The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

[CivicDuties]

bodhi said:

tim jb said:

I think it's worth about £1500.

He's increased the price to £4700 today. It was £4500 yesterday.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236...

£4700 for a motor with 165000 miles on it. Boggles the mind but punters must be paying it. At that mileage you've got to factor in a new engine really. I don't mind installing engines and performing major surgery on cars but I might as well look for a decent condition non-runner at copart for a reflective price.

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

I've got a 2016 example in the same colour, only difference is mine is an automatic and it's only got 38k miles on it though. WBAC still values it at £10k, dealers sell them for £12-13k +. They're quite a sought after model because there isn't much like them out there - i.e. good sized estate car (not an SUV) with spacious interior and excellent load capacity (bigger than some Mercedes E Classes), well proven and robust, normally aspirated petrol engine with decent power (i.e. not a small capacity thing with turbos and all that stuff to go wrong, like TSIs and Ecoboosts). Torque converter auto (not an automated manual). Fun to drive, like a warm hatch, very economical and of course being a petrol ULEZ compliant. All those things are the reasons I bought mine 5 years ago, narrowing it down using those criteria there aren't many alternative models out there. Mine's been 100% reliable.

So, prices for them are punchy because people recognise that they're a bit of a rarity and are very good cars.

[tim jb]

-Lummox- said:

New shed acquired, what are the chances of being able to run this land yacht on shed budget???

That looks too nice to be a shed. Clean MOT history apart from the usual tyres and brakes. What sort of money?

[ferrisbueller]

CivicDuties said:

bodhi said:

tim jb said:

I think it's worth about £1500.

He's increased the price to £4700 today. It was £4500 yesterday.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236...

£4700 for a motor with 165000 miles on it. Boggles the mind but punters must be paying it. At that mileage you've got to factor in a new engine really. I don't mind installing engines and performing major surgery on cars but I might as well look for a decent condition non-runner at copart for a reflective price.

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

I've got a 2016 example in the same colour, only difference is mine is an automatic and it's only got 38k miles on it though. WBAC still values it at £10k, dealers sell them for £12-13k +. They're quite a sought after model because there isn't much like them out there - i.e. good sized estate car (not an SUV) with spacious interior and excellent load capacity (bigger than some Mercedes E Classes), well proven and robust, normally aspirated petrol engine with decent power (i.e. not a small capacity thing with turbos and all that stuff to go wrong, like TSIs and Ecoboosts). Torque converter auto (not an automated manual). Fun to drive, like a warm hatch, very economical and of course being a petrol ULEZ compliant. All those things are the reasons I bought mine 5 years ago, narrowing it down using those criteria there aren't many alternative models out there. Mine's been 100% reliable.

So, prices for them are punchy because people recognise that they're a bit of a rarity and are very good cars.

What sort of MPG do you get out of it?

[7 5 7]

Having a quick look on FB marketplace on my made up account just for shed hunting (quit FB personally years ago...) - and tell you what there are some cheap motors on here, think I may use this as a tool for local searching going forward if I need too.

Obviously a buyers nose and common sense is required of course to sieve out the crap - but for a roll of the dice for some cheap local N/A petrols, seems great!

[greenarrow]

7 5 7 said:

Having a quick look on FB marketplace on my made up account just for shed hunting (quit FB personally years ago...) - and tell you what there are some cheap motors on here, think I may use this as a tool for local searching going forward if I need too.

Obviously a buyers nose and common sense is required of course to sieve out the crap - but for a roll of the dice for some cheap local N/A petrols, seems great!

Yes, my wife and I were talking about this only the other day. It seems the cheap end of the market is returning to pre COVID levels. Plenty of sub grand motors out there now. I think people are struggling across the country and this is reflecting in prices. Maybe the last chance to bag a solid Mk1 Focus at banger money before inevitably these cars move into the usual Ford modern classic territory, which eventually they will do as numbers fall. The Focus apparently is the most scrapped car in the country at the moment. Must admit when my daughter takes her Astra H back with her to Manchester this August, I might be tempted to get myself another one as a run around. It just ticks all the boxes for me as a faithful workhorse.

