I HATE cars!!! (sometimes)

[Richard A Thackeray]

£297 to insure a Skoda? Paid significantly less than that to insure our Disco fully comp, and one of us is partially sighted!

'11' plate, 4 drivers (two with 'points' - not me!) & business cover for SWMBO

 

[tyred]

The trouble with a 'simpler older car' is many of the cheaper older cars have various electronic gubbins on there, you may not need a computer that plugs into the car in order to cancel the fault light on the dashboard (I'm lead to believe that this is to become an MOT fail if the light is still on even if the fault is rectified) but an understanding of electronics is required.

the simpler cars that didn't have these electronic relays and modules (which can fail and wear out) are already counted as classics despite having been cheap cheerful motors in their day such as the Morris Minor or even Morris Marinas and Austin Allegros.

Look to the basic models in the range of the likes VW Polo, MK2 or MK3 Golf, Peugeot 106, 205, 306, 309, Citroen AX and ZX, Early 1990s Toyotas, Hondas or Mazdas (but Jap stuff has expensive parts) , you won't find too much to trouble the home mechanic. The same applies to Fords and Vauxhalls of the same era but they were rust-buckets. Yes, they are more complicated than a Morris Minor, but only slightly in most cases. They are also a hell of a lot more reliable and rust resistant.

The BMW E30 3 series, Audi 80 and Merc 190 or early C class (4 cylinder models) are also a lot cheaper to run than most people realise as they were serious high quality cars where little goes wrong and were not at all bad on petrol on long journeys if driven properly.

 

[Hip Priest]

I recently had to blow my hard-earned new bike budget on car repairs, so I'm firmly of the opinion that they're the devil's work.

 

[Drago]

'11' plate, 4 drivers (two with 'points' - not me!) & business cover for SWMBO

£210 and some pence for a 12 plate Disco 4 (actually on a private plate), fully comp with all the trimmings inc business cover, not garaged (cos it won't fit), and one drive can only see out of one eye. Perhaps it's because its British built?

 

[fossyant]

£210 and some pence for a 12 plate Disco 4 (actually on a private plate), fully comp with all the trimmings inc business cover, not garaged (cos it won't fit), and one drive can only see out of one eye. Perhaps it's because its British built?

Probably cos you are old.... Heh heh only kidding

 

[Jefferson Meriwether]

In some ways this thread is more horrifying than a Stephen King novel. I'm glad I don't own a car anymore

 

[hondated]

Having read this thread I have become even more concerned about the forthcoming MOT on my Seat Leon FR.Its also due at the same time for a major service and a cambelt change.I would actually like to trade it in for a van because it would be so handy to be able to put the bike in the back and be able to use it to go off on a trip and use it to sleep in.Has anyone got a van and if you have is it more economical and convenient than a car.

 

[Black Sheep]

Look to the basic models in the range of the likes VW Polo, MK2 or MK3 Golf, Peugeot 106, 205, 306, 309, Citroen AX and ZX, Early 1990s Toyotas, Hondas or Mazdas (but Jap stuff has expensive parts) , you won't find too much to trouble the home mechanic. The same applies to Fords and Vauxhalls of the same era but they were rust-buckets. Yes, they are more complicated than a Morris Minor, but only slightly in most cases. They are also a hell of a lot more reliable and rust resistant.

The BMW E30 3 series, Audi 80 and Merc 190 or early C class (4 cylinder models) are also a lot cheaper to run than most people realise as they were serious high quality cars where little goes wrong and were not at all bad on petrol on long journeys if driven properly.

We had a 1996 Suzuki Swift base model which was a great car, until one day the electrics died on it, I managed to get it going again until it cut out a couple of weeks later

Having taken it to both a dealership and an independent specialist I was met with the same response "they never built them with those parts" with regards to the ignition module and associated electronics.

Given that it had been in my wife's family since new and never had those parts replaced I've no idea what had happened, but was unable to get it going again!

While you are correct, 90's base models aren't hard to work on, they can sometimes throw up some problems that you can't sort out yourself, even if you can get a workshop manual for them.

