Winseer:
I’ve had reasons to be suspicious in the past with regards to those cars I’m looking at which come with the full 12 months MOT “freshly put on it”.
First thing I do is run the registration through the Gov website to make sure the MOT is “real”, and also if the vendor happens to still be driving it, indicated by the fact the tax is in date as well…
I like to see “Advisories” on the 12 month MOT, so I have some idea of what things I might need to be paying out for NEXT year.
I am suspicious if I’m buying from a “Trader” who’s 12 month MOT is “no advisories” and they live out in the sticks.
There must be a few outfits in these parts that will ask their Breaker’s Yard/Testing Station relatives to give them a ticket of good health, without testing it beyond what we might call a “walkaround check”.
If you own a testing business, you can upload the relavant data to DVLA to make such a “paper MOT” legal of course, so it all comes down to Caveat Emptor at the end of the day.
I bought a citroen for £450 one time, drove OK, felt OK etc etc - but three weeks later the Clutch went, and it cost me another £450 to put it right, that defeats the object of buying a budget car, of course…
That people are simply not bothering to put their cars through MOTs any longer, is a bit worrying…
We may well return to a time when “older vehicles” become a liability that one has to pay to have taken away once more… NOT good!
Clutches are consumables like brake pads.It’s possible to minimise wear but they will inevitably eventually need to be replaced so I’ve never had any issues with that.
Evil front wheel drive designs make that job an expensive nightmare though and has done since the days of Issigonis’ fwd heaps.
My criterea for budget motoring has always been a decent sized under stressed motor and easy to fix and work on rwd or at least longitudinal mount engine and even four wheel drive if it has to be.Bonus points for a pushrod motor.To the point of trading fuel consumption for that.
Let me know if you see a cheap Rover V8 powered Land Rover Disco with a manual box in it.Unfortunately the things seem to be a licence to print money for their sellers and usually sold within a week if priced right if you can even find a seller.
As for the Citroen yep I’d want paying to take the piece of junk.
My Dad used to drive a Rover 2000 back in the 70’s, and I have fond memories of the car as a kid.
I don’t think I’ve seen a working old banger Rover with MOT left on it - not ever.
They’ve all been “Expired”, “About to Expire”, or advertized as “Spares only”.
Even the prices for the spares - put the car in the 500-1000 range that I usually search on.
Perhaps in the months and years to come - there might come a day when people panic-sell their old bangers for a few hundred - whilst they can still fetch anything for them at all?
There’s other news stories out there today, describing “Motoring” as the future luxury that only the wealthy can afford…
With this lockdown already generating millions of impoverished, under-employed people now - one wonders who’s going to be able to afford to buy these low-shelf-life Electric cars that seem to have even LOWER re-sale values than even Petrol/Diesel old bangers!
When my Audi died 2 months ago (gear box) I needed a car asap, so bought an 03 plate Nissan Almera for £495 with 91k on the clock (genuine too) so far I’ve put 3k on the clock and hasn’t put a foot wrong so far
Not the comfiest of things on a 60 mile round trip but does the job!!
When I get the Audi fixed (gearbox, EGR and MAF, get the headlights readjusted and re MoT’d) I’ll be get shot as quick as I can, tempted to go for as new a Toyota Avensis diesel as I can afford…
DAF95XF:
When my Audi died 2 months ago (gear box) I needed a car asap, so bought an 03 plate Nissan Almera for £495 with 91k on the clock (genuine too) so far I’ve put 3k on the clock and hasn’t put a foot wrong so far
Not the comfiest of things on a 60 mile round trip but does the job!!
When I get the Audi fixed (gearbox, EGR and MAF, get the headlights readjusted and re MoT’d) I’ll be get shot as quick as I can, tempted to go for as new a Toyota Avensis diesel as I can afford…
If you like Toyota and diesel, check out the Honda too. The Civic is divisive on styling, but the Accord 2.2 is excellent.
Winseer:
Perhaps in the months and years to come - there might come a day when people panic-sell their old bangers for a few hundred - whilst they can still fetch anything for them at all?
There’s other news stories out there today, describing “Motoring” as the future luxury that only the wealthy can afford…
With this lockdown already generating millions of impoverished, under-employed people now - one wonders who’s going to be able to afford to buy these low-shelf-life Electric cars that seem to have even LOWER re-sale values than even Petrol/Diesel old bangers!
Yep agenda 2030 effectively a charter for turning the free world into a Chicom run prefecture.It’s obvious that everything from property ownership to the freedom to travel as and how we wish goes out the window with it.
So we become a nation of bicycle riding serfs much easier to control movement under that regime.Our houses seized and reallocated along party faithful lines.
Oh to be 10-20 years older.
As for electric cars they were taken out by natural selection at the dawn of motoring age for a reason.
Winseer:
My Dad used to drive a Rover 2000 back in the 70’s, and I have fond memories of the car as a kid.
I don’t think I’ve seen a working old banger Rover with MOT left on it - not ever.
They’ve all been “Expired”, “About to Expire”, or advertized as “Spares only”.
Even the prices for the spares - put the car in the 500-1000 range that I usually search on.
As opposed to well maintained pushrod motor and manual box.Just know he just ain’t going to give that away for a song.
Franglais:
If you like Toyota and diesel, check out the Honda too. The Civic is divisive on styling, but the Accord 2.2 is excellent.
The civic is a bit too small for me, but I have been looking online at the accord (it’s got a lot of toys )
Try one. I had one for a while, and would have another 2moro. Mine was an estate with 120k miles. No rattles, smoke or trim problems. Chain driven cam too.
Franglais:
If you like Toyota and diesel, check out the Honda too. The Civic is divisive on styling, but the Accord 2.2 is excellent.
The civic is a bit too small for me, but I have been looking online at the accord (it’s got a lot of toys )
Try one. I had one for a while, and would have another 2moro. Mine was an estate with 120k miles. No rattles, smoke or trim problems. Chain driven cam too.
+1 on the Accord, after several Civics I got a Type S Accord, new in 2010 and had it for 5 years. 2.2 diesel tweeked up to about 194 bhp and six speed manual. Quite honestly say it was the best car I ever had. Only little drawback was it had to be serviced every six months.
Unfortunately Honda stopped making the Accord (for the UK anyway) Didn’t fancy Civics after that so I went onto Mercedes.
I do like the look of the new 2020 Civic but not sure if they still do a diesel. If you want one with all the bells & whistles it has to be the 1 litre petrol.
The HRV is a good car, bigger than it looks and I am sure a diesel option is available.
tyneside:
+1 on the Accord, after several Civics I got a Type S Accord, new in 2010 and had it for 5 years. 2.2 diesel tweeked up to about 194 bhp and six speed manual. Quite honestly say it was the best car I ever had. Only little drawback was it had to be serviced every six months.
Unfortunately Honda stopped making the Accord (for the UK anyway) Didn’t fancy Civics after that so I went onto Mercedes.
I do like the look of the new 2020 Civic but not sure if they still do a diesel. If you want one with all the bells & whistles it has to be the 1 litre petrol.
The HRV is a good car, bigger than it looks and I am sure a diesel option is available.
Tyneside
Had a look at a few Accords on Autotrader last night.
What’s the thoughts on the Vauxhall Insignia?
DAF95XF:
What’s the thoughts on the Vauxhall Insignia?
No upsides at all v Zafira Tourer.Bonus points for last of the 1.8 NA engine options in it as I specced mine when it was new v 1.4 turbo.
I’ll be sad to see it sold if/when I have to by necessity not choice.
Last experience I had with Vauxhall was in 1977/78. My sister had a Chevette, six inches of overnight snow on the bonnet it would start first turn, visibility below about 75 yards because of fog and it was a hairdryer job on the electrics or a portable heater under the engine.
We were very tempted on a 65 plate 1.6 CDti v- x line insignia , was a 65 plate , 30 k , £8495 , but it had a crack right along the plastic panel is at side of the seat ( think it had a lever there , maybe electric ) , & they wouldn’t mend it , so that & the size of it ( ok for me but couldn’t see mrs driving it ) made us decide to leave it
But was a smart looking motor , nice wheels & general look of car , had Vauxhall’s before & never had issues , same as Peugeot’s , no problems , whereas nissans , primera gt le snapped the cam chain ( gutted as spent ages finding one ) as in that chromflair pearlescent ( green , purple , brown etc ) colour & a micra that had a problem every week put us off nissans for a bit though the 2 juke diesels we then got were fine & you couldn’t get the juke tenka off the daughter , so comfy apparently & was unreal mpg
Still gutted about the daughters st , I’d already brought the focus when she decided she wanted a more comfortable car or I’d of have it & traded my old car in against the vignale , I drive the focus which is nice but drive my mrs st ( remapped etc ) & it does seem so much more fun , but I guess it would not make a lot of sense having 2 sts in the house
Shame
If you work a job which requires you to wear a hi-viz vest and drive a <5 year old car, you’re an idiot imo. I always chuckle when I see fellow drivers/warehouse staff/transport clerks etc. jump into their 2018 Mercedes with that “Look at me” face.
Had my car failed on emissions, strict MOT leaving me suddenly with no car, as it was running like a sewing machine right upto it’s failure…
Managed to pick up a replacement for a grand from a local dealer who was prepared to bring the car around for me, and I even got £187 for scrap for my outgoing car.
That grand - is the most I’ve ever spent on a car in my entire life!!
This one should fetch even more for scrap, as I read on the scrapping site that people carriers fetch over £200 these days. Go figure!
It’s like getting 10p back on those old empty bottles of Corona lemonade we kids used to scavange from rubbish tips for top-up pocket money…
For the first time in over 50 years of driving I’ve gone over to the dark side & bought a new BEV, a MG ZS EV. I’ve spent my entire life driving old classic cars, welding,fabricating,mechanics,paint spraying them myself & buying newer salvage cars for daily drivers for my missus.
It’s come a time now where the mind is still willing but the body isn’t up to crawling under cars any more so since I’m retired & have no commute or long distance driving this SAIC MG ZS EV will do me just fine.
The smooth silent drive is a revelation & the one pedal driving is a blast, so relaxing, I think I only touched the brake pedal twice on the drive back home from collecting the car in Wigan.
It’s certainly not been without it’s problems trying to get a 7kw wallbox charger installed, our old house (1925) with an antiquated shared loop electricity (which there are lots of these houses in my neck o the woods) supply with two other houses isn’t up to today’s code & isn’t up to the job of running a 7kw charger plus whatever you have running in the house
The OLEV grant installation guys ask for lots of pictures of your electricity system so they can remotely access the situation & whether you have off road parking / garage which I have both.
They trook one look at my pictures & said nah mate computer says NO you’ll need to get your electric system upgraded.
I spoke with the DNO ( district network operator) and they’re coming at the end of the month to upgrade us to a new 100A electricity supply (currently only 60A) at no cost to us as it’s their problem
lancpudn:
For the first time in over 50 years of driving I’ve gone over to the dark side & bought a new BEV, a MG ZS EV. I’ve spent my entire life driving old classic cars, welding,fabricating,mechanics,paint spraying them myself & buying newer salvage cars for daily drivers for my missus.
It’s come a time now where the mind is still willing but the body isn’t up to crawling under cars any more so since I’m retired & have no commute or long distance driving this SAIC MG ZS EV will do me just fine.
The smooth silent drive is a revelation & the one pedal driving is a blast, so relaxing, I think I only touched the brake pedal twice on the drive back home from collecting the car in Wigan.
It’s certainly not been without it’s problems trying to get a 7kw wallbox charger installed, our old house (1925) with an antiquated shared loop electricity (which there are lots of these houses in my neck o the woods) supply with two other houses isn’t up to today’s code & isn’t up to the job of running a 7kw charger plus whatever you have running in the house
The OLEV grant installation guys ask for lots of pictures of your electricity system so they can remotely access the situation & whether you have off road parking / garage which I have both.
They trook one look at my pictures & said nah mate computer says NO you’ll need to get your electric system upgraded.
I spoke with the DNO ( district network operator) and they’re coming at the end of the month to upgrade us to a new 100A electricity supply (currently only 60A) at no cost to us as it’s their problem
Some nice big orange tubes for the electrickery to flow through. Quite surprised to see a 12v “starter battery” there too!
lancpudn:
For the first time in over 50 years of driving I’ve gone over to the dark side & bought a new BEV, a MG ZS EV. I’ve spent my entire life driving old classic cars, welding,fabricating,mechanics,paint spraying them myself & buying newer salvage cars for daily drivers for my missus.
It’s come a time now where the mind is still willing but the body isn’t up to crawling under cars any more so since I’m retired & have no commute or long distance driving this SAIC MG ZS EV will do me just fine.
The smooth silent drive is a revelation & the one pedal driving is a blast, so relaxing, I think I only touched the brake pedal twice on the drive back home from collecting the car in Wigan.
It’s certainly not been without it’s problems trying to get a 7kw wallbox charger installed, our old house (1925) with an antiquated shared loop electricity (which there are lots of these houses in my neck o the woods) supply with two other houses isn’t up to today’s code & isn’t up to the job of running a 7kw charger plus whatever you have running in the house
The OLEV grant installation guys ask for lots of pictures of your electricity system so they can remotely access the situation & whether you have off road parking / garage which I have both.
They trook one look at my pictures & said nah mate computer says NO you’ll need to get your electric system upgraded.
I spoke with the DNO ( district network operator) and they’re coming at the end of the month to upgrade us to a new 100A electricity supply (currently only 60A) at no cost to us as it’s their problem
The brave new nuclear fuelled world at 16p per kwh + road fuel duty and VAT at 20%.As opposed to petrol 12p per kwh including road fuel duty and 20% VAT and domestic gas at 3p per kwh.What could possibly go wrong.
Well I’ve had my Kia CeeD 5 months now and still pleased with it also only done 1700 miles in it my self so hasn’t even hit 6k yet
Car is 2y 2 month old
Only problem at the moment is the handbrake is sticking on during the week where it sits in the yard , so I’ve left it off this week and in reverse
P/a it’s fine at weekends when I use it more
