Your Bangernomics successes

Ganga

Coveredinbees!!!! said:

I don't know if our 2008 Kia Ceed counts as a banger as when we bought it it was £8k but it's not so new now but I can't justify getting rid of it as it just keeps going. It had a complete gear box under warrenty in 2016 but I lost confidence in my kia dealer when they cocked up changing the serpentine belt so now I don't go near the kia dealer. I've had to spend some money on it this year as it failed the MOT on brakes dragging, on inspection I found the pads were rusted out but worse still the calipers were leaking on both sides! It also needed 3 tyres but all cars need tyres. It's cost nearly £400 but hopefully I'll have at least another year out of the old gal. We only really use it for big shops, trips up the tip, holidays or when we need to get 5 people in. You can't get 5 in a twingo!

Whats a Serpentine belt ?

GunJack

Ganga said:

Coveredinbees!!!! said:

I don't know if our 2008 Kia Ceed counts as a banger as when we bought it it was £8k but it's not so new now but I can't justify getting rid of it as it just keeps going. It had a complete gear box under warrenty in 2016 but I lost confidence in my kia dealer when they cocked up changing the serpentine belt so now I don't go near the kia dealer. I've had to spend some money on it this year as it failed the MOT on brakes dragging, on inspection I found the pads were rusted out but worse still the calipers were leaking on both sides! It also needed 3 tyres but all cars need tyres. It's cost nearly £400 but hopefully I'll have at least another year out of the old gal. We only really use it for big shops, trips up the tip, holidays or when we need to get 5 people in. You can't get 5 in a twingo!

Whats a Serpentine belt ?

I would imagine they mean cambelt...

Farzackerly

Here's what the banger entry point of £1000 in 2011 (when this thread started ) is worth now.

tiger135

the focus mk2 1.8 ghia has quite an intrusive engine note and short gearing, could do with a 6th gear on the motorway. however its enjoyable to drive, feels solid and the spec is nice, great sony stereo and nice materials such as the seats 

Ditzy_Mitzy

GunJack said:

Ganga said:

Coveredinbees!!!! said:

I don't know if our 2008 Kia Ceed counts as a banger as when we bought it it was £8k but it's not so new now but I can't justify getting rid of it as it just keeps going. It had a complete gear box under warrenty in 2016 but I lost confidence in my kia dealer when they cocked up changing the serpentine belt so now I don't go near the kia dealer. I've had to spend some money on it this year as it failed the MOT on brakes dragging, on inspection I found the pads were rusted out but worse still the calipers were leaking on both sides! It also needed 3 tyres but all cars need tyres. It's cost nearly £400 but hopefully I'll have at least another year out of the old gal. We only really use it for big shops, trips up the tip, holidays or when we need to get 5 people in. You can't get 5 in a twingo!

Whats a Serpentine belt ?

I would imagine they mean cambelt...

Nah, 'tis a belt mounted externally that takes drive from the crankshaft pulley to the various accessories.  Usually comes with an automatic tensioner.  Certain cars with mod-cons such as air conditioning and power steering can have very long serpentine belts with tortuous routing.  It replaces the Victorian factory-esque arrangements of yore with millions of drive belts stretching in all directions from the crank pulley to the fan, alternator and whatever else.  

I've recently experienced bangernomics failure, in that one of my car's rust pustules has burst.  That precipitated a load of paint falling off the front wing.  Still, undeterred, I have set to with a wire brush, sandpaper, a tin of silver Hammerite and some artist's brushes.  The end result is de-rusted - thankfully still solid - front wings and rear wheelarches, and a paint finish that an infant school pupil would be proud of.  But at this level it's simply a case of keep 'em rolling, and keep rolling she shall.  

dipsomaniac

Just had a big bill (£159.35) for my £200 2003 focus bought 3.5 years ago.  Engine been whining for a while. Advisory on MOT said noisy power steering pump.  I changed fluid but still whining.  Steth pointed to Alternator.  Got a second opinion which said alternator.  removed alternator for recon.  recon said alternator.  replaced alternator still whining.  replace tensioner and pulley and stopped the whining - £159.35 poorer

Have now spent £962.58 on MOT and parts since Dec 2019 

HillStreetBlues

I had to buy a car last April  had total shock (not bought one in about 13 years) first time I've ever spent over £500.
Splashed out £1500,  but it is an auto so that bumbs up the price

Farzackerly

HillStreetBlues said:

I had to buy a car last April  had total shock (not bought one in about 13 years) first time I've ever spent over £500.
Splashed out £1500,  but it is an auto so that bumbs up the price

Oddly, I'd pay less for an auto. I just don't trust them in older cars and I don't think modern autos are generally better than older ones.

Sure, they may be a better driving experience for some, but there's in inbuilt time bomb there.

Used to be you could get a BW35 or a Ford C4 box rebuilt reasonably cheaply, but affordable rebuilds are long gone for today's boxes.

GunJack

dipsomaniac said:

Just had a big bill (£159.35) for my £200 2003 focus bought 3.5 years ago.  Engine been whining for a while. Advisory on MOT said noisy power steering pump.  I changed fluid but still whining.  Steth pointed to Alternator.  Got a second opinion which said alternator.  removed alternator for recon.  recon said alternator.  replaced alternator still whining.  replace tensioner and pulley and stopped the whining - £159.35 poorer

Have now spent £962.58 on MOT and parts since Dec 2019 

That's around what my first Fusion cost me for 3.5 years

dipsomaniac

Latest costs for running a banger for the last 3.5 years