Running a banger cost effective?

[gazza285]

p4cks said:

The OP wants A CAR!

Another CAR! you mean?

[J4CKO]

_Hoppers said:

J4CKO said:

Six miles shouldn't get anyone hot and sweaty

I sweat like a bd when I do any exercise, depends on the individual I guess?

Ditto, I did a Kettlebell class with my wife yesterday at the gym and had sweat in my eyes, on my glasses, I was sodden.

However, a gentle six miles on a bike, though its exercise, it can be pretty gentle if you dont go mad. Depends on your level of fitness, but I am sixteen and a bit stone, though I do stuff I am no athlete by any means and I dont get sweaty unless I am climbing or getting into silly commuter racing.

[anonymous-user]

If your banger is too banged up, it might become...wait for it... A push car.

It wasn't worth the wait, was it?

That was a rhetorical question.

The answer is plainly 'no'.

[singlecoil]

Fatlad1973 said:

singlecoil said:

MC Bodge said:

singlecoil said:

MC Bodge said:

...It's interesting how some people can be so scared of things that others just do...

Using emotive terms won't bolster your argument. Deciding that something isn't worth the risk (even if it's a small one) is not fear driven, it's a cost/benefit calculation.

Bolster my argument? Somebody asserted that riding bikes on the road was crazy and only lunatics would do it.

Ps. The cost of cycling to work is miniscule. The benefits are multiple. Even riding to work in the rain is better than driving to work in traffic.

You're ignoring the risk in that equation. The risk, I agree, is small but the consequences of being struck by a car with an inattentive driver are easily potentially life changing if not actually fatal. You choose not to concern yourself with that risk but it doesn't mean that it isn't there.

I'm not a cyclist but have toyed with the idea of cycling 12 mile into Manchester City centre to work. I doubt I'd ever do it and I would worry about the risk. However, really that's bullst as my drinking is way more of a risk to my health. For a serious analysis of the risks (and upside rewards to longevity) from cycling see: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/06/13/bicycli...

Thanks for the link, especially the part that shows that for distance travelled, cycling is approximately 6 times more dangerous than driving. On the stretch of road I would need to use, I would put the figure higher than that.

[p4cks]

Singlecoil, why do you insist on arguing and/or trying to vehemently prove you point on here. You’ve ruined this thread with your inane off topic chat and you did the same to the Trials of Finding a New Job thread too.

It’s incredibly tiresome

[singlecoil]

p4cks said:

Singlecoil, why do you insist on arguing and/or trying to vehemently prove you point on here. You’ve ruined this thread with your inane off topic chat and you did the same to the Trials of Finding a New Job thread too.

It’s incredibly tiresome

Surprise random attack, I really have no idea what on earth you are on about. I am doing nothing other than responding to points made to me, just as everybody else is doing. If you have an issue with that I suggest you either use the 'report' button or STFU.

[Hoofy]

at the suggestion that cycling in the rain is better than sitting in a car. Even the thought of cycling in the rain makes me feel icky.

WRT risk, the risk is low but if you get hit, it could kill you or result in lifechanging injuries because some pillock was Facebooking, a bit like the reverse of winning the lottery. It's not just about the percentages but what the "reward" is if the percentages play out.

[gazza285]

singlecoil said:

Thanks for the link, especially the part that shows that for distance travelled, cycling is approximately 6 times more dangerous than driving. On the stretch of road I would need to use, I would put the figure higher than that.

Yep, six times incredibly small is still incredibly small.

[singlecoil]

gazza285 said:

Yep, six times incredibly small is still incredibly small.

In which case I think it's ok for you to continue cycling.

I, on the other hand, will continue to drive my commute and will enjoy the benefits of doing so. Included in those benefits are having the car with me, should I need to go an visit a customer during the day, but there's quite a few others.

As far as the OP's question goes, I thoroughly recommend buying a cheap car. He may not get lucky with the first one but compared to the cost of buying new he could probably go through half a dozen bangers and still be quids in.

[SidewaysSi]

What about a scooter and use it on the pavement?

[Taylor James]

Joey Deacon said:

If you are the sort of person who doesn't mind working on cars yourself then definitely, my experience over the last two years:

September 2017 I bought an 07 Renault Megane DCi 1.5 with 61k on the clock for £1200. 60MPG all day long, £30 road tax and nothing went wrong in 24K miles. Only costs were 4 tyres (£208), a set of wiper blades (£20) and two services with eBay filters and oil (£30 each time). Still have it actually, currently my backup shed although my mum wants it.

August 2019 got a bit bored of owning a diesel so ended up buying a 55 plate Honda Civic 2.0 Type S for £720 from eBay. Full main dealer Honda history from new, the previous owner spent £1100 on servicing, brakes and a knock sensor in the last 18 months. I have done 1K miles in it now and can confirm it is a good car apart from a few clonks over big bumps (suspect drop links). I have spent 10 hours cleaning it, spent £12 on some mats and another £10 on touch up paint. Only thing I have had to repair is the indicator in the wing mirror which is the whole indicator unit, not just a bulb. Honda wanted £65, got a copy part from eBay from china for £9 delivered (which looks exactly the same anyway).

My tip would be to get something unfashionable that has been properly looked after by it's previous owners. What you don't want is to buy is something that has been run on a shoestring for the last few years of it's life and is one MOT advisory away from the scrapheap.

Always check the online MOT history, if the car has failed and then scraped a pass every year with multiple advisories I would steer well clear. You want a car that has as few fails as possible and then for minor things like bulbs, tyres and wiper blades.

If you are the sort of person who doesn't even like lifting the bonnet then shedding is definitely not for you.

There are thousands of good sheds out there on eBay, half the fun I find is the investigation and spotting the good ones.

This is all good advice but particularly the bit in bold. You can always sell a car with a long MOT so I want at least 9 months on any car I buy. I also try an buy locally so I know the garage that issued the MOT and garages that may have done work on the car.

Expect to fix a few things like a broken door mirror or a sticking seat but avoid anything major like tricky reverse gear, bad oil leaks, etc as you're likely to spend too much money chasing something a previous owner couldn't fix. You should know within a fortnight if you've bought a good or bad car and if it's the latter cut your losses and move on.

My current shed is Peugeot 307. Cost £600 with a year's MOT. New tyres all round and bills for getting it through its last test. The radiator developed a crack at the weekend and a new one was £28 from ECP and 30 minutes to fit. The cost ceiling I have on the car is £1200 including purchase price and the only other spending has been £200 on a new a/c condensor and refill plus a set of new oem mats for £25 on ebay.

Everything now works and it's ok to drive and safe to leave anywhere. I reckon it will need a clutch before too long so I'll decide on that based on cost when there's still plenty of MOT left. If it's too costly and there are any other faults the car will go on ebay with a £100 start price and I'll move onto the next one.

I'm still planning to change my garage to a three car combo of a shed, modern fast toy and classic. Sheds are brilliant for everyday driving. In a typical week I'll be visiting the tip, builders' merchant and garden centre and not fretting about damage and mess is great. I was driving a Corsa which other drivers liked to squeeze but the Peugeot is much bigger and tends to be ignored.

Don't be daft and buy a complex old thing with loads of problems.

[The Mad Monk]

singlecoil said:

As far as the OP's question goes, I thoroughly recommend buying a cheap car. He may not get lucky with the first one but compared to the cost of buying new he could probably go through half a dozen bangers and still be quids in.

Yes, but he already has a car (hasn't he?), the economics of buying another 'station car', don't add up.

[nobrakes]

You need to make sure you are ok with the standard of safety and reliability that you’ll be running around in too.

How handy are you with a spanner and how happy are you organising garage drop offs and pick ups etc.

[singlecoil]

The Mad Monk said:

singlecoil said:

As far as the OP's question goes, I thoroughly recommend buying a cheap car. He may not get lucky with the first one but compared to the cost of buying new he could probably go through half a dozen bangers and still be quids in.

Yes, but he already has a car (hasn't he?), the economics of buying another 'station car', don't add up.

Petrolsmasher said:

I'm wanting to keep my car in good condition and not leave it in a busy car park all day. So I'm tempted to buy a 500 quid banger to use purely for the commute to work.

Cheers

[Pothole]

Bakazan said:

Pothole said:

OP:

I'm running a 1998 civic at the moment. Total cost for 11 months has been £900ish plus petrol. It's not exciting but it is reliable and comfortable. It's reasonably quiet now I've put new tyres on it. I've not serviced it yet but I will as long as it passes the MOT in October without costing too much.

Costs:

purchase 175
ticket 100
MOT 190
tyres 160
fan resistor 12
flasher relays 24
tax 270 (12 months)


Would have been £100 less had I not been unlucky and got stopped for no MOT on the trip home from Poole to Cannock...

I only bought it to save riding my motorcycle in the winter but it's to good to let go and I'll use it this winter, too. I reckon the MOT will cost about the same as the same bits will be needed on opposite sides to what failed last time (a shock and a bush) I might even have a go at those myself. There's no glamour or fun attached but purely as a functional item I don't care enough about to even lock most of the time, it's perfect.

Sorry to go off topic (although I think that cause is lost already) - but is it only £100 fine to get caught without an MOT? Were there any other repercussions such as points or having to declare this to insurance?

For the record I cycle for some of my commute and use the phrase "push bike".

Nope. Non-endorsable offence. FPN at the roadside, £100 fine, no points. I have never commuted by pushbike. I would if it was miles or less and not 20 miles of M6!

[_Hoppers]

fernando the frog said:

guy asks if running a banger is cost effective

is then told by multiple people to buy weatherproofs and a bicycle

you people are fking ridiculous

It sound rediculous to me to buy a car just for a 6 mile commute!

[singlecoil]

_Hoppers said:

It sounds ridiculous to me to buy a car just for a 6 mile commute!

Suggest an alternative, maybe?

[Monkeylegend]

_Hoppers said:

It sound rediculous to me to buy a car just for a 6 mile commute!

Yes but this is Petrolsmasher/Dieseluser we are talking about here.

Nothing is simple or straightforward in his PH existence

[chris4652009]

Pothole said:

Bakazan said:

Pothole said:

OP:

I'm running a 1998 civic at the moment. Total cost for 11 months has been £900ish plus petrol. It's not exciting but it is reliable and comfortable. It's reasonably quiet now I've put new tyres on it. I've not serviced it yet but I will as long as it passes the MOT in October without costing too much.

Costs:

purchase 175
ticket 100
MOT 190
tyres 160
fan resistor 12
flasher relays 24
tax 270 (12 months)


Would have been £100 less had I not been unlucky and got stopped for no MOT on the trip home from Poole to Cannock...

I only bought it to save riding my motorcycle in the winter but it's to good to let go and I'll use it this winter, too. I reckon the MOT will cost about the same as the same bits will be needed on opposite sides to what failed last time (a shock and a bush) I might even have a go at those myself. There's no glamour or fun attached but purely as a functional item I don't care enough about to even lock most of the time, it's perfect.

Sorry to go off topic (although I think that cause is lost already) - but is it only £100 fine to get caught without an MOT? Were there any other repercussions such as points or having to declare this to insurance?

For the record I cycle for some of my commute and use the phrase "push bike".

Nope. Non-endorsable offence. FPN at the roadside, £100 fine, no points. I have never commuted by pushbike. I would if it was miles or less and not 20 miles of M6!

Did they not have you for lack of road tax?

[MC Bodge]

singlecoil said:

_Hoppers said:

It sounds ridiculous to me to buy a car just for a 6 mile commute!

Suggest an alternative, maybe?

Not buying an extra car.
Car sharing.
Cycling.
Public transport.