The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
This is my latest shed purchase, £170 but it fell foul of the relaxed MOT rules by 2 days if my memory serves me right
It Failed on a spring, rear wheel bearing, insecure CV boot and some bulbs. Garage are quoting £130 to do the job with a free retest plus bits, £37 off eBay or £27.odds retest fee. No brainer I’ll let them do it as I don’t have access to a press as I’m off work. Waiting on the bearing arriving and I’ll get it back for the repairs.
C4 HDi, 4 decent branded tyres, someone has keyed it, but it’s done less than 100k, drives well and seems to be quite frugal. It’s a perfect shopping/town/pub car
I fitted a universal remote locking kit yesterday as it came with a normal, plain key that only works from the passenger side door, except it doesn’t want to fit in that barely. Cheaper than the Citroen replacement remote too at £20 and some head scratching with wires yesterday.
I remember hating these when they were new, weird steering wheel set up being a major gripe, but as I’ve got older, it has a certain charm about it
It Failed on a spring, rear wheel bearing, insecure CV boot and some bulbs. Garage are quoting £130 to do the job with a free retest plus bits, £37 off eBay or £27.odds retest fee. No brainer I’ll let them do it as I don’t have access to a press as I’m off work. Waiting on the bearing arriving and I’ll get it back for the repairs.
C4 HDi, 4 decent branded tyres, someone has keyed it, but it’s done less than 100k, drives well and seems to be quite frugal. It’s a perfect shopping/town/pub car
I fitted a universal remote locking kit yesterday as it came with a normal, plain key that only works from the passenger side door, except it doesn’t want to fit in that barely. Cheaper than the Citroen replacement remote too at £20 and some head scratching with wires yesterday.
I remember hating these when they were new, weird steering wheel set up being a major gripe, but as I’ve got older, it has a certain charm about it
Edited by martin mrt on Wednesday 22 April 08:18
The Mad Monk said:
Nice and quiet, was it?
Everything south of Nottingham, not to much. M25 was about as busy as a Saturday afternoon. North of it, I must of cancelled the cruise control once or twice.
Heathrow was like I Am Legend.
Probably the calmest drive I've ever had on UK roads. Plenty of speed cameras out though so kept it sensible speeds.
PartOfTheProblem said:
Lots of good points there, and I have to agree. In addition the SDI has a notoriously weak gearbox, failure is common on the SDIs, but almost unheard of on the TDIs.
Oh I'd forgotten about that too, the SDI with the rod-change box as fitted to the 1.0/1.3/1.4/1.6 Polo 
The cable change box may lack feel in comparison but boxes are only fifty quid. six-speed is a very easy retrofit too, my Passat is geared for 176mph@5000. Not that it will get there, but a 240BHP 1.9TDI still shifts.
Gave mine a wash and decent polish yesterday. Comes up well aside from the marks and rust!
Developed a rubbing noise on full right lock, but if I don't turn full lock, it's not an issue, right?
Was intending on replacing it but found out yesterday that redundancy is looming so I'll be keeping hold of it for now.
te somewhere, but not been on any VW forums since my Beetle days. Haven't felt the need to join one since Ebay has plentiful parts and youtube has plenty of how to videos.Our shed. Owned it 13 / 14 years, honestly lost count! Non PD 110 TDI. 160k miles, only does around 3k a year now. Worth nothing, passes it's MOT every year, maintenance is an annual oil and filter change and a squirt of Mr Mussel oven cleaner up the turbo as and when the variable vanes need a clean! Simultaneously the best and worst car we've ever had!
bern said:
Our shed. Owned it 13 / 14 years, honestly lost count! Non PD 110 TDI. 160k miles, only does around 3k a year now. Worth nothing, passes it's MOT every year, maintenance is an annual oil and filter change and a squirt of Mr Mussel oven cleaner up the turbo as and when the variable vanes need a clean! Simultaneously the best and worst car we've ever had!
My favourite car I have had in the past, a '98 TDi 90bhp. Did everything and went everywhere in that car. Saved my life too, being rear-ended by a van at NSL. Still got the back pain from that though 
bern said:
Our shed. Owned it 13 / 14 years, honestly lost count! Non PD 110 TDI. 160k miles, only does around 3k a year now. Worth nothing, passes it's MOT every year, maintenance is an annual oil and filter change and a squirt of Mr Mussel oven cleaner up the turbo as and when the variable vanes need a clean! Simultaneously the best and worst car we've ever had!
Just wondering why its the best AND worst car you've had. I had a Passat B5.5 for about 4 years and it evoked similar feelings of love and hate. I loved the way it rode and I loved the comfy squashy seats. Mine had the 1.8t petrol engine which really is superb for low lag, torquey pull, so much nicer than a TDI, albeit with more thirst. However, there was always a niggle of some description. The coolant would drop from time to time and I never got to the bottom of it. Various EML lights would flash up and it was very barge like in slow corners. On the other hand, I've never driven a car that felt more secure in fast corners, particularly long sweepers.So I kind of get the love and hate for this particular model, but was just interested in your feedback as you kept it so long!
STIfree said:
Very apt at the moment after moving one shed that's been sat for a few weeks off the drive recently 
Has anyone attempted making some kind of undertray to catch dripping oil? The current undertray just falls short of where it's dripping from.
It's making a little mess of the drive!
My friend got some large garden related trays from B&Q (not sure of their original purpose). They are perfect for such things. I just tried to find a link on the B&Q site but you have to wait to browse!!Has anyone attempted making some kind of undertray to catch dripping oil? The current undertray just falls short of where it's dripping from.
It's making a little mess of the drive!
My shed, bought between selling my previous daily (a Golf) and receipt of a new car (a Jimny... it took its time). Deliberately bought something I wouldn’t mind selling.
And... less dull than I thought it’d be. Very comfy. Reversed it into a tree and didn’t care; not that you can tell. Even the air con still works. And I now can’t face selling it. Anodyne becomes antidote. What the hell is wrong with me?!!
Token shedmaths:
- Sold Golf for 8500 last year
- Value of Golf had I kept it till Jimny arrived: 7500
- Difference 1000
- Cost of Camry... 900 quid.
So while not technically a free car... cheaper then depreciation. Which I guess is partly why we’re here.
And... less dull than I thought it’d be. Very comfy. Reversed it into a tree and didn’t care; not that you can tell. Even the air con still works. And I now can’t face selling it. Anodyne becomes antidote. What the hell is wrong with me?!!
Token shedmaths:
- Sold Golf for 8500 last year
- Value of Golf had I kept it till Jimny arrived: 7500
- Difference 1000
- Cost of Camry... 900 quid.
So while not technically a free car... cheaper then depreciation. Which I guess is partly why we’re here.
V8fan said:
I like the slightly quirky look some Citroen cars have. And the proper value for a 'shed' IMHO.
This thread had drifted into those with nice (I think) cars that they consider 'sheds' but most wouldn't. I know there's no value set in this thread but think £100s not £1000 + surely?!
If we're going by the PistonHeads definition of "shed", which I reckon we should be, given where this thread is located, one's shed should be worth no more than £1,500.This thread had drifted into those with nice (I think) cars that they consider 'sheds' but most wouldn't. I know there's no value set in this thread but think £100s not £1000 + surely?!
Being strict, that means if someone offered you £1,500 for the car, you'd chew their arm off.
If the limt is £1500 to happily walk away then I'm part of the club !!
I've a wee '09 2.0 TDI CR Passat Highline that's now sitting at 195k miles.
It's been in my care for 6 years now, by far the longest I've ever kept a car.
It's slowly evolved itself into a shed over the years as the big miles racked up and took their toll.
More recently, it's also been used as a builders van while fixing up the house, it's a steady little workhorse happily towing very heavy trailers.
Now it's a point were it has failed it's MOT (last year) and this one is looking ropey.
When do you call it a day and walk away ?
There are definitely some miles left in it, but how much do you put into it to eek the very last out of it.
The car requires an EGT Sensor for next MOT (£50-60ish).
Front Suspension is knocking - I suspect a front nearside wishbone bushing - but if I fix it, I'd want to do all the bushings + balljoints, left and right.
A new driverside front wing is also badly needed due to iron acne erroding it away - but not bad enough to fail MOT.
