ace cars.

[AXrescuer]

The Astra *should* be relatively easy to get rid of. As you say being modified won't help it in some circumstances but I would certainly see it at more money than the Volvo.

I'd have another Volvo in a flash, GR8 cars but I have found them hard(er) to move on and people are scared of economy/servicing/repairs and I don't see the 4x4 system helping matters to the great unwashed who are driven by running costs alone.

The Volvo (if maintained properly) should last for years (and more than the Astra it must be said) and they are ace cars.

I am driven by running costs but don't see myself as belonging to "the great unwashed"!

[Cavcraft]

Same here but now and then it's nice to have a motor where you're NOT ARSED about running costs, and there's the factor of reliability which the Volvo would have, except perhaps the 4wd sytem.

[Pete-M]

I didn't realise you'd V6'd the Ashtray. Good man. 2.5 or 3.0? I imagine it sounds rather nice but handles like a puppy on a string.

 

Anyway, now's time to get a Volvo. I miss my old T5, mega-handy bit of kit and nippy enough to be fun. Torque steer was the killler for me with it, not much fun to hustle on anything smaller than a wideish A road. 4wd ones are a lot better at that, although they feel like a good 2wd most of the time.

 

Do it!

[Pete-M]

Oh. Yeah. Reselling Volvos.

 

My T5. I wasn't trying to sell it. Didn't actually want to, but a trader I know made me an offer I couldn't refuse for it. He kept it for a few months until someone else in the trade made him an even better offer for it. He sold it, and then bought it back a few months later.. Both myself and the chap I sold it to have tried to get it back from him, but it's too expensive now. I bought it for £720, it's now £1850..

[mk2_craig]

Hey that 850 AWD is just like my dad's only NOT BLUE. He's had it since a year old, 70-something thousand on the clock now, they're pretty rare as only built for a few months before the V50 hit the showrooms.

 

The 4wd system can indeed suffer from inattention to the tyres though, the handbook recommends you try and equalise tyre wear by doing a 5-wheel rotation (i.e. incl the spare) every so often. Otherwise you risk knackering the visco diff if you have a puncture and replace with a brand new tyre.

[FredTransit]

Bump for a real thread.....

[Station]

Ah, the Volvo owner's wife decided she preferred the Volvo!

I'd love something with a small economical engine, but I've been offered a maybe swap on a BMW E36 AC Schnitzer and another BMW 318 off a mate who I've bought loads of cars off.

 

I couldn't find the original thread, but my neighbour with the 'giffer' Astra went ahead and part ex/d it for a new Astra - £100!! The silly old fool, he didn't even give me warning!

[Station]

Another fairly positive trade/part ex. As I have another car which is useful full lugging and practicality, I've been offered one of these, A Ligier Nova/Ambra, which is an unrefined 'micro car' that does 80mpg.

 

 

It's no doubt plasticy, horrible to drive, but only really need a really cheap running car.

[pogweasel]

I can only assume that you have recently taken to the use of class-A drugs, or are making an attempt at humour.

 

Anyone who contemplates the ownership of such a horrible, pointless and grim device for any purpose other than luzzing it off a cliff deserves to be sectioned under the mental health act.

 

If you want a tiny car that does lots of mpg's buy a Lupo or something.

I would imagine driving one of those 'microcars' would be a pretty dismal affair, with the experience level rising to 'terrifying' should you wish to travel on a motorway, dual carriageway or generally anywhere that you are going to be instantly crushed to death by a 40-tonner who hasn't seen you and despite bulk can out-perform your hideous blob in every department.

[Des]

I had one of these for a while, sort of fun / novelty but I soon got bored and moved it on, expected dismal performance, and still it disappointed, it was a diesel though, perhaps a petrol one might be better, too noisy and roadtax costs the same as a proper car, had I kept the thing I think I would have hacked the roof off and painted it red and yellow to make a Noddy car ornament for the garden.

[Station]

That bad then? Was hoping it'd be at least bearable, think I'll say no then. It would also mean driving my car up, receiving money and thingcar, then driving all the way back, with probably enough time to wonder what the hell I've just done.

[Cavcraft]

Save seem to recall you're fairly tall Dave? I had to drive one of these a couple of hundred yards and literally couldn't get into it. probably good fun on short B road journeys but wouldn't like one for long trips.

[AnthonyG]

I don't know what's wrong with the Astra, but it would have to be a mega shit heap to make that Ligier thing worth swapping for.

 

If you want economy it would be less pain to just convert your Astra to a 1400 petrol or 1700 diesel than drive that about!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Gotta be honest, those things say 'I FAIL AT MOTORING' in a big way, you wouldnt catch me driving one

[warren t claim]

Is the Ligier what the french call a Sans Penis? I.e you don't have to pass you test to drive one?

[Torsten2001]

I can only assume that you have recently taken to the use of class-A drugs, or are making an attempt at humour.

 

Anyone who contemplates the ownership of such a horrible, pointless and grim device for any purpose other than luzzing it off a cliff deserves to be sectioned under the mental health act.

 

If you want a tiny car that does lots of mpg's buy a Lupo or something.

I would imagine driving one of those 'microcars' would be a pretty dismal affair, with the experience level rising to 'terrifying' should you wish to travel on a motorway, dual carriageway or generally anywhere that you are going to be instantly crushed to death by a 40-tonner who hasn't seen you and despite bulk can out-perform your hideous blob in every department.

I would absolutely LOVE one of them & I would proudly drive it everywhere, until I got bored of it!

[Timewaster]

[

 

I would absolutely LOVE one of them & I would proudly drive it everywhere, until I got bored of it!

About 10 minutes or half a mile, whichever is sooner

[Richard]

Got to be better than an Astra surely?

[Station]

Sorry about this pointless thread, but been offered a proper swap from someone I've known on another forum for years.

 

[Cavcraft]

I saw that Dave, and Phil is a top lad too. Is it a 1600 as the wheels suggest?

I'd think that was a decent swap, 205GTis are great fun and their values seem to be on the up.

 

Wish I could get by with a three door car as I'd find something to swap for your Astra.

[Timewaster]

205 GTi FTW!!!!

 

DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT!!!!

 

I love 205 GTi's. I had one for about 5 years and ragged it everywhere.

Its the one car I should have never sold.

The fact I changed it for a 16v Golf - that fell to bits - just rubbed salt in.

[Pillock]

This.

[chaseracer]

+ 1000000

 

I would have had the monster-in-law's 1.9 auto, had she not driven it over the rockery, through a hedge and parked it up the neighbour's apple tree...

 

Get it done.

 

[Pete-M]

205 GTis are pretty damn funky.

 

I've had a couple, and liked 'em. Noisy little blighters, and a bit tricky at speed in the wet, but they're bloody good fun.

 

I always fit a stronger throttle return spring to 'em, makes them easier to drive in town.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I had a 205 GTi 1.6 for a while and it was impossible to drive it in a sensible way, so after i'd walloped it into a few kerbs and that and shat myself up a bit, I realised i was not up to driving it correctly (basically it was too good for me) and sold it. I would say its defo the most entertaining vehicle i've ever driven, just fantastic.

[Station]

What makes them so good though? I had a mk1 MR2 with uprated suspension and thought that was really, really good to drive. I've read the GTi's have wishbone suspension on the back or front (opposed to the standard). I prefer little cars that drive well, over cars with big power.