Best of the Bargain Basement (Vol.3)

[phil_cardiff]

Hoofy said:

roy8846 said:

Got me looking at those Kompressors now lol.

Need a cheap auto for the wife, smaller the better but there's nothing around for cheap.

I mean last time I looked 3 years ago a Grand could get something half decent still!!

I think they're brilliant.

-RWD
-nobody cares about them
-quite small but decent enough boot for going away for a few days or just dumping the shopping in
-auto box so a breeze when stuck in London traffic
-comfy and quite luxurious (leather seats, auto lights, decent stereo)

It's a decent place to be considering you could be in a 20 year old Micra for the same money.


The only downsides I can think of
-apparently, unique panels to this car (the CLK panels don't fit)
-the engine with the Kompressor is dodgy due to timing chain stretch (but at £1k for the whole car, it's not a big deal for me) - I think the initial sign is a diesel rattle when you start the engine. It's time to scrap the car when you're getting a juddering engine and EML warnings on the dashboard. Until then, just drive it. Really is not a problem for me. I wouldn't buy a C180k, C200k or C230k for £2-3000, though, as you'd feel compelled to pay £2k to get it fixed!
-people won't be impressed (if that matters to you)

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 2nd January 15:53

Do they rust much?

[Hoofy]

phil_cardiff said:

Hoofy said:

roy8846 said:

Got me looking at those Kompressors now lol.

Need a cheap auto for the wife, smaller the better but there's nothing around for cheap.

I mean last time I looked 3 years ago a Grand could get something half decent still!!

I think they're brilliant.

-RWD
-nobody cares about them
-quite small but decent enough boot for going away for a few days or just dumping the shopping in
-auto box so a breeze when stuck in London traffic
-comfy and quite luxurious (leather seats, auto lights, decent stereo)

It's a decent place to be considering you could be in a 20 year old Micra for the same money.


The only downsides I can think of
-apparently, unique panels to this car (the CLK panels don't fit)
-the engine with the Kompressor is dodgy due to timing chain stretch (but at £1k for the whole car, it's not a big deal for me) - I think the initial sign is a diesel rattle when you start the engine. It's time to scrap the car when you're getting a juddering engine and EML warnings on the dashboard. Until then, just drive it. Really is not a problem for me. I wouldn't buy a C180k, C200k or C230k for £2-3000, though, as you'd feel compelled to pay £2k to get it fixed!
-people won't be impressed (if that matters to you)

Edited by Hoofy on Monday 2nd January 15:53

Do they rust much?

Both of mine have/had rust. One patch is about 6"x6" by the rear wheel. It has passed the MOT no problem, though.

[phil_cardiff]

Hoofy said:

Both of mine have/had rust. One patch is about 6"x6" by the rear wheel. It has passed the MOT no problem, though.

That's better than a lot of Mercs, to be fair.

[Hoofy]

phil_cardiff said:

Hoofy said:

Both of mine have/had rust. One patch is about 6"x6" by the rear wheel. It has passed the MOT no problem, though.

That's better than a lot of Mercs, to be fair.

The previous gen Mercs were pretty bad (late 90s). I don't think this gen are as bad although my 2004 one isn't looking great.

[phil_cardiff]

Hoofy said:

phil_cardiff said:

Hoofy said:

Both of mine have/had rust. One patch is about 6"x6" by the rear wheel. It has passed the MOT no problem, though.

That's better than a lot of Mercs, to be fair.

The previous gen Mercs were pretty bad (late 90s). I don't think this gen are as bad although my 2004 one isn't looking great.

It might just be applicable to the E class, but I'm sure I remember something about Mercedes hugely improving rustproofing post 2006.

[mattman]

I had one of those CLC’s a couple of years back - C180 in black that looked quite good for the money. The only problem with mine was that it was a manual - that is not a good combination with the foot operated ‘handbrake’ - would have an auto though.

I’m struggling what to get next - worked through 5 sub £2k cars last year and currently running a cheap z4 - but looking in the usual places for sun 2k stuff is not offering anything interesting

[Hoofy]

phil_cardiff said:

Hoofy said:

phil_cardiff said:

Hoofy said:

Both of mine have/had rust. One patch is about 6"x6" by the rear wheel. It has passed the MOT no problem, though.

That's better than a lot of Mercs, to be fair.

The previous gen Mercs were pretty bad (late 90s). I don't think this gen are as bad although my 2004 one isn't looking great.

It might just be applicable to the E class, but I'm sure I remember something about Mercedes hugely improving rustproofing post 2006.

I've heard similar. Also not noticed any rust on W209s, for instance, whenever I've seen them.

[CM954]

Not much worth writing about in the bargain basement then?

[egor110]

Behold the 2k Aygo.

[Hoofy]

Sadly, this thread isn't so popular so I loiter on the Sheds thread, even though I've been doing the bangernomics thing until recently.

[skwdenyer]

egor110 said:

Behold the 2k Aygo.

There are many Aygis at far lower prices than that.

[skwdenyer]

egor110 said:

Behold the 2k Aygo.

There are many Aygis at far lower prices than that.