The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
Justatwist said:
How high mileage do you consider too high when purchasing a shed?
My previous 1.9tdi Fabia was on 180k when I bought it. It had plenty of history and ran very well. I sold it on after a few months as it became surplus to requirements but, a quick MOT check shows it racked up 35k miles in the following year and is still going strong.
My V70 2.0T is on 159k. My previous 1.9tdi Fabia was on 180k when I bought it. It had plenty of history and ran very well. I sold it on after a few months as it became surplus to requirements but, a quick MOT check shows it racked up 35k miles in the following year and is still going strong.
sgtbash said:
Currently, in love with my Vauxhall Insignia 
Costs me nothing to run, cost pretty much nothing in the first place, and I don't care about it being dinged in car parks or left in rough areas.
The boot is cavernous, it even has Bluetooth. What more could a man need
Oil Burner? If it is the 50p seal in the sump can kill an engine really quickly when it gets old and brittle Costs me nothing to run, cost pretty much nothing in the first place, and I don't care about it being dinged in car parks or left in rough areas.
The boot is cavernous, it even has Bluetooth. What more could a man need
If petrol happy days
aaron_2000 said:
I never pay attention to mileage on a cheap car as long as it's decent enough. If a car can get to 220k then clearly it's been somewhat maintained
Mondeo now on 222k, Feb 2011 car, bought at 182k in Dec 2019. According to my tracker app, that's 57 miles a day. Cost per mile €0.3277 (32.77 cent/mile) which includes purchase price, tax, insurance, roadworthiness test costs, tyres, services, any repair costs and a few mods here and there (new set of summer wheels, extra set of winter wheels, new leather interior, new headlamps, bulbs, new mats etc.) Far beyond the point now that the fuel cost has outweighed the purchase price.Haven't put in the stuff I just ordered but new shocks all around on the way, along with new top mounts all around, new polyurethane trailing arm bushes and some H&R lowering springs. That will bump the cost by another €600 but the original stuff is all worn and baggy so it deserves it after that mileage, plus we plan to keep it.
carinaman said:
Is that the first one box sea monster shape one or the second square shaped two box shape one?
It's the one birthed of ugly parents, living in Uglytown, and given regular beatings with an ugly stick. The one box shape from 2001 to 2007 ish. They are surprisingly tough and reliable, but as well as hurting your eyes to look at, they are slower than any ugly thing should be.
But the 2.0 hdi engine is excellent - tough smooth frugal. 6 or 7 of ours in this ilk have passed 300k without issues. Marvellous things.
bearman68 said:
carinaman said:
Is that the first one box sea monster shape one or the second square shaped two box shape one?
It's the one birthed of ugly parents, living in Uglytown, and given regular beatings with an ugly stick. The one box shape from 2001 to 2007 ish. They are surprisingly tough and reliable, but as well as hurting your eyes to look at, they are slower than any ugly thing should be.
But the 2.0 hdi engine is excellent - tough smooth frugal. 6 or 7 of ours in this ilk have passed 300k without issues. Marvellous things.
In for Vol 2 as wife's Mazda6 "Katano"* is firmly in shed territory even without the various dings and scrapes. We bought it 3 years ago on 75k for £1800 and it's now on 95kish. It has only needed a couple of sensors and a brake caliper in that time. The seats aren't great but it's not bad to drive. No idea about economy, soz, never bothered checking.
*Twin exhausts and a spoiler, get her!
*Twin exhausts and a spoiler, get her!
Megane shed MOT expires at the end of the month and a previous owner fitted an HID kit and LED side lights to the front. I know the MOT rules have changed now so I thought I would just rip it out and replace it with standard bulbs and not take the risk.
Obviously being a Megane the bumper has to come off if you want any sort of access to the back of the lights.
Luckily they had made a decent job of it and left all the original wiring in place as well. Also quite nice to see all the original date stickers on the radiators so I assume it has not had a frontal smack in the past.
Obviously being a Megane the bumper has to come off if you want any sort of access to the back of the lights.
Luckily they had made a decent job of it and left all the original wiring in place as well. Also quite nice to see all the original date stickers on the radiators so I assume it has not had a frontal smack in the past.
After selling my Giulia Veloce for very strong money and settling the finance, I was left with using my old 2cv for the commute or the 2010 Twingo that the kids tend to use. Heading for winter and the thought of salted roads has had me look for something more suitable. I've had a good look around Facebook marketplace, eBay and AutoTrader and nothing standing out.
