The Joy of Running an Old Shed (Vol 2)
Discussion
Drezza said:
I'm in the precarious situation of looking at £3.5k "sheds" (Skoda Octavia vRS 2.0 TSI) to replace my 1.9TDI Fabia vRS. Been looking at common problems and they seem to suffer from timing chain tensioner issues after reading the last few comments I think it may not be the best idea. However, the seller has had the chain and tensioner replaced in 2019 at Skoda and it has a full new set of Michelins and discs/ pads so I think he has looked after it. Decisions decisions...
I had a 190bhp mapped vRS Fabia, it was an absolute weapon and I loved every minute of it. Part of me thinks if you changed you'd be insane, purely from the over-double fuel cost. My vRS Fabia did an easy 50mpg as a very efficient engine and lightweight. My vRS Octavia on the other hand, struggled to break 30mpg driving normally, did 36mpg on a run once, and enjoying yourself frequently yielded early twenties and late teens. WPA said:
What are peoples views on Fiat 500's for around £2500
Good or bad
Worth a scan:Good or bad
https://www.fiatforum.com/forums/500-2007.148/
mercedeslimos said:
I had a 190bhp mapped vRS Fabia, it was an absolute weapon and I loved every minute of it. Part of me thinks if you changed you'd be insane, purely from the over-double fuel cost. My vRS Fabia did an easy 50mpg as a very efficient engine and lightweight. My vRS Octavia on the other hand, struggled to break 30mpg driving normally, did 36mpg on a run once, and enjoying yourself frequently yielded early twenties and late teens.
Yeah mine is standard, the later BLT engine which I think is 140bhp. Maybe I should just get it mapped and enjoy the extra performance. I mainly wanted an estate for the practicality as I only really use it to lug stuff around. The tax on the Octavia at £300 is also another thing putting me off, maybe I'll just stick with the Fabia, the fuel costs would be horrendous if it's that low mpg too, didn't realise they were that thirsty! jezhumphrey75 said:
hi all, im thinking of selling my lwb vivaro van( mountain bike transport ) for something worth a little less and alot less on tax/insurance........ive been looking at vauxhall insignias estate, are these generally good cars? im looking for something not to worry about and get beat up and not care about it as much as i do my van lol.
Diesel insignia is pretty good, except for the oil pump pick up - you need to allow £700 to remove the sump, fit a modified oil seal, and replace. It'll be OK then.Hoofy said:
For me, at a push £1500. Maybe I'm looking at things differently but it should be a car that you chuck a couple of hundred into it and if it requires a lot of work, you happily bin it and roll the dice again.
I guess it's all down to the individual. I suspect some millionaires treat their supercars like sheds.
There's a geezer where I live who has two supercars.I guess it's all down to the individual. I suspect some millionaires treat their supercars like sheds.
Aston Martin is registered 15 HED, Lamborghini is registered 45 HED. Both look pretty new to me.
Makers me smile every time I drive past them.
I will get photos, as he is regularly parked early doors in a parking bay on the street in the town centre.
bearman68 said:
Diesel insignia is pretty good, except for the oil pump pick up - you need to allow £700 to remove the sump, fit a modified oil seal, and replace. It'll be OK then.
As you know bearman, I have asked this question before - as a potential Vectra replacement - the diesel's are very tempting, especially if you require a Touring model, they look very reasonable to run, low tax, good fuel, big space - and are very firmly in shed budget!I have done nearly 16,000 miles this year in my petrol Vauxhall, so I am on the cusp if this continues to switch over to a diesel shed, just not sure I want to make the jump yet, although business mileage has helped a little in this respect, so may of skewed my calcs a little.....such a shed dilemma!
QBee said:
Hoofy said:
For me, at a push £1500. Maybe I'm looking at things differently but it should be a car that you chuck a couple of hundred into it and if it requires a lot of work, you happily bin it and roll the dice again.
I guess it's all down to the individual. I suspect some millionaires treat their supercars like sheds.
There's a geezer where I live who has two supercars.I guess it's all down to the individual. I suspect some millionaires treat their supercars like sheds.
Aston Martin is registered 15 HED, Lamborghini is registered 45 HED. Both look pretty new to me.
Makers me smile every time I drive past them.
I will get photos, as he is regularly parked early doors in a parking bay on the street in the town centre.
I wonder if he owns a handful of places that sells garden buildings.
anarki said:
Apologies if this has been asked/answered before - what is the consensus of the Ford 1.6tdci 115hp engine of 2012 vintage?
I used to rave about these.... but now, I'm seeing a fair few struck down with head gasket failure. But I do wonder if the waterpump fails and goes unnoticed. 7 5 7 said:
bearman68 said:
Diesel insignia is pretty good, except for the oil pump pick up - you need to allow £700 to remove the sump, fit a modified oil seal, and replace. It'll be OK then.
As you know bearman, I have asked this question before - as a potential Vectra replacement - the diesel's are very tempting, especially if you require a Touring model, they look very reasonable to run, low tax, good fuel, big space - and are very firmly in shed budget!I have done nearly 16,000 miles this year in my petrol Vauxhall, so I am on the cusp if this continues to switch over to a diesel shed, just not sure I want to make the jump yet, although business mileage has helped a little in this respect, so may of skewed my calcs a little.....such a shed dilemma!
However I personally found the MPG very poor for a diesel unless it was on a motorway run or long distance urban trip.
BenS94 said:
I used to rave about these.... but now, I'm seeing a fair few struck down with head gasket failure. But I do wonder if the waterpump fails and goes unnoticed.
Mine was brilliant, had a leaking water pump, got it fixed, sold it to a dealer a while later. Dealer posts me a picture of the head off the engine and a nasty note. I genuinely didn't know... but could have been HGFMy sheddy Saab (2002 9-5) has just failed its MOT for an engine oil leak that has been there for at least 3 years.
This time they have decied it's a fail.
Problem in the past was that nobody could find the source of the leak.
A couple of garages asked me to get the engine steam cleaned, but I couldn't find anywhere with a steam cleaner.
So now I will have to get my arse in gear, get it up on a ramp, have a good look and get it fixed.
My suspicion is rocker cover gasket. £20 inc VAT.
Still, could have been worse.
And we do have three sheds between the two of us, so there's no danger of the horrors of public transport unless two more break.
And at that point we either break into the shed rainy day fund and get something cheap and cheerful, or hire one from that nice Mr Bearman
This time they have decied it's a fail.
Problem in the past was that nobody could find the source of the leak.
A couple of garages asked me to get the engine steam cleaned, but I couldn't find anywhere with a steam cleaner.
So now I will have to get my arse in gear, get it up on a ramp, have a good look and get it fixed.
My suspicion is rocker cover gasket. £20 inc VAT.
Still, could have been worse.
And we do have three sheds between the two of us, so there's no danger of the horrors of public transport unless two more break.
And at that point we either break into the shed rainy day fund and get something cheap and cheerful, or hire one from that nice Mr Bearman
anarki said:
Apologies if this has been asked/answered before - what is the consensus of the Ford 1.6tdci 115hp engine of 2012 vintage?
Haven't owned one but hired one in Cyprus last year. Drove nicely enough but the engine was fairly gutless, needing to go down a cog or two to overtake on the motorway. The one we had had a knackered clutch as well, with it not biting until the clutch was pretty much all the way out, which made hill starts challenging.
It got me from Ayia Napa to Aphrodite Hills in 1 hour 15 though, so quite a capable cruiser if you don't mind chaning gear.
Following on from the question about Fiat 500s I've always thought bigger engined cars were the way to go with a shed because they often haven't ever been worked that hard, and even if they have not for that long on our congested roads.
Engines with cam-chains seem like a good idea too to avoid expensive belt replacements, although a non-interference engine with a belt means it only needs replacement when it snaps!
Anyway after 5+ years with my Cat N BMW E90 330i that has done 125K miles it's working out so far.
Engines with cam-chains seem like a good idea too to avoid expensive belt replacements, although a non-interference engine with a belt means it only needs replacement when it snaps!
Anyway after 5+ years with my Cat N BMW E90 330i that has done 125K miles it's working out so far.
greenarrow said:
I owned an Insignia SRI CDTI from 2017-19 and can attest that they are very good long distance cars. Also, a bit like the Vectra you own, I think an under-rated car in the chassis department. It does feel ponderous around town and not exactly agile, but in typical Vauxhall fashion, stability is the key. Mine could rattle along country roads at an amazing lick with very good body control and damping. Its too firm around town on the big wheels but can go down a back road full of compressions and crests very well. Probably better than my current BMW in truth, as that car gets caught out by dips quite alarmingly.
However I personally found the MPG very poor for a diesel unless it was on a motorway run or long distance urban trip.
As an owner of mostly Vauxhalls throughout my life, you are absolutely right about the handling and road-holding of SRIs on country roads and put a lot of other marques to shame, BUT this is something specific to the SRI/Sportive/GSI models which have superior suspension. The cooking spec Vauxhalls are still decent but not a patch on the SRis etc. The seat bolsters in the SRIs are very supportive and the seat itself quite firm too, which I think mutes some of the body roll when pressing on.However I personally found the MPG very poor for a diesel unless it was on a motorway run or long distance urban trip.
The diesel Vauxhalls have never been known for fuel economy over the past 20 years. Bot the 1.7 Isuzu and 1.9 Fiat lumps do around 40 round town and top out around 50 on a motorway doing a steady 80. Could push it up to 60mpg if you sit under 70 but you'd probably fall asleep and crash from boredom first. A friend has a 2.0 CDTI Insignia and he's getting the same.
r3g said:
Could push it up to 60mpg if you sit under 70 but you'd probably fall asleep and crash from boredom first. A friend has a 2.0 CDTI Insignia and he's getting the same.
I get 50mpg doing just that in my 1.8 petrol Vectra, which is remarkable for a big old N/A, yes it is boring, but I aint in a rush, so works for me, especially if work are paying for my mileage Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff