Who is seriously thinking about a beater?
10-01-2004, 07:22 AM
#11
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Peoples' definitions of a beater obviously vary quite a bit. 
For my part, there are a few key considerations:
It must not be approaching new car money - so a s/h CTR for example, is hardly going to fit the bill. Maybe in4 or 5 years though
You should not be worried about leaving it anywhere
It should not be a banger and unreliable
It should have 'something' about it to compensate for the downsides of boring, old, etc.
The last reason is why I never choose something like an old Fiesta.
Whilst my Scorpio is pig ugly, the luxury, versatility and creature comforts far outweigh the economy offered by the Fiesta.
Each to their own - the Fiesta would be far simpler to maintain and easier to fix if anything went wrong.
Ian - do you want a long or a short PM?
For my part, there are a few key considerations:
It must not be approaching new car money - so a s/h CTR for example, is hardly going to fit the bill. Maybe in4 or 5 years though
You should not be worried about leaving it anywhere
It should not be a banger and unreliable
It should have 'something' about it to compensate for the downsides of boring, old, etc.
The last reason is why I never choose something like an old Fiesta.
Whilst my Scorpio is pig ugly, the luxury, versatility and creature comforts far outweigh the economy offered by the Fiesta.
Each to their own - the Fiesta would be far simpler to maintain and easier to fix if anything went wrong.
Ian - do you want a long or a short PM?
10-01-2004, 08:38 AM
#14
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by cheshire_carper,Oct 1 2004, 04:33 PM
Come on Pete, spill the beans....what's the new commitments then?
I am acquiring cars like normal people acquire newspapers.
Do you really want me to explain?
My head hurts and soon I won't be able to leave my house.
I'll be surrounded!
10-01-2004, 10:26 AM
#15
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Of course I want you to explain. If you have the time and inclination to.
Plus, if theres a black 355 in there, let me know. Thats the car for me, black F is the mix I want.
Plus, if theres a black 355 in there, let me know. Thats the car for me, black F is the mix I want.
10-01-2004, 12:54 PM
#17
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Thread Starter
Originally Posted by cheshire_carper,Oct 1 2004, 06:26 PM
Of course I want you to explain. If you have the time and inclination to.
Plus, if theres a black 355 in there, let me know. Thats the car for me, black F is the mix I want.
Plus, if theres a black 355 in there, let me know. Thats the car for me, black F is the mix I want.
I have entered a change phase. This is a very dangerous phase that I enter every now and again. Dangerous because I become very impulsive and unlike my normal cold and calculating self.
I don't know when it started exactly - there are few warning signs. I just wake up one morning and start doing things instead of thinking about them before doing them. Unfortunately there is no sane limit to the doing.
For some reason, cars seem to be the area of focus. As you know, I've had this 355 itch that won't go away. I can't scratch it though, because even I realise that it would have to live in luxury. I have a big garage but it's only single-skinned
So as it's completely impractical (as well as time consuming) to knock down the garage and rebuild a good one, suitable for a Fezza, I decide to keep that car on the back burner.But I 'decide' I want a fresh start with all my cars - everything must go including the S - reasoning that it will be nice to have new toys until the garage is sorted out. These will be one modern classic plus one REAL beater.
Then Gazzer complicates matters when we go out driving and talking about cars. Makes me think I should keep the S for longer. So now I am confused and impulsive.
Most people would get rid of all their cars, THEN buy the replacements............
Not dumbo here. I have now added:
A Mitsubishi Sigma estate (3.0 V6 auto)
A Daimler (6.0 V12 variety)
And just to cap that - I am in endgame negotiations for a Maserati. I'll almost certainly have it in a fortnight........
Remember I also have an S2000, Scorpio estate, two old Merc coupes I cant GIVE away, an MG Midget doubling as a plant trough and a 1967 MGB GT in pieces in the garage.
See my problem?
At least I don't have to justify my actions to anyone and have no neighbours who overlook me. I think people have been divorced for less.
The latest plan is this:
Going - Scorpio, Sigma, Mercs, Daimler, Midget
Staying - Maser, MGB + S
Buying - towbar and trailer
Maserati beater for going to the tip.
The Mercs will go because I will pay someone to take them if they don't!
The Midget will go because I could cut it up with my angle grinder, put it in the back of the Scorpio and take it to the tip.
I already have two people trying to buy the Daimler from me.
You lot will buy the Scorpio and Sigma.
