Motoring Discussion > You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-)	Buying / Selling
Thread Author: Stuu	Replies: 114

Sat 7 Aug 10 17:27   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320569290427&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT Something caught my eye and I took a punt and well, looks like I have a new car soon. The wife knows, she approved bidding, but we both thought a low miles car with a long MOT would go for over £500. Seems not. Basically the MK2 Cavalier underneath right? I have no idea what these things drive like, but they supposed to be pretty economical for a big car and insurance is only group 7 so I read somewhere, not bad for a 2.0. Aside from the fact that its a totally unloved and somewhat unknown model, seems like a lot of car, esp if the cambelt really is only a year old, hope so. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sat 7 Aug 10 17:33   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

Why? what happened to the Carina? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 17:36   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Nothing happened, Carina goes fine. I saw a nice car, thought why not. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 17:38   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - sherlock47

Assuming that you did actually win it, what is the bidding history all about ? Multiple bids at the same winning amount. Looks tidy enough and good value. Something in the back of my mind about somebody who had handbrake problems and could not source the parts - not standard Vauxhall parts bin either. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 17:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

The multiple bids thing was me, puts others off sometimes. Truth was I only upped my bid by about £5 each time. As it was nobody else has bid on it since yesterday so I think this is the ceiling for Esperos, they arent sought after - higher miles ones barely make £250 although some dealers are asking £5-600. Thanks for the tip on handbrakes, id only heard about occasional coil failures on older ones. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:35   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bellboy

your a brave man hope it does indeed turn out god for you Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:41   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Runfer D'Hills

Oh dear Stu. Oh dear oh dear oh dear........ That is simply horrible. Sorry old chap and all. Don't intend to be mean but you did go and post it on here. It's even worse than Zero's Do hope it proves to be of some use to you. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:46   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - mikeyb

Don't mean to be rude but I do recall that they were horible. It may well turn out to be a good runne, but I suspect that the low mileage is a reflection of how little someone wanted to drive it..... Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:44   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Me too :-) Its based on the MK1 Cavalier, not the MK2 which isnt a bad thing - the MK1 was a tough old car. If it turns out it does really have full service history for the first 11 years and a cambelt change last year, it may be a good buy, that was the deciding factor for me, plus the low miles and the nearly new MOT. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:50   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

>>It's even worse than Zero's<< True but Im not gonna pay proper money for mine, he did. Must be annoying having people ask you to take them to the station all the time ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:54   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

>> True but Im not gonna pay proper money for mine, he did. Must be annoying >> having people ask you to take them to the station all the time ;-) Its only happened since I got a suntan....... The Lancer is looking sweet at the moment, its sporting a set of Thule Roof bars... Last edited by: Zero on Sat 7 Aug 10 at 19:55 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:59   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Runfer D'Hills

>> The Lancer is looking sweet at the moment, its sporting a set of Thule Roof bars... Good move. That'll have more or less doubled its resale value. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:04   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

>> Good move. That'll have more or less doubled its resale value. >> >> :-) Not quite, its got a full tank of gas. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:06   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Runfer D'Hills

Was it Jake or Elwood who said that.....? Reply to this message | Report message       1

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:51   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Avant

Stu, is it really based on the Mark 1 (RWD) Cavalier from the late 1970s? Provided it's a bit more recent than that if you can get it for under £500 it might do you all right, and it'll be livelier than an automatic Carina. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:52   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Skip

It is based on the MMK2 Cavalier, the MK1 was RWD and had nothing to do with the Daewoo. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:53   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

I doubt its based on the Mk1, that was 12 years dead when the espero came out Is it RWD? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:56   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

No your right, it was the MK2, id forgotten about the 70's one, my bad :-) My dad had a 2.0 MK1 auto aswell so I should know better! Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 19:57   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bill Payer

>> If it turns out it does really have full service history for the first 11 >> years and a cambelt change last year, it may be a good buy, ...are we reading a different listing? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:00   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

no? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:00   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

First ten years then picky boy. Must be due an oil change after 3 years though, atleast it hasnt one many miles in that time. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:10   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Lygonos

I remember the Mk2 Cav - my friend had one in the 90s - bought it at 35k miles and sold it after 7 or 8 years at 65k miles - every MOT time he wound back the mileage from the 20k he'd done that year to 5 or 6k- very very easy to clock. I'm surprised he never went into politics. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:12   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Old Navy

The cheapest and most reliable source of spares is to buy another one, so that you have one to cannibalise. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:15   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Runfer D'Hills

Oh don't make him do that ON. He's probably got neighbours and friends. Poor chap's going to get a hard enough time from them with one........ Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:18   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

My neighbours drive an old Astra on one side and a rusty Escort van on the other. I think ill be able to still mix with them, not that I can be bothered to. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:19   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

yeah, thats one ugly garden gnome, even if you stick a fishing rod on it. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:26   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - BobbyG

Stu, am I missing the point here - why did you buy it? Do you need another car, do you think you will make a fast buck on it or your Carina? Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:34   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

>>Stu, am I missing the point here - why did you buy it?<< Well, its somewhat newer than my Carina, it has a much longer MOT and a tad more tax, looks like its prob in better nick and its manual and I fancy going back to a manual. If I can get reasonable money back on the Carina, it wont cost me much really. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:27   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - spamcan61

I recall parking my MK3 Cavalier next to one a few years back and noticing a few bits were the same, door handles for starters. I think these are older Family series engines, so a mixture of Mk2 and Mk3 Cavalier heritage. Last edited by: spamcan61 on Sat 7 Aug 10 at 20:28 Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:24   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Dog

if the worst comes to the worst, one could always keep Chickens in the damn thing. :} Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:35   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - -

Bunch of teasers, ignore 'em Stu which i know you will. I liked 'em and goodness knows i shifted enough of the blinking things when the rental companies bought them by the fleet, though preferred the Leganza. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:39   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

>>Bunch of teasers, ignore 'em Stu which i know you will.<< I know, I wasnt expecting any mercy, its not like I bought a 5-Series. I will always buy something oddball, life would be too dull if I didnt. Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 20:32   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Kevin

>Must be due an oil change after 3 years though, Oil, filters, coolant and brake fluid. Maybe discs and pads too. I had two MkII Cavaliers - an SRi and a CDi auto. Make sure that you have proof of the cambelt change, the one in my CDi failed at around 50k. Kevin... Reply to this message | Report message

Sat 7 Aug 10 21:02   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - BobbyG

I know a guy who ended up with 300 bibs and 50 babygrows for new born babies. That was a monumental change in his life as he vowed never to put in silly bids on silly things on ebay when he was drunk ever again! Reply to this message | Report message       2

Sat 7 Aug 10 22:40   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - FotheringtonTomas

>> The multiple bids thing was me, puts others off sometimes. Truth was I only upped >> my bid by about £5 each time. I do not think that it works like that - until after the event. However, ICBW. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 09:25   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Just arranged collection, sounds like a decent guy, seems to be into classics too. Parts seem to be abundant on Ebay at reasonable prices. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 09:38   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Auntie Lockbrakes

Best of luck Stu. Looks like a straight motor, but it ain't gonna be a classic. Pretty much un-sellable I'd have thought. I think the seller's done well to get 400 quid tbh. I defy you to find a buyer for it 6 months from now! Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 09:47   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - oldnotbold

To be fair, it's got a 12 mth ticket and six of tax. My bangernomics calcs say that ticket is worth £25/mth, and we know that the tax is worth £100 odd, so I think Stu has done OK. As with all bangers, the risk is that it spews its guts before the next MoT is due, but the upside is that it might pass again with little cost, which I think it just might. If so, Stu has got two cheap years of motoring, albeit with no style! Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 09:50   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

A years ticket is worth 250 quid of anyones money. If it passes its MOT again Stu's ugly shed will have doubled its value - again. Its almost better than the stock market. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 10:37   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bellboy

A years ticket is worth 250 quid of anyones money >>>>>> >>>>>>>>>not mine and please refrain from going in my wallet in future its not big and its not funny :-( message ends.......................................;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 13:34   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Focusless

