The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
The joy of running an old shed:
When you come back to your car in a car park and someone's squeezed into a space leaving you very little space to get into the driver's seat. Just get on with it and squeeze into the driver's seat trying your best not to keep bumping your door against the neighbouring car.
Mind you, I'm not that much more bothered if I have to do it in the Porsche - it's not a garage queen.
When you come back to your car in a car park and someone's squeezed into a space leaving you very little space to get into the driver's seat. Just get on with it and squeeze into the driver's seat trying your best not to keep bumping your door against the neighbouring car.
Mind you, I'm not that much more bothered if I have to do it in the Porsche - it's not a garage queen.
Following a 8 year break from shedding I am back with an £800 Toyota Avensis, in gold (maybe silver, hard to say). So far it's had 2 drop links and 2 wheel bearings. The boot handle plastic is loose and the aircon doesn't work. There is a lot of noise coming from the aux belt (suspected a/c compressor), and it is in desperate need of a service. On the other hand, it's very economical, very cheap to insure, and should be reasonably reliable. I would love to fix the aircon, but it's a bit like stepping into the unknown. Could be a simple joint which needs replacing, or could be a new compressor at £170 plus the labour to fit and suddenly I have a £400 bill to fix an £800 car.
Condi said:
Following a 8 year break from shedding I am back with an 800 Toyota Avensis, in gold (maybe silver, hard to say). So far it's had 2 drop links and 2 wheel bearings. The boot handle plastic is loose and the aircon doesn't work. There is a lot of noise coming from the aux belt (suspected a/c compressor), and it is in desperate need of a service. On the other hand, it's very economical, very cheap to insure, and should be reasonably reliable. I would love to fix the aircon, but it's a bit like stepping into the unknown. Could be a simple joint which needs replacing, or could be a new compressor at 170 plus the labour to fit and suddenly I have a 400 bill to fix an 800 car.
Same here, my Vectra for a grand, it's Aircon is knackered (well blowing warm), I'm thinking I will just leave it too, like you it's say step into the unknown, and will just open the window (it's cheaper)Mr.Nobody said:
Any recommendations on a possible car to look at?
Buy on condition, not brand. I've had 150,000 mile Audi's, 150,000 Pugs, and 150,000 Toyota's. Each has been as reliable or unreliable as the next, but if you can find something which has been looked after and well maintained then it will be a better buy than looking for a single brand. Ford or Pergout parts will be cheaper than BMW or Land Rover parts. Cars these days age a lot better than they used to, and a well maintained and cared for car will do 200k without much issue.
Condi said:
Buy on condition, not brand. I've had 150,000 mile Audi's, 150,000 Pugs, and 150,000 Toyota's. Each has been as reliable or unreliable as the next, but if you can find something which has been looked after and well maintained then it will be a better buy than looking for a single brand. Ford or Pergout parts will be cheaper than BMW or Land Rover parts.
Cars these days age a lot better than they used to, and a well maintained and cared for car will do 200k without much issue.
I’ve found a local Rover 75 with the 2.0 BMW Diesel Engine with a lot of work being done to it, plus paperwork and receipts, stamped book for £2500 with 93k on an 04 plate. Cars these days age a lot better than they used to, and a well maintained and cared for car will do 200k without much issue.
Mr.Nobody said:
Condi said:
Buy on condition, not brand. I've had 150,000 mile Audi's, 150,000 Pugs, and 150,000 Toyota's. Each has been as reliable or unreliable as the next, but if you can find something which has been looked after and well maintained then it will be a better buy than looking for a single brand. Ford or Pergout parts will be cheaper than BMW or Land Rover parts.
Cars these days age a lot better than they used to, and a well maintained and cared for car will do 200k without much issue.
I’ve found a local Rover 75 with the 2.0 BMW Diesel Engine with a lot of work being done to it, plus paperwork and receipts, stamped book for 2500 with 93k on an 04 plate. Cars these days age a lot better than they used to, and a well maintained and cared for car will do 200k without much issue.
aaron_2000 said:
I'd rather spend a grand less on a good E46 320d and have a much more enjoyable car to drive, or spend the same 2500 and get a 525d or E320cdi. There's a lot of better cars for 2500, for a grand the 75 would make a lot more sense.