It's in dire need of a Timing Belt as I'm currently playing T-Belt Roulette (last changed 86K-ish !!).
I've done all work to this car myself and this is the one I fear the most and don't have the balls to tackle it myself.
Despite what some people think a car won't explode a few K over the recomended service period, however I definitely realise 100k is taking the pee.
Fellow shedder's where do I go from here ?
I've a wee '09 2.0 TDI CR Passat Highline that's now sitting at 195k miles.
It's been in my care for 6 years now, by far the longest I've ever kept a car.
It's slowly evolved itself into a shed over the years as the big miles racked up and took their toll.
More recently, it's also been used as a builders van while fixing up the house, it's a steady little workhorse happily towing very heavy trailers.
Now it's a point were it has failed it's MOT (last year) and this one is looking ropey.
When do you call it a day and walk away ?
There are definitely some miles left in it, but how much do you put into it to eek the very last out of it.
The car requires an EGT Sensor for next MOT (£50-60ish).
Front Suspension is knocking - I suspect a front nearside wishbone bushing - but if I fix it, I'd want to do all the bushings + balljoints, left and right.
A new driverside front wing is also badly needed due to iron acne erroding it away - but not bad enough to fail MOT.
It's in dire need of a Timing Belt as I'm currently playing T-Belt Roulette (last changed 86K-ish !!).
I've done all work to this car myself and this is the one I fear the most and don't have the balls to tackle it myself.
Despite what some people think a car won't explode a few K over the recomended service period, however I definitely realise 100k is taking the pee.
Fellow shedder's where do I go from here ?
RedFella90 said:
If the limt is £1500 to happily walk away then I'm part of the club !!
I've a wee '09 2.0 TDI CR Passat Highline that's now sitting at 195k miles.
It's been in my care for 6 years now, by far the longest I've ever kept a car.
It's slowly evolved itself into a shed over the years as the big miles racked up and took their toll.
More recently, it's also been used as a builders van while fixing up the house, it's a steady little workhorse happily towing very heavy trailers.
Now it's a point were it has failed it's MOT (last year) and this one is looking ropey.
When do you call it a day and walk away ?
There are definitely some miles left in it, but how much do you put into it to eek the very last out of it.
The car requires an EGT Sensor for next MOT (£50-60ish).
Front Suspension is knocking - I suspect a front nearside wishbone bushing - but if I fix it, I'd want to do all the bushings + balljoints, left and right.
A new driverside front wing is also badly needed due to iron acne erroding it away - but not bad enough to fail MOT.
It's in dire need of a Timing Belt as I'm currently playing T-Belt Roulette (last changed 86K-ish !!).
I've done all work to this car myself and this is the one I fear the most and don't have the balls to tackle it myself.
Despite what some people think a car won't explode a few K over the recomended service period, however I definitely realise 100k is taking the pee.
Fellow shedder's where do I go from here ?
The way I see it with shedding is, you know your car inside and out, would selling it for scrap, buying another shed, discovering it has more nasties lurking than your ex shed be more preferable? I've a wee '09 2.0 TDI CR Passat Highline that's now sitting at 195k miles.
It's been in my care for 6 years now, by far the longest I've ever kept a car.
It's slowly evolved itself into a shed over the years as the big miles racked up and took their toll.
More recently, it's also been used as a builders van while fixing up the house, it's a steady little workhorse happily towing very heavy trailers.
Now it's a point were it has failed it's MOT (last year) and this one is looking ropey.
When do you call it a day and walk away ?
There are definitely some miles left in it, but how much do you put into it to eek the very last out of it.
The car requires an EGT Sensor for next MOT (£50-60ish).
Front Suspension is knocking - I suspect a front nearside wishbone bushing - but if I fix it, I'd want to do all the bushings + balljoints, left and right.
A new driverside front wing is also badly needed due to iron acne erroding it away - but not bad enough to fail MOT.
It's in dire need of a Timing Belt as I'm currently playing T-Belt Roulette (last changed 86K-ish !!).
I've done all work to this car myself and this is the one I fear the most and don't have the balls to tackle it myself.
Despite what some people think a car won't explode a few K over the recomended service period, however I definitely realise 100k is taking the pee.
Fellow shedder's where do I go from here ?
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