The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)

[7 5 7]

r3g said:

The headlights just need MOPing - 15 minute job and sorted.

Why on earth would you replace the rear shocks but not do the springs and rear ARB bush at the same time while you've got it up on the ramp?

That's all standard maintenance stuff for an old Vauxhall, get it done. While it's up on the ramp, get your wire brush on the sub frames and clear off all the surface rot that'll be growing there and get a coating of underbody seal larded on, or some old engine oil. Give the sills and rear arches a good clean and do these too while the weather is warm and dry as they like to go there too, unless it's got a factory bodykit on it covering the sills.

I recommend spending the money for OEM springs on Vauxhalls. Aftermarket ones from local motor factors are all st and will snap as soon as you drive over a pebble.

All valid points, I did get the springs done at same time - but, they were the wrong ones ordered (apparently there are two types) non-sri and standard, with mine being an SRI, fitted these but then something was fouling and bottoming out on the replacement springs, so refitted old ones, then just forget about ordering different ones, as the car was needed ASAP on the road.

Underseal is a little too far for me personally, on a classic maybe which I have done on my 1966 Beetle many times (it's a st job), but not daily shed that is destined to go scrap if it drops a bk, but, each to their own on that of course.

Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 19th June 16:18

[Gordon Hill]

MOT time for the shed Merc on Saturday, shouldn't need much as I've been through everything with a fine tooth comb so here's hoping for another years wafting.

Loving these self servicing posts, it's one of the joys of running a cheaper car that you're able to go on fleabay and get servicing parts so cheap that it's laughable and the knowledge that it's been done properly.

That's something that I get at work a lot, oh it must cost you a fortune to run that, nope, no more than any other car actually.

[r3g]

7 5 7 said:

Underseal is a little too far for me personally, on a classic maybe which I have done on my 1966 Beetle many times (it's a st job), but not daily shed that is destined to go scrap if it drops a bk, but, each to their own on that of course.

You don't need to go crazy. It's a no-brainer imo if the car is otherwise mechanically sound and you like driving it. This time of the year when there's warm and dry periods is the perfect time to do it. You can have it done in about 15-20 mins if you have your brushes and tub of gloop to hand. You're just preventing 95% of the salt and moisture from getting at the metal and while it's not going to be a proper pro job it'll be sufficient to extend the vehicle life by years. It's nearly always rot that kills cars of our typical age range before anything mechanical.

[7 5 7]

r3g said:

You don't need to go crazy. It's a no-brainer imo if the car is otherwise mechanically sound and you like driving it.

Think that's the crux of it, I hate driving it, it's old and feels very tired - mechanically it's OK it's proven itself over the 2 years or so, but, I am under no illusion it's a just a tool and it's far over stayed its welcome, it lingering around like a old black Labrador with bad cataracts!

I am just keeping it on "shed life support" for as long as I can, without chucking too much time and money on it, I'm ready to swap it at a moments notice in all honesty

But we all know when start thinking that, it will be here for a while!

Edited by 7 5 7 on Wednesday 19th June 18:33

[r3g]

7 5 7 said:

Think that's the crux of it, I hate driving it, it's old and feels very tired - mechanically it's OK it's proven itself over the 2 years or so, but, I am under no illusion it's a just a tool and it's far over stayed its welcome, it lingering around like a old black Labrador with bad cataracts!

Ah! Didn't realise you weren't gelling with it too well and didn't care for it so long as it was legal. In that case I can understand why you probably had a good chuckle and were shaking your head at my suggestion to give it some love underside .

Speaking of Vauxhall's I've just bought myself yet another shed - this time a 2011 Zafira SRi 1.8 which is going to be deployed on van-type duties ! For its age it's very clean all round, including the underbody. Sills, arches, boot and door bottoms all good. Drives beautiful and engine is quiet as a mouse. I can see signs of it having had some paint on the o/s rear door and quarter as I can see a blend "line" which is poorly done and the new paint hasn't been flatted but the panels themselves are all straight and can't hear any filler so might be able to get away with a good MOPing. £1700 100k miles, cam belt done 82l and main dealer receipts including servicing., 2 leys, V5. Having seen first hand what utter wrecks are out there under £2000 I think the price is fair in the current inflated market.

[Mr Tidy]

I hope it has had all the recalls done to prevent it catching fire!

[r3g]

Mr Tidy said:

I hope it has had all the recalls done to prevent it catching fire!

That's old news and was resolved about a decade ago. Caused by the pollen filter clogging up and never being changed which makes the drains block up, water flows into the heater motor and blows the fuse. Idiots change fuse and same things happens again so they decide the bridge the fuse with a bit of tin foil and predictably the car goes up in a ball of flames. So long as you change the pollen filter regularly and ensure the drains are clear there's no issue.

[bodhi]

r3g said:

That's old news and was resolved about a decade ago. Caused by the pollen filter clogging up and never being changed which makes the drains block up, water flows into the heater motor and blows the fuse. Idiots change fuse and same things happens again so they decide the bridge the fuse with a bit of tin foil and predictably the car goes up in a ball of flames. So long as you change the pollen filter regularly and ensure the drains are clear there's no issue.

There's still a pretty big issue - it's a Vauxhall Zafira.

[Mr Tidy]

bodhi said:

There's still a pretty big issue - it's a Vauxhall Zafira.

[r3g]

bodhi said:

There's still a pretty big issue - it's a Vauxhall Zafira.

I am comfortable embracing my inner council . I have had Mantas ,Belmonts, Novas, Crosas, Astras and Vectras in the past so I have no problem being scoffed at and looked down upon by those "successful" made-it-in-life types with their white hired A3 TDI S-lines with black wheels whose lives solely revolve around what their position is in the societal hierachy and what their fake friends and neighbours think of them .

[bodhi]

r3g said:

I am comfortable embracing my inner council . I have had Mantas ,Belmonts, Novas, Crosas, Astras and Vectras in the past so I have no problem being scoffed at and looked down upon by those "successful" made-it-in-life types with their white hired A3 TDI S-lines with black wheels whose lives solely revolve around what their position is in the societal hierachy and what their fake friends and neighbours think of them .

Considering you're talking to someone who often trundles around in a 15 year old Civic with a wonky headlight with a cigarette on the go to mask the smell of damp, you're preaching to the converted on the image side of things

It's more back in 2010 work hired me one to go and see a customer and it was the second most hateful thing I've ever driven after a MK2 Fiesta. It's only redeeming feature was it didn't break down. Think it was a 1.6, but it was terrible on fuel, was impossible to get comfortable in and didn't really do corners.

Sorry I'm still traumatised from driving down to Essex in the bloody thing

[r3g]

bodhi said:

Considering you're talking to someone who often trundles around in a 15 year old Civic with a wonky headlight with a cigarette on the go to mask the smell of damp, you're preaching to the converted on the image side of things

It's more back in 2010 work hired me one to go and see a customer and it was the second most hateful thing I've ever driven after a MK2 Fiesta. It's only redeeming feature was it didn't break down. Think it was a 1.6, but it was terrible on fuel, was impossible to get comfortable in and didn't really do corners.

Sorry I'm still traumatised from driving down to Essex in the bloody thing

They're a big slab of a car so they've never going to be great on fuel. I had an auto CRV petrol for a while, 20 mpg quickly gets annoying. The 1.8s get low 30s driven sensibly which will do me as I don't do many miles. If you want them to go round corners without falling out of the seat you need the SRI (hence why mine is one) with the stiffer suspension. I think they're a pretty decent bus for the money. Nothing special but gets you where you need to be without fuss (famous last words.. ).

Bus!

[7 5 7]

r3g said:

Ah! Didn't realise you weren't gelling with it too well and didn't care for it so long as it was legal. In that case I can understand why you probably had a good chuckle and were shaking your head at my suggestion to give it some love underside .

Speaking of Vauxhall's I've just bought myself yet another shed - this time a 2011 Zafira SRi 1.8 which is going to be deployed on van-type duties !

Yep shoestring motoring, rince and repeat is the brief with this - if its legal and safe thats basically it.

Zafira's are good I think, proper cheap, and make great tool cars, and also for many other things. Even the Zafira Tourer's (newer shape) are seriously cheap now relatively. Enjoy, I find the 1.8 N/A a good reliable lump, and pretty economical for its output.

[psi310398]

7 5 7 said:

Yep shoestring motoring, rince and repeat is the brief with this - if its legal and safe thats basically it.

Zafira's are good I think, proper cheap, and make great tool cars, and also for many other things. Even the Zafira Tourer's (newer shape) are seriously cheap now relatively. Enjoy, I find the 1.8 N/A a good reliable lump, and pretty economical for its output.

I hate to say it but when a friend lent me her Zafira shed so I could collect an oven, I was actually quite impressed with the thing, despite being a lifelong Vauxhall sceptic.

It won’t get the heart aflutter but it’s spacious, reasonably easy to drive and not altogether ghastly to sit in.

[greenarrow]

7 5 7 said:

r3g said:

Ah! Didn't realise you weren't gelling with it too well and didn't care for it so long as it was legal. In that case I can understand why you probably had a good chuckle and were shaking your head at my suggestion to give it some love underside .

Speaking of Vauxhall's I've just bought myself yet another shed - this time a 2011 Zafira SRi 1.8 which is going to be deployed on van-type duties !