Stu - I can see the attraction; doesn't look half bad IMO, especially side on. Reply to this message | Report message

Sun 8 Aug 10 16:58   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - oldnotbold

"doesn't look half bad IMO, especially side on" I knew a girl like that - but the front view was not so great, and what came out of her mouth would have terrified a docker ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 12:59   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Chris White

Best of luck Stu, but I wouldn't of touched it myself if hasn't had any servicing done for the last three years. The guy could have just got an oil / filter change done at National once a year for about £25....... Last edited by: Chris White on Mon 9 Aug 10 at 13:00 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 14:01   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Mapmaker

I imagine this should have been serviced every 6 months or 6,000 miles. So it's only missed five services. Prone to eating camshafts, the Cavaliers, weren't they? Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 14:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

Ignore them all Stu, they're just jealous :-) JH Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 14:48   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - spamcan61

>> I imagine this should have been serviced every 6 months or 6,000 miles. >> >> So it's only missed five services. >> >> Prone to eating camshafts, the Cavaliers, weren't they? >> IIRC the 1300s were much worse than the 2 litres in terms of camshaft eating, especially the later ones. We had 2 litre Cavalier pool cars in the late 80s that had no servicing and were thrashed daily, I can't recall one eating a camshaft. As already pointed out up thread, by the time you've taken into account 12 months MoT and 6 months tax then you're risking a couple of hundred quid really - about the cost of an oil change on an Audi at a main dealer ( based on previous threads on the BR) Having said that I'd personally look for a real Mk3 Cavalier at this sort of price, with a 1.8 or 2.0 8v engine. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 15:41   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - DP

A company I used to work for ran some of these Esperos on the fleet for a while. They were reliable, basic, inoffensive transport. They replaced them with the successor Nubira when the lease ended, and ended up shipping the whole lot back early. They were a disaster. The Esperos were fine though. I had a mk2 Cav 1.8 SRI. One of the best cars I've owned. Quick, reliable, long lived. ISTRC that the engines were quite significantly detuned when Daewoo got hold of them though. Certainly the 2.0 Esperos we had were not in the same league performance-wise as my 1.8 Cavalier. Not as revvy either. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 15:50   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Iffy

Daewoo - weren't they a Korean company who offered long warranties on average products which were desperately dull to drive? That business model didn't work once, I Kian't help wondering if it will work a second time. :) Last edited by: ifithelps on Mon 9 Aug 10 at 15:51 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 16:12   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Mapmaker

>>As already pointed out up thread, by the time you've taken into account 12 months MoT >>and 6 months tax then you're risking a couple of hundred quid really - about the cost of >>an oil change on an Audi at a main dealer Noooooooooo! 12 months MOT has absolutely no value if the car dies. It's the other £100 that holds its value. And really, comparing that to the price of an oil change on an Audi isn't very relevant. cgi.ebay.co.uk/1997-MERCEDES-E200-CLASSIC-BLACK-/220647685359?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item335fa07cef would surely be more fun? Last edited by: Mapmaker on Mon 9 Aug 10 at 16:15 Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 16:20   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Well it will be driven straight from collection to the mechanic I use for an oil change at the big sum of £30 and ill also ask him to run some engine flush through for good measure. Atleast its not done many miles between services. It may be that the oil has been changed since 2007, ill have to see. Cambelt was more important cost wise. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:15   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

Stu's found an ugly duckling that appears to have had tlc. The Merc is flash but the history isn't as good and it will costs a lot more to keep on the road. For Stu's purposes I reckon he's got a winner. JH Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:17   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

The merc is a shed. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:38   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

Ideal for keeping your garden tools in (though an old Tranny would be better) but not good if you want it to move under it's own power. JH Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 17:29   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Old Sock

