Everyday cars which are already starting to disappear
Discussion
Discovery TD-5s are being broken / scrapped @ an alarming rate, due to rear end / all over chassis rot.
I looked for ages in 2019, to find a late face lift one, that had a half decent chassis. Finally found a scarce base spec non sunroof one, in a dark colour ( my ideal spec ) with an un patched rear chassis, but dropping the fuel tank to sort a fuel pipe leak ( common on these ) revealed that 2 patches were needed. It’s going to need a rear half chassis within the next 2 years.
I looked for ages in 2019, to find a late face lift one, that had a half decent chassis. Finally found a scarce base spec non sunroof one, in a dark colour ( my ideal spec ) with an un patched rear chassis, but dropping the fuel tank to sort a fuel pipe leak ( common on these ) revealed that 2 patches were needed. It’s going to need a rear half chassis within the next 2 years.
Anything pre 2010 is now uncommon in some areas near me.
2010-2005 cars are very uncommon and anything pre 2000 is rare.
Rust is the killer of many still.
Low values and a big repair bill will see off most things unless it’s got sentimental value.
But then with the rise of PCP, most don’t bother with an older car.
With my new job I see a lot of cars that are either leased or pcp deals in some rough areas.
Then again, one street in a posher part of Glasgow had at least 12 Discovery Sports.
2010-2005 cars are very uncommon and anything pre 2000 is rare.
Rust is the killer of many still.
Low values and a big repair bill will see off most things unless it’s got sentimental value.
But then with the rise of PCP, most don’t bother with an older car.
With my new job I see a lot of cars that are either leased or pcp deals in some rough areas.
Then again, one street in a posher part of Glasgow had at least 12 Discovery Sports.
neutral 3 said:
Honda CRV, both the 98 on gen 1 and the 04 gen 2 models.
First gen quite rare too in NI ( though in-law has a 1999 one in gold-yellow that just keeps going ) but second gen still common and trading at strong prices. 2007 one locally with 120k miles just went for £3k, they have a good reputation.Very few Corsa C and Vectra C left here now.
Edited by FA57REN on Wednesday 29th September 09:09
FA57REN said:
First gen quite rare too in NI ( though in-law has a 1999 one in gold-yellow that just keeps going ) but second gen still common and trading at strong prices. 2007 one locally with 120k miles just went for £3k, they have a good reputation.
Very few Corsa C and Vectra C left here now.
I find Corsa C still fairly common, Vectra are thinning out more, I can’t remember when I last saw a pre facelift one. Very few Corsa C and Vectra C left here now.
Edited by FA57REN on Wednesday 29th September 09:09
I did see a Corsa B last night, I couldn’t remember when Iast saw one before that.
I suppose this one probably isn’t a great surprise, but the Alfa 147 seemed to vanish pretty much overnight. Same with the Alfa GT, they just disappeared.
31mph said:
When you stop seeing previously common cars so often you start to notice that they were actually better looking that you gave them credit for, but when they were everywhere you didn't really think about it
90s Peugeots like the 306 and 406 now look really handsome, and the first Ford Focus actually looks quite smart
I saw a Peugeot 406 yesterday morning in SE London. What a beautiful looking car!90s Peugeots like the 306 and 406 now look really handsome, and the first Ford Focus actually looks quite smart
Levin said:
Hub said:
Meanwhile, MK4 Golfs are still everywhere!
I'm genuinely of the belief that the Mk4 might outlast the Mk5 as a common sight on Britain's roads. It struck me earlier that I've seen a few rough looking Mk6 Golfs lately too. A few Mk4s might still be kicking when the number of Mk6s on the road enters a decline..
The mk4 is a much better put together car than the mk5.
cmvtec said:
I am of this belief. I've currently got a very sheddy TDI one that is undergoing mechanical restoration. I am uninterested in the cosmetics, though. Until recently, there was an identical petrol model (with matching mirrors, though) three houses along to me.
The mk4 is a much better put together car than the mk5.
I agree - around here (Germany) there are bazillions of Mk4s , most of which in perfect cosmetic condition despite being mostly over 20 years and not fettled or particularly well looked after.The mk4 is a much better put together car than the mk5.
