Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2

[31mph]

Hoofy said:

andy118run said:

This is at an established local dealer near to me - I know very little about MB.
Been looking for an interesting 2nd car/runabout for a while. Seems not a lot of cash (795)and low in miles for the year. Comes with a full MOT and a service.

Mercedes-Benz E Class 3.2 E320 Avantgarde 4dr 12 MONTHS MOT. 18'' AMG WHEELS


Year/Reg:
1998 (S)
Mileage:
116,000
Engine size:
3.2L

Fuel type:
Petrol
Gearbox:
Automatic
FULL 12 MONTHS MOT. FREE OIL + FILTER SERVICE. DARK ORIGINAL PRIVICY GLASS (blacked out). 18'' AMG WHEELS. TELEVISION/DVD PLAYER SCREEN FOR REAR SEATS., Alarm, Electric Windows (Front/Rear), Mercedes-Benz Audio 10 (Radio/Cassette). SILVER, CLEARLY ALWAYS MAINTAINED AND LOOKED AFTER TO THE HIGHEST OF STANDARDS. FULL DEALER FACILITIES.. MOT STATION, WORKSHOP, SHOWROOMS, £795

Link to ad with 17 pictures -
http://www.martinpowley.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-b...

What kind of dealer are we talking about?

I know this is an absolute cliche on this thread, but that does look 'a lot of car for the money'

However, wtf is going on on the dash - is that the remote for the stereo glued to where there would have an old telephone dock?

[Hugo a Gogo]

rusty, and I don't believe the miles

[Trabi601]

andy118run said:

This is at an established local dealer near to me - I know very little about MB.
Been looking for an interesting 2nd car/runabout for a while. Seems not a lot of cash (795)and low in miles for the year. Comes with a full MOT and a service.

Utterly rotten. Those things rot like nothing else - if you can see the rot, the underneath is likely to start falling out, too. Something to do with a front crossmember.

Those front window tints are illegal and should have failed an MOT - so I think that tells you a lot about the legitimacy of the MOT certificate!

[405dogvan]

Trabi601 said:

andy118run said:

This is at an established local dealer near to me - I know very little about MB.
Been looking for an interesting 2nd car/runabout for a while. Seems not a lot of cash (795)and low in miles for the year. Comes with a full MOT and a service.

Utterly rotten. Those things rot like nothing else - if you can see the rot, the underneath is likely to start falling out, too. Something to do with a front crossmember.

Those front window tints are illegal and should have failed an MOT - so I think that tells you a lot about the legitimacy of the MOT certificate!

Towbars tend to set-off alarms with me - not entirely sure why, could have been a sedate caravanner or - then you see the tints (illegal) and the wheels (no way stock) and you wonder...

I'd want a really good look at that before I spent money - unless you're feeling lucky?

[andy118run]

405dogvan said:

Trabi601 said:

andy118run said:

This is at an established local dealer near to me - I know very little about MB.
Been looking for an interesting 2nd car/runabout for a while. Seems not a lot of cash (795)and low in miles for the year. Comes with a full MOT and a service.

Utterly rotten. Those things rot like nothing else - if you can see the rot, the underneath is likely to start falling out, too. Something to do with a front crossmember.

Those front window tints are illegal and should have failed an MOT - so I think that tells you a lot about the legitimacy of the MOT certificate!

Towbars tend to set-off alarms with me - not entirely sure why, could have been a sedate caravanner or - then you see the tints (illegal) and the wheels (no way stock) and you wonder...

I'd want a really good look at that before I spent money - unless you're feeling lucky?

I think I'm getting enough bad vibes off here to not bother with it.

[CX53]

poing said:

V12biTurbo said:

106 1.5D Eco shed anyone? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222184203686

Not a fan of the colour but you can't be picky at this end of the market. It would be a challenge to see who dies first, the owner or the car! Great find.

This is near me, seems like a genuine car..

Tempted to enquire/go look, but I wonder how long lack of air con will take to get on my nerves, & never had a car without PAS!

Must be satisfying buying a car for so little that would cost peanuts to fuel though!

[Trabi601]

Those things are built to survive the apocalypse. Mechanically as simple as you can get - so long as the floor isn't rotten, it'll last forever!

[CX53]

Allegedly it isn't rotten, seller seems genuine, have had a brief exchange on eBay messages.

That's exactly my worry, if it's a pain to live with I'll be loathe to throw it away if it's not broken - and I doubt it'll ever break, so I'd be stuck with it

Excellent shed though, and I work nights so the roads are clear when I commute, probably be a decent enough shed to commute in on a clear road.

Is it wrong that I'm imagining it with some rallye style wheels on too

Tempted to give it a go, I'm sure someone on here would buy it off me if I don't get on with it

[405dogvan]

andy118run said:

I think I'm getting enough bad vibes off here to not bother with it.

If you want a reliable, simple and cheap-to-run car, a really cheap MB is never going to be that - but they have the potentially to offer a lot of waft for very little money >IF< you check them over first

What are your intentions with this - are you going to

a - shed it? This means ignoring faults which aren't trivial/safety-related until they overcome the value of the car
b - cherish it? In which case for GODS sake buy the best one possible because anything else will ruin you

[Hainey]

405dogvan said:

andy118run said:

I think I'm getting enough bad vibes off here to not bother with it.

