The joys of running old cars!

[Oaktech]

I've got a 1969 BSA B25 motorbike if that counts!

[witch]

I've got a 1969 BSA B25 motorbike if that counts!

Lucky! I used to have a half share in a BSA Gold Star. I loved that bike

[CAM]

After a few cheap repairs, my Astra is now running with no problems (touch wood!). When it eventually gives up the ghost I will probably replace it for a small pickup. Add some business insurance on and I can use it to help run tools and crew down the Bluebell when we can't get a spare slot for the works train (I think you need business for volunteer work?)

[SpuffMonkey]

Just had to spend a grand on my old Camry - but I reckon if it lasts another 3 years it'll have been money well spent. I do enjoy driving it - its so comfortable and quiet, and she can really pick up her skirts and shift when required - as some idiot in an Audi found out yesterday when he tried to burn me off and push in from the wrong lane ;-)

[Oaktech]

Lucky! I used to have a half share in a BSA Gold Star. I loved that bike

 

Between my dad and I we have:

 

'77 Honda 750/4

'76 Honda 400/4 x4

'75 Honda 550/4

'71 Triumph Tiger TR6R

'69 BSA B25 Starfire

'88 Honda Bros

'92 Honda Revere

 

I also have in my possession, but they don't actually belong to me:

 

'03 Honda VFR 800

'76 Honda 400/4

'69 Honda cd175

'80 Honda CB250N

'77 Honda CB250T

 

We went big with Honda... I'm what is known in motorcycle circles as a 'noted expert' in the Honda Bros and the 550/4!

[TheCrust]

Can't believe how many people have a post-2000 car, asking if that's old!

 

I have a 1990 Ford Sierra 2.0. Apart from an attempt to set itself on fire earlier this year - twice - it's been faultlessly reliable. It still returns 35mpg around town / mid-40s on a run and doesn't cost me anything other than the parts and time to service it once a year.

 

It's got character and is now relatively individual on the roads too - don't see many of them about at all.

 

Not bad for a £100 punt 7 years ago.

[twin--turbo]

Can't believe how many people have a post-2000 car, asking if that's old!

 

I have a 1990 Ford Sierra 2.0. Apart from an attempt to set itself on fire earlier this year - twice - it's been faultlessly reliable. It still returns 35mpg around town / mid-40s on a run and doesn't cost me anything other than the parts and time to service it once a year.

 

It's got character and is now relatively individual on the roads too - don't see many of them about at all.

 

Not bad for a £100 punt 7 years ago.

 

I know a guy who had a sierra, got frustrated with it one day and threw a hammer through one of the rear windows...

 

 

LOL....

 

I spent most of my day yesterday with the afformentioned Galaxy in bits after it refused to turn over at all. After spending all that time it transpired that my 9yr old had droped the keys on tuesday and the tiny transponder chip in the key had dropped out. It's the only key! By chance and somehow with some reasonable information on the location of the drop ( he's usualy fairly vauge on most things ) and at 8:20PM in the dark with my phone lamp, I found the tiny 9mmx3mmx2mm black plastic chip. Popped it back in and it fired up nicely. DOH!!! lucky escape there!

 

Rob

[RabbieBurns]

Ive got a 1994 BMW 325 - it has its 20th birthday next January so I'm classing it as old.

 

Since I've had it Ive had to spend quite a bit keeping it roadworthy, but although it is less than the repayments on a new car, its not very economical with fuel.

 

Owning a European car over here is seen as a 'luxury' car and as such all the spare parts are priced as a premium; Ive found its cheaper to import them from the US/UK/EU and fit them myself (with the help of a mate who knows what he's doing)

 

Its in pretty decent condition considering its age. 225k kms

[mac_shinobi]

I have 2 older 5 series BMWs, ones a 2000 and the other 1999, both 2.5 straight 6s and love them. Personally, I would rather spend my money on something older that is larger and has more toys. I cant be doing with a small eurobox. Off to test drive an X5 4.4 V8 tomorrow

 

Wish I could say the same although it would cost too much in fuel, insurance, road tax etc etc

[Fleetwood]

I made the mistake of having a HP for 5 years (4 to go now, yay) on a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa. All I can is "Lesson Learnt." and never again! I'll be sticking to older cars next time, I wanted to do tinkering on cars to try and get into mechanics/learn a bit of DIY for it but when you need a degree in electronics to start anywhere with these new cars it's impossible.

 

I'd bloody love a 1984-6 Pontiac Trans Am

Edited September 2, 2013 by Fleetwood

[jmak]

Once upon a time I had company cars - haven't found many state schools offering that - which always seemed a poor use of money. The Honda which I've had since new (as a company car) doesn't feel noticeably different to when I first got it 10 years and 160000 miles ago. Last service was an oil change and nothing unexpected. My 57 reg Seat on the other hand...

 

MIL light and EPC light. Plug in diagnostics - fault code which google tells me is an ecu fault. Took it to my local friendly specialist who agreed and we sent the ecu off to be repaired. Came back unrepairable. Only option is main dealer. Got stung for £95 for them to plug into their diag machine to be told...it needs a new ecu. Yeah, thanks for that. That'll be £1100!! Phoned Seat, who said "well expensive repairs are to expected on older cars". Possibly, but we'll have to differ on our classification of older. It's not even a moving or wear and tear part. Now feeling very poor - and grumpy every time I see the damned thing. Doesn't help that every time I tell anyone, they say "I thought you could fix computers".

 

Japanese or Korean for me from now on. Don't care whether it's boring, just want it to work.

 

Sorry for hijacking your thread.

[SYNACK]

Ive got a 1994 BMW 325 - it has its 20th birthday next January so I'm classing it as old.

 

Since I've had it Ive had to spend quite a bit keeping it roadworthy, but although it is less than the repayments on a new car, its not very economical with fuel.

 

Owning a European car over here is seen as a 'luxury' car and as such all the spare parts are priced as a premium; Ive found its cheaper to import them from the US/UK/EU and fit them myself (with the help of a mate who knows what he's doing)

 

Its in pretty decent condition considering its age. 225k kms

Yeap, I drive a 'luxury' (as defined in NZ) European car, compared to the stuff we get though they are luxury. The Japanese cars all have something called a New Zealand spec where by they rip out anything that could not be easily understood by a medieval farmer and then add a bunch to the price. As such NZ new cars all pretty much suck, stripped of GPS and a host of electronics, it is better now than it was where Toyota considered abs to be scary witchcraft that the New Zealand market could not handle. The interior trim and driving feel of the cars are also big differentiators. The average Japanese car here has an plastic interior, leather texture stamped out of what may as well be old recycled icecream containers. Cheap vinal and cloth seats. The quality differences are so evident they have gone as far as releasing euro spec models of Asian cars like the Accord where they at least make a passing attempt at interior trim and up spec the handling. I have driven stacks of different cars and despite the increased cost of a euro car here they are worth it if you like driving and don't want to be stuck in a sporty reincarnation of the contents of your recycling bin. They are also some of the few cars that you can still find in a manual gear box in NZ. The other option is one of the soon to be discontinued Australian monsters like the Holden commodore which are quite common, unfortunately the technology level inside most of them is governed by the same ideas that made model T's great, that they had to be fixable and understandable by your average blacksmith without training.

Edited September 2, 2013 by SYNACK

[Sirbendy]

I made the mistake of having a HP for 5 years (4 to go now, yay) on a 2009 Vauxhall Corsa. All I can is "Lesson Learnt." and never again! I'll be sticking to older cars next time, I wanted to do tinkering on cars to try and get into mechanics/learn a bit of DIY for it but when you need a degree in electronics to start anywhere with these new cars it's impossible.

 

I'd bloody love a 1984-6 Pontiac Trans Am

 

Oh, I don't know..GM stuff is pretty simple once you get down to the nitty-gritty. Look at the Z Series Lump in mine..an advance on the X series (which I've also had), which is descended from the old C16SE in the Nova etc (and my soon to be scrapped MK3), which goes right back again from injected to carb..remove the MPI and associated systems, there's nowt complex about it. EG R valves, Catalysts, lambdas, ECUs, Injectors..it's all bolt on tech, and not I find massively complex..in fact reading up on the operational theory and logic of the GM Multec EFi system is quite an interesting hobby..heh.

 

As complex as it all can seem, it breaks down quite easily into little easy to ID sub-assembies, with a fairly basic operating logic. I have both a laptop with OPCOM and a dongle, and my Androd with Torque Pro - it's quite fascinating looking at the data flows and the way it all interacts.

