The "what car" thread I actually bought!
Discussion
Back in June I was a little down looking for a new car - I'd just, though no fault of my own, smashed up my track car and needed something cheap that would get me around town.
Not wanting to spend £2000 on a logical (boring) car such as a Ford KA, I started a new thread " The coolest car you can buy for £2000" and stated in the opening post, while I'd really like a 635csi (I always wanted a sharknose BMW for some reason), they seemed to start around £5k so were out of budget.
After loads of ace suggestions Beefmeister found me a 635csi on ebay for £1800, which later dropped to £1400 with a years MOT. It looked a bit rotten from pictures, wasn't advertised at all well, but I emailed the guy and he claimed it was in great condition underneath. I didn't bother to follow it up until he emailed me saying I could have it for £1000 if I'd come and collect it that week, so off I went to look at it.
As promised, while it was a bit rotten on the surface it was sound underneath, and more importantly everything worked. The air con blew cold, the electric windows and sun roof worked fine, the trip computer, sensors, engine etc all were great (other than the temperature gauge thinking the outside temperature was a toasty 135f) so I took the plunge and bought my first classic.
During the long drive home (100 miles) I instantly regretted the purchase, scared I'd break down before I got home, then I had sleepless nights for the next few nights worried I'd just wasted £1000 on a skip. I didn't touch the car for the next few days but since then I've been getting to know her and have totally fallen for her charms.
She's not perfect, she leaks a bit of power steering fluid out and lets a bit of rain water in, and there is some top rot but it's a great town run about with it's lazy auto box and excellent MPG (at least 18mpg average...)
It is also the first car I've owned where EVERYONE seems to stop and look, or ask about it at the petrol pumps etc. I've been members of owners clubs before were people have said they get asked about their car all the time, but I never did about mine, but everyone seems to love this one from young to old.
Anyway, the only thing I've done so far is a new set of wheels (£200) as one of the original wheels was buckled. They're a bit pimping but they'll do for now. I've also corrected the paint work issues it had (with sand paper and a load of polishing) and the paint is now in great condition where it isn't rusty!
Here are the pictures. They're not great pictures as they were an impromptu rush, but I recon I could make my money back with ease
Worlds coolest £1000 town car? Thanks Beef!
Not wanting to spend £2000 on a logical (boring) car such as a Ford KA, I started a new thread " The coolest car you can buy for £2000" and stated in the opening post, while I'd really like a 635csi (I always wanted a sharknose BMW for some reason), they seemed to start around £5k so were out of budget.
After loads of ace suggestions Beefmeister found me a 635csi on ebay for £1800, which later dropped to £1400 with a years MOT. It looked a bit rotten from pictures, wasn't advertised at all well, but I emailed the guy and he claimed it was in great condition underneath. I didn't bother to follow it up until he emailed me saying I could have it for £1000 if I'd come and collect it that week, so off I went to look at it.
As promised, while it was a bit rotten on the surface it was sound underneath, and more importantly everything worked. The air con blew cold, the electric windows and sun roof worked fine, the trip computer, sensors, engine etc all were great (other than the temperature gauge thinking the outside temperature was a toasty 135f) so I took the plunge and bought my first classic.
During the long drive home (100 miles) I instantly regretted the purchase, scared I'd break down before I got home, then I had sleepless nights for the next few nights worried I'd just wasted £1000 on a skip. I didn't touch the car for the next few days but since then I've been getting to know her and have totally fallen for her charms.
She's not perfect, she leaks a bit of power steering fluid out and lets a bit of rain water in, and there is some top rot but it's a great town run about with it's lazy auto box and excellent MPG (at least 18mpg average...)
It is also the first car I've owned where EVERYONE seems to stop and look, or ask about it at the petrol pumps etc. I've been members of owners clubs before were people have said they get asked about their car all the time, but I never did about mine, but everyone seems to love this one from young to old.
Anyway, the only thing I've done so far is a new set of wheels (£200) as one of the original wheels was buckled. They're a bit pimping but they'll do for now. I've also corrected the paint work issues it had (with sand paper and a load of polishing) and the paint is now in great condition where it isn't rusty!
Here are the pictures. They're not great pictures as they were an impromptu rush, but I recon I could make my money back with ease
Worlds coolest £1000 town car? Thanks Beef!
Superb, always loved the 6 series (ie the proper 6 series - not the lardy ugly Bangle era version).
If you can keep on top of the rust problems they are actually very simple machines to keep running and so well built, I miss my one (was also a B reg).
Always wanted a red motorsport edition, manual with decrome and lsd and black recarro's! like this one
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2909344.htm
Your car is a bit of a bargain just had a look at the classifieds £1800 is the starting price, £10k for a really good one, £20k for a good 24v M series car.
If you can keep on top of the rust problems they are actually very simple machines to keep running and so well built, I miss my one (was also a B reg).
Always wanted a red motorsport edition, manual with decrome and lsd and black recarro's! like this one
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2909344.htm
Your car is a bit of a bargain just had a look at the classifieds £1800 is the starting price, £10k for a really good one, £20k for a good 24v M series car.
Edited by rallycross on Monday 10th October 09:52
balders118 said:
Love it! Im jealous, very jealous. I'm undecided on the wheels, can't decide whether they look good, or if they don't quite fit if you know what I mean. I think you've got yourself a bargain mate.
Totally agree about the wheels, didn't realise they'd look quite so "bling" when I bought them! Going to try and find me a set of 17" alpines at some point but these will do for now.
The wheels look better on darker cars.
stropley said:
Wow - looks a million dorra. Even the interior looks much better than in the ebay pics - especially the driver's seat. Can you give the lowdown on what you did inside?
Rubbed an entire tube of Autosol leather restorer over them They're not quite as good as they look in my (high contrast) pictures, but much better than they were.Autosol stuff is always ace.
very nice purchase jon-I know exactly what you mean about the drive back from purchasing the car, worrying about it breaking down. I was exactly the same when I bought the XJS - 150 miles or so back from Devon, in the rain, questioning my sanity and listening out for any noises that seemed out of place. It wasn't until the end of the journey that I started to gain confidence that it wasn't a lemon.
As for leather care, the Gliptone twins are very very good. For future cleaning and feeding I can thoroughly recommend it. It brought the seats in the Jag up a treat and left a wonderful leather smell in the car.
this is why I have always loved the 635 csi - bit of Bathurst history lesson!
2 635's together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=XXgRUQbr1n...
JPS 635
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=795Skr8LzSo&fea...
2 635's together
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=XXgRUQbr1n...
JPS 635
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=795Skr8LzSo&fea...
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