I'm surprised to see those rusty front wings - never seen that before on a Mk4 that I can recall.
tomic said:
Biggy Stardust said:
ClaphamGT3 said:
Modern Saabs - 2nd gen 9-3s and 9-5s have all but disappeared - lack of parts I guess
Parts are plentiful, both new & from scrappers.Levin said:
Mondeos and Vectras of all stripes have declined significantly in the last year or so. Pre-facelift Vectra Cs are a truly uncommon sight.
I was talking about the Vectra C the other day; I don't remember them ever being a new car, they just didn't exist at all and then suddenly appeared everywhere with cloudy headlights, dull paint, curling rubber trim, and a tracksuit wearing mouthbreather behind the wheel, only to vanish completely a short number of years later. I saw an original Volvo V40 (the estate car one) for the first time in a couple of years yesterday. What was most surprising was how small it looked compared to the current model 3 series touring it was parked next to. Back in the day, both models were about the same size.
One thing I do find odd though, is that while a particular model of car is still a fairly common sight, there are often as many early models kicking about as newer ones.
Round near me, there were two battered looking Mk1 Focuses being used until fairly recently. One was an 04 plate, and the other an "S" plate. They were both replaced by their (different) owners within 6 months of each other despite the "S" plate car being 6 years older.
One thing I do find odd though, is that while a particular model of car is still a fairly common sight, there are often as many early models kicking about as newer ones.
Round near me, there were two battered looking Mk1 Focuses being used until fairly recently. One was an 04 plate, and the other an "S" plate. They were both replaced by their (different) owners within 6 months of each other despite the "S" plate car being 6 years older.
dan98 said:
I agree - around here (Germany) there are bazillions of Mk4s , most of which in perfect cosmetic condition despite being mostly over 20 years and not fettled or particularly well looked after.
I'm surprised to see those rusty front wings - never seen that before on a Mk4 that I can recall.
Really? Almost every A4 platform car I see here (A3, Leon, TT, Golf, Bora etc) has rusty front wings. I understand that there is a piece of sound deadening that absorbs water.I'm surprised to see those rusty front wings - never seen that before on a Mk4 that I can recall.
The driver's side one is much worse, it's got a clear hole in it. Fortunately I can get a pair of pattern wings for £80. MOT is due in November so I may have to duct-tape them if I can't get them sorted sooner than that.
stickleback123 said:
Levin said:
Mondeos and Vectras of all stripes have declined significantly in the last year or so. Pre-facelift Vectra Cs are a truly uncommon sight.
I was talking about the Vectra C the other day; I don't remember them ever being a new car, they just didn't exist at all and then suddenly appeared everywhere with cloudy headlights, dull paint, curling rubber trim, and a tracksuit wearing mouthbreather behind the wheel, only to vanish completely a short number of years later. 
Some cars do seem to have that "periodical cicada" lifecycle. It's a location thing, in my experience. For the middle of the road cars (which is anything under about £80k these days) a lot of people seem to get a new car at the same time as getting a new house as money is moving around. So towns with a new estate get those cars when new, but the town down the road that hasn't received a thousand Wimpy-homes gains a load of that model when it's 3 years old and hit the used market.
There's a housing estate in Bedfordshire where I saw several Infiniti cars. Never seen one parked anywhere else.
donkmeister said:
Some cars do seem to have that "periodical cicada" lifecycle. It's a location thing, in my experience. For the middle of the road cars (which is anything under about £80k these days) a lot of people seem to get a new car at the same time as getting a new house as money is moving around. So towns with a new estate get those cars when new, but the town down the road that hasn't received a thousand Wimpy-homes gains a load of that model when it's 3 years old and hit the used market.
There's a housing estate in Bedfordshire where I saw several Infiniti cars. Never seen one parked anywhere else.
bigothunter said:
Up north, £80k is a starter house price financed by a mortgage not a mid-range car price. Has the world gone mad?
very trueSadly the likes of scrappage schemes and the fascination for having a shiny new (PCP) car on the drive to keep the image and status up has meant a lot of decent normal cars have ceased to be.
Edited by Pupbelly on Wednesday 29th September 13:24
donkmeister said:
There's a housing estate in Bedfordshire where I saw several Infiniti cars. Never seen one parked anywhere else.
I suspect that this is due to Nissan Techical Centre Europe being in Cranfield. There’s quite a high concentration of anything Nissan in those parts (usually with Worcestershire registration numbers)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff