Cheap, reliable runaround car or future classic

pinno

Decided to wash the car. Rolled up at the garage. Bloke with Passat is there in a bay scrubbing away with the brush at the self service car wash. I fill up with petrol. Go pay. Jump in the car. Park it at the next bay to the Passat. Put my £1 in the machine. Select 'Hot soap with lance'. Soap the car. (I was only there to do the arches). Half way through the cycle, I select 'Rinse with lance' cycle. I rinse the car. Instant bling, achieved with the Fusso soft waxing in 3 mins flat. I Jump in and drive off having not physically touched the car - especially with a brush contaminated with god knows what. Bloke with Passat is still there washing his car. Ciao.
Should have given him my Business card for detailing that I have yet to finish designing and print. :roll:

mr_goo

Pinno wrote:

Decided to wash the car. Rolled up at the garage. Bloke with Passat is there in a bay scrubbing away with the brush at the self service car wash. I fill up with petrol. Go pay. Jump in the car. Park it at the next bay to the Passat. Put my £1 in the machine. Select 'Hot soap with lance'. Soap the car. (I was only there to do the arches). Half way through the cycle, I select 'Rinse with lance' cycle. I rinse the car. Instant bling, achieved with the Fusso soft waxing in 3 mins flat. I Jump in and drive off having not physically touched the car - especially with a brush contaminated with god knows what. Bloke with Passat is still there washing his car. Ciao.
Should have given him my Business card for detailing that I have yet to finish designing and print. :roll:

I got into the detailing thing last spring after a garage wanted to charge about £300 to wax/protect our Alfa.
Did some research and bought Bilt Hamber Claybar (doesn't need specialist lubricant), Poorboys Blackhole for glazing and Nattys Paste Wax for black cars. Also got Chemical Guys leather cleaner and conditioner. Altogether it came in at under £60 with intro discounts from Slims.
I to thought about doing detailing as a sideline. But after taking the whole weekend doing our car and my hands knackered for a week I thought better of it.
Still there's lots of satisfaction in doing it right and seeing the car look like a black mirror.

pinno

Mr Goo wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Decided to wash the car. Rolled up at the garage. Bloke with Passat is there in a bay scrubbing away with the brush at the self service car wash. I fill up with petrol. Go pay. Jump in the car. Park it at the next bay to the Passat. Put my £1 in the machine. Select 'Hot soap with lance'. Soap the car. (I was only there to do the arches). Half way through the cycle, I select 'Rinse with lance' cycle. I rinse the car. Instant bling, achieved with the Fusso soft waxing in 3 mins flat. I Jump in and drive off having not physically touched the car - especially with a brush contaminated with god knows what. Bloke with Passat is still there washing his car. Ciao.
Should have given him my Business card for detailing that I have yet to finish designing and print. :roll:

I got into the detailing thing last spring after a garage wanted to charge about £300 to wax/protect our Alfa.
Did some research and bought Bilt Hamber Claybar (doesn't need specialist lubricant), Poorboys Blackhole for glazing and Nattys Paste Wax for black cars. Also got Chemical Guys leather cleaner and conditioner. Altogether it came in at under £60 with intro discounts from Slims.
I to thought about doing detailing as a sideline. But after taking the whole weekend doing our car and my hands knackered for a week I thought better of it.
Still there's lots of satisfaction in doing it right and seeing the car look like a black mirror.

The blue synthetic clay bars on flea bay are just as good as the Bilt Hamber and a fraction of the price and yes, I just use ordinary diluted detergent as a lubricant. I use AutoGlym fast glass for glass and Rain X, Fusso Dark Wax for darker cars but plain old Turtle Colour wax for paintwork that is a little dull. So the Fusso is my only expensive consumable. Rain X makes a bad window cleaner like me look good; it's excellent for polishing the glass after I use the AutoGlym.
I don't do valeting I have charged £75 to £100 for just doing the paintwork. The clay bar works on alloys so I tell them that it's £75 for the car and glass. I use the alloys cleaning as an excuse to bump the price up.
My work has been pretty much manual for the last 13 years or so and my hands don't ache after a detailing job.
I have found that warm water and soap in your spray bottle when clay barring keeps your fingers warm too!

bikes`n`guns

Anyhoo.

BMW E46 330ci is a future classic and an awsome daily driver. Cost me 3.5k with 50k on the clock and a full history.

Mines is an auto and I always manage 30+mpg, up to 36 on a longer run.


and 145mph in near silence.

pblakeney

Bikes`n`guns wrote:

and 145mph in near silence.

Allegedly?

apreading

Mr Goo wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Decided to wash the car. Rolled up at the garage. Bloke with Passat is there in a bay scrubbing away with the brush at the self service car wash. I fill up with petrol. Go pay. Jump in the car. Park it at the next bay to the Passat. Put my £1 in the machine. Select 'Hot soap with lance'. Soap the car. (I was only there to do the arches). Half way through the cycle, I select 'Rinse with lance' cycle. I rinse the car. Instant bling, achieved with the Fusso soft waxing in 3 mins flat. I Jump in and drive off having not physically touched the car - especially with a brush contaminated with god knows what. Bloke with Passat is still there washing his car. Ciao.
Should have given him my Business card for detailing that I have yet to finish designing and print. :roll:

I got into the detailing thing last spring after a garage wanted to charge about £300 to wax/protect our Alfa.
Did some research and bought Bilt Hamber Claybar (doesn't need specialist lubricant), Poorboys Blackhole for glazing and Nattys Paste Wax for black cars. Also got Chemical Guys leather cleaner and conditioner. Altogether it came in at under £60 with intro discounts from Slims.
I to thought about doing detailing as a sideline. But after taking the whole weekend doing our car and my hands knackered for a week I thought better of it.
Still there's lots of satisfaction in doing it right and seeing the car look like a black mirror.

Get a Random Orbital buffer. Years ago when I was into it you had to import a 'Porter Cable' buffer and convert the electrics but I am sure these days there are good UK options. Will save a huge amount of time and give better results - and your hands will hurt less.

Rotary buffer is better but best left to the professionals as you can ruin the paint if you get it wrong.

pinno

apreading wrote:

Mr Goo wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Decided...print. :roll:

I...mirror.

Get a Random Orbital buffer. Years ago when I was into it you had to import a 'Porter Cable' buffer and convert the electrics but I am sure these days there are good UK options. Will save a huge amount of time and give better results - and your hands will hurt less.

Rotary buffer is better but best left to the professionals as you can ruin the paint if you get it wrong.

I have got the clay barring down to just under 2 hours. I'm not going down the rotating or contra-rotating route as i'll stick to what I know; especially the scratch removal process. I use a 3 stage liquid process and got some instruction from a local sprayer (who's very good) and he uses the 3M, 3 stage kit, which you can use manually.
If I go through the top coat on someone else's car, it could be very expensive, never mind the loss of a reputation I am trying to build.

apreading

You will find most other professionals use a rotary as it's just better and quicker. You are doing yourself and customers a disservice if you don't at least use a random orbital and it's pretty much impossible to damage with one of those.

Whatever you do you should measure the thickness of the clear coat before any form of correction or polishing.

veronese68

Cowsham wrote:

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 !

One of my customers in Holland is selling a collection of 6 old Saabs including these two:

pinno

What's the gen on a Porsche 944?

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

What's the gen on a Porsche 944?

Cheap as, but finding a good one will be the issue.
Not as cheap, but I'd prefer a 928S.

fat daddy

apreading wrote:

[ Years ago when I was into it you had to import a 'Porter Cable' buffer and convert the electrics but I am sure these days there are good UK options. .

