The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
A500leroy said:
Love my Panda to bits and no reason to change, but i keep looking and dreaming of different vehicles, whats wrong with me?
I always wonder that too (not about you in particular), I’ve got a fun shed and a newer car with nice paint but still can’t help imagining what car(s) to replace them with.Only had the newer one a year and just flew through it’s MOT.
I waste a lot of brain cycles on this and should seek help too.
I do like this thread as usually it’s pistonheads enjoying their current car that isn’t the latest and shiniest, grounding.
It was the yellow paper and the blue paper... bi-weekly, 20 words per ad, no images and you had the pick of pretty much anything. You phoned the bloke, aye I know... phoned, imagine that... and then had the briefest of exchanges, which basically consisted of asking what petrol station to meet in and when then you enlisted a mate to drive you to said location whilst clutching a few £20 notes and also hoping it wasn't on fire / stolen / a ringer / rotten whilst safe in the knowledge that even if it was all of the above, you were buying it anyway.
Not one f**k was given about MOT history (or if it even had one) and service history was more about how many times it'd been through Dixon's front window or round Knockhill but again, you didn't care.
Does it drive?
Aye...
That'll do me.
Simpler times!
Not one f**k was given about MOT history (or if it even had one) and service history was more about how many times it'd been through Dixon's front window or round Knockhill but again, you didn't care.
Does it drive?
Aye...
That'll do me.
Simpler times!
I used to only buy cars that scrap yards were full of, so Cortinas, Cavaliers, Fiestas, Sierras, I lived about 3 miles from one of the biggest scrap yards in Yorkshire and cars were so simple then that you could keep them running for years on a shoestring with second hand parts being so readily available.
I bought my first car from a scrapyard, mk2 Ford Escort 1.3 Ghia, spent two years pulling bits of it apart and putting it together again - fantastic time that I would happily do all over again. KRU221W if you're still out there I'd love to have you back, doubt it though as the MOT history ended several years ago 
Davie said:
It was the yellow paper and the blue paper... bi-weekly, 20 words per ad, no images and you had the pick of pretty much anything. You phoned the bloke, aye I know... phoned, imagine that... and then had the briefest of exchanges, which basically consisted of asking what petrol station to meet in and when then you enlisted a mate to drive you to said location whilst clutching a few £20 notes and also hoping it wasn't on fire / stolen / a ringer / rotten whilst safe in the knowledge that even if it was all of the above, you were buying it anyway.
Not one f**k was given about MOT history (or if it even had one) and service history was more about how many times it'd been through Dixon's front window or round Knockhill but again, you didn't care.
Does it drive?
Aye...
That'll do me.
Simpler times!
Absolutely.Not one f**k was given about MOT history (or if it even had one) and service history was more about how many times it'd been through Dixon's front window or round Knockhill but again, you didn't care.
Does it drive?
Aye...
That'll do me.
Simpler times!
Many times we would swap cars without any money changing hands. My worse swap was a 1968 Mini Cooper S in original form for an Austin princess, the wedge shape.
On the subject of scrapyards, I've run something sheddy for years and one of the main buying criteria was "Are there several of them at the local breakers" and if the answer was "Yes" it wasn't an indication of how crap it was, but way to ensure running costs were next to nothing and as a result over the years I've sourced loads of parts for next to nothing.
My current V50 diesel has had its fare share this year... and I have a wee stash of bits, most of which are nigh on new including two rear calipers, rear shocks and a few odds and ends sensors. A dead 12 plate Focus Style also donated it's front strut assemblys and rear upper shock mounts for the MOT earlier this year.
The biggest issue is that sweet spot for shedding in that sense is drying up... older cars, ie early 2000 era stuff is getting rarer in breakers and modern, Uber complex stuff just doesn't appeal to me as a shed as many are just one electrical meltdown off being a total loss.
The future worries me... God knows what I'll do as it is getting increasingly challenging running sheds on a budget as said budget seems to creep year in year, which is part and parcel of life I guess.
Fire up the DeLorean, take me back to 1998!
My current V50 diesel has had its fare share this year... and I have a wee stash of bits, most of which are nigh on new including two rear calipers, rear shocks and a few odds and ends sensors. A dead 12 plate Focus Style also donated it's front strut assemblys and rear upper shock mounts for the MOT earlier this year.
The biggest issue is that sweet spot for shedding in that sense is drying up... older cars, ie early 2000 era stuff is getting rarer in breakers and modern, Uber complex stuff just doesn't appeal to me as a shed as many are just one electrical meltdown off being a total loss.
The future worries me... God knows what I'll do as it is getting increasingly challenging running sheds on a budget as said budget seems to creep year in year, which is part and parcel of life I guess.
Fire up the DeLorean, take me back to 1998!
My dad is nearing a house move, and I've gently reminded him that being 50 miles away, I won't be available as a dial-a-tip-taxi,
He just bought a standard new Micra. Seems to like it, but he's going to have kittens when he realises how much stuff he needs to clean out and how little he wants to use the Micra/how useless it is at that task.
