Omegas etc- a miserable story that ends miserably

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

You talk sense. I really want to avoid newer cars if I can help it, both due to the complexity involved in fixing them and to the OMG CABRON EMISIONZ tax-rape that is already taking place on a small scale and could get much worse in a year or two, plus there's depreciation to factor in when I come to sell it (which wouldn't be a concern with a rare 80s car that I'd strive to keep for ages). There's about a million LPG Astras out there, but they're all giffer spec...However, I may be persuaded to check a V40. Of course it's nowhere near as cool as a DAF, but having a Dutch-made car must be worth extra shite points!

[Pete-M]

If you want working a/c, you're better off starting with something post-1994 as anything prior to that (albeit there may have been exceptions) will be set up for R12 gas which you can't get now. Conventional wisdom suggests converting to R134a is ruinously expensive, but apparently there are special gases you can put into an R12 system that don't require changes of the seals etc. Never tried this though.

 

Early Jag X300s definitely did without a/c in the more basic specs - I remember one of the big bosses at my first job in '98 selling his '96 3.2 as featuring a 'sunshine roof and 1/2 leather trim'

 

Depends on the A/C system, I'm an Aircon freak - love it, never turn it off. Cost me £90 in total to convert the R12 system in my old Rangie Classic to R134a - including gas, dye and a vacuum check. Was still working fine a couple of years later.

 

Jap stuff seems to have switched over the R134a a bit earlier than we did, stuff like MX5s run 134a.

 

My Jeep is a '97 and the a/c in that drops a 24°C ambient temp to 0°C coming from the vents. The Jag does almost as well. Depends on what you look for, if the car has been maintained and used properly the A/C should work. If it's been run by a cheapskate fuel miser the chances are it won't. If the A/C has 'been disconnected' then I walk away there and then as if someone skimps on being comfortable they're likely to skimp on anything if it saves 'em a few quid.

 

The whole 'Aircon? I just open the window' thing to me is a sign of lunacy. You buy a car with aircon, cart it around every day for a year yet don't switch it on in case you lose 0.1 mpg on a roasting hot day? Mental behaviour.

 

As for Jag leather, full leather was an option on most of 'em. Mine's got the optional full leather (but without the heating or memory options), and a sunroof that was allegedly unavailable on the XJR.

[tonedepear]

Have you thought of just parking at the big tram stop on parkway behind the police/currys place and getting the tram in?

 

(Don't get me wrong, I'm fully allergic to public transport, but it seems easier than your current range of options. Or even just parking somewhere free a bit out of town and walking. Depends where you are in town.)

 

But I live here, and it seems ridiculous to have to take the tram to go to the car to go to the supermarket.

 

Ratscocks. I thought I'd read you were working in town. My bad!

 

Find an LPG proton. They were factory fit. And they're shite. But it won't get stolen.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

The whole 'Aircon? I just open the window' thing to me is a sign of lunacy. You buy a car with aircon, cart it around every day for a year yet don't switch it on in case you lose 0.1 mpg on a roasting hot day? Mental behaviour.

 

I've always wondered whether those people really are oblivious to the fact that the lack of use fucks the system up or whether they are such hardened cheapskates that they do it in full knowledge of the damage it causes (in which case, how come they aren't bothered by the extra fuel they have to burn due to the weight added to the car by the aircon system?).

[Rod/b]

Find an LPG proton. They were factory fit. And they're shite. But it won't get stolen.

 

I don't think they were. The importer got them converted over here I think.

[tonedepear]

Find an LPG proton. They were factory fit. And they're shite. But it won't get stolen.

 

I don't think they were. The importer got them converted over here I think.

 

My bad. I mean to say, "Official conversions". I've a feeling the vauxhall and volvo ones weren't actually factory conversions either were they?

[AnthonyG]

Volvo and Saab were factory fit, I think the British built Astras were too.

 

To the OP, I would say you're trying to tick too many boxes and will struggle to find a car... LPG, working AC, classic insurance, big and comfy..I would go for something a lot newer and forget about classic insurance for a start. Also do you really need AC in Sheffield ?

 

Remember as well as the vandalism issue, 80s cars are a lot easier to nick. And I certainly wouldn't keep a Granada Mk2 parked on the public road.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Volvo and Saab were factory fit, I think the British built Astras were too.

 

To the OP, I would say you're trying to tick too many boxes and will struggle to find a car... LPG, working AC, classic insurance, big and comfy..I would go for something a lot newer and forget about classic insurance for a start. Also do you really need AC in Sheffield ?

 

Remember as well as the vandalism issue, 80s cars are a lot easier to nick. And I certainly wouldn't keep a Granada Mk2 parked on the public road.

 

i was thinking of a Mk3 really, but I know what you mean. It would obviously have a disklok or other big f-off deterrent.

