Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[Rollcage]

Arrived home a couple of hours ago, averaging 32.2 MPG on the journey home, which is more than acceptable, considering I didn't get overtaken much!

Thread started here

[cat220]

Rollcage said:

Arrived home a couple of hours ago, averaging 32.2 MPG on the journey home, which is more than acceptable, considering I didn't get overtaken much!

Thread started here

Excellent, congratulations, it looks great!

[Tallbutbuxomly]

bmthnick1981 said:

Alfa 166 3.0 super;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-166-3-0-V6-Su...

No mention of belts etc which is a 450 quid job. Also has cloth interior and really needs leather. Also has basic spec wheel not the upgraded lusso spec ones. But otherwise looks a bargain where my bargain one is going on the bay and being old off as it has pissed me off and I cant be bothered to break it.

[Emeye]

Tallbutbuxomly said:

No mention of belts etc which is a 450 quid job. Also has cloth interior and really needs leather. Also has basic spec wheel not the upgraded lusso spec ones. But otherwise looks a bargain where my bargain one is going on the bay and being old off as it has pissed me off and I cant be bothered to break it.

Why did it piss you off?

[Tallbutbuxomly]

To start with the MOT threw up a few more faults than anticipated. Not insurmountable but more than planned. Brake hose fog light switch not working etc.

But I have decided to throw a strop today as I decided to change the fog light switch which was faulty and one of the mot fails.
It requires pulling the head unit and aircon unit out the dash. Did so after a battle. Swapped it over and tried the switches all worked including radio blah blah.

Pushed everything back in and suddenly screen flashes up aircon fault error message. So turned radio and ignition off and back on and suddenly get a clicking noise from the car as I had turned key to lights on. So I swapped the air con control unit for a spare I have and still no change.

Now car wont start air con, fog light,emergency indicators (which are part of same control unit as fog lights) wont work and radio turns on but no sound.

Alarm wont work and therefore central locking wont work. Tried disconnecting battery no change. Tried disconnecting entire head unit no change.

In the end lost patience. fk it. Cant be bothered. I cant get it to alfa as it wont start so cant clear codes. Clearing codes would require the purchase of an alfa diag tool and that is more money I am not prepared to throw at it. Cut my losses is where I am at.

Long and short want it gone so I can have my parking bay back as my neighbour who's bay I was going to rent changed her mind.

[CAPP0]

Tallbutbuxomly said:

my bargain one is going on the bay and being old off as it has pissed me off and I cant be bothered to break it.

Was this the nice-looking green one? Shame if so!

[Emeye]

Tallbutbuxomly said:

To start with the MOT threw up a few more faults than anticipated. Not insurmountable but more than planned. Brake hose fog light switch not working etc.

But I have decided to throw a strop today as I decided to change the fog light switch which was faulty and one of the mot fails.
It requires pulling the head unit and aircon unit out the dash. Did so after a battle. Swapped it over and tried the switches all worked including radio blah blah.

Pushed everything back in and suddenly screen flashes up aircon fault error message. So turned radio and ignition off and back on and suddenly get a clicking noise from the car as I had turned key to lights on. So I swapped the air con control unit for a spare I have and still no change.

Now car wont start air con, fog light,emergency indicators (which are part of same control unit as fog lights) wont work and radio turns on but no sound.

Alarm wont work and therefore central locking wont work. Tried disconnecting battery no change. Tried disconnecting entire head unit no change.

In the end lost patience. fk it. Cant be bothered. I cant get it to alfa as it wont start so cant clear codes. Clearing codes would require the purchase of an alfa diag tool and that is more money I am not prepared to throw at it. Cut my losses is where I am at.

Long and short want it gone so I can have my parking bay back as my neighbour who's bay I was going to rent changed her mind.

I remember reading about someone with similar problem that turned out to be a connector that needed unplugging and then reseating. Alfa diags is pretty much free. You can download the software and the lead is the same as the VAG one with a slight mod. Not expensive. I have the lead and software where are you?

Edited by Emeye on Monday 17th June 07:26

[tbc]

V8mate said:

Buff Mchugelarge said:

The Spruce goose said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-Ghia-X-Highe...



Ford Mondeo Ghia X - Highest Spec Mondeo Mk2

425 offers

100k miles

6 months mot some tax, nice motor.

edit noticed this ' In the last two weeks it has shown signs of needing a new set of spark plugs,' may be an issue

Edited by The Spruce goose on Sunday 16th June 21:07

Looks a gem, but I can't help wondering what that means?

Two weeks ago I was really happy with my car, but then I decided to sell it quickly because sfarked.

Edited by V8mate on Sunday 16th June 21:23

i take it as, it's borked so we won't even bother spending £20 on new plugs

[nagsheadwarrior]

V8mate said:

Looks like you got away with it!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-BX-1-9RD-/171055...

Hurrah,was still top bidder with 5 mins to go,didnt think it would fetch that much.
Funny thing is even tho i didnt want it i couldnt stop myself putting in a sneaky extra bid.
Must stay away from ebay!

[mnkiboy]

53 plate V70 SE might possibly creep in under thread budget. Would expect it to fetch almost double that. The only issue would appear to be a bit of rust on a rear wheel arch where it has had a light scrape. Also comes with 4 months MOT and tax (worth about £90).
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-V70-2-4-SE-7-SEAT-...


EDIT: The final 33 seconds added an extra £400 to the price, ending up £330 over thread budget, and a bit closer to what I would expect it to go for.

Edited by mnkiboy on Monday 17th June 10:14

[ImpossiblyDaft]

So I think I need some technique advice on tat-hunting, thought I'd check in with the pros on here.

Looks like I might be needing a car for hauling some stuff around and a summer road-trip; thinking it'll need to be a medium-sized estate or large sized hatch or estate. Problem is, it needs to be pretty good on the MPG which puts it square into "What everybody is looking for" territory & kind of rules out the epic bargains of 30mpg Saabs. 35 -> 55mpg works out as about a £380 saving, but of course the price of buying a diesel is higher & there looks to be bidding wars on ebay way more often.

So what's the best thing to be looking at, Gumtree? Autotrader? Ebay?

And am I looking at the right things - I've been looking mainly at Xsara/Xantia/306/406, as I've heard good things about their diesel versions & Fords look expensive. Are there any bargains I'm missing (Skoda?), or should I be looking at smaller petrol engines?


In exchange for endless questions, this looks like a good deal, tidy T&T'd MX5 for not much cash -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-MAZDA-EUNOS-1800-S-...

Edited by ImpossiblyDaft on Monday 17th June 10:13

[V8mate]

tbc said:

V8mate said:

Buff Mchugelarge said:

The Spruce goose said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-Ghia-X-Highe...



Ford Mondeo Ghia X - Highest Spec Mondeo Mk2

425 offers

100k miles

6 months mot some tax, nice motor.

edit noticed this ' In the last two weeks it has shown signs of needing a new set of spark plugs,' may be an issue

Edited by The Spruce goose on Sunday 16th June 21:07

Looks a gem, but I can't help wondering what that means?

Two weeks ago I was really happy with my car, but then I decided to sell it quickly because sfarked.

Edited by V8mate on Sunday 16th June 21:23

i take it as, it's borked so we won't even bother spending £20 on new plugs

With over three figure car ownership, I've never owned a car which showed 'signs of needing a new set of spark plugs'. Ridiculous premise.

[detomaso]

noell35 said:

very short mot & tax but it does look lovely:



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1983-A-MERCEDES-500-SEC-...

Local to me - finger sized holes in both wings on the nearside, roof is faded considerably too.

[BorkFactor]

The Spruce goose said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-Ghia-X-Highe...



Ford Mondeo Ghia X - Highest Spec Mondeo Mk2

425 offers

100k miles

6 months mot some tax, nice motor.

edit noticed this ' In the last two weeks it has shown signs of needing a new set of spark plugs,' may be an issue

Edited by The Spruce goose on Sunday 16th June 21:07

I reckon that means it is losing power at higher revs which means the IMRC is on its way out.

Common fault and reasonably easy to sort if you are handy with a spanner. Worth a punt at that price if it isn't rusted to bits IMO!

[Rollcage]

BorkFactor said:

The Spruce goose said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Mondeo-Ghia-X-Highe...



Ford Mondeo Ghia X - Highest Spec Mondeo Mk2

425 offers

100k miles

6 months mot some tax, nice motor.

edit noticed this ' In the last two weeks it has shown signs of needing a new set of spark plugs,' may be an issue

Edited by The Spruce goose on Sunday 16th June 21:07

I reckon that means it is losing power at higher revs which means the IMRC is on its way out.

Common fault and reasonably easy to sort if you are handy with a spanner. Worth a punt at that price if it isn't rusted to bits IMO!

Unusual car, in that it's a Ghia with the RSAP bodykit - more often to be found on the ST 24s, as I'm sure you know !

[BorkFactor]

Rollcage said:

Unusual car, in that it's a Ghia with the RSAP bodykit - more often to be found on the ST 24s, as I'm sure you know !

I did notice that, thought it was an ST24 on Ghia wheels at first glance!

Could you spec the RSAP kit on these from new?

Nice to see the original owner didn't spec the duct tape on the bumpers...

[Rollcage]

ISTR that the RSAP was available on the Ghias as well. It was always an option on the ST, it's just that most had it I think. (Don't quote me, my ST24 beard is thinning these days!)

[SuperHangOn]

These really don't float my boat but for under a bag you can't complain



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151065017023?ssPageName=...

[Krikkit]

hora said:

SuperHangOn said:

These really don't float my boat but for under a bag you can't complain



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151065017023?ssPageName=...

89k miles? With THAT seat?

Looks about right if it's gone 14 years without any leather care and a heavy arse punishing it.

[bmthnick1981]

2.6 Merc 190 with low miles for £600'ish;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/merc-190-e-2-6-auto-tax-...