The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

Author
Discussion

cedrichn

812 posts

50 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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TomWCL7 said:
Morning gents

[...]

To qualify further the above, the Octavia has been faultless in the 2 and a bit years we've had it but lacks soul in any form - a perfect family bus whilst the kids have been tiny tiny with the peace of mind of warranty cover, I'd have another second hand if it wasn't for the horror stories about VAG TSi engines lack of longevity, it's also costing me 215 a month before any fuel has gone in so I'd like to reduce that outgoing.

I always had sheds before this and am happy enough with basic servicing, bigger jobs are something I want to start turning my hands to now I have a decent sized garage for the first time in my life.
I think we all vote for our shed, or we would not be here biggrin I have a 2008 C5, and really like it. The PSA petrol engines (1.8, 2.0, 2.2) from this era are really robust and simple. I would advise for any C5 (even the one before mine, if you are OK with the style) or Peugeot 407 (start to be a bit old, but really robust).

Only real weaknesses are the front suspension can be a bit tired (bushes are prone to fail every 50k) and some have leaky steering column (looks like
one or few wrong batch). If this is good, rock on!

Having a good garage is really great to start doing mechanics on your car! I moved from "pavment" to "driveway", and already feel great about it coolbiggrin

757

3,123 posts

110 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Fellow shedders, with this cost of living crisis, I am quite smug in the fact that when I look out the window and see my shed on the drive all paid for not costing nothing in reality, other than "psychologically" denting my image when I drive around in it biggrin

I feel many people, well I know friends in my inner circles from when we all met up at the pub yesterday, starting to feel the pinch with their PCP/Lease (insert other ways of buying cars here) they are quite open to me talking how they are really thinking about what to do now.

I have never been in this situation where I paid XXX amount for a car every month really, maybe a personal loan a few years back, but that was before I saw the light of the "Joys of running a shed" and a lightbulb went off in my head to the fact I can get a perfectly usable/safe/modern car for the price of a new iPhone biggrin bonkers isn't it!

Anyway, good luck out there guys and girls.

Edited by 757 on Thursday 26th May 09:24

NateWM

1,684 posts

178 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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mattman said:
I often find that you can pick up a replacement set of wheels and tyres from FB Marketplace for less than a refurb - and then sell the original wheels to offset the purchase price. Of course, it depends how good your tyres are on the original wheels as it if its worth it


Edited by mattman on Wednesday 25th May 16:47
Very true, but these wheels came with brand new michelin pilot sports, so I'll be keeping them.....plus i really like these wheels hehe

Challo

10,043 posts

154 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
757 said:
Fellow shedders, with this cost of living crisis, I am quite smug in the fact that when I look out the window and see my shed on the drive all paid for not costing nothing in reality, other than "psychologically" denting my image when I drive around in it biggrin

I feel many people, well I know friends in my inner circles from when we all met up at the pub yesterday, starting to feel the pinch with their PCP/Lease (insert other ways of buying cars here) they are quite open to me talking how they are really thinking about what to do now.

I have never been in this situation where I paid XXX amount for a car every month really, maybe a personal loan a few years back, but that was before I saw the light of the "Joys of running a shed" and a lightbulb went off in my head to the fact I can get a perfectly usable/safe/modern car for the price of a new iPhone biggrin bonkers isn't it!

Anyway, good luck out there guys and girls.

Edited by 757 on Thursday 26th May 09:24
Im looking to sell my current car clear the loan and then hopefully get a shed to tide me over.

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Due to a family illness I am having to cover Yorkshire>Hampshire and back on a regular basis at present. My shed Mercedes is taking it in its stride and is a remarkably pleasant ride to sit with cruise on for 4.5 hours with a podcast. Had it a year now when I bought it as a stop gap when my Aston was AWOL needing a tranche of work leaving me carless for a chunk of time.

No real work done on it other than a good clean, some paintwork patched up and scratches filled in. Fitted a battery cut off as I often leave he car a month or so at a time without using it. Added a private plate that was sat on retention.

This weekend I am going to use the Renovo hood restorer (navy blue) to see how well the roof comes up.

Only issues have been headlight bulb which I replaced the other week, and a few OBD fault codes showing running a touch lean on one bank. Passed MOT last November with no issue. Oh, and occasionally shows an indicator bulb fault on the dash which I think is slightly crooked wiring in the auto-close mirrors to the wing mirror indicator (seems a common fault). Really can't fault it.

On the "nice to do" list, I am minded to get the alloys refurbished and also to replace the stereo which has laminate peel across the front. Would be nice to have proper car play rather than the £10 bluetooth adapter too. However, at a cost of £500 its a quarter of the cars value so questioning both of these.

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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I just took a punt on a facelift E39 525d touring with a manual box. No MOT, Cat N (Literally a scratch), 238k and a dead battery. No idea how I'll get it home or if it even runs well, but for £800 I'm willing to find out smile

ferrisbueller

29,262 posts

226 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
aaron_2000 said:
I just took a punt on a facelift E39 525d touring with a manual box. No MOT, Cat N (Literally a scratch), 238k and a dead battery. No idea how I'll get it home or if it even runs well, but for 800 I'm willing to find out smile
Book an MOT and put a battery in it!

