Who Else ENJOYS Bangernomics?
Discussion
CX53 said:
Haha it certainly feels like it will outlast us! I'm very impressed with it, so much so that I'm tempted to write to the previous owners as I'd love to know if/how it was maintained (no history, but mechanically excellent, feels like it's had a recent clutch etc) out of interest! It's a good banger, plenty quick enough for any journey although obviously won't be winning many races, comfortable, quiet, spacious... I've been tempted by the 190 version since we've had it
She will no doubt be bored soon, she's already on about getting one of those hideous Vauxhall Adam things at some point so I'm looking forward to pressing it in to daily duty on my 30 mile each way commute some time in the future. I'll happily keep it until it dies, would keep a few miles off my high mileage 9000!
Have just sold 2010 Defender and 2007 Smart fortwo, replacement is a £889 2001 Corolla automatic... drives very well..think it could be around for a while..She will no doubt be bored soon, she's already on about getting one of those hideous Vauxhall Adam things at some point so I'm looking forward to pressing it in to daily duty on my 30 mile each way commute some time in the future. I'll happily keep it until it dies, would keep a few miles off my high mileage 9000!
No problem with running old cars.
But searching for old cars and dealing with shady sellers, that can be soul destroying.
I enjoy looking at old cheap cars on eBay etc, and imagining that they might be decent well looked after old cars. But the reality of the actual buying process is less fun - driving for miles to see over-described junk, listening to blatant lies from unscrupulous vendors...
But searching for old cars and dealing with shady sellers, that can be soul destroying.
I enjoy looking at old cheap cars on eBay etc, and imagining that they might be decent well looked after old cars. But the reality of the actual buying process is less fun - driving for miles to see over-described junk, listening to blatant lies from unscrupulous vendors...
M1C said:
Excellence.
This is the thing. It never stops. I never settle on a car. I still get the buzz each time i get something 'new'...
I was exactly the same. I would simply enter £500 (ish) in ebay and see what was out there. It didn't matter what I had, I would just take a chance. It could be any make, any model. From mini Hijet vans to Jaguars, low mileage 'old lady owner from new' Japanese cars to obscure 4x4's.This is the thing. It never stops. I never settle on a car. I still get the buzz each time i get something 'new'...
I was up to nine cars at one point but currently have focused mainly on Volvo's as things just got a bit silly.
The other problem is lots of what you used to be able to pick up cheap, have gained in popularity - especially if they look good lowered on wide wheels etc (or are RWD for the drifters) - so prices for early and low mileage nice examples are out of bangernomic territory.
I have recently purchased a Nissan almera. 2003 reg 2 previous owners some service history and 42k on the clock. Its got a few weeks of mot left. It also has a dodgy battery, a stained rear seat , a passenger window that doesn't work, a chunky dent on the nearside wheel arch, and a scratch running alongside the nearside door.
How much I hear you cry? 330 quid from a dealer in east london. I might treat nyself to something in the 1-5 barge thread in a year or two, but for just tootling about town the almera is perfect and drives very well indeed.
How much I hear you cry? 330 quid from a dealer in east london. I might treat nyself to something in the 1-5 barge thread in a year or two, but for just tootling about town the almera is perfect and drives very well indeed.
Liggle said:
I've tried bangernomics twice and fell out of love with it. I'm too tuned in to the squeaks, rattles, knocks etc. you need to ignore to make bangernomics successful!
You need to join the ICE-school of car maintenance.If your car starts making funny/worrying noises, turn the stereo up until you can't hear the noises any more.
If the stereo won't go that loud, fit a better stereo
Parisien said:
Digby, which of the Volvo range have you had most success/least bother/enjoyed most VFM wise?
P
I tend to stick to phase one S70's, V70's and have had a few C70 cabriolets and four or five 850's. I won't touch the newer stuff.P
The majority have been T5 versions, but I have had the odd 2.5 20valve and 20 valve turbo versionsalong with a couple of non-turbo models.
I have also had a 940, 240 and currently have a 3.0 24v V90.
As with anything older, you do take a chance but the main issue with them will either be the ETM (electronic throttle) playing up and possible blocked PCV systems. Before 1998 the throttle system was still a trusty cable so apart from cambelt history, the PCV system is really the only major cause for concern. It can, if left untreated, blow oil seals.
Other than that, they wear the mileage well so despite not being put off by higher mileages, you do run the risk of the odd worn droplink and split hose etc and unless you are handy with the spanners, a badly leaking steering rack will probably set you back £600 +.
