I visited a car auction this morning, I need to replace the Rover 623 so I was in the look out for a good Honda /Toyota/Mazda or even an ultra cheap
Rover 75. I haven't been for a year or so -- I have never seen the prices so low --- apart from the usual rough Vauxhall/Fiat/Fiesta auction
fodder a few good looking long MOT Mk1 Mondeo were going for rock bottom prices, but they were all post 95 cat equiped.
For anybody looking for a K series donor now is ther time, no really rough 200/400 at this auction but even the best old shape 214 weren't making
over 200 quid. New shape 200 were all under 1100 quid While the otherwise fresh Rover100/Metro in need of a front bumper and grill was a a snip at 100
pounds.
No decent examples of what I was searching for though, I managed to keep my hand from raising a hand for the very fresh blue Rover 620 60k mile and
long MOT and tax FSH that went for 600 quid but I did bid for a red 820 but dropped out at 250 quid (I still have a soft spot for 820s)
[Edited on 1/6/05 by britishtrident]
[Edited on 1/6/05 by britishtrident]
What prices were other non-donors going for eg Rover 75, etc?
No 75s this time round, I am going to have look at a different auction in a couple of days. The main worry with a 75 is going to be spares supply --
hopefully somebody like Rimmer Bros will take it on but how big an effect it has on auction prices is a big question mark. I suspect 75 owners may
holding on to them for a while at least as they know he trade in value is non existant.
Near me there is/was a dealer who was selling Austin cars since 1920 ---- now all gone without a trace they still have some parts support from the
LDV van parts counter but ??????
The parts for them shouldnt be a problem, somewill take it on. Big business for someone..
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
No 75s this time round, I am going to have look at a different auction in a couple of days. The main worry with a 75 is going to be spares supply -- hopefully somebody like Rimmer Bros will take it on but how big an effect it has on auction prices is a big question mark. I suspect 75 owners may holding on to them for a while at least as they know he trade in value is non existant.
Near me there is/was a dealer who was selling Austin cars since 1920 ---- now all gone without a trace they still have some parts support from the LDV van parts counter but ??????
Breadline my bottom....you seen how much they paid into their pensions???
Back to the subject at hand thou..... How much were zetec equiped motors going for?
September will be a good month for decent cars at the auctions. My local one is usually overloaded with main dealer part ex's to clear. Often
with careful ownership and SH's. Of course its a busy time for the retail dealers as well but lots of choice.
I love the auctions - some bargians to be had if you know what you are doing. Im out of touch with them after getting co. car allowance as i have been
loured into the car with warranty trap (ie paid top dollar for my Mondeo and slightly regretted it). Ive now sussed that even if you get a cheap car
(newish) and it fails, its often cheaper to have it repaired and hire a car for a while rather than pay daft main dealer prices.
What prices are Polo's going for? Cheap ins models, T / V reg type? (Wife needs a car for local runs).
Another visit last night ----awful lot of cr*** more than usual at an auction nothing interesting (apart from a nice Xj8 !).
Cheap run around bargain buy seems to be the Nissan Almeria --- no body wants them no matter how fresh -- OK they look awful have an image
problem but they are ultra reliable and drive OK.
Lots of very rough late 90s Renualts that no body loves. Some VW and Audis seem indestructable Golfs and Audi A6 with 175,000 mile plus on the clock
that looking fresh inside and out, in contrast VW might own Seat and Skoda but it was pretty obvious they don't last anything like as well.
Disapointlingly for me no Rover 75s but a couple of very nice Mazda 323 estates went through both T plate with average mileages didn't catch
what they went for. Like the VW the interiors and paint work on these seem to stand up better than the usual Pug/Vauxhall/Rover.
The small car market seems to be suffering from the zero interest free insurance deals being offered by dealers as the prices for small Pugs Citreons
and Fiestas were very low. Only one slightly rough paintwise but original Polo 1 owner on T plate with well below average miles didn't get
the price as Ieft before it wen through.
At the donor end no early Mondeos, no Sierras but the 96 Rover 214Sei with rust sounded like it had a very sweet K16 engine for 100 pounds.
[Edited on 3/6/05 by britishtrident]
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
No 75s this time round, I am going to have look at a different auction in a couple of days. The main worry with a 75 is going to be spares supply -- hopefully somebody like Rimmer Bros will take it on but how big an effect it has on auction prices is a big question mark. I suspect 75 owners may holding on to them for a while at least as they know he trade in value is non existant.
Near me there is/was a dealer who was selling Austin cars since 1920 ---- now all gone without a trace they still have some parts support from the LDV van parts counter but ??????
Already been done mate. Caterpillar, the digger and trainer manufacturer bought the supply rights to parts about 18 months ago, the funds from that got Phoenix off the breadline
quote:
Originally posted by NS Dev
quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
No 75s this time round, I am going to have look at a different auction in a couple of days. The main worry with a 75 is going to be spares supply -- hopefully somebody like Rimmer Bros will take it on but how big an effect it has on auction prices is a big question mark. I suspect 75 owners may holding on to them for a while at least as they know he trade in value is non existant.
Near me there is/was a dealer who was selling Austin cars since 1920 ---- now all gone without a trace they still have some parts support from the LDV van parts counter but ??????
Already been done mate. Caterpillar, the digger and trainer manufacturer bought the supply rights to parts about 18 months ago, the funds from that got Phoenix off the breadline
Exactly correct, they are based 2 miles up the road from where I am typing this, and have a HUGE parts operation there.
Do wonder if there is any money in breaking a proportion of the Rover Cars stockpile!!
Loads of Rover parts very cheap on ebay at the moment either dealers dumping or Longbridge tool box specials, me thinks I'll stock up on likely
suspects.
Very happy with 75 -- not got the sheer grunt of the 623 but the traction is so much better than any other fwd I have driven. Engine very torquey
much less frantic than the other K16 series T16/M16 series or Honda twincam but it dosen't encourage high rpm.
Handling very composed and communicative-- only niggle is the steering a little too low geared -- deliberate BMW marketing ploy I suspect to put
clear ground and the 3 series market. Ride quality is very good, not so hard as the 820 but a lot firmer than the 623.
[Edited on 8/6/05 by britishtrident]