I don't think I can do shedding/bangernomics

[mr_spock]

So, having sold my Maserati I looked for a cheap 4x4 to get around in for the next year or so. Before that "why a 4x4?" questions start, my wife finds higher up cars easier to get into, my daughter's going to a school was down some country roads, and I just fancied one.

Bought a £500 Grand Cherokee from eBay at the weekend, which runs really nicely and has all the toys, and they pretty much all work which is a bonus. However, I'm now starting to notice all the things I'd like to fix. I spent a couple of hours cleaning the interior, cost £0, which made it a nicer place to be since the PO's kids had spilled stuff in the back. So far then the fix list is:

Tailgate struts - it fell on my leg once already, and that was enough
Tailgate hinge - it's wobbly and squeaks, which drives me mad
Aircon, works a bit, so would spend up to £80 on that since I like aircon
MOT advisories on sundry front ball joints
MOT advisories on a couple of tyres - will run them for a while then maybe get some winter ones?
Rear shocks as it's a bit wobbly
ARB bushes too while I'm there

Then I look at repairing the plastic bumper as there are some jagged bits sticking out which I don't like, and painting the mirror housings, and the upper part of the tailgate... only a rattle can job, but still...

I know I'm going too far, but most of it feels like safety items and the total might be £200-£250, which gives me a £750 car I'm happy to drive.

Stupid or what? Can't help it though...

[nonuts]

mr_spock said:

I know I'm going too far, but most of it feels like safety items and the total might be £200-£250, which gives me a £750 car I'm happy to drive.

Stupid or what? Can't help it though...

Don't think that's stupid at all, if for £750 it's something you want to drive then why not? I'm probably going to end up spending far too much on my M5 on the little things that annoy me. I've already wasted £80 on a replacement arm rest which isn't going to do the job I wanted.

[richardxjr]

Looks like you're already going down the diy/partworns/scrappy parts route, so that's not a lot of money to make it a bit tidier

[valiant]

Spend the £250 and you'll probably get it all back (if not more) when you sell.

Aim to sell just before winter and you may even make a profit.

[Garvin]

£750 and you'll have a car you'll be happy with, runs nicely with air con ........... seems like sensible 'bangernomics' to me!

[Eighteeteewhy]

You're not doing it right. A roll of the magic silver tape will solve most if the problems.

[Vince70]

I think your doing the right thing myself if you like the car and its reliable especially if you plan on keeping it.

I have two sheds at the moment and don't mind spending a few quid to keep them in tip top condition.

Afterall apart from the rattle cans which will cost no more than £20 everything else is preventative maintenance.

[_Batty_]

I know someone who is breaking a zj grand. Includes 4 BFG tyres. Just shout if you need anything.

[Astra Dan]

If YOUR enjoying it, I don't see what's wrong with that.

Also, if YOUR paying more than £50 for an air-con service, YOUR paying too much.

[StuartGGray]

mr_spock said:

So, having sold my Maserati I looked for a cheap 4x4 to get around in for the next year or so. Before that "why a 4x4?" questions start, my wife finds higher up cars easier to get into, my daughter's going to a school was down some country roads, and I just fancied one.

Bought a £500 Grand Cherokee from eBay at the weekend, which runs really nicely and has all the toys, and they pretty much all work which is a bonus. However, I'm now starting to notice all the things I'd like to fix. I spent a couple of hours cleaning the interior, cost £0, which made it a nicer place to be since the PO's kids had spilled stuff in the back. So far then the fix list is:

Tailgate struts - it fell on my leg once already, and that was enough
Tailgate hinge - it's wobbly and squeaks, which drives me mad
Aircon, works a bit, so would spend up to £80 on that since I like aircon
MOT advisories on sundry front ball joints
MOT advisories on a couple of tyres - will run them for a while then maybe get some winter ones?
Rear shocks as it's a bit wobbly
ARB bushes too while I'm there

Then I look at repairing the plastic bumper as there are some jagged bits sticking out which I don't like, and painting the mirror housings, and the upper part of the tailgate... only a rattle can job, but still...

I know I'm going too far, but most of it feels like safety items and the total might be £200-£250, which gives me a £750 car I'm happy to drive.

Stupid or what? Can't help it though...

Tailgate struts - Cheap from scrappy
Tailgate hinge - oil and possibly a hammer and punch to tighten it
Aircon - as you say up to £80 since we like aircon
MOT advisories on sundry front ball joints
MOT advisories on a couple of tyres - will run them for a while then maybe get some winter ones?
Rear shocks - only if they are showing a leak
ARB bushes - look at control/swing arm bushes too, may cure the wobble.

[Rovinghawk]

Astra Dan said:

If YOUR enjoying it, I don't see what's wrong with that.

The spelling. HTH

RH

[mr_spock]

_Batty_ said:

I know someone who is breaking a zj grand. Includes 4 BFG tyres. Just shout if you need anything.

Thanks! YHM...

So far I've bought the tailgate struts from eBay, £35 a pair, but I've now seen how cheap Rock Auto is so I may well get everything else from there!

Will add some pics soon if anyone's interested.

[balls-out]

Tailgate struts - it fell on my leg once already, and that was enough
Use a broom handle

Tailgate hinge - it's wobbly and squeaks, which drives me mad
ear plugs

Aircon, works a bit, so would spend up to £80 on that since I like aircon
open the window

MOT advisories on sundry front ball joints
advisories - aka it might still pass next year if Im lucky.

MOT advisories on a couple of tyres - will run them for a while then maybe get some winter ones?
big 4x4 tyre wear slowly - put off as long as possible

Rear shocks as it's a bit wobbly
enjoy the boating sensation

ARB bushes too while I'm there
see above

Then I look at repairing the plastic bumper as there are some jagged bits sticking out which I don't like, and painting the mirror housings, and the upper part of the tailgate... only a rattle can job, but still...
As posted - tank tape.


There saved you a few quid, bangernomics style

[mr_spock]

balls-out said:

Tailgate struts - it fell on my leg once already, and that was enough
Use a broom handle

Tailgate hinge - it's wobbly and squeaks, which drives me mad
ear plugs

Aircon, works a bit, so would spend up to £80 on that since I like aircon
open the window

MOT advisories on sundry front ball joints
advisories - aka it might still pass next year if Im lucky.

MOT advisories on a couple of tyres - will run them for a while then maybe get some winter ones?
big 4x4 tyre wear slowly - put off as long as possible

Rear shocks as it's a bit wobbly
enjoy the boating sensation

ARB bushes too while I'm there
see above

Then I look at repairing the plastic bumper as there are some jagged bits sticking out which I don't like, and painting the mirror housings, and the upper part of the tailgate... only a rattle can job, but still...
As posted - tank tape.


There saved you a few quid, bangernomics style

Um, thanks! I kind of assumed you were joking, but just in case

Broom handle - tried that, too short and nowhere to brace it.
Ear plugs - not a bad idea, but can't hear the radio!
Opening the window/sunroof - fine unless it's actually hot outside. I was surprised at how hot the black leather gets, doing that in a suit will be just horrible.
Yes, it may pass another MOT, but I don't mind changing them now since the weather's OK. MOT is up in Feb, which may be a bit miserable to get under a car, so I'd end up paying someone else.
Tyres - agree, I might see if I can get a cheap set of wheels from a breaker to put other tyres on. Since this was the point of the 4x4 it would be silly to not do it!
Don't like the boating sensation...
Tank tape - could do, but 30 mins with a soldering iron should sort the bumper and the rest is just paint, no repairs needed

[garethj]

It's not bangernomics, but it's still a very cheap way to run a car you enjoy. I'd call that a win

[aw51 121565]

mr_spock said:

Um, thanks! I kind of assumed you were joking, but just in case

Broom handle - tried that, too short and nowhere to brace it.

...

No, he's not joking - I use a broom handle to keep my 309's hatchback open . It's not long enough so I just don't have the hatch fully open .

You could always use a new broom, with the brush bit on the floor, and rest the open hatchback/tailgate on it? Or get some wood - a suitable long piece and some scraps for the top and bottom from B&Q/Wickes/local DIY shoppe - and nail/screw them together and use this combo to keep it open?

I'm not joking .

[kambites]

If you reckon you can sort it all out for £250, that sounds worth doing to me. It's when you start spending many times what the car cost that you've got it really wrong.

Not sure about the dampers though - it's a Jeep, it's meant to be wobbly.

[longblackcoat]

kambites said:

If you reckon you can sort it all out for £250, that sounds worth doing to me. It's when you start spending many times what the car cost that you've got it really wrong.

Always a tough one.

If you've a 250k 2003 Passat worth, say, £750, is it worth doing, say, a £250 brake overhaul (pads/discs/fluid change)? Arguable, because it's one-third of the value of the car. And if the turbo goes, you'll spend pretty much the entire car's value on the repair, so that's a definite no.

On the other hand, if your 250k Passat is in otherwise excellent condition, and you're going to drive it for a further 50k+ miles, maybe getting that turbo fixed is a good idea. And selling a £750 car with a blown turbo will net you only scrap value, so you'll get some value for the work done.

Personally, I buy cars with high mileages which are still quite young, and maintain them to pretty much showroom condition (at least mechanically - I never even wash my cars, so the odd parking dink on the doors will be left alone) so that I always have the option of keeping them pretty much ad infinitum. Obviously a £5000 gearbox on a £1000 Audi A8 would be a deal-breaker, but spending a decent amount on maintenance/refurbishment is something I'm prepared to do; it's either that or piss money away on depreciation.

[CampDavid]

Contrary to what some in this thread seem to believe, there isn't any hard and fast rules on banganomics, the concept is to run a banger, cheaply and enjoyably.

I've bought a whole load of worthless cars in the past which I've run with varying levels of financial care.

Spend what you want on it, if you blow £500 a year on it and it stays nice then you've got a good deal.

[mr_spock]

Thanks for all views, it's made me think.

I've got a used rear light to replace the taped-up one, the gas struts on order (my wife wouldn't manage with a broom), will get the aircon done then stop and drive it for a while. Since my Maserati sold yesterday I'll use the Jeep through the winter and if I still like it I may do the suspension overhaul then.

Still will look for cheap wheels/tyres and do a bit of paint tarting up, but that's because I enjoy it.