The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
rxe said:
tomble22 said:
Has anybody run an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD as a shed?
I've recently decided to alter my work situation which will result in me doing quite a few more miles than I do now. Hence I'm going to sell the Panda 100hp and get something a bit bigger etc.
This has popped up local to me, good history, tidy enough, has a Traction control fault but i can sort that out myself, long MOT up for £750, and i really fancy an Alfa. Realistically at £650 say, I think it's worth a go!
Ignoring the obvious stereotypes around reliability, is there anything in particular about these that needs some thought?
And if anyone is after a Panda 100hp, let me know!
Of course, see here:I've recently decided to alter my work situation which will result in me doing quite a few more miles than I do now. Hence I'm going to sell the Panda 100hp and get something a bit bigger etc.
This has popped up local to me, good history, tidy enough, has a Traction control fault but i can sort that out myself, long MOT up for £750, and i really fancy an Alfa. Realistically at £650 say, I think it's worth a go!
Ignoring the obvious stereotypes around reliability, is there anything in particular about these that needs some thought?
And if anyone is after a Panda 100hp, let me know!
https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Edited by rxe on Wednesday 17th February 16:37
Smart enough. Wouldn't fancy one instead of an E90 3 Series though.
rxe said:
tomble22 said:
Has anybody run an Alfa 156 2.4 JTD as a shed?
I've recently decided to alter my work situation which will result in me doing quite a few more miles than I do now. Hence I'm going to sell the Panda 100hp and get something a bit bigger etc.
This has popped up local to me, good history, tidy enough, has a Traction control fault but i can sort that out myself, long MOT up for £750, and i really fancy an Alfa. Realistically at £650 say, I think it's worth a go!
Ignoring the obvious stereotypes around reliability, is there anything in particular about these that needs some thought?
And if anyone is after a Panda 100hp, let me know!
Of course, see here:I've recently decided to alter my work situation which will result in me doing quite a few more miles than I do now. Hence I'm going to sell the Panda 100hp and get something a bit bigger etc.
This has popped up local to me, good history, tidy enough, has a Traction control fault but i can sort that out myself, long MOT up for £750, and i really fancy an Alfa. Realistically at £650 say, I think it's worth a go!
Ignoring the obvious stereotypes around reliability, is there anything in particular about these that needs some thought?
And if anyone is after a Panda 100hp, let me know!
https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Edited by rxe on Wednesday 17th February 16:37
rxe said:
Of course, see here:
https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Yeah, if I had the time I would have probably sorted it out, but with a 2 year old and starting a new business I'm a bit short on that at the moment. I should have gone with my head before I bought it!! https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Edited by rxe on Wednesday 17th February 16:37
tomble22 said:
Because, today i went out and bought another shed!!
A 2006 Honda Civic i-CDTi in that grey gold colour, 120,000 miles on the clock, MOT until October. Relatively clean and tidy for the princely sum of £600!
I turned up to view it in a car park opposite the chaps house in the beat up Alfa (which is still there as i couldn't get a lift over earlier), proceeded to do my usual shed checks (yeah, looks ok), drove it round the car park a couple of times (drives very much like a small version of my Accord Tourer funnily enough) and transferred the money in a heartbeat.
A humorous thing occurred during the transaction. I opened the oil cap while the engine was running, as you do, and felt a spit of oil come towards me. Didn't think anything of it. As it happened the bank transfer took about 25 minutes to go through (cue us sitting the car awkwardly waiting for the money to go across). After about 15 minutes i happened to catch myself in the mirror....I had oil all over my bloody face, and he didn't even tell me!!
Anyway, a new shed experience begins.....I'm sticking with Honda from now on!!
I had that engine in a 140K 54 reg accord. It was great. Until it seized. I guess failing to change the oil very often took its toll/toil. A 2006 Honda Civic i-CDTi in that grey gold colour, 120,000 miles on the clock, MOT until October. Relatively clean and tidy for the princely sum of £600!
I turned up to view it in a car park opposite the chaps house in the beat up Alfa (which is still there as i couldn't get a lift over earlier), proceeded to do my usual shed checks (yeah, looks ok), drove it round the car park a couple of times (drives very much like a small version of my Accord Tourer funnily enough) and transferred the money in a heartbeat.
A humorous thing occurred during the transaction. I opened the oil cap while the engine was running, as you do, and felt a spit of oil come towards me. Didn't think anything of it. As it happened the bank transfer took about 25 minutes to go through (cue us sitting the car awkwardly waiting for the money to go across). After about 15 minutes i happened to catch myself in the mirror....I had oil all over my bloody face, and he didn't even tell me!!
Anyway, a new shed experience begins.....I'm sticking with Honda from now on!!
tomble22 said:
I should have gone with my head before I bought it!!
I thought one of the conditions of purchasing an Alfa was that you do so by following your heart and not your head?I wouldn't feel too bad about it... you win some, you lose some. I guess it's just a personal choice, some sheddists may wish to bring it back up a touch, others might stick with it regardless, and others still choose to punt on.
It's all part of the (sometimes expensive) fun!
Mistakes happen, they are part of life, we've all done it I'm sure. My worst was a Sierra estate that I bought in the dark as a naive 25 year old that turned out to be 2 different cars welded together, seller knew young children were being transported in it but had absolutely no conscience.
Now I'm a lot older and I hope wiser I do the same checks on a 15 year old car that I would on a 3 year old car and have no problem whatsoever in speaking my mind if it's a heap of junk or just walking away. After all it may only be in the £400 to £800 bracket but I've still worked hard for that money and I'm not going to just throw it away.
I couldn't care less about dings or scrapes, I just figure that if it already comes with them it saves the other half the bother of doing it herself as she inevitably will. As long as its relatively rust free and mechanically sound and doesn't reveal any major horror stories on the MOT checker then I'm ok with it.
Now I'm a lot older and I hope wiser I do the same checks on a 15 year old car that I would on a 3 year old car and have no problem whatsoever in speaking my mind if it's a heap of junk or just walking away. After all it may only be in the £400 to £800 bracket but I've still worked hard for that money and I'm not going to just throw it away.
I couldn't care less about dings or scrapes, I just figure that if it already comes with them it saves the other half the bother of doing it herself as she inevitably will. As long as its relatively rust free and mechanically sound and doesn't reveal any major horror stories on the MOT checker then I'm ok with it.
Sorry about the Alfa.
But really there is no way to know. I buy cars all the time, and to a certain extent a decent bloke = a decent car. But it's not always true, and the reverse is not always true either.
I've bought some right howlers. Bought a 207 from a nice enough bloke - some knocking on the suspension, and blows a bit of smoke on start up. Didn't pay much for it, but the engine was missing compression on 1 cylinder. hence the smoke.
So it's very normal to buy some dross with the gold.
But really there is no way to know. I buy cars all the time, and to a certain extent a decent bloke = a decent car. But it's not always true, and the reverse is not always true either.
I've bought some right howlers. Bought a 207 from a nice enough bloke - some knocking on the suspension, and blows a bit of smoke on start up. Didn't pay much for it, but the engine was missing compression on 1 cylinder. hence the smoke.
So it's very normal to buy some dross with the gold.
SpeckledJim said:
Famous for being an estate with a boot less capacious than the saloon version, aren't they?
Smart enough. Wouldn't fancy one instead of an E90 3 Series though.
I wouldn’t be seen dead in a 3 series. Which is good news for both of us - you can get cheap 3-ers and I can get cheap Alfas and we won’t be bidding against each other! Smart enough. Wouldn't fancy one instead of an E90 3 Series though.
tomble22 said:
Well, there is a moral to the story of the Alfa Romeo......don't buy a car in the dark and the rain, and go with your gut!!
Went down to view it and looked round it with a torch....seemed ok, few marks here and there. Got in, looked ok, bit grubby but nothing major. Gearknob spins round....started it up, sounded a bit tractor like......drove it down the road, bit of a clunk from the front end......oooooh, lots of power.......would you take £650 mate.....ok!!
Anyway, went out to have a look this morning, bodywork is pretty crap, both bumpers need a respray, patches of peeling lacquer all over, bit of rust on the arches and along the top of the windscreen, interior is absolutely stinking and to top it off i drove it to a site in Newquay (about 20 miles of A road and it averaged 22mpg.
So, it's going again, I've got someone coming to see it tomorrow and will let it go for scrap if needs be. After buying way too many cars previously you would think I'd have learnt my lesson!!
But, here doth not the new shed experience end......
Sorry to hear that Tom, the Honda looks like a good one thoughWent down to view it and looked round it with a torch....seemed ok, few marks here and there. Got in, looked ok, bit grubby but nothing major. Gearknob spins round....started it up, sounded a bit tractor like......drove it down the road, bit of a clunk from the front end......oooooh, lots of power.......would you take £650 mate.....ok!!
Anyway, went out to have a look this morning, bodywork is pretty crap, both bumpers need a respray, patches of peeling lacquer all over, bit of rust on the arches and along the top of the windscreen, interior is absolutely stinking and to top it off i drove it to a site in Newquay (about 20 miles of A road and it averaged 22mpg.
So, it's going again, I've got someone coming to see it tomorrow and will let it go for scrap if needs be. After buying way too many cars previously you would think I'd have learnt my lesson!!
But, here doth not the new shed experience end......
Thanks all, i'm not too worried, out of the 50 odd cars i've had only a couple of been a mistake so it's not that bad, and if i end up losing a couple of hundred quid it's not the end of the world.....I tend to just get carried away sometimes!!
I'm not too worried about cosmetics generally, but it is pretty ropey. And then just little things like the gearknob is all loose and has been sprayed up badly, i think it might need an engine mount of dogbone mount as there is a lot of movement when pulling away etc etc. You'd end up just chucking money at it and still having a bit of a dog.
Anyway, onwards and upwards!! The only annoyance with the Civic so far is you have to put the key in the ignition but then press the start button to start it. I've tried turning the key to start it everytime so far!!
I'm not too worried about cosmetics generally, but it is pretty ropey. And then just little things like the gearknob is all loose and has been sprayed up badly, i think it might need an engine mount of dogbone mount as there is a lot of movement when pulling away etc etc. You'd end up just chucking money at it and still having a bit of a dog.
Anyway, onwards and upwards!! The only annoyance with the Civic so far is you have to put the key in the ignition but then press the start button to start it. I've tried turning the key to start it everytime so far!!
rxe said:
Of course, see here:
https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Just read that thread, what a great car!https://www.alfaowner.com/threads/diesel-dogwagon-...
Mine is a good old fashioned 10v, which I like because they are very analogue and simple. Per the thread, the only real problem with these is floor pan rust.
Seeing your update - body work is just bodywork. Clonk from the front is probably an upper arm (£40 easy). Nice leather interior is easy on eBay. The real problem is that making them sharp again involves doing the sort of work I did to mine. At 15 years old, they are all a bit baggy and knackered.
Edited by rxe on Wednesday 17th February 16:37
tomble22 said:
Well, there is a moral to the story of the Alfa Romeo......don't buy a car in the dark and the rain, and go with your gut!!
Went down to view it and looked round it with a torch....seemed ok, few marks here and there. Got in, looked ok, bit grubby but nothing major. Gearknob spins round....started it up, sounded a bit tractor like......drove it down the road, bit of a clunk from the front end......oooooh, lots of power.......would you take £650 mate.....ok!!
Anyway, went out to have a look this morning, bodywork is pretty crap, both bumpers need a respray, patches of peeling lacquer all over, bit of rust on the arches and along the top of the windscreen, interior is absolutely stinking and to top it off i drove it to a site in Newquay (about 20 miles of A road and it averaged 22mpg.
So, it's going again, I've got someone coming to see it tomorrow and will let it go for scrap if needs be. After buying way too many cars previously you would think I'd have learnt my lesson!!
But, here doth not the new shed experience end......
Sorry if I missed it, but what is wrong with your Accord?Went down to view it and looked round it with a torch....seemed ok, few marks here and there. Got in, looked ok, bit grubby but nothing major. Gearknob spins round....started it up, sounded a bit tractor like......drove it down the road, bit of a clunk from the front end......oooooh, lots of power.......would you take £650 mate.....ok!!
Anyway, went out to have a look this morning, bodywork is pretty crap, both bumpers need a respray, patches of peeling lacquer all over, bit of rust on the arches and along the top of the windscreen, interior is absolutely stinking and to top it off i drove it to a site in Newquay (about 20 miles of A road and it averaged 22mpg.
So, it's going again, I've got someone coming to see it tomorrow and will let it go for scrap if needs be. After buying way too many cars previously you would think I'd have learnt my lesson!!
But, here doth not the new shed experience end......
mercedeslimos said:
Just read that thread, what a great car!
