I just Love my banger..
Discussion
Barchettaman said:
That looks tidy! Is there a RC thread on it?
The MG? Yes, link below...http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hasnt been plain sailing - struggled to get the handbrake working well enough for an MOT pass (failed twice) and there were some nasty suspension clunks that needed resolved but all good now.
BMW 330d touring on ebay from a dealer, £850. Unwanted trade in. Little shabby outside, needed tracking done, new tyres & one of the windows doesn't work. But it drives really well, does 145mph (verified in Germany), 45-50mpg, and drifts nicely in the wet 
It's now been to South of France, all over Germany, lapped the 'ring, been to Denmark, all over England and Wales. Comfortable, fast enough, cheap to run and I care not about dents. I've used the roof as a photoshoot platform many a time, and it's been driven by loads of people whilst I take photo's out the back. 25k miles in 18months, never let me down, it's had a strut, lower arm bushes, tyres & multiple oil changes since then. 180k miles coming up this week; great car.
It's now been to South of France, all over Germany, lapped the 'ring, been to Denmark, all over England and Wales. Comfortable, fast enough, cheap to run and I care not about dents. I've used the roof as a photoshoot platform many a time, and it's been driven by loads of people whilst I take photo's out the back. 25k miles in 18months, never let me down, it's had a strut, lower arm bushes, tyres & multiple oil changes since then. 180k miles coming up this week; great car.Nickbrapp said:
Well it's lucky someone bought it new so you could drive around in smugness that no one cares about
Who pissed on your cornflakes this morning? I suspect that everyone posting about the joy of sheds on here does indeed realise that someone would have had to buy their car new. If you are somebody that tends to buy new cars then please give yourself a big pat on the back and help yourself to a biscuit, we're all very grateful. trackdemon said:
BMW 330d touring on ebay from a dealer, £850. Unwanted trade in. Little shabby outside, needed tracking done, new tyres & one of the windows doesn't work. But it drives really well, does 145mph (verified in Germany), 45-50mpg, and drifts nicely in the wet It's now been to South of France, all over Germany, lapped the 'ring, been to Denmark, all over England and Wales. Comfortable, fast enough, cheap to run and I care not about dents. I've used the roof as a photoshoot platform many a time, and it's been driven by loads of people whilst I take photo's out the back. 25k miles in 18months, never let me down, it's had a strut, lower arm bushes, tyres & multiple oil changes since then. 180k miles coming up this week; great car.
Knockhill or Oulton Park? It's now been to South of France, all over Germany, lapped the 'ring, been to Denmark, all over England and Wales. Comfortable, fast enough, cheap to run and I care not about dents. I've used the roof as a photoshoot platform many a time, and it's been driven by loads of people whilst I take photo's out the back. 25k miles in 18months, never let me down, it's had a strut, lower arm bushes, tyres & multiple oil changes since then. 180k miles coming up this week; great car.
TurboHatchback said:
This is my banger, I rather like it. 3.0l 210bhp V6, manual box, comfy leather interior, cruise control, all for £600.
There is a joy to not caring if it gets dented or whether it's perfect, takes much of the stress out of keeping a car.
Yes I love mine too. Sadly I have to make do with the 2.2hdi version which lacks the oomph but is still a cracking car !There is a joy to not caring if it gets dented or whether it's perfect, takes much of the stress out of keeping a car.
Olivera said:
Good bangers, but it's got to be alongside other interesting sports or classic cars.
If not then it's just a poverty stricken or miserly persuit.
No it certainly isn't. For many people it's a sensible choice and it's a foolish assumption to make that everybody always drives the most expensive car they can afford so therefore a Shed automatically indicates poverty. In my case, yes I'm fortunate enough to have exactly the car I want as well as a Shed now but that's not always been the case as I've alternated between nice cars and total Sheds depending on what money was free for spending - and sometimes compromising something else - on cars and what car suited my needs at the time.If not then it's just a poverty stricken or miserly persuit.
