Do PHers still practice bangernomics?

[Davie]

Still going well here too... this month marks three years since I bought my V70 and have racked up 30k faultless miles (and 17 countries!) in that time though of late, it's seen less use as I've just bought a cheap V50 diesel with biblical miles that is now happily doing 60mpg which is a nice change from the V70 and err... 20mpg... I have got the old V70 up for sale but I can't bring myself to part with it. Of all the cars, it's the one that's been the least hassle, cost next to nothing to keep it going and the only one that feels that it'd go through a nuclear war and come out the other side unphased. It's surplus to our needs just now, but it can sit in the garage under a cover (and a pile of furniture) until it's needed again.

[Perseverant]

Never had the money or the inclination to do anything but run so called "bangers". Lots of Saabs in the past, along with my faithful 2CV (rolled it and back on the road in a week). Current 190e cost £1400 in 2005 and is still going fine. My daughter ran a Focus for a year or so, cost £600, gave it up when she moved and gave it to me to sell - minor repairs, brake overhaul, new MOT and a neighbour gave £800 for it based on my reputation as a car nut, advisor and fixer!

[Banfield]

Paid £650 for this 9-5 Aero a year ago. Put some decent tyres on the front, gave it a service. Passed MOT first time. Last owner had it since 2003, & its only done 112k with loads of bills, history etc. Reckon these have bottomed out price wise now.url]|https://thumbsnap.com/VezvGAlL[/url]

[Backtobasics]

I really hate bangernomics, its completely changed my mindset on cars. I was merrily spending large sums of cash on cars to drive relatively short distances. Then I got made redundant and thought it would be sensible to get some cash together just in case things didn't go well (thankfully they have gone better than I could have hoped).

So I started looking at civic type r's, clio 182's and cars of that type so I can do some track days if work was slow.
Completely out of left field a fellow Pistonheader was looking to offload his 523i touring, unusual spec, auto, pano roof and cloth. Certainly not on the considered list, but this would be a 3rd hand pistonheads car and the other 2 had looked after it like you'd expect, and the price was too good to ignore.

So I was in this for around 7% of the car I was selling, he chucked in winters, roofrack, full tank of fuel to get back up the M1, fluid change. I genuinely cant get out of it, its too good for the price. 2 MOT's in and still cracking on.

[Benjijames28]

Backtobasics said:

I really hate bangernomics, its completely changed my mindset on cars. I was merrily spending large sums of cash on cars to drive relatively short distances. Then I got made redundant and thought it would be sensible to get some cash together just in case things didn't go well (thankfully they have gone better than I could have hoped).

So I started looking at civic type r's, clio 182's and cars of that type so I can do some track days if work was slow.
Completely out of left field a fellow Pistonheader was looking to offload his 523i touring, unusual spec, auto, pano roof and cloth. Certainly not on the considered list, but this would be a 3rd hand pistonheads car and the other 2 had looked after it like you'd expect, and the price was too good to ignore.

So I was in this for around 7% of the car I was selling, he chucked in winters, roofrack, full tank of fuel to get back up the M1, fluid change. I genuinely cant get out of it, its too good for the price. 2 MOT's in and still cracking on.

How much did you pay?

[Benjijames28]

After a few years wasting thousands on "good cars", I've just started dabbling in a bit of bangernomics.

2006 Toyota Avensis 2 litre petrol. 90k on clock, part service history, paintwork tatty, but it's top of range, comfortable, and very safe. For a shed it was top end of budget at 1100.

Plan is to keep it until further notice, so im going to give it a full service and a few new tyres when the winter wheels come off. I'm also going to use it to learn how to do a bit of paint correction.

My view on cars has changed. I see no point paying several grand for a car or taking out big personal loans. I don't so big mileage so I'm not getting enough value for money.

Maybe when I've bought my own house again and my son is a bit older I will look at spending more on a car. Until then I see no reason to spend more than a grand or so on a car.

[Desset]

I do something better since I like to get a new car every year. I buy cars that are a 5-8 years old and run them at next to no depreciation. The current car which I bought last summer is a 2010 Fiesta Zetec S. It has every extra including the full leathers. I’ve spent some money on it to improve it and tidy it up. I got it at such a good price that when I sell it I’ll make a profit,

[Integroo]

Desset said:

I do something better since I like to get a new car every year. I buy cars that are a 5-8 years old and run them at next to no depreciation. The current car which I bought last summer is a 2010 Fiesta Zetec S. It has every extra including the full leathers. I’ve spent some money on it to improve it and tidy it up. I got it at such a good price that when I sell it I’ll make a profit,

I really doubt you can run a 2010 Fiesta for a few years and turn a profit.

