The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
greenarrow said:
Steve91 said:
New caliper, pads and a wheel bearing on my Mk1 Focus, total cost of £240. It's at best about 40% of the cars value, but I'm hoping it'll keep going long enough to make me not regret it. More tin worm than tin at the moment and every bill makes me question keeping it. I really like it, it does everything I need and there's nothing mechanically wrong with it so maybe it's worth it.
Nearly drove from Essex to the north west during the week for an £800 MG ZR, but it didn't have air conditioning, and having had a ZR without it in the past, I said never again!
I know what you mean about your Mk1 Focus. Mine has some tin worm on one of the rear doors, but no MOT rust advisories. It has a worn driveshaft bearing which I haven't replaced in 4500 miles driving the car as I have been quoted £300 and that's more than 50% what I paid for the car. On the other hand, I look at the car as depreciation free, so on that basis, spending a few pounds here and there on issues isn't so bad. I'm so smitten with my Focus that when I come to replace it, another Mk1 Focus could well be the route forward, this time one with service history, cam-belt done and no rust on the doors. Oh and a Zetec, not a Ghia as they're a bit sharper on the fast switchback corners I love to throw my car around... ..Nearly drove from Essex to the north west during the week for an £800 MG ZR, but it didn't have air conditioning, and having had a ZR without it in the past, I said never again!
Didn't want to start a new thread just to ask for a shed recommendation. I missing my old E36 328 that I bought for £400 in 2017 (I think the days of E36s that cheap are over).
Going to be doing lots of miles the next year or so - what sort of RWD fun can be had for under 1500 quid ?
Going to be doing lots of miles the next year or so - what sort of RWD fun can be had for under 1500 quid ?
everything_matters said:
Didn't want to start a new thread just to ask for a shed recommendation. I missing my old E36 328 that I bought for £400 in 2017 (I think the days of E36s that cheap are over).
Going to be doing lots of miles the next year or so - what sort of RWD fun can be had for under 1500 quid ?
Maybe an IS200? Not the best in terms of being cheap to run but they can be a right laugh, and make a decent noiseGoing to be doing lots of miles the next year or so - what sort of RWD fun can be had for under 1500 quid ?
Steve91 said:
Maybe an IS200? Not the best in terms of being cheap to run but they can be a right laugh, and make a decent noise
Oh that's a point, they're not too old either.Was thinking a Volvo 940 too, even the turbo 2.3 ones seem to be way under the 2 grand mark for a .. um ... slightly used model
STIfree said:
Khaki Suit said:
E46, just move it up a model.
This.Or a ropey E90.
I'd suggest 6 cylinder models are the best option in terms of reliability. Watch out for the electric waterpump on the six cylinder (N52) of the E90. About £400 just for the part alone.
If you're planning on doing a lot of miles, 6 cylinder 330d worth a look? I'd be surprised if you can find an E90 330d for 1.5k but you may be able to find an E46 330d.
Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 19th May 20:17
STIfree said:
Also with the car being up on jacks all day, the air suspension has dropped right down (before turning it on and the compressor kicking in). I rather like it at this height! I think i can see how it recognises the hight of the car so going to maybe try make a new bracket to 'trick' it into thinking its higher than it is, so it drops the ride height down. It does have a button inside to raise the suspension so that would still work to bring it back up to 'normal' height if needed.
Easy job, height is controlled by 2 feedback rods, essentially like turnbuckles, the hard part is getting the car level. Ive got a Toyota diagnostic machine so it was fairly easy for me, not sure how much f
king about it would be doing it by eye.swampy442 said:
STIfree said:
Also with the car being up on jacks all day, the air suspension has dropped right down (before turning it on and the compressor kicking in). I rather like it at this height! I think i can see how it recognises the hight of the car so going to maybe try make a new bracket to 'trick' it into thinking its higher than it is, so it drops the ride height down. It does have a button inside to raise the suspension so that would still work to bring it back up to 'normal' height if needed.
Easy job, height is controlled by 2 feedback rods, essentially like turnbuckles, the hard part is getting the car level. Ive got a Toyota diagnostic machine so it was fairly easy for me, not sure how much fking about it would be doing it by eye.So far so good with the Lexus. Wheel bearing due tomorrow then it's just working out why the ABS/VSC system doesn't work and the EML for cat sensors.
Created a little thread on it here as to not clog up this thread too much with Lexus related posts
FYI - eurocarparts has a discount code , 40% off
my skoda battery is totally dead, and rather than buy a solar charger or a portable charger (my drive is not near my house/plug socket) so i ordered a new battery as its been about 5 years since it had one at least - with that code above + free delivery made it an easy choice (£50 quid!)
my skoda battery is totally dead, and rather than buy a solar charger or a portable charger (my drive is not near my house/plug socket) so i ordered a new battery as its been about 5 years since it had one at least - with that code above + free delivery made it an easy choice (£50 quid!)