[ThingsBehindTheSun]

Also the price of scrap cars has fallen by half recently which has dragged down the price of sub £1K cars.

[QBee]

greenarrow said:

7 5 7 said:

Having a quick look on FB marketplace on my made up account just for shed hunting (quit FB personally years ago...) - and tell you what there are some cheap motors on here, think I may use this as a tool for local searching going forward if I need too.

Obviously a buyers nose and common sense is required of course to sieve out the crap - but for a roll of the dice for some cheap local N/A petrols, seems great!

Yes, my wife and I were talking about this only the other day. It seems the cheap end of the market is returning to pre COVID levels. Plenty of sub grand motors out there now. I think people are struggling across the country and this is reflecting in prices. Maybe the last chance to bag a solid Mk1 Focus at banger money before inevitably these cars move into the usual Ford modern classic territory, which eventually they will do as numbers fall. The Focus apparently is the most scrapped car in the country at the moment. Must admit when my daughter takes her Astra H back with her to Manchester this August, I might be tempted to get myself another one as a run around. It just ticks all the boxes for me as a faithful workhorse.

Just use common sense here.

There are a lot of cars in the "too good to be true" bracket on Facebook Marketplace, in my opinion.

So have your wits about you.

[Raymond Reddington]

I didn't intend on running more than one shed as the extra insurance, tax and MOT costs defeat the point of cheap motoring, but I couldn't resist this one...

Back in 2016 I bought a 2007 Suzuki Swift Sport for £4650 from a Suzuki main dealer, kept it a little while, but it was too harsh and noisy for my commute.

My mum ended up buying it from me (I took quite a big loss with a family discount), and she's had it ever since. It's barely put a foot wrong although now it's a bit more rattly and is a Cat N after a minor car park ding last year which has been fully repaired.


She's getting a new car so I've agreed to take it on for the princely sum of around £600. I'd quite like to put some new suspension on it, but it drives lovely on around 100k miles now.

I'll post up some pics when I collect it next week.

[BenS94]

Raymond Reddington said:

I didn't intend on running more than one shed as the extra insurance, tax and MOT costs defeat the point of cheap motoring, but I couldn't resist this one...

Back in 2016 I bought a 2007 Suzuki Swift Sport for £4650 from a Suzuki main dealer, kept it a little while, but it was too harsh and noisy for my commute.

My mum ended up buying it from me (I took quite a big loss with a family discount), and she's had it ever since. It's barely put a foot wrong although now it's a bit more rattly and is a Cat N after a minor car park ding last year which has been fully repaired.


She's getting a new car so I've agreed to take it on for the princely sum of around £600. I'd quite like to put some new suspension on it, but it drives lovely on around 100k miles now.

I'll post up some pics when I collect it next week.

Love a Swift Sport - well, any Swift really, very revvy and fun. Underrated cars.

[OldSkoolRS]

QBee said:

Just use common sense here.

There are a lot of cars in the "too good to be true" bracket on Facebook Marketplace, in my opinion.

So have your wits about you.

My routine on FB was to put the car reg into Cazoo and see if it came up as 'sorry we can't buy this car as it has been previously involved in an accident' (or words to that effect). No need to go further and run a HPI check, so I'd move on to the next one. I found that maybe 1/3 of the cars that weren't listed as Cat S/N would turn out to be using this method.

Fair enough if you don't mind, but I always think it's better to look for the ones that admit it in the advert itself rather than trying to hide the fact. Even if in their defence they didn't realise, because that means there may be other issues with the car as to me it shows a general lack of awareness about the car.

[CivicDuties]

ferrisbueller said:

CivicDuties said:

bodhi said:

tim jb said:

I think it's worth about £1500.

