The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
martin mrt said:
mercedeslimos said:
Are those 1.4 PDs as good on juice as everyone makes out? Was looking at one today, the only downside here is because they are over 10 years old insurance is expensive and the tax is €410 per year as they are 1422cc so taxed as a 1.5 whereas a 1.4 would be €385 per year. In 2008 they changed the tax scheme and so they were now €180 per year, however, all the 2008+ ones are €3,000 where the 2007 and older are €2k. The fact that they wanted €1,400 to insure a 2007 Polo 75 BHP and I only paid €739 for a 140 BHP 2011 Mondeo 2.0 sort of negates any fuel savings it would make, at 46mpg lifetime and €280 a year to tax.
I took the polo home 85 miles on less than £10 of diesel, I’m not sure what the exact MPG on that trip is. My experience if PD diesels is some are amazing on fuel, others less so. One thing I do know, is it’s going to use much less than my C63 does
Jaguar steve said:
I've been dipping in and out of that thread too. It's astonishing how much some people willingly spend every month on running cars.
Same here, makes me somewhat cringe at the levels some people spend a month, but each to their own and all that.Never worked my monthly spend on my cars (E91 and 9-3) but it isn't alot I can tell you, mainly fuel which I usually claim back as business mileage.
I love this thread though, so much more interesting cars about for very little money and you don't have to spend alot or be in a particularly old car either, very liberating.
Keep up shedding guys and girls
Edited by DailyHack on Thursday 22 October 15:28
Jaguar steve said:
I've been dipping in and out of that thread too. It's astonishing how much some people willingly spend every month on running cars.
My good car probably costs me around £750 a month all in, that’s the payment, fuel, insurance and tax.However, it’s a car i have always wanted, enjoy massively, can afford comfortably, isn’t depreciating much if any and will be mine once paid off.
Flip side is I have my A2 to keep me occupied now 😂
martin mrt said:
Jaguar steve said:
I've been dipping in and out of that thread too. It's astonishing how much some people willingly spend every month on running cars.
My good car probably costs me around £750 a month all in, that’s the payment, fuel, insurance and tax.However, it’s a car i have always wanted, enjoy massively, can afford comfortably, isn’t depreciating much if any and will be mine once paid off.
Flip side is I have my A2 to keep me occupied now ??
Back of a fag packet maths says your £750 a month would cover everything for me at those miles for maybe half a year.
Each to their own
martin mrt said:
Jaguar steve said:
I've been dipping in and out of that thread too. It's astonishing how much some people willingly spend every month on running cars.
My good car probably costs me around £750 a month all in, that’s the payment, fuel, insurance and tax.However, it’s a car i have always wanted, enjoy massively, can afford comfortably, isn’t depreciating much if any and will be mine once paid off.
Flip side is I have my A2 to keep me occupied now ??
When I add up all the cars on my fleet: BMW 5 Series, Passat Estate family bus, Mrs V.'s Mitsubishi, the Jazzes, the Zafira Shed and the Daihatsu Shed, then the monthly cost will be high. But the only question whatever you run is: Can I comfortably afford it?
But the car I love the most is the Daihatsu Shed for it's size, comedy value and low low cost. I only found out last month when it was serviced that it has no anti-roll bars, which explains the supple ride and comedy cornering.
vikingaero said:
martin mrt said:
Jaguar steve said:
I've been dipping in and out of that thread too. It's astonishing how much some people willingly spend every month on running cars.
My good car probably costs me around £750 a month all in, that’s the payment, fuel, insurance and tax.However, it’s a car i have always wanted, enjoy massively, can afford comfortably, isn’t depreciating much if any and will be mine once paid off.
Flip side is I have my A2 to keep me occupied now ??
When I add up all the cars on my fleet: BMW 5 Series, Passat Estate family bus, Mrs V.'s Mitsubishi, the Jazzes, the Zafira Shed and the Daihatsu Shed, then the monthly cost will be high. But the only question whatever you run is: Can I comfortably afford it?
But the car I love the most is the Daihatsu Shed for it's size, comedy value and low low cost. I only found out last month when it was serviced that it has no anti-roll bars, which explains the supple ride and comedy cornering.
If you don't even notice what any car costs to buy or run and you don't allow the odd scratch or dink to spoil your day and it gives you brick sthouse reliability then you've got a car that's always your servant and never becomes your master meaning you've pretty much sussed it IMO.
