Your Bangernomics successes

mattyprice4004

I feel it's probably time to do a bit of a write up on my latest!



This is what £600, a few beers and eBay gets you. I did have to travel to get it, so it actually cost about £680 all in.

- Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTI
- Originally 116BHP
- 151,000 miles, mostly motorway.
- MOT until February 2014, no tax
- Spec includes dual zone climate, cruise control, parking sensors, rear electric sunblind, Harman Kardon audio system, parking heater, full leather (heated and electrically adjustable, with position memory function) and full onboard computer fitted

All tyres were good, although I have the nicer 16" alloy wheels to be fitted.

Since buying it 6 weeks ago I have:

- Fitted a Synergy 2 tuning box, had it remapped, removed the EGR valve and fixed a slight boost leak. Now has approx. 175BHP.
- Fitted the OEM Xenon projector headlight system
- Driven it 3,000 miles already!

Work done in the past (recently) includes lots of common issues - front lower wishbones and bushes replaced, all springs replaced, front to back brake lines replaced and it's had a new in tank fuel pump.

It's averaging 44MPG in this hot weather, not helped by the climate control working hard to keep the cabin at a steady 19 degrees. Also not helped by my right foot...

Who's going to take this on for £600?

womble12345

What function does a parking heater perform?

colino

Parking heater is showing its BMW heritage. No need to spark up the engine when your waiting for someone outside the youth club or bored to tears parked on the edge of some playing field - instant heat! One of the things that once you have it, you wonder why other cars don't!

womble12345

Sounds useful although given current weather parking aircon would
be more useful.

Prothet_of_Doom

I must post both success and failure.

In 2004 I got a mk2 cavalier sri for £40, fixed the head gasket, ran it for 3.5 years and 50K, had the head gasket go again, and flogged it on for £280.

In 2011 I bought a Honda Accord Diesel, in order to save money on fuel and live in luxury. I figured I'd save £2k a year on Fuel and over 2.5 years it would pay for itself.

I've saved about £1500 a year compared with say owning a 1.6 Astra, but It needs about £1000 spending on the engine. Thus making my payback much longer. More like 4 years. But if we add in the extra insurance costs it's 4.5 years.

At which point it will have so many miles on the clock It will be a banger

mattyprice4004

Honda Accord diesel with engine problems? What's the issue?

Weird_Nev

I don't think the first generation of Honda diesel engines have been very reliable. I've been warned off them by mechanic mates.

Rolandtheroadie

Not so much the bangernomics side, but just running quotes for the merc for next year.
Declaring 3 points, a non fault claim in 2009 and a fault claim in 2011, TPFT with £250 standard excess, £0 voluntary, 3 quotes just under £150. :j:j:j

Was going to look for a classic policy for it. Probably not worth the bother.

worried_jim

Glad to hear about everyone's bangernomic successes! Value motoring and sunshine- the perfect combination as most bangers now have climate!

Keep smiling everyone!

Rolandtheroadie

Where did you get your regas kit from? Wifes new cars running a bit tepid and I'm hoping thats all it needs.