I can compromise on classic insurance, but I don't want to buy something that's too new.

It transpires I can haz parking within the development for about 45 quid a month- I will do that and buy something really nice, old and comfy if my LPG search fails.

[r.welfare]

V40s are OK. A 2-litre CD (96-99) will tick your boxes with regards to leather, a/c and cruise. My wife's friend picked one up about 6 months ago for 900 quid with a full history and the a/c is still ice cold. Cruise works, too.

 

They have their faults (mainly sticking rear handbrake mechanisms), and I'm not so enamoured of them since I managed to pull the driveshaft out when changing a front strut, but they're cheap and plentiful enough.

 

Re.that S40 you looked at and disregarded due to only stamps in the book to support the FSH - if those stamps are from Volvo dealers you can get the supporting invoices easily enough.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I did ask, but they said something like "Volvo history up to 140k, independents after that". 70k of oilchange-only maintenance sounds a bit like my Accord.

[Cavcraft]

If a V40 is good enough then couldn't you widen your search to (probably) more available cars such as a Mondeo or similar? I bet there's a few of them about on LPG.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

If a V40 is good enough then couldn't you widen your search to (probably) more available cars such as a Mondeo or similar? I bet there's a few of them about on LPG.

 

There aren't many around, and most of them are povo spec. If I have to get something like a Mongdeo, it's got to have cruise, leather and functioning aircon.

[trigger]

Leather?, Cruise?, AC?, This is autoshite remember!

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

 

DNJ would recommend one of these, This one has all the whistles and bells and is up for £1650, Fook now why the twat listed as £999 though, that would put me off it.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Did you really think I'd miss that? The vendor must be a GRADE A wanker...it's been on there for at least a week...I have called him SIX times, it's either off or not answering. Didn't have any calls back, either.

 

Just for the fun of it, however, I am going to text him to see whether he ever receives it and/or responds.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

480 latest: I found a Volvo specialist in Nottingham whose website's got pics of 144s and other old things, so I said "alright, I'll just take it there to see where the rattle's coming from". Texted the vendor and he said "I haven't got time for that, but maybe you can come and view it again, and we can reflect it in the price...". How come you haven't got half an hour in the afternoon when you're a trainee teacher who's home by four anyway?

[dieselnutjob]

DNJ would recommend one of these, This one has all the whistles and bells and is up for £1650, Fook now why the twat listed as £999 though, that would put me off it.

 

well I might.... you need to check that every single toy works, and you need to check that ac works, and that you can point it at defrost, face, feet as you want.

the diesel ones can have quite a few issues, and you have to be careful with autos (mine is a diesel auto )

a petrol manual one is probably reliable enough

 

there are some simple things as well

mad alarm is easy to fix by disconnecting ultrasonic sensors up near mirror

automatic wipers can go nuts but then work perfectly if you rain-x the windscreen

built in phone only works with voda/o2

t-mobile/orange won't work

 

very nice when it's all working though especially for motorway cruising

[dieselnutjob]

oh

and make sure the jacking points haven't been abused

the sill can tear right out off of the floor (mine needed welding)

[Cavcraft]

480 latest: I found a Volvo specialist in Nottingham whose website's got pics of 144s and other old things, so I said "alright, I'll just take it there to see where the rattle's coming from". Texted the vendor and he said "I haven't got time for that, but maybe you can come and view it again, and we can reflect it in the price...". How come you haven't got half an hour in the afternoon when you're a trainee teacher who's home by four anyway?

 

Tell him you're bringing a Volvo specialist who will go over it a fine toothed comb and that you'll want a decent test drive again. Mention you plan to be there for about an hour or two and if he agress then ask him why he hasn't got time to go to a garage with you.

 

To be honest from his remarks above I'd just tell him you're not interested now and then look elsewhere.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

yeah, I would sorta understand the lack of time excuse if he were a "captain of industry" type obviously busy going to utterly pointless meetings all over Europe to do some "blue sky thinking", "green investment", "beige vinyling"* or whatever is this week's buzz expression, but he is a 22 y.o. trainee teacher FFS.

[gtd2000]

You talk sense. I really want to avoid newer cars if I can help it, both due to the complexity involved in fixing them and to the OMG CABRON EMISIONZ tax-rape that is already taking place on a small scale and could get much worse in a year or two, plus there's depreciation to factor in when I come to sell it (which wouldn't be a concern with a rare 80s car that I'd strive to keep for ages). There's about a million LPG Astras out there, but they're all giffer spec...However, I may be persuaded to check a V40. Of course it's nowhere near as cool as a DAF, but having a Dutch-made car must be worth extra shite points!

 

Get yourself an LPG'd Mitsubishi Carisma then

 

It's partly Proton and Volvo based too for the win!

