Your Bangernomics successes

GunJack

Deleted_User wrote: »

I've driven cars before which have failed MOTs with incomplete springs while offering no signs while driving showing to be the case.

maybe, but last time I had a "ping" the local MoT-only place checked it free. As it happened it must've been a stone hitting metal, as no damage was found....always best get it checked soonest

BeenThroughItAll

Deleted_User wrote: »

I've driven cars before which have failed MOTs with incomplete springs while offering no signs while driving showing to be the case.

Once upon a time, a broken spring at either end that wasn't loose or dangerous wasn't a fail. Technically now any break in the spring should be a fail, regardless of how minor - but on some vehicles it can be very difficult to check the upper mounting.


That said, in most cases, a broken spring absolutely will cause some noise whilst driving. Those that don't are the minority and typically on vehicles where springs are longer but softer; lower, stiffer springs as fitted on many cars now are much more prone to making a noise when fractured.

[Deleted User]

It'll be getting checked out on Friday when I get paid.

GunJack

The guy who checked mine said most springs n the last 10 or so years "have been made of cheese"... made me laugh that one

Witless

It's that time of the year again: Scooby is still in favour.

Similar MOT prep as last year - steam clean & 14 miles in 2nd / 3rd at an average 4500 rpm.*

MOT today mileage 172434 no advisories: better emission tests than last year - CO Idle 0.000% vol (requirement 3.50% or less), CO Fast Idle 16 ppm (requirement 1200 ppm or less) like wise brakes 7% & 4% imbalance (requirement 30% or less).

Depreciation still nil - similar models/mileage listed on various sites at £700 - £900 more than I paid in Feb 2016.

Full total annual cost £1483.34** - this includes VED, insurance, fuel, routine maintenance (the only non consumable was a buff & polish as a reward for passing last year), MOT fee and steam clean.

I might take it to a dentmaster type place on Saturday to take the supermarket dings out: on the other hand I probably won't - that'd be contrary to the ethos of bangernomics.

Looks like the 3.0 Outback will have to wait another while.

* not totally true - we keep the cars 'fettled' (gives us something to on a Saturday after our big boys' breakfast) and fully checked every 6 weeks or so.

** equates to less than one return bus ticket or almost a taxi fare per day.

Stoke

I think being able to recoup something on the banger is part of the fun. I still consider my Lupo a real success. I paid £1000 for the car, with 92k miles on, and sold it with 172k miles on the clock for £350. However, it had a decent sized dent in the passenger side wing and the exhaust was rotten by this point.

The only work I had done (other than the standard maintenance that I did) was a wiper motor seized one cold morning causing it to blow a main fuse. £55 for an OEM Wiper motor.

That roughly equates to about 0.0125p a mile, if you don't consider the fact I sold it for £350. If you work that out, then it works out at an astonishing 0.008125p per mile.

Now I don't mind a laugh at this Demio, but the Lupo was actually a nice enough car. Probably a more legitimate car than the Demio.... without trying to sound weird. A bit small, perhaps, but nice and comfortable, with a bit of refinement, and incredibly reliable. Also being VW there were plenty of spares and things you could rip off other VW's and make them fit.

Wish I'd never sold it, in hindsight.

6ettinold

Deleted_User wrote: »

They'd probbaly want you off the forecourt as soon as. :rotfl:

I remember rocking up outside our local Saab dealer in my old 900.
Needed a couple of bits from their service counter, but they were as rude as hell because I'd parked up in a customer parking bay - was told I shouldn't have parked there, my arguement that I was spending 30 quid on bushes did nothing to change that opinion. The 900 was 20 years old at the time and really was in showroom condition - just the sort of car you want parked up in a prominent place for all to see, surely?
This wasn't long before they went belly up.

6ettinold

Have only just found this thread btw. I'm a confirmed banger basher and have owned some exotic sub £500 metal - more than 30 old stonkers over the years. Some bought and ran for a while and some I've bought, knowing they're uneconomical and impractical, but short-term toys that I would never have experienced otherwise. Had some fun running old oil burners on cooking oil too.
I'm currently running our smallest and newest to date. A 2006 Kia Rio Crtdi. Probably the most boring car we've owned. I paid £375 for it as it needed both front wheel bearings sorting, 80 quid and lots of swearing and the car is now mint.

You know you're winning when your neighbour gives you that look of disbelief when you tell them you paid less than £400 for your car��

[Deleted User]

6ettinold wrote: »

I remember rocking up outside our local Saab dealer in my old 900.
Needed a couple of bits from their service counter, but they were as rude as hell because I'd parked up in a customer parking bay - was told I shouldn't have parked there, my arguement that I was spending 30 quid on bushes did nothing to change that opinion. The 900 was 20 years old at the time and really was in showroom condition - just the sort of car you want parked up in a prominent place for all to see, surely?
This wasn't long before they went belly up.

I had something similar at a Peugeot dealer, rocked up in my tatty 12 year old 206 at the time for a replacement oil dip stick from the parts counter. Apparently I was supposed to park on the road outside as the customer parking was for car buying folk.

Norman_Castle

Deleted_User wrote: »

It'll be getting checked out on Friday when I get paid.

Check it yourself before Friday. Looking under the wheel arch is simple enough. Check the inner tyre wall and tread area for damage. A friends 307 was being driven with part of the spring or mount resting on the centre of the tread area digging a groove in the tyre.