Your Bangernomics successes

Rolandtheroadie

I trawl through ebay, autotrader and gumtree for days on end until I'm sick looking at vehicles (although mainly buy form ebay).
Then I build up my picture of the seller using the description (does it come across as if they're trying to be honest and give as much info as possible both good and bad?).

Next is feedback. Is it a genuine private seller with an excellent feedback history? If so, I normally assume honesty unless something puts me off elsewhere.
My last Astra was from someone that had sold a few cars, but as they had maintained 100% feedback even although they were selling bangers, I took a chance.

I ask a couple of questions to give me a get out clause normally along the lines of any evidence of water in oil, oil in water, does it start and stop ok, temperature/gauge behave as it should etc. If you know of common faults with a particular car, perhaps ask about that specifically.

I rarely buy if the sellers not the registered keeper and avoid anyone selling for a relation/friend etc. If they only have the counterpart of the log book or are relisting due to timewasters etc I'd avoid as well (have THEY found a fault and want shot or has the last buyer came and found something wrong).

Normally buy on length of MOT (£50 per month remaining, 6 month minimum) and equate any tax in at cost to the seller over and above.

If I like all of the above, I take a chance and go for it. To be honest, when dealing with bangers, theres always a risk.

Recommendations? Astras and Corsas (older ones) as they're very cheap for parts should things go wrong.

richard734

Spadoosh,
Yes, you have the Alpha Engine, just as solid, but not as powerful. The bits are simple to fix, we once changed a rear axle and a gear box in a multi story car park - 3 hours. Mind you, there was 23 of us
UKHCC and UKHAOC are still going strong, plenty of peeps on those sites that will be happy to help you out.

worried_jim

sugar-hill wrote: »

I apologise in advance for such a ridiculous question, but how do you actually go about acquiring a car? My first car was a gift, but that stopped working so now have to buy one. The thing is no one I know can drive me to places to look at cars to see if they are worth buying. How do people achieve this? Also which hatchback cars would you recommend for under £1000? I was thinking a punto, but people are saying not to. As you can tell I am a total novice when it comes to cars, so thank you.

To build a good picture of what is available in your budget I go to-
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/
Stick in my post code and select to view all cars in a 10 mile radius upto £1k. Autotrader will start with the cheapest advertised and work it's way up. Presently for me it is showing me 46 cars and I have started picking ones that I would be happy to own form £425 for a 1999 Citroen Xsara 1.8i Exclusive 5dr Auto Hatchback, 1. 8 exclusive, Automatic, E/W, E/M, a/con, 6 disc cd player, PAS, tax and mot,very nice drive, family owned for last 7 years,. £425

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201209453108325/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/1000/quicksearch/true/postcode/bn424sn/page/1/radius/10?logcode=p

What has caught my attention is is history and condition. I f I needed a car today I would certainly go and have a look at this one. It is 7 miles from where I live so I would look at buses, a lift or if I was that keen after speaking to the seller a taxi.

By searching this way I often find that I come across models that I normally wouldn't consider which may be the same for others which will drive down the price- as in the case of the above Citroen Xsara.

Good luck, keep us posted.

SingleSue

worried_jim wrote: »

Ha ha Sue! Snap. My Astra blower only worked on the last two settings as well.

Glad you are getting value for money from it. What model is it, as it may be suitable to run on vegetable oil as a few of her have already being doing?

You can see mine doing so on the photos in post 46.

Oooh, think I would be too scared to try it!

I have another good car to add to my list, a Renault 14 TL (old V reg), purchased for £150 from an auction (this was back in 1991) with one years ticket, took us all over the country, did goodness knows how many thousands of miles but it was a lot until it failed the MOT on CV joint after 2 years of ownership. We made the (wrong in hindsight) decision to scrap the car because of the expense and ended up with our crappest car ever and the only really horrendous car buying choice we made....the Lada.

worried_jim

SingleSue wrote: »

Oooh, think I would be too scared to try it!

Don't be scared Sue- it is dead easy, read how it's done with photos here-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1961265

stressedofthecentury

I used to have a 1.9 M reg Renault Clio diesel. I had if for 5 years. Mainly paid for normal things such as tyres, a radiator and a battery. Started up first time everyday apart from when it needed a new battery. It actually was the original battery that needed replacing. It did 160,000 miles in the end. Decided to scrap it as it had quite a few things wrong with it in the end, mainly caused by the fact it was rusting from the inside out, due to age. Paid £400 for it scrapped it for £150. Lovely car I miss it.

worried_jim

Just been going through my cars MOT history online (I have all the certificates but wanted to check that every thing was as it should be). I can find all the MOT’s online back to 2006, I presume this is the date they went online for everyone. I think it’s a great tool fro everyone to use.
Since 2006 the car has done a fairly predictable 9-10 thousand miles a year.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ot/DG_10020539

The advisories that I have found are-

15/02/2012-And it’s most recent MOT had these-
Nearside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Offside Rear Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)
Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover deteriorated, but preventing the ingress of dirt (2.4.G.2)

And it has only failed two MOT’s in the past –
19/02/2008-
-Nearside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Failed on in 20/02/2010-
Nearside Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)

Offside Front constant velocity joint gaiter split (2.5.C.1a)

Nearside Rear brake binding (3.7.A.5a)

Offside Rear parking brake recording little or no effort (3.7.A.7a)

Parking brake efficiency below requirements (3.7.A.10

passatrider

I bought a 1997 Renault Laguna 1.8 Rt last week on Gumtree. It was owned by an elderly gent who could no longer drive. It has a full stamped service history, been garaged most of it's life, 2 owners from new with tax and MOT. Everything works and is in very good working order.

£250 !! Bargain

worried_jim

passatrider wrote: »

I bought a 1997 Renault Laguna 1.8 Rt last week on Gumtree. It was owned by an elderly gent who could no longer drive. It has a full stamped service history, been garaged most of it's life, 2 owners from new with tax and MOT. Everything works and is in very good working order.

£250 !! Bargain

Any pics to share?

James_Nolan

sheslookinhot wrote: »

1998 Volvo 940 Celebration Estate.

Paid £2,250 6 years and 9 months ago. 72k miles on clock

Passed every MOT with minimal work, 2 exhausts, 2 A/C intercooler pipes and new set of Pirelli's. Now has 108k miles, still going strong

25+mpg

I have one of these as well Bought last June after I smashed up my £100 volvo 740 estate that lasted me 3 years (best car I ever bought and still annoyed I put it through a hedge backwards!)

Paid £960 odd for my 940 Celebration (but cashed the remaining tax in for £120 odd as i'm disabled). Very minimal service history, few reciepts here and there, and one for a cambelt change 5 years ago but condition wise it was as perfect as you can get, owned by an elderly gent in a lovely house, so I bought on condition rather than history.

I use it just to go to work and back which isn't far, and use it for trips to le mans every year etc and never breaks.

At the moment, mine needs an oil change, as I haven't had it done since I got it, it needs a new exhaust manifold gasket, 2 new rear tyres and could probably do with a cambelt, as well as the aircon regassing.

Sounds like a long list but £250 odd and it will be sorted for the forseeable. Love my old volvo's and much more reliable than mates vauxhalls or french rubbish