Matteeboy

So we'ev decided (once it's fixed AGAIN) to move on the van - partly because we need a chunk of cash for an investment, partly because it doesn't get used enough and is a damn expensive daily driver (mpg is horrific on local roads!). We also bought it to be right by the beach (we lived 25 mins away) but we now live a minutes walk from it...

It's been brilliant - we've had superb holiday in it but it's a lot of money sat on the driveway collecting salt spray.

So we bought a £5.6k Subaru Outback (as mentioned before) last Tuesday. 2.5 petrol so it should last forever, SE spec so it's quite comfy with a huge sunroof.
Anyway the sheer joy is driving around not really giving too much of a **** about it and being a semi off roader, potholes no longer fill me with fear. It's very rural around here with mud everywhere, ruts, holes, etc and I just DON'T CARE. It's a bit of a revelation!

The BMW is now getting a bit of a rest (we put 13k on it in a year) but will be used a lot more when it's drier.

But I feel we've beaten the system a bit by getting a fairly "nice" bulletproof car for naff all money.

Clearly it would be nice to be rich enough to have an flashy car/van AND not care about it but we're not.

So if anyone wants a solid, comfy, very capable 4WD with a HUGE boot, check the AT ads - there's a few around!

dpb

is that like a legacy estate

Matteeboy

Yep but jacked up a bit, slightly beefed up bodywork and some underbody protection.

It's not very SN but it's still a wee bit quirky.

pflowers

I agree with all of this, its a great feeling!

zip106

I also concur.

We've had our 2003, 135k mile Forester for two years now - cost £1600 with a full set of new winter tyres, two owners and serviced for its entire life by a Subaru main dealer (I've since used a Subaru specialist who I know well).

Awesome little car - does the tip run, the station and airport run, gets left in town overnight and although it's not fast, has a wonderful gearbox and really is lovely to drive.

Hope I can keep it going as apart from the wheels being a bit tatty, and having loads of tiny dents on the roof/bonnet (first owner always parked under a horse chestnut tree...) there's zero rust anywhere.

It's a nice feeling driving this sort of car and not worrying where it's left.

Matteeboy

Even more of a bargain!

Replaced a blown interior bulb (one thing it seriously lacks is interior lights) with an LED stack today; it worked, I feel like a godamn car repair God. Actually it took me about a minute...!

Replaced the front tyres with proper ones, two new wipers, got a satnav for it, driving to Italy in it (well that's the plan anyway) in the Summer.

Most excellent.

Maz

iTrader: (34)

It's a good feeling having a car and not giving a **** about it.
In my experience there is a very real correlation between how careful and paranoid one is and how the car is more likely to break down. Conversely the less you're bothered the more unlikely the car is to give you trouble. Go figure!

lozgti1

dont give two hoots about mine.even when the ex keyed it

i like the look of that

CupraT

Good choice of car.

Only word of caution with a beater is that some get under your skin and you start to lose the couldn't care less attitude and start to look after them far too much!

Matteeboy

I have a sort of mantra; if something looks after me, I'll will look after it.
TBH it's already had a good snow foam, wash, polish and the leathers been cleaned and conditioned but more to help it last longer than to try and have the shiniest car.

It's more when driving it; 215/60 tyres mean kerbs hold no fear, nor do potholes (unless massive!), mud won't make me wince and the odd hedge hug on tight lanes won't require immediate close inspection. Very handy round here!

hodgy0_2

Our two main family cars have 400k between the (one on 190k and one on 210k)

Both used daily, both cost very little to run - and I still enjoy driving them

And add to that we bought our daughter a Peugeot 306 - £700, it was immaculate, sailed through its mot (with no advisories) and is actually a really nice drive - pottering around the lanes, no fuss, park anywhere, close the door walk away do your shopping get back in and drive home, so liberating

Matteeboy

I knew you'd approve Hodgy!

Van now sold; that's a nice chunk of cash back in the account. Phew.

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

I have often waxed lyrical on here about the benefits of driving a car that you don't have a great deal of your hard earned invested in and generally don't care too much about beyond it getting you to where your going and back.

My Mrs 800 quid Rover is the perfect example, just gone over 105k (was purchased with 41k on the clock) has cost less than a grand all in to run during that milage, all I do is change the oil every 3 months, give it a once over and pour half a cup of oil in the gearbox as it has a bit of a leak and jobs a good un, Can't beat bangernomics.

I had company cars for 20+ years and it's a similar feeling, bollax to having 10/20/30k in a car and worrying about it all the time, much sooner have something I can actually drive and have some relatively care free fun motoring in.

Just make sure you have full RAC cover and jobs a good un, I get it discounted through my Mrs work now too so win win, 3 motors full European cover for almost half price before tax.

shytorque

Yes I have to agree its nice to have a car that is just a means of transport from A to B..
Jump in and don't give a ferk about checking for parking dings etc..

Its almost like being a normal person for a change....

Although without trying to upset you Matty , that is one ugly piece of **** you've got there....lol
Enjoy...

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

I had a Volvo V40 for 2 years. Brilliant car ... a few dents and scratches and I didn't care where I left it. Cost me virtually nothing in the two years I had it.

Decided to change it for another 'beater' and bought a Mazda 6 .... £1800 54 plate 65K one owner. Trouble is it's bloody immaculate and now I have started worrying again where to park the damn thing

I looked at Legacys but the parts prices scared the hell out of me!

hodgy0_2

I most certainly do matter

My father in law taught me a great lesson once

When I first met him (1982) he had just finished having his boyhood dream car restored

It was a 1956 Mercedes 300 SL (the one with the gullwing doors

But in fact he found it such a burden to own (he wanted to use it as a daily driver lol)

He could not bare to park it anywhere etc etc

He admitted later that it owned him, not the other way around

So sometimes with expensive and valuable possessions you think you own them, when in reality they own you


He sold it and bought a yacht lol, now that is a money pit

Matteeboy

Oh yes, boats eat silly money, even little ones!

ditchmyster

iTrader: (7)

Boats don't always eat money if you buy right. First boat I had I bought for £3k and sold it for £11k a year and a bit later, cost me £2k in mooring fees and repairs/renovation/ safety cert etc, and quite a few weekends but it was worth it in the end. Learnt a hell of a lot too.

Got another one out here at the moment by default for nothing, going to be doing it up over the next year or so, should be worth a few quid when it's finished, but Iv'e not seen it yet apparently it floats but that's about all it does and it's got a knackered inboard engine, but I love a challenge.

Matteeboy

Actually we did make good money on our first boat.
But the second was a bit of a money pit. I'll stick to borrowing them for now!

hodgy0_2

Yep, borrowing is a much better bet

Anyway he sold the yacht - he used to moor it in the percuil btw

When he had the house above the church in st just in roseland

All gone now though :-(

cookstar

iTrader: (6)

I picked up a Bug WRX for the winter, paid very little for it.

I've finally today fixed all the running niggles, and it really is a great fun car to drive! I searched for a completely standard one and I'm glad I did.

Ill smoke around in it for winter, then sell it on in March time for what I paid for it, maybe a touch more.

Just to replace one wheel and tyre on my other car would probably cost near what I paid for it.