He's increased the price to £4700 today. It was £4500 yesterday.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236...

£4700 for a motor with 165000 miles on it. Boggles the mind but punters must be paying it. At that mileage you've got to factor in a new engine really. I don't mind installing engines and performing major surgery on cars but I might as well look for a decent condition non-runner at copart for a reflective price.

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

I've got a 2016 example in the same colour, only difference is mine is an automatic and it's only got 38k miles on it though. WBAC still values it at £10k, dealers sell them for £12-13k +. They're quite a sought after model because there isn't much like them out there - i.e. good sized estate car (not an SUV) with spacious interior and excellent load capacity (bigger than some Mercedes E Classes), well proven and robust, normally aspirated petrol engine with decent power (i.e. not a small capacity thing with turbos and all that stuff to go wrong, like TSIs and Ecoboosts). Torque converter auto (not an automated manual). Fun to drive, like a warm hatch, very economical and of course being a petrol ULEZ compliant. All those things are the reasons I bought mine 5 years ago, narrowing it down using those criteria there aren't many alternative models out there. Mine's been 100% reliable.

So, prices for them are punchy because people recognise that they're a bit of a rarity and are very good cars.

What sort of MPG do you get out of it?

I'm not one for working out exact MPG figures, but to give you an idea last week I filled up at Lomondgate services in Dumbarton, and made it the 405 miles back to Reading with 100 miles range still showing on the dash - 2 adults, 1x 16 year old girl and one small dog on board, with luggage from a week's holiday in the boot. So 500 miles from what I think is a 50 litre tank. I'm pretty happy with that.

[ferrisbueller]

CivicDuties said:

ferrisbueller said:

CivicDuties said:

bodhi said:

tim jb said:

I think it's worth about £1500.

He's increased the price to £4700 today. It was £4500 yesterday.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202402236...

£4700 for a motor with 165000 miles on it. Boggles the mind but punters must be paying it. At that mileage you've got to factor in a new engine really. I don't mind installing engines and performing major surgery on cars but I might as well look for a decent condition non-runner at copart for a reflective price.

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

I've got a 2016 example in the same colour, only difference is mine is an automatic and it's only got 38k miles on it though. WBAC still values it at £10k, dealers sell them for £12-13k +. They're quite a sought after model because there isn't much like them out there - i.e. good sized estate car (not an SUV) with spacious interior and excellent load capacity (bigger than some Mercedes E Classes), well proven and robust, normally aspirated petrol engine with decent power (i.e. not a small capacity thing with turbos and all that stuff to go wrong, like TSIs and Ecoboosts). Torque converter auto (not an automated manual). Fun to drive, like a warm hatch, very economical and of course being a petrol ULEZ compliant. All those things are the reasons I bought mine 5 years ago, narrowing it down using those criteria there aren't many alternative models out there. Mine's been 100% reliable.

So, prices for them are punchy because people recognise that they're a bit of a rarity and are very good cars.

What sort of MPG do you get out of it?

I'm not one for working out exact MPG figures, but to give you an idea last week I filled up at Lomondgate services in Dumbarton, and made it the 405 miles back to Reading with 100 miles range still showing on the dash - 2 adults, 1x 16 year old girl and one small dog on board, with luggage from a week's holiday in the boot. So 500 miles from what I think is a 50 litre tank. I'm pretty happy with that.

Indeed! Decent. The dtecs are allegedly good for anything up to 80mpg, but then you've got to weigh that up against the added vulnerabilities of modern diesels.

[Davie]

bearman68 said:

Look, either love it or get rid of it. We've had 400 pages and 4 years of you pondering it's demise, and thinking to get something else. So, in the interests of being an internet warrior (worrier), I have decided to give you some advice, and I would advise that you get off the bloody fence.
None of this, 'yeah but what can I replace it with' rubbish. It's been going on for long enough. Marriages have come apart quicker than your love / hate relationship with the sheddy V50. Even countries have come and gone, and your Volvo is has seen more than it's fair share of both monarchs and PM's in its time with you.