So sheddists, what do you recommend? This will involve loads of 2 mile runs and need to carry loads. Not necessarily dirty as less garden waste and more general crap. Massive Volvo estate (harder to get with shed money) or Zafira were my early spots. I imagine the Zafira with rear seat delete is a strong choice?
He just bought a standard new Micra. Seems to like it, but he's going to have kittens when he realises how much stuff he needs to clean out and how little he wants to use the Micra/how useless it is at that task.
So sheddists, what do you recommend? This will involve loads of 2 mile runs and need to carry loads. Not necessarily dirty as less garden waste and more general crap. Massive Volvo estate (harder to get with shed money) or Zafira were my early spots. I imagine the Zafira with rear seat delete is a strong choice?
Zafiras get slated on here by many... but in the shed thread, let's not lower ourselves to such nonsense and instead ignore the image or whatever stereotype any given car may conjour up and so as far as Zafiras go, the first versions are getting properly rare these days, I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road aside for a couple of well cared for GSi versions locally. And oddly, the last of line "Tourer" models also seem mega rare, though not shed candidates so I digress. That puts you in Zafira B territory and to be fair, they're actually pretty good sheds given they literally are the size of a decent shed with the seats down. My mother in law ran on 61 plate 1.6 16v Energy for about 2yrs... treated it like the obligitory 60 something rural dwelling lady with zero mechanical sympathy would and it never really put a foot wrong. Granted, slow, uninvolved to drive, feels a bit basic and cheap but a fine tool for doing removals, doubling up as a skip and carting many people around in. Buy well and don't wreck it and you'd probably get your cash back as there seems to be a reasonable demand for big, cheap family tools / sheds post Covid. Granted there are many alternatives that will do X, Y or Z better, faster, cheaper or with more flair but that's pretty much the case with any car.
Davie said:
On the subject of scrapyards, I've run something sheddy for years and one of the main buying criteria was "Are there several of them at the local breakers" and if the answer was "Yes" it wasn't an indication of how crap it was, but way to ensure running costs were next to nothing and as a result over the years I've sourced loads of parts for next to nothing.
My current V50 diesel has had its fare share this year... and I have a wee stash of bits, most of which are nigh on new including two rear calipers, rear shocks and a few odds and ends sensors. A dead 12 plate Focus Style also donated it's front strut assemblys and rear upper shock mounts for the MOT earlier this year.
The biggest issue is that sweet spot for shedding in that sense is drying up... older cars, ie early 2000 era stuff is getting rarer in breakers and modern, Uber complex stuff just doesn't appeal to me as a shed as many are just one electrical meltdown off being a total loss.
The future worries me... God knows what I'll do as it is getting increasingly challenging running sheds on a budget as said budget seems to creep year in year, which is part and parcel of life I guess.
Fire up the DeLorean, take me back to 1998!
Worries me too. I've had my 106 for six years now but it can't last forever. I have this mad idea of buying a Scimitar GTE, dropping in a Ford Zetec 2.0 and running it till I die. Shonky GTEs are just about the last proper classic car still available at shed money, but the Ford V6 was never much cop if we're honest about it.My current V50 diesel has had its fare share this year... and I have a wee stash of bits, most of which are nigh on new including two rear calipers, rear shocks and a few odds and ends sensors. A dead 12 plate Focus Style also donated it's front strut assemblys and rear upper shock mounts for the MOT earlier this year.
The biggest issue is that sweet spot for shedding in that sense is drying up... older cars, ie early 2000 era stuff is getting rarer in breakers and modern, Uber complex stuff just doesn't appeal to me as a shed as many are just one electrical meltdown off being a total loss.
The future worries me... God knows what I'll do as it is getting increasingly challenging running sheds on a budget as said budget seems to creep year in year, which is part and parcel of life I guess.
Fire up the DeLorean, take me back to 1998!
I've used the same scrappy for over 20 years. When I bought the 206 I bobbed over to see, I said do you have many 206 in Milt to which he laughed in my face and told me to poke my head around the cabin, there were dozens of them in fact one had arrived on the trailer as I got there, I'm spoilt for choice.
stanglish said:
My dad is nearing a house move, and I've gently reminded him that being 50 miles away, I won't be available as a dial-a-tip-taxi,
He just bought a standard new Micra. Seems to like it, but he's going to have kittens when he realises how much stuff he needs to clean out and how little he wants to use the Micra/how useless it is at that task.
So sheddists, what do you recommend? This will involve loads of 2 mile runs and need to carry loads. Not necessarily dirty as less garden waste and more general crap. Massive Volvo estate (harder to get with shed money) or Zafira were my early spots. I imagine the Zafira with rear seat delete is a strong choice?
My old Zafira made an admirable shed. As easy to own as an Astra but it can cart a lot more stuff around. I think they were regarded as a low rent alternative to the Sharan/Alhambra/Galaxy but in shedding terms that wasn’t a bad thing because it helped keep the prices down.He just bought a standard new Micra. Seems to like it, but he's going to have kittens when he realises how much stuff he needs to clean out and how little he wants to use the Micra/how useless it is at that task.
So sheddists, what do you recommend? This will involve loads of 2 mile runs and need to carry loads. Not necessarily dirty as less garden waste and more general crap. Massive Volvo estate (harder to get with shed money) or Zafira were my early spots. I imagine the Zafira with rear seat delete is a strong choice?
aaron_2000 said:
I'm thinking of getting something cheaper on fuel to run with the RR for a little while, just a cheap 3 digit car that doesn't cost much to fuel. Likely an early 00s Clio or a MK4 Fiesta for my girlfriend to learn in while I run the RR.
Wow thought youd make to the end of Sunday before that thought crept in..
The Joy of RENTING an old shed 
I was in France for the weekend, and looked at the usual rental companies before leaving: £99 for a small car for 47 hours (we all do that
) after having paid £37 in Poland few weeks ago seemed pretty bad.
So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners". £51 for the Mini Cooper....with open roof
, dent on the front and back bumper, broken windscreen (in few areas) and missing pieces of trim outside and inside (I fixed the fallen door armrest beacuse I am so kind - and the damn plastic door was hurting me with the armrest in the boot).
Same as owning: at almost 100k miles, with so many dents and scratches, not much to worry about while driving or parking it. The checkout took less than a minute: the guy just made sure I didn't had an accident with it, check fuel, note mileage, and that was it Peace of mind 
Will do again!
I was in France for the weekend, and looked at the usual rental companies before leaving: £99 for a small car for 47 hours (we all do that
) after having paid £37 in Poland few weeks ago seemed pretty bad. So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners". £51 for the Mini Cooper....with open roof
, dent on the front and back bumper, broken windscreen (in few areas) and missing pieces of trim outside and inside (I fixed the fallen door armrest beacuse I am so kind - and the damn plastic door was hurting me with the armrest in the boot).Same as owning: at almost 100k miles, with so many dents and scratches, not much to worry about while driving or parking it. The checkout took less than a minute: the guy just made sure I didn't had an accident with it, check fuel, note mileage, and that was it
Peace of mind Will do again!cedrichn said:
The Joy of RENTING an old shed
So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners".
If that existed here (does it..?) I'd fear I'd spend far too much time trying out random cars I've always been curious about, even without any actual need to rent something.So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners".
+1 on Zafiras, my grandfather ran an early (2002) 1.8 auto for 11 years, no issues at all, and passed it on to my cousin as family transport. It had 'OAP' in the number plate, one of the reasons he bought it in the first place! I still see some around, although some look very neglected/abused. Very popular with the car boot sale enthusiasts I hear (I've never been so can't comment, I just recall reading that somewhere). I have debated whether I could stomach a later Zafira as a family tool but I'm leaning towards the previously suggested RX450h or a CR-V - neither currently shed budget granted.
RenesisEvo said:
cedrichn said:
The Joy of RENTING an old shed
So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners".
If that existed here (does it..?) I'd fear I'd spend far too much time trying out random cars I've always been curious about, even without any actual need to rent something.So....I gave a go at "renting from private owners".
That's why I took the Mini: I told my girlfriend it was for the open roof, but in fact, I always wanted to try one! I "can't" buy one because I am bored of seeing them everywhere (mainly with old women with inflated lips - sorry 757!
), but I "had" to understand what was the fuss about them: this was the perfect occasion I found that for you : https://uk.getaround.com/
(I played with it 2 mins, and it looked a bit expensive.... :/)
RenesisEvo said:
If that existed here (does it..?) I'd fear I'd spend far too much time trying out random cars I've always been curious about, even without any actual need to rent something.
+1 on Zafiras, my grandfather ran an early (2002) 1.8 auto for 11 years, no issues at all, and passed it on to my cousin as family transport. It had 'OAP' in the number plate, one of the reasons he bought it in the first place! I still see some around, although some look very neglected/abused. Very popular with the car boot sale enthusiasts I hear (I've never been so can't comment, I just recall reading that somewhere). I have debated whether I could stomach a later Zafira as a family tool but I'm leaning towards the previously suggested RX450h or a CR-V - neither currently shed budget granted.
There's a place up here in Newcastle that rents out sheds weekly/monthly with no ongoing contract. Currently has a 58 plate 2.0d Mondeo for £60 p/w, an 09 c3 1.6d for £60 p/w and a 16 plate 208 diesel for £85.+1 on Zafiras, my grandfather ran an early (2002) 1.8 auto for 11 years, no issues at all, and passed it on to my cousin as family transport. It had 'OAP' in the number plate, one of the reasons he bought it in the first place! I still see some around, although some look very neglected/abused. Very popular with the car boot sale enthusiasts I hear (I've never been so can't comment, I just recall reading that somewhere). I have debated whether I could stomach a later Zafira as a family tool but I'm leaning towards the previously suggested RX450h or a CR-V - neither currently shed budget granted.
Fairly reasonable I suppose.
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