Getting a banger to work on

[MakaveliX]

As I am currently studying mechanics ( soon to be level three ) and love messing with cars.. I want a cheap banger to practice on over the summer. Odd jobs like taking the drop links out and then putting them back in, shock absorbers, mess around with the brakes, interior trim etc.

Any advice on which would be the best way ?Perhaps autotrader and find anything in the local area which runs and has MOT, for lets say under a grand. Would that be best?

In regards to insurance the vehicle will be off the road but I'd need insurance to drive it home just on the day, how is the best way for the insurance and possibly tax.

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks

[GreenV8S]

I'd have thought you'd be far better off getting a car you can actually use and then just work on it as needed, but if it's literally just going to be a garage queen then you should just get it trailered to your workshop and never put it on the road. That's save you a ton of time and hassle as well as the cost of insuring and cancelling.

[hairy v]

Try Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree for cheap motors.

Do you know anyone who could trailor it for you ?

[steveo3002]

find something local and ask if the seller will drop at it yours

seems an expensive way to fiddle with an old car

[GreenV8S]

MakaveliX said:

which runs and has MOT

That is going to mean spending actual money on a car you never expect to use, and which you will probably scrap as a pile of bits.

Seems to me that if you definitely don't plan to actually use it, you'd be better off buying a non-runner. They will vary from effectively worthless to worth their weight in scrap. You could probably pick one up locally for the cost of borrowing a trailer.

The sort of work you're describing might keep you entertained for a few hours over a weekend but hardly seems worth the bother of buying a car and then disposing of it. It's your time and money at the end of the day, but I think you're over estimating the amount of usefull experience you stand to gain from this.

[Fermit]

Retroste on this thread - https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... could be a good member to chat with. Buys all kinds of old rubbish, and is pretty hands on sorting them. He also sells stuff on.

[MakaveliX]

GreenV8S said:

That is going to mean spending actual money on a car you never expect to use, and which you will probably scrap as a pile of bits.

Seems to me that if you definitely don't plan to actually use it, you'd be better off buying a non-runner. They will vary from effectively worthless to worth their weight in scrap. You could probably pick one up locally for the cost of borrowing a trailer.

The sort of work you're describing might keep you entertained for a few hours over a weekend but hardly seems worth the bother of buying a car and then disposing of it. It's your time and money at the end of the day, but I think you're over estimating the amount of usefull experience you stand to gain from this.

Thanks for the input guys.
The reason I said runner and MOT is because I have much more chance being able to shift it afterwards. It would probably be detrimental to get a non runner because when I'm finished with it, nobody will want to buy it and I'd have to pay to get rid of it ( costing me more in the long run )

You are correct, I won't be driving it as I have a daily runner which I never mess with. It won't be a pile of bits, as I'll be taking parts off and putting them back on again to expand my skills with cars.

I've looked at day insurance ( to drive the motor back to mine ) and is only about £25.

Edited by MakaveliX on Saturday 27th April 17:58

[DegsyE39]

Hi mate i've been in the same boat as you and always wanted to learn spannering, i bought a £350 golf pd tdi with 220k miles on it and ive done almost everything now.. Personally i wouldn't be fking about with droplinks etc. for no real reason as you can literally go on youtube and find guides that show you how to anything its only nuts and bolts!
You'd be far far better spending a grand on a really good mig welder and learning how to use it.. as what really kills car in the uk is tinworm! if you can't weld you'll struggle to fix older stuff IMHO
Also practice your grinding skills as most jobs on cars aren't about the method (you can see it step by step on youtube now) one of the main things that hampers diyers is seized bolts trust me! maybe consider an air chisel or air hammer..

If you must get a car.. believe me any running and driving sub £1k car will keep you busy! always something to do! IMHO buy something and use it..

Cheers!

[GreenV8S]

One of the most useful skills you'll learn spanneringon an old car is how to avoid breaking bolts, and how to deal with it when you do. But when you realise how much hassle it is, I think you'll quickly realise it isn't worth the money and effort to do on an old car which is already virtually worthless. So it seems very likely to me that your mule is going to suffer from maintenance induced problems that aren't worth fixing. Hence my suggestion to either take on a project car you'll actually use at the end, or acknowledge up front that it's going to end up scrapped.

[ChocolateFrog]

I'd look for something that you could actually add value to so you could move it on once you've finished learning.

My mates and I started on Mini's but they're probably all worth proper money now.

Might be worth seeking out an older hot hatch or E30 BMW something like that.

Avoiding something that is too far gone rust wise will probably your biggest issue.

[ta264]

A Lotus Elise that needs a bit of love, I imagine you'd get your money back and there's not really anything on it that can rust through

[aka_kerrly]

ta264 said:

A Lotus Elise that needs a bit of love, I imagine you'd get your money back and there's not really anything on it that can rust through

If you can point me in the direction of a £1k Lotus Elise that needs a bit of work I'd be very very grateful!!!!!

OP if you're a teenager at college doing mechanics, then any sub £1k car with a bit of MOT on it ought to be treated as a rolling project. Someone made a very good point about old cars and welding, he is correct, in my experience there are plenty of mechanics and hobby level enthusiasts who can mess about doing suspension arms, discs pads and removing/refitting engine components etc but the real skills that are in short supply are being a whizz at ELECRTICAL faults and WELDING!

In my opinion if you develop your skills in these areas you can go on to become far more than a routine spanner juggler.

[ta264]

Haha no, I didn't spot the budget

[98elise]

MakaveliX said:

As I am currently studying mechanics ( soon to be level three ) and love messing with cars.. I want a cheap banger to practice on over the summer. Odd jobs like taking the drop links out and then putting them back in, shock absorbers, mess around with the brakes, interior trim etc.

Any advice on which would be the best way ?Perhaps autotrader and find anything in the local area which runs and has MOT, for lets say under a grand. Would that be best?

In regards to insurance the vehicle will be off the road but I'd need insurance to drive it home just on the day, how is the best way for the insurance and possibly tax.

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks

Where abouts are you? I have an old low mileage Rover 25 for sale with a fresh MOT

[anyoldcardave]

Where in the world are you?, got a yard full of running, driving, tested cars, mainly Ford, but a few others, Fiat 500, Clio, all for a grand or less, and can be delivered, and more will come this week and every week.

The Clio for instance, my mates mum has used for a year, has August Mot, good tyres on good alloys, the sunroof leaks in heavy rain. 54 plate, low miles, tidy car, 695 takes it away.

4 or so 1,6 Focus, 7,8,56,58 reg, from 500 for the 56 plate auto, the others are 8 to1k

[Fermit]

anyoldcardave said:

Where in the world are you?, got a yard full of running, driving, tested cars, mainly Ford, but a few others, Fiat 500, Clio, all for a grand or less, and can be delivered, and more will come this week and every week.

The Clio for instance, my mates mum has used for a year, has August Mot, good tyres on good alloys, the sunroof leaks in heavy rain. 54 plate, low miles, tidy car, 695 takes it away.

4 or so 1,6 Focus, 7,8,56,58 reg, from 500 for the 56 plate auto, the others are 8 to1k

There you go OP. Rare to find anything working for £500-£1000 currently. Good cars, Focus's.

[anyoldcardave]

Fermit said:

There you go OP. Rare to find anything working for £500-£1000 currently. Good cars, Focus's.

That they are, expecially 1,6 petrol ones, most of them have main dealer history, 2 have very recently had new discs and pads.

They are all main agent part ex cars.

If he practices a little body and paint too, will make a profit lol.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

GreenV8S said:

One of the most useful skills you'll learn spanneringon an old car is how to avoid breaking bolts, and how to deal with it when you do.

If you really want to learn this get an old Japanese car. I guarantee that every single bolt underneath the car will be rusted on and will snap as soon as you try and remove them.

Either that or the head will be so rusty it will just round off.

If it is a Honda I guarantee the brakes will be binding and there will be suspension clonks you will never be able to diagnose.

[MakaveliX]

Found a good one. Or two.

Clio 2005 Runner with MOT for a year from a local garage for just under £900

Found a clio 2005 non runner which the seller says can be delivered for £250 ( excluding the delivery )

I side with the runner as I can move it around if needed and sell it afterwards .. but what do you guys think ?

Can post links if needed

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 29th April 18:22

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 29th April 18:43

[GreenV8S]

MakaveliX said:

Found a good one. Or two.

Clio 2005 Runner with MOT for a year from a local garage for just under £900

Found a clio 2005 non runner which the seller says can be delivered for £250 ( excluding the delivery )

I side with the runner as I can move it around if needed and sell it afterwards .. but what do you guys think ?

Can post links if needed

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 29th April 18:22

Edited by MakaveliX on Monday 29th April 18:43

Cleo. Set yourself the target of getting it road legal. It'll take more time and money than the car is worth, but you will either achieve something useful or at least not have lost as much.