I've found every single time I've waved a shiny Luxobarge or GTi something or other and it's new proud new owner down the road and flopped back into a scabby and battered old Shed it's been with a enormous sigh of relief that I don't have to give a s
t anymore.Jaguar steve said:
Olivera said:
Good bangers, but it's got to be alongside other interesting sports or classic cars.
If not then it's just a poverty stricken or miserly persuit.
No it certainly isn't. For many people it's a sensible choice and it's a foolish assumption to make that everybody always drives the most expensive car they can afford so therefore a Shed automatically indicates poverty. In my case, yes I'm fortunate enough to have exactly the car I want as well as a Shed now but that's not always been the case as I've alternated between nice cars and total Sheds depending on what money was free for spending - and sometimes compromising something else - on cars and what car suited my needs at the time.If not then it's just a poverty stricken or miserly persuit.
I've found every single time I've waved a shiny Luxobarge or GTi something or other and it's new proud new owner down the road and flopped back into a scabby and battered old Shed it's been with a enormous sigh of relief that I don't have to give a s
t anymore.If there are no other constraints, then why for say £1,000 settle for a 13 year old Polo when you could maybe have a 14 year old GTI for the same money?
If driving something that you dont want to have to care about is someones buying constraint, then cool. I've been there. I'd a Corolla diesel some time ago that i had for a year and never even washed it, never locked it and treated it as a van. Loved that car. However there are a significant percentage of people who are driving rather dull bangers / sheds who clearly have constraints around what they can drive - financial or otherwise - who then attempt to take a moral high ground over people who maybe lease a new BMW by claiming their choice is a lifestyle choice.
Those who do have some piece of kack because it IS a lifestyle choice, i've no issues with.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd October 14:44
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd October 14:46
Barchettaman said:
'End-of-life'* cars are so unbelievably cheap in the UK it makes massive sense to run one, compared to continental Europe.
Some top shedding here.
WRT the comment about this being an enthusiast's forum and not for the 'boring' stuff, I love a good mundane shed thread over on Reader's Cars and, going by the comments they accrue, many others feel likewise.
Yeah look at the threads there and you'll get more views and comments on £200 fiat panda over a new Golf R leaseSome top shedding here.
WRT the comment about this being an enthusiast's forum and not for the 'boring' stuff, I love a good mundane shed thread over on Reader's Cars and, going by the comments they accrue, many others feel likewise.
- by end-of-life I mean 7+years/100k miles
daemon said:
Its not a matter of driving the most expensive car you can afford, more a matter of driving the best you can afford.
If there are no other constraints, then why for say £1,000 settle for a 13 year old Polo when you could maybe have a 14 year old GTI for the same money?
If driving something that you dont want to have to care about is someones buying constraint, then cool. I've been there. I'd a Corolla diesel some time ago that i had for a year and never even washed it, never locked it and treated it as a van. Loved that car. However there are a significant percentage of people who are driving rather dull bangers / sheds who clearly have constraints around what they can drive - financial or otherwise - who then attempt to take a moral high ground over people who maybe lease a new BMW by claiming its a lifestyle choice.
Those who do have some piece of kack because it IS a lifestyle choice, i've no issues with.
What a blizzare opinion.If there are no other constraints, then why for say £1,000 settle for a 13 year old Polo when you could maybe have a 14 year old GTI for the same money?
If driving something that you dont want to have to care about is someones buying constraint, then cool. I've been there. I'd a Corolla diesel some time ago that i had for a year and never even washed it, never locked it and treated it as a van. Loved that car. However there are a significant percentage of people who are driving rather dull bangers / sheds who clearly have constraints around what they can drive - financial or otherwise - who then attempt to take a moral high ground over people who maybe lease a new BMW by claiming its a lifestyle choice.
Those who do have some piece of kack because it IS a lifestyle choice, i've no issues with.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd October 14:44
Downward said:
daemon said:
Its not a matter of driving the most expensive car you can afford, more a matter of driving the best you can afford.
If there are no other constraints, then why for say £1,000 settle for a 13 year old Polo when you could maybe have a 14 year old GTI for the same money?