Proton Persona next then, Stu? :-) TBH, I'm not sure what your motivation is for buying such a car. My take on 'bangernomics' is to at least run something interesting/'luxurious'/rapid - as opposed to (say) a cheap, new, Far-Eastern snoresmobile. However, you seem to have ended up with the worst of both worlds :-( Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:05   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Bangernomics is, to me, to run a car as cheaply, but reliably as possible, aswell as have a cheap purchase price. So I dont much look at the make and model so long as it doesnt do 15 mpg ( actually something that does 30 plus is my criteria ). What I look for is some evidence of it having been looked after for a decent portion of its lifetime, long MOT, decent tax and something that generally doesnt have bits hanging off. I run a car because I have to get to my customers without breaking down. I dont do it for fun. If I had a car for fun, it would be something old and italian. I agree that an Espero is dull, but I want competant mainly and old European cars tend to become problematic when they are 10 years old+, far eastern cars less so. And I did look at Protons but generally they are run by unsympathetic owners although had I found one similar to this Espero, id have given it fair attention. Ive owned Jaguars and Reliants and all manner of cars inbetween aswell as drive some very nice motors, so Im not some frustrated petrolhead - Im a guy who has in 13 years of driving, owned more than 70 cars and counting, so maybe I have now reached the point where I just like the variety with cars that marriage doesnt afford me with women ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:11   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - bathtub tom

>>I run a car because I have to get to my customers without breaking down. You don't want to turn up in a new, expensive car, they'll think you're charging too much. ;>) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:14   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Funny you say that, I was having a discussion along those lines with a customer this morning. They reckoned that having a well presented but obviously low value car does send out the right message that I care about the principles of my profession, but I suffer financially on account of doing it. I got an extra £50 this month in sympathy tips. Must be doing something right ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:43   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - DP

I've worked for companies which ban sales staff from driving premium brand cars for that exact reason. they argued that if a prospect sees a salesman pull up in 30 grand's worth of Audi, it suggests big profits and by implication, poor value for money. Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 18:47   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - RattleandSmoke

I must admit if a double glazing salesman turned up in a BMW 5 series I would not bother answering the door. If he turned up an E reg Lada I might feel a bit sorry for him! Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 08:24   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - PeteW

>>I must admit if a double glazing salesman turned up in a BMW 5 series I would not bother answering the door. If he turned up an E reg Lada I might feel a bit sorry for him! Would an X reg Megane instill the same level of pity?? :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Mon 9 Aug 10 19:06   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - ....

The thread title got me thinking and I admit, I have never bought a car by accident. Mainly necessity, occasionally want but can't think of one I bought by accident. >> Im a guy who has >> in 13 years of driving, owned more than 70 cars and counting... >> This got me thinking too. I remember you having the Charade for 12 to 18 months that must have been torture for someone who averages a different car every 9 weeks. In another thread talking about the Subaru Legacy it was mentioned it can take a couple of years for a car to grow on you. I wonder if you've missed out on some good 'uns along the way? Enjoy the latest addition however long it may last. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 00:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Lygonos

Doubt I'd want to fire some engine flush through the engine, Stu - better just change the oil/filter more regularly than risk a bunch a crud being dislodged and finding the tiniest channels to re-lodge in. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 07:36   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Skoda

>> better just change the oil/filter more regularly than risk a bunch a crud being dislodged and finding the tiniest channels to re-lodge in. I've heard that before, does it happen regularly? My local GSF always has engine flush sitting on the display rack, and it's often different brands so it's definitely shifting. Some folks definitely like it. p.s. not a big fan of this one Stu, what's next? Liking the cavalier suggestions above, an SRi or a GSi would be pretty cool! Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 10:07   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - bathtub tom

Stu. When you get a car like this, do you give it the full works to impress your customers as if to say 'If I can get this old car looking this good, think what I can do to yours', or is it the case of the cobbler's shoes? Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 10:59   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bellboy

i knew a lad thought he was going to be a top valeter i tried and tried to explain to him that for his business plan to work his own car needed to be split mint he now flips burgers for a living so to answer the question for stu yes it will look dog nob red when hes minted it out of its tree Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 13:49   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Usually yes although some wouldnt notice. I have one who is very picky and he has been ribbing me about the dog hair that ive slowly removed from the Carina - so just to make a point, the first time he sees this one, it will be showroom cond. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 10 Aug 10 10:10   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Victorbox

