The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
Jimmy Recard said:
bearman68 said:
Just thinking about the Aygo / C1 / 107, in my experience they are pretty decent cars, EXCEPT for the central locking / locks etc.
They are also pretty expensive for what they are.
It's hard to get one under a grand.
So if you are looking at a budget of about a thousand, how about a Toyota 2.0d Auris from about 2007. Engine is generally bullet proof, and the rest of the car is Toyota.
But I still like my cars to run nicely, and not knock on bumps, and to be clean and tidy.
My list of sheds......
3 1.5 dci Meganes (86 horse engine is fine, but the 110 is a bit of a mare).
Pug 308 (not really a shed, as it's a 13 plate, and quite nice)
2.4 D5 V50. Nice car.
1.4 TDCI 2008 Fiesta. Hate this one. Runs fine, but I hate it.
1.4 d4d Yaris, 2007. Brilliant, fantastic wonderful car.
Laguna 3, 2.0d, very good car, and a decent drive on the motorway.
Not sure if an MR2 Mk3 counts as a shed or a classic these days.
I'd be hard pushed to run a German car from after about 2004 as a shed - what a pile of rubbish they have gradually become - but I think a Kia or a Hyundai would be fine.
Don't have a 'nice' car at all. Just CBA with it all.
https://youtu.be/ew4wrtl01PA?t=44They are also pretty expensive for what they are.
It's hard to get one under a grand.
So if you are looking at a budget of about a thousand, how about a Toyota 2.0d Auris from about 2007. Engine is generally bullet proof, and the rest of the car is Toyota.
But I still like my cars to run nicely, and not knock on bumps, and to be clean and tidy.
My list of sheds......
3 1.5 dci Meganes (86 horse engine is fine, but the 110 is a bit of a mare).
Pug 308 (not really a shed, as it's a 13 plate, and quite nice)
2.4 D5 V50. Nice car.
1.4 TDCI 2008 Fiesta. Hate this one. Runs fine, but I hate it.
1.4 d4d Yaris, 2007. Brilliant, fantastic wonderful car.
Laguna 3, 2.0d, very good car, and a decent drive on the motorway.
Not sure if an MR2 Mk3 counts as a shed or a classic these days.
I'd be hard pushed to run a German car from after about 2004 as a shed - what a pile of rubbish they have gradually become - but I think a Kia or a Hyundai would be fine.
Don't have a 'nice' car at all. Just CBA with it all.
I have to say despite being a VAG sceptic, my '59 Golf is excellent at just being a car and hasn't had any real issues in 7 months and 6k miles.
W00DY said:
Jimmy Recard said:
bearman68 said:
Just thinking about the Aygo / C1 / 107, in my experience they are pretty decent cars, EXCEPT for the central locking / locks etc.
They are also pretty expensive for what they are.
It's hard to get one under a grand.
So if you are looking at a budget of about a thousand, how about a Toyota 2.0d Auris from about 2007. Engine is generally bullet proof, and the rest of the car is Toyota.
But I still like my cars to run nicely, and not knock on bumps, and to be clean and tidy.
My list of sheds......
3 1.5 dci Meganes (86 horse engine is fine, but the 110 is a bit of a mare).
Pug 308 (not really a shed, as it's a 13 plate, and quite nice)
2.4 D5 V50. Nice car.
1.4 TDCI 2008 Fiesta. Hate this one. Runs fine, but I hate it.
1.4 d4d Yaris, 2007. Brilliant, fantastic wonderful car.
Laguna 3, 2.0d, very good car, and a decent drive on the motorway.
Not sure if an MR2 Mk3 counts as a shed or a classic these days.
I'd be hard pushed to run a German car from after about 2004 as a shed - what a pile of rubbish they have gradually become - but I think a Kia or a Hyundai would be fine.
Don't have a 'nice' car at all. Just CBA with it all.
https://youtu.be/ew4wrtl01PA?t=44They are also pretty expensive for what they are.
It's hard to get one under a grand.
So if you are looking at a budget of about a thousand, how about a Toyota 2.0d Auris from about 2007. Engine is generally bullet proof, and the rest of the car is Toyota.
But I still like my cars to run nicely, and not knock on bumps, and to be clean and tidy.
My list of sheds......
3 1.5 dci Meganes (86 horse engine is fine, but the 110 is a bit of a mare).
Pug 308 (not really a shed, as it's a 13 plate, and quite nice)
2.4 D5 V50. Nice car.
1.4 TDCI 2008 Fiesta. Hate this one. Runs fine, but I hate it.
1.4 d4d Yaris, 2007. Brilliant, fantastic wonderful car.
Laguna 3, 2.0d, very good car, and a decent drive on the motorway.
Not sure if an MR2 Mk3 counts as a shed or a classic these days.
I'd be hard pushed to run a German car from after about 2004 as a shed - what a pile of rubbish they have gradually become - but I think a Kia or a Hyundai would be fine.
Don't have a 'nice' car at all. Just CBA with it all.
I have to say despite being a VAG sceptic, my '59 Golf is excellent at just being a car and hasn't had any real issues in 7 months and 6k miles.
aaron_2000 said:
I still stand by my sentiment that either a Golf or Fabia SDI estate are just about the best shed money can buy
They do seem excellent sheds, you’re right.If I could make the case for mine (as a different variety of shed):
Great comfort
3500kg towing capacity
Good offroad
Cost me £350 effectively (swapped a £350 vacuum cleaner for it)
So far £115 in non-service parts over 18 months and around 25k miles (I’ve also done front discs, pads and a couple of oil changes)
Has towed all over, including taking my friend’s MR2 on a trailer to the Nürburgring
The only job I’ve got planned is lower ball joints
2003 Mercedes ML270 CDI
ETA:
Obviously big estate-type boot and seats fold into the floor, so big estate carrying capacity
Edited by Jimmy Recard on Saturday 18th April 15:19
Jimmy Recard said:
aaron_2000 said:
I still stand by my sentiment that either a Golf or Fabia SDI estate are just about the best shed money can buy
They do seem excellent sheds, you’re right.If I could make the case for mine (as a different variety of shed):
Great comfort
3500kg towing capacity
Good offroad
Cost me £350 effectively (swapped a £350 vacuum cleaner for it)
So far £115 in non-service parts over 18 months and around 25k miles (I’ve also done front discs, pads and a couple of oil changes)
Has towed all over, including taking my friend’s MR2 on a trailer to the Nürburgring
The only job I’ve got planned is lower ball joints
2003 Mercedes ML270 CDI
Jimmy Recard said:
They do seem excellent sheds, you’re right.
If I could make the case for mine (as a different variety of shed):
Great comfort
3500kg towing capacity
Good offroad
Cost me £350 effectively (swapped a £350 vacuum cleaner for it)
So far £115 in non-service parts over 18 months and around 25k miles (I’ve also done front discs, pads and a couple of oil changes)
Has towed all over, including taking my friend’s MR2 on a trailer to the Nürburgring
The only job I’ve got planned is lower ball joints
2003 Mercedes ML270 CDI
You've got to be one of Danny's mates, right?If I could make the case for mine (as a different variety of shed):
Great comfort
3500kg towing capacity
Good offroad
Cost me £350 effectively (swapped a £350 vacuum cleaner for it)
So far £115 in non-service parts over 18 months and around 25k miles (I’ve also done front discs, pads and a couple of oil changes)
Has towed all over, including taking my friend’s MR2 on a trailer to the Nürburgring
The only job I’ve got planned is lower ball joints
2003 Mercedes ML270 CDI
aaron_2000 said:
I still stand by my sentiment that either a Golf or Fabia SDI estate are just about the best shed money can buy
As you might have guessed I work in the trade - generally the electrics side of things, but I enjoy a bit of spannering as well. I also have a bit of a sideline hiring out the old sheds for sometimes months at a time.In my experience (and I see lots of VAG stuff in my day job, as it were), the early VAG stuff is OK - the PD engine is a bit rough, but runs OK, and if it's looked after is pretty bomb proof. (Not the best out there, but OK, except when it rusts away) - after about 2006 ish, they started to put DPF's on the PD engine with really dodgy software, and this I found to be a complete disaster. And then they started using piezo injectors with the PD design. And an injector problem becomes almost impossible to determine the troublesome injector, or if it's the ecu. And after that, they switched to common rail, but by now, they are 10 - 15 years behind the Ford / PSA unit, and the complexity of the engine is just overwhelming. Not to mention a background of electrical issues (door locks and windows anyone?), water leaks and the like.
I don't want to run BMW diesel engines due to that bloody chain on the N47 engines, and Merc are a complete disaster if you need to maintain them.
We had a ML thing in one day for a steering lock issue, which required the removal of the battery. The battery is underneath the electrically adjustable seat - the one that needs to be removed. To remove it, it needs to be set in one position, the battery disconnected and then moved again to be removed from the car. (Duhh). I removed and partially reinstalled the engine from a 1.0 yaris in the time that my partner had removed the Merc battery.
It's stuff like this that really scares the bejesus out of me if I was to run it as a shed. (Plus they are more expensive to buy).
Toyota and Ford is the way to go I think.
Mind you, I do have I Grand Cherokee as a towing truck. I used to think it was called a Grand Cherokee because every time it was in the workshop, it cost a Grand. Sadly this seems to be unduly optimistic based on the last year or so.
aaron_2000 said:
I still stand by my sentiment that either a Golf or Fabia SDI estate are just about the best shed money can buy
Sadly will have to disagree with you on the SDi engine, as it is just a TDI with the bit that makes it nippy and good on fuel removed. I have had a few, and the non-PD TDI 90bhp (so anything '95 in the Audi A4 up until I think 2006 in the last of the Mk4 Golf estates), with the injectors outside the head, are probably the most reliable machines ever. The same engine in Miles, the Car Throttle Octavia. The SDI cannot compete on an efficiency scale, a good friend had a TDI Bora for 11 years and his LIFETIME average economy( yes he's an accountant) was 56mpg.I have a soft spot for them, and my latest "Shed" (can't really call it that as it is being very much improved as time goes on) is a late B5 Audi A4 Avant with that 90BHP engine. Had many over the years and some heavily modified, and they all drive better once they hit 200,000 miles on the clock.
And these days, there's certainly nothing cheaper to maintain than a MK4 Golf platformed car, eBay has so much stuff in the aftermarket. Lock modules probably one of the more common issues, yet £90 from VW or a tenner brand new from China. I replaced the entire front suspension (wishbones and bushes, ball joints, track rods, and ends, and the rear axle bushes for under £100 on the last Octavia) along with a set of wheels from an Audi S3, a turbo from a 150bhp Golf, some bigger injectors from a Transporter and a £100 plug and play remapped ECU from eBay. The car went from 90BHP to 187BHP and was a silly torquey machine. MY friend loved it, but the lack of traction control was , ahem, interesting.
And they are cheap to modify
Edited by mercedeslimos on Tuesday 21st April 11:04
M4cruiser said:
bearman68 said:
I do have I Grand Cherokee as a towing truck. I used to think it was called a Grand Cherokee because every time it was in the workshop, it cost a Grand. .
Is it the same for the Grand Scenic? !
mercedeslimos said:
Sadly will have to disagree with you on the SDi engine, as it is just a TDI with the bit that makes it nippy and good on fuel removed. I have had a few, and the non-PD TDI 90bhp (so anything '95 in the Audi A4 up until I think 2006 in the last of the Mk4 Golf estates), with the injectors outside the head, are probably the most reliable machines ever. The same engine in Miles, the Car Throttle Octavia. The SDI cannot compete on an efficiency scale, a good friend had a TDI Bora for 11 years and his LIFETIME average economy( yes he's an accountant) was 56mpg.
I have a soft spot for them, and my latest "Shed" (can't really call it that as it is being very much improved as time goes on) is a late B5 Audi A4 Avant with that 90BHP engine. Had many over the years and some heavily modified, and they all drive better once they hit 200,000 miles on the clock.
And these days, there's certainly nothing cheaper to maintain than a MK4 Golf platformed car, eBay has so much stuff in the aftermarket. Lock modules probably one of the more common issues, yet £90 from VW or a tenner brand new from China. I replaced the entire front suspension (wishbones and bushes, ball joints, track rods, and ends, and the rear axle bushes for under £100 on the last Octavia) along with a set of wheels from an Audi S3, a turbo from a 150bhp Golf, some bigger injectors from a Transporter and a £100 plug and play remapped ECU from eBay. The car went from 90BHP to 187BHP and was a silly torquey machine. MY friend loved it, but the lack of traction control was , ahem, interesting.
And they are cheap to modify
As a owner of a 2002 Octavia 1.9 TDI 110 ASV - I have to agree. I keep getting told the engine is bulletproof.I have a soft spot for them, and my latest "Shed" (can't really call it that as it is being very much improved as time goes on) is a late B5 Audi A4 Avant with that 90BHP engine. Had many over the years and some heavily modified, and they all drive better once they hit 200,000 miles on the clock.
And these days, there's certainly nothing cheaper to maintain than a MK4 Golf platformed car, eBay has so much stuff in the aftermarket. Lock modules probably one of the more common issues, yet £90 from VW or a tenner brand new from China. I replaced the entire front suspension (wishbones and bushes, ball joints, track rods, and ends, and the rear axle bushes for under £100 on the last Octavia) along with a set of wheels from an Audi S3, a turbo from a 150bhp Golf, some bigger injectors from a Transporter and a £100 plug and play remapped ECU from eBay. The car went from 90BHP to 187BHP and was a silly torquey machine. MY friend loved it, but the lack of traction control was , ahem, interesting.