If driving something that you dont want to have to care about is someones buying constraint, then cool. I've been there. I'd a Corolla diesel some time ago that i had for a year and never even washed it, never locked it and treated it as a van. Loved that car. However there are a significant percentage of people who are driving rather dull bangers / sheds who clearly have constraints around what they can drive - financial or otherwise - who then attempt to take a moral high ground over people who maybe lease a new BMW by claiming its a lifestyle choice.
Those who do have some piece of kack because it IS a lifestyle choice, i've no issues with.
What a blizzare opinion.If there are no other constraints, then why for say £1,000 settle for a 13 year old Polo when you could maybe have a 14 year old GTI for the same money?
If driving something that you dont want to have to care about is someones buying constraint, then cool. I've been there. I'd a Corolla diesel some time ago that i had for a year and never even washed it, never locked it and treated it as a van. Loved that car. However there are a significant percentage of people who are driving rather dull bangers / sheds who clearly have constraints around what they can drive - financial or otherwise - who then attempt to take a moral high ground over people who maybe lease a new BMW by claiming its a lifestyle choice.
Those who do have some piece of kack because it IS a lifestyle choice, i've no issues with.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd October 14:44
Back to my original point, if someone has no other constraints, why drive something dull and old when there is such a great choice of decent drivers cars out there for humble money (or at very least interesting cars)
Likewise if you have constraints around what you drive - financial or otherwise - dont dress it up as in some way making you intellectually superior to someone who choses to lease a new Golf.
Edited by daemon on Sunday 2nd October 14:59
I LOVE smart/posh/fast cars. I become utterly obsessed with them, spend fortunes on them getting them absolutely 'right' have paintwork done, fit good tyres and then park it in the garage and panic about the sodding thing!
I ended up buying a cheap MX5 auto as a shed type thing. Unfortunately, the damn thing was far too cheap for what it is ( the previous owner was elderly and had to give up driving)and it is a lovely example, so it is now cherished, polished, cared for, serviced, and now put away in the garage for the winter so it doesn't deteriorate!
So I bought the ultimate in cars that no one wants: a Kia Magentis LS V6 auto! It was such a popular car they only sold 60 in the UK over three years! The reason I bought it? Because insurance for the thing with no no claims, was cheap - £200 - fully comp as all my no claims is on the other two cars. It cost me less than the alarm/immobiliser ECU cost me for number 1 car and is great! It is lousy on fuel with the little short runs I do, but it has every toy you could imagine, 59000 miles and a decent service history and everything works - the air con could freeze your bits.
With either of the other two cars, while I treat them to the same treatment (dogs in it, usually wet and muddy, windows down and slobber all down the side of the car) I wipe all the slobber off the sides, clean the back/passenger side (MX5) and panic about them, the Kia I get in, drive to wherever, windows down in the back, dogs heads the only view in the door (electric) mirrors get to destination, shut the windows (if I remember) let the dogs out and go... never a look back. I don't give a sod about it in the slightest and if it gets scratched, not sure I'd even notice and if it got pinched (though I can't imagine anyone wanting it), so what? The back seat is covered in mud now because the covers fell off, but it's leather so wipes clean, the inside stinks a bit of dog, fags and general misuse, and I couldn't care less.
It is, totally liberating!
I ended up buying a cheap MX5 auto as a shed type thing. Unfortunately, the damn thing was far too cheap for what it is ( the previous owner was elderly and had to give up driving)and it is a lovely example, so it is now cherished, polished, cared for, serviced, and now put away in the garage for the winter so it doesn't deteriorate!
So I bought the ultimate in cars that no one wants: a Kia Magentis LS V6 auto! It was such a popular car they only sold 60 in the UK over three years! The reason I bought it? Because insurance for the thing with no no claims, was cheap - £200 - fully comp as all my no claims is on the other two cars. It cost me less than the alarm/immobiliser ECU cost me for number 1 car and is great! It is lousy on fuel with the little short runs I do, but it has every toy you could imagine, 59000 miles and a decent service history and everything works - the air con could freeze your bits.
