Cheap, reliable runaround car or future classic

pinno

apreading wrote:

If you like Fusso then try topping it with Soft99 King of Gloss...

The Fusso gives durability, the King of Gloss does what it says on the tin, and together they work wonders on a dark car.

For the 'wet look 'Bilt Hamber' Speed wax glossy is the dog's danglies. I've heard good things about the King of Gloss but I use the Turtle colour wax as a base and then the Fusso Soft99 on top for a less 'plasticky' glossy look. It has a deep, deep sheen. When I first did it, I was praying for rain because the patterns made on it are awesome.

Here look:



I have now detailed 2 other cars on the back of doing my Merc and i'm expecting a call from a guy with an Audi TT, who I approached in the car park at Lidl. What is it with Audi owners? The car is filthy and covered in swirls which I am more than confident of removing. The Turtle Wax Premium Polishing Compound T417 is excellent.
I'm hoping this 'blinging' cars takes off so I can finance PPP. I have a friend who can give me use of his spacious garage so that winter won't stop me.

BelgianBeerGeek

Chapeau Pinno, true dedication to the MB cause.

pinno

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Chapeau Pinno, true dedication to the MB cause.

The pre-200 MB cause. What's yours?

Here's a pic of one I restored (and sold ):

It's a proper Merc.





..and here's my rot box C200 sport W, 2000 reg.. Not powerful but so much fun. So well balanced. Tiptronic gearbox, LSD's and traction control. Great fun in the snow and I left 535 BMW's and Audi's that were stranded one year in snow and ice.

pinno

Oh and did I say? I Fusso waxed my Wilier when I cleaned it ready for next year after I got the winter bike out.
Magic.

BelgianBeerGeek

Sadly I am Merc-less and we are heading to a one-car family so Mrs BBGeek calls the shots. And she is an Audi fan. No accounting for taste.
If I had the balls I would get an S-Class while they still exist.

crumbschief

Lotta lyrical

apreading

Pinno wrote:

Oh and did I say? I Fusso waxed my Wilier when I cleaned it ready for next year after I got the winter bike out.
Magic.

Have used Collinite on my bikes in the past, reminds me that its probably about time to do it again!

pinno

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Sadly I am Merc-less and we are heading to a one-car family so Mrs BBGeek calls the shots. And she is an Audi fan. No accounting for taste.
If I had the balls I would get an S-Class while they still exist.

Yep, you can pick them up for a song. Really lovely car, not very common and overlooked.

Ta da! just for you:

https://www.gumtree.com/p/mercedes-benz ... w-mileage-£2-999/1269374464

pinno

apreading wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Oh and did I say? I Fusso waxed my Wilier when I cleaned it ready for next year after I got the winter bike out.
Magic.

Have used Collinite on my bikes in the past, reminds me that its probably about time to do it again!

Had to look that one up. What's it like to apply and what appearance does it give?

apreading

Pinno wrote:

apreading wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Oh and did I say? I Fusso waxed my Wilier when I cleaned it ready for next year after I got the winter bike out.
Magic.

Have used Collinite on my bikes in the past, reminds me that its probably about time to do it again!

Had to look that one up. What's it like to apply and what appearance does it give?

I have used the 845 insulator wax for more than a decade. It is probably the longest lasting wax I ever found, and beads really well, not quite as well as Fusso but before that arrived it was up there at the top. It doesnt have as much depth of shine as others, but then neither does Fusso. I think Fusso is a better compromise because of its slightly better looks and beading but Collinite isnt far off. Collinite is really easy to apply too.

I think the formula was originally developed for use in the eletrical industry where it had to be really long lasting out in the field, battling all the elements over long periods.

pinno

Cheers AP.

cowsham

Citroen Saxo or the Peugeot 106 equivalent ( preferably Saxo for future classic ) ticks all the boxes nippy easy on fuel easy parked easy parts. Buy petrol engined for simplicity and light weight -- buy as clean and unmolested car as you can afford put ' timewarp ' into eBay search box to try to weed out the best ' like it came out of the factory. The 16's are making big money now but go for a smaller cc version for fuel economy -- it's like the Ford escort the 2ltr had same body shell as the 1ltr but you try to buy any mark 1 or 2 body shell now you won't get a good one for under £10k

pinno

The Pug 106 GTi was a cracking little car.

pinno

Ta da!

BelgianBeerGeek

V nice indeed Pinno. You mentioned wing re-paint- did they replace them? Either way, that looks stunning.
Must have another Merc in my life. It's the only car I know that you can get out of wearing your slippers and no-one bats an eyelid.

pinno

Yes, genuine front wing, £72 IIRC.

It's better in the flesh. I am looking for a single car seat cover because I seem to hitting the right hand seat bolster as I get in and out. Any suggestions?

bbrap

Pinno wrote:

Yes, genuine front wing, £72 IIRC.