[cort16]

Yo, luxo_LPG_hunter. I stuck LPG cars in your price range into my automated ebay car hunting contraption and it spat out this lot.

Also I noticed a lot of small cars with lpg. There was a 1.25 zetec fiesta with lpg. How much of a tight wad must you be to get that done?

Anyway

 

2 litre Primera for less than £795

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130520648422&ih=003&category=18238&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

 

323i BMW Coupe for £995

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260784979989&ih=016&category=9837&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

 

3litre 406 Coupe for £1400

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200606835193&ih=010&category=9859&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

 

Jag XJ6 for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180658332366&ih=008&category=18185&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

 

And finally solid gold Future shite a 2005 Kia Magentis for £1500

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150601760864&ih=005&category=50541&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

[Alexg]

yeah, I would sorta understand the lack of time excuse if he were a "captain of industry" type obviously busy going to utterly pointless meetings all over Europe to do some "blue sky thinking", "green investment", "beige vinyling"* or whatever is this week's buzz expression, but he is a 22 y.o. trainee teacher FFS.

 

To be fair mate, if I was selling that car I wouldn't want that agg' either. Stick any -£1000 car on the ramps you can find enough reason to walk away, when another punter will just throw a monkey at the owner and drive off.

[Cavcraft]

Have you bought something yet? I'm smelling the faint aroma of 'about to buy the first thing that remotely (or otherwise) fits the bill and will probably regret it shortly' here sorry.

[cobblers]

yeah, I would sorta understand the lack of time excuse if he were a "captain of industry" type obviously busy going to utterly pointless meetings all over Europe to do some "blue sky thinking", "green investment", "beige vinyling"* or whatever is this week's buzz expression, but he is a 22 y.o. trainee teacher FFS.

 

To be fair mate, if I was selling that car I wouldn't want that agg' either. Stick any -£1000 car on the ramps you can find enough reason to walk away, when another punter will just throw a monkey at the owner and drive off.

 

dead right. If I was in the position to be selling a big old car for 900 quid or so and someone wanted to come round with an AA inspection man I would lol my chops off and tell them not to bother coming - not because the car is a dog, but it just smells like the buyer doesn't really know the game and would give me grief 8 months down the line when the exhaust started blowing or something.

 

I'd much rather sell if for a few hundred less to someone normal.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

yeah, I would sorta understand the lack of time excuse if he were a "captain of industry" type obviously busy going to utterly pointless meetings all over Europe to do some "blue sky thinking", "green investment", "beige vinyling"* or whatever is this week's buzz expression, but he is a 22 y.o. trainee teacher FFS.

 

To be fair mate, if I was selling that car I wouldn't want that agg' either. Stick any -£1000 car on the ramps you can find enough reason to walk away, when another punter will just throw a monkey at the owner and drive off.

 

But the thing is it's a pretty quirky car, with probably limited appeal to the average motorist (who understandably would like things like a boot at least big enough for a suitcase), and he made a point of being a Volvo enthusiast...surely he should have a minimal appreciation of the fact that the potential buyer looks interested enough and prepared to keep it alive as opposed to driving it for 6 months and then discarding? Plus he did tell me a BIN price, and I made some positive noises about it. I'm in Sheffield, he is in Nottingham and the garage is in Nottingham- so the travelling would be on my side, for the second time.

 

Yo, luxo_LPG_hunter. I stuck LPG cars in your price range into my automated ebay car hunting contraption and it spat out this lot.

 

Cheers for that. Of course I've seen them all. The 406 is a DIY conversion that hasn't been completed as yet, the Magentis is an ex-cab without any history ("they did it all by themselves"), BMW has no history for the past 50k (unless the wording of the advert is awful), I have an aversion to Jags from a stint I did at Browns Lane, and that leaves us with the Primera which I'd seen and made a mental note of but never ended up making that call...I definitely should!

[cort16]

The Primera was the one that stood out for me as it's got leather and lots of buttons to press plus it's cheap enough to allow a bit of fiddling about money for the lpg system.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Have you bought something yet? I'm smelling the faint aroma of 'about to buy the first thing that remotely (or otherwise) fits the bill and will probably regret it shortly' here sorry.

 

That's spot on...exactly what I'm trying to avoid, and the reason why I keep looking at so many different things. It's very hard when my current car is rapidly deteriorating and the only place I can park is the loading bay of a long-shut DIY store where a couple of cars are relieved of their contents every week.

[cort16]

How about this?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190533124838&ih=009&category=9855&ssPageName=WDVW&rd=1

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

The Primera does look lovely, but they have quite a hard ride which might not be to Luxo's tastes.

[Alexg]

A bit of you? Previous damage (Cat C) should keep the price down

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-2- ... 2a10a7de8f