If you want a reliable, simple and cheap-to-run car, a really cheap MB is never going to be that - but they have the potentially to offer a lot of waft for very little money >IF< you check them over first

What are your intentions with this - are you going to

a - shed it? This means ignoring faults which aren't trivial/safety-related until they overcome the value of the car
b - cherish it? In which case for GODS sake buy the best one possible because anything else will ruin you

Fair one, but I'm 8000 miles away and even from here I can tell that one above is a howling dog with a Stevie Wonder MOT.

If you get that for 600 quid then I guarantee you 500 quid of it will need welded. No thank you.

[V12biTurbo]

CX53 said:

Allegedly it isn't rotten, seller seems genuine, have had a brief exchange on eBay messages.

That's exactly my worry, if it's a pain to live with I'll be loathe to throw it away if it's not broken - and I doubt it'll ever break, so I'd be stuck with it

Excellent shed though, and I work nights so the roads are clear when I commute, probably be a decent enough shed to commute in on a clear road.

Is it wrong that I'm imagining it with some rallye style wheels on too

Tempted to give it a go, I'm sure someone on here would buy it off me if I don't get on with it

I think we've all become spoilt with pas, electric everything and air con etc. I'm sure it would be perfectly adequate and as you say cost absolutely buttons to run. The fuel gauges on them never seem to move! Park it anywhere, foot flat to the floor everywhere you go.... Buy it!

[CX53]

V12biTurbo said:

I think we've all become spoilt with pas, electric everything and air con etc. I'm sure it would be perfectly adequate and as you say cost absolutely buttons to run. The fuel gauges on them never seem to move! Park it anywhere, foot flat to the floor everywhere you go.... Buy it!

The main reason I'm keen on this one is because it's close by and reliable.

Two other shed options on the table at the moment, an avensis with loads of preventative maintenance done in the last 12 months, but it's 50 mins away, meaning a trip to view and then again on a train to collect. The other option is a fairly close by Astra 2.2 bertone coupe - failed MOT earlier this year on emissions - seller had terraclean done (presumably to pass emissions but didn't mention it, saw it on mot site), he also had a service done & new tyres so it should be good to go, heated leather would be nice in a shed.

Can't make my mind up which to go for, work nights so unfortunately can't sacrifice too much daytime sleep to view, got a feeling none of them will hang around though as they're all very cheap!

[defblade]

CX53 said:

but it's 50 mins away, meaning a trip to view and then again on a train to collect.

Just go on the train. Worst that happens is you have to get the train back again as well. And a return might not be much more than a single if you're not feeling confident.

[CX53]

Not a bad idea, quick check shows the train only takes 40 mins and £20 return. I know out of the three I've been looking at its the best (and most expensive) option - going to get on the phone to the seller.

[Krikkit]

CX53 said:

V12biTurbo said:

I think we've all become spoilt with pas, electric everything and air con etc. I'm sure it would be perfectly adequate and as you say cost absolutely buttons to run. The fuel gauges on them never seem to move! Park it anywhere, foot flat to the floor everywhere you go.... Buy it!

The main reason I'm keen on this one is because it's close by and reliable.

Most jobs are ridiculously cheap on them (if they ever even need doing).

The only thing to watch out for (other than rust) is that the rear wheels are nice and straight - any camber whatsoever and walk away. The rear axle will need replacing if it's cambered, which is more than the asking price to do without bodging.

Hainey said:

Fair one, but I'm 8000 miles away and even from here I can tell that one above is a howling dog with a Stevie Wonder MOT.

Great turn of phrase.

[Skullduggery]

Krikkit said:

CX53 said:

V12biTurbo said:

I think we've all become spoilt with pas, electric everything and air con etc. I'm sure it would be perfectly adequate and as you say cost absolutely buttons to run. The fuel gauges on them never seem to move! Park it anywhere, foot flat to the floor everywhere you go.... Buy it!

The main reason I'm keen on this one is because it's close by and reliable.

Most jobs are ridiculously cheap on them (if they ever even need doing).

The only thing to watch out for (other than rust) is that the rear wheels are nice and straight - any camber whatsoever and walk away. The rear axle will need replacing if it's cambered, which is more than the asking price to do without bodging.

Hainey said:

Fair one, but I'm 8000 miles away and even from here I can tell that one above is a howling dog with a Stevie Wonder MOT.

Great turn of phrase.

Those window tints aren't an MOT failure, they would fail a VOSA or police inspection.

[CX53]

Seller of the avensis I'm keen on is being a bit of a pain.

Going to see the little 106 today. Thanks for the pointer about the camber on the rear wheels! I'll let you know how it goes.

[tog]

Tidy looking Saab 9000 for £335.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/saab/low-mileage-saab-90...

[V8mate]

tog said:

Tidy looking Saab 9000 for £335.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/saab/low-mileage-saab-90...

Gravel drive adds £900 to the value, so that's basically a free car!

[W00DY]

tog said:

Tidy looking Saab 9000 for £335.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/saab/low-mileage-saab-90...

What a steal! The MOT history is very good too.


Someone needs to buy that. If anyone is close and wants to buy it for me, then I'll happily give you some cash for doing so.