Practically Classics Forum

I had a mishap with a cobble that disguised itself as a lump of soil or cow s*it! It is now two oil-soaked cobbles and my new daily driver is one of two tractors!

The Mk4 Golf is a write off, thanks to the local garage telling the "authorised repairer" that the engine is damaged. I might have had it repaired it without involving the insurance (Direct Line - they have been excellent - again!), but I don't know what else is damaged underneath. That left me with an urgent need for a car and a friend took me to various garages etc on Thursday. He used his third car - a 2005 Corsa (1.2 petrol) that he bought for £2000 or so.

I was looking for a small, economical car that was cheap to tax and not too expensive. My first thoughts were a 1.4TDI Polo but, after trying two, I've ended up buying another Golf - Mk5 Bluemotion. It will arrive next weekend, I daren't tell you how many miles it has ("58" reg), and am dreading DPF and DMF problems, but looking forward to £30 VED and 60MPG!

My friend was amazed that I only looked at VWs; though, to be honest, if something else had taken my eye, I'd have looked at it. My problem is that I like the engineering in the VWs; I looked at a Civic when I bought the last Golf and, although I know their engines are great, didn't like the engineering on the car! Since then I have bought a Honda lawn mower and it isn't a patch on the previous Victa, so I suspect, subconsciously, I am against Hondas!

So, if you are looking for a new car (ancient or modern), what do you look for? OK, price pays the most important part, but what else and why?

For me it was always Audi's or Vw's for many years. When I worked for Audi Motorsport we used to get the option of buying the service vehicles at the end of the season at a much reduced price and some extent this governed what I purchased for some time because they were really cheap. Some time after leaving the motor trade I fancied a 4 x 4 , I found land rovers a bit utilitarian and really wasn't into all the complications of several gear levers so got a Honda CRV - the first one I had for eight years the current one for four, we tow a caravan so it is ideal for that. Our other car is a Polo 1.4 diesel , it had to be a VW and we were looking to economise so at £30 tax and 60 mpg this was ideal.
I recon often we just feel comfortable with a certain brand - we like the familliar feel, you open the bonnet and things are sort of sameish. Saves having to 'learn' a new brand of car.
My late father always had Fords, he once bought a Peugeot and kept it for about a month before changing it for a Ford when I asked him why he said 'it wasn't the same as a Ford'

is it worthwhile going back to DL and asking them if you can deduct a bit and keep the salvage and then repair it yourself / get the work done. A risk I know, however if the cobble has been thrown back and presumably hit the sump then how much damage can there be???? If you drove it with no oil or the warning light on then lots!!!!!

My experience of them (DL) was less than impressive. A director of the firm where I worked and some 30 miles from the office (and over the weekend) stoved in the drivers rear door of my mk1 Uno. After I quietened down the GF (now Mrs) he was happy to admit liability 100%.

Car repaired and 6m later DL stated they would deal on a 50-50 basis. After a LOT of swearing and some very direct instructions they wrote a letter to the other side holding them liable, as if hit stationary vehicle should not have been enough...... the result was some 6 weeks later a chq for my excess. They just as most motor firms do want rid of then claim and if there is any doubt scrap and be rid, after all no risk in a crushed car!

In short are you happy that the car is a Total Loss and if the damage is minor it might just, unless you were looking to chop the thing in anyway, getting the thing back and putting it back on the road.

If not repairable go for something left field... I would not follow the masses. Look for something that looks undervalued and then see if there are real issues.

can i reccomend a nissan micra?
i havent had one yet, but if they are as good as the sunnys ive had you wont regret it

For the longest time, price & availability were my only concerns. My 3rd Mini I bought after having fallen in love with the idea of actually using one instead of simply owning one & parking it on my driveway, then I went back to the original pattern for another couple of cars until I got my first Allegro. From then on, the cars have chosen me

I kinda agree with OCO - certainly the VWs have chosen me. OK, so finding a diesel Golf in 1990 wasn't easy, it was fate: my mother read the local classifieds and saw it - I had read them and missed it, she never read them before (or since)! The second, the Passat, was a result of phoning garages asking for a Passat saloon or Golf estate and one saying there was a Passat estate coming in soon. The last Golf was because I'd gone to see another Passat estate and mine looked better (the other was five years younger!) and the Golf was hidden at the back of the yard with no sign of it being for sale. The "New" Golf wasn't what I was looking for and hidden away from the other Golfs, looking neglected and ignored compared to the shiny things at the front of the lot!

I had little choice but to drive the "Write off" for a while - the cobble was just at the start of some nasty bends on a narrow road with no verges or gateways. Even so, I could have got another engine for about £600, but the bangs and bumps from underneath suggested further damage (from intercooler through to cat).

One thing I will warn Mk4 owners about: when the oil pressure goes, the light comes on and there's a beep before the light goes off again! My first thought was that the lead had pulled off and touched some earth somewhere! Quarter of a mile further on, the light came on again with a second beep - before going off again! I always had the idea that a "critical situation" should do a lot more than flash a light and say "beep" - I'd have thought the light would stay on and there's be a Klaxon going!

I'd agree with Minxy about feeling comfortable with a brand - we had at least one BMC/BL car in the family from (about) '54 to '07. I could service an A-series in my sleep (and the Maxis) and the VWs have a similar familiarity too. I have never had any luck with Fords or Vauxhalls - I don't know if the "Rep Car" badge is still true, but it was when I was younger!

Cheap Ads & Different [err..=Expensive to repair!]

Loved Mazda626 Auto [with lock up 4th O/D], comfy + hatch

'57 Current - dealer [Min1K on MOT W.H.Y] - PROTON Savvy. Parked next to one in Morrisons - got out - stared - Wife stared, smiled [VGNews!] - went to dealer and Drove Away.
Dealer gave us the demo.... we drove round the block.... he said 'I thought you'd be away longer' TrooLove

alfaSleep

Best family car bargain has to be the Nissan Note, 2nd hand though. Handles surprisingly well cheap to run and plenty of space. Poor image makes for cheaper 2nd hand prices.

It has to be something I can work on myself and I prefer something that has a good spares back up. I don't change cars very often, so when I last bought a runabout, I chose something that was a known quantity for spares. I did toy with the idea of a Series Land Rover, as I was anticipating doing some towing but that didn't come about, so buying the Traveller was probably the better option for me (Though I occasionally tow a five foot "Caddy" trailer with it ). I would and have considered a Reliant Scimitar.

When I bought the Midget, I wanted an MG and since they were only selling badged up Metros and Maestros at the time, I bought a Midget. The V8 was a kind of hand me down.....a family heirloom. If I win the Lottery tonight (And survive the shock), I'll be on the lookout for a pre war sports car. I have always had a liking for a Morgan, though pre was MGs are relatively well catered for in terms of spares, so that would again be a factor. Mind you with a big win I could afford a Bugatti and they also enjoy a good spares supply