MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,786
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If I get bored, fall out of love with it or simply don't like it anymore then it goes.
If it still puts a smile on my face then it gets what it needs. Simple as that!
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,867
Club RR Member Number: 58
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I had this decision to make recently with my Saab For me it was a few factors, I'd spent a fair bit of money on it but issues kept appearing, it was running out of MOT and needed more spent on it for that, and I'd rather got bored/annoyed with it Ultimately I wasn't able to spend enough on it to reverse the neglect of previous owners so it was only going to go one way
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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E36 - nikasil? Astra - at 195k, commercial value is tiny. But if its solid, and well specd is it worth re-engining? I've bit the bullet, ordered the linkage kit, and boomed the car in at a Saab specialist 40 miles away. They can do that and check the suspension noises all at once. Yeah good old nikasil bore wash, it will get done eventually, don't know when that will be though. The Astra just seems to good to scrap, we got it just under 3 yrs old and it's been brilliant until the end newer Astra is a better drive though and safer with the kids in it.
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I rolled my E46 in september, thanks to standing water at 65mph on a duel carriageway, throwing me into a ditch sideways which caused the roll. Since then, things spiralled out of control, i had no money, the only car i had legally roadworthy was my sierra cosworth, i ended having to sell as i was absolutly skint, I had absolutely no money, my mums condition got worse and she was moved into a care home, i lost my job due to redundancy, I went from working hard and having it all, to where i am now, on the dole, trying to get any job i can just to keep me going, driving a diesel bora thinking of any way possible just to keep me moving forward...
All in, at the moment, life sucks, and selling my cossie was like selling my legs, it was a dream car.
Moral of the story? don't roll an E46 haha!
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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E36 - nikasil? Astra - at 195k, commercial value is tiny. But if its solid, and well specd is it worth re-engining? I've bit the bullet, ordered the linkage kit, and boomed the car in at a Saab specialist 40 miles away. They can do that and check the suspension noises all at once. Yeah good old nikasil bore wash, it will get done eventually, don't know when that will be though. The Astra just seems to good to scrap, we got it just under 3 yrs old and it's been brilliant until the end newer Astra is a better drive though and safer with the kids in it. E36 - perhaps time for a v8 in it Astra - donor engine and keep it as a workhorse?
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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I had this decision to make recently with my Saab For me it was a few factors, I'd spent a fair bit of money on it but issues kept appearing, it was running out of MOT and needed more spent on it for that, and I'd rather got bored/annoyed with it Ultimately I wasn't able to spend enough on it to reverse the neglect of previous owners so it was only going to go one way No way would that be getting scrapped,sold to an enthusiast perhaps if my resources didn't allow
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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I rolled my E46 in september, thanks to standing water at 65mph on a duel carriageway, throwing me into a ditch sideways which caused the roll. Since then, things spiralled out of control, i had no money, the only car i had legally roadworthy was my sierra cosworth, i ended having to sell as i was absolutly skint, I had absolutely no money, my mums condition got worse and she was moved into a care home, i lost my job due to redundancy, I went from working hard and having it all, to where i am now, on the dole, trying to get any job i can just to keep me going, driving a diesel bora thinking of any way possible just to keep me moving forward... All in, at the moment, life sucks, and selling my cossie was like selling my legs, it was a dream car. Moral of the story? don't roll an E46 haha! That sucks, sorry to see. I've sold a few in haste, but never been that bad. Money is tight currently, and the Rover GTI and Austin 1300 are both luxuries. The 1300 is "ours" and has sentiment to it. The r8 GTI is mine, my release, my happy place. Mothballed it may be, but as long as my folks have space, its staying. Only way the GTI will go is if a 820 vittesse saloon comes up that's mint. Then the Saab could go as the 820 wlykd tick the DD box and Rover box
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,867
Club RR Member Number: 58
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No way would that be getting scrapped,sold to an enthusiast perhaps if my resources didn't allow I did try but sadly there isn't the interest out there in the early 9-3 Aero's :/ Ah well, its gone to help a chap bring his Viggen back to life so not all lost!
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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No way would that be getting scrapped,sold to an enthusiast perhaps if my resources didn't allow I did try but sadly there isn't the interest out there in the early 9-3 Aero's :/ Ah well, its gone to help a chap bring his Viggen back to life so not all lost! Was it that bad?
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I'll get rid if a car is constantly giving me grief! 2 years ago, I bought a Peugeot Expert van - dirt cheap cos the belt let go at 70mph! 5 new tyres, full tank of diesel (£100 worth at the time!) new brakes, 9 months test, blah blah blah. I got a 306turbo lump cheap and fitted it no bother but the then problems started. I had to put in a new clutch and cable with the engine and obviously a timing belt kit then it needed a throttle cable - and a couple of (very expensive) water hoses. then once on the road it had to have a new exhaust, then one of the rear shox broke, then a front wheel bearing went, then the CV joint on the other side went. In the meantime I had been having problems with the brakes intermittently coming on on their own - still not sussed that -cos last July the solenoid valve on the diesel pump packed up and its one of those that is shrouded in metal. So took the pump off, shipped it out to my tame diesel specialist who converted it to 1 wire op, refitted it and can't get any diesel up to the injectors. It now owes me over a grand, is still not running and probably only worth £500 tops anyway. I wish i'd never laid eyes on it! But most of the cars I have sold have only gone cos I needed cash rather than cos I couldn't fix them cheap enough, though I did recently ditch an Astra diesel estate with a very tatty body cos the clutch and DMF needed doing at 198k - but that was only a tip car anyway!
Steve
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,867
Club RR Member Number: 58
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I did try but sadly there isn't the interest out there in the early 9-3 Aero's :/ Ah well, its gone to help a chap bring his Viggen back to life so not all lost! Was it that bad? Not really, I'd done a fair bit to it and I think with a bit of bodywork tidying and a new MOT it would have sold well but I'd totally lost the motivation for it by then so I gave up on it!
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I've only got rid of 2 (soon to be 3) cars in 13 years
First was a 1993 citroen ax, the clutch was partly down for a while, it got adjusted and became really heavy and uncomfortable, it was the same sort of time my plantar fascitis started and driving more than about 15 minutes would leave me in a lot of pain and walking was difficult, which at 23 was not fun (especially as I worked 15-20 minutes from home and worked 12 hour days)
I replaced it in 2004 with a 2002 fiat stilo, that eventually went in 2013, it went for an mot and the list of repairs needed (suspension, brakes, electrical glitches- so many electrical glitches, plus it was on schedule for a cambelt replacement)
That got replaced with a 2001 ford focus, which I don't know if i should sell cheaply or scrap. It runs nicely enough but a couple of things make me think its past its best. There is a problematic window seal, lots of condensation and now mould on the rear seats. A dehumidifier from the pound shop and a towel have made it useable, recently spent £200 on flex pipe and wheel bearings. The lights need a few goes at turning off etc.
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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Thanks for the replies guys. Interesting how different people look at things.
Two I've given up on in less than 6months...
X plate Alfa Romeo 147 tspark. Bought for £500, put 4500 miles on it over winter. Spring time, MOT due and realised to put everything right, including the dying gearbox and we'd be at £1500 spend.
Another was a 51 plate ford ka. Needed a winter beater, one Friday night saw it on Gumtree at £120 locally. 6 months MOT but exhaust missing. Was 3 miles away.
Saturday morning, popped round, it hadn't moved in months, had to change 2 wheels as tyres were flat. Ran OK. Bought it for £100, drove it home.
None of the locks worked, or the heater (stuck on full) or the radio.
Put 3k on it over winter. Sold it to the step dad of the girl I got it off, £120.
Had a weeks MOT left, and not a chance of a pass.
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flynn1
Part of things
Posts: 31
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In my case the decision was made for me when my mum got the driveway done last year. The engine blew on my 306 as a result of my turbo upgrade (knew it was a matter of when not if without stronger conrods) so then I went through hell fitting a replacement engine by the roadside, only to find it had a blown head gasket. At this point it would have been taking the curse word (not that it wasn't already) to do more work by the roadside so I sadly had to scrap it whilst I had the chance to take a few bits off it to sell.
If I had somewhere I could work on it I could honestly see me keeping it indefinitely. Peugeots of that era don't rust, spares are plentiful and cheap as chips, as are replacement engines, run on vegetable oil, good power and a fun drive, it would be the perfect workhorse to own alongside any other car.
That was after a six year love affair and the car was setup perfectly for me. The handling on stiffer dampers, very little body roll, brake feel great with braided hoses, comfortable half leather bucket seats, various other things tailored to my requirements.
One thing I can say is that I held on to the bitter end because it really was an amazing car.
