The Joy of Running an Old Shed

[g3org3y]

aaron_2000 said:

The Brummie said:

I have been running sheds for years.

Spent £800 on my E46 6 weeks ago - and today the ungrateful bh broke her clutch!!!!

Not happy. Think I’ll scrap her as can’t be arsed to spend anymore money on her.

Offer it to Nick Jupp on the E46 Owners Club FB group, great guy to deal with when it comes to anything E46.

Speaking of E46s, just done a deal on a <£1k 330 Coupe. Collecting this weekend. Updates to come.

Not sure whether to get rid of the Polo Shed or keep them both. Wife will not be happy!

[MR2 Steve]

What’s the most fun shed that has a big boot for tip duties.

My Astra although a shed is just a bit too small. And definitely not fun.

[magpie215]

epicfail said:

I have a 156k mile Citroen C4 1.4 - not exactly a PH type motor; perhaps I make up for it with two Alfa GTV's.

Anyway... the C4 has done it's duty to my family since 2005. The top end is getting a bit loud when cold but not quite Talbot Horizon territory yet. It seems keen to remain alive, I had the clutch done at 100k and the second cambelt at 140k. The issue with old sheds is knowing when to draw it to an end. It's been getting muck in the expansion tank since 2011, I got it properly serviced earlier this year and was informed that the head gasket was kaput - maybe it is but the old thing keeps going.

Chuck some k seal in the c4...keep it going a bit longer

[g3org3y]

MR2 Steve said:

What’s the most fun shed that has a big boot for tip duties.

My Astra although a shed is just a bit too small. And definitely not fun.

BMW E36 Touring in 328 flavour?

[MR2 Steve]

g3org3y said:

BMW E36 Touring in 328 flavour?

Too old and too much maintenance?

[egor110]

MR2 Steve said:

g3org3y said:

BMW E36 Touring in 328 flavour?

Too old and too much maintenance?

Saab 9-5 aero

[StescoG66]

Accord 2.4?

[g3org3y]

MR2 Steve said:

g3org3y said:

BMW E36 Touring in 328 flavour?

Too old and too much maintenance?

Mechanically v decent ime (as long as you watch the cooling system), rust will be your enemy.

I ran mine from 126k to 214k (2012-2019). Would recommend.

[MR2 Steve]

g3org3y said:

Mechanically v decent ime (as long as you watch the cooling system), rust will be your enemy.

I ran mine from 126k to 214k (2012-2019). Would recommend.

Good shedding. I don’t want something that old.

The accord 2.4 is on the list. Not sure it would be “fun” though.

[Squirrelofwoe]

MR2 Steve said:

Good shedding. I don’t want something that old.

The accord 2.4 is on the list. Not sure it would be “fun” though.

The 2.4 with 6-speed manual is a pretty good steer to be fair. I bought mine after getting rid of a DC2 Integra and an Accord Type R, and needing a one-car does all solution that wasn't going to be tedious to drive- so it had pretty big boots to try and fill

4 years later I've still got the Accord, despite no longer being in a one-car situation. It costs peanuts to run & maintain, the boot is cavernous, and it's of the age (2004) where the Executive spec meant it's got some pretty modern toys too- electric soft-close tailgate, rain-sensing wipers etc.

Seating position is very good, and the VTEC engine loves to rev. Obviously it's not in the same league as some of the proper 'Sports' estates, but at shed budget it's got to be one of the more enjoyable estates to drive.

Pic of mine with my previous ATR:

[MR2 Steve]

Sounds ideal and anything has to be more fun than the current Astra H 1.6.

[Squirrelofwoe]

MR2 Steve said:

Sounds ideal and anything has to be more fun than the current Astra H 1.6.

My dad had a 2004 Astra 1.8 SRi (also in one of the pics above), and that was a truly hateful thing to drive in comparison to anything I've owned. Steering that felt like it was connected to the wheels with bungie cords, a 1k wide power band, awful seating, a 'sport' button that simply turned on the sport button light, and smaller inside than my old Mk4 Ford Escort. It was even starting to rust in places.

