Bit of advice please ;o)

[Jona76]

Currently running around in my 1995 850 T5 Ex Plod. I've just taken it in to its MOT and Service as it's done 200,000 and they phoned me up with a few problems. A on it's way out Turbo, CV joint problems and upon repair, the driveshaft has serious wear so that needs to be done too.

Having just been made redundant - but been given a fantastic pay off as I was there 13 years, I've told em to do all the work and expect a bill of about £900 inclusive of a few other things.

Now here's my problem - they said that the bodywork on the car is one of the cleanest they've ever seen for a 850 of this age and that I'll have no trouble with it - it's just that things are wearing out at this stage.

So just out of interest, I've been looking on E-bay to see what I can spend my money on and have found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...9673&rd=1&rd=1

Is this the right price and should I sell the 850 for about £1500 and get this or stay with the 850 knowing it's fully on the ball for another year.

Can anyone point me in the right directions to the specification of this mota - I know the AWD 850's were slower than the standard T5's...?

Cheers all!

(pic of the 850 to show that it really is clean!)

v.JPG

[V70 driver]

It's one of those things where you have to ask how much more money do I need to spend each year to keep the old girl going. You could buy the one on ebay and buy a whole load of trouble. This is the mockery of the MoT system. Your current car needs £1000 worth of work to see you through another year. The ebay car will be given a "clean bill of health" to cover things for a year for which some of the things that could go wrong you will have a warrenty for. Is it "better the devil you know" or not. £1000 of redundacy money is cheaper than £4000.
Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
V70 driver

[Tervueren]

Personally I think I would have kept the £900 and broke it for parts as I think you will struggle to get £1500 for it.
The price for the 'R' looks good but you really need to see it in the flesh first.
HTH
John

[Jona76]

Thanks guys, just got it back from Rybrook. £1068 to get me through the MOT and 200,000 mile service Bill was broken down so I know exactly what has been done - I think I'll frame it

The chap said that he prodded about underneath and said that it was utterly solid, no problems with any rust or bodywork corrosion and now that I've spent enough on it, it'll keep me going for a good few years. Just had a drive and it's like a new car so I think 99% I'll keep it!

Major things done

OS Front anti roll bar link rod
Turbo Return Pipe Seal and Gasket
Ignition Switch lock cable (knew of this)
New drive shaft (eek)
Exhaust bracket

Lots of other minor problems too but everything is spot on now. I knew that it was going to cost me lots for the service - not this much i know - but the car is 100% spot on now and I know it's going to hopefully last me for another good few years

[adamsky01]

as a mc i would stay with ur car think abought it this way
u spend ur 900 the car is fine till the next time
u buy this new car and it may need 900 spending on it so thats 4000 + 900=4900 u no what my tech teacher said to me set it up for a year dont touch it for a yer then set it up again he also said beter the devil u no
just looked at the pics i would say leave it looking at the engine bay i would stay well clear

[Jona76]

Originally Posted by adamsky01

as a mc i would stay with ur car think abought it this way
u spend ur 900 the car is fine till the next time
u buy this new car and it may need 900 spending on it so thats 4000 + 900=4900 u no what my tech teacher said to me set it up for a year dont touch it for a yer then set it up again he also said beter the devil u no
just looked at the pics i would say leave it looking at the engine bay i would stay well clear

You'll have to explain that one to me? Looking at a picture of an engine bay puts you off the car?

[Matthews 855 T5]

Totally up to you of course, but as you're asking..

I would keep the white one. I realise you are already commited to getting it fettled but if you were to go out and drop 4k on a car, thats 10years old next year (big depreciation) then I would look for an immaculate low mileage 850r, you know you want one!

BTW is that 900 pound quote including a new turbo or recon?
Just curious as I run a base model 10v and often wonder what the running cost of a T5 is?
Matt

[Matthews 855 T5]

On another note
good luck with the job thing, hope you get someting you enjoy and pays huge.
Matt

[Jona76]

Originally Posted by theprancingmoose

Totally up to you of course, but as you're asking..

I would keep the white one. I realise you are already commited to getting it fettled but if you were to go out and drop 4k on a car, thats 10years old next year (big depreciation) then I would look for an immaculate low mileage 850r, you know you want one!

BTW is that 900 pound quote including a new turbo or recon?
Just curious as I run a base model 10v and often wonder what the running cost of a T5 is?
Matt

I know...I think I just like the colour and the 'upgrade' from the 850 but I really would be mad to put money on a car I know nothing about - the downside is that it could cost the earth, the upside is that it does have FSH so at least I could tell what it needed soon.

I know the 850 is on the button now and drives so well so I may as well get my use out of it now I've paid for the privilege of it being MOT'd - was a recon turbo. Wasn't asking the price of a new one!

Cheers - used to work for Sony for 13 years but I've got my website business to promote so I need to see if that's a going concern or just a hobby! www.jonathonwild.co.uk