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I have an even bigger dilemma with my Mrs Ian's 06 Astra 1.9 CDTI it has snapped its cambelt at 195k miles, but she is very attached to it and wont let me scrap it, especially having had a gearbox rebuild 2 years ago as well as a DMF and clutch which came to almost £2k. I have since got her a 12 plate astra which she now likes but misses the estate Astra which sits on the drive taking my space away! And my E36 BMW has sat in the garage for 4 yrs awaiting an engine swap so I cant really say much! Pull the rocker box off the astra, you might have only smashed some rockers
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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I heard that might be the case, it was my own fault really it was booked in for the following week to be changed as the water pump was starting to leak. When the weather improves a bit I will take it apart and find out
Thanks for the advice
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My 1850 Dolly got a bit tired after doing 600 miles a week for 7 or 8 months, unsurprising. 3rd engine, 3rd gearbox, 2nd axle, a whole heap of welding. Leaks from a front float bowl, synchro on the latest gearbox has given up on 2nd, steering needs a complete overhaul, windscreen needs replacing, wheels all need refinishing, headlights all need replacing, could do with painting properly, bonnet is dented to curse word, wing has a split in it, exhaust needs reworking and the rear tyres are on the limit.
The whole "will it makes it to work this morning" everyday got a little tiresome.
Bought a diseasel 205, to give it a rest for a bit.
Now in a position to do what I really want with it, if I can decide on an engine. Currently swinging between an Alfa v6 or a 13b (again). Though been offered a cheap Rover V8...
Old Triumphs don't die, they just get faster.
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I've got three tiers of car.
Tier One: Daily drivers get thrown away should they fail on me or need work exceeding the value of a replacement, they get me to and from work and I'm loathed to spend money or time on them. I usually have zero interest in using them for anything other than a tool. My MGZR falls into this category, and I've got an 03 Proton Wira 1.5 that I just picked up to either sell on or use to replace said MG.
Tier 2: Quick fixers, what it says on the tin, they might need welding or a bit of a mechanical tickle, but that's it. I might sit on these for months at a time, they live at my house, they're free to store, I don't care if I don't do anything with them and I might move them on given the right offer. I've got two at present, a Passat B3 and a MK2 GTi 8v golf.
Tier 3: Keepers. These are the ones that eat my time, and my money and never seem to break the camels back.
Currently I've got three of these. 75 WRX 1303 Beetle, The Brown Van, and her beetle.
These sit for ages at a time while I collect parts, then I progress and do stuff on them when my time permits. They're either stored at home if they're water tight or they're kept in the workshop at great expense. They're builds, and as such they sit while I collect parts tools and the skills I need to get em done.
If I'm putting a new motor in, I check it's good before it goes in, usually this means whipping the head(s) off, doing the cam belt, checking over and replacing stuff as I go along, sometimes I can't afford to get it done so I collect parts and wait till I can.
Usually, the bills will pass well over what the vehicle is worth, but that's never the point of them. My van is a prime example, DK gearbox with the diesel bits on to accept a GTI engine, GTI engine that's getting stripped inspected and rebuilt before going in, a weld-a-thon that'll lead to needing paint, the interior replaced with one that better meets my need, plus £300 p/m storage, and ages of time to get the build done, countless hours, new brakes, new shocks, new bushes.. It's an 84 VW bus, you can pick up later, better vans for less than I'd pay to store it for a year..
That's not the point though, it's never been the point, I do these because I love cars, and I enjoy the working on them as much as I do the use of them. These vehicles are often my escape, when I'm locked in the workshop, radio on, getting things done, then I feel at my most comfortable.
That's pretty much priceless.
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The lurker formerly known as Cappuccinocruiser.. or wedgedout..
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mgmrw
Part of things
Posts: 701
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I think I've set a new record for mechanical niggles. The trusty Saab now needs:
- front discs and pads - NSR calliper - suspension knocking noise - pair front tyres - rear discs & pads - gear turret mod/repair
My credit card is nervous
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I feel sorry for all you guys who live in the city or otherwise have limited parking space available. I usually keep my dead vehicles. Since I got my licence in 1983 I've had 20 motor vehicles and I still have eleven of them. I would still have most of them if circumstances had been different. I moved 1000 miles from home in 1994 (very likely a mistake) which required the sale of a truck and a car and the gifting of another truck to my brother (he later sold it), followed by a marriage breakup resulting in the loss of two more cars that I rather liked and would have kept if I could. My dad scrapped two wrecks that I had to leave at the home place when I moved away (along with a few belonging to my brother), my ex-wife wrote off one car which was the best thing she ever did as it was a pos anyway. I've only ever sold one car because I wanted to. It was a Mini 850 part exed for a Mini Clubman 1100 when I was 19 and just wanted something better.
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