Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[haddock82]

Well after trawling through this thread from the beginning and loving the bargains available out there i thought i show you all my next Bargain Basement motor!

The MG ZT, another bargain basement car, was sold quick and easily, cracking car but a little bit thirsty just to pootle too and from work

A quick scout around the usual places wasnt giving much hope for finding something economical and cheap, i nearly went to look at a vectra diesel as they seem to have hit rock bottom on price at the moment (2006 plate 1.9 diesel for £695?!)

But a message from a friend to say they had a car surplus to requirements lead me to owning this piece of British Automotive history! Well that is rather over the top but it ticks the boxes for now



Small - Check
Cheap to run - Check (1.4 petrol, i've calculated it at about 41mpg at the mo)

It has FULL service history, 91K on the clock, head gasket changed (including a new cylinder head!)

All it needed for MOT was a new clip on the CV boot (did that myself)

How much for this hideous.. I mean wonderful example of Rovers finest?... £75

It will do for now, all in (including the MOT cost) I've spent £135 and that includes buying a set of carpet mats!

If it blows up then i'll sell of some of the better parts via the usual auction site and then scrap it!

Over to you guys for the inevitable ribbing that its a crappy Rover and it'll fall apart next week or blow up!

[GeordieInExile]

That's a perfectly respectable bit of shed. The price is certainly low enough. Beats my £999 75 KV6 that destroyed its rear suspension within three months!

[Krikkit]

GeordieInExile said:

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?

the 2.4 is more reliable, but depending on the year it introduces increasing complexity. Biggest issue with the 2.4's is the thermostat sticking open - it's a bit of a faff co change (again, engine dependent, some are easier than others). Otherwise it's a very robust, characterful lump.

One thing to watch for on a 156 is suspension issues, the front is a nightmarish combo of aluminium parts with steel bolts that corrode together if not extremely well greased.

I liked mine, it just wasn't quite economical enough or fun enough (somewhere inbetween) for my commute - I went with a Clio 172 instead. -5mpg but more fun!

[forsure]

haddock82 said:

Over to you guys for the inevitable ribbing that its a crappy Rover and it'll fall apart next week or blow up!

They're pretty good to drive and the 1.4 'K' is a sweet engine.

Even if it does go bang you'll hardly be out of pocket.
Top shedding!

[Toaster Pilot]

haddock82 said:

(2006 plate 1.9 diesel for £695?!)

Where?

That's dirt cheap unless it's a 300k ex taxi - I'm currently smoking around in a 05 plate one I took in part exchange for not much less than that

[anonymous-user]

there is a reason for this, the 1.9 is known for a manifold issue/swirl flaps, something fails and causes the car to be fcked.

Costs around 400- 600 quid to fix but you can but some parts from Germany to fix it. I looked into it when a mates cars went funny, not worth the hassle, i would stay clear.

http://www.wmvx.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/66-1-9C...

[haddock82]

Toaster Pilot said:

Where?

That's dirt cheap unless it's a 300k ex taxi - I'm currently smoking around in a 05 plate one I took in part exchange for not much less than that

My boss ended up buying it!

It was indeed an ex Taxi, but on 175k.

[Toaster Pilot]

The Spruce goose said:

there is a reason for this, the 1.9 is known for a manifold issue/swirl flaps, something fails and causes the car to be fcked.

Costs around 400- 600 quid to fix but you can but some parts from Germany to fix it. I looked into it when a mates cars went funny, not worth the hassle, i would stay clear.

http://www.wmvx.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/66-1-9C...

The aftermarket parts cost pennies and sort the problem - I'd be much more worried about the DMF

[TheJimi]

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

[gowmonster]

TheJimi said:

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

Yeah, even just to resell at £1000 or anything more than you paid for it. am assuming it's not a gti otherwise it would get more.

[anonymous-user]

Brave pills

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-607-2-2-Hdi-/281...

607 2.2 hdi, not much in advert and 6 months mot, but could be a bargain.

[Toaster Pilot]

The Spruce goose said:

Brave pills

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-607-2-2-Hdi-/281...