[twin--turbo]

Oh, I don't know..GM stuff is pretty simple once you get down to the nitty-gritty. Look at the Z Series Lump in mine..an advance on the X series (which I've also had), which is descended from the old C16SE in the Nova etc (and my soon to be scrapped MK3), which goes right back again from injected to carb..remove the MPI and associated systems, there's nowt complex about it. EG R valves, Catalysts, lambdas, ECUs, Injectors..it's all bolt on tech, and not I find massively complex..in fact reading up on the operational theory and logic of the GM Multec EFi system is quite an interesting hobby..heh.

 

As complex as it all can seem, it breaks down quite easily into little easy to ID sub-assembies, with a fairly basic operating logic. I have both a laptop with OPCOM and a dongle, and my Androd with Torque Pro - it's quite fascinating looking at the data flows and the way it all interacts.

 

 

it would help if you could get decent wiring diagrams ( VW/Ford ones are difficult ).

 

That's one thing I love with my Jag is the full wiring guide, and I have JLR IDS and a Mongoose lead so I can be told about a shorted out wire in a plug next to the drivers door handle . A decent dealer level tool is a big bonuse.

 

Rob

[Ketlane]

This is the least reliable car I've ever owned. Ex-safari so had a game hatch which was about the only bit that worked every time. You'll notice that it's a bit down on one corner: snapped torsion bar. Other failures at awkward moments included main bearings, clutch cable, sliding door, shocks, bushes for shocks... Never had a handbrake that worked, all the heating hoses had been lost long ago (no trouble in most places, but got cold when we got nearer the highlands). I've been soooo grateful for cars that work ever since!

[Sunnyknight]

Still got locked away a mk6 ford escort. 1.8 si. In red :PNeeds a TON of work on it though. Sills, arches, bumpers, head gasket, front panels, electrical wiring, underside redone / rust proof, suspension changing, ball-bearings, Stainless steel exhaust system from cat back, refurb the rims, lower it 40mm, engine bay re-welded, floor pans, induction kit, turbo, new brake disks and pads, radiator, new manifold.....

 

Holy mother of coffin cakes.... i've just realized how much i typed lol..

 

Still more than that though... but you get my drift lol

Edited September 2, 2013 by Sunnyknight

[Miscbrah]

turbo

 

Oh yes, I need one of these.

 

I also need a dump valve so everyone in the McDonalds car park knows how cool I am.

 

(Seriously though I would like one. I suck right?)

Edited September 3, 2013 by Miscbrah

[Chris_in_notts]

You could get an electronic dumpvalve to fit in with the maccys crew?

 

Oh yes, I need one of these.

 

I also need a dump valve so everyone in the McDonalds car park knows how cool I am.

 

(Seriously though I would like one. I suck right?)

[Miscbrah]

You could get an electronic dumpvalve to fit in with the maccys crew?

 

I thought you were mental until I googled that. How wrong I was!!

 

"A actual mechanical dump valve is used on cars with actual turbo chargers installed in order to create extra boost and therefore power."

 

A BOV gives you more power? Wut?

[Sirbendy]

I always thought of the DV as just that..dump excess boot to prevent compressor stall and keep the turbine spinning freely under suitautions where the boost wasn't needed...?

[Miscbrah]

Yes me too. Apparently we've learned it gives you +400 MOAR HORSEPOWERZZ*

 

*misleading.

[Oaktech]

What you actually need is one of these to fit in with the maccy d crewAkamoto - Flaming Exhausts - Exhaust Flamers

[Sunnyknight]

Since when were ze geeks on here also into cars!? WHUT!?

 

Never really grew onto elec dump valves. Always preferred the good ol rs piston turbo ones

[3s-gtech]

Still got locked away a mk6 ford escort. 1.8 si.

 

Mk1 Escort - classic. Mk 2 Escort - Classic. Mk 3 Escort - some classic models, 1600i etc. Mk 4 Escort - RS Turbo only real classic (at present). Mk 5 Escort - RS Cosworth. Mk 6 Escort - scrap it and save the hassle!

[SYNACK]

Oh yes, I need one of these.

 

I also need a dump valve so everyone in the McDonalds car park knows how cool I am.

 

(Seriously though I would like one. I suck right?)

 

I prefer a nice relentless supercharger spool, much more empowering , am I a bad person?