Serious Question

Craiglxviii

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reliable yes, but its also pricey IMO and theyre prone to tin worm.

Keep them washed... the K10 was superb.

OK, a bit wobbly...
 

turbopete

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Keep them washed... the K10 was superb.

OK, a bit wobbly...

true but I think the emphasis has to be on WAS. like all Datsuns/Nissans of the era, even the tank like bluebird had its weakness points for rot, usually the rear section of the sill. seen bluebirds, cherries, micras (K10 and K11) sunnys, Almeras, ALL go in the same place. we even had 1 repaired in 2001 at a dealership I worked in for a year or so under WARRANTY as the car was a 1995 registration and had holes in the sills my FIST would go through! ive repaired a few K10s when I was working in garages in the late 90s for the same fault. I always put it down to the sunroof drains, as cars without sunroofs seemed less prone to the problem (back when, like A/C now, everyone WANTED a sunroof)
 

Craiglxviii

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true but I think the emphasis has to be on WAS. like all Datsuns/Nissans of the era, even the tank like bluebird had its weakness points for rot, usually the rear section of the sill. seen bluebirds, cherries, micras (K10 and K11) sunnys, Almeras, ALL go in the same place. we even had 1 repaired in 2001 at a dealership I worked in for a year or so under WARRANTY as the car was a 1995 registration and had holes in the sills my FIST would go through! ive repaired a few K10s when I was working in garages in the late 90s for the same fault. I always put it down to the sunroof drains, as cars without sunroofs seemed less prone to the problem (back when, like A/C now, everyone WANTED a sunroof)

Sunroof drains make a lot of sense. Nissan learned a lot about corrosion performance from the cars of that era.
 

AMGeed

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Notice the same MO from the OP?

Ask the question, sit back watch everyone give opinions then disagree and never come back to the thread.

First class trolling. Won't be fooled again.
 
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Calumcco

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I'm not a troll, I have spoken to members on here including Malcolm and Craig. I am always up for a chat. I have no brothers or father so this is a place where I can get advice from male role models that I am lacking in my life. The only reason I don't reply is because my threads go off topic and I cannot find any way of carrying on the conversation !

I am more than happy to ring or be contacted over the phone by other members of this forum for a chat, it would be easier than squabbling on here over posts!
 

Frontstep

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Notice the same MO from the OP?

Ask the question, sit back watch everyone give opinions then disagree and never come back to the thread.

First class trolling. Won't be fooled again.

Don't we just talk amongst ourselves in these situations ?
 

d215yq

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I sort of empathise with you Callum as I also like older cars, have little mechanical knowledge and my male role models in my family are not interested in anything old or fixing anything. I've just completely refitted a bathroom and kitchen in my new flat, built furniture and also serviced my car and trying to fix a few silly problems...probably not much to some but to me all a learning curve but the info is there if you stop to think, look at youtube/google and get 90% of the info yourself and then get the last bit by asking a sensible question.

BUT: You have to do a bit of the work yourself. People on here have been great to help me but you get out what you put in and I always atleast tried to experiment and problem solve a bit myself and then ask the question with the detailed information.

So rather than ask a generic question, think about a car you like then see how much MOT it has. PHONE the seller and ask about when everythign was last changed (tyres, brakes, oil, air filter, etc). Ask if it all drives OK and has any faults. Look at the photos detailed. Go drive it and look at it. OK you won't know much but look for oil leaks, just drive it and listen for rattles knocks. see how it brakes...check all things like EW lights, wipers work. Anyone can do that! Take a notebook of problems and then post a link and list of problems here and people will tell you if it's worth it.

Experience tells me all this "price is low so must be bad" is not often true. I've always bought cars at the cheap end of the market questionable service history, etc and the only one I got stung on was my current one, which needed more work than I factored in with the low price. That said after 12 months of bother/cost it's now seen the last 16 months and 35k miles without a repair bill nor breakdown nor expense at over 50mpg (though it does have it's idiosynchroses but none stop it moving!). I also don't buy these newer 15yr old cars being more problem free. My mates with a mk1 focus and mk5 golf that have cost a lot more and had breakdowns and get no where near the mpg. The focus is known for rot in the UK too.

But how can anyone give you more useful advice when all you give is a year and a price? So next time atleast phone the seller post all the basics and the link and then people can give you something other than "it's crap coz it's cheap" or "buy a Focus" and "You're wasting our time"
 

Craiglxviii

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I'm not a troll, I have spoken to members on here including Malcolm and Craig. I am always up for a chat. I have no brothers or father so this is a place where I can get advice from male role models that I am lacking in my life. The only reason I don't reply is because my threads go off topic and I cannot find any way of carrying on the conversation !

I am more than happy to ring or be contacted over the phone by other members of this forum for a chat, it would be easier than squabbling on here over posts!

This is a good point- you are not a troll.

If you honestly want to take some advice, LISTEN to what people say... that will gain you much more acceptance.
 

stwat

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What gets peoples backs up is, people give you their wise knowledge and advice, like with the Astra. I recall many saying, don't buy it as they rust etc. Then six months down the line you post up that your astra is rusting. "How can this happen on such a low mileage car, I don't understand". People tell you that because it has been sitting for a long time, things will quickly start going wrong. Again, you come on saying this and that has broken. "How can this happen on such a low mileage car" etc etc etc,,,,,,,,,
 
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Calumcco

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What gets peoples backs up is, people give you their wise knowledge and advice, like with the Astra. I recall many saying, don't buy it as they rust etc. Then six months down the line you post up that your astra is rusting. "How can this happen on such a low mileage car, I don't understand". People tell you that because it has been sitting for a long time, things will quickly start going wrong. Again, you come on saying this and that has broken. "How can this happen on such a low mileage car" etc etc etc,,,,,,,,,
I see what you mean stwat. The Astra is fine by the way. Still going strong. Ticking along nicely.
 

LostKiwi

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I sort of empathise with you Callum as I also like older cars, have little mechanical knowledge and my male role models in my family are not interested in anything old or fixing anything. I've just completely refitted a bathroom and kitchen in my new flat, built furniture and also serviced my car and trying to fix a few silly problems...probably not much to some but to me all a learning curve but the info is there if you stop to think, look at youtube/google and get 90% of the info yourself and then get the last bit by asking a sensible question.

BUT: You have to do a bit of the work yourself. People on here have been great to help me but you get out what you put in and I always atleast tried to experiment and problem solve a bit myself and then ask the question with the detailed information.

So rather than ask a generic question, think about a car you like then see how much MOT it has. PHONE the seller and ask about when everythign was last changed (tyres, brakes, oil, air filter, etc). Ask if it all drives OK and has any faults. Look at the photos detailed. Go drive it and look at it. OK you won't know much but look for oil leaks, just drive it and listen for rattles knocks. see how it brakes...check all things like EW lights, wipers work. Anyone can do that! Take a notebook of problems and then post a link and list of problems here and people will tell you if it's worth it.

Experience tells me all this "price is low so must be bad" is not often true. I've always bought cars at the cheap end of the market questionable service history, etc and the only one I got stung on was my current one, which needed more work than I factored in with the low price. That said after 12 months of bother/cost it's now seen the last 16 months and 35k miles without a repair bill nor breakdown nor expense at over 50mpg (though it does have it's idiosynchroses but none stop it moving!). I also don't buy these newer 15yr old cars being more problem free. My mates with a mk1 focus and mk5 golf that have cost a lot more and had breakdowns and get no where near the mpg. The focus is known for rot in the UK too.

But how can anