whats a nice car to work on banger wise

[lindopski]

Any recommends for a nice car for the home mechanic,anything bangerwise . Knocking around the 10+ year age.
This Rover 75 diesel is a bh haha . Nice car though.

[LuS1fer]

Golf Mk III is simple enough.

[Fleckers]

something petrol
with out all the electronic gizmos would be a start, maybe something fron korea ?

[sprocketman01]

Beemer e30/e36 e34/e39?

[HustleRussell]

I 'up-graded' from a 2003 Mondeo TDCI to a 1996 BMW 525i, comparatively the Beemer is a pleasure to work on thanks to it's design and FR layout (longitudinal engine).

[HustleRussell]

sprocketman01 said:

Beemer e30/e36 e34/e39?

Yep! Although the E39 has the more complicated CAN-BUS electronics than the others.

[lindopski]

My cousin loves the e30's - always doing something to his.
Back in the day you had your herald which was a right piece of cake but these modern things are chock full of electronic madness. Is this slave cylinder on the inside a new idea, I thought they used to be outside - think this rover ones leaking and its a gearbox off job :-P

[M4cruiser]

Skoda Favorit.

No contest.

[Eighteeteewhy]

MX-5

[blearyeyedboy]

I see your Favorit and raise you my old E11 Corolla (the bug-eye one).

It's the ultimate in car-as-domestic-appliance. It handles like one too. But it's tough, reliable and as easy to work on as Lego.

[fat freddie]

The pre'99 Volvo S/V 70s are fairly straightforward for a modern EFI/cat/emissions sensors car, just stay away from the later ones with the troublesome ETM (Volvo's equivalent of the K series HGF of doom)and you should be able to sort most things on it yourself with a decent toolkit and a basic code reader.

[g3org3y]

E36 3er. I actually prefer working on it compared to the E30.

[Polariz]

The original mini.

[anarki]

Agreed on the Golf Mk3 being easy to work on. I had a 1994, 1.4 L model (bare basic) and I replaced the starter motor in 15 minutes, thermostat/coolant housing in 25 minutes, front brake pads and discs in less than an hour, all with the a trolley jack, axle stand and basic tools.

Luckily though the engine in mine was the ABD engine meaning the starter motor has 3 bolts at the back of the engine and easily accessible

[Jam Spavlin]

Ford fiesta upto 2002 sod all to em!

[Robb F]

106

[Faust66]

fat freddie said:

The pre'99 Volvo S/V 70s are fairly straightforward for a modern EFI/cat/emissions sensors car, just stay away from the later ones with the troublesome ETM (Volvo's equivalent of the K series HGF of doom)and you should be able to sort most things on it yourself with a decent toolkit and a basic code reader.

This.

I do servicing and/or other work as and when required on my girlfriend's 1999 V70 and it's a pretty easy car to work on. There is not a vast amount of room in the engine bay (2.5 5 pot) but it's not too bad. From what I've read on the Volvo owners club forumn, I'd stay far, far away from anything fitted with the ETM system.

[tex200]

Volvo 240 - nothing is difficult.

[DrTre]

tex200 said:

Volvo 240 - nothing is difficult.

Similarly, 900 classic.

[RWD cossie wil]

Key points to look for:

Rear wheel drive
Not French
Petrol
Pre electronic age

Simple & cheap parts is the key.