W00DY said:
So the Golf is back in action and I was very glad of the A/C today. £240 lighter for my glow plug snapping (T G Norris did it and I would recommend them), but there isn't much out there that takes my fancy to replace it.so I'm hoping I've bought a few more miles at least.
Engine light and DPF lights gone?Just swapped a 2016 Golf R for a 2005 BMW 330i N52.
Unfortunately the shed life just isn’t for me! It spent its first week under my ownership having its climate control unit replaced as it decided the AC didn’t exist and all the Brakes were warped. Now all that is sorted it seems like a pretty solid car, but just doesn’t excite me... it’s a nice locally owned car, loads of paperwork including the original window sticker for £39000 and Supaguard ceramic coating booklet!
Already looking at leasing a new Megane R.S for £200 a month...
Unfortunately the shed life just isn’t for me! It spent its first week under my ownership having its climate control unit replaced as it decided the AC didn’t exist and all the Brakes were warped. Now all that is sorted it seems like a pretty solid car, but just doesn’t excite me... it’s a nice locally owned car, loads of paperwork including the original window sticker for £39000 and Supaguard ceramic coating booklet!
Already looking at leasing a new Megane R.S for £200 a month...
Question for the shedders. Do you have strict rules about what you’ll spend and when to get shot to prevent bargain motoring becoming more expensive than leasing something new? Example, buy a car for £2k, if you’re spending say £1k a year keeping it going Which is probably easily done on something older, you’d only break even vs leasing something New for £150 a month for 2 years. If it needs a clutch or gearbox fo you scrap it?
jakesmith said:
Question for the shedders. Do you have strict rules about what you’ll spend and when to get shot to prevent bargain motoring becoming more expensive than leasing something new? Example, buy a car for £2k, if you’re spending say £1k a year keeping it going Which is probably easily done on something older, you’d only break even vs leasing something New for £150 a month for 2 years. If it needs a clutch or gearbox fo you scrap it?
I'm a firm believer in better the devil you know. Biased as I do all the work myself. Every single last bit.OK, new rear rotors with bearings on the way for the Megane.
I suppose AU$289 isnt a massive cost (about 155 quid) but it got me thinking about what sort of repair or parts cost would be a deal breaker for the Renault. I keep mulling the likely cost of a clutch replacement and would I just deliver the car to 't scrappy instead.
The thing that might prevent me from doing this would be the availability of a replacement shed. This Megane was a darn good buy when you look at it. Maybe it's 16 years old but it had only covered 133,000Km (82,000Mi) in that time. The interior was spotless and the exterior was in sparkling condition save one ding in the passenger door.
So for AU$2400 purchase, what if a new clutch was say $1500 fitted, ( I could fit it myself but my ability to lift the car or engine is limited). What do other shedders think? Is a repair over half the initial purchase price beyond the strictures of proper shedding? Fix or scrap?
I suppose AU$289 isnt a massive cost (about 155 quid) but it got me thinking about what sort of repair or parts cost would be a deal breaker for the Renault. I keep mulling the likely cost of a clutch replacement and would I just deliver the car to 't scrappy instead.
The thing that might prevent me from doing this would be the availability of a replacement shed. This Megane was a darn good buy when you look at it. Maybe it's 16 years old but it had only covered 133,000Km (82,000Mi) in that time. The interior was spotless and the exterior was in sparkling condition save one ding in the passenger door.
So for AU$2400 purchase, what if a new clutch was say $1500 fitted, ( I could fit it myself but my ability to lift the car or engine is limited). What do other shedders think? Is a repair over half the initial purchase price beyond the strictures of proper shedding? Fix or scrap?
Edited by Thick_Troll on Thursday 21st May 06:20
The clutch going would definetly be the end of the Accord. I paid £500 for it and it's done nearly 200,000 miles. Clutch replacement is probably £500 as I couldn't do it myself, just not worth it, especially with the bodywork being a bit rough and only MOT until October (thanks Covid!!).
Next car will likely be an Audi A2 TDI I think. Cheap to run, no issues with rust, decent enough engine etc.
Next car will likely be an Audi A2 TDI I think. Cheap to run, no issues with rust, decent enough engine etc.
mercedeslimos said:
W00DY said:
So the Golf is back in action and I was very glad of the A/C today. £240 lighter for my glow plug snapping (T G Norris did it and I would recommend them), but there isn't much out there that takes my fancy to replace it.so I'm hoping I've bought a few more miles at least.
Engine light and DPF lights gone?I suspect I'll get the usual engine light from the DPF sensor, but I think that's either due to lack of calibration or moisture/damage to the pipes since it only happens in specific circumstances and the car re-gens happily at normal intervals and has been that way since I've had it.
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