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
aaron_2000 said:
I just took a punt on a facelift E39 525d touring with a manual box. No MOT, Cat N (Literally a scratch), 238k and a dead battery. No idea how I'll get it home or if it even runs well, but for 800 I'm willing to find out smile
Book an MOT and put a battery in it!
It's currently in Bratford and I'm currently figuring out how I'm going to get it home without a car or anyone available for a lift. Current plan is to buy a battery, fit it for the drive home and then return it tomorrow laugh

ferrisbueller

29,262 posts

226 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
aaron_2000 said:
ferrisbueller said:
aaron_2000 said:
I just took a punt on a facelift E39 525d touring with a manual box. No MOT, Cat N (Literally a scratch), 238k and a dead battery. No idea how I'll get it home or if it even runs well, but for 800 I'm willing to find out smile
Book an MOT and put a battery in it!
It's currently in Bratford and I'm currently figuring out how I'm going to get it home without a car or anyone available for a lift. Current plan is to buy a battery, fit it for the drive home and then return it tomorrow laugh
Visions of lugging a battery on the train. That'll be a fair size one, too!

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
ferrisbueller said:
aaron_2000 said:
ferrisbueller said:
aaron_2000 said:
I just took a punt on a facelift E39 525d touring with a manual box. No MOT, Cat N (Literally a scratch), 238k and a dead battery. No idea how I'll get it home or if it even runs well, but for 800 I'm willing to find out smile
Book an MOT and put a battery in it!
It's currently in Bratford and I'm currently figuring out how I'm going to get it home without a car or anyone available for a lift. Current plan is to buy a battery, fit it for the drive home and then return it tomorrow laugh
Visions of lugging a battery on the train. That'll be a fair size one, too!
I'm thinking taxi to Euro then to the car or a taxi up to my local garage to borrow their jump pack then to the car

mattman

3,174 posts

221 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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Forgive me shedders, for i have sinned.....

I have just purchased some touch up paint and a replacement gearknob for the E88 - both ebay though, i'm not made of money!

It is shed value, but i can't help myself and faff with it - i see the stone chips and feel the pull of touching them up - its wrong, i know I should leave it as is but i have failed.

It was meant to just be a summer shed to fiddle with, but i actually quite like driving it and its pretty economical too being the 120d

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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A500leroy

5,085 posts

117 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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aaron_2000 said:
Back suspensions had it.

757

3,123 posts

110 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
aaron_2000 said:
Comes already stanced! #stancenation smile

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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A500leroy said:
aaron_2000 said:
Back suspensions had it.
It's been sat since October, never seen an air system that doesn't sag after months of sitting. Even if the bags are screwed I can get a new pair for £70. That pic is from earlier, I'll see what it's like when I gat some charge to it and start it

Shnozz

27,423 posts

270 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
aaron_2000 said:
I'm thinking taxi to Euro then to the car or a taxi up to my local garage to borrow their jump pack then to the car
FLYSAIL Car Jump Starter, 800Amp Car Battery Booster Jump Starter for Up to 6.0L Gas or 3.0L Diesel Engine,12-Volt Portable Jump Starter Power Pack with Smart Clamp Cables, USB Quick Charge, Kit Bag https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PB4F95Q/ref=cm_sw_r...

A must have for every shedder I would have thought.

Use mine all the time and bloody brilliant things. Started the 4.3 L Aston with no struggle either. Wouldn’t be without mine.

wpa1975

8,604 posts

113 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
aaron_2000 said:
A500leroy said:
aaron_2000 said:
Back suspensions had it.
It's been sat since October, never seen an air system that doesn't sag after months of sitting. Even if the bags are screwed I can get a new pair for 70. That pic is from earlier, I'll see what it's like when I gat some charge to it and start it
Would that have air suspension at that age?

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
wpa1975 said:
aaron_2000 said:
A500leroy said:
aaron_2000 said:
Back suspensions had it.
It's been sat since October, never seen an air system that doesn't sag after months of sitting. Even if the bags are screwed I can get a new pair for 70. That pic is from earlier, I'll see what it's like when I gat some charge to it and start it
Would that have air suspension at that age?
They have self levelling bags at the rear. Pretty simple system, nothing that I'd be afraid of like say the ABC system on an old Benz or the P38 air system

aaron_2000

5,407 posts

82 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
FLYSAIL Car Jump Starter, 800Amp Car Battery Booster Jump Starter for Up to 6.0L Gas or 3.0L Diesel Engine,12-Volt Portable Jump Starter Power Pack with Smart Clamp Cables, USB Quick Charge, Kit Bag https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09PB4F95Q/ref=cm_sw_r...

A must have for every shedder I would have thought.

Use mine all the time and bloody brilliant things. Started the 4.3 L Aston with no struggle either. Wouldn’t be without mine.
Ordered one, cheers

TomWCL7

71 posts

60 months

Thursday 26th May 2022
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A500leroy said:
Back suspensions had it.
I've seen a lot worse driving around the estates here.