My £500 snotter challenge....a few observations.
Discussion
This thread seems a little cynical. You are always taking a chance with a £500 car, though not as much of one as some on here seem to think. I've had a few cheapo cars over the years...
- Alfa 164 - £1000.. lasted over 25k miles with no work needed
- Capri 1.6 - £270.. no problems for the year or so I had it
- 106 d - £220.. this was the cheapest car on autotrader with a resonable MOT (11 months). This caused me no problems at all.
- Audi 2.6 v6 - £500...had this for over 6 months, again no problems.
I didn't really put much effort into checking them over too much either.
I love keeping old smokers running, it's great fun.
- Alfa 164 - £1000.. lasted over 25k miles with no work needed
- Capri 1.6 - £270.. no problems for the year or so I had it
- 106 d - £220.. this was the cheapest car on autotrader with a resonable MOT (11 months). This caused me no problems at all.
- Audi 2.6 v6 - £500...had this for over 6 months, again no problems.
I didn't really put much effort into checking them over too much either.
I love keeping old smokers running, it's great fun.
I recently picked up an 109,000 mile E36 328i Touring for £500. 18-button OBC, power sunroof. 4 POs. Full toolkit, medical kit, warning triangle, glovebox torch etc etc. The owners before were clearly besotted with the car, going by the number of immaculately hand-written notes in the accompanying ring-binder. The most recent ones less so as it has a few trolly dings, a slightly crumpled slam panel and a cricket-ball sized ding in the tailgate - all the hallmarks of being used for the school run 6 miles a day, a total of 160-odd miles since its last MOT. Also, the climate control swung between freezing aircon (aircon works, yay!) and full blast heat. It was otherwise in excellent mechanical condition bar the loose handbrake and the auto-box wasn't always shifting the way it should. PO also complained of bad (sub-20) MPG. I decided to take a punt anyway.
I've not had the car long, and already with the help of my £50 eBay diagnostics box I narrowed it down to a bad lambda sensor (£40 from ECP, replaced both to be safe) and throttle position sensor. I got the TPS and a replacement dual zone climate control from my local breakers for £20. So, £100 in parts, and about an hour (could do it quicker next time) underneath the car.
The main gamble on buying the car (not that you stand to lose anything much on a £500 E36 as they are worth plenty in bits) was the recalcitrant auto box, as there were no fault codes. After some more internet research, I tracked the fault down to dirty contacts in the selector and 'E/S' mode switch. Can of switch cleaner later, and bingo, a fully working BMW!
Whilst at the breakers I also couldn't resist dropping another £100 on a clean silver grey leather interior to replace the tired cloth. I will also treat her to some new suspension springs, I'm thinking the same H&R setup as my coupe with a very minor drop (35/15) and a bit more stiffness. I'm not even fussed about 'lows' - I just don't like the body roll inherent in the standard setup. Still considering my various wheel options - I've got a couple of sets I'd like to use but they will require a light arch roll to fit properly, so I am still keeping an eye open for something nice in the ET40 range.
I've not had the car long, and already with the help of my £50 eBay diagnostics box I narrowed it down to a bad lambda sensor (£40 from ECP, replaced both to be safe) and throttle position sensor. I got the TPS and a replacement dual zone climate control from my local breakers for £20. So, £100 in parts, and about an hour (could do it quicker next time) underneath the car.
The main gamble on buying the car (not that you stand to lose anything much on a £500 E36 as they are worth plenty in bits) was the recalcitrant auto box, as there were no fault codes. After some more internet research, I tracked the fault down to dirty contacts in the selector and 'E/S' mode switch. Can of switch cleaner later, and bingo, a fully working BMW!
Whilst at the breakers I also couldn't resist dropping another £100 on a clean silver grey leather interior to replace the tired cloth. I will also treat her to some new suspension springs, I'm thinking the same H&R setup as my coupe with a very minor drop (35/15) and a bit more stiffness. I'm not even fussed about 'lows' - I just don't like the body roll inherent in the standard setup. Still considering my various wheel options - I've got a couple of sets I'd like to use but they will require a light arch roll to fit properly, so I am still keeping an eye open for something nice in the ET40 range.
vsonix said:
I recently picked up an 109,000 mile E36 328i Touring for £500. 18-button OBC, power sunroof. 4 POs. Full toolkit, medical kit, warning triangle, glovebox torch etc etc. The owners before were clearly besotted with the car, going by the number of immaculately hand-written notes in the accompanying ring-binder. The most recent ones less so as it has a few trolly dings, a slightly crumpled slam panel and a cricket-ball sized ding in the tailgate - all the hallmarks of being used for the school run 6 miles a day, a total of 160-odd miles since its last MOT. Also, the climate control swung between freezing aircon (aircon works, yay!) and full blast heat. It was otherwise in excellent mechanical condition bar the loose handbrake and the auto-box wasn't always shifting the way it should. PO also complained of bad (sub-20) MPG. I decided to take a punt anyway.
I've not had the car long, and already with the help of my £50 eBay diagnostics box I narrowed it down to a bad lambda sensor (£40 from ECP, replaced both to be safe) and throttle position sensor. I got the TPS and a replacement dual zone climate control from my local breakers for £20. So, £100 in parts, and about an hour (could do it quicker next time) underneath the car.
The main gamble on buying the car (not that you stand to lose anything much on a £500 E36 as they are worth plenty in bits) was the recalcitrant auto box, as there were no fault codes. After some more internet research, I tracked the fault down to dirty contacts in the selector and 'E/S' mode switch. Can of switch cleaner later, and bingo, a fully working BMW!
Whilst at the breakers I also couldn't resist dropping another £100 on a clean silver grey leather interior to replace the tired cloth. I will also treat her to some new suspension springs, I'm thinking the same H&R setup as my coupe with a very minor drop (35/15) and a bit more stiffness. I'm not even fussed about 'lows' - I just don't like the body roll inherent in the standard setup. Still considering my various wheel options - I've got a couple of sets I'd like to use but they will require a light arch roll to fit properly, so I am still keeping an eye open for something nice in the ET40 range.
I've not had the car long, and already with the help of my £50 eBay diagnostics box I narrowed it down to a bad lambda sensor (£40 from ECP, replaced both to be safe) and throttle position sensor. I got the TPS and a replacement dual zone climate control from my local breakers for £20. So, £100 in parts, and about an hour (could do it quicker next time) underneath the car.
The main gamble on buying the car (not that you stand to lose anything much on a £500 E36 as they are worth plenty in bits) was the recalcitrant auto box, as there were no fault codes. After some more internet research, I tracked the fault down to dirty contacts in the selector and 'E/S' mode switch. Can of switch cleaner later, and bingo, a fully working BMW!
Whilst at the breakers I also couldn't resist dropping another £100 on a clean silver grey leather interior to replace the tired cloth. I will also treat her to some new suspension springs, I'm thinking the same H&R setup as my coupe with a very minor drop (35/15) and a bit more stiffness. I'm not even fussed about 'lows' - I just don't like the body roll inherent in the standard setup. Still considering my various wheel options - I've got a couple of sets I'd like to use but they will require a light arch roll to fit properly, so I am still keeping an eye open for something nice in the ET40 range.
That, sir, is how you do it.
You've not been afraid to put a little more time and money into it to get it just right. A lot of people would buy a car like this and begrudge spending any more due to the value of the car, choosing to simply run it slowly into the ground.
With the additional investment you've made it into a nice car that will likely run for several more years, and you've still spent peanuts in general terms.
Nicely done.
Limpet said:
That, sir, is how you do it.
You've not been afraid to put a little more time and money into it to get it just right. A lot of people would buy a car like this and begrudge spending any more due to the value of the car, choosing to simply run it slowly into the ground.
With the additional investment you've made it into a nice car that will likely run for several more years, and you've still spent peanuts in general terms.
Nicely done.
My Megane Coupe cost me £390. Found it on ebay, it had a faulty electric window regulator and one tyre was the wrong size, but it had a fair bit of MOT left. The window would've been a £30 fix to me had I done the job properly the first time. The engine ran faultlessly but the exhaust fell off (my fault), it also took a pair of driveshafts and rear shocks. I spent about the same again on repairs and servicing.
So my experience of dirt cheap was positive overall. My 'challenge' was to get on the road with a grand budget of £500 plus upto £100 a month for insurance. My main goal was to get something with over 100bhp.
So my experience of dirt cheap was positive overall. My 'challenge' was to get on the road with a grand budget of £500 plus upto £100 a month for insurance. My main goal was to get something with over 100bhp.
Edited by KM666 on Sunday 13th July 21:41
ked.daemon said:
Focus petrol is also a good buy but at this price point the back arches are going to be crusty.
In my experience, it's the rear doors and bootlid just underneath the rear wiper which rust on the Mk1 Focus. When I sold mine, it was 13 years old and the rust was far from bad still.£300 04 plate Megane.
Windows didn't work. Cost me £20
Exhaust was blowing. Cost me £60 for a new one (Cheep knock off)
Cracked coil spring Cost me £20
MOT - £50
Service - £25 with some bargain Halfords £10 oil
Car stands me at just under £500, gets 35 - 40 mpg and the air con even works. 78k on the clock. Auto wipers, Auto lights, push button start.
Windows didn't work. Cost me £20
Exhaust was blowing. Cost me £60 for a new one (Cheep knock off)
Cracked coil spring Cost me £20
MOT - £50
Service - £25 with some bargain Halfords £10 oil
Car stands me at just under £500, gets 35 - 40 mpg and the air con even works. 78k on the clock. Auto wipers, Auto lights, push button start.
I spend yesterday looking at some dam cheap cars as a mate needs a runner whilst doing an engine conversion on his daily.
What surprises me is how many cars are now sold with no tax or MOT and the owners seriously think the car is worth double or three times scrap value.
The OP is absolutely bang on about the range of excuses I heard yesterday, the ABS light on was "just a wheel sensor that can be a tenner" according to one chap yet you could see the ABS pump was leaking - ABS pump for that car £300, the EML is on "but it's been on for ages now with no problems", the window rubbers were so deteriorated that water clearly gets in the car and it smelt like a swamp " don't worry about that my daughter spilt her drink"
There are clearly good cars out there for £500 especially if you are not picky about make/model/spec but some sellers really need to grow up and stop assuming that everyone was born yesterday!
What surprises me is how many cars are now sold with no tax or MOT and the owners seriously think the car is worth double or three times scrap value.
The OP is absolutely bang on about the range of excuses I heard yesterday, the ABS light on was "just a wheel sensor that can be a tenner" according to one chap yet you could see the ABS pump was leaking - ABS pump for that car £300, the EML is on "but it's been on for ages now with no problems", the window rubbers were so deteriorated that water clearly gets in the car and it smelt like a swamp " don't worry about that my daughter spilt her drink"
There are clearly good cars out there for £500 especially if you are not picky about make/model/spec but some sellers really need to grow up and stop assuming that everyone was born yesterday!
My Rover cost me £500 thereabouts and has been a joy to own so far! I have had some bits done to it, but the only thing that *needed* doing was a ball joint for the MOT.
As I said I've spent the difference to £1000 on getting it sorted which included things like thermostat (was running cool), drop links (passed MOT ok but didn't like the rattle they were producing), exhaust wasn't secured properly, and an air con re gas (again was working, but a LOT better now for a re gas).
Taking it on a road trip through France in the next couple of weeks which in very much looking forward to!
As I said I've spent the difference to £1000 on getting it sorted which included things like thermostat (was running cool), drop links (passed MOT ok but didn't like the rattle they were producing), exhaust wasn't secured properly, and an air con re gas (again was working, but a LOT better now for a re gas).
Taking it on a road trip through France in the next couple of weeks which in very much looking forward to!
aka_kerrly said:
There are clearly good cars out there for £500 especially if you are not picky about make/model/spec but some sellers really need to grow up and stop assuming that everyone was born yesterday!
Has it not always been thus?Sawdust in the oil to stop engine knocks, newspaper and P38 in the sills of old Escorts........
EML and ABS lights are the new bodge it and leg it. If you know what you are doing and are a bit of a gambler there are some bargains. But, yes most dodgy dealers are still flogging dodgy cars and some people still think their 12 year old Ford with 120k+ miles is still worth £2500.
A dealer down the road from me has had a 03 plate Laguna for sale at £1895 for the last 7 years. I jest not. The calipers have seized to the discs.
Tyre Smoke said:
A dealer down the road from me has had a 03 plate Laguna for sale at £1895 for the last 7 years. I jest not. The calipers have seized to the discs.
Hmmm...a Renault from slap bang in the middle of their 'barge pole' period, that's been standing for 7 years.....they'd need to pay me!I currently have a £450 focus 1.8 petrol, bought approx. 3 years ago, still going strong. (its a nasty purple colour and had a big dent in the door, hence the cheap price - cosmetics don't bother me)
It's needed a couple of bushes, back box and a tyre and that's about it.
that's one of my better buys !
It's needed a couple of bushes, back box and a tyre and that's about it.
that's one of my better buys !
Slightly over budget but I bought a W210 E320 with a genuine 50something on the clock and loads of history for little over £700 a few years ago. Beautifully smooth, working climate, electric seats etc. You could have spent nearly £20k on a car and it wouldn't have been as nice. You can be lucky.
About 2 years ago.
A friend of mine, an actual real life friend!
Got himself a honda civic coupe for £370, it was a shed with faded red paint few holes in the dash and the odd rip in the seats. Oh and a squeaky ancillary belt.
We changed the oil and gave it a bit of TLC, spent about £50 on it (including the new radio).
20'000 miles and 18 months later he sold it for £400, still with the squeaky belt.
All it ever cost him was fuel.
A friend of mine, an actual real life friend!
Got himself a honda civic coupe for £370, it was a shed with faded red paint few holes in the dash and the odd rip in the seats. Oh and a squeaky ancillary belt.
We changed the oil and gave it a bit of TLC, spent about £50 on it (including the new radio).
20'000 miles and 18 months later he sold it for £400, still with the squeaky belt.
All it ever cost him was fuel.
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