And they are cheap to modify
Edited by mercedeslimos on Tuesday 21st April 11:04
LukeyP_ said:
mercedeslimos said:
Sadly will have to disagree with you on the SDi engine, as it is just a TDI with the bit that makes it nippy and good on fuel removed. I have had a few, and the non-PD TDI 90bhp (so anything '95 in the Audi A4 up until I think 2006 in the last of the Mk4 Golf estates), with the injectors outside the head, are probably the most reliable machines ever. The same engine in Miles, the Car Throttle Octavia. The SDI cannot compete on an efficiency scale, a good friend had a TDI Bora for 11 years and his LIFETIME average economy( yes he's an accountant) was 56mpg.
I have a soft spot for them, and my latest "Shed" (can't really call it that as it is being very much improved as time goes on) is a late B5 Audi A4 Avant with that 90BHP engine. Had many over the years and some heavily modified, and they all drive better once they hit 200,000 miles on the clock.
And these days, there's certainly nothing cheaper to maintain than a MK4 Golf platformed car, eBay has so much stuff in the aftermarket. Lock modules probably one of the more common issues, yet £90 from VW or a tenner brand new from China. I replaced the entire front suspension (wishbones and bushes, ball joints, track rods, and ends, and the rear axle bushes for under £100 on the last Octavia) along with a set of wheels from an Audi S3, a turbo from a 150bhp Golf, some bigger injectors from a Transporter and a £100 plug and play remapped ECU from eBay. The car went from 90BHP to 187BHP and was a silly torquey machine. MY friend loved it, but the lack of traction control was , ahem, interesting.
And they are cheap to modify
As a owner of a 2002 Octavia 1.9 TDI 110 ASV - I have to agree. I keep getting told the engine is bulletproof.I have a soft spot for them, and my latest "Shed" (can't really call it that as it is being very much improved as time goes on) is a late B5 Audi A4 Avant with that 90BHP engine. Had many over the years and some heavily modified, and they all drive better once they hit 200,000 miles on the clock.
And these days, there's certainly nothing cheaper to maintain than a MK4 Golf platformed car, eBay has so much stuff in the aftermarket. Lock modules probably one of the more common issues, yet £90 from VW or a tenner brand new from China. I replaced the entire front suspension (wishbones and bushes, ball joints, track rods, and ends, and the rear axle bushes for under £100 on the last Octavia) along with a set of wheels from an Audi S3, a turbo from a 150bhp Golf, some bigger injectors from a Transporter and a £100 plug and play remapped ECU from eBay. The car went from 90BHP to 187BHP and was a silly torquey machine. MY friend loved it, but the lack of traction control was , ahem, interesting.
And they are cheap to modify
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 21st April 11:04
Proper shed material, especially in beige
Here's my shed, but in true shed fashion on the way home, it shat its head gasket 
So one head gasket and a timing chain, its now its firmly in nice car territory and I learnt a valuable lesson - Dont forget your basic shed checks, something I've done tons of times before!
But in its defence since the HG last year, its been utterly dependable, not so much as a warning light.
Mazda 6 Sport, 2.2 diesel, 180hp. Cracking Bose stereo, adaptive lighting, comfortable, and its a great steer, no shocks as its Mondeo based.
So one head gasket and a timing chain, its now its firmly in nice car territory and I learnt a valuable lesson - Dont forget your basic shed checks, something I've done tons of times before!But in its defence since the HG last year, its been utterly dependable, not so much as a warning light.
Mazda 6 Sport, 2.2 diesel, 180hp. Cracking Bose stereo, adaptive lighting, comfortable, and its a great steer, no shocks as its Mondeo based.
500 miles today in the Mondeo.
A last-minute trip from Teesside down to Heathrow airport to drop the other half off as a family emergency required her to fly to Germany.
250 miles each way, took 7.5 hours with only a quick toilet stop.
Mondeo did it brilliantly, cruise control on 98% of the journey. Didn't even have a numb arse at the end of it.
Brimmed the tank at £1.09 a litre, cost £60 (fuel light had just come on). It's done just shy of 500 miles and is still showing an estimated range of 200 miles.
Average speed, 69mph.
Average MPG 55.4
Happy shedding.
Oh, also seen a smashed up 430 on a trailer.
A last-minute trip from Teesside down to Heathrow airport to drop the other half off as a family emergency required her to fly to Germany.
250 miles each way, took 7.5 hours with only a quick toilet stop.
Mondeo did it brilliantly, cruise control on 98% of the journey. Didn't even have a numb arse at the end of it.
Brimmed the tank at £1.09 a litre, cost £60 (fuel light had just come on). It's done just shy of 500 miles and is still showing an estimated range of 200 miles.
Average speed, 69mph.
Average MPG 55.4
Happy shedding.
Oh, also seen a smashed up 430 on a trailer.
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