Best of the Bargain Basement Vol. 2
Discussion
dooosuk said:
dooosuk said:
This might be a cheap car for someone. Service history looks decent:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-3-2-0T-SE-Coupe-1...
This is still cheap. It's too far for me to travel but history seems good. Ends in 3hrs.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Saab-9-3-2-0T-SE-Coupe-1...
egor110 said:
I've moved onto a £400 smart forfour.
6 months mot, clutch makes a clanking noise when you push the pedal down.
My aim is to get it for nearer £350 as the seller needs the parking space
I called his bluff and said i'd let him know the next day ( sunday), he sold it by the time i contacted him on sunday.6 months mot, clutch makes a clanking noise when you push the pedal down.
My aim is to get it for nearer £350 as the seller needs the parking space
The laguna with possibly iffy auto box and a years mot is still for sale but dropped to £350 now!
Krikkit said:
My other half had a 1.8 for about 10 years, fantastic car, but I had a 1.6 shed for a while and I honestly couldn't feel much difference in terms of speed (they're both fairly slow, not unpleasantly so), but the economy drop on the 1.8 wasn't worth it.
One thing I would say is to avoid the auto at all costs - it's a crap old 4-speed, versus a lovely snickety manual.
Interesting. I've driven a few mk1 1.6 Focuses and when I once drove a 1.8 I was surprised at how much extra low-down grunt it had. One thing I would say is to avoid the auto at all costs - it's a crap old 4-speed, versus a lovely snickety manual.
Howard- said:
Krikkit said:
My other half had a 1.8 for about 10 years, fantastic car, but I had a 1.6 shed for a while and I honestly couldn't feel much difference in terms of speed (they're both fairly slow, not unpleasantly so), but the economy drop on the 1.8 wasn't worth it.
One thing I would say is to avoid the auto at all costs - it's a crap old 4-speed, versus a lovely snickety manual.
Interesting. I've driven a few mk1 1.6 Focuses and when I once drove a 1.8 I was surprised at how much extra low-down grunt it had. One thing I would say is to avoid the auto at all costs - it's a crap old 4-speed, versus a lovely snickety manual.
Then again, as Krikkit says, it's a sweet gear-change and the 1.6 is less thirsty.
(my 1.8 did about 30mpg).
I used to drive quite a few MK1 Focii (worked at Ford at the time) most were the 1.6, but some 1.8 and 2.0...and to be honest...i found the 1.6 the nicest to use. Best balance of perforance (all relative), refinement and mpg. I had a 2004 co/car for a while and would get around 40mpg average.
forsure said:
Howard- said:
Interesting. I've driven a few mk1 1.6 Focuses and when I once drove a 1.8 I was surprised at how much extra low-down grunt it had.
Agreed, the 1.8 has noticeably more torque and you don't need to use the gearbox so much.Then again, as Krikkit says, it's a sweet gear-change and the 1.6 is less thirsty.
(my 1.8 did about 30mpg).
I found economy to match yours on the 1.8 forsure.
TwistingMyMelon said:
Leave as is, I wouldn't do the cambelt on a £500 car
Unless I owned it a while and thought it was worth keeping for a few years
Im sure the belt can last 100k anyway
10 years or 100k miles I think (my dad has one - albeit a newer one - and he had his done last year). Unless I owned it a while and thought it was worth keeping for a few years
Im sure the belt can last 100k anyway
I guess it's one of those things where you have to decide how much it would upset you if it lets go and strands you at the side of the road with a completely dead (and irreparable) car.
At £500 - there are plenty of other potential failures/faults that could write it off economically anyway - so I guess if you're happy to accept the risk that ignoring the timing belt could see you having a lift home in an AA truck, then leave it
Krikkit said:
forsure said:
Howard- said:
Interesting. I've driven a few mk1 1.6 Focuses and when I once drove a 1.8 I was surprised at how much extra low-down grunt it had.
Agreed, the 1.8 has noticeably more torque and you don't need to use the gearbox so much.Then again, as Krikkit says, it's a sweet gear-change and the 1.6 is less thirsty.
(my 1.8 did about 30mpg).
I found economy to match yours on the 1.8 forsure.
stevesuk said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Leave as is, I wouldn't do the cambelt on a £500 car
Unless I owned it a while and thought it was worth keeping for a few years
Im sure the belt can last 100k anyway
10 years or 100k miles I think (my dad has one - albeit a newer one - and he had his done last year). Unless I owned it a while and thought it was worth keeping for a few years
Im sure the belt can last 100k anyway
I guess it's one of those things where you have to decide how much it would upset you if it lets go and strands you at the side of the road with a completely dead (and irreparable) car.
At £500 - there are plenty of other potential failures/faults that could write it off economically anyway - so I guess if you're happy to accept the risk that ignoring the timing belt could see you having a lift home in an AA truck, then leave it
Thanks.
funkyrobot said:
As you say though, there is something about the Audi and the Merc (especially the Merc) that is appealing.
Of the cars you've listed, I'd definitely go for the Merc. It's cavernous, it's way more cool than the others (all relative of course), and you have the joy of driving a beige (ish!) car. The weakness with this model was rust, and this one looks pretty decent. The seller claims a new MOT. There's always a strong market for these so it would be easy to offload if and when you decide to sell, and at shed money you can't really go wrong.
If you were interested and wanted really expert opinion, post it on the Bargain Barge 1-5 thread - there are proper ninjas on there.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Of the cars you've listed, I'd definitely go for the Merc. It's cavernous, it's way more cool than the others (all relative of course), and you have the joy of driving a beige (ish!) car.
The weakness with this model was rust, and this one looks pretty decent. The seller claims a new MOT. There's always a strong market for these so it would be easy to offload if and when you decide to sell, and at shed money you can't really go wrong.
If you were interested and wanted really expert opinion, post it on the Bargain Barge 1-5 thread - there are proper ninjas on there.
It did strike me as a good choice. The only things wrong I can really tell from the pics are the front bumper (looks like it's been smacked), a dent on the front passenger side light area and the light lenses looking rather cloudy. I guess for under a grand, these aren't troublesome issues.The weakness with this model was rust, and this one looks pretty decent. The seller claims a new MOT. There's always a strong market for these so it would be easy to offload if and when you decide to sell, and at shed money you can't really go wrong.
If you were interested and wanted really expert opinion, post it on the Bargain Barge 1-5 thread - there are proper ninjas on there.
MOT history states MOT until Feb 2018. Only two advisories; brake wear.
I'd much prefer it to a Ford. However, it's 80 odd miles away and a bit more money. Out of all of them though, the heart yearns for that one.
Edit to add - have posted the Merc in the barge thread.
Edited by funkyrobot on Monday 13th March 16:59
DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.
For real? https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
l354uge said:
MG TFs, talk to meh!
Anything I should be weary about on a cheap one? So far I've got HGF, rusty subframes and leaky coolant pipes.
I'm looking to spend around £500 but I can go more for something worth keeping. If anyone wants a ropey 75 crusier let me know.
Add leaky hydragas suspension, rusty floorpan, leaky roof.Anything I should be weary about on a cheap one? So far I've got HGF, rusty subframes and leaky coolant pipes.
I'm looking to spend around £500 but I can go more for something worth keeping. If anyone wants a ropey 75 crusier let me know.
For £500, just get something with a year's MOT and see how it is after 12 months.
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