After 22 years....
Discussion
...it looks like the time has come to take my S3 off the road, maybe sell it.
I've had it since new (Feb 91) and it started off as a shiny pleasure car. Then it went to my commuting car and for the last two years it's gone back to a sort of pleasure car cum backup vehicle.
The thing is, at the last MOT they expressed concern over the exhaust manifold and if it doesn't get through in a few months time, it's going to be an expensive repair (even if I was able to do it myself, which I'm not).
If it gets through, I may put off the decision for year, but even so I've only done 500 miles in it this year and we really don't need a second vehicle, so the per mile minimum running cost (tax, insurance, MOT/service, petrol) of £1.70 is not really justifiable.
Otherwise I'll probably SORN it and keep it in the garage. I keep a battery charger permanently on it at the moment, but if it's off road I suppose I will disconnect the battery. Any tips for keeping it in a reasonable condition would be welcome.
If anybody wants to tell me I'm mad, feel free. I really can't make up my mind about it......
I've had it since new (Feb 91) and it started off as a shiny pleasure car. Then it went to my commuting car and for the last two years it's gone back to a sort of pleasure car cum backup vehicle.
The thing is, at the last MOT they expressed concern over the exhaust manifold and if it doesn't get through in a few months time, it's going to be an expensive repair (even if I was able to do it myself, which I'm not).
If it gets through, I may put off the decision for year, but even so I've only done 500 miles in it this year and we really don't need a second vehicle, so the per mile minimum running cost (tax, insurance, MOT/service, petrol) of £1.70 is not really justifiable.
Otherwise I'll probably SORN it and keep it in the garage. I keep a battery charger permanently on it at the moment, but if it's off road I suppose I will disconnect the battery. Any tips for keeping it in a reasonable condition would be welcome.
If anybody wants to tell me I'm mad, feel free. I really can't make up my mind about it......
OK, so now I know for sure I personally won't be going near those bolts! But I will start investigating a repair....
I've changed my profile picture to show the car as of this morning. Actually, I think it looks quite good considering it's had no exterior bodywork attention ever and I can't remember when I last washed it.
I'm in the fortunate position that I'm not desperate for the likely lump sum a sale would generate, so if I can't get it through the MOT, it will most probably languish in my garage - I'm thinking it might increase in value quite a lot over the next few years so I could treat it as an investment punt. Hopefully keeping it idle in the garage won't be too detrimental....
I've changed my profile picture to show the car as of this morning. Actually, I think it looks quite good considering it's had no exterior bodywork attention ever and I can't remember when I last washed it.
I'm in the fortunate position that I'm not desperate for the likely lump sum a sale would generate, so if I can't get it through the MOT, it will most probably languish in my garage - I'm thinking it might increase in value quite a lot over the next few years so I could treat it as an investment punt. Hopefully keeping it idle in the garage won't be too detrimental....
I think I've screwed up my profile picture. So instead, here's a link to photobucket:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/unicorn77...
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/unicorn77...
Well, out of interest, I just had a look through my documentation but I've got nothing to say what I ordered. In fact, I don't even have a receipt. I'm not actually sure I ever got one.
What I do have is the registration document (obviously - also kept the previous two), every service bill starting with the initial 1000 miles service and every MOT certificate. I also know the exact amount of cash I paid by BS cheque and the account details that it came from.
I think that would be enough to satisfy me if I were buying but does anybody know what the legal position is? Would it satisfy Mr. Plod if asked me "is this your vehicle, sir?"
What I do have is the registration document (obviously - also kept the previous two), every service bill starting with the initial 1000 miles service and every MOT certificate. I also know the exact amount of cash I paid by BS cheque and the account details that it came from.
I think that would be enough to satisfy me if I were buying but does anybody know what the legal position is? Would it satisfy Mr. Plod if asked me "is this your vehicle, sir?"
OK, seems like I'm the legal owner, then!
As to the chassis, my man told me it was OK last February. The year before I had to have one of the rear trailing arms replaced (he said the other was fine). Six years ago, I had some major work done on the outriggers - all corrosion was cut out and new metal welded in.
I took some photos this morning but shoving the camera underneath and shooting blind wasn't too successful. For what it's worth, the view from the rear can be seen here:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/unicorn77...
