Your Bangernomics successes

worried_jim

nevilleneville wrote: »

bought a saab 9-5 estate (1999). full years mot, full saab service history. £700. Its immaculate, has ample room for my work gear and has every gadget imaginable.

the leather seats are like couch's.

delighted!

Lets see some pictures of your pride and joy!

nevilleneville

Let me work out how and i'll get the straight on!

rev_henry

andygb wrote: »

Here you go, nice little economic car.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201303075655326/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/1000/engine-size-cars/1l_to_1-3l/transmission/manual/model/punto/make/fiat/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/page/4/radius/1501/postcode/me21dp?logcode=p

Doesn't appear to be falling apart either!

Chickabiddybex

Yep, unfortunately it's too far away. I need one in West Yorkshire.

mattyprice4004

Back with a new banger...



Bit of a battered beast when I picked it up, but it's cleaned up really nice.

More later

Furts

I bought a 1987 Cavalier 1300 when it was just 2 years old. It was an abused and neglected ex company car. It had already done 66000 miles but not had an oil change in the previous 15000 miles! Basically it was very, very cheap and nobody wanted it. (Quentin Wilson called this model "the runt of the litter").

Spool on and it reached 100000 miles with everything still running. Still had the original back tyres and all original hoses, belts and cam belt (!) The car went like a rocket.

Spool on and at 200000 miles the front discs were getting thin and the CV boots splitting. These were replaced and the car was still running beautifully.

Spool on and at 300000 miles the CV joints were starting to click on full lock, the head gasket starting to weep a little and the exhaust manifold studs were weakening.But it was still running like a rocket and had always returned way over 40 mpg.

Then at 311000 miles it was hit in the back. Nothing mechanical was damaged so I got a repair done then sold it. The car looked great, the interior was like the day it left the factory (the seats had not sagged) and the mileometer read 11000!

The purchaser praised me on such a well looked after car for 111000 miles, I did not comment on the other 200000 missing miles. The car drove off to start a new life.

I doubt I will ever again have such a solid, dependable, straight forward car. Well done Vauxhall!

ShandyAndy_2

Furts wrote: »

I bought a 1987 Cavalier 1300 when it was just 2 years old. It was an abused and neglected ex company car. It had already done 66000 miles but not had an oil change in the previous 15000 miles! Basically it was very, very cheap and nobody wanted it. (Quentin Wilson called this model "the runt of the litter").

Spool on and it reached 100000 miles with everything still running. Still had the original back tyres and all original hoses, belts and cam belt (!) The car went like a rocket.

Spool on and at 200000 miles the front discs were getting thin and the CV boots splitting. These were replaced and the car was still running beautifully.



Spool on and at 300000 miles the CV joints were starting to click on full lock, the head gasket starting to weep a little and the exhaust manifold studs were weakening.But it was still running like a rocket and had always returned way over 40 mpg.

Then at 311000 miles it was hit in the back. Nothing mechanical was damaged so I got a repair done then sold it. The car looked great, the interior was like the day it left the factory (the seats had not sagged) and the mileometer read 11000!

The purchaser praised me on such a well looked after car for 111000 miles, I did not comment on the other 200000 missing miles. The car drove off to start a new life.

I doubt I will ever again have such a solid, dependable, straight forward car. Well done Vauxhall!

I enjoyed reading this post, the old cavs were great! I work for vauxhall by the way,shame the Insignia isn't as reliable!

111,000 haha classic!! :T

Furts

ShandyAndy wrote: »

I enjoyed reading this post, the old cavs were great! I work for vauxhall by the way,shame the Insignia isn't as reliable!

111,000 haha classic!! :T

I replaced this Cavalier with a 1990 1.8GL Hatch. This one was even more abused and neglected . It had 90000 miles on the clock but had no service records past 45000 miles. From the state of the engine oil, to the broken door mirrors, dented door, broken visors and interior lights (what owner manages to break these?), old tow bar on the back...It was neglected but it was cheap - for a reason!

I drove it for five years and put the mileage up to 200000 . It was more solid and reliable than the previous one. There were negatives with the ride, handling, fun to drive etc. But the paintwork (lacquered metallic) and rust protection were far better.

It then failed the MOT on rust at the rear wheel body panel joint. Did not seem serious to me - but nobody seemed interested in repairing it (I did try)

I advertised it as an MOT failure at £50 or offers.A woman phoned up a few times - but wanted me to drive 20 miles to show it to her! No chance!

She phoned again "would I be around in four hours time for her to view it?" She turned up ten minutes later in a taxi -hmmmm! She was 18 years old, built like a weight lifter, had never held a driving licence, had owned a string of Cavaliers and crashed everyone. She introduced me to her brother. Aged 16 and knew everything about cars. He explained the taxi had cost a fortune - 20 miles but via the local hospital. Why? Because he had to steal a white coat and latex gloves to inspect the car!

He was polite and asked would I mind if he scrutinized the car. He put the coat and latex gloves, ran the dipstick through his fingers, took a sample of brake fluid, sample of the coolant (and tasted it!), jacked it up etc...then announced "you have looked after this one mate!"

He said to his sister "its OK to buy it" She said "you wanted £50 but what will you take?" I was a bit taken aback and thought for a moment. She did not interpret this correctly and said "OK £75". I could not believe it and remained quiet. She then said £100...then £130... then £150. She then took out her purse emptied the contents on the kitchen worktop and said "Look that is all I have got" -it was £175!

Deal done! She revved up the car, and with a wheelspin and the smell of burning rubber drove off!

Chickabiddybex

How do you know when mileage has been tampered with?
I'm finding this mileage hard to believe:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302225457103

mattyprice4004

Chickabiddybex wrote: »

How do you know when mileage has been tampered with?
I'm finding this mileage hard to believe:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201302225457103

It's pretty obvious - go through the old MOTs. All you need is the V5 number and/or an MOT certificate number.