>> Basically the MK2 Cavalier underneath >> right? Low mileage Mk2 Cavalier prices are on the up so you wouldn't have got a low milage Mk2 for the price of this one! Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 10 Aug 10 11:48   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Mapmaker

>>Bangernomics is, to me, to run a car as cheaply, but reliably as possible, aswell as have a cheap purchase price. Yes. Whereas what Stu does is to spend a load of money on different cars, and then sells them. It's certainly good for website traffic, and it keeps us amused, but Stu please don't suggest that you enjoy cheap motoring. You could drive a "proper" car for the cost of what you spend on unfashionable sheds! Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 10 Aug 10 15:13   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Suppose

>> >> Whereas what Stu does is to spend a load of money on different cars, and >> then sells them. It's certainly good for website traffic, and it keeps us amused, but >> Stu please don't suggest that you enjoy cheap motoring. You could drive a "proper" car >> for the cost of what you spend on unfashionable sheds! >> You're right. he does seem a serial addicted buyer and poster. Just looked up some of his previous posts and found this one www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?t=723&v=f How can "you accidentally buy a car" or "Umm, guys,, I think I just bought a car. Oops", especially cars that are sheds, that is unless you need your head examined. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 10 Aug 10 15:50   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bagpuss

That's a bit heavy S. I quite enjoy reading these escapades of Stu wheeling and dealing in obscure far eastern cars which the rest of the world has forgotten about. Could imagine myself being tempted to "dabble" given more time, space and an understanding wife. I couldn't imagine Daewoo wotsits sitting in my back yard though, cheap Merc W123s and W201s perhaps. But as I don't have a back yard, it's academic. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 10 Aug 10 18:39   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Right well, Ive got her home now. Im quite pleased with it. Its not perfect, but for £400 it prob is. I had a 'moment' on the way back, that sinking feeling when you realise something is amiss. An unpleasent burning smell after 15 miles is cause for concern. I did recall having looked under the bonnet before the paying that the soundproofing was hanging down alot. A quick stop revealed it was resting on the engine and it was getting a bit toasted. A quick stop to yank off the soundproofing and throw it in the boot and the problem solved. Other than that, the only problem I can find is a thermostat is sticking so on faster runs it is running cold but heats up if it is stationary although not very high, so a quick swap I think will sort that out - most likely due to lots of cold runs around town I suspect. Steering, brakes, suspension all feel taut and in keeping with the mileage. Bodywork isnt too bad. There are a few minor rust spots on the sills and the inside edge of the rear arches have some paint flaked off but the metal is good so a little work and they will be tidy again. Engine runs well, pulls smooth and its quite a tractable engine, best suited to high gear low revs as theres little to be had at the top end. The service history is actually better than the Ebay listing would lead you to believe - he undersold the virtues of it really as its been well cared for. It had an oil change 12 months ago so its due one about now but its not as bad as a 3 year gap. What the seller also failed to mention but maybe should have, was that the reason the cambelt was changed is that the waterpump bearings were noisy so they changed the belt when the changed the waterpump. The service last year was £265 so its not been badly cared for financially. The ownership history is short - it belonged to the next door neighbour of the sellers parents before the seller and they had it serviced every year on the dot. It needs a really good polish and a general clean, but the interior is as new having had seat covers on from new and a full mats set. So overall, about as good as £400 cars get. An oil change and a new thermostat and its ready to roll I think. Reply to this message | Report message       1

