Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[gowmonster]

GeordieInExile said:

A very nice looking Focus 1.6 Ghia 4 door for £375



Leather looks in good nick, bodywork looks untouched, it's rust-free, the aircon works and there're no oil leaks or warning lights. What's the catch?

it has an ugly rear? looks good to me, i'd have it as a run around.

[fizzwheel]

I need a car to do the 13 miles or so to the station and back. I want something I don't particularly care about so not bothered if it gets bumped or scratched.

Both our current vehicles are Diesel and I dont want to run into trouble with DPF's etc on short journeys as well.

I know I should really be looking at Micra's etc but I just cant face it. Either of these would do the trick I think.

Thoughts?

Saab 9-3 2.0 T SE 5dr £595

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

Saab 9-3 2.0 T SE 5dr £300

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

[gowmonster]

awesome cars, my mate got one on ebay for £200 and ran it for ages, there was an episode of WD that said to check the chassis support for twisting but can't remember if it was a convertible or not.

[Strawman]

gowmonster said:

awesome cars, my mate got one on ebay for £200 and ran it for ages, there was an episode of WD that said to check the chassis support for twisting but can't remember if it was a convertible or not.

It was, the bulkhead can crack where the steering column attaches but only on the convertible.

[TonyRPH]

gowmonster said:

awesome cars, my mate got one on ebay for £200 and ran it for ages, there was an episode of WD that said to check the chassis support for twisting but can't remember if it was a convertible or not.

Isn't it that the clutch cable pulls through the bulkhead?

IIRC there is a reinforcing kit available, which Edd fitted to their project car.

[W00DY]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XANTIA-ACTI...

At this money you can experience something truly different without ever having to worry about it going pop. Bargain.

Edited by W00DY on Friday 11th September 14:34

[EarlOfHazard]

W00DY]img said:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQwWDk2MA==/z/PHIAAOSwL...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XANTIA-ACTI...

At this money you can experience something truly different without ever having to worry about it going pop. Bargain.

There's a Mercedes 560 sel behind it in one of the photos too.

[Magog]

W00DY]img said:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQwWDk2MA==/z/PHIAAOSwL...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XANTIA-ACTI...

At this money you can experience something truly different without ever having to worry about it going pop. Bargain.

"massively effective track weapon"

I'm not sure I'd ever want to buy a car from someone who uses the above phrase.

[Emeye]

Magog said:

W00DY]img said:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQwWDk2MA==/z/PHIAAOSwL...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XANTIA-ACTI...

At this money you can experience something truly different without ever having to worry about it going pop. Bargain.

"massively effective track weapon"

I'm not sure I'd ever want to buy a car from someone who uses the above phrase.

Also, what exactly does "electric seat module missing" mean? That you can't adjust the seats?

[Gruber]

Magog said:

W00DY]img said:

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTQwWDk2MA==/z/PHIAAOSwL...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-CITROEN-XANTIA-ACTI...

At this money you can experience something truly different without ever having to worry about it going pop. Bargain.

"massively effective track weapon"

I'm not sure I'd ever want to buy a car from someone who uses the above phrase.

Tongue firmly in cheek there, I suspect. The seller seems to be a good'un, judging by his presence on here and other forums (fora!).

[ZiggyNiva]

Strawman said:

gowmonster said:

awesome cars, my mate got one on ebay for £200 and ran it for ages, there was an episode of WD that said to check the chassis support for twisting but can't remember if it was a convertible or not.

It was, the bulkhead can crack where the steering column attaches but only on the convertible.

Not just on the vert, but more likely.

There is a brace from abbott and PFS to stop it happening. It can also be repaired for about £150 (but a brace is still recommended after repair)

[Birdster]

.

[anonymous-user]

Just an update to previous posted car, my 500 quid pug 406 2.2 Hdi now been de-fapped and a professional remap (190 bhp) and running well, no faults. Will be fully serviced by weekend.

Only problem is i think i want something faster, as had a play with a 2.0t 95 which was very close, and I hope it was remapped as my car as it was pretty much neck and neck, which if remapped to 220bhp i think noodtune do would be impressive for my diesel 406.

So all in about 700 quid and doing 40 mpg so not bad a few minor faults, but with clutch and cambelt, matching good tyres done shouldn't have too many big costs.

Edited by The Spruce goose on Friday 18th September 03:45

[GeordieInExile]

Anyone got experience of shedding it around in a 156?

Seen a few around, insurance and economy seem reasonable... but if I do 65 miles a day, five days a week in a 15 year old Alfa Romeo, am I just inviting trouble?

[defblade]

GeordieInExile said:

Anyone got experience of shedding it around in a 156?