I decided with our swift that paying an auto electrician to trace and sort the fault was more than the car was worth and I'll not have an older Mazda again due to the cost of parts (except an MX5 as there are lots of after market parts)

 

[Drago]

Probably cos you are old.... Heh heh only kidding

I'm feeling very old today buddy with this man flu.k

 

[BigonaBianchi]

My old company used to give me a new car every 6 months...they sent me the peugot catalog and just said chose what you want for my grade.

Money pits for sure..especially BMW's...I had one...now I have a Mini Cooper...but I use the bikes more..earn a lot less but life on the road is better by bike.

 

[Crankarm]

My old company used to give me a new car every 6 months...they sent me the peugot catalog and just said chose what you want for my grade.

Money pits for sure..especially BMW's...I had one...now I have a Mini Cooper...but I use the bikes more..earn a lot less but life on the road is better by bike.

A Mini is a BMW unless it is an older Mini ie of Italian Job or Bean eras.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

A Mini is a BMW unless it is an older Mini ie of Italian Job or Bean eras.

wrong..it's just another car

 

[Crankarm]

Look to the basic models in the range of the likes VW Polo, MK2 or MK3 Golf, Peugeot 106, 205, 306, 309, Citroen AX and ZX, Early 1990s Toyotas, Hondas or Mazdas (but Jap stuff has expensive parts) , you won't find too much to trouble the home mechanic. The same applies to Fords and Vauxhalls of the same era but they were rust-buckets. Yes, they are more complicated than a Morris Minor, but only slightly in most cases. They are also a hell of a lot more reliable and rust resistant.

The BMW E30 3 series, Audi 80 and Merc 190 or early C class (4 cylinder models) are also a lot cheaper to run than most people realise as they were serious high quality cars where little goes wrong and were not at all bad on petrol on long journeys if driven properly.

I have a Pug 205 Stdt which is basically the 1.6GTi but with a diesel engine 100bhp. Cheap as chips to run, 50-55mpg, quick and a joy to drive. Easy to work on, not that it has needed much over the years just the usual consumables. Exhaust is still going strong after 12 years. Dead easy to put my bike(s) in the back with the seats down and then get them out. Often thought of getting rid of it for something newer, but nothing, absolutely nothing, on the market comes close to the fun of driving it and it's practicality. I have thought about a van as some suggested above, a Berlingo, Expert, Ducato or old SWB Renault Master but couldn't get rid of my 205.

 

[tyred]

I have a Pug 205 Stdt which is basically the 1.6GTi but with a diesel engine 100bhp. Cheap as chips to run, 50-55mpg, quick and a joy to drive. Easy to work on, not that it has needed much over the years just the usual consumables. Exhaust is still going strong after 12 years. Dead easy to put my bike(s) in the back with the seats down and then get them out. Often thought of getting rid of it for something newer, but nothing, absolutely nothing, on the market comes close to the fun of driving it and it's practicality. I have thought about a van as some suggested above, a Berlingo, Expert, Ducato or old SWB Renault Master but couldn't get rid of my 205.

Very nice. I have a 1.1 petrol myself. I love 205s and the diesels were fantastic and actually more refined than the XU petrol engines like mine but the engine sized "road" tax system in this country means any small saving in fuel is negated by the extra expense of taxing a 1.8L engine. I have yet to find any other small car which is as good drive and still has the French magic carpet ride quality. The Fiat Punto comes closest but Fiat parts prices are silly.

 

[Crankarm]

Very nice. I have a 1.1 petrol myself. I love 205s and the diesels were fantastic and actually more refined than the XU petrol engines like mine but the engine sized "road" tax system in this country means any small saving in fuel is negated by the extra expense of taxing a 1.8L engine. I have yet to find any other small car which is as good drive and still has the French magic carpet ride quality. The Fiat Punto comes closest but Fiat parts prices are silly.

Puntos have diabolicial handling in comparison to 205s plus Fiats aren't exactly immune to rust. My Pug is still rust free after 18 years. Plus Italian electrics .......... crap headlights, need I go on ...