Tue 10 Aug 10 18:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - rtj70

>> but for £400 it prob is. £410 surely ;-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 19:49   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Im having good fun cleaning this car up, its not proving too difficult, just a quick breeze over with the mop and the lusture is back to the paint. Its going to get a coating of carnuba wax tomorrow on it after a good wash. There is rather a lot of green gunge growing in the creases but a blast with the Karcher will sort that out. The thermostat change was the definative solution to the cool running and it now gets up to half way on the gauage and in town there is no overheating problem, so it seems like a simple age related failure rather than covering up something more sinister. Ive now checked every electric item and button and everything works aside from the air con, a common failure, but I dont use it anyway so it wasnt a cause for concern - I expect it could be fired up again with some investment. I was suprised to fine a CD autochanger in the boot which still works although when you open the boot in the rain, it gets wet, so I may seek to relocate it out of harms way. Im going to wait until xmas before I do any more service items - it could do with brake fluid and coolant being renewed and some new plugs, but I want to get to know it better before throwing any money at it aside from the small bits ive had done initially. To drive, more and more its reminding me of my 1999 Nubira 1.6, especially the gearbox which is just as sloppy but easy once you get the hang of it. Im guessing on account of reverse being next to 1st that this 'box is a GM castoff from a bygone era. Id say its not quite as well oiled as the Carina from an engineering perspective, but it does have a basic, no nonsense feel to the way its put together. Ive just filled it up with cost £45 - not as much as I thought it would although mpg remains to be seen, will know it a few weeks time on that. Im happier with this car than the Carina, it feels younger and with more to give, so so far, the right decision to change. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 21:05   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - bathtub tom

>>Im going to wait until xmas before I do any more service items - it could do with brake fluid and coolant being renewed I'd suggest syphoning a little coolant out and popping it in the freezer before the weather turns too cold, just to check there's enough anti-freeze. I use a yoghurt pot. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 22:49   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

"the previous owner had seat covers on" Presumably to avoid being recognised... Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:23   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Cheeky. Id rather be seen as strange than dull, hence a Focus will never be a part of my life :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:31   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - RattleandSmoke

Your Mrs better watch out, all the girls will be after now you drive a cavvy init. Never driven one or even been in one (though been in a few MK2 Caviliers as mini cabs) but those who have owned them seemed to prefer them to the MK1 Vectras. Also when you've finished with it you may not be aware that the engine will be worth a fortune if its in good nick. Is it an 8v or 16v? The 16v red tops often change hand for over £300 because chavs want them for their Corsas init. Last edited by: RattleandSmoke on Tue 17 Aug 10 at 23:32 Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:40   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

My misses would string me up along wiv anyone making eyes at me so maybe its just aswell its diguised as a Daewoo :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

Actually, I quite like it. I think it looks OK in white - not too shed-like at all. I wouldn't buy a Focus or Mundano either, and my daughter's Puma is beginning to rust, like I told her it would. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:48   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

I will of course be sticking some pics up when ive cleaned it tomorrow, those Ebay pics dont do it justice really. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:49   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - RattleandSmoke

Sorry I missed that bit of information :). Bonnington you can't compare Modern fords to the old rust buckets of the 90's. Rust isn't always a killer either, my dads R reg has needed a bit of welding but it should see another two years MOTs out of it - although it look very scruffy by then and probably all in the colour of mis matched paint and K rust! Talking of bargains the Daweoo Lanos seems to be a bit of a bargain atm too. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:54   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Funny that people complain about the looks of the Espero really as it was the work of Bertone who also did the Xantia and put those two cars together and there is certainly a similarity. I was having a read about them and apparently the platform these cars are based on was last used as recently as 2005 but as early as 1982, so it must have been reasonable to have that longevity. Reply to this message | Report message

Tue 17 Aug 10 23:57   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

I know they're better now than they were, but so is everything else. The Puma is a 2001, and we had to look at several horribly rusty ones before finding one that was relatively clear of it. Having wheel arch guards made of carpet doesn't help! Our 20-year old Mazda 323 is only just beginning to show signs, and we will probably buy the next model, or a Toyota. Agree about the Lanos - good bangernomics! Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 09:16   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bellboy

to stu.. Supose i better own up to the fact i nearly bought one of these for personal use about 12 years ago,it had a little tup on the back corner and was about a year old,i bid up to 500 sovs on it but was outbid by a fat geezer with lots of fake gold on his neck,the one i was bidding on was an auto and was the sole reason my nose twitched If i had bought it the first job would have been to debadge it because as then as now 99% of the population wouldnt have an iota of its make and probably think its something ironside used to drive round in So there you go.....soul cleansed.......... Last edited by: Bellboy on Wed 18 Aug 10 at 09:17 Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 09:23   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - BiggerBadderDave