607 2.2 hdi, not much in advert and 6 months mot, but could be a bargain.

No idea what the 2.2 engine is like but that could be a good buy depending on the age/mileage

[Barchettaman]

Toaster Pilot said:

The aftermarket parts cost pennies and sort the problem - I'd be much more worried about the DMF

Yep, DMF replacement on that engine is a nasty job.

Mine was *just* starting to go at 145k, my mechanic suggested I get rid. It was a pity really as I'd just had the suspension refreshed and the car was driving better than ever, oh well. Its replacement, an E90 320d, is doing well but I miss the Vectra.

If you get a good one they're perfectly pleasant. Problem is so many of them were sold that everyone knows someone with a crap one, IME!

[Toaster Pilot]

Barchettaman said:

Toaster Pilot said:

The aftermarket parts cost pennies and sort the problem - I'd be much more worried about the DMF

Yep, DMF replacement on that engine is a nasty job.

Mine was *just* starting to go at 145k, my mechanic suggested I get rid. It was a pity really as I'd just had the suspension refreshed and the car was driving better than ever, oh well. Its replacement, an E90 320d, is doing well but I miss the Vectra.

If you get a good one they're perfectly pleasant. Problem is so many of them were sold that everyone knows someone with a crap one, IME!

I had one in stock the other month that had cost its previous owner £1100 for a DMF replacement at 68k miles!!

It'll see its new owner well though - DMF, clutch, battery, starter and all 4 coil springs replaced within the last 12 months

[TheJimi]

gowmonster said:

TheJimi said:

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

Yeah, even just to resell at £1000 or anything more than you paid for it. am assuming it's not a gti otherwise it would get more.

Looks like I mis-heard her yesterday. It's the 1.9 TDI. X plate.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 23 September 11:06

[Vaud]

TheJimi said:

Looks like I mis-hear her yesterday. It's the 1.9 TDI. X plate.

I think that is a better car... you would have no problems reselling it - isn't that the unstressed 1.9 block that will go around the clock several times - and is happy with a mild map?

[Emeye]

Toaster Pilot said:

No idea what the 2.2 engine is like but that could be a good buy depending on the age/mileage

If it is the same as the one in the 407 then IIRC it was pretty good - we had an estate 407 at work when they were new and it was pretty rapid.

[Usget]

TheJimi said:

gowmonster said:

TheJimi said:

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

Yeah, even just to resell at £1000 or anything more than you paid for it. am assuming it's not a gti otherwise it would get more.

Looks like I mis-heard her yesterday. It's the 1.9 TDI. X plate.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 23 September 11:06

I'll have it if you don't want it!

[TheJimi]

Usget said:

TheJimi said:

gowmonster said:

TheJimi said:

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

Yeah, even just to resell at £1000 or anything more than you paid for it. am assuming it's not a gti otherwise it would get more.

Looks like I mis-heard her yesterday. It's the 1.9 TDI. X plate.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 23 September 11:06

I'll have it if you don't want it!

I bailed. It needs a timing belt, which in and of itself isn't a deal breaker, but when I looked at the car today, it will need welding done to both sills in the very near future.

Don't really think it's worth it tbh.

[Backtobasics]

TheJimi said:

Usget said:

TheJimi said:

gowmonster said:

TheJimi said:

Been offered a Mk4 Golf 2.0, circa 107k, FSH etc and owned by our office manager who is OCD and has ever bill etc and MOT til Jan 16.

£300

Should I be chomping her arm off?

Yeah, even just to resell at £1000 or anything more than you paid for it. am assuming it's not a gti otherwise it would get more.

Looks like I mis-heard her yesterday. It's the 1.9 TDI. X plate.

Edited by TheJimi on Wednesday 23 September 11:06

I'll have it if you don't want it!

I bailed. It needs a timing belt, which in and of itself isn't a deal breaker, but when I looked at the car today, it will need welding done to both sills in the very near future.

Don't really think it's worth it tbh.

Thats worth £300 all day long in my opinion! Dont do the timing belt and just run it till it breaks/fails mot then break it for over £300