Your Bangernomics successes

Ditzy_Mitzy

Grumpy_chap said:

So, we have a challenge.

Our 1997 Fiesta, which is absolutely immaculate, owned by my wife since 6 months, less than 60k miles, is not ULEZ-compliant and Mr Khan has announced the London ULEZ will expand to where we live.  There was a consultation ended yesterday, but I'm not optimistic that the final decision has not already been made and this is coming to hit us next summer

It is not realistic to pay £10 or whatever per day to use the car.

So, is this car one that now becomes scrap (criminal)?  If so, we'd run it until ULEZ and then scrap for the most we can get.

Is this a car that we are forced to sell at "ideal first car" bargain basement few pounds?

Is this a car that has reached the point where it stands to be a classic and we can sell for a more palatable sum?

A scrap dealer is going to pay less than even the cheapest private offer.  Sell it as a going concern if you need to; I too hope the ULEZ expansion doesn't occur, but Khan seems Hell bent on it.  

Herzlos

Grumpy_chap said:

So, we have a challenge.

Our 1997 Fiesta, which is absolutely immaculate, owned by my wife since 6 months, less than 60k miles, is not ULEZ-compliant and Mr Khan has announced the London ULEZ will expand to where we live.  There was a consultation ended yesterday, but I'm not optimistic that the final decision has not already been made and this is coming to hit us next summer

It is not realistic to pay £10 or whatever per day to use the car.

So, is this car one that now becomes scrap (criminal)?  If so, we'd run it until ULEZ and then scrap for the most we can get.

Is this a car that we are forced to sell at "ideal first car" bargain basement few pounds?

Is this a car that has reached the point where it stands to be a classic and we can sell for a more palatable sum?

Convert it to electric and keep using it

Car prices are still crazy, I'm seeing much older cars listing for well above scrap value. As mentioned it's still useable outside of the ULEZ so someone will certainly buy it as a running car, likely for more than you'd expect given there's huge demand for cheapish runabouts and plenty of people who stubbornly shun anything modern!

The bigger dilemma you have is whether you wait until after the ULEZ changes to sell it, and get the most out of the car, or try and sell it ahead of everyone else doing the same and flooding the market. You'll also likely get some cheeky low ball offers if you're trying to sell a ULEZ non-compliant car just as it's expanded.

L9XSS

PsiDOC said:

My latest bangernomics acquisition.
2006 Honda Civic 2.2 i-cdti. 150,000 miles on the clock.
Cost: £700 with 11 months MOT.
Pottered about on it for a weekend fixing the niggly problems like front passenger seat not moving back and forth, rear window not working etc. Also retrofitted cruise control for my weekly 200 mile round trip commute to work (£40 in parts on ebay and 3 extra wires 2 foot long from the column to the tachometer pod).
Aircon does not work due to the magnetic clutch coil being open circuit and at £155 for a new one. I'll open the window.
It's rough around the edges with lots of scuffs and scrapes, the wheels are rattle canned satin black by the previous owner.

Where it really tops out is the fuel economy. I regularly see 66 mpg on the computer on my commute. From fill up to fill up, and manually calculating it, it actually works out at about 60 mpg in the real world. Taking into account the inbuilt 9% speedo over reading error then that's about right.

I have done 1800 miles since buying it and it's never missed a beat.
For an old workhorse I am very seriously impressed.

Had one of these as a company car a few years back.......the torque from the 2.2 Diesel engine was excellent and yes the fuel economy was also outstanding! I was seriously impressed with this car and they make a sound used buy!

bengalknights

PsiDOC said:

My latest bangernomics acquisition.
2006 Honda Civic 2.2 i-cdti. 150,000 miles on the clock.
Cost: £700 with 11 months MOT.
Pottered about on it for a weekend fixing the niggly problems like front passenger seat not moving back and forth, rear window not working etc. Also retrofitted cruise control for my weekly 200 mile round trip commute to work (£40 in parts on ebay and 3 extra wires 2 foot long from the column to the tachometer pod).
Aircon does not work due to the magnetic clutch coil being open circuit and at £155 for a new one. I'll open the window.
It's rough around the edges with lots of scuffs and scrapes, the wheels are rattle canned satin black by the previous owner.

Where it really tops out is the fuel economy. I regularly see 66 mpg on the computer on my commute. From fill up to fill up, and manually calculating it, it actually works out at about 60 mpg in the real world. Taking into account the inbuilt 9% speedo over reading error then that's about right.