So I feel obliged to tell you that you are dithering.

Mind you, I do enjoy your stories of the dither, and look forward to you posting musings over the ongoing debate about the V50, but that is still no excuse for your state of indecision.

Just came across this whilst catching up on what I've missed... and well played squire, well played though I have to ask, are you actually my wife as that's pretty much been her sentiments for the past 4yrs / 400 pages (or 6yrs / 37 threats of divorce) however there have been decisions made, changes happened and but you'll be delighted to learn that despite a rather mad week which has seen the 'ever brilliant but needed lots of work' XC70 departing after 3yrs and 40,000 miles (it will be missed) and being simultaneously replaced by a Transporter (because 'reasons') the V50 has come through the cossfire, smoke and tears and soldiers onwards and actually may find itself being used a bit more moving forwards as it plays wing man to the unnecessarily large van that almost fits on my drive now. Obviously said V50 has rewarded yet another bullet dodging by filling the OSF footwell with water and popping at headlihgt bulb. The bd. So yes, the story continues... for now...

[greenarrow]

bodhi said:

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

That's really interesting feedback about the Mk8 Civic. You always assume Civics are some of the best built cars out there. I know Hondas, like Mazdas, seem suspectible to rust as they age, but didnt know trim falls off and doors randomly don't open!

By contrast, the Astra H I am looking after (same generation as your Civic) exhibits none of those foibles. Not a single rattle or squeak, feels tight as a drum and no structural rust whatsoever.... interesting, given that Vauxhalls have an internet reputation for being, well a bit rubbish!

[Riley26]

I've still got a 51plate, 1 litre Suzuki swift. I bought 10 years ago for £500. Repairs wise a new caliper, brake pads shoes. New exhaust. Has been a good one. I imagine it still hasn't gone up in value. Though don't see many on the roads now.

[Riley26]

No power steering etc less to go wrong. Don't think I'll get a shed like it again

[egor110]

Bmw e90 320i.

Anyone have any horror stories ?

A neighbor has there's for sale , 55 reg £1600

[mickythefish]

I'm on the look out for a car.

1kish to spend.. If anyone fancies doing a bit of charity work lol special offer, unfortunately my last shed I lost over 1k on, out of work at moment and a need reliable cheap tax, fuel car to get back into things.

[Irreversal]

greenarrow said:

bodhi said:

Assuming it's the same 1.8 VTEC unit that's been about since the Mk8 I wouldn't be too concerned about the engine crapping itself - I've seen a fair few Mk8s on 200k +

From the experience of our own Civic however it's everything attached to the mechanicals I'd be worried about - doors randomly deciding not to open, bits of trim falling off, rust etc.

For 2k that would be a decent contender to be run into the ground, at that price though? Large bargepole required....

That's really interesting feedback about the Mk8 Civic. You always assume Civics are some of the best built cars out there. I know Hondas, like Mazdas, seem suspectible to rust as they age, but didnt know trim falls off and doors randomly don't open!

By contrast, the Astra H I am looking after (same generation as your Civic) exhibits none of those foibles. Not a single rattle or squeak, feels tight as a drum and no structural rust whatsoever.... interesting, given that Vauxhalls have an internet reputation for being, well a bit rubbish!

Echo this with my 2005 1.4 astra h. Far slower than the 1.6 it replaced many years ago, but it just keeps going. No welding on it just yet. I can see the front subframe mounts needing attention in the future though, but it is approaching 20 years old.

[Ryyy]

mickythefish said:

I'm on the look out for a car.

1kish to spend.. If anyone fancies doing a bit of charity work lol special offer, unfortunately my last shed I lost over 1k on, out of work at moment and a need reliable cheap tax, fuel car to get back into things.

Not me but first thing that looks okay not a million miles from you.
https://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/for...