(I'm assuming these links are viewable to the public, I can certainly see them....)
As to the chassis, my man told me it was OK last February. The year before I had to have one of the rear trailing arms replaced (he said the other was fine). Six years ago, I had some major work done on the outriggers - all corrosion was cut out and new metal welded in.
I took some photos this morning but shoving the camera underneath and shooting blind wasn't too successful. For what it's worth, the view from the rear can be seen here:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac241/unicorn77...
(I'm assuming these links are viewable to the public, I can certainly see them....)
The official colour is cobalt blue.
One of the wheels got damaged and I got a refurbished one to replace it. To start with, it looked well out of place, all nice and shiny, whereas the others are somewhat pitted. But I don't think it was a good refurbishment as the surface is lifting in quite a large area. I don't really want to see what's underneath!
I did get hold of some magic wallop wheel cleaner but it wasn't much cop. I'm sure it just needs more effort than I've given so far.
One of the wheels got damaged and I got a refurbished one to replace it. To start with, it looked well out of place, all nice and shiny, whereas the others are somewhat pitted. But I don't think it was a good refurbishment as the surface is lifting in quite a large area. I don't really want to see what's underneath!
I did get hold of some magic wallop wheel cleaner but it wasn't much cop. I'm sure it just needs more effort than I've given so far.
I bought it wanting a nice refined colour, so I avoided the glaring red they did, particularly because it is apparently the case that vivid colours attract the attention of all sorts of undesirables and the police (in the days when they had to actually catch you to give you a speeding ticket). I thought the blue very suitable and rely on the exhaust note for effect.
Update.
Well, it passed it's MOT no problems! So I have decided to tax and insure it for another year. I did 535 miles in it in 2011 and 530 in 2012 according to the certificate history, so how about that for consistency! So if I do the same in 2013 it's coming out at a quid a mile (MOT/Tax/Ins), plus petrol.
That's if I don't bother getting the garage to service it. I had it done last year but it seems hardly worth it for 500 miles. Anyone think there's anything essential I really need to do? (It's kept in a garage all the time with a battery charger permanently on.)
To those people who expressed an interest in it, sorry if this is bad news. Let's see what next year brings.
Well, it passed it's MOT no problems! So I have decided to tax and insure it for another year. I did 535 miles in it in 2011 and 530 in 2012 according to the certificate history, so how about that for consistency! So if I do the same in 2013 it's coming out at a quid a mile (MOT/Tax/Ins), plus petrol.
That's if I don't bother getting the garage to service it. I had it done last year but it seems hardly worth it for 500 miles. Anyone think there's anything essential I really need to do? (It's kept in a garage all the time with a battery charger permanently on.)
To those people who expressed an interest in it, sorry if this is bad news. Let's see what next year brings.
Me again!
Just got it through it's 21st MOT. Not cheap though, had some rear suspension work done on it. Guess I'll have to do more summer motoring this year to justify the cost!
Strangely, my garage is not mentioning the exhaust manifold anymore. Fortunately, as I reckon it's cost enough for the suspension work, probably more than replacing the manifold. My plan now is to keep it on the road for 25 years in my name. Only two to go!
I'm going to get underneath (if it ever stops raining) and have a look at what's been done, take a photo and post it here.
Just got it through it's 21st MOT. Not cheap though, had some rear suspension work done on it. Guess I'll have to do more summer motoring this year to justify the cost!
Strangely, my garage is not mentioning the exhaust manifold anymore. Fortunately, as I reckon it's cost enough for the suspension work, probably more than replacing the manifold. My plan now is to keep it on the road for 25 years in my name. Only two to go!
I'm going to get underneath (if it ever stops raining) and have a look at what's been done, take a photo and post it here.
Well, I'm definitely going to use it soon - nearly out of petrol 
Can't do more than 1000 miles though, due to the insurance restriction.
Come the summer.....
(Just looked up my records, last time I filled it up was March! Is anybody else sad enough to have a vehicle with a record of every time they put petrol in it, how much went in and what it cost?)
Can't do more than 1000 miles though, due to the insurance restriction.
Come the summer.....
(Just looked up my records, last time I filled it up was March! Is anybody else sad enough to have a vehicle with a record of every time they put petrol in it, how much went in and what it cost?)
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