Speedgelb said:
mercedeslimos said:
Are those 1.4 PDs as good on juice as everyone makes out? Was looking at one today, the only downside here is because they are over 10 years old insurance is expensive and the tax is €410 per year as they are 1422cc so taxed as a 1.5 whereas a 1.4 would be €385 per year. In 2008 they changed the tax scheme and so they were now €180 per year, however, all the 2008+ ones are €3,000 where the 2007 and older are €2k. The fact that they wanted €1,400 to insure a 2007 Polo 75 BHP and I only paid €739 for a 140 BHP 2011 Mondeo 2.0 sort of negates any fuel savings it would make, at 46mpg lifetime and €280 a year to tax.
Have owned a PD75 Polo for the last 13 years, and have covered 120k miles in it, so feel qualified to answer this https://www.fuelly.com/car/volkswagen/polo/2003/as...
Been logging mine since mid 2016, so 30k miles worth of data.
Bear in mind, they're quite short legged for a diesel - 70 MPH at circa 2700 RPM. Sitting at circa 65 MPH, you should see low to mid 50s all day long, but this will tail off at higher speeds.
My usage pattern changed towards the end of 2018, and it's predominantly doing a lot of shorter stop-start journeys these days. This is reflected in this graph:
https://www.fuelly.com/car/volkswagen/polo/2003/as...
Up until Q3 2018, usage pattern was a mix of Motorways, A roads, and flowing urban traffic on a 35 mile each way commute. Problem was, I booted it everywhere (cruise at an indicated 0.85 leptons on the motorway ), and combined with the gearing, it was out of it's efficiency range, but I was still getting circa 50 mpg out of it.
It would genuinely get high 50s to low 60s at a steady 70 MPH on a warm day - which for an 1100ish kilo car, with an engine designed in the last century isn't too bad. The A2 is lighter, and more aerodynamic, so is tangibly better.
I suspect the inlet manifold could do with a clean after 140k miles - genuinely feels it's about 10% down on fuel economy than at say 80k miles.
At 65-70 mph it'll return 75-80 mpg (on the trip computer so could be realistically a bit lower)
So last night I tried to replace one of the rear air struts on the Lexus LS430.
Amazingly simple to do, just 4 bolts for the struts and the air line connection was push-fit. It actually took way longer to remove the rear bench seats as they're electric, heated, massage etc etc so had what felt like a million connectors to remove.
Anyway, I fitted the spare strut I was given when I bought the car. It looked in okay condition but I had no idea if it was any good and the story behind how he got them was very vague.
Sadly it leaked worse than the one I already had.
A quick search online brought up a few second hand struts for £100-300 range but in all honesty, I'm not sure if I'd take the gamble buying a second hand one as the one I had looked perfect to the eye but leaked badly. A new strut, as far as I could gauge was ~£800. I'd imagine that the other side rear strut is not to far behind in terms of life expectancy.
So I've gone total shed repair and I've ordered the cheapest set of coilovers I could find. £120 delivered, brand new. All I've read online for them was bad reviews, that the ride is terrible, they don't last long etc etc. But I've a friend who's had them on his shed Honda HRV for the past 2 years that hasn't got too many complaints. Sure they're not as good as a top brand coilover, but at 2 years he's only now had an issue of one leaking, the replacement? £40.
So I'm taking the gamble, its a cheap repair, but its a cheap car. The other options are north of 800 quid so I'm going to give the 120 quid option a go first.
Wish me luck next week when I fit them
For now though, I'm using the other shed, the 500 notes 34 year old Volvo that is completely dependable. I've almost finished prepping the replacement doors for paint so maybe in the new year I'll get the whole car painted up as the doors are mostly gaffer tape at the moment
Amazingly simple to do, just 4 bolts for the struts and the air line connection was push-fit. It actually took way longer to remove the rear bench seats as they're electric, heated, massage etc etc so had what felt like a million connectors to remove.
Anyway, I fitted the spare strut I was given when I bought the car. It looked in okay condition but I had no idea if it was any good and the story behind how he got them was very vague.
Sadly it leaked worse than the one I already had.
A quick search online brought up a few second hand struts for £100-300 range but in all honesty, I'm not sure if I'd take the gamble buying a second hand one as the one I had looked perfect to the eye but leaked badly. A new strut, as far as I could gauge was ~£800. I'd imagine that the other side rear strut is not to far behind in terms of life expectancy.
So I've gone total shed repair and I've ordered the cheapest set of coilovers I could find. £120 delivered, brand new. All I've read online for them was bad reviews, that the ride is terrible, they don't last long etc etc. But I've a friend who's had them on his shed Honda HRV for the past 2 years that hasn't got too many complaints. Sure they're not as good as a top brand coilover, but at 2 years he's only now had an issue of one leaking, the replacement? £40.
So I'm taking the gamble, its a cheap repair, but its a cheap car. The other options are north of 800 quid so I'm going to give the 120 quid option a go first.
Wish me luck next week when I fit them
For now though, I'm using the other shed, the 500 notes 34 year old Volvo that is completely dependable. I've almost finished prepping the replacement doors for paint so maybe in the new year I'll get the whole car painted up as the doors are mostly gaffer tape at the moment
My Daughter's 2007 Suzuki Swift is starting to get a bit scabby.
Bought 4 years ago for £1200 at 74000 miles and the subject of neglect and abuse ever since.
It's been pretty reliable. The only non consumables have been a crank position sensor, a rear wheel bearing and a pair of rear wheel cylinders.
It's due an MOT, so I have been giving it a quick once over. Noticed a smell of petrol when checking the state of the rear brake lines.
The filler neck had rotted through. A pattern replacement was £65 and it was only a 30 minute job to fit.
It's been a good car, but if I'd known how long it was going to last, I would have given it a proper soaking with waxoyl. I think rust will be the death of it. The front crossmember is looking pretty rough.
Hopefully will get the winter out of it and then find her something a bit newer.
It's been a cracking first car for her.
Bought 4 years ago for £1200 at 74000 miles and the subject of neglect and abuse ever since.
It's been pretty reliable. The only non consumables have been a crank position sensor, a rear wheel bearing and a pair of rear wheel cylinders.
It's due an MOT, so I have been giving it a quick once over. Noticed a smell of petrol when checking the state of the rear brake lines.
The filler neck had rotted through. A pattern replacement was £65 and it was only a 30 minute job to fit.
It's been a good car, but if I'd known how long it was going to last, I would have given it a proper soaking with waxoyl. I think rust will be the death of it. The front crossmember is looking pretty rough.
Hopefully will get the winter out of it and then find her something a bit newer.
It's been a cracking first car for her.
magpie215 said:
Well, this time next week I will definitely be in receipt of an MOT fail.
Not sure what else the tester will pick up.
I'll do all the obvious stuff and see how big the list is.
mercedeslimos said:
magpie215 said:
Scary how fast they rot. I find that most of my cars which were sold new in Ireland have been fine, and UK imports that came over after 2/3 years old have been in a far worse shape underneath. The only car I've scrapped because of rust underneath and not on bolt-on panels was a '97 MK3 Golf, imported from the UK when it was 10 years old. Like a rusty barge underneath and most of the MOT patch panels were glued in from the carpet side with tiger seal! I'll see what they quote to get a fresh ticket and take it from there.
Pat H said:
My Daughter's 2007 Suzuki Swift is starting to get a bit scabby.
Bought 4 years ago for £1200 at 74000 miles and the subject of neglect and abuse ever since.
It's been pretty reliable. The only non consumables have been a crank position sensor, a rear wheel bearing and a pair of rear wheel cylinders.
It's due an MOT, so I have been giving it a quick once over. Noticed a smell of petrol when checking the state of the rear brake lines.
The filler neck had rotted through. A pattern replacement was £65 and it was only a 30 minute job to fit.
It's been a good car, but if I'd known how long it was going to last, I would have given it a proper soaking with waxoyl. I think rust will be the death of it. The front crossmember is looking pretty rough.
Hopefully will get the winter out of it and then find her something a bit newer.
It's been a cracking first car for her.
I've had some rough cars but I've never seen that happen before.Bought 4 years ago for £1200 at 74000 miles and the subject of neglect and abuse ever since.
It's been pretty reliable. The only non consumables have been a crank position sensor, a rear wheel bearing and a pair of rear wheel cylinders.
It's due an MOT, so I have been giving it a quick once over. Noticed a smell of petrol when checking the state of the rear brake lines.
The filler neck had rotted through. A pattern replacement was £65 and it was only a 30 minute job to fit.
It's been a good car, but if I'd known how long it was going to last, I would have given it a proper soaking with waxoyl. I think rust will be the death of it. The front crossmember is looking pretty rough.
Hopefully will get the winter out of it and then find her something a bit newer.
It's been a cracking first car for her.
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