I have done 1800 miles since buying it and it's never missed a beat.
For an old workhorse I am very seriously impressed.

Currently have two of these sat outside and 2010 and 2008, only worry is the flywheel going on these.

2010 has needed new brake pads, 2008 just a new mirror.

both under 125k miles and purchased for less than £800 each due to not meeting the emissions criteria they have in Birmingham now.

Grumpy_chap

Herzlos said:

Grumpy_chap said:

So, we have a challenge.

Our 1997 Fiesta, which is absolutely immaculate, owned by my wife since 6 months, less than 60k miles, is not ULEZ-compliant and Mr Khan has announced the London ULEZ will expand to where we live.  There was a consultation ended yesterday, but I'm not optimistic that the final decision has not already been made and this is coming to hit us next summer

It is not realistic to pay £10 or whatever per day to use the car.

So, is this car one that now becomes scrap (criminal)?  If so, we'd run it until ULEZ and then scrap for the most we can get.

Is this a car that we are forced to sell at "ideal first car" bargain basement few pounds?

Is this a car that has reached the point where it stands to be a classic and we can sell for a more palatable sum?

Convert it to electric and keep using it

Car prices are still crazy, I'm seeing much older cars listing for well above scrap value. As mentioned it's still useable outside of the ULEZ so someone will certainly buy it as a running car, likely for more than you'd expect given there's huge demand for cheapish runabouts and plenty of people who stubbornly shun anything modern!

The bigger dilemma you have is whether you wait until after the ULEZ changes to sell it, and get the most out of the car, or try and sell it ahead of everyone else doing the same and flooding the market. You'll also likely get some cheeky low ball offers if you're trying to sell a ULEZ non-compliant car just as it's expanded.

Well, Mrs G-C and I reviewed all this over the weekend and made the very sad decision to sell our beloved Fiesta 

So, I've fixed the cigarette lighter and will also replace the cap over the door lock.

It had the MOT last January (zero advisories) so a good 6 months remaining. 
Is there value in getting another MOT done?  I have no reason to think it would not fly through again with zero advisories, but the risk is if it then shows something up.

The cable linking the rear door external handle has failed (or vibrated loose) - is that worth me fixing or just sell as is?

I'll spend some time over the next couple of weeks to polish it up as it really does look lovely then.

That will bring it to ready to advertise and it will leave a hole in our home.

Grumpy_chap

Grumpy_chap said:

So, I've fixed the cigarette lighter and will also replace the cap over the door lock.

The cable linking the rear door external handle has failed (or vibrated loose) - is that worth me fixing or just sell as is?

Cigarette lighter fixed.

Door lock cap replaced 

Stripped down the door today and ordered a replacement part from an online auction site to replace the failed back door handle, £15.  Hopefully, we'll have that by the end of the week and I can put it all back together again.

I'll then be able to sell the car and genuinely nothing that I am aware not working as it should.

It will still be sad to see it go - I fear also the last of the real Bangernomics as anything in the future has so much more that is all electronics this and electronics that, the simple cars we can actually self-maintain will be no more.

maxmycardagain

Saw a Opel kadett for sale "needs engine" (mechanic had to the girl owner the crank had gone) 

it had a full MOT and tax, so i paid £25 and risked starting it up to get it home, it was noisy but drove OK, next day i started to strip the engine out and loosened the fan belt to dind the alternator front bearing was slapping about... I had a Viva alternator in the shed....  happy days, sold car for £200

also bought a 2ltr Vauxhall Cavalier coupe (like a Manta) with full body kit for £150 "misfire, needs engine"
took the rocker cover off to find a rocker nut sat in the rocker which was doing nothing...
no parts needed, sold car for £500

 

GunJack

Grumpy_chap said:

It will still be sad to see it go - I fear also the last of the real Bangernomics as anything in the future has so much more that is all electronics this and electronics that, the simple cars we can actually self-maintain will be no more.

This is getting a bigger problem the longer things go on....even in my 2004 Fusion there's sensors, ECU, etc., etc., thankfully though not too many "added extras" like seatbelt beepers that go off if it's not plugged in, automatic lights and wipers, etc. It's much more of a risk than it used to be, that the electronics last with no problems... bring back the days of the car rusting away around the engine and running gear, at least you could see easier if it was terminal!!

mr_harris

Anyone recommend a petrol banger that does high mpg  many thanks

ididgetwhereiamtoday

Toyota Corolla.