The one thing to watch with the 2.4 Accord is to try and get a pre-2006 one for the cheaper tax (£280ish)- post 06 and you'll be paying £500-odd a year!

Also make sure the electric tailgate works as this is £££ to fix/replace, and if you can find one with the optional roof bars they are like gold dust.

Executive spec is the one to go for as you get all the toys (including an excellent premium sound system), the 'S' spec drops some of the toys but does give the sportier looking side-skirts and bumpers.

[Roger Irrelevant]

I'll second the 2.4 Accord suggestion - they're top of my 'what will I try to get if my current car blows up and I need a cheap estate in a hurry' list. I believe the pre-facelift (so 2003/4) 2.4s had xenon headlights too, weirdly they went to halogens post-facelift. I mention that because the halogens on the 2.0 I had were utterly ste and blew with alarming regularity.

[Squirrelofwoe]

Roger Irrelevant said:

I'll second the 2.4 Accord suggestion - they're top of my 'what will I try to get if my current car blows up and I need a cheap estate in a hurry' list. I believe the pre-facelift (so 2003/4) 2.4s had xenon headlights too, weirdly they went to halogens post-facelift. I mention that because the halogens on the 2.0 I had were utterly ste and blew with alarming regularity.

Mine certainly does.

Then I get in my TVR which feels like someone has attached a pair of candles to the front of the bonnet.

[slipstream 1985]

mercedeslimos said:

georgezippy said:

Update on the sheds (above post 6 months ago)
Audi needed a track rod end for the MOT and I had the aircon re-gassed as worked but rather averagely, now ice cold.
Just done a faultless trip to France, and another week away in UK,1200 miles in August alone, all with roof load and bikes on the back. I didn't get European breakdown cover as I just knew I wouldn't need it. It chugs on.......



The Saab also is fine and the only thing I have done to it in 2019 is fix a dodgy headlamp relay with a soldering iron.

Shame as I really want an EV......

Just saw this. Did a double-take. Wondered why a picture of my car had a roof rack and bike carrier. Same bum-down stance, same green and same wheels.

Looks like you are 50 miles away from the hive city of armageddon

[L1OFF]

Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 (my 3rd one), 2001 paid £1300 for it. Has passed 3 MOT's in my keeping, I've bought an exhaust and 4 tyres in that time. Where I live (narrow country lanes) it just gets chucked into hedges and abused regularly. Hasn't missed a beat, I might even give it an oil change sometime.

[M4cruiser]

designforlife said:

Not sure if my Toyota counts as a "shed" per se,

It's definitely a shed, it even looks the same shape and colour as the shed in my garden!

[Khaki Suit]

The Brummie said:

I have been running sheds for years.

Spent £800 on my E46 6 weeks ago - and today the ungrateful bh broke her clutch!!!!

Not happy. Think I’ll scrap her as can’t be arsed to spend anymore money on her.

You're doing it wrong. If a car breaks and makes you unhappy then it's not a shed. Shedding is care free liberating motoring.

[The Brummie]

Khaki Suit said:

The Brummie said:

I have been running sheds for years.

Spent £800 on my E46 6 weeks ago - and today the ungrateful bh broke her clutch!!!!

Not happy. Think I’ll scrap her as can’t be arsed to spend anymore money on her.

You're doing it wrong. If a car breaks and makes you unhappy then it's not a shed. Shedding is care free liberating motoring.

Decided to get the bh repaired.

Cost so far up to £540.00. And rising......

[Lemming Train]

It's a BMW. Still considered a premium car with premium running/parts costs. Premium cars generally don't make for cheap shedding unless you get really lucky or you only paid £100 for it so you don't care if it blows up a month later. Low end and mid range priced cars when new are better bets for cheap longer term shedding and parts cost buttons because you don't have to pay the marque tax.