If the Maser deal falls through, I'll keep the Daimler.
Do I deserve absolution?
I won't even begin to tell you about some of the other things I've done since the full moon.
10-01-2004, 01:02 PM
#18
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I am seriously considering a beater / winter car, more to keep the mileage down than anything else, as I can not see myself ever selling the S2.
I was going to use my mex but the restoration is way behind schedule. (I can
I was going to use my mex but the restoration is way behind schedule. (I can
10-01-2004, 01:12 PM
#19
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I remember when you went NSX hunting one day but must have seen the '30k for a jap second hand motor' light.
Your car selection sounds like a mixture of the porny bits of Men and Motors and the bits that try to take themselves seriously.
Firstly, leave the Mitsu, Daimler, S and MG out side, then...
I think you need purging. You need to take 4lrs of warm salty water, a length of hose and a funnel. Put the hose into the garage door, place the funnel in the hose, pour the warm salty fluid into the funnel then be on hand with towels at the rear of the premises to catch all the rusty water that flows.
What the hell posessed you to buy a Sigma AND a Daimler? Is this some sort of 'pub favour'?
Your car selection sounds like a mixture of the porny bits of Men and Motors and the bits that try to take themselves seriously.
Firstly, leave the Mitsu, Daimler, S and MG out side, then...
I think you need purging. You need to take 4lrs of warm salty water, a length of hose and a funnel. Put the hose into the garage door, place the funnel in the hose, pour the warm salty fluid into the funnel then be on hand with towels at the rear of the premises to catch all the rusty water that flows.
What the hell posessed you to buy a Sigma AND a Daimler? Is this some sort of 'pub favour'?
10-01-2004, 01:25 PM
#20
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Thread Starter
The Scorpio and Sigma are beaters at different ends of the spectrum.
The Scorpio is in very good nick, has just about every toy in the book, has the best engine and spec (2.3 Ultima estate) and is probably good for another 125,000 miles (has done 76,000 on a 97P). I'm not giving it away though. I've not seen another as good as mine for a long time now.
The Sigma was an impulse buy (see above) to replace the Scorpio, and I don't know it well yet. It has more than twice the Scorp's mileage but is hilariously rapid for a HUGE old (93L) estate. Seriously upset two BMW shod reps this afternoon. This one'll be cheap.
Both cars will be as good as I can make them before sale, with all faults disclosed.
I don't imagine there will be ANY on the Scorp, I'll even have the dents taken out before it's sold.
The Sigma won't be anything like as good, but, since it's MOT'd till next July, it will still provide cheap luxury motoring. It's even bigger than the Scorpio and I can't find as much as a rust bubble!
Neither car is great on petrol, but as I said earlier, you can have space, comfort, toys etc and lower mpg, or bargain basement motoring and high mpg. Very hard to find both at this end of the market.
My point on mpg is that it's rarely the cost you think when you do the sums. Sure, if you do high miles, it will pay you, but try doing the extra cost on a car that does 24mpg, rather than a car that does 30mpg. Based on 10,000 miles, the numbers may surprise.
Easily worth the comfort etc IMO.
The Scorpio is in very good nick, has just about every toy in the book, has the best engine and spec (2.3 Ultima estate) and is probably good for another 125,000 miles (has done 76,000 on a 97P). I'm not giving it away though. I've not seen another as good as mine for a long time now.
The Sigma was an impulse buy (see above
) to replace the Scorpio, and I don't know it well yet. It has more than twice the Scorp's mileage but is hilariously rapid for a HUGE old (93L) estate. Seriously upset two BMW shod reps this afternoon. This one'll be cheap. Both cars will be as good as I can make them before sale, with all faults disclosed.
I don't imagine there will be ANY on the Scorp, I'll even have the dents taken out before it's sold.
The Sigma won't be anything like as good, but, since it's MOT'd till next July, it will still provide cheap luxury motoring. It's even bigger than the Scorpio and I can't find as much as a rust bubble!
Neither car is great on petrol, but as I said earlier, you can have space, comfort, toys etc and lower mpg, or bargain basement motoring and high mpg. Very hard to find both at this end of the market.
My point on mpg is that it's rarely the cost you think when you do the sums. Sure, if you do high miles, it will pay you, but try doing the extra cost on a car that does 24mpg, rather than a car that does 30mpg. Based on 10,000 miles, the numbers may surprise.
Easily worth the comfort etc IMO.