With either of the other two cars, while I treat them to the same treatment (dogs in it, usually wet and muddy, windows down and slobber all down the side of the car) I wipe all the slobber off the sides, clean the back/passenger side (MX5) and panic about them, the Kia I get in, drive to wherever, windows down in the back, dogs heads the only view in the door (electric) mirrors get to destination, shut the windows (if I remember) let the dogs out and go... never a look back. I don't give a sod about it in the slightest and if it gets scratched, not sure I'd even notice and if it got pinched (though I can't imagine anyone wanting it), so what? The back seat is covered in mud now because the covers fell off, but it's leather so wipes clean, the inside stinks a bit of dog, fags and general misuse, and I couldn't care less.
It is, totally liberating!
The OP and Daemon have noted an interesting conumdrum here.
Pistonheds is a place where there is a passion for cars.
It's also a place where it's pointed out that you can have fun and interesting cars and it doesn't matter what your budget is.
There is something there for you whether it be the love of wafting, tracking, eurotouring, B road spanking, or just cheap fun motoring. All of this makes us form a bond with the cars, as time, money and energy is invested in the cars.
So it's aguiltyguilt-free pleasure and certainly liberating to have something you almost loathe, because it's everything a PH car shouldn't be. Not fast, Not fun, not dynamic, not lavished with attention and filled with the best fluids money can buy, just give it some abuse and get out at the end of abusing it, turn up a few days later after leaving it out on the road unwashed and turn the key and it goes again.
Pistonheds is a place where there is a passion for cars.
It's also a place where it's pointed out that you can have fun and interesting cars and it doesn't matter what your budget is.
There is something there for you whether it be the love of wafting, tracking, eurotouring, B road spanking, or just cheap fun motoring. All of this makes us form a bond with the cars, as time, money and energy is invested in the cars.
So it's a
Barchettaman said:
'End-of-life'* cars are so unbelievably cheap in the UK it makes massive sense to run one, compared to continental Europe.
Some top shedding here.
WRT the comment about this being an enthusiast's forum and not for the 'boring' stuff, I love a good mundane shed thread over on Reader's Cars and, going by the comments they accrue, many others feel likewise.
That's mid-life, nowhere near end of life. I consider a 2007 car with 100k to be fairly new and shiny still not at deaths door. I agree totally with the sentiment though, it's great that one can buy a perfectly nice functioning car for £500.Some top shedding here.
WRT the comment about this being an enthusiast's forum and not for the 'boring' stuff, I love a good mundane shed thread over on Reader's Cars and, going by the comments they accrue, many others feel likewise.
- by end-of-life I mean 7+years/100k miles
oceanview said:
daemon said:
My current runabout.
2001 MG ZT 2.5 v6, £750
Nice shed! 2001 MG ZT 2.5 v6, £750
I've just paid the same sum having the bumpers re-sprayed on my Z4 Coupe just to get rid of a few marks!
Some years back, I had a great Mondeo for £600 and was really impressed with it.
I love sheds as well!
It does attract positive comments (even my missus has passed positive comment on it and shes hard to please with cars) and its a bit different these days - very few about on the roads.
It spends most of its life in the airport car park as i am away weekdays with work, though next weekend its going to facilitate several dump runs and the following weekend it'll have 2 retrievers in the back going to get their yearly boosters.
To you maybe that is mid life but the man on the street thinks they are done after 100k. My dad recently persuaded himself that an 80k diesel Toyota was "getting noisy" so traded it against a lease BMW that's goingbto cost him 14k over 4years. His money but 14k buys some repairs.
My mondeo is 14 yrs 120k, I nearly binned it last year when an mot quote came in at 400. That's why people think they are dead at 100k. It's easier to buy another. After all if mine had wanted a clutch and that mot work, it would have died there and then.
My mondeo is 14 yrs 120k, I nearly binned it last year when an mot quote came in at 400. That's why people think they are dead at 100k. It's easier to buy another. After all if mine had wanted a clutch and that mot work, it would have died there and then.
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