The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[V6todayEVmanana]

Saw this at the tip early today.

Thought it proper shed usage with the tree tied to the roof.

Was the 5th MK1 Focus I noticed on the journey

[Salmonofdoubt]

STIfree said:

I bought another shed.


I didn't need another shed. I'm not sure if it is a shed in the traditional sense. But it was £500 and it's rough but runs right.


I used to own a Volvo 340 about 5 years ago but I was moving overseas so had to get rid of it. I sold it to my mate whos since modified it a lot and it currently has a supercharged 2.0 Renault engine, believed to be the only 340 to have one. Anyway, I've always missed the retro-ness and that same friend sent me a link for one on FB marketplace, 3 hours away for £500 on Monday. It took me about 4 minutes before I was on the phone to the seller and transferred over a deposit.

It'd been in daily use for the past 9 years, but had been parked up unused for the past 6 months. Toyed with getting it recovered with a trailer ect but in the end just went there with a few tools. It started up no problem and drove for 3 hours and 150 miles home without a hitch! Its 34 years old!

It's a 1.4, on 77k. It doesn't have a panel without surface rust on it. But then it doesn't have any issues that would hold you back from using it every day.

I'm well happy. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, or really why I needed it so badly. But it's here now and I regret nothing!




And a pic at the end of the day with the aforementioned supercharged 340 that I used to own. Rare to see one 340, nevermind 2 together!

Edited by STIfree on Sunday 14th June 21:34

Love it.

If you're not going to use it and want to move it on I know an idiot who could be tempted.

[PurpleTurtle]

Salmonofdoubt said:

STIfree said:

I bought another shed.


I didn't need another shed. I'm not sure if it is a shed in the traditional sense. But it was £500 and it's rough but runs right.


I used to own a Volvo 340 about 5 years ago but I was moving overseas so had to get rid of it. I sold it to my mate whos since modified it a lot and it currently has a supercharged 2.0 Renault engine, believed to be the only 340 to have one. Anyway, I've always missed the retro-ness and that same friend sent me a link for one on FB marketplace, 3 hours away for £500 on Monday. It took me about 4 minutes before I was on the phone to the seller and transferred over a deposit.

It'd been in daily use for the past 9 years, but had been parked up unused for the past 6 months. Toyed with getting it recovered with a trailer ect but in the end just went there with a few tools. It started up no problem and drove for 3 hours and 150 miles home without a hitch! Its 34 years old!

It's a 1.4, on 77k. It doesn't have a panel without surface rust on it. But then it doesn't have any issues that would hold you back from using it every day.

I'm well happy. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet, or really why I needed it so badly. But it's here now and I regret nothing!




And a pic at the end of the day with the aforementioned supercharged 340 that I used to own. Rare to see one 340, nevermind 2 together!

Edited by STIfree on Sunday 14th June 21:34

Love it.

If you're not going to use it and want to move it on I know an idiot who could be tempted.

Top shedding! I had a 340 Variomatic to get me through winter 1998, cot 400 quid. It saved me from freezing on a miserable motorbike commute. The least cool I've ever owned but would drift itsback end on demand, which was hilarious. I ended up loving it!

[greenarrow]

Jimmy Recard said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-GHIA-X-V6-6...HwAAOSw9u9e4N-b

I'm not in the market at the moment, but this looks like it would make a really nice shed for someone. I really do like it

Its a shame its not a Mk2 Mondeo V6. I was always put off the Mk3 V6 when Autocar road tests showed it offered very little performance advantages over a 2 litre petrol, but drank a whole lot more fuel. The Mk1 and Mk2 V6 however, were fairly rapid for their time and I always keep a look out for one.

[STIfree]

PurpleTurtle said:

Salmonofdoubt said:

Love it.

If you're not going to use it and want to move it on I know an idiot who could be tempted.

Top shedding! I had a 340 Variomatic to get me through winter 1998, cot 400 quid. It saved me from freezing on a miserable motorbike commute. The least cool I've ever owned but would drift itsback end on demand, which was hilarious. I ended up loving it!

No plans to get rid of it any time soon, I got the missus' approval after she drove it once and laughed her head off.

They're surprisingly well balanced, with the gear box being over the back end, so a roundabout in wet conditions can be great fun! My friend rolling roaded my old one with its standard 1.4 engine, came back at 29hp. That's the same one I experienced plenty of sideways action in

[anonymous-user]

martin mrt said:

Nissan Note DCi, averages over 70mpg, it’s mite until the end of the year, and is quite presentable. Albeit it requires a good wash.

All for the sum of £200

I don't really understand why the 1.5 DCi engine doesn't get more love, 60 mpg all day long and £30 annual road tax. Mine doesn't use any oil and was starting on only one glow plug for years until I by chance read the codes one day. I used to think they were rough from cold, but having four working glow plugs has transformed it.

Plus in a Renault they are generally unloved and can be picked up for peanuts.

[greenarrow]

V6todayEVmanana said:

STIfree said:

.
...
It'd been in daily use for the past 9 years, but had been parked up unused for the past 6 months. Toyed with getting it recovered with a trailer ect but in the end just went there with a few tools. It started up no problem and drove for 3 hours and 150 miles home without a hitch! Its 34 years old!
...

Good work there with your toolbox.
Another 6 years and it will be tax and ULEZ free I think, then an ultimate value daily.

Volvo looks good with yellow lens.

This takes me back to my dad's 340GL which I used to drive from time to time in the early - mid 1990s. I very nearly bought a 360 GLT in 1994, but settled instead for a Morris Traveller. Two pretty indestructible cars those two! Never see a 360GLT these days though....