I still have my PC and step down transformer ..... nice bit of kit despite having lug the transformer about as well

that was when I cared about my cars appearance .... now I live in Bristol I have given up "detailing" .... its just not worth it you just end up with a really shiny car with dents and scrapes on it :?

pinno

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

What's the gen on a Porsche 944?

Cheap as, but finding a good one will be the issue.
Not as cheap, but I'd prefer a 928S.

AFAIK, 928's's are very unreliable and suffer interminable cooling problems, whereas the 944's are just unreliable.
I really fancy one. You could spend £3000 on one and spend another £2k sorting it proper like innit.

Very honestly described, lost of pics:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... CHE&page=1

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

What's the gen on a Porsche 944?

Cheap as, but finding a good one will be the issue.
Not as cheap, but I'd prefer a 928S.

AFAIK, 928's's are very unreliable and suffer interminable cooling problems, whereas the 944's are just unreliable.
I really fancy one. You could spend £3000 on one and spend another £2k sorting it proper like innit.

Very honestly described, lost of pics:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified ... CHE&page=1

Fair points, but I'd still prefer the 928S. On the other hand, my days of being bothered to fix cars are over which explains why I have never got round to my dream of maximising an original Mini Cooper.

pinno

Original, unmolested Coopers are silly money now. You lazy twit.

veronese68

You don't want an early 944, you need an S2 or later. The EPO worked at AFN for a while. A friend of mine has one I think is for sale, quite tidy and it's just had the sills done. Always been dealer or specialist serviced. Another friend has a 928 but daren't drive it in case it breaks. It's not an S it's a higher spec special but I can't remember what, manual gearbox and more power.

pinno

Veronese68 wrote:

... S2 or later.

More info please.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

Original, unmolested Coopers are silly money now. You lazy twit.

Not so much unmolested, more like this...
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/196 ... -rally-car
But doing the work myself and adding some creature comforts. That was the plan. I am now too lazy...

pinno

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Original, unmolested Coopers are silly money now. You lazy twit.

Not so much unmolested, more like this...
https://www.silverstoneauctions.com/196 ... -rally-car
But doing the work myself and adding some creature comforts. That was the plan. I am now too lazy...

That ^ is gorgeous.

cowsham

Veronese68 wrote:

Cowsham wrote:

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 !

One of my customers in Holland is selling a collection of 6 old Saabs including these two:

I didn't mean 'help ' as a buyer I meant 'HELP ' in a psychiatric way but still would buy one on the right day. Those look nice what moneys on them?

pblakeney

Cowsham wrote:

I didn't mean 'help ' as a buyer I meant 'HELP ' in a psychiatric way ...

Explains a lot.

veronese68

Cowsham wrote:

I didn't mean 'help ' as a buyer I meant 'HELP ' in a psychiatric way but still would buy one on the right day. Those look nice what moneys on them?

I know what you mean, those just popped up and made me think of this thread.
I prefer the blue one. Price on application I think so I doubt they are cheap, I don't read Dutch.
https://www.imparts.nl/cars-for-sale

pinno

Veronese68 wrote:

Cowsham wrote:

I didn't mean 'help ' as a buyer I meant 'HELP ' in a psychiatric way but still would buy one on the right day. Those look nice what moneys on them?

I know what you mean, those just popped up and made me think of this thread.
I prefer the blue one. Price on application I think so I doubt they are cheap, I don't read Dutch.
https://www.imparts.nl/cars-for-sale

Cheap!

darkhairedlord

205 gti.
Mk3 escorts rs 1600i or rs turbo.
Mk1 fiesta xr2
Late model Mk1 golf gti, campaign model.
Mk2 capri, any model.
All other cars in 80s were rubbish and should be avoided.

pinno

darkhairedlord wrote:

205 gti.
Mk3 escorts rs 1600i or rs turbo.
Mk1 fiesta xr2
Late model Mk1 golf gti, campaign model.
Mk2 capri, any model.
All other cars in 80s were rubbish and should be avoided.

