project shoestring/bangernomics

harveybobbles

I ran an N reg A4 T Sport for 18 months. Paid 2350 for it and sold it for erm, 2400 lol

One of the best cars I've had! Great on fuel, even after I'd chipped it to 180bhp

Just out of interest I have a set of them 16" competition wheels sat at the back of the garage if anyone needs any?

I actually thought this was my car as mine was a very similar coliur - Ragusa Green, which was almost black.

petrolhead69

Hintza wrote: »

Not if you get a W124 or 190

The bodywork on the w124s and 190s are more resillient than the newer ones but the underbody and running gear still rusts quite bad. my e230 needed all the brake pipes, new exhaust, fuel pipes, pipework for the self levelling suspension, exhaust mounting points snapped and it suffered the famous rotting wiring loom syndrome. my similarly aged audi 100 2.0e suffered none of these troubles. plus they are getting long in the tooth so finding a worthwhile example cheaply is getting harder, the good ones are going up in value. nothing floats along effortlessly like a w124 though what a comfy solid quiet car to drive and the autobox was amazing for its age, puts brand new vauxhall autoboxes to shame

anewman

Old number plates are often overlooked, new ones really do help lift the look of an old car.

petrolhead69

the economy is great, 33-34 mpg easy when not ragging it. I was amazed, every turbo car I`ve had before guzzled it. My SAAB was eyewateringly bad on fuel. The ragusa green is nice, the flake pops out lovely with a good polish on it, mine is flat black though.

harveybobbles wrote: »

I ran an N reg A4 T Sport for 18 months. Paid 2350 for it and sold it for erm, 2400 lol

One of the best cars I've had! Great on fuel, even after I'd chipped it to 180bhp

Just out of interest I have a set of them 16" competition wheels sat at the back of the garage if anyone needs any?

I actually thought this was my car as mine was a very similar coliur - Ragusa Green, which was almost black.

Rolandtheroadie

This is actually quite a good thread to keep going. theres loads of people out there that just discount older cars but in reality, someones probably already had the major heartaches and fixed them years ago.
It's easier to throw a car away when you've paid buttons for it. If your 3-5k in and it needs £1500, your more likely to pay it. Then get disheartened and get shot the following year.
Time to show people the real benefit of buying older cars.

andygb

The advantage with cars built in the last fifteen years, is that they do not rust like old bangers from the seventies and eighties. My early cars were rust buckets, which always needed welding for the MOT, whereas newer cars are simpler to maintain, and look smarter if looked after. Certain models, as various people have noted, are expensive for particular parts, but with older models the parts are often cheaper.
I think the OP has a bargain with his Audi, and has put the time and effort (and a little money), into making it look really smart.
Perhaps we ought to make a personal list of cars which can be a good buy for under £1000.
I would start with late model Ford Mondeos, particularly the 1.8 Zetec models. They look smart, cheap to tax and insure, economical, reliable, and they will cover huge distances comfortably.

Hintza

I agree andy it was the rust that normally killed them off.

Mind you the problem with modern cars is you can't do the repairs and maintenance that you used to do........or is that just an age thing..:)

pendulum

Corr, well that Audi certainly seems to have come out really well with the polish and whatever else you did to it. I think I'll head off to the detailing world forums and have a look around too.

I wish I could find the bargains other people seem to on cars though... every time I look on eBay I just see old sheds selling for too much money. Seen a few bargains on Autotrader though.

petrolhead69

try gumtree, adtrader and occasionally pistonheads for bargains

Rolandtheroadie

You need to find out when makes and models stopped being rustbuckets and wernt too technical.
In my opinion, Vauxhalls went too technical in 2000. When you couldnt read faults with a paperclip anymore.
Rovers 800's were always bad, but I liked them. Think they still made them up to 1999? You could read faults if you knew what you were doing as well (forums are a wonderful place).