They tend to only rust if abused and left untreated and suspension can get tired on the types which self level.
My neighbour owns five of my old cars including a P reg 850 now on approx 170k miles. Cleaned up, it's as fresh underneath, on top and under the bonnet as the day it left the factory.
I bumped into a guy in a petrol station who buys and sells such cars and he said they had in an 850 with 660k miles on the clock and it still cleaned up well.
There may be the odd broken mileometer (850's mostly), the odd less than reflective headlamp (mostly S70, V70, C70) and the odd warning light etc as time goes on, but I think they are great cars if not abused and with some history.
I have only had so many because if I see them cheap and local (ish) I just go pick them up.
My T5 S70 manual had numerous performance upgrades slapped on it when it was showing around 170k miles. I put at least another 15k on it and let's just say I didn't hang about
. It never missed a beat.Get a decent one and it should give you years (if you want years out of it) of service.
I have picked up absolute gems for £400 to £600 with my most expensive and recent purchase being around 2K - although that is a V70-R (2WD version) with many mods. That's on 176k miles and drivers like it has covered 50k miles.
I have never had any problems with cheap cars. Been driving sub £2k cars my whole life and not once have I had a problem.
Many have been brilliant and cheap to run.of course, I have usually balanced the fleet with something interesting as well.
Depends why you like bangernomics -I just love older cars. But if it was a monetary thing then I would soon get bored s
tless!
Many have been brilliant and cheap to run.of course, I have usually balanced the fleet with something interesting as well.
Depends why you like bangernomics -I just love older cars. But if it was a monetary thing then I would soon get bored s
tless!A big fan of bangernomics here. Ran a mk1 Focus bought for £1250 for a few years and 30k miles. It only needed a couple of wheel bearings and a tyre. Sold for £400 with a knackered thermostat.
Currently not really in a banger. It was a 42k miles 2007 Astra, that within 8 months how has 54k on it. We'll see how it goes. It's cost me nothing though, so I'm already quids in.
Currently not really in a banger. It was a 42k miles 2007 Astra, that within 8 months how has 54k on it. We'll see how it goes. It's cost me nothing though, so I'm already quids in.
Edited by WaferThinHam on Sunday 31st July 07:51
I've had my Corolla now for 6 years. It's now 18 years old.
Keeps getting through the MOTs with no issues but this time it needed £20 on work on the rear drums.
Under £200 to insure but it's not too economical at around 30mpg.
Bought some plugs and a filter for £12 this year and will do the oil soon for another £20.
It's worth not much but IMO it's worth more that what I would get for it if you know what I mean
Keeps getting through the MOTs with no issues but this time it needed £20 on work on the rear drums.
Under £200 to insure but it's not too economical at around 30mpg.
Bought some plugs and a filter for £12 this year and will do the oil soon for another £20.
It's worth not much but IMO it's worth more that what I would get for it if you know what I mean
I've really enjoyed running my E39 540 Touring. Had it about 5 years and it's just passed the 170k mark. I love not having to worry where I park it, and not worrying if it picks up a new scratch or door ding. It does everything I want in a car, sounds lovely and has been reliable for the last 4 years. (The 1st year I had it it had cooling issues)
Bangernomics is my favourite way to run cars, I'm on car 24/25 in 12 years or so, I don't think I could have the same car for a long period of time.
The best bit is not giving a damn what happens to it, after work some time last year I looked at my car and someone in a presumably red car had scraped 2 foot along the rear quarter of my Space Star, I laughed about it and carried on with my day, If it'd been my work car then I'd have had to go through all the ball ache of getting it repaired.
My first banger was a 1992 2.5 MX6 I paid £1000 for and the auto box died a month later, great car though
Then an MX-3 v6 I got for £900, was also great, MOT needed a bit too much though
Then I got a Daihatsu Sirion Rally 4 for a steal of £1000 however I bought it unseen and it turns out I was far too tall for it and never got comfy in it, managed to sell it for £300 profit though.
Next banger was a 1998 Kia Sportage for towing purposes for £900, but in normal RWD mode it was fking lethal and I couldn't let my partner drive it.
Then I got a Subaru Legacy for £800 and it's one of the best cars I've ever owned and would do again, it wasn't a great example and come MOT time I didn't need it for towing anymore.
2 MG ZT 190s, one of which was free and the other £250, ended up buying a cheap Impreza at £1100 then splitting with my wife which meant all had to go.
Swapped the Impreza for an A4 which was fine, but my brother wanted a car to run to the ground so I gave it to him.
2 diesel 306s, less than £400 each, one I killed by using cooking oil on the wrong fuel pump and the other needed too much at MOT.
Citroen Xsara 2.0 HDi I paid £350 for and was actually pretty decent but I always thought it was hideous to look at, lasted over a year and I stupidly got rid of it.
The worst car I ever bought was a Mitsubishi Space Star for £150, the gear stick literally needed to be bent to put it in gear, the rear boot never locked ever, drives door had to be unlocked by passenger and other niggly issues throughout, however none of those prevented it from passing another MOT and holds the sad record of being the car I've owned the longest at a whopping 2 years! Also meaning it was my best value for money ever. The overall condition of the car made it a horrible drive though.
Lastly was a 1.9 Diesel 306 again, paid £500 and it was nothing but brilliant, only had to sell due to needing a vehicle for work to represent myself.
The best bit is not giving a damn what happens to it, after work some time last year I looked at my car and someone in a presumably red car had scraped 2 foot along the rear quarter of my Space Star, I laughed about it and carried on with my day, If it'd been my work car then I'd have had to go through all the ball ache of getting it repaired.
My first banger was a 1992 2.5 MX6 I paid £1000 for and the auto box died a month later, great car though
Then an MX-3 v6 I got for £900, was also great, MOT needed a bit too much though
Then I got a Daihatsu Sirion Rally 4 for a steal of £1000 however I bought it unseen and it turns out I was far too tall for it and never got comfy in it, managed to sell it for £300 profit though.
Next banger was a 1998 Kia Sportage for towing purposes for £900, but in normal RWD mode it was f
king lethal and I couldn't let my partner drive it.Then I got a Subaru Legacy for £800 and it's one of the best cars I've ever owned and would do again, it wasn't a great example and come MOT time I didn't need it for towing anymore.
2 MG ZT 190s, one of which was free and the other £250, ended up buying a cheap Impreza at £1100 then splitting with my wife which meant all had to go.
Swapped the Impreza for an A4 which was fine, but my brother wanted a car to run to the ground so I gave it to him.
2 diesel 306s, less than £400 each, one I killed by using cooking oil on the wrong fuel pump and the other needed too much at MOT.
Citroen Xsara 2.0 HDi I paid £350 for and was actually pretty decent but I always thought it was hideous to look at, lasted over a year and I stupidly got rid of it.
The worst car I ever bought was a Mitsubishi Space Star for £150, the gear stick literally needed to be bent to put it in gear, the rear boot never locked ever, drives door had to be unlocked by passenger and other niggly issues throughout, however none of those prevented it from passing another MOT and holds the sad record of being the car I've owned the longest at a whopping 2 years! Also meaning it was my best value for money ever. The overall condition of the car made it a horrible drive though.
Lastly was a 1.9 Diesel 306 again, paid £500 and it was nothing but brilliant, only had to sell due to needing a vehicle for work to represent myself.
Edited by Valgar on Sunday 24th July 22:10
What's the secret to me being able to enjoy bangernomics?
I need to be frugal for a while as I have other financial priorities. Could do with selling current daily driver for about 3k, paying a 2k bill and finding something reliable with the change to do while I save up some money.
The problem is I know if it's too slow I'll get fed up rather quickly of being wasted by 118d's all the time.
GS300? Reliable, comfortable, apparently. And quick. Auto would be nice too!
Any other decent suggestions that won't be rattly, slow and knackered at shed budget?
As much as I'd love to have a go in true shed spirit and buy anything cheap and roadworthy and run it in to the ground, I think I need to be a bit more selective with the choice to stop myself from changing it too quick & losing money.
I need to be frugal for a while as I have other financial priorities. Could do with selling current daily driver for about 3k, paying a 2k bill and finding something reliable with the change to do while I save up some money.
The problem is I know if it's too slow I'll get fed up rather quickly of being wasted by 118d's all the time.
GS300? Reliable, comfortable, apparently. And quick. Auto would be nice too!
Any other decent suggestions that won't be rattly, slow and knackered at shed budget?
As much as I'd love to have a go in true shed spirit and buy anything cheap and roadworthy and run it in to the ground, I think I need to be a bit more selective with the choice to stop myself from changing it too quick & losing money.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff