Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[GeordieInExile]

Update on my bargain basement (£999...) 75 2.0 V6: It had its first commute down the A19 today and felt lovely. It's changed my driving style - in my old Puma I was far more aggressive whereas in the big Rover I just sat back, stuck to the left lane and wafted down the road.

I absolutely love the thing. Its economy is crap and it still has a faint whiff of old man smell about the interior, but otherwise I can't think of a nicer place to sit for a couple hours a day while driving.

[Hoofy]

2013BRM said:

Hoofy said:

I'm feeling really smug about my £700 purchase. Volvo S60 2.4 litre turbo, tiptronic gear option, winter pack option (heated seats, headlight wipers, stability control), uprated hifi (4 CD changer), telephone option, full leather interior option, sunroof option, plus the usual a/c, cruise control, electric seats, electric windows. 100k miles, 12 months MOT. Daren't think how much the original buyer paid for all the options. Mental.

Certainly not my first choice of car but when I saw it advertised, I realised it was a bargain.

Downsides: brake pads are low, slight grumble from front wheel bearings. Cheap to fix, mind.

Looks modern, if boring. Certainly, looks and feels like I paid more than £700 for it. My old Golf with a very basic spec (manual roof!) cost me about £700. Although, that was more enjoyable in summer.

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 9th February 11:48

nice work!

I think I'm going to end up annoying people. I stick the cruise to 30 and just chill. (Obviously, not on a motorway!)

[egor110]

This just popped up on my facebook:

Mazda RX8
£800 (negotiable) — Street,Somerset
Selling for my brother..Superb condition..just won't start..no more time to waste..Just need gone..new coils, plugs, leads, battery, discs and pads, 2 new tyres. 120,000 miles. Leather interior. Turns over but won't fire up. Could be a compression problem. To be honest it's not had a professional look over it but dad wants it off his drive and my brother now has another car. OFFERS.. (Tom) 07875 343590

I have nothing to do with this but thought someone might be feeling brave?

[daveinhampshire]

Hoofy said:

I think I'm going to end up annoying people. I stick the cruise to 30 and just chill. (Obviously, not on a motorway!)

Remember you need to hammer it over junctions cutting everyone up then return to 30 once you're back in pole position.

[sim72]

egor110 said:

This just popped up on my facebook:

Mazda RX8
£800 (negotiable) — Street,Somerset
Selling for my brother..Superb condition..just won't start..no more time to waste..Just need gone..new coils, plugs, leads, battery, discs and pads, 2 new tyres. 120,000 miles. Leather interior. Turns over but won't fire up. Could be a compression problem. To be honest it's not had a professional look over it but dad wants it off his drive and my brother now has another car. OFFERS.. (Tom) 07875 343590

I have nothing to do with this but thought someone might be feeling brave?

If it's had new coils and plugs it might just be the starter, but unlikely ... if it's a compression issue you're buying £800 worth of static metal unless you fancy forking out for a new engine.

[egor110]

sim72 said:

egor110 said:

This just popped up on my facebook:

Mazda RX8
£800 (negotiable) — Street,Somerset
Selling for my brother..Superb condition..just won't start..no more time to waste..Just need gone..new coils, plugs, leads, battery, discs and pads, 2 new tyres. 120,000 miles. Leather interior. Turns over but won't fire up. Could be a compression problem. To be honest it's not had a professional look over it but dad wants it off his drive and my brother now has another car. OFFERS.. (Tom) 07875 343590

I have nothing to do with this but thought someone might be feeling brave?

If it's had new coils and plugs it might just be the starter, but unlikely ... if it's a compression issue you're buying £800 worth of static metal unless you fancy forking out for a new engine.

I'm not buying it.

[Hoofy]

daveinhampshire said:

Hoofy said:

I think I'm going to end up annoying people. I stick the cruise to 30 and just chill. (Obviously, not on a motorway!)

Remember you need to hammer it over junctions cutting everyone up then return to 30 once you're back in pole position.

And then flash anyone who dares to overtake?

[scdan4]

An auction, but could well finish in budget.

Not sure if it's better placed here, or in the retro, or in the high mileage thread.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9000-Anniversary-Au...

[2013BRM]

will go for a song, bombproof old things and seriously good cars

[whysub]

Old slammed barge here:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175573/merc...

[whysub]

2013BRM said:

will go for a song, bombproof old things and seriously good cars

No doubt, as seriously under rated. Loved mine, especially after it had some Abbott Racing work done to it. 225bhp as standard I thought.

[TotalControl]

I've come to appreciate Saab, being a Japanese car fan I never gave them any thought until last year. They seem to do things in a way the Germans don't, yet still look fresh.

A 9-3 is a good looking car. This Aero may be had for thread budget:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-SAAB-9-3-AERO-210-B...



A couple of Linears. First has 86k miles on it for £900, ends tomorrow. Second is currently sat on £380 with 144k on the clock

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-3-linear-turbo-On...



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-Saab-9-3-Sport-LINE...



Or maybe a Vector with a reasonable 135k on the clock, going for £560 at the moment

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-SAAB-9-3-VECTOR-175...





Maybe a 9-5 would be better for some?

An Aero for almost £800 at the moment:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2003-Saab-9-5-2-3-Aero-4...



Standard and well kept example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAAB-9-5-VECTOR-2-3T-AUT...



This might not be too bad with 200k on the clock but currently less than £100:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-SAAB-9-5-SE-AUTO-GR...

[31mph]

The 9-3 has aged well, it's still a great looking car. I can't believe the prices they can be had for now

Are they really any more expensive to run than a similarly aged German equivalent?

[RobinBanks]

whysub said:

Old slammed barge here:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175573/merc...

They always say that you should "buy the seller". That seller seems like a complete wker.

"Slammed" and "rust on wings hidden with stickers" and the inability to use punctuation lead me to believe that he's a stroker.

[minimoog]

RobinBanks said:

whysub said:

Old slammed barge here:

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/175573/merc...

They always say that you should "buy the seller". That seller seems like a complete wker.

"Slammed" and "rust on wings hidden with stickers" and the inability to use punctuation lead me to believe that he's a stroker.

Harsh. Looks an honest enough ad as far as it goes and it's only £500. Yes it's an utter shed but he's not claiming it's anything else. Whysub whom you quote also said it was slammed - is he a wker too?

[Captain Answer]

31mph said:

The 9-3 has aged well, it's still a great looking car. I can't believe the prices they can be had for now

Are they really any more expensive to run than a similarly aged German equivalent?

Not had anything go pop on either my 2000 plate 9-3 Aero or 9-5 in nearly a year of motoring. Fuel economy is reasonable, servicing can be done at about £35-50 (make sure you get the proper oil though)

[2013BRM]

Captain Answer said:

Not had anything go pop on either my 2000 plate 9-3 Aero or 9-5 in nearly a year of motoring. Fuel economy is reasonable, servicing can be done at about £35-50 (make sure you get the proper oil though)

what oil do you use?

[Captain Answer]

2013BRM said:

what oil do you use?

I always get the proper GM stuff from Neo Brothers via their ebay shop: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-SAAB-900-9000-9-...

Some folks use other fully synthetic oils, personally at the price it comes delivered with the filter from eBay I'd rather use the GM stuff.

Edited by Captain Answer on Friday 20th February 12:30

[whysub]

minimoog said:

Harsh. Looks an honest enough ad as far as it goes and it's only £500. Yes it's an utter shed but he's not claiming it's anything else. Whysub whom you quote also said it was slammed - is he a wker too?

Indeed-I just qouted what was said in the ad. Perhaps I should have said it was "lowered".

[knitware]

minimoog said:

Harsh. Looks an honest enough ad as far as it goes and it's only £500. Yes it's an utter shed but he's not claiming it's anything else. Whysub whom you quote also said it was slammed - is he a wker too?

Is this your car?