The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
wormus said:
My old 2003 Saab 9-5 has cost me a bloody fortune over the past 4 years. Another £560 today for an MOT and investigation into a boost leak hampering performance. It’s a money pit but for some reason like some rancid pet, I keep throwing money at it.
I think you've slipped into "money pit" world then rather than "shed world"...way too attached!Be careful Lol!
As mentioned before, I've tended to steer clear of diesel turbo sheds for the main reason of service/maintenance issues being much simpler on older petrol cars, particularly the jap stuff seemingly been from granite at the end of the 90s and early 2000s. There are a million petrol corrolla/avensis things chugging away still for good reason. Our other petrol auto corrolla flew through its 13th/14th mot recently on it's original everything including exhaust. Only one battery has been fitted that i can see in receipts. And it's all solid underneath I suspect it will outlive me...
Bought another one to run for a while (mainly for the girlfriend), '05 B6 Passat. I've form with these, have a heavily modified one myself since nearly new so know them backward inside out mechanically.
250 sheets, oil pressure problem 2.0TDI (BKP)
Cue wanted ad, 80 sheets and a 300-mile drive for a whole complete BKD engine (the one without the oil pump hassle). Another 50 quid for sundries, cleaned out the sump pickup etc, back in and running for under 500 notes. Ordered a pair of back tyres off Camskill for another 70 quid for when the 2 back ones get to the indicators, and she should be tested and good to go for 12 months for a week's wages.
Result.
What actually happened was a buddy bought it for the leather/Alcantara interior as it's a Sport model. I bought the remainder and got hius MINT cloth interior to put back in. Barely a mark on the bodywork and the interior is lovely and fresh. 154k on the clock and it runs beautifully, Flywheel is a bit suspect but the clutch is new so a cheap secondhand one might make its way in there or one of those (surprisingly decent) DMR eBay solid kits for 150 quid. Timing belt was done on the original engine in a bid to cure the issues apparently (go figure!) so I've transferred those onto the new lump and have plenty of spares from the old engine and a good working set of injectors to sell too to claw back some of the purchase price.
250 sheets, oil pressure problem 2.0TDI (BKP)
Cue wanted ad, 80 sheets and a 300-mile drive for a whole complete BKD engine (the one without the oil pump hassle). Another 50 quid for sundries, cleaned out the sump pickup etc, back in and running for under 500 notes. Ordered a pair of back tyres off Camskill for another 70 quid for when the 2 back ones get to the indicators, and she should be tested and good to go for 12 months for a week's wages.
Result.
What actually happened was a buddy bought it for the leather/Alcantara interior as it's a Sport model. I bought the remainder and got hius MINT cloth interior to put back in. Barely a mark on the bodywork and the interior is lovely and fresh. 154k on the clock and it runs beautifully, Flywheel is a bit suspect but the clutch is new so a cheap secondhand one might make its way in there or one of those (surprisingly decent) DMR eBay solid kits for 150 quid. Timing belt was done on the original engine in a bid to cure the issues apparently (go figure!) so I've transferred those onto the new lump and have plenty of spares from the old engine and a good working set of injectors to sell too to claw back some of the purchase price.
Agree with the 'diesel is more risk' statement, but there are some exceptions.
The Toyota pre dpf d4d (and td before that) is bombproof. We run them in work as pool cars, and I've a mk1 Avensis d4d as my own daily. Solid 55mpg and never give any trouble....ever. My one is treated to new oil every 6k as per the manual (sensible times, before accountants got involved with service interval's), the work ones suffer more abuse but just keep going.
I love the sticker facing the driver telling you in bold to warm it up and give it 60-120 seconds idle after a run.
The Toyota pre dpf d4d (and td before that) is bombproof. We run them in work as pool cars, and I've a mk1 Avensis d4d as my own daily. Solid 55mpg and never give any trouble....ever. My one is treated to new oil every 6k as per the manual (sensible times, before accountants got involved with service interval's), the work ones suffer more abuse but just keep going.
I love the sticker facing the driver telling you in bold to warm it up and give it 60-120 seconds idle after a run.
Baldchap said:
If you're dropping food in your car and leaving it there you're a tramp. That's got nothing to do with sheds or otherwise, it's basic self respect.
Chill out no one is dropping food and leaving it to rot, it was suggestive of the humour around old sheds and not caring about the interior, ie using it for tip runs without putting covers everywhere, jumping in with muddy boots and dogs, chucking sawn up logs (this morning) and having sawdust in the boot etc.:-)
Picked up a new shed last weekend, a 55 plate Honda civic type s for £720 on eBay. Full Honda service history with every single receipt. Only ever failed two Mots for Wiper blades, a bulb and low brake pads. Had new front brakes and calipers fitted at Honda last year for £550.
Filthy dirty when I got it, so far I have spent 10 hours cleaning the interior but it is 100 times better now. Oil is golden even though it is 6000 miles old and it doesn't lose any fluids. Tyres are all premium, camchain and 39mpg on the first tank.
Still have my 07 Megane Dci that I paid £1200 for 2 years ago so still deciding which one to keep. Megane is tidier and cheaper to run, Honda more fun.
Filthy dirty when I got it, so far I have spent 10 hours cleaning the interior but it is 100 times better now. Oil is golden even though it is 6000 miles old and it doesn't lose any fluids. Tyres are all premium, camchain and 39mpg on the first tank.
Still have my 07 Megane Dci that I paid £1200 for 2 years ago so still deciding which one to keep. Megane is tidier and cheaper to run, Honda more fun.
Integroo said:
M4cruiser said:
Oh dear, my "shed" doesn't do too well on this scale.
Can you walk away without checking you locked it and without worrying where you parked?
No to the first, and maybe (but slowly heading to yes) to the second.
If it breaks down with a major fault could you collect your belongings, get a taxi and leave it for the scrapman without worrying about it's value?
No
If you drop McDonald's fries down the side of the seat can they be safely left without concern?
My daughter does this a lot, and apple cores, peach stones etc, and it doesn't bother me at all.
Finally, can you take it to the kosovan car wash or drive thro without bothering?
Never.
But it's definitely my latest shed now. Had it 5 years (cost £2000) and must be worth £200; but being Japanese it still gets around and feels like it will last another 5 years. Problem is it needs a big service (including coolant, fuel filter and transmission fluid). May just drive it till it stops.
I think that no matter how cheap my car I would always get the maintenance done that needs done...wouldn't let it pass a service date without one!Can you walk away without checking you locked it and without worrying where you parked?
No to the first, and maybe (but slowly heading to yes) to the second.
If it breaks down with a major fault could you collect your belongings, get a taxi and leave it for the scrapman without worrying about it's value?
No
If you drop McDonald's fries down the side of the seat can they be safely left without concern?
My daughter does this a lot, and apple cores, peach stones etc, and it doesn't bother me at all.
Finally, can you take it to the kosovan car wash or drive thro without bothering?
Never.
But it's definitely my latest shed now. Had it 5 years (cost £2000) and must be worth £200; but being Japanese it still gets around and feels like it will last another 5 years. Problem is it needs a big service (including coolant, fuel filter and transmission fluid). May just drive it till it stops.
Difficult choice.
Shedding woes here today.
My eldest Sons car, an old Pug 206 and the replacement of a front wishbone.
I've done loads of these on various sheds I've had over the years without too much issue. There is usually a bit of wrestling involved but this 206 is in another league of difficult, particularly getting the balljoint spiggot into the steering knuckle.
My eldest Sons car, an old Pug 206 and the replacement of a front wishbone.
I've done loads of these on various sheds I've had over the years without too much issue. There is usually a bit of wrestling involved but this 206 is in another league of difficult, particularly getting the balljoint spiggot into the steering knuckle.
This is now mine after a painless haggle down from £995 to £650, was previously advertised for £1495. 1992 Toyota Carina II XL. 1587cc of 16 valve Japanese loveliness, MoT'd till May. Electrics all working, well the sunshine roof
keep fit windows and no airbags.Not perfect by any means, 45k, no history but MoTs add up. I'm the 3rd keeper. Will give it a service and hopefully lots of life left in it yet. It's had a scrape down the offside, pushed the headlight in a touch and a bit of paint/rust to sort on the wing. The glovebox is held closed with a tie wrap cos the latch has fallen off at some point, the original radio/tape player plays some sounds, what they are though who knows and the display is shot. Will pick up a cheapy for my commute.
Drives ok on 13" wheels, remember them?? The door cards appear to be a luxurious carpet in the same pattern as the comfy seats. The indicator stalk is on the wrong side, cue comedy wipers action for the first few junctions when picking it up, the same position as the drive selector on my other car...what could possibly go wrong...
Needs wipers all round, the rear washer nozzle de-clogging and a patch repair on the back box (or may treat it to a new one)
Other than that it's not a half bad 27 year old shed
I think it's great how certain (jap cars particularly) of an era seem to soldier on. A lot of that seems to be old folk buy them and do 3k pa while having a main dealer or local garage do the annual mot and full service regardless of mileage. Look at more modern stuff (mercs included) and the wings or arches are rotting away by 10yrs old.
My 2004 Passat TDI keeps going, now on 219,000.
Looking scruffy, puddle in the rear light, front wing rusted badly, but mechanically sound
I’m fortunate I can (and do) have newer cars, but I prefer the Passat the most. Cheap to run, comfy and don’t have to worry about
Getting fed up of people telling me to change it. Happens almost daily!
Looking scruffy, puddle in the rear light, front wing rusted badly, but mechanically sound
I’m fortunate I can (and do) have newer cars, but I prefer the Passat the most. Cheap to run, comfy and don’t have to worry about
Getting fed up of people telling me to change it. Happens almost daily!
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