A work colleague told me of a neighbour that was considering getting rid of his elderly C class Mercedes, so a deal has been done and I'll pick it up tomorrow - 2003 MB C200 Classic Kompressor in absolutely immaculate condition, only 77k miles. Tested until end of December, but I'll get another ticket on it before then to check it totally over. I used to run sheds but this one is at the other end of the shed spectrum!
A work colleague told me of a neighbour that was considering getting rid of his elderly C class Mercedes, so a deal has been done and I'll pick it up tomorrow - 2003 MB C200 Classic Kompressor in absolutely immaculate condition, only 77k miles. Tested until end of December, but I'll get another ticket on it before then to check it totally over. I used to run sheds but this one is at the other end of the shed spectrum!
Edited by chopper602 on Monday 18th October 17:21
Challo said:
bearman68 said:
carinaman said:
Is that the first one box sea monster shape one or the second square shaped two box shape one?
It's the one birthed of ugly parents, living in Uglytown, and given regular beatings with an ugly stick. The one box shape from 2001 to 2007 ish. They are surprisingly tough and reliable, but as well as hurting your eyes to look at, they are slower than any ugly thing should be.
But the 2.0 hdi engine is excellent - tough smooth frugal. 6 or 7 of ours in this ilk have passed 300k without issues. Marvellous things.
I've owned both of these and they were both great in terms of practicality. The Xsara Picasso is well inside shed territory now and C3 Picasso is approaching it.
The 2.0 HDi as mentioned is highly regarded. In 90ps it's a reliable workhorse of an engine, if a bit of a plodder. 40-45mpg realistically IMO in general use (although 55mpg + in very careful longer drives) Rear 3 seats come out completely to leave a MASSIVE load bay, effectively a van. Car is a bit quicker too with these seats out, which is sometimes how i left it. Downside is you need to somewhere to put the seats, shed/garage etc.
Chassis is (bear with me) actually good! When you push on, you can feel the relationship to the Xsara/306, a bit. There's a gallic flair there, somewhere. However. It's let down but the very twirly whirly steering which totally takes the edge off and numbs the reactions, as well as the car sitting higher up and feeling a bit ponderous - and the usual unhelpful There's a good chassis there...but it's quite hard to find and exploit.
The C3 Picasso is a similar external size to the XPIC - and has as much or more cabin space due to the very upright sides (the sides of the XPIC kinda curve inwards at the top). SO for the interior, that's great. Very good space front and rear.
However, in doing this, the boot is smaller both with seats up and seats down. Also, the seats can't be taken out. So whilst they do fold into the floor nicely, you aren't left with that HUGE load bay like on the XPIC.
1.6 hdi (90) to me was a good engine. It hasn't got the reputation for reliability of the older 2.0 but it's a nice engine to use, more flexible, quicker (to me) despite similar figures, and generally a good 5-7mpg more economical like for like. The car in general is more refined than the XPIC which you'd expect of a newer model.
Both cars suffered heavily from the Motability and/or grandad image, as thats who mainly bought them and were as mentioned available in some truly depressing colours. My C3 Picasso was metallic beige, for example.
However - for me - both cars were great. I'd have another of either without much quibble.
BUT - not unless i have to - i currently have a 2008 Ford S-Max....and it's a great car - although a fair chunk bigger than either.
aaron_2000 said:
I never pay attention to mileage on a cheap car as long as it's decent enough. If a car can get to 220k then clearly it's been somewhat maintained
^^This, my 58 plate Civic is on 146k, drives fine and if I am honest it does not feel like it has done the miles it has.Joey Deacon said:
Megane shed MOT expires at the end of the month and a previous owner fitted an HID kit and LED side lights to the front. I know the MOT rules have changed now so I thought I would just rip it out and replace it with standard bulbs and not take the risk.
Obviously being a Megane the bumper has to come off if you want any sort of access to the back of the lights.
Luckily they had made a decent job of it and left all the original wiring in place as well. Also quite nice to see all the original date stickers on the radiators so I assume it has not had a frontal smack in the past.
If your Megane has projector headlamps, you'd have been fine - if not, thats a wise move. Obviously being a Megane the bumper has to come off if you want any sort of access to the back of the lights.
Luckily they had made a decent job of it and left all the original wiring in place as well. Also quite nice to see all the original date stickers on the radiators so I assume it has not had a frontal smack in the past.
sgtbash said:
B'stard Child said:
Oil Burner? If it is the 50p seal in the sump can kill an engine really quickly when it gets old and brittle
If petrol happy days
Aye, it is. The job is £350 with a new oil pump. Not worth it for what I paid. I'll over fill the oil and take my chances If petrol happy days
I've done the job - isn't horrible just a bit of a faff in places
Thread on it here - clicky
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