Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[Strawman]

Try Gumtree, not many people pay for an AT advert when the car is cheap and most likely to appeal to local buyers.

[TheJimi]

I'm constantly amazed at the ability of you lot to fish out seemingly great cars for buttons. As soon as I try to do it, I get spooked, thinking that sub 1k = shagged money pit

I don't even need such a car, but I can totally see the appeal if you get a good 'un.

On the point of a cheap convertible for the summer, see, that wouldn't work for me. A sports car is, for me, as much about the feel good factor as it is about performance and driving enjoyment.

The more foibles a car has, the more the feel-good factor is diminished, so a "cheap convertible for the summer" is a complete non-starter for me.

[Alex106]

Thanks chaps! GumTree slipped my mind for some reason.

Found these two:

Peugeot 206, 56k, MOT until January 2016.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/peugeot/peugeot-206-1.1-l...

Fiat Punto:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/fiat-punto-sporti...

[matchmaker]

kapiteinlangzaam said:

Autotrader is not the place to be finding <£500 working cars.

Gumtree and local freecycle type websites are where you need to look.

Gumtree is where I found my £200 Escort.

[L100NYY]

Alex106 said:

Thanks chaps! GumTree slipped my mind for some reason.

Fiat Punto:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/fiat-punto-sporti...

Fond memories of these as I had a few as company cars many moons ago. Absolute hoot to drive, great seats, a subwoofer in the boot as standard (was to me back then ) and actually handle pretty well. These early 1.25 versions were much more fun than the later facelift 1.4 too iirc.

I think they look great too;

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Alex106 said:

Thanks chaps! GumTree slipped my mind for some reason.

Found these two:

Peugeot 206, 56k, MOT until January 2016.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/peugeot/peugeot-206-1.1-l...

Fiat Punto:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/renault/fiat-punto-sporti...

Those Puntos are always very cheap and are a great buy if you need a little runaround.
The 1242cc engine is proven and virtually bullet proof too.

[kowalski655]

Cheap Alfa...no problems mentioned so bound to be a nightmare

http://www.gumtree.com/p/alfa-romeo/alfa-romeo-1.8...

[scdan4]

Saab is growing on me. Beginning to like it. No horrors uncovered.

used it to get a gurt load of wood this morning, holds quite a lot. It's also had its extremely grubby cabin cleaned. It's now a nice place to be. Radio buttons are sticky and horrible though, it's like the plastic is melting and baby wipes doesn't get the stickiness off.

Getting used to the grunt as well - its all very immediate and moves you forward pretty rapidly, especially as its not an aero.

Beginning to see why they are held in high regard.

Only been used round town today, 15mpg average showing on the computer.





[Off topic plea for help]

Camry shed has had new brakes all round piecemeal over the last 6 months and now I can't make the brake warning light go out. It has no pad wear indicators fitted, Float sensor in master cylinder is not stuck and handbrake switch is working as it should. If you start the car with the handbrake off, the warning light will stay off until you press the brake pedal, then it comes on and refuses to go out. I can't find the problem and its now annoying me really quite a lot. MOT time is looming and I'm assuming that particular light being illuminated is a fail.

Any ideas anyone?

[/off topic plea for help]

[TonyRPH]

scdan4 said:

<snip>
[Off topic plea for help]

Camry shed has had new brakes all round piecemeal over the last 6 months and now I can't make the brake warning light go out. It has no pad wear indicators fitted, Float sensor in master cylinder is not stuck and handbrake switch is working as it should. If you start the car with the handbrake off, the warning light will stay off until you press the brake pedal, then it comes on and refuses to go out. I can't find the problem and its now annoying me really quite a lot. MOT time is looming and I'm assuming that particular light being illuminated is a fail.

Any ideas anyone?

[/off topic plea for help]

Does the ABS work? Maybe you have an ABS sensor fault?

• Assuming it has ABS of course!

[scdan4]

TonyRPH said:

Does the ABS work? Maybe you have an ABS sensor fault?

• Assuming it has ABS of course!

It has ABS. I don't know if it works. Light on dash not illuminated unless on startup.

Can I work out whether it is working other than by standing on the brakes until they lock up?

[anonymous-user]

Strawman said:

Try Gumtree, not many people pay for an AT advert when the car is cheap and most likely to appeal to local buyers.

Just tried out of interest and had to laugh at the first one that came up:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/citroen/-y-reg-bilingo-di...

[TonyRPH]

Symbolica said:

Just tried out of interest and had to laugh at the first one that came up:

http://www.gumtree.com/p/citroen/-y-reg-bilingo-di...

Lol it's a "diseal bilingo"

[Krikkit]

scdan4 said:

TonyRPH said:

Does the ABS work? Maybe you have an ABS sensor fault?

• Assuming it has ABS of course!

It has ABS. I don't know if it works. Light on dash not illuminated unless on startup.

Can I work out whether it is working other than by standing on the brakes until they lock up?

Not reliably. Take it out and find some gravel!

[MontyC]

Alex106 said:

Cam1177 said:

MontyC said:

And another one Vauxhall Calibra Moted till August £75

What!! How lol?

Where do you find these?! I've been scouring Autotrader for something <£1k, in a low tax band with > 6 months MOT. Nothing great found in Kent.

Then you tell me you've bought 2 cars for around £250! Im both mad and jealous!

The MGF was off gumtree, the Calibra was off a friend of mine, the secret with gumtree is be quick if a car is cheap it wont be around for long, there is always a high demand for cheap run arounds and I resold it on in just a few hours.

[defblade]

scdan4 said:

[Off topic plea for help]

Camry shed has had new brakes all round piecemeal over the last 6 months and now I can't make the brake warning light go out. It has no pad wear indicators fitted, Float sensor in master cylinder is not stuck and handbrake switch is working as it should. If you start the car with the handbrake off, the warning light will stay off until you press the brake pedal, then it comes on and refuses to go out. I can't find the problem and its now annoying me really quite a lot. MOT time is looming and I'm assuming that particular light being illuminated is a fail.

Any ideas anyone?

[/off topic plea for help]

Check your brake light switch (normally attached to the brake pedal somewhere). You've checked the others and say it only happens once you press the pedal, so highly suspect. A common fault on E36s, not that that's really relevant

[SteBrown91]

Tidy but slightly pricey puma for sale, would be alright if could be had for starting bid

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...

[bmthnick1981]

olly22n said:

bmthnick1981 said:

I agree with most of what you say and your thoughts on valuation. But I take umbrage at the 735 "big six" being described as an average engine. It is a great engine, and to many probably the most desirable engine in an E32. The 735 in the E38 being the small V8 is very much average, but the M30B35 really is a good 'un. IMO of course.

I agree.

But then i would.

Ahh, have you bought Dan's 735?

[Cam1177]

SteBrown91 said:

Tidy but slightly pricey puma for sale, would be alright if could be had for starting bid

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...

Seems a bit overpriced for me especially with MOT due next month. By comparison, I picked up a 1.7 last year with a just under a years ticket and just over 100k for £200. Absolute hoot to drive I have to add!

[Hoofy]

"SELLING selling on behalf of my mum. 78400 miles, 12 months MOT. £150 or thereabouts, open to offers. It's at my mums in Raynes Park, welcome to come and have a look. Any questions please comment or pm me."



From: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forsaleepsom/?fref...

[405dogvan]

gdelargy said:

I'm rather tempted by this, since it's not too far away:



1998 Mazda Xedos 9 auto, 2.5 V6, claimed 66k miles and 11 months MOT for £450 ono. "Needs suspension link on passenger front, still drives fine though" is about as bad as the advert gets.

Edited by gdelargy on Sunday 8th March 18:07

Bit late here - I went to look at a VERY similar car to that about 2 years ago - it was HORRIFIC underneath with extensive rust in the suspension, around the mounts - sills were borderline MOT failure country - from the outside it looked very solid so LOOK UNDERNEATH!

It was also pretty fking nasty inside - but I still like the outside ;0