" a fat geezer with lots of fake gold on his neck" Was he black with a mohican? Pity the fool who buys that car. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 10:48   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Mapmaker

If the brake fluid needs changing, then change it. It's a safety-critical item if it's never been changed. I'm told brake fade isn't very nice... Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 12:36   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

>>If the brake fluid needs changing, then change it. It's a safety-critical item if it's never been changed. I'm told brake fade isn't very nice... << When the fluid was changed last I dont know but at the last service a year ago, they tested the brake fluid according to the invoice and it said moisture content was ok but recommend changing the fluid this year, so about now - a few months shouldnt make much odds. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 13:50   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

"recommend changing the fluid" I'd pump a bit through on each corner anyway. I bet there's some air in there somewhere... Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 10:52   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

You know, ive noticed over the years that those in the motor trade often buy obscure makes and models because they are very cheap, one would presume - anyone notice Mike Brewer drives a SsangYong on Wheeler Dealers on occasion, a Rexton I think - thats even more obscure than any Daewoo. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 12:47   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Redviper

>> Mike Brewer drives a SsangYong on Wheeler Dealers on occasion, a Rexton I think - >> thats even more obscure than any Daewoo. >> I thought SsangYong Dissapeared into the sunset, but there is Im sure a Dealer in my home town of Richmond North Yorks - Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 13:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

Yup, Petch's. Alongside Subaru, Isuzu. Kia and errr.. another one. I too thought they had gone belly up. No doubt someone bought the name. Though goodness knows why. Thinking along those lines didn't Isuzu sink some years ago? I seem to remember Isuzu Piazzas being sold off cheap. Maybe it was the UK distributor? JH Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 14:10   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Redviper

>> Thinking along those lines didn't Isuzu sink some years ago? I seem to remember Isuzu >> Piazzas being sold off cheap. Maybe it was the UK distributor? >> I didnt realise they had gone as well, I thought they where safe under the GM Umbrella (well nearly). Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 14:44   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

R, I wouldn't want to mislead a Yorkshireman so I looked it up; "The Piazza had a shaky start in the UK with the first importer Isuzu GB, based in Maidstone, Kent going out of business in 1986, and London car dealer Alan Day bought the remaining stock of Isuzu Piazza's at a bargain price. These cars were sold by Alan Day at significantly reduced price, the main reason Isuzu GB went out of business was due to high unit price. In 1987 International Motors Group of West Bromwich (IM Group) were awarded the official Isuzu Franchise for the UK" Courtesy of Wikipedia. JH Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 13:23   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

"a Rexton I think" I remember HJ turning up in one of those when we met him a few years back at the Ace Café. IIRC, he thought it was horrible! Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 14:30   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Bellboy

an acquaintance has a sassyyongy rodiusk 59 plate cheap car about £14,000 merc weasel engine he likes it bit ugly mind worth squiggly zilch at trade in time unless he can get another one of course Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 15:21   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Boxsterboy

{ANORAK ON} I think you will find that this Daewoo was the 'inspiration' for the Citroen Xantia (a far superior car in almost every way). The story is that the designer of the Daewoo shape was touting it around and Citroen quite liked it, put their own touches to it and it became the Xantia (look at them in profile, adjust the wheelbase/overhangs and you'll see what I mean). I don't quite know how, but somehow the original deisgner was still able to flog the shape to Daewoo who put it on the old Cavalier floorplan, as has been mentioned above. Citroen have form for knicking other peoples shapes. The CX was their 'interpretation' of a Pininfarina design exercise on the floorplan of the Austin 1800 Landcrab (I still have a Matchbox scale model of the Pininfarina design). Not quite sure how they got away with it, but Pininfarina have since gone bust, and Citroen haven't! {ANORAK OFF} Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 16:12   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Here she is, all nice and clean :-) s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee119/stunorthants/The%20Korean%20Expresso/ Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 16:32   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Dog

