Oh, goddammit.
Aug. 3rd, 2005 01:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
puddingcatThe history
I inherited Mum's Fiat Uno when I graduated; it was a 6 year old D reg at the time. I ran it for 2 1/2 years until it started deciding to stop on motorways... (though I always managed to get onto the hard shoulder before grinding to a complete halt, and it would start again after a 10 minute nap.)
So I traded it in for a 3 year old Astra. I loved it. Top of the range, 1.6l, electric almost-everything, went like a thoroughbred with ginger up it's tailpipe :)
Except now it's 10 years old (albeit with only 76k on the clock), is cripplingly high insurance because it's prime joy-riding material (not being garaged), is only doing 30mpg, the heat shield over the exhaust manifold is so rusty it's developed a resonant frequency at about 1500 rpm, and it's starting to worry me cos 1990s Vauxhalls aren't known for their reliability. So I started looking for a replacment.
The options
Well, haviing spent all my savings on living whilst on insurance, I started looking at things that would last me a couple of years while I saved up for a Proper Car. I'd like a Celica. I'd sell my Gran for a Ford Capri (Mk1) or a Dodge Charger. I'd sell my house & live in the back seat for a V8 Vantage... But I'll settle for a 5-6 year old Mazda / Corolla / Civic or another Astra.
Apart from the dealerships being flooded with Peugeots (tells me something I suspected) and hardly having any Japanese models, I didn't think I was being too picky. But in the whole of central / south Manchester & Stockport, I found two things I'd consider. Both Mazda 323s. One was a 1.8 S reg, the other a 1.5 X. Unfoortunately, the X reg wasn't only £4.5k, it was also automatic (and I like driving too much to want a point-and-steer car). So I looked at the S reg.
The issue
Looked good; test drove nicely. Pants part-ex value offered for the Astra, but *shrugs* the Mazda was cheap, and would likely last longer than the Astra will.
Unfortunately, the AA car data check turned up the fact that, despite the odometer reading 65,000, the DVLA had registered a mileage in February of 78,000.
Buggrit.
The garage promised to check up for me - and actually did, to my surprise. I had a call on Saturday saying they'd squeezed a refund out of the person they bought it from, and would pass this on to me in full. So I said I'd take a couple of days to think, and would get back to them by Wednesday.
I thought and decided that it drove well, so losing 13,000 miles wasn't too much of a problem, and I'd give it a go.
Strangely enough, they sold it on Sunday. I think I need to find a phone number for traing standards.
And another cheap middle aged car.
Bloody car salesmen.
I inherited Mum's Fiat Uno when I graduated; it was a 6 year old D reg at the time. I ran it for 2 1/2 years until it started deciding to stop on motorways... (though I always managed to get onto the hard shoulder before grinding to a complete halt, and it would start again after a 10 minute nap.)
So I traded it in for a 3 year old Astra. I loved it. Top of the range, 1.6l, electric almost-everything, went like a thoroughbred with ginger up it's tailpipe :)
Except now it's 10 years old (albeit with only 76k on the clock), is cripplingly high insurance because it's prime joy-riding material (not being garaged), is only doing 30mpg, the heat shield over the exhaust manifold is so rusty it's developed a resonant frequency at about 1500 rpm, and it's starting to worry me cos 1990s Vauxhalls aren't known for their reliability. So I started looking for a replacment.
The options
Well, haviing spent all my savings on living whilst on insurance, I started looking at things that would last me a couple of years while I saved up for a Proper Car. I'd like a Celica. I'd sell my Gran for a Ford Capri (Mk1) or a Dodge Charger. I'd sell my house & live in the back seat for a V8 Vantage... But I'll settle for a 5-6 year old Mazda / Corolla / Civic or another Astra.
Apart from the dealerships being flooded with Peugeots (tells me something I suspected) and hardly having any Japanese models, I didn't think I was being too picky. But in the whole of central / south Manchester & Stockport, I found two things I'd consider. Both Mazda 323s. One was a 1.8 S reg, the other a 1.5 X. Unfoortunately, the X reg wasn't only £4.5k, it was also automatic (and I like driving too much to want a point-and-steer car). So I looked at the S reg.
The issue
Looked good; test drove nicely. Pants part-ex value offered for the Astra, but *shrugs* the Mazda was cheap, and would likely last longer than the Astra will.
Unfortunately, the AA car data check turned up the fact that, despite the odometer reading 65,000, the DVLA had registered a mileage in February of 78,000.
Buggrit.
The garage promised to check up for me - and actually did, to my surprise. I had a call on Saturday saying they'd squeezed a refund out of the person they bought it from, and would pass this on to me in full. So I said I'd take a couple of days to think, and would get back to them by Wednesday.
I thought and decided that it drove well, so losing 13,000 miles wasn't too much of a problem, and I'd give it a go.
Strangely enough, they sold it on Sunday. I think I need to find a phone number for traing standards.
And another cheap middle aged car.
Bloody car salesmen.
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no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 01:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:36 pm (UTC)As long as it's not a Manta (or how were the Vauxhall pseudo sports cars - roughly equivalent of Capris - called? The German name was Manta)
BTW, how about a date for Ara and photography in September?
no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 03:12 pm (UTC)Saptember sounds good :) Will pencil you in!
no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 03:25 pm (UTC)Cool! Looking forward to it! :o)
We can hammer out details closer to the time. If all goes well, my parents will be visiting that week so my mum can ruinclean and tidy my place to her liking. I'd only be in the way for that. :o)
no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 01:21 pm (UTC)And car salesmen suck.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 02:40 pm (UTC)I have a real love for Cleos, and would definitely have one with a bigger engine than the tiny little rubber band and monkey powered thing we drive now, the sports cleos are totally lust-worthy.
Also, bastarding bastardy car salesmen.
N.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-03 03:15 pm (UTC)I Hate Renaults cos of their engines (and Peugeots cos they drive like vans, and Citroens cos they feel about as safe as takeaway foil trays). If I get a small car, it'll be a Yaris or a Jazz. Or possibly an Audi A2, but if I can afford that I'll probably get the Celica and be a girl racer :)
cars and salesmen
Date: 2005-08-04 01:34 pm (UTC)I know they dont have much street cred but you could think about a Volvo. There are loads of dealers in Volvos up here and they do run and run which is ideal until you can afford the snazzy little thing of your dreams -oh and the car too-!!
Actually most modern Volvos go like hot S***t if you put the pedal toi the metal and really piss off all the boy racers in their flashy red toys!! They are also extremely comfortable to drive (for me anyway) and have all the safety features you could want so wont fold up in an accident. The Peugeot who drove into my back end was totally wrecke while I just had to have a new boot lid. Having said that the parts are a bit pricey but you can get cheaper look-alike spares.
no subject
Date: 2005-08-04 01:43 pm (UTC)I'm so impressed
Date: 2005-08-04 01:41 pm (UTC)I always used to like the '67(?) Ford Mustang but of course they're "cool" now, so being seen dead in one is not.
If you see any 2.0 Montego GTis about, btw, give me a bell... ;)