Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[matthias73]

kiethton said:

theironduke said:

STW2010 said:

theironduke said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-156-24V-V6-20...

Whats the worst the "metallic" noise can be? So temped to have a punt on it at 300 quid!

Engine management light is on too.

Friendly MOT tester.....job jobbed...

Engine management light isn't a fail is it? - colleague had is A3 Tdi pass last month with it lit, only an advisory

Guys, seriously?
The engine management light is normally on for a reason...
That's like putting a new best before sticker on a chicken sandwich when it doesn't sell in time...

[matthias73]

carpetsoiler said:

Took one of my best mates in my own bargain basement BMW to pick up his own... a 1992 525i in metallic black, E39 Sport wheels, manual, [u]no rust[/u], 170k, £650. Absolute bargain!!

Which one was it? Because up till 2 weeks ago I was looking at every E34/E399 in every means of classifieds along the length and breadth of the isles until I found one I liked!

• My 1999 520 was under 700 quid too. Lets party!

[Hugo a Gogo]

the Alfa is gorgeous, the Mondeo is a turd

even just to park it up and sit in it every now and then

[Matt_N]

I saw a white 156 V6 the other day and it looked stunning, the rear 3/4 view is gorgeous imo.

My bargain Bora is up for MoT at the end of Feb and I'm really not wanting to pay to get it through so I'm on the look out for a replacement, not many 156s around though.

[Captain Answer]

Toaster Pilot said:

Took my free 1.6 Astra (long story) for a MOT today.... failed because the exhaust is buggered and a long list of advisories.

Not sure whether to just scrap it and recoup what I've spent on MOT/insurance so far or to fix it up and continue my original plan to sell it at BB money and make a few hundred quid

Assuming it's just the exshaust and no cat needed you are probably looking at £100 to fix? I'd get it sorted and throw it on ebay with a full ticket after a machine polish

[Toaster Pilot]

£147, booked it in for Monday.

I could've sorted it myself for around £80 but I haven't really got the time and by the time the parts arrive, it'd need a full MOT again rather than just a retest. (£45). Parts locally are £120.

[Captain Answer]

Toaster Pilot said:

£147, booked it in for Monday.

I could've sorted it myself for around £80 but I haven't really got the time and by the time the parts arrive, it'd need a full MOT again rather than just a retest. (£45). Parts locally are £120.

Can't grumble at that really for a full exhaust fitted and MOT sign off

[Toaster Pilot]

Also failed for a brake light bulb because I'm an idiot but have replaced that now.

What is the very cheapest machine polisher available?

[Captain Answer]

Toaster Pilot said:

What is the very cheapest machine polisher available?

Seem to be about £40 for a new one on ebay, no idea what sort of job it would do though

[Toaster Pilot]

MK1 elbow and some pain it is then

[Captain Answer]

Just picked this Nissan Primera with a 12month ticket, 111k for £400, looks ok for the money and hopefully should be serviceable whilst I sort a few bits on my Focus to sell on again

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-W-Nissan-Primera-1-...

[tannedstamina]

Captain Answer said:

Just picked this Nissan Primera with a 12month ticket, 111k for £400, looks ok for the money and hopefully should be serviceable whilst I sort a few bits on my Focus to sell on again

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2000-W-Nissan-Primera-1-...

Wow, although a very 'beige' car, that's a pretty good deal for that money! That's cheap as chips!

[Krikkit]

theironduke said:

Krikkit said:

theironduke said:

I'd sooner have the pretty but fragile Alfa (though the V6's as a rule are good lumps, better than Twinnies) over the reliable but pig ugly Ford. But each to his own!

Those seats seal it for me. If it breaks catastrophically get the engine made into a coffee table and the seats into armchairs for the man cave!

As it happens I've done exactly that... cough website cough

Nice, but I wouldn't do it that way, especially with a Busso! I'd leave a bit more of it intact, and a smidge less chrome. Each to their own mind.

[V8RX7]

matthias73 said:

Guys, seriously?
The engine management light is normally on for a reason...

Normally but not always.

Take a scanner with you.

[anonymous-user]

tannedstamina said:

Wow, although a very 'beige' car, that's a pretty good deal for that money! That's cheap as chips!

All in 520 for a car i would feel like something died inside if i had to drive it everyday, the epitome of white-goods vehicle, i just think there is so much better to offer about, even if it doesn't offer the reliability and tank like nature of the Primera

[martynr]

Another gorgeous alfa 166 FL

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

[matthias73]

V8RX7 said:

matthias73 said:

Guys, seriously?
The engine management light is normally on for a reason...

Normally but not always.

Take a scanner with you.

Well, put it this way. There is going to be some sort of issue isn't there. Especially with a car that is from a manufacturer with excessive reliability issues. You can't turn around and say that "oh my alfa with 4002030320 miles on the clock is still on its first clutch and running fine" because even if that is the case, it will be the exception. Bad reputations don't come from nothing. EMLs don't come on for absolutely no reason. If it did come on for no reason, then the wiring is borked somewhere. Which is a reason.

My criteria for a car being a bargain is that I have to feel comfortable lending it to my mum/friend/aunt for a week and be confident nothing unusual will happen. If that isn't the case, then I would consider it to be a project and therefore a completely diferent category.

I think it is a pretty car. I really do. But I don't think its a bargain, its a money pit. And coming from my car history that is saying something.

[tombar]

martynr said:

Another gorgeous alfa 166 FL

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

What a great find! Didn't realise facelift 166's are now so cheap. Shame it is the other end of the country for me. I even like the hearing aid coloured dashboard!

[anonymous-user]

not having a good year but now 2nd clutch gone on my cars. My audi a4 1.8t is now kaput so looking sharpish for something up to 600 quid around west midlands/eastish if anybody has anything or knows. Something strong and good on fuel..

?

[Toaster Pilot]

Got a mk4 Astra 1.6 near Gloucester, probably too far and boring