It's better in the flesh. I am looking for a single car seat cover because I seem to hitting the right hand seat bolster as I get in and out. Any suggestions?

Climb in over the passenger seat :P

Maurice Thepity

DeVlaeminck wrote:

Talking of Saabs earlier, I'd be tempted by a 96 just for the looks, anyone owned one?

My first car was a SAAB 96. It was a joy to drive. When I got it the column change was really stiff especially going from 2nd to 3rd gear. But I didn't know any different and just put up with it. Then one day the linkage broke. I had to take it to the main dealer but when I got it back the gear change was as smooth as silk.
If you're handy with the spanners there's plenty of access as the bonnet hinges forward and opens up the engine bay, but the floor pan extends the full length of the vehicle so a new clutch for example is an engine out job.

pinno

I had a SAAB 2.2t, 2002. Very thirsty. Really fast. Great but only in a straight line. Fantastic build quality. Sore in front tyres. I gave it up eventually as the front wheel drive drove me... not round corners.
The later Tid are much less juicy but some of them are revamped Isuzu engines which have wet liners.and are an expensive fix if they go wrong.

rolf_f

Pinno wrote:

BelgianBeerGeek wrote:

Chapeau Pinno, true dedication to the MB cause.

The pre-200 MB cause. What's yours?

Here's a pic of one I restored (and sold ):

It's a proper Merc.

Like the Beirut taxi. I could see one of those in estate form being mine if ever the T8 ceased to exist.

A mate of mine has a C200. I think the dealers have pretty much replaced every panel bar the roof and possibly the boot so far and all on warranty. I daren't think how much that car has cost Mercedes!

pinno

What mark/year C200 is that Rolf?

rolf_f

Pinno wrote:

What mark/year C200 is that Rolf?

It's hard to say if it qualifies as a single mark/ year anymore!! But really I don't know. I'll try to remember to ask my friend when he is in the office next but that could be a little while.

pinno

Rolf F wrote:

Pinno wrote:

What mark/year C200 is that Rolf?

It's hard to say if it qualifies as a single mark/ year anymore!! But really I don't know. I'll try to remember to ask my friend when he is in the office next but that could be a little while.

A car within the warranty period of say... 5 years max we can presume? The guy who sprayed the o/s of my Merc said he was chopping wheel arches and sills out of 3 and 4 year old Mercs.

rolf_f

Pinno wrote:

Rolf F wrote:

Pinno wrote:

What mark/year C200 is that Rolf?

It's hard to say if it qualifies as a single mark/ year anymore!! But really I don't know. I'll try to remember to ask my friend when he is in the office next but that could be a little while.

A car within the warranty period of say... 5 years max we can presume? The guy who sprayed the o/s of my Merc said he was chopping wheel arches and sills out of 3 and 4 year old Mercs.

It is probably a while since he was having this work done. Anyway, I will investigate!

voodooman

Hmmm

Should never have mentioned the SAAB. Due Mot by the end of October and came back with nigh on 2K worth of work needed to pass inspection. Gutted, but will be trading in on monday next week for a .....

3 yr old Skoda Octavia vRS (diesel flavour). It's rapid but soulless.

I'll miss those amazing seats and the incredible mid range pickup (I had it chipped properly). If only I had a garage I'd have kept it, but thankfully the seats are going to a mate with a VW transporter MkIII, and someone else has taken the rest off me for a bit of cash.

Always liked the quote about SAAB, "people always wondered why they were so expensive.. until they had a crash in one".

rolf_f

voodooman wrote:

Hmmm

Should never have mentioned the SAAB. Due Mot by the end of October and came back with nigh on 2K worth of work needed to pass inspection. Gutted, but will be trading in on monday next week for a .....

So those warning lights were trying to tell you something!

Ahhh, fast diesels. Undeniably fast but so dull. Never understood how boring quick can be until I drove an Audi A3 Sport TD.

trek_dan

I was in a similar boat and bought a Saxo VTR for £800. More or less totally standard, 65k miles, lady owner for last decade. Potential future classic (look at how much 205's, R5 GTT, AX GTs go for now) and cheap decent examples available for well under a grand. Most have been ruined by the boy racer crowd and loads get used for rallying/racing so they are getting thin on the ground and prices are going up.

veronese68

Aah, a Saab 9-6 not a Saab 96. The 96 was cool and is a classic, the 9-6 not so much.

pinno

That ^ is the old indestructible 2 stroke V4 that dominated rallying in the early seventy's.
What particular type of old and obsessive duffers own these things VN?

cowsham

Pinno wrote:

That ^ is the old indestructible 2 stroke V4 that dominated rallying in the early seventy's.
What particular type of old and obsessive duffers own these things VN?

My old headmaster had one -- he looked the spit of Larry Grayson, camp as a row of tents complete with cravat, monocle on a chain and walking stick for whacking pupils. Now I want one ! Help !