Sierra Cosworth?
Peugeot 205 Gti?
Audi Quattro?
Lancia Delta Integrale?
E30 BMW - with that lovely straight six (or the gorgeous C2, 2/7 Alpina)?

Not that any of the above would be cheap but that's beside the point.

JakeJ

Mk1 Audi TT, find one with low milage, preferably the BAM 225 engine.

They are now at their lowest selling point, they won't get cheaper which means they can only go one way, plus the Audi TT was way ahead of it's time when it was released, styling wise and the 1.8 20VT is one of the best engines ever made.

or as someone mentioned, mk1 Mazda MX5, if you can find one that isn't full of rust, they've gone from a couple hundred pounds to a couple thousand in just the last few years.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

...
Audi Quattro?
...
Not that any of the above would be cheap but that's beside the point.

A guy I knew tried to sell me his mint Quattro for £6k 15-20 years ago.
I turned him down. :oops:

rolf_f

Pinno wrote:

darkhairedlord wrote:

205 gti.
Mk3 escorts rs 1600i or rs turbo.
Mk1 fiesta xr2
Late model Mk1 golf gti, campaign model.
Mk2 capri, any model.
All other cars in 80s were rubbish and should be avoided.

Sierra Cosworth?
Peugeot 205 Gti?
Audi Quattro?
Lancia Delta Integrale?
E30 BMW - with that lovely straight six (or the gorgeous C2, 2/7 Alpina)?

Not that any of the above would be cheap but that's beside the point.

Ignore him. He thinks the Mk2 Capri is goo . And all 70s/80s Fords seam ridiculously over priced for what they are and also owned almost exclusively by heavy set blokes with no necks. In any case, the obsession with the sporty models is unhelpful in the context of cheap. Though often rarer, a good sporty model also makes a good less sporty model and those can be dirt cheap. I think Peugeot 205s are perfectly nice when not GTi badged and, in some ways, I prefer normal Deltas to HF Integrales (though the non Integrale HF is surely the discerning purchasers top choice?).

darkhairedlord

Rolf F wrote:

Pinno wrote:

darkhairedlord wrote:

205 gti.
Mk3 escorts rs 1600i or rs turbo.
Mk1 fiesta xr2
Late model Mk1 golf gti, campaign model.
Mk2 capri, any model.
All other cars in 80s were rubbish and should be avoided.

Sierra Cosworth?
Peugeot 205 Gti?
Audi Quattro?
Lancia Delta Integrale?
E30 BMW - with that lovely straight six (or the gorgeous C2, 2/7 Alpina)?

Not that any of the above would be cheap but that's beside the point.

Ignore him. He thinks the Mk2 Capri is goo . And all 70s/80s Fords seam ridiculously over priced for what they are and also owned almost exclusively by heavy set blokes with no necks. In any case, the obsession with the sporty models is unhelpful in the context of cheap. Though often rarer, a good sporty model also makes a good less sporty model and those can be dirt cheap. I think Peugeot 205s are perfectly nice when not GTi badged and, in some ways, I prefer normal Deltas to HF Integrales (though the non Integrale HF is surely the discerning purchasers top choice?).

I don't think the Capri is good, I had a couple... BUT, much better than anything else of the era.
Lancia? jeez, I though the BL cars rotted out until I saw the FIAT compound on the edge of holes bay in Poole. If it was a high tide and the wind was blowing hard it would flood with sea water. Brand new cars rusting away before they were even sold.

My hot tip:

Jaguar, XJ6 S3 4.2 straight six, check the electrics and the antifreeze first though.
You might be seduced by the beauty of the XJS V12 but don't do it....

pinno

I would love a clean unmolested M3 E30 but I quite like the idea of a Porsche 944 - mainly because they are pretty cheap at the mo and prefer the styling to the ridiculous 928.
But that bloody VN bloke won't elaborate on the S2, despite asking him. I presume 'series 2' as opposed to series 1?
Maybe i'll PM the tw@t.