Seen a few around, insurance and economy seem reasonable... but if I do 65 miles a day, five days a week in a 15 year old Alfa Romeo, am I just inviting trouble?

Mine was lovely (once I'd replaced the constantly-on test-light circuit which drained the battery every 2 days) for 3 months, until the moment it threw a con-rod. The 2.0 twin spark petrol has a weakness on cylinder 3 for this, as the exhaust is cut into the sump just under there and can bake the oil out of the bearing if it's cheap or runs low. Sadly, at the shed end of the market, you don't really know how it was treated before you got it. Mine had plenty of oil in when it went pop... a very impressive cloud behind me!
If I was inclined towards diesel at all, I think I could be tempted again, but I wouldn't have another petrol one.

[anonymous-user]

GeordieInExile said:

Anyone got experience of shedding it around in a 156?

Seen a few around, insurance and economy seem reasonable... but if I do 65 miles a day, five days a week in a 15 year old Alfa Romeo, am I just inviting trouble?

I had a 2001 156 V6 in 2011. It was great. I did 80 miles a day, in anything from high summer days to -14 winter mornings. 27mpg average, 32mpg on a run. Nothing went wrong, unless I did something silly like crash it. Sounded like an Audi when I shut the door, nothing fell off, nothing rattled. I ran it from 40k to over 100k miles, and took it camping, put kayaks on the roof, did festivals in it. It was UTTERLY reliable. People, including Top Gear, who think they will explode as soon as you look at them are IME talking rubbish. I took it to an italian specialist for servicing, and the courtesy cars he lent me were even tighter and better - and older - than mine. Decent Momo leather, nice clocks, fake carbon dash, it was brilliant. If you could find one for a grand then, IME you'd be on to a winner.

The V6 has twice-as-long cambelt intervals as the 4 pot. The V6 also has an engine that runs on cream and silk and is not much thirstier.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ALFA-ROMEO-156-2-5-V6-BL...

Swap the spokers for teledials and that's pretty much ideal.

Edited by OpulentBob on Saturday 19th September 07:22

[GeordieInExile]

defblade said:

GeordieInExile said:

Anyone got experience of shedding it around in a 156?

Seen a few around, insurance and economy seem reasonable... but if I do 65 miles a day, five days a week in a 15 year old Alfa Romeo, am I just inviting trouble?

Mine was lovely (once I'd replaced the constantly-on test-light circuit which drained the battery every 2 days) for 3 months, until the moment it threw a con-rod. The 2.0 twin spark petrol has a weakness on cylinder 3 for this, as the exhaust is cut into the sump just under there and can bake the oil out of the bearing if it's cheap or runs low. Sadly, at the shed end of the market, you don't really know how it was treated before you got it. Mine had plenty of oil in when it went pop... a very impressive cloud behind me!
If I was inclined towards diesel at all, I think I could be tempted again, but I wouldn't have another petrol one.

It's a JTD I'll want as I do a 65 mile round commute each day. Are the diesel engines more robust than the petrol ones?

[Parabola]

GeordieInExile said:

It's a JTD I'll want as I do a 65 mile round commute each day. Are the diesel engines more robust than the petrol ones?

Can't really help with the comparison, but love the sound of the 5 cylinder 2.4 JTD engine in my 156 Sportwagon. Was great on my 120 mile daily commute. Used to get about 43MPG.

There was a period in about 2003 where Alfa made the 156 with the older style front end, but a facelift interior. perfect combo IMHO.

Veloce spec is best. Love my teledial wheels too.

Edited by Parabola on Saturday 19th September 16:56

[martynr]

GeordieInExile said:

It's a JTD I'll want as I do a 65 mile round commute each day. Are the diesel engines more robust than the petrol ones?

It has the same 1.9 turbo diesel as every other make from GM/Fiat such as Saab, Vauxhall, Fiat and Cadillac. Probably suffer from the same issues such as DMF, injectors...

[GeordieInExile]

Parabola said:

Can't really help with the comparison, but love the sound of the 5 cylinder 2.4 JTD engine in my 156 Sportwagon. Was great on my 120 mile daily commute. Used to get about 43MPG.

There was a period in about 2003 where Alfa made the 156 with the older style front end, but a facelift interior. perfect combo IMHO.

Veloce spec is best. Love my teledial wheels too.

I do like the idea of the 2.4 but the insurance will be heftier - I'm still a relatively new driver and have no NCB so I'm looking at £1250 for the year, against under £950 for the 1.9. If I like the 1.9 enough I suppose I can always upgrade...

At shed budget I've seen both facelift and non-facelift versions going about, is there any great difference in how they drive or in reliability?