The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
greenarrow said:
I replaced the 13 year old budget branded back tyres on my shed last week, as they were frankly scaring me as we move into colder wetter weeks. Got a pair of Kumho Ecowings and put the 7 year old Firestones on the back. Problem is, I think these Kumhos really aren't up to much! Disappointing as I've always had Kumhos in recent years and like them, but those were Ecstas which aren't available in my tyre size. My car has 185/65/14 tyres and you're fairly limited to the eco range of the market. TBH the old Firestones felt more predictable in the wet. Darn, wish I'd spent another £10 a corner and stuck on more Firestones, but the B wet weather Grip and cheaper price of the Kumhos plus B fuel economy (F on the Firestones) sort of sucked me in!! Is it me or are these tyre labels actually a bit of a farce?
Being a shed however, is it really worth ditching them? Its a tough call, because a car like a Mk1 Focus loves being thrown around and therefore deserves tyres that allow it do "do its thing".
Anyone else had this sort of dilemma? Choosing the wrong tyres when even a cheap pair cost 20% of the value of the car!!!
Worth getting some used 15" wheels possibly with tyres? There's generally more choice in 15" tyres and often cheaper than the smaller stuff.Being a shed however, is it really worth ditching them? Its a tough call, because a car like a Mk1 Focus loves being thrown around and therefore deserves tyres that allow it do "do its thing".
Anyone else had this sort of dilemma? Choosing the wrong tyres when even a cheap pair cost 20% of the value of the car!!!
Tyre labels do seem to be a bit b
ks. There's plenty of decent tyres available in 185/65/14 with the added advantage being that the cost to go from budget to premium is tiny. Whilst people will always differ in the value that they place on tyres, to my mind it's always worth spending that little bit extra given the difference that a good set of matching tyres can make to any car.
If it were my shed, then I'd be looking at any of the following:
Summer tyres:
Bridgestone Turanza T005
Dunlop Sport BluResponse (we use these on Mrs Jagnet's shed)
Uniroyal Rain Expert 3
All season tyres:
Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen2
Michelin CrossClimate
Vredestein Quatrac 5
If it were my shed, then I'd be looking at any of the following:
Summer tyres:
Bridgestone Turanza T005
Dunlop Sport BluResponse (we use these on Mrs Jagnet's shed)
Uniroyal Rain Expert 3
All season tyres:
Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons Gen2
Michelin CrossClimate
Vredestein Quatrac 5
Thesprucegoose said:
CrgT16 said:
Decent new tyres for me... I am not driving a shed out of necessity, more a choice
the choice to save money...The vast majority drive sheds to save money, i can't imagine anyone with means would choose a ropey old car over a new lease deal.I could lease a new car but see it as dead money and would rather run my reliable shed. Just because it's a shed doesn't mean it has to be ropey though*
*other opinions may vary
You can still be saving money versus a new car even when buying premium tyres. The average shed isn't going to be running 20" tyres so a set of Michelin on a shed could still cost less than a set of budget tyres on something newer.
Factor in tyre life and the Michelins with their usual low wear rates could work out even cheaper in the long run than midrange tyres. Less applicable if the shed is for station runs only and lives from one MOT to the next.
Factor in tyre life and the Michelins with their usual low wear rates could work out even cheaper in the long run than midrange tyres. Less applicable if the shed is for station runs only and lives from one MOT to the next.
CrgT16 said:
Also there are probably more people with means driving older cars than leasing new cars. Also who cares? I don’t, happy with my choice and happy to spend money on good tyres. It’s my money afterall.
I'll refresh the suspension on mine early 2020 - financially doesn't make sense as it's probably going to cost £500 - the same value as the car - but as I plan to do a few more years in it yet I consider it a decent investment as it's getting a bit saggy now, plus it's only the cost of a months lease on a decent carThesprucegoose said:
the choice to save money...The vast majority drive sheds to save money, i can't imagine anyone with means would choose a ropey old car over a new lease deal.
Shed doesn't have to equate to being a 'ropey old car'. My Honda Civic is nearly 13 years old, but it's been in the family from new and I've owned it for the last 7 years. It's got minor scratches and parking dings, certainly worth no more than £1k or so, definitely now in shed value. However, every single thing on the car works as if it's just left the factory, climate control, pano roof etc etc. It's powerful enough and still returns 55mpg whilst being clean and comfortable inside. I would not hesitate to jump in it and drive across Europe right now. It's serviced meticulously and when doing higher miles would get an oil change every 6k miles. Tyres are matching Michelin CrossClimates and the brakes all round are Brembo discs and pads.
I could get a newer car, but I choose not to. The new equivalent of my car would not do a single thing that my current one isn't capable of already.
I recently drove my dads new Merc GLC 350d to and from Cornwall in a day (nearly 700 miles all in) and observations from myself and my wife were that although the interior looks nice it's very cramped and didn't feel much faster than the Civic. The speedo location annoyed me as I kept having to look down and the seats were very, very stiff. My ass was totally numb within 2 hours, whereas I can happily do the whole journey in one hit in the Civic. The Merc must be worth at least £40k+ and I genuinely wouldn't swap my Civic for it.
slk 32 said:
I've done just over 50k in my shed- now at 172k
I could lease a new car but see it as dead money and would rather run my reliable shed. Just because it's a shed doesn't mean it has to be ropey though*
*other opinions may vary
Absolutely. My shed is in better mechanical condition than most 2 year old cars. Nothing ropey about it at all but it still costs less to run per mile than any new lease deal.I could lease a new car but see it as dead money and would rather run my reliable shed. Just because it's a shed doesn't mean it has to be ropey though*
*other opinions may vary
I choose to run a shed because I like the car, it serves my needs perfectly and I still get to save money.
slk 32 said:
I'll refresh the suspension on mine early 2020 - financially doesn't make sense as it's probably going to cost £500 - the same value as the car - but as I plan to do a few more years in it yet I consider it a decent investment as it's getting a bit saggy now, plus it's only the cost of a months lease on a decent car
Having done that to both our sheds imho it's well worth doing if you plan on keeping the car for a while. slk 32 said:
I've done just over 50k in my shed- now at 172k
I could lease a new car but see it as dead money and would rather run my reliable shed. Just because it's a shed doesn't mean it has to be ropey though*
*other opinions may vary
didnt you buy a bluemotion to save money then spent 5k on bills after purchase. I don't know what the big deal is with running sheds, the vast majority do it to save money, you yourself did it for that reason.I could lease a new car but see it as dead money and would rather run my reliable shed. Just because it's a shed doesn't mean it has to be ropey though*
*other opinions may vary
If people are honest with it it not a big deal, means you can enjoy life without another burden to something.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Tuesday 17th December 12:30
Bumblebee7 said:
I could get a newer car, but I choose not to. The new equivalent of my car would not do a single thing that my current one isn't capable of already.
This - but also I think it helps that car design and manufacturing seemed to take some major steps forwards in the 1990s. Round here, there seem to be plenty of cars still in daily use, that are approaching their twentieth birthday. I don't remember that being the case when I started driving in the late 1980s (where most cars of that age would have long since rusted away or broken irreparably).
Today, it would appear to be much easier to run an older car without major drama - and if its something like a BMW, it'll probably have stability control, ABS, multiple airbags and perhaps stuff like xenon headlights - some of which may still even be working
Aside from a bit of extra safety kit and increased fuel economy (sometimes) - it seems to be the infotainment system that has aged most in our car. Something more modern would have USB sockets, DAB radio. Bluetooth and gimmicks like a reversing camera. Its trinkets like this that the manufacturers use to encourage people to change up I guess.
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