To weigh or not to weigh - the tipping point

[M'coli]

I'm thinking of weighing in 2 of my cars at the moment - the Saab 900 and the Austin Metro. The Saab's for sale on Car and Classic & RR, but I've had no serious enquiries. It's on sale at £350, it weighs 1.3 tonnes, has a catalyst and has £50 still in the tax disc - do I go for it or not?

The Metro's in bits with rattling drop gears, but has rot in the front, rot in the arches, rotten back panel, needs a new heater martix. . Even if I fix all the problems it will never be condition 1 and I'm not going to keep it; it's a 1275 so will likely be bought to become a Mini donor and the rest weighed in, so do I cut out the middle man and all the work and just donor it myself?

 

Then with the monies raised, I buy something else that I want to try.

[Shep Shepherd]

Myself, I'd weigh the Metro in and keep trying to sell the Saab as a going concern. You should tout the latter around one of the Saab forums, as someone will no doubt be interested in it, even if they only want it for spares. Do you have a link to the RR ad?

[Wilko220]

Surely they've got to be worth a shot on eBay, with a scrap value starting price, before you weigh in...

[M'coli]

Saab sale thread - I did forget to mention that the headlining is gubbed.

[trigger]

Scrap the Metro! Ask Pog what he would do.

[Shep Shepherd]

Saab sale thread - I did forget to mention that the headlining is gubbed.

 

That's pretty smart. Got be worth the asking price all day long!

 

Having owned a Volvo 740 for nearly eight years, I know all about knackered headlinings on Swedish cars I may get round to getting it replaced or recovered this year...

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I can't believe you've had no serious bites on the SAAB, they're great cars. I'd have it if I had any money, lived closer, etc.

Impressive that most of the electric windows work/.

[tonedepear]

Or just keep the SAAB? 5 doors without spoiler are awesome. Is there owt up with it?

[trigger]

What you advert fails in is decent photos, Get some nice, clear decent photos, Not too big neither and some interior shots and that will sell all day long.

 

Trust me, I am a docker.

 

Also do many people look at the budget motoring section on RR, I never even notice it when i look for cars for sale on there. Maybe try gumtree or pistonheads as well seeing that both of them are free to list on.

[Cavcraft]

It's always a shame to send stuff over the bridge that could still be used but occasionally you have to think of your wallet. I would guess (and guess because scrap prices fluctuate like mad and are quite 'area specific') the Saab would see you about £150-£200 weighed in. Cats are an odd one: some say they're still worth decent money, other state different. Certainly an aftermarket can we worth next to nowt, it's something to do with whether the centre is a 'honeycomb' type or not.

There's probably £3-£6.00 in the battery and perhaps a tenner or more each in the wheels if they're alloys. Add to this any hard to find second hand spares you can get off it which are usually worth putting on an internet auction site.

 

Metro engine must be worth £125-£175 to a Mini head, the rest alas pretty much sod all. I find random stuff like full lock sets seem to go well on auction sites and similar daft other bits. It's possible (but not definate) you'd get some interest in the rolling shell from the banger boys because they can be used for Superstocks (or whatever they're called) but a rotten shell with no engine isn't going to make you rich.

[RoadworkUK]

What he said. If a Metro is in already in reasonable nick it deserves to be preserved as there are so few of them still around. If it's already dissolving and fizzing away to oblivion, preventative action is just delaying the inevitable and it's mixed metals waiting to happen.

 

The Saab sounds like it just wants to stay with you. God I'm a silly old sod.

[M'coli]

Or just keep the SAAB? 5 doors without spoiler are awesome. Is there owt up with it?

I've scratched the Saab itch! It's a great car but I don't need something this big.

 

Trigger - it didn't sell during the summer with these pictures, but perhaps I was asking too much for it despite the 12 months MOT.

http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.c ... 020&page=1

[Wilko220]

a rotten shell with no engine isn't going to make you rich.

 

...unless it's a Mk1 Escort

[Richard]

Don't weigh these dustbin lids in even if the car does go. They were about £50 each from SAAB the last time I looked, which was about ten years ago.

[trigger]

Those photos are much better, personally, I'd off used them again as they are better then your new ones.

[M'coli]

Don't weigh these dustbin lids in even if the car does go. They were about £50 each from SAAB the last time I looked, which was about ten years ago.

You mean the wheeltrims? They'd be staying with me, as would the toolkit.

[tonedepear]

Christ I'm tempted by that. And I'm not actually that far away.

 

But I do 1500 miles a month and it'll cost me a fortune won't it. Aaargh.

[trigger]

^ You could make that car #39!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I reckon it'll manage 35MPG quite easily on a run, not that 35MPG is very economical with petrol at £1.30/l. The 9000 with a similar engine will crack 40MPG.

[tonedepear]

My 9k didn't, but then it was an automatic. IIRC I averaged 18mpg.

 

My last 900s didn't either, although one of them had done 250k and was still going strong. On full boost. This is one of those things I should sleep on, isn't it. Specially as I'm working 12hr days all weekend and have no easy way of getting north to pick it up.

 

Unless OP wants to swap for a hateful rusty baby-blue skoda felicia.

 

^ You could make that car #39!

 

If it was as good as cars #9, #13 or #14 that would make me very happy.

 

However if it widened my arse and emptied my pockets like any of 11/15/21 I'd be most upset.

[dollywobbler]

Funnily enough, I didn't get many bites for the Saab when it was mine. Relied on some Scottish bloke from Yorkshire having it after I'd dropped the price several times...

 

Strange really. Yes, it's not a turbo but I found it quick enough for me. Really quite swift - but the engine feels like a bit of a hooligan motor attached to a pair of comfy, tartan slippers. An odd mix for sure. Can't recall what MPG I was getting out of it, but 30ish sounds right. Boot is enormous and it's modern and old at the same time.

[M'coli]

I've no idea who you're on about, Dollywobbler ! I've seen 35 mpg from it on a long run. The only other thing I can think on that doesn't work properly is the heated rear window.

[dollywobbler]

And one of the headlamp wipers. That's a scrappable offence right there.

 

35mpg is certainly feasible. I only worked it out once, and we'd driven to Devon and back at a fair ol' pace. I put a brand new pair of tyres on it and a new exhaust section. Cost me a bloody fortune really!

[Lankytim]

Hey, I may be after a 1275 A series for an Allegro....

 

*edit* Just seen the SAAB, what a honey! Is there any rust on it? If it had a towbar it would be the ideal spec for me, 5 door hatch, non turbo manual.

[M'coli]

Rust at the door bottoms; rear offside wheelarch has some too.

Towbar: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SAAB-900-CLASSIC- ... 3a627580eb

[Lankytim]

Hummm... I'll have to think about it. It would mean selling the Audi, which has had an incredible amount of money sunk into it over the years, virtually none of which I will get back. Im quite enjoying the Audi ATM actually, It would be a shame to get shot of it! The SAAB would also need converting to LPG, which the Audi already is- Its alot of faff but then, it is a nice looking SAAB, and I do have an LPG kit in the garage.

 

I'm guessing a 900 would be pretty awesome safetywise in a crash... always a consideration when LT-jnr is in the car on the way to and from nursery...

 

... Sorry, i'm just thinking out loud, and wasting a post!

[The Moog]

I am very tempted by the saab GF has given me my car allowance but with moving house got nowhere to store it at the moment.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

The Metro needs weighing in - it sounds like a right pig and even a good one (if such a thing exists) is worth 4/5ths of fuck all. Not desirable in any way. They were fucking horrible things 20 years ago and NOT weighing it in is depriving the steel industry.

 

The Scab doesn't deserve to be weighed. That's a car that some Swedes designed and built with real care and I bet it drives really nicely. I'd rather sell it for 150 quid and give it a chance than send it across the scales. Properly made, easy to fix and no cat test. What's not to like? I'm not a huge fan of them, but throwing away such a pleasant and useable car is mad. No I don't want to buy it.

[Wilko220]

The Metro needs weighing in - it sounds like a right pig and even a good one (if such a thing exists) is worth 4/5ths of fuck all. Not desirable in any way. They were fucking horrible things 20 years ago and NOT weighing it in is depriving the steel industry.

 

Rubbish. A Metro is just as fun to drive as a Mini (as well as a hundred times more refined and comfortable) - the only difference is that idiotic slaves to fashion don't think they look cool in them.