Be Excellent To Each Other

No, the RAC-approved garages were impractically far from where I live. The RAC guy reckons the clutch has worn away to the point that the pedal is just pushing through, meaning no pressure on the flywheel.

His estimate was about the same: £400 plus enough labour to remove and refit clutch and gearbox.

I can't justify spending that much on a car valued at...

I would concur.

£200, though? What the fuck is it, a push-bike?!

Well you’ll not sell it for much as it is and the cost of repair is cheaper than looking for another 2nd hand car with potentially more issues. It’s a bugger

I had the same choice but tbh I still have a soft spot for my car so went down the repair route.

Suppose you’ve got to think if you can get it back on the road for another year or two for £6-700 then it’s not that bad.

This is a real dilemma when running cars down to near the end of life... I've had that before. Is everything else, to your knowledge, mechanically/electrically sound with that car, DavPaz?

If it is truly dead, put it on eBay starting at a quid for 10 days, making sure that you cover two weekends. It'll go for more than you expect.

The Picasso owes me nothing, to be fair. I've had 50k out of her, she's been to Disneyland and back and she only cost me £300 to start with.

As MrsPaz's car is coming up to the end of her 3 year new car deal thingy (I forget exactly which one she has right now), the plan was that she was going to upgrade hers from a focus to something bigger that can manage camping, long distance family trips and the like, while I downgraded to a smaller, more economical car. This has just forced our hand somewhat.

I'm going to spend the day looking at reasonably priced smallish cars on the internet. This time I might spend more than £300

Puma!

1.6 Vtec Civic under £500

We had one very similar, big enough for camping gear and very reliable*

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... =50&page=6

*Cant vouch for this one obv

I appreciate you looking, Z but I'm definitely looking to spend a fair bit more this time on a newer car.

Thanks though

Good luck.

Puma FRP edition!

Great for the school run!

Now I'm looking at what the best car under £500 is near me.

So far a Micra 1.0 with 43k on the clock for £390!

I reckon some sort of Exciting Rover might be your best bet here.

There's this one if you wanted to stand out from the crowd or pretend to be a French plod:

It's probably not as exciting a car as you think

You'll still pay £15,000 for one, though.

Ooh, new game!

What is the criteria for "near"?

Until there's a choice of like a hundred or so.

I've only managed to find a 2001 Honda Accord for $2800 (with 260,000+ on the clock!!!), but that's probably because I'm in Manhattan at the moment.

Also best, as I'm not sure how that gets you a Micra

Saw that and the 50% rust Merc too. Great project cars to leave at the bottom of the garden.

I went 30 miles I think.

Best condition physically and lowest milage, I guess.

Just freestyle though.

No, YOU'VE been looking at Micra tuning sites!

'58 reg KA 1.3 Zetec with 64K for me.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... 2235228408

This is where I'm looking. It feels like a sensible choice on a nice, low mileage car.

Thoughts?

I have a few choices.

Maybe I can finally get myself an Alfa, with this 2.4 156.


Or maybe a nice V6 Jag X-Type with bonus 4WD. Engine management lights add character!


How about getting muddy in a four litre Grand Cherokee? I'm sure the pesky "limp home" problem could be sorted out by hitting the ECU with an electronic hammer. Or maybe a real one.


But no, I'm probably going to take this stolen BMW 525i and spend some of my change on a carbon fibre bonnet wrap. Vroom vroom vroom!

Low mileage.

But I'd sooner go Seat/VW/Audi or Japanese rather than French personally.

If you want a hatchback, buy a Fiesta.

Peugeot hatchbacks that are less than 25 years old are a bit... "Not very good".

If you got the Alfa you'd have a hobby for life though.

Or

Where do I sign?

All four of them are going to be pretty hobby-rific, I'd image

The thrill of the open driveway!

Alfa looks nice though.

Could you elaborate? My standards and yours might be slightly different

I read Jalopnik and I’m always amazed at how hand bitingly expensive old second cars are in the States. Similar vintage and mileage cars over here are anywhere between 1/10th and a 1/5th of the cost.

French cars are shit.

I had a 1988 Renault 5 Campus that was usually pretty good, in fact I think the only thing that went wrong was a CV joint. Get one of those.

And I don't remember you complaining about how French cars were shit when you were getting ferried everywhere in it.

Objection.

I was stoned.

And... they didn't stay on the road very well

I loved both of my Clios but I wouldn’t get another. Mechanically they were pretty sound but the electrics were dire.

Sorry - fewer than 25 years old.



Or is it 20? It's been a while, to put it mildly.

To be fair the Citroen Picassos are pretty hard to beat for what they are, my sister has run hers for years. Great space inside for camping gear / shopping / tip runs etc.

Get one of those DavPaz

My 306 was 20 years old so call it 19 and we're fine

Tempted, to be fair. But her indoors has a plan!

Wait I take back my 20/25 years statement as the 206 GTi was quite good. But anyway.


Fiestas are better. Golfs Polos are better still, but the price for the same spec is a bit of a leap.

I've not driven a 207 (I have driven a 206 not-GTi though, and dear Christ that was bad. This looks much better, to be fair), but the reviews I've glanced at are pretty much what I was expecting - the engines and gearboxes are a bit sad, and there's no room in the things. Also, the head gasket has a habit of going, which strikes me as almost unbelievable but I guess it could be true?

I understand completely that the fact it's no fun to drive probably isn't high in your list of requirements*, but that doesn't mean you have to get a car that isn't. Bottom line is that I can't think of a single reason why "get a Fiesta" isn't the advice I'd be giving.

* Although one of my favourite 'cars' I've ever owned was a Fiat Minibus, so it's perhaps not so high on mine either.

I'd like to go on record to say I have a soft spot for Renault 5's, 2CV's and Renault 4 vans. All have played important roles in my childhood and youth.