Your Bangernomics successes

Rolandtheroadie

Mk1MR2 wrote: »

I need to buy a reliable banger for under £500 if possible. Just sold my Impreza since couldn't afford to run the stupidly expensive thing with 18MPG and regular expensive garage services. I was planning to buy a 4x4 for around £1500 but not much worth touching in my price range so need just a little run around for under £500 to give me transport for the year otherwise I've only got the motorbike which isn't the best for big shopping trips or riding on icy mornings come winter.

What's the general opinion of these:

1.3 Fiesta Zetec
1.7D Astra (running on veg oil)
800cc Daewoo matiz

What other cars do people suggest?

Last cars have been Corsa B (Freeish) Astra F (£420) Audi 80 (£550, but think it had 5 months tax).
All had very good mot's on them, all ran veg or a blend of veg and diesel (or veg/petrol).

Mk1MR2

You can run veg & petrol?
I presume you mean in a diesel engine to raise the ignition point?

Rolandtheroadie

Mk1MR2 wrote: »

You can run veg & petrol?
I presume you mean in a diesel engine to raise the ignition point?

Yep, and adding 10% petrol is cheaper than adding 50% diesel to assist starting.

westwood68

My own experience with veg oil covers:-

1997 Peugeot 405 with 1.9 XUD engine and Bosch pump for £500. (Some 405's don't have Bosch pumps and can't run on veg)
1991 W124 Merc 300TD for £500.
1998 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD for £325

All the above engines will run on straight veg with no petrol during the summer and up to 10% in winter to help with flowing.

1.9TD Xantias are very cheap now, will return 45-50mpg on a long run and the engine is just about indestructible. The suspension puts some people off but it's actually very cheap to maintain and very reliable (much cheaper than standard shock and spring suspension).

Mk1MR2

What other cheap cars run on Veg oil since cant find any Xantia or 405 within 100miles of Southampton let alone under £500?

Rolandtheroadie

Most older Audi/VW/Seat (as long as they are the 90 BHP or 110 BHP models).


Anywhere near Fordingbridge? MOT's probably a bit short though.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Citroen-AX-1-5-diesel-75-mpg-and-loves-veg-oil-at-1-litre-super-economical-/171065774107?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item27d450901b

westwood68

For veg comptiable cars look on here:-

http://www.biomotors.co.uk/CarsVans.html

All cars listed as 1 tank kits should be good for veg. But as it the case with these things, some are better than others.

The XUD engines by Peugeot are among the best and fitted to Saxos and 106's as 1.5 litre units. Be careful though as you do need a Bosch fuel pump and a lot of those have Lucas built pumps which will not pump the veg.

Pug 406 with a 1.9TD (not the 2.0 which is a later engine) might be a good choice. They are all fitted with Bosch pumps.

As above all VW/Seat/Skoda 1.9TD diesels with quoted outputs of 90hp or 110hp would be ok. Octavias where fitted with those engines up to about 2004 but a lot of those are ex-taxis

Go here:-

http://vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/

and do a lot of research.

mattyprice4004

Mk1MR2 wrote: »

What other cheap cars run on Veg oil since cant find any Xantia or 405 within 100miles of Southampton let alone under £500?

Shame you weren't closer - just sold my MOT'd Rover 600 diesel for £350.

Runs on veggie oil fine, and a good car with AC etc.

In other news, I have a new banger! More soon...

sabretoothtigger

The cars that can use veg need a certain pump type I think or make.

Was the Rover needing too many repairs?

Araboo27

Hey everyone, I'm a bangernomics virgin going to see this tomorrow -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201306217425485

Any advice on what to look out for? I've never bought a used car before, have no idea about cars whatsoever and I'm worried about being ripped off, lol.....

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!