The Joy of Running an Old Shed
Discussion
JaredVannett said:
So chaps, do an of your friends/family share your ideology on shedding.... or do they think you're crazy?
Im not too bothered about their choices.But they do seem to complain about big bills for cosmetic fixes and large servicing bills.
Also they seem to conveniently ignore depreciation.
Stangely I never worry about such things...carefree motoring for me thanks
Last year I bought a 2007 Kia cee’d sw for £1200. I’ve since done 10,000 miles in it. Had a suspension issue caused by rust that was fixed for £120, and have since serviced it and replaced the rear bushes and shocks.
I do around 20k a year. It’s comfortable enough, will sit happily at 80, does the tip run, returns 45-50mpg and on winters dealt with the snow like it wasn’t there. I can leave it anywhere, it attracts no attention anywhere and if it picks up dents so what.
With the preventative work I’ve done and will keep doing it should run for many more miles. While I’d like another car there is something refreshing about something that has no real depreciation left to do. I’ll probably keep it until it dies or diesels are banned and add something more interesting to run alongside it.
I do around 20k a year. It’s comfortable enough, will sit happily at 80, does the tip run, returns 45-50mpg and on winters dealt with the snow like it wasn’t there. I can leave it anywhere, it attracts no attention anywhere and if it picks up dents so what.
With the preventative work I’ve done and will keep doing it should run for many more miles. While I’d like another car there is something refreshing about something that has no real depreciation left to do. I’ll probably keep it until it dies or diesels are banned and add something more interesting to run alongside it.
Monkeylegend said:
We have an '03 Scenic, used for tip runs, shopping, and anything else my other half want to do. This is the newest car she has ever had.
She does about 12k miles a year in it and has been totally reliable for the last 5 years. We are playing cambelt roulette and although it has just gone through the mot it will probably not be worth spending to get it through next year.
This is our 3rd Scenic over the last 12 years, buy cheap, oil service and mot once a year and run them into the ground without a care in the world, very liberating
The search will be on for another one this time next year.
You can't beat a good bit of shed motoring.
I have an 2007 1.9 dci scenic for shed duties. Cheap, comfortable, good load space, reasonably pokey, 44mpg. Win.She does about 12k miles a year in it and has been totally reliable for the last 5 years. We are playing cambelt roulette and although it has just gone through the mot it will probably not be worth spending to get it through next year.
This is our 3rd Scenic over the last 12 years, buy cheap, oil service and mot once a year and run them into the ground without a care in the world, very liberating
The search will be on for another one this time next year.
You can't beat a good bit of shed motoring.
amoeba said:
Monkeylegend said:
We have an '03 Scenic, used for tip runs, shopping, and anything else my other half want to do. This is the newest car she has ever had.
She does about 12k miles a year in it and has been totally reliable for the last 5 years. We are playing cambelt roulette and although it has just gone through the mot it will probably not be worth spending to get it through next year.
This is our 3rd Scenic over the last 12 years, buy cheap, oil service and mot once a year and run them into the ground without a care in the world, very liberating
The search will be on for another one this time next year.
You can't beat a good bit of shed motoring.
I have an 2007 1.9 dci scenic for shed duties. Cheap, comfortable, good load space, reasonably pokey, 44mpg. Win.She does about 12k miles a year in it and has been totally reliable for the last 5 years. We are playing cambelt roulette and although it has just gone through the mot it will probably not be worth spending to get it through next year.
This is our 3rd Scenic over the last 12 years, buy cheap, oil service and mot once a year and run them into the ground without a care in the world, very liberating
The search will be on for another one this time next year.
You can't beat a good bit of shed motoring.
CinnamonFan said:
Same, wouldnt call mine punchy. I have the 2007 mk2 D4D 126bhp version. I wish I had the TR everyday for a bit more go! But it gets me about reliably, can throw anything in the boot. Currently on 165k miles, complete with a long scrape down the side and numerous other dings all for £1250 nearly a year ago! Given it one oil & filter change, but nothing else. Id planned to change the oil every 10k or yearly, why do you choose 7k? Would you recommend I do the same?
The early d4d (mine was the first year that engine was made) had 10k kilometre oil change service intervals, it was upped to 15k later which is about 10k miles. In my experience regular oil and proper warm up and cool down is the key to long life, especially on older turbo engines. There’s a notice above the sun visor advising 60-180 second cool down after a fast run or towing. A lot of this information/knowledge has been lost now, especially as a lot of people now driving turbo cars and treating them as white goods. I also recognise that engine and oil technology has improved.Mine is surprising power wise, it’s a twin cam 16 valve diesel, and revs really well. My garage queen is a c63, and funny I never jump in the avensis and think it’s short on power.
irish boy said:
Mine is surprising power wise, it’s a twin cam 16 valve diesel, and revs really well. My garage queen is a c63, and funny I never jump in the avensis and think it’s short on power.
There's a guy on one of the Mercedes forums who has an E63. It had an oil leak and he said it wasn't caused by his driving as he hardly ever revved it above 2000rpm.You don't do the same by any chance?
irish boy said:
CinnamonFan said:
Same, wouldnt call mine punchy. I have the 2007 mk2 D4D 126bhp version. I wish I had the TR everyday for a bit more go! But it gets me about reliably, can throw anything in the boot. Currently on 165k miles, complete with a long scrape down the side and numerous other dings all for £1250 nearly a year ago! Given it one oil & filter change, but nothing else. Id planned to change the oil every 10k or yearly, why do you choose 7k? Would you recommend I do the same?
The early d4d (mine was the first year that engine was made) had 10k kilometre oil change service intervals, it was upped to 15k later which is about 10k miles. In my experience regular oil and proper warm up and cool down is the key to long life, especially on older turbo engines. There’s a notice above the sun visor advising 60-180 second cool down after a fast run or towing. A lot of this information/knowledge has been lost now, especially as a lot of people now driving turbo cars and treating them as white goods. I also recognise that engine and oil technology has improved.Mine is surprising power wise, it’s a twin cam 16 valve diesel, and revs really well. My garage queen is a c63, and funny I never jump in the avensis and think it’s short on power.
I’m running a 2005 VW Passat Highline B5.5 1.9 Tdi. It’s just clocked up 100,000 and deserves a cam belt so found a Polish guy on checkatrade who will do it for £150 labour if I get the parts. Can’t beleive I got a Cambelt kit, water pump 2 x belts and 5 litres of coolant for £89...bargain!
Some new brake pads and 2 front tyres and it should be good for a few more miles.
It’s so reliable and as comfy as any new car. I wouldn’t get a new car as a workhorse/shopper even if I could afford one.
Some new brake pads and 2 front tyres and it should be good for a few more miles.
It’s so reliable and as comfy as any new car. I wouldn’t get a new car as a workhorse/shopper even if I could afford one.
v15ben said:
JaredVannett said:
So chaps, do any of your friends/family share your ideology on shedding.... or do they think you're crazy?
Virtually all my family, close friends and colleagues are in cars from 2015 or newer.They mostly drive very ordinary cars, so I'm never sure why they pay out so much in depreciation or finance payments for them.
They think I'm crazy driving a 10 plate, never mind the previous '03 Yaris I had.
Most of my friends are in almost new cars and many of those are on finance and maintenance packages and they can't work out how I manage to afford several more holidays and weekends away than they do every year...
there is something gratifying about pulling into tesco/asda/waitrose/B&Q etc car park knowing that you couldnt give a fig if some idiot scratches or dinks your shed.
no need to go find a space hundreds of metres over the far side of the car park to avoid other peoples doors opening onto your car.......
not even any worries about locking the damn thing - why bother.?
caught the wheel on the kerb - who cares?
go and shop at leisure without worrying or peering out of the store at every opportunity to check on your "baby" (been there and got the T-shirt).
not bothered about spotting some idiot trying to park within inches of your car (back forward back forward). Park how you like buddy its your car. knock yourself out if you damage it.
being able to tinker yourself (if you like tinkering) and do many cheap fixes easily at home.
yes if I won the lottery Id have a new car or two but I would still have a shed to blast about in and stuff full of rubbish or garden waste for the tip without having to line out the back of a nice car and worry about scratching the interior plastics or seats etc.
a good uninterrupted nights kip every night - not having your head on the pillow, eyes wide open, ears twitching at every noise you think you heard outside thinking some scrote might want to try and nick your car.
I could list the downsides too but thats not what the thread is asking about...........
no need to go find a space hundreds of metres over the far side of the car park to avoid other peoples doors opening onto your car.......
not even any worries about locking the damn thing - why bother.?
caught the wheel on the kerb - who cares?
go and shop at leisure without worrying or peering out of the store at every opportunity to check on your "baby" (been there and got the T-shirt).
not bothered about spotting some idiot trying to park within inches of your car (back forward back forward). Park how you like buddy its your car. knock yourself out if you damage it.
being able to tinker yourself (if you like tinkering) and do many cheap fixes easily at home.
yes if I won the lottery Id have a new car or two but I would still have a shed to blast about in and stuff full of rubbish or garden waste for the tip without having to line out the back of a nice car and worry about scratching the interior plastics or seats etc.
a good uninterrupted nights kip every night - not having your head on the pillow, eyes wide open, ears twitching at every noise you think you heard outside thinking some scrote might want to try and nick your car.