Thanks!It is bloody brilliant, and it has just passed another MOT. It’s comfortable, economical, handles well, and goes like a scalded cat when provoked. I’ve got a meth injection setup for it, which I need to find time to fit. I really do struggle with working out what else is needed in a car.
SpeckledJim said:
Famous for being an estate with a boot less capacious than the saloon version, aren't they?
I think that's just a quirk of measuring the volumes up the window line. Ignoring the boot volume numbers, the estate is clearly a more useful and practical body shape, and also happens to look great 
Speaking of making mistakes, I made my worst so far, a few months ago.
Saw this '06 Mondeo 1.8 LX on AutoTrader, I think it was up for £325 but I paid £300. Misfire.
I knew about the 1.8 having coil pack issues, so I gambled on it.
I didn't really look it over properly and when I had a proper look at it at home (having already ordered a replacement coil pack which didn't fix the problem) I realised that the exhaust sounded strange for a misfire, and lo and behold it was sucking as well as blowing (stop it).
I diagnosed it as a burnt exhaust valve
So I took some bits of it and scrapped it, getting about £150 back.
It was a shame, as it was a nice car other than that... I imagine someone here will have seen the advert when it was up.
Saw this '06 Mondeo 1.8 LX on AutoTrader, I think it was up for £325 but I paid £300. Misfire.
I knew about the 1.8 having coil pack issues, so I gambled on it.
I didn't really look it over properly and when I had a proper look at it at home (having already ordered a replacement coil pack which didn't fix the problem) I realised that the exhaust sounded strange for a misfire, and lo and behold it was sucking as well as blowing (stop it).
I diagnosed it as a burnt exhaust valve
So I took some bits of it and scrapped it, getting about £150 back.It was a shame, as it was a nice car other than that... I imagine someone here will have seen the advert when it was up.
OllieJolly said:
Speaking of making mistakes, I made my worst so far, a few months ago.
Saw this '06 Mondeo 1.8 LX on AutoTrader, I think it was up for £325 but I paid £300. Misfire.
I knew about the 1.8 having coil pack issues, so I gambled on it.
I didn't really look it over properly and when I had a proper look at it at home (having already ordered a replacement coil pack which didn't fix the problem) I realised that the exhaust sounded strange for a misfire, and lo and behold it was sucking as well as blowing (stop it).
I diagnosed it as a burnt exhaust valve So I took some bits of it and scrapped it, getting about £150 back.
It was a shame, as it was a nice car other than that... I imagine someone here will have seen the advert when it was up.
The Alhambra camper is still my worst. £400 car that I ended up around £1200 into and scrapped for £400. Saw this '06 Mondeo 1.8 LX on AutoTrader, I think it was up for £325 but I paid £300. Misfire.
I knew about the 1.8 having coil pack issues, so I gambled on it.
I didn't really look it over properly and when I had a proper look at it at home (having already ordered a replacement coil pack which didn't fix the problem) I realised that the exhaust sounded strange for a misfire, and lo and behold it was sucking as well as blowing (stop it).
I diagnosed it as a burnt exhaust valve
So I took some bits of it and scrapped it, getting about £150 back.It was a shame, as it was a nice car other than that... I imagine someone here will have seen the advert when it was up.
Tony427 said:
EthanSmale said:
Can anyone recommend a good old skool type exhaust guy in the West Midlands?
The car is only 6 years old but some previous poor welds on a broken bracket have left it worse now it has broken again. Having looked at it, I think the right kind of garage would be able to do something about it but the garage they've been to already just said "get a new exhaust system from the dealership and we will fit it"
Alternatively I have found a bracket on AutoDoc that is designed to do this but AutoDoc seems to be the only supplied for it and it could be weeks away
Or if anyone knows another supplier, this is the item:
Hey, check out HJS Holding Bracket, silencer in the AUTODOC app https://m.autodoc.co.uk/hjs/10265989
Picture 1 is the rusty original example and picture 2 is the item I want to find!
GT Exhausts on Northgate in Aldridge, West Midlands. major exhaust and exhaust componentry supplier. The car is only 6 years old but some previous poor welds on a broken bracket have left it worse now it has broken again. Having looked at it, I think the right kind of garage would be able to do something about it but the garage they've been to already just said "get a new exhaust system from the dealership and we will fit it"
Alternatively I have found a bracket on AutoDoc that is designed to do this but AutoDoc seems to be the only supplied for it and it could be weeks away
Or if anyone knows another supplier, this is the item:
Hey, check out HJS Holding Bracket, silencer in the AUTODOC app https://m.autodoc.co.uk/hjs/10265989
Picture 1 is the rusty original example and picture 2 is the item I want to find!
Edited by EthanSmale on Friday 12th February 13:54
They have a trade counter, are as cheap as chips, and no doubt have all that you will need. In fact I think I bought something very similar for my Merc there. Do you actually need the full assembly, incuding the rubber car mounted part or will the bit with the two u clamps that bolts onto the exhaust do on its own.
If its the latter they will definitely have something to fit the bill.
i bought my 2007 2.2 ex cdti civic, for £11K with 10000 miles on it in 2008
its 2021 now and its got 180,000 miles on it (only managed 3000miles during covid 2020) worth next to nothing . but everything just works these are genuinely built to last and a honda forum will tell you to fix the faults yourself
One recommendation if new is to get honda to service it and do all the recalls but avoid all the brakes and tyre thread is low.
I last had it serviced over 3 years ago (oil change) and just do the top ups when the light comes on. Mot have generally sailed thru, except the lost 2 where a shock absorber leaked and springs the other year.
If i were to ever sell it it drives much better than a £7000 car but without the price tag , These are built to last. i have friends at work with Peugeots , Vaux, Mondeos who are always at garages getting their cars issues sorted. Oh the battery went last year, which was a little hassle as the garages were saying the batteries fine. Local Mechanic gave some free advise and said 90% of the time its the battery and it was
its 2021 now and its got 180,000 miles on it (only managed 3000miles during covid 2020) worth next to nothing . but everything just works these are genuinely built to last and a honda forum will tell you to fix the faults yourself
One recommendation if new is to get honda to service it and do all the recalls but avoid all the brakes and tyre thread is low.
I last had it serviced over 3 years ago (oil change) and just do the top ups when the light comes on. Mot have generally sailed thru, except the lost 2 where a shock absorber leaked and springs the other year.
If i were to ever sell it it drives much better than a £7000 car but without the price tag , These are built to last. i have friends at work with Peugeots , Vaux, Mondeos who are always at garages getting their cars issues sorted. Oh the battery went last year, which was a little hassle as the garages were saying the batteries fine. Local Mechanic gave some free advise and said 90% of the time its the battery and it was
tomble22 said:
Because, today i went out and bought another shed!!
A 2006 Honda Civic i-CDTi in that grey gold colour, 120,000 miles on the clock, MOT until October. Relatively clean and tidy for the princely sum of £600!
I turned up to view it in a car park opposite the chaps house in the beat up Alfa (which is still there as i couldn't get a lift over earlier), proceeded to do my usual shed checks (yeah, looks ok), drove it round the car park a couple of times (drives very much like a small version of my Accord Tourer funnily enough) and transferred the money in a heartbeat.
A humorous thing occurred during the transaction. I opened the oil cap while the engine was running, as you do, and felt a spit of oil come towards me. Didn't think anything of it. As it happened the bank transfer took about 25 minutes to go through (cue us sitting the car awkwardly waiting for the money to go across). After about 15 minutes i happened to catch myself in the mirror....I had oil all over my bloody face, and he didn't even tell me!!
Anyway, a new shed experience begins.....I'm sticking with Honda from now on!!
A 2006 Honda Civic i-CDTi in that grey gold colour, 120,000 miles on the clock, MOT until October. Relatively clean and tidy for the princely sum of £600!
I turned up to view it in a car park opposite the chaps house in the beat up Alfa (which is still there as i couldn't get a lift over earlier), proceeded to do my usual shed checks (yeah, looks ok), drove it round the car park a couple of times (drives very much like a small version of my Accord Tourer funnily enough) and transferred the money in a heartbeat.
A humorous thing occurred during the transaction. I opened the oil cap while the engine was running, as you do, and felt a spit of oil come towards me. Didn't think anything of it. As it happened the bank transfer took about 25 minutes to go through (cue us sitting the car awkwardly waiting for the money to go across). After about 15 minutes i happened to catch myself in the mirror....I had oil all over my bloody face, and he didn't even tell me!!
Anyway, a new shed experience begins.....I'm sticking with Honda from now on!!
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