[loskie]

mum had a 340 GL, B970XOS bought as an ex demo from the Galloway Motor Co in Newton Stewart

Had a distinctive noise from the gearbox when reversing. Funnily enough similar to my mums previous car a Renault 12 TL

[Blue Oval84]

greenarrow said:

Jimmy Recard said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-GHIA-X-V6-6...HwAAOSw9u9e4N-b

I'm not in the market at the moment, but this looks like it would make a really nice shed for someone. I really do like it

Its a shame its not a Mk2 Mondeo V6. I was always put off the Mk3 V6 when Autocar road tests showed it offered very little performance advantages over a 2 litre petrol, but drank a whole lot more fuel. The Mk1 and Mk2 V6 however, were fairly rapid for their time and I always keep a look out for one.

My experience was that in reality the V6 was a nicer engine overall, very smooth and lazy, with perfectly adequate poke (especially the 3.0) for most things, but yes, the rather more raucous 2.0 was probably a sweet spot for balancing economy and smoothness.

If I found myself back down at that end of the market I think I'd hunt out a 3.0 Titanium X. Less likely to have been thrashed than the equivalent ST.

[PostHeads123]

Had my now shed for 16 yrs was in tight carpark today and wacked the rear bumper on a pillar pushing it badly in. Fixed it when I got home by drilling hole into bumper and putting tent hook in hole (hook side in), and then on pulling tent hook looks 90% better, no body shop for me lol

[loskie]

does this look like a decent shed prospect?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/25139633...

thanks

[anonymous-user]

loskie said:

does this look like a decent shed prospect?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/25139633...

thanks

Had a D5 for a year, made an excellent (and bloody comfy) shed, literally in some cases given the amount you could fit in it .

Don’t know a lot about the 2.4, but I think they used the same (chocolate) auto boxes as the D5, so it’s good that that one is a manual.

This generation isn’t quite as reliable as Volvos of old but they aren’t bad, and another plus for shedding is that they just don’t rust!

Pretty easy to work on too if that’s your thing, servicing was a piece of piss. Check out SiRobb on YouTube for assistance.

[Bonefish Blues]

Yes, absolutely. It'd be better with the D5 (whose autoboxes are actually fine, IF owners ignored sealed for life messages from Volvo...) because the 2.4's pretty consumptive, but very reliable and quite refined.

The biggest outlay will likely be suspension components, which they're notably hard on.

[greenarrow]

loskie said:

does this look like a decent shed prospect?

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/25139633...

thanks

Definitely looks like a fine shed!

[NorthernSky]

Picked up this 1.7 tonne, 250hp 9-5 Aero over the weekend.

Install of a 15 quid FM/bluetooth receiver followed, so I'm now enjoying my sweet tunes in the comfort of those incredible leather seats and a 9-speaker Harmon/Kardon system...

950 quid and the seller kindly left me a huge barrel of ale in the boot!

Full SH, work done every year since its birth in 2002. New tyres, full MOT, good to go and it just completed a long 500 mile drive home with no issues and around 45mpg, SOMEHOW.

Will be pressed into service for more roadtrips, cruising to france post coronatimes and hauling my boat around to the sea. Pretty happy, it feels like it'll go on and on and on and on... Immense midrange power too.

Why anyone would PCP a modern car for hundreds a month is beyond me??? Throwing money away surely, when things like this can be bought for about 3% of the original 30k list price.

[STIfree]

Great looking cars, in my opinion, those 9-5's. The 3 spoke wheels look cool too.

Very left-field choice for most but they seem to be pretty solid cars. A friend owned one, petrol mind you, that was heavily modified and was a very capable thing. I want to say it was something like 400hp.

[tomble22]

NorthernSky said:

Picked up this 1.7 tonne, 250hp 9-5 Aero over the weekend.

Install of a 15 quid FM/bluetooth receiver followed, so I'm now enjoying my sweet tunes in the comfort of those incredible leather seats and a 9-speaker Harmon/Kardon system...

950 quid and the seller kindly left me a huge barrel of ale in the boot!

Full SH, work done every year since its birth in 2002. New tyres, full MOT, good to go and it just completed a long 500 mile drive home with no issues and around 45mpg, SOMEHOW.

Will be pressed into service for more roadtrips, cruising to france post coronatimes and hauling my boat around to the sea. Pretty happy, it feels like it'll go on and on and on and on... Immense midrange power too.

Why anyone would PCP a modern car for hundreds a month is beyond me??? Throwing money away surely, when things like this can be bought for about 3% of the original 30k list price.

Love that and agree with your PCP comment. The only thing I'd add to my current shed is a fun/weekend car at some point, but that would be shed value also.

[jamesson]

NorthernSky said:

Saab

That is absolutely awesome. What's the mileage?

Edited by jamesson on Tuesday 16th June 14:11

[JeremyH5]

PostHeads123 said:

Had my now shed for 16 yrs was in tight carpark today and wacked the rear bumper on a pillar pushing it badly in. Fixed it when I got home by drilling hole into bumper and putting tent hook in hole (hook side in), and then on pulling tent hook looks 90% better, no body shop for me lol

Winning!

[CX53]

NorthernSky said:

Why anyone would PCP a modern car for hundreds a month is beyond me??? Throwing money away surely, when things like this can be bought for about 3% of the original 30k list price.

Because, as the previous owner of 4 9-5's, to some people it isn't worth the hassle. You may find out what I mean, but hopefully you won't!

Looks lovely, enjoy.