[Benjijames28]

Integroo said:

I really doubt you can run a 2010 Fiesta for a few years and turn a profit.

Depends how he buys them. If you get them from auction with a mechanical report you will be paying trade money for it. This alone will minimise your loss.

[jas xjr]

I practice bangernomics simply because I do not have any other option open to me. Other than public transport.
It would be nice not to worry about strange noises.
I recently made a 400 mile round trip before breakfast without issue.
However, given the choice, I would prefer a modern car with a warranty.my mot expires next week, wish me luck

[Integroo]

jas xjr said:

I practice bangernomics simply because I do not have any other option open to me. Other than public transport.
It would be nice not to worry about strange noises.
I recently made a 400 mile round trip before breakfast without issue.
However, given the choice, I would prefer a modern car with a warranty.my mot expires next week, wish me luck

I suppose practising bangernomics because you have to is different than practising it because you can. If you have to and it breaks, finding 500-1000 quid to replace it, or 300 quid to fix it, might be rather stressful.

[egor110]

Integroo said:

jas xjr said:

I practice bangernomics simply because I do not have any other option open to me. Other than public transport.
It would be nice not to worry about strange noises.
I recently made a 400 mile round trip before breakfast without issue.
However, given the choice, I would prefer a modern car with a warranty.my mot expires next week, wish me luck

I suppose practising bangernomics because you have to is different than practising it because you can. If you have to and it breaks, finding 500-1000 quid to replace it, or 300 quid to fix it, might be rather stressful.

It would be interesting to see how many do bangernomics because financially they have to compared to having the money and tight as fk.

[Desset]

Benjijames28 said:

Depends how he buys them. If you get them from auction with a mechanical report you will be paying trade money for it. This alone will minimise your loss.

I keep my cars for a year maybe 2 at a push. I buy them off private sellers. When I select a car to buy I watch the market and wait on the right one. This car was bought £150 below cap so better than trade value. I might sell it into the trade when I am finished with it,

[Integroo]

I've just repaid my personal loan after selling my car and I am looking at buying at sub 1500 quid. only something interesting though, and that's meant there's nothing near me that I want (and not willing to travel to the other side of the country for a shed !).

[egor110]

Integroo said:

I've just repaid my personal loan after selling my car and I am looking at buying at sub 1500 quid. only something interesting though, and that's meant there's nothing near me that I want (and not willing to travel to the other side of the country for a shed !).

if your picky with a long list of wants perhaps bangernomics isn't for you ?

[Integroo]

egor110 said:

if your picky with a long list of wants perhaps bangernomics isn't for you ?

Not so much a long list of wants, just something interesting. Big engine saloon, small rwd roaster, unusual coupe . . . not fussy, just not a Focus!

[Willber]

Im currently running a Y reg Audi TT 225 which I picked up for £1800 a couple of months ago. Ive thrown a few quid at it (around £650) on completely overhauling the suspension so now it drives like it should do, once I get the alignment sorted next week. Its done 118k so plenty of life in it yet, it could do with a touch of paint and the wheels refurbing but I'm really keen to just run it into the ground. I had a brand new 320d before this and just cant see me getting a brand new car ever again. Ive also had a 986 Boxster but as an all round package I prefer the TT.

[Mr Ponkerson]

got a 1.4 civic (rover 45 type one) for £390 with a full years ticket a couple of weeks ago. handling is interesting (read tramlines, wallows and shimmies just to make sure I'm not dropping off at the wheel), road noise is brutal but I can't help but enjoy driving it. If nothing goes wrong I'll either run it for a couple of years or get rid with another MOT on it and try another sub £500 shed.

[paulrockliffe]

egor110 said:

It would be interesting to see how many do bangernomics because financially they have to compared to having the money and tight as fk.

I do it because generally modern cars are ste. When you factor in that they cost X10 then I struggle to justify any other approach.

I tend to pay a bit more and pick up something with low mileage target than going out and it cheap, IE £2k for a Lexus IS200 with 30k on the clock hit a good balance, so that's what I drive now, love it.

[Khaki Suit]

Just MOT'd my £200 Zafira this month. Put it in early to give me time to sort problems, or find a replacement, and was pleasantly surprised.

It failed on a broken coil spring and numberplate light. Spring was £24, although I changed the pair while I was at it, and the bulb I had a spare in my shed. Roughly £100 for another years motoring, providing it doesn't break. Can't complain at that.

Oh, and noticed there was an advisory on last years MOT for no oil. Checked the dipstick and it wasn't even registering so it's either being running on about a litre for a year or got a drinking problem. Topped it up with some old oil, again from the shed and a mix of two, and we'll see how it goes. It was also out of coolant so threw a little of that in too. It's a well cared for banger now.