Yep shoestring motoring, rince and repeat is the brief with this - if its legal and safe thats basically it.

Zafira's are good I think, proper cheap, and make great tool cars, and also for many other things. Even the Zafira Tourer's (newer shape) are seriously cheap now relatively. Enjoy, I find the 1.8 N/A a good reliable lump, and pretty economical for its output.

Another converted Vauxhall skeptic here. Still missing the Astra H I had on loan for 9 months. If you're not fussed about image they can do a good job! Tough as old boots in my experience. Only thing I didnt like was the somewhat awkward gear change and the clutch judder from standstill which I understand is normal for that model.

[WPA]

r3g said:

bodhi said:

Considering you're talking to someone who often trundles around in a 15 year old Civic with a wonky headlight with a cigarette on the go to mask the smell of damp, you're preaching to the converted on the image side of things

It's more back in 2010 work hired me one to go and see a customer and it was the second most hateful thing I've ever driven after a MK2 Fiesta. It's only redeeming feature was it didn't break down. Think it was a 1.6, but it was terrible on fuel, was impossible to get comfortable in and didn't really do corners.

Sorry I'm still traumatised from driving down to Essex in the bloody thing

They're a big slab of a car so they've never going to be great on fuel. I had an auto CRV petrol for a while, 20 mpg quickly gets annoying. The 1.8s get low 30s driven sensibly which will do me as I don't do many miles. If you want them to go round corners without falling out of the seat you need the SRI (hence why mine is one) with the stiffer suspension. I think they're a pretty decent bus for the money. Nothing special but gets you where you need to be without fuss (famous last words.. ).

Bus!

Did these not have a habit for catching fire or was that the later ones.

[CivicDuties]

WPA said:

r3g said:

bodhi said:

Considering you're talking to someone who often trundles around in a 15 year old Civic with a wonky headlight with a cigarette on the go to mask the smell of damp, you're preaching to the converted on the image side of things

It's more back in 2010 work hired me one to go and see a customer and it was the second most hateful thing I've ever driven after a MK2 Fiesta. It's only redeeming feature was it didn't break down. Think it was a 1.6, but it was terrible on fuel, was impossible to get comfortable in and didn't really do corners.

Sorry I'm still traumatised from driving down to Essex in the bloody thing

They're a big slab of a car so they've never going to be great on fuel. I had an auto CRV petrol for a while, 20 mpg quickly gets annoying. The 1.8s get low 30s driven sensibly which will do me as I don't do many miles. If you want them to go round corners without falling out of the seat you need the SRI (hence why mine is one) with the stiffer suspension. I think they're a pretty decent bus for the money. Nothing special but gets you where you need to be without fuss (famous last words.. ).

Bus!

Did these not have a habit for catching fire or was that the later ones.

It was the even earlier ones IIRC.

[anarki]

Somehow, someway, the shedvic (Mk7) has just passed its MOT.

A few advisories though - a couple of which are making me feel this will be it's last year on our roads. Corrosion is forming around structural components and around the sills. The front coil springs are corroded too.

I couldn't find the source of the knocking I had mentioned the other week - however it has just been advised that the rear subframe bush is worn (could be the source)

I think I'm just going to run it into the ground for another year and probably won't bother MOTing it again and just scrap it. With it now on 172k and me averaging around 12-13k a year, it means I won't get to see it tick over to 200k which is what I was aiming for when I got it on 137k.

On balance shedding has been brilliant in my experience, only one breakdown (stuck front caliper) and just keeping on top of general maintenance along the way.

[7 5 7]

anarki said:

On balance shedding has been brilliant in my experience, only one breakdown (stuck front caliper) and just keeping on top of general maintenance along the way.

I am completely converted these days also, so liberating to just not care one bit, but still trundle along in a reliable clunker, when looks can be so deceiving - I find myself when looking at classified at the cheap stuff, dents or bumps dont put me off at all now - more the better, as means I can carry on that look and not worry about adding anymore myself but more importantly from other people!!

[Irreversal]

Quite like the look of that zafira for the money you paid for it. Looks clean from the photo.

Shed Astra sold for £650 to make way for shed 208 (always a bit of a gamble with the pure crap engine). Had the 208 a month, got written off on a roundabout, first accident in 17 years of driving. It's now been replaced by a 2007 grande Punto. It's like stepping back in time for something that doesn't seem that old to me. The astra H was 2005 and that seemed much more modern.

Got a little list to do on it. Needs a cambelt, water pump and service. Exhaust manifold is likely cracked from the sound and the smell in the cabin with the blower on. Clutch is very stiff but works fine, guessing the pressure plate is on its last legs. But parts are dirt cheap and it's good on fuel. Underneath seems rust free which is my main shed criteria. I can weld but I hate welding cars!!