The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
Bought an 05 Fabia 1.4 on 44k back in 2012 to replace my then Micra, only ever owned by an old man from new who had it serviced etc on the dot. It's been absolutely thrashed for the last 50k or so and in all that time I've only ever serviced it regularly and put two new wishbone bushes in it. It still hasn't actually had the rear discs and pads changed 
. Currently in need of a front exhaust section as it's blowing slightly at the flexi but apart from that it continues to fly through MOTs every year, it's been absolutely 100% reliable and gets me to work and back each day. Keep thinking about changing it but considering it's probably worth about 500 quid what's the point?
. Currently in need of a front exhaust section as it's blowing slightly at the flexi but apart from that it continues to fly through MOTs every year, it's been absolutely 100% reliable and gets me to work and back each day. Keep thinking about changing it but considering it's probably worth about 500 quid what's the point?I initially classed my latest car as a shed and I suppose to some degree it is.
It's bottom of barrel cheap, cosmetically poor, yet super comfortable and a joy to drive and own.
I've treated it well, new brakes, tyres, service, fixed a few little niggles and in return it's never let me down. I don't care where I park it, I don't care about the odd scratch, yet I care about the car. I will be the last owner, I'm not selling it.
It's bottom of barrel cheap, cosmetically poor, yet super comfortable and a joy to drive and own.
I've treated it well, new brakes, tyres, service, fixed a few little niggles and in return it's never let me down. I don't care where I park it, I don't care about the odd scratch, yet I care about the car. I will be the last owner, I'm not selling it.
The Crack Fox said:
I am considering getting a sub-£1k panda for my kids to use when back from Uni. Any experiences of the 1.1, anyone?
I owned a 2006 panda (1.2) for 3.5 years and it was fantastic. Would personally avoid the 1.1 as it's even more gutless with no improvement in fuel economy (which is excellent btw). I also think the 1.1 doesn't have a cig lighter in the front which was a right pain when we got one as a hire car and didn't have anywhere to charge the satnav.Every car I've had previously! Focus saloon was particularly great for not caring about, not just because it was a sub £2k buy but because it was so crap looking from new. 15 inch wheels bounced up curbs and down potholed lanes wonderfully. The paint was a crap colour (pale blue) and crap condition (peeling lacquer). Kept working though. Just plodded on mostly. Still the best riding car I've driven weirdly. Someone drove into it when parked on the street - they left a note with their details but I just texted them and said not to bother... the scrape just encouraged me to give even less of a sh*t. Stress free motoring.
Edited by JD82 on Friday 22 February 12:12
JaredVannett said:
Do we agree that one virtue of having a shed means you never do the 'look back' anymore?
Not necessarily, but for different reasons.It's a bit like saying goodbye to your Granny, you kiss her and hug her but only because she's your Granny and you love her, but for no other reason.
08 Skoda Superb 1.9tdi here, inherited so I feel a duty to keep it soldiering on despite hating driving the damn thing, it's worth nothing to sell so I'll keep it until it dies.
It's not been without expenditure - new radiator last year, 2 x rear brake calipers seized, window regulators failed, front door latches failed, door mirror glass fell out, NSF coil spring snapped, boot latch solenoid failed twice, plus timing belt, brakes and usual oil servicing. Probably owes me less than £1000 in maintenance over 5 years though as I've done most of the jobs myself.
Still, it serves a purpose as a 2nd car and I can leave it anywhere and it just looks like a neglected old taxi, rear seats down it's an excellent tip-run car. Scuffed on every corner (not by me), but mechanically it's in decent health for it's age and a fairly low 91k miles.
MOT due next month so it'll get thrown in and fingers crossed as usual, it's never failed.
It's not been without expenditure - new radiator last year, 2 x rear brake calipers seized, window regulators failed, front door latches failed, door mirror glass fell out, NSF coil spring snapped, boot latch solenoid failed twice, plus timing belt, brakes and usual oil servicing. Probably owes me less than £1000 in maintenance over 5 years though as I've done most of the jobs myself.
Still, it serves a purpose as a 2nd car and I can leave it anywhere and it just looks like a neglected old taxi, rear seats down it's an excellent tip-run car. Scuffed on every corner (not by me), but mechanically it's in decent health for it's age and a fairly low 91k miles.
MOT due next month so it'll get thrown in and fingers crossed as usual, it's never failed.
magpie215 said:
Shed has just got a fresh mot £425 all in inc the test.
Which I didn't think was too bad.
Ns and offside outrigger..welding
Sill repair .welding
Ns and offside bottom ball joints..replaced
Replacement os rear brake calliper.fit and bleed.
Clean and reprotect brake lines(advisory) but said they would do it in the price.
Cheaper than sourcing a replacement and better the devil you know.
Mmm so this is not good mrs collected car today and we have an ABS fault.......cant get it back to them till Tues earliest..they want to have a look.Which I didn't think was too bad.
Ns and offside outrigger..welding
Sill repair .welding
Ns and offside bottom ball joints..replaced
Replacement os rear brake calliper.fit and bleed.
Clean and reprotect brake lines(advisory) but said they would do it in the price.
Cheaper than sourcing a replacement and better the devil you know.
Im guessing a damaged wire on one of the abs sensors...prob the front when they have been moving the strut/hub out of the way to do the ball joint.
Whats the usual scenario in getting this put right....will they swallow the whole cost or will they want me to contribute...other options?
Anyone else been in a similar...what was your outcome?
Tia
I'm currently looking for a cheap shed for commuting duties. I want it to cost as little as possible on fuel so 55mpg plus, a little hatchback would be ideal, but I also want it to take the bends very well too, whilst maintaining speed.
If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
RowntreesCabana said:
I'm currently looking for a cheap shed for commuting duties. I want it to cost as little as possible on fuel so 55mpg plus, a little hatchback would be ideal, but I also want it to take the bends very well too, whilst maintaining speed.
If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
Focus 1.8 TDCI Sport If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
Fabia 1.9 TDI/vRS
Lupo diesel
EazyDuz said:
Other peoples sheds are my worst enemy.
It seems sheds are more common nowadays and I always sigh with concern when I have to park between two chitbox cars, knowing full well the owner will swing his door open without a care in the world.
Always amusing parking sheds next to modern bigger cars. It seems sheds are more common nowadays and I always sigh with concern when I have to park between two chitbox cars, knowing full well the owner will swing his door open without a care in the world.
The owners chose the trendy SUV or whatever that take up the full width of the standard parking space and so expect their doors to be openable into the neighbouring space, yet still want to visit supermarkets at peak times and park at the front.
My £14 Coil pack off ebay arrived today and ten mins later the corrolla is alive and well. Happy days. I've been out shooting in it this afters and it's got mud inside and out from wellies plus half a box of clays chucked on the back seat.
The spark plugs were very well worn and almost certainly original by the look. 17yrs use and still on the original exhaust too. No rust to speak of, and no wear in any arms or bearings at last mot. It did benefit from having had one elderly owner who had it serviced annually but I suspect all they did was oil n filter and put copper slip on the bonnet release lol.
I can see this going another ten yrs touch wood :-)
The spark plugs were very well worn and almost certainly original by the look. 17yrs use and still on the original exhaust too. No rust to speak of, and no wear in any arms or bearings at last mot. It did benefit from having had one elderly owner who had it serviced annually but I suspect all they did was oil n filter and put copper slip on the bonnet release lol.
I can see this going another ten yrs touch wood :-)
aaron_2000 said:
RowntreesCabana said:
I'm currently looking for a cheap shed for commuting duties. I want it to cost as little as possible on fuel so 55mpg plus, a little hatchback would be ideal, but I also want it to take the bends very well too, whilst maintaining speed.
If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
Focus 1.8 TDCI Sport If I buy something around the £1000 mark and throw another £500 on handling mods what would be recommended? It must look nondescript and cheap to tax. It cannot look boy racerish. Any ideas?
Fabia 1.9 TDI/vRS
Lupo diesel
05 V70 D5 still going strong...
Bought over a year ago for "alf a bag of sand" on the grounds it was running like a burst ball but it'd recently had an intercooler, clutch, cambelt kit, brakes all round and it was semi respectable so took a gamble and drove it home (just!) and spent about 7p getting it running properly. Since then, 15k and all I've done is replaced the seized alternator freewheel pulley (swapped the whole alternator... £10 from a breaker) and then fitted four Dunlops, bit lavish but child in car / Scottish weather and £200 "used" but in essence brand new as the guy bought them and his car then broke a rocker before he fitted them. Aside for that, it's had an oil change and a fuel filter (all the better for it) and recently I cleaned 189k worth of crud out the inlet tract and EGR (£6.99 for Wynns EGR cleaner / snake oil) and it's going much better as a result and seems to be returning better MPG (currently telling me it's averaging 62mpg) Just passed it's MOT and dodged a bullet after I bought a much newer XC70, hated it, sold it 12 days later and reverted back to the old D5 and not giving a feck! Front arches showing rust now, picking up more and more dings but still surviving trial by neglect, daily commute, tip run, wife and destructive toddler.
Bought over a year ago for "alf a bag of sand" on the grounds it was running like a burst ball but it'd recently had an intercooler, clutch, cambelt kit, brakes all round and it was semi respectable so took a gamble and drove it home (just!) and spent about 7p getting it running properly. Since then, 15k and all I've done is replaced the seized alternator freewheel pulley (swapped the whole alternator... £10 from a breaker) and then fitted four Dunlops, bit lavish but child in car / Scottish weather and £200 "used" but in essence brand new as the guy bought them and his car then broke a rocker before he fitted them. Aside for that, it's had an oil change and a fuel filter (all the better for it) and recently I cleaned 189k worth of crud out the inlet tract and EGR (£6.99 for Wynns EGR cleaner / snake oil) and it's going much better as a result and seems to be returning better MPG (currently telling me it's averaging 62mpg) Just passed it's MOT and dodged a bullet after I bought a much newer XC70, hated it, sold it 12 days later and reverted back to the old D5 and not giving a feck! Front arches showing rust now, picking up more and more dings but still surviving trial by neglect, daily commute, tip run, wife and destructive toddler.
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