Wheeler Dealers
Discussion
Speed Badger said:
I just caught up with the Chevrolet truck episode - I too was left confused by the abrupt ending to this one. I came on here to see if I had missed something, but looks like others were surprised too. I was actually looking forward to seeing how they would go about adding air conditioning to an old truck that never had it, but the literally don't mention or show it apart from to say they did it!
It was very odd. Ant says "Where's Mike with the steering wheel and aircon?", and then it's finished.Clockwork Cupcake said:
ReaperCushions said:
From what I'm lead to believe, he does do the majority of the work. I think they send a runner ahead of time to see the cars before sending out the whole film crew though.
I'd heard that the car has been researched, sourced, and even bought, before Mike and the film crew turn up. That's why the seller is always fine with an unaccompanied test drive. Drives it through the mountains in torrential rain and muck, pulls back up in front of the house in a pristine polished truck, without a rain drop in sight.
"I took it up the mountain, drives lovely"
Did you now...
Radish said:
Just watched the RX7 one; it beats me how they can do a whole show on a wankel powered second hand car without a single mention of the rotor tips. Perhaps US supplied Mazdas didn’t suffer from the problem.
They did say wankel as many times as possible though. Not sure why you would buy a car with so many mods and then take them all off though. Surely buying an unmodded car to start with would make more sense. They even resprayed it !gareth_r said:
The irony of criticising the RX7 customisations after the mess Brewer and China made of the other Wheeler Dealers RX. 
EDIT:
If you haven't seen it / have blanked out the memory...
I can't forget those snake's skin effect alloys! They look terrible from this distance.EDIT:
If you haven't seen it / have blanked out the memory...
Edited by gareth_r on Tuesday 18th June 13:50
Radish said:
Just watched the RX7 one; it beats me how they can do a whole show on a wankel powered second hand car without a single mention of the rotor tips. Perhaps US supplied Mazdas didn’t suffer from the problem.
And at one point Mike wheels in part of and engine on the trolley. I got excited and thought they were going to add a chamber or at the very least give a demo of how the "wankle" works.
As they did neither why did Mike bring it?
They don't seem to be doing as much with the cars this series in terms of transformation. They are all mostly solid cars, just a bit tired whereas i think the best episodes are either when they change the car into something else, or full on restore, re-trim and respray. I don't mind tossing around with the oily bits, but a better balance is needed. I must admit (I'll probably get shot down for this) I'm liking Ant and not missing Edd particularly (really like Edd as well).
Speed Badger said:
They don't seem to be doing as much with the cars this series in terms of transformation. They are all mostly solid cars, just a bit tired whereas i think the best episodes are either when they change the car into something else, or full on restore, re-trim and respray. I don't mind tossing around with the oily bits, but a better balance is needed. I must admit (I'll probably get shot down for this) I'm liking Ant and not missing Edd particularly (really like Edd as well).
I only just spotted the MR2 Turbo episode.As you say - a generally sound car, however the 'unexpected' engine out obviously made quite a bit of work for Ant.
No the best choice of wheels, but an improvement on the stock Gen1 items.
Steering wheel needed a change / refurb though - looked like it had been baked in the sun.
ETA: Actually... and I might be totally wrong here - but I swear it was still blowing smoke (might have been tyre smoke though) when they tested it on the kart track... then the filming style went all shaking/ Fast&Furious style... then they finished off the test at night
Edited by Steamer on Tuesday 18th June 22:14
Speed Badger said:
They don't seem to be doing as much with the cars this series in terms of transformation. They are all mostly solid cars, just a bit tired whereas i think the best episodes are either when they change the car into something else, or full on restore, re-trim and respray. I don't mind tossing around with the oily bits, but a better balance is needed. I must admit (I'll probably get shot down for this) I'm liking Ant and not missing Edd particularly (really like Edd as well).
I think half the problem is the market is absolutely saturated for programmes like these. When WD started it was not only fresh but also fairly unique (or, at least, uncommon). Now, not only does it have its own back catalogue to contend with, but also a multitude of similar programmes too. There are shows that cater for everything from "tart up & flip" through to "full bare metal restoration with custom fabrication" it's difficult to know where WD even fits in any more.
Clockwork Cupcake said:
I think half the problem is the market is absolutely saturated for programmes like these. When WD started it was not only fresh but also fairly unique (or, at least, uncommon). Now, not only does it have its own back catalogue to contend with, but also a multitude of similar programmes too.
There are shows that cater for everything from "tart up & flip" through to "full bare metal restoration with custom fabrication" it's difficult to know where WD even fits in any more.
I think WD is pretty much just trading off its name now. It was one of the first of its genre, but as you say, the market is now flooded with every niche from a quick blow over and service to a full body off resto. There are shows that cater for everything from "tart up & flip" through to "full bare metal restoration with custom fabrication" it's difficult to know where WD even fits in any more.
trooperiziz said:
Thoroughly enjoyed that, lots of interesting work done that I don't remember seeing before.
I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
Agreed. That did seem to be like an episode from the old days. I was surprised what is was worth at the end though. Also, it's good to see the extras included at the end (dash etc) in the final costing, even though we don't see them fitted.I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
trooperiziz said:
Thoroughly enjoyed that, lots of interesting work done that I don't remember seeing before.
I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
I had a W124, the next model. Mine had the 2.8 petrol engine and it was quite fast. This showed how poor the steering was. But I loved it. I went all over the country when my youngest was playing high level youth rugby. It was comfortable, reliable, smooth and reassuring in an odd way. On a run back from the Gower to Rottingdean one wet Friday in February, during the wee smalls, I averaged a bit over 17mpg. Worth it, though. I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
The subject mentioned a few times in the WD episode of 'the last great Merc before the money men took control' is hotly disputed amongst Merc aficionados; the 123 is accepted as before, and most seem to agree that the 124 is as well, given how much was common. The earlier 201s are argued over (I reckon they are before), but things did seem to go down hill after that. I've had two SLKs (170/171), and their build quality was poor. On the other hand, my contemporary CLK in 209 form was a much better-built car. It was great in corners as well, so from my experience, things have changed. I would not buy another Merc though.
I mentioned the W124 being my favourite car and my wife mentioned the little, but expensive, costs of repair, whereas my current car, a Focus, has all but 100,000 on the clock, is almost as comfortable, has more room in the back, is reliable and cheap to repair when things do need attention, holds the road better and does twice the mileage of the Merc, even in town.
I'd like a 123 (or 124) as a second car. Whether I'd go for a 230,000k one, with the promise of lots of little problems, I'm not so sure. You chat to owners and most will tell you of eye-watering costs following a failed MoT. The bodywork is quite strong and rust-resistant, but in 30 years or so, most will need repair in places. I suppose that goes for most classic cars.
The petrol 124s, especially the later 4-valve 2.8 and 3.2 variants will stay with modern traffic without problems, the latter maybe even leading. They are lovely cars to be in. I loved the grill going up with the bonnet and the facility to raise the bonnet vertically, which was also in the SLKs, and I assume the CLKs but I never had the need to look for it.
Grahamdub said:
trooperiziz said:
Thoroughly enjoyed that, lots of interesting work done that I don't remember seeing before.
I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
Agreed. That did seem to be like an episode from the old days. I was surprised what is was worth at the end though. Also, it's good to see the extras included at the end (dash etc) in the final costing, even though we don't see them fitted.I'd never buy a 300td myself, but I can see why people would.
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