I could list the downsides too but thats not what the thread is asking about...........
JaredVannett said:
So chaps, do any of your friends/family share your ideology on shedding.... or do they think you're crazy?
I don't know anyone who doesn't drive old nails. I must be moving in the wrong circles. My best was a Saab 9000 that cost £70. The odometer stopped working at 450,000 miles. I replaced one section of exhaust and a tyre or two in about 30-40,000 miles of cruising. It rusted to death in the end.
I spunked £2k on a 13 year old, 100k flat 6 Subaru Outback and it’s one of the best cars i’ve owned. Does all the short trips, shopping, tip runs, carting stuff and people around with a barge-shed sense of progress and absence of drama. I plan to keep it forever. Oddly, the wife prefers it to my other car, a BMW i8.
Very liberating the feeling of not caring. This old dented farmers Scooby cost peanuts and we have had it for years, I did fit new shocks and re shimmed the A/C pump but that's about all.
When you have a shed you don't need a trailer either
Best bit was entering an autotest and getting second fastest time
When you have a shed you don't need a trailer either
Best bit was entering an autotest and getting second fastest time
don't even bother closing the door ...
We've had our 3 series touring for 10 years... It'll be its 14th birthday this autumn. When we first bought it, it was less than 4 years old, and fairly valuable. 10 years later, and it's worth more like a couple of grand on a good day. The car still feels the same to me... And I don't see the appeal of swapping it for something newer (yet)
I get the comments about not being too bothered about minor damage or curbed alloys... But on the other hand, taking a 14 year old car on a long motorway journey does give you that slight "will it break down?" anxiety... which I didn't get when it was newer
I get the comments about not being too bothered about minor damage or curbed alloys... But on the other hand, taking a 14 year old car on a long motorway journey does give you that slight "will it break down?" anxiety... which I didn't get when it was newer
v15ben said:
Anyone else have share the perverse joy of running a car they don't care about?
As much as I love the supercars, rarities and classics often posted on PH, there is something to be said about an old shed.
I'm currently running a '10 Nissan Pixo, rarely washed and complete with a decent-sized car park scrape.
It's nice being able to park anywhere, not care if it gets a dent or scratch and generally not worry about it.
Anyone else find an odd feeling of freedom and joy driving a crap car or am I just a bit weird?
I'm definitely with you on this! Maybe not a Pixo though, but I agree the concept.As much as I love the supercars, rarities and classics often posted on PH, there is something to be said about an old shed.
I'm currently running a '10 Nissan Pixo, rarely washed and complete with a decent-sized car park scrape.
It's nice being able to park anywhere, not care if it gets a dent or scratch and generally not worry about it.
Anyone else find an odd feeling of freedom and joy driving a crap car or am I just a bit weird?
The trick is to buy a car that's mechanically sound but cosmetically dodgy; and they are much cheaper than the other way round.
It's been some time since I've been in the financial position to run two cars - of any sort. My Jag is my only car, it's not worth much but it's in good condition, and I look after it.
My previous car was a £500 Saab 9-5 2.3 shed that I could genuinely leave wherever I fancied and not care. Before that a £400 Honda Accord SE Exec. The Accord was the most liberating car I've ever owned. It even got used as a tactical battering ram twice.
I do always keep the cars I run clean, at least on the inside, though. There's no excuse for being a scuzz, even if your car is a shed.
My previous car was a £500 Saab 9-5 2.3 shed that I could genuinely leave wherever I fancied and not care. Before that a £400 Honda Accord SE Exec. The Accord was the most liberating car I've ever owned. It even got used as a tactical battering ram twice.
I do always keep the cars I run clean, at least on the inside, though. There's no excuse for being a scuzz, even if your car is a shed.
2006 Nissan Primera. Smells a bit musty and has about as much in the looks department as John Merrick in lipstick but it’s done ok for a few years as my run to work/tip car. Park it and forget about it!
The ABS ring has cracked so I was offered the grand sum of £1 when looking to part ex for something of a newer runabout. I laughed and told them I’ll run it into the ground. It passed the MOT with no advisories and the heaters are amazing on a cold morning.
I just start it and let it warm up outside knowing no one would nick it as they wouldn’t want to be seen dead in it.
The ABS ring has cracked so I was offered the grand sum of £1 when looking to part ex for something of a newer runabout. I laughed and told them I’ll run it into the ground. It passed the MOT with no advisories and the heaters are amazing on a cold morning.
I just start it and let it warm up outside knowing no one would nick it as they wouldn’t want to be seen dead in it.
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