'Proud Owner Condition' as the Waxoil ad used to say - well done m8, I'm well impressed. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 16:39   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Zero

You could be peering under the bonnet of a cavalier there if you didnt know. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 16:44   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

I'm impressed. You know you've left a sticker in the back window? :-) JH Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 16:48   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Haha, the sticker is a nod to my sister, all the way away in OZ, she is a big fan along with my mum and some of my customers, so its worth the shame - I loath rugby. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 17:11   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Dog

>>You know you've left a sticker in the back window<< We're all Saints in Cornwall dont ya know - St Ives, St Just, St Breward, St Neot, St Piran, St Tudy, St Agnes, St Austell, St Columb, St Gennys, St Juliot, St Kew, St Endellion, St Minver, St Eval, St Issey, St Breock, St Wenn, St Mawgan, St Dennis, St Enoder, St Newlyn E, St Allen, St Erme, St Just, St Ewe, St Steven, St Day, St Erth, St Hilary, St Levan, St Martin, St Michael, St Mawes, St Clement, St Goran, St Blazey, St Sampson, St Veep, St Winnow, St Keyne, St Germans, St John, St Mellion, St Dominick, St Cleer, St Pinnock, St Winnow, St Perro :) Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 17:25   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Fenlander

Oh... *Saints* is it? I couldn't quite see for the glare in image 2 and thought it said *Pants*... popped in by a Xantia owner I'd guessed. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 17:32   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Tooslow

I didn't believe St Ewe (and others) so I looked it up. And... Sorry Dog :-( JH Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 18:17   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Robin O'Reliant

At £410 you can't go wrong, probably the cost of an average service nowdays. Great looking car too, nice clean lines. Much better than the bloated Tonka Toys the factories are churning out now. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 18:28   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Avant

That's a Northants registration - a sporting chance that the mileage may be genuine. Good luck with it Stu. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 18:42   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Yes it is a local car, well fairly, its from Earls Barton originally, so its sort of come home although its missed by about 10 miles or so. Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 20:08   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Auntie Lockbrakes

Well done Stu, it looks very smart. You've disproved the theory that you "can't polish a turd" ;-) You'd better scrub-up the Toyota now and get it back on Ebay? Seriously, isn't it amazing how much better any car looks and feels when it's spotless? Reply to this message | Report message

Wed 18 Aug 10 20:23   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

I reckon its an easy £600 now. Im not too shabby with a pot of polish ;-) Toyota is soon to go, that sale is already well in advance - its taking up space and the misses is moaning! Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 19 Aug 10 09:46   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

For anyone who looked at the engine pic an thought MK2 Cavalier, ive stuck an engine bay shot of the MK2 Cav in my album for comparision. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 19 Aug 10 10:01   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Stuu

Ive now stuck a pic of a 2.0 MK3 Cav in there too and id say that atleast he mechanical bits seem to owe more to that than the MK2 visually. Reply to this message | Report message

Thu 19 Aug 10 10:07   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - DP

Yup, that engine looks exactly the same as the mk3 Cavalier 2.0 unit, right down to the "injection" lettering across the cam cover. These are capable of starship mileages if even half looked after. Car shines up like a new penny, Stu. Looks like you got yourself a bargain. :-) Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 20 Aug 10 10:56   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - J Bonington Jagworth

"Car shines up like a new penny, Stu" Agreed - well done! That's what bangernomics is all about, IMO - find something that is basically sound but deeply unfashionable, and you're well away. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 20 Aug 10 01:01   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - VxFan

>> Ive now stuck a pic of a 2.0 MK3 Cav in there too You need to find a pic of a Mk3 2.0 Cavalier Diplomat or CDX to show the similarities with the AC system as well. Reply to this message | Report message

Fri 20 Aug 10 01:06   You know when you accidentally buy a car... :-) - Redviper

>> >> Ive now stuck a pic of a 2.0 MK3 Cav in there too >> Thats the engine I had in my Mk3 Cav - as posted above starship milages, not a problem. Reply to this message | Report message