Where Have All the Cheap Cars Gone?

[Peter C]

I can see why a fifty quid train ticket and forty rips in fuel would make it unviable, but for the experieince alone you can't beat travelling by train to some far flung place to drive an old snotter back. Kind of hard to explain the trepidation and excitement of those first couple of miles wondering if it'll make it back. Sounds a bit ghey but it helps you bond with the car and you'll soon find all it's quirks and good points when you're facing a good trek back.

 

Some of the best journeys I've had have been in 'sight unseen' motors from random places.

 

Totally agree.

 

The only difference is that whenever I go out to buy a shitter I take my brother in law to drive me. Four eyes are also better than two for spotting faults.

 

I recently paid £500 for a tidy Merc W124 E200 automatic with 10 months MoT. My brother in law would probably part with his 1997 Astra, which has almost 13 months MoT and 7 months tax, for £500. There are cheap cars out there, although £500 seems to be the magic number, at least it is for me.

[retro80sboy]

the price of mk 4 escorts and mk 2 fiestas has more than trebbled over the past 2 years.

 

pissed me off no end.

[warren t claim]

I'm constantly amazed at the quality and variety of cars you can buy for just a grand. Jaguar XJ and S Type, Porsche 944, S Class Mercs and 7 Series BMWs are all to be bought at the right money. Even newish stuff like Mk3 Mondeos and Citroen C5s can be bought with loads of life left in them for three figures.

 

We really are living in the golden age of bangers. Enjoy it while it lasts!

[Negative Creep]

So now I may have a car lined up I may have to change the thread title to Where Has All the Cheap Car Insurance gone? Checking round on the comparison sites and the cheapest I've found is £590! That's with 7 years NCD and a clean licence as well. I hard they had been going up but that's a complete joke!

[Tonka]

the price of mk 4 escorts and mk 2 fiestas has more than trebbled over the past 2 years

 

Tell me about it, I've had quite a few of both over the years and recently got the need for a MK 2 Fezzy in my life so started looking, I've just bought this off a salvage website, 51,000 from new which by the MOT history and overall condition may be genuine, not recorded just sold to the yard by the owner who didn't want to put an exhaust, rear tyre and a small plate on the n/s sill like he had to have on the o/s the other year!

 

It will do me for getting about for a while and save me a fortune in V Power, I've got some Minilites sat here doing nothing so they may find their way on yet, I really fancy a Mk1 but they are out of my price range.

 

[Gompo]

That looks quite nice Tonka, are you going to give us any indication how much you paid?

 

Cheers.

[Negative Creep]

Well I was all set to get Alexg's Accord but got a text just before I was going to leave saying the engine management light is on and it won't start. Sounds fairly serious so hope he doesn't end up losing too much (or that he's still stuck by the side of the road!)

[Tonka]

£190 which hasn't impressed the missus at all.................

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Well I was all set to get Alexg's Accord but got a text just before I was going to leave saying the engine management light is on and it won't start. Sounds fairly serious so hope he doesn't end up losing too much (or that he's still stuck by the side of the road!)

 

It might be the ECU earth, similar thing happened to my mum's Accord.

[Alexg]

Lol, I'm home! I Pulled into a petrol station when it started running lumpy with the engine light on. Stupidly I turned the engine off, and it never started again! It threatened to start a couple of times but never made it. In the end I called the Mrs to pick me up. She was pleased

 

Sorry NC, it was a good car

[Negative Creep]

Ah well this stuff always happens when trying to sell a car. Might be an AFM, lose pipe or something simple, if not I'm guessing you won't be that far out of pocket just weighing it in?

[Alexg]

Well I'll have a look in the day light. You know what these things are like- it'll probably start first time tomorrow! It owes me scrap money so weighing it in is not a problem, I'd rather not over something probably simple though.

[Alexg]

Went back tonight, started first time. Drove without a problem

[r.welfare]

There'll be a multiplug somewhere under the kick panel beneath the glovebox that you can bridge the pins on with a paperclip to bring up the trouble code, if required.

[Tonka]

Picked up the Fezzy today even managed to get it into second gear crossing the yard to the truck, got a pair of NOS headlamps off them for £20 whilst I was there, just need to make some room at home so I can get it ready for the road (stuck it in mother-in-law's garage for now)

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I can see why a fifty quid train ticket and forty rips in fuel would make it unviable, but for the experieince alone you can't beat travelling by train to some far flung place to drive an old snotter back. Kind of hard to explain the trepidation and excitement of those first couple of miles wondering if it'll make it back. Sounds a bit ghey but it helps you bond with the car and you'll soon find all it's quirks and good points when you're facing a good trek back.

 

Some of the best journeys I've had have been in 'sight unseen' motors from random places.

 

 

A mate of mine bought an M reg 320i E36 from somwhere near Fort William once. He lived in Woking.

I went with him using his railcard between us. Of course it was rotten....he knew it was, but it had lush leathers (brown ftw ) and it drove perfectly. All around the Lochs down the A82 to Glasgow, M6 to Penrith, across the A66 to Scotch Corner and all the way south. Dropped me off near Chesterfield and another 200 miles home, all in one hit. An utterly bizarre trip, a great laugh and a superb motor that he bagged for 180 quid with 8 months test and half a dozen in the screen.

I had the interior for free when the T&T were used up.

 

Plenty of cheap shit at the auctions. but the auctions are robbing fuckers. The fees Mannnnheim charge are disgusting.

[CIH]

Despite being near the capital all the interesting cars here seem to be advertised up north. Got to be honest it wouldn't be worth the expense of travelling half the country to buy a 300 pound car.

 

 

An MOT'd MX5 just sold for 395 in Surrey on Retro Rides.

 

Also off topic but I take it that's you on the Retro Gamer forum as well?

 

Wooo, RetroGamer ? Sounds like my kinda place!

[Negative Creep]

Despite being near the capital all the interesting cars here seem to be advertised up north. Got to be honest it wouldn't be worth the expense of travelling half the country to buy a 300 pound car.

 

 

An MOT'd MX5 just sold for 395 in Surrey on Retro Rides.

 

Also off topic but I take it that's you on the Retro Gamer forum as well?

 

Wooo, RetroGamer ? Sounds like my kinda place!

 

 

Yeah I just signed up but it seems pretty cool, already secured myself some good cheap games. I do have some good console shite which I really should get round to posting (but since I have room for about 3 on the shelf and am about to buy my 15th I think I need to get my own place just to unpack them all)