I see what your saying. They would be a better drivers car. This has had a lot of work done from brand new tyres, brake pads and discs, air con regassed with a new condenser and thermostat, brake lines replaced, new callipers, new alternator and battery, full service and all suspension components replaced.Mr.Nobody said:
Any recommendations on a possible car to look at?
Get the cleanest Golf mk4 out there, and that's it. Make sure that it does not have A.C. or anything just to release any hassle and run it until it dies.I've got a late 90s model, for £750, 1.6 SE, 8v and Auto (Petrol). Two M.O.T.'s gone so far, never left me stranded.
I am so gutted right now.
Got side swiped as I entered a road someone was waiting at and they set off into the side of me before I had cleared them.
Was a free car off a friend and I spent a fair amount of money getting it straight, crank sensor, two new arms wheel bearing, back box, catalyst and a few other bits.
Genuinely wasn't a bad motor! AC even worked.
Only serviced it again last weekend.
Now will likely get buttons back for it as they immediately said they were stationary.
Not even possible!
Got side swiped as I entered a road someone was waiting at and they set off into the side of me before I had cleared them.
Was a free car off a friend and I spent a fair amount of money getting it straight, crank sensor, two new arms wheel bearing, back box, catalyst and a few other bits.
Genuinely wasn't a bad motor! AC even worked.
Only serviced it again last weekend.
Now will likely get buttons back for it as they immediately said they were stationary.
Not even possible!
Mr.Nobody said:
Hoofy said:
I can't imagine that a French or British shed is more reliable for work purposes than a German car. That said, I'd only put my money on a Japanese car from Toyota or Honda if it's about reliability.
Any recommendations on a possible car to look at?Mr.Nobody said:
I’m open to suggestions.
Vectra,avensis,mondeo,saab 93? If I was in your predicament I don't think I'd be looking at anything but vag but I do like most of the early 2000s models.boras,tourans,passat estates etc etc.There's actually a very clean rover 75 in york on AT for £1400. Even has the same horrible interior my dads had all them years ago
Mr.Nobody said:
Ryyy said:
Oo dear oh dear. I wouldn't be paying 2.5k for a rover 75 either, there's got to be far better options for your money? 
I’m open to suggestions.A 75 that’s been looked after will command strong money in 75 terms; maybe £3-4k now, but genuinely good ones rarely appear now. Anything around the £1k mark is probably on its last legs, or would require a decent amount of investment to bring it up to scratch.
I paid £2k for my Tourer almost five years ago, at the time it was relatively strong money for one, but then it was a good example. It’s a diesel auto, bought for motorway commuting. It had 90k when I bought it, it’s now on 162k. I’ve invested in replacing worn suspension parts and addressing the usual common issues, but the headline fact is that over the past 72k miles since I’ve had it, it’s never let me down or left me stranded. Everything works, very comfortable, immense value for money for £2k given the use I’ve had from it so far.
Many will advise against a Rover because of the badge or the image, look past these frivolities and buy wisely, you can end up with a cracking car.
My 162k mile estate:
Toyota Auris 1.6 petrol.
Honestly, a bulletproof car. As far as am aware no common faults, nothing goes wrong on these.
Purchased wife's in Nov 2016. Didn't like going into first gear properly. Got it cheap for that reason.
Gave it a full service + all fluids changed including gearbox oil and then a yearly engine oil change since then. Never missed a beat. Never spent a day off the road apart from a battery change.
Can be had for £1500 now. I would have got one for my work duties but didn't want two exact same cars on the drive. So I got a diesel estate Avensis instead for myself.
Honestly, a bulletproof car. As far as am aware no common faults, nothing goes wrong on these.
Purchased wife's in Nov 2016. Didn't like going into first gear properly. Got it cheap for that reason.
Gave it a full service + all fluids changed including gearbox oil and then a yearly engine oil change since then. Never missed a beat. Never spent a day off the road apart from a battery change.
Can be had for £1500 now. I would have got one for my work duties but didn't want two exact same cars on the drive. So I got a diesel estate Avensis instead for myself.
Depends what you want. There's just so much information lacking as to your preference.
Data from 65 cars and somewhere about 120,000 miles a month would show that Laguna 3 diesels are pretty good - probably as reliable as a petrol Yaris, which is saying something.
We've had a diesel Auris or 2, plus a few other cars running 2.0 Toyota diesel engines, and they have not been the paragons of virtue that people claim them to be. The turbos have a habit of failing oil seals for example. As a result, I now tend to look for the 1.4 Toyota diesel, or the 2.4, and nothing in between.
We also run a few Megane 3's which are tediously reliable. Uncanny, given their reputation. The Mk2 less so.
The newer Peugeot petrol engines I tend to avoid, especially if they have VVti - Peugeot don't seem to be able to make a decent petrol engine at the moment. But any of the diesel engines from 2010 or later are pretty decent, including the DV6, which is a bit of a surprise.
We run several Volvo D5 engines that have been great. But they do require maintenance, and are especially fond of suspension bushes and handbrakes. But these are not likely to leave you stranded, so they are good for us.
Fords of all descriptions have been a bit rubbish, and had expensive maintenance issues.
Vaux Astras have been pretty good - we have 5 1.7 cdti versions that are very decent indeed, and pretty decent to drive. But the 1.4 corsa 4 we had was very poor, and we haven't bought any since.
Of course the Yaris is excellent, petrol or diesel. In 3 years running several, they have broken down twice - both times through running out of fuel. But I don't like the 3 cylinder 1.0 engine. Though I have come to like the C1 / 107 / Aygo thing, and now have 5 or 6 of them. They are pretty tough, but the clutch is prone to failure.
I personally have a Saab 9-3 diesel, and I like it very much, though I haven't had it long enough to judge reliability. The older petrol one was OK ish, but did require a fair bit of work, mainly wheel bearings, brakes, and a coolant leak. But I loved that car. Really loved it, and was very upset when my Mrs wrote it off.
I don't have any Hondas, or multiple examples of other models to be able to comment on.
Data from 65 cars and somewhere about 120,000 miles a month would show that Laguna 3 diesels are pretty good - probably as reliable as a petrol Yaris, which is saying something.
We've had a diesel Auris or 2, plus a few other cars running 2.0 Toyota diesel engines, and they have not been the paragons of virtue that people claim them to be. The turbos have a habit of failing oil seals for example. As a result, I now tend to look for the 1.4 Toyota diesel, or the 2.4, and nothing in between.
We also run a few Megane 3's which are tediously reliable. Uncanny, given their reputation. The Mk2 less so.
The newer Peugeot petrol engines I tend to avoid, especially if they have VVti - Peugeot don't seem to be able to make a decent petrol engine at the moment. But any of the diesel engines from 2010 or later are pretty decent, including the DV6, which is a bit of a surprise.
We run several Volvo D5 engines that have been great. But they do require maintenance, and are especially fond of suspension bushes and handbrakes. But these are not likely to leave you stranded, so they are good for us.
Fords of all descriptions have been a bit rubbish, and had expensive maintenance issues.
Vaux Astras have been pretty good - we have 5 1.7 cdti versions that are very decent indeed, and pretty decent to drive. But the 1.4 corsa 4 we had was very poor, and we haven't bought any since.
Of course the Yaris is excellent, petrol or diesel. In 3 years running several, they have broken down twice - both times through running out of fuel. But I don't like the 3 cylinder 1.0 engine. Though I have come to like the C1 / 107 / Aygo thing, and now have 5 or 6 of them. They are pretty tough, but the clutch is prone to failure.
I personally have a Saab 9-3 diesel, and I like it very much, though I haven't had it long enough to judge reliability. The older petrol one was OK ish, but did require a fair bit of work, mainly wheel bearings, brakes, and a coolant leak. But I loved that car. Really loved it, and was very upset when my Mrs wrote it off.
I don't have any Hondas, or multiple examples of other models to be able to comment on.
Mr.Nobody said:
aaron_2000 said:
I'd rather spend a grand less on a good E46 320d and have a much more enjoyable car to drive, or spend the same 2500 and get a 525d or E320cdi. There's a lot of better cars for 2500, for a grand the 75 would make a lot more sense.
I see what your saying. They would be a better drivers car. This has had a lot of work done from brand new tyres, brake pads and discs, air con regassed with a new condenser and thermostat, brake lines replaced, new callipers, new alternator and battery, full service and all suspension components replaced.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff