A car for Life?

[DodgeRover]

But surely those lovable rogues who collect scrap would ensure their load is safe?

absolutely thats what those sheets of ply tucked down the sides are for...

[1duck]

Early 90s German/jap cars, they are like cockroaches. Get a civic/polo in a low enough trim level and it will outlast most stuff. It'll be a miserable existence though.

[Hooli]

Driving crap like that means even if it doesn't last forever, it'll feel like it.

[LynehamHerc]

I think that I'd go for a Mk2 Golf GTi, I loved the one I had from new.
Once the MGB work is paid for and it's back on the road it's vaguely possible that I might be able to get one in a year or two out of my 'allowance' for cars that the rest of the family don't like, drive or understand.

My main concern would be the electronics and the fuel injection as I keep on reading horror stories about parts for them being unavailable and there being no substitutes. Having struggled to get a ECU for a 2003 Pluriel a few years ago I suspect that there is more than a germ of truth in them.

What's the real situation Rev?

[mercrocker]

Yep, this is what will kill my 190E. OE dizzy no longer available, parts for the fuel injection are likewise. Been chasing an idle problem for over a year now....

[fried onions]

Surely there are overhaul specialists?

[mercrocker]

Not so simple with fuel injection - some of the parts are intricate castings and when they wear or become porous you have pretty much had it. If the cores are not available stuff cannot be refurbished. My Pierburg on the Volkswagen was completely rebuilt around the basic casting but that was still in good condition. Distributors are not quite such a show stopper as stuff can be machined or adapted - or the car could be modified to run coil packs but obsolete fuel injection cannot simply be swapped to carb without sourcing the appropriate cylinder head, manifold and carb itself.

Not insurmountable perhaps but a great deal of a pain in the ass and wallet.

I have a bucket load of SU carbs in the shed and with these it is simply a matter of an overhaul kit or getting them rebuilt. Win for Morris and Skinners Union here....

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

It's very simple. You collect this stuff when it's readily available and almost free.

What's a 'distributor' by the way?

[8BAK465]

Wow! Lots of replies!

I think those who want a car for life will do it if they are determined

Its definately getting harder though as the goalposts are moved all the time

My Golf was never going to be a candidate as It was part of the generation of cars that fall into the emissions trap.

We just got a new car well its a Company Car but its going back!

Its utterly horrible and neither of us like it,was on short term loan not sure on the details but I took a dislike to its tiny childlike rock hard seats immeadiately Sam isnt happy with it either.

Meanwhile Bristol is intent on banning all Diesels even ones that meet Euro 6 with horsepiss exhaust injection

So maybe its a good thing this diesel monstrocity is going back?

I started looking at Petrol Volvo V70's post 2000 as a cheap daily until I saw the "How Fuckin Much" road tax con once your past 2001

My Mustang is off the road right now as its having a bit of paint correction,one wing reacted but its being sorted free of charge

But when thats back its not something I relish driving in the winter and I cant believe im saying this but the car may be going EFI conversion next year!

Just sick of the Carb/Flooding/Vapour Lock/Heat soak yadda yadda yadda

Want the car finished and to look period correct but want it reliable and useable.

I get where Mercrocker is coming from I bloody loved my Benzes but Mercedes have a sense of humour when it comes to prices of parts they go up by the week and theres anyways a part that theres no aftermarket generic alternative that you have to go to the stealers for such bits Grrrrrrrr!!!!!

I remember reading in the club mag a few years ago of a part that Mercedes had 4 of left and were not remanufacturing something like an injection unit if memory serves me correct?

They were a Grand which is bad enough but when they got to 2 units left they put the price up to £15k!!!!

WTAF

They will end up being binned as who on earth will ever pay that?

It wasnt for anything exotic it was for a w126 I think and you would be extreamly lucky if the whole car was worth that

But Mercedes rather than preserve their heritage will stick to their disneyland prices and on the shelf they will stay as a car that could of used it will be cubed

Mercedes Benz will be the death of their own heritage

Im beginning to wish Id bought one of these when Eddyramrod put me onto one a couple of years ago



Volvo sized
Merican
Cheap
Fairly economical for what it is
Not fuckin pretentious
FWD so winter friendly without Torville and Dean handling

But I let it go

Think it made £800

Think im past prestige now

Weird is the way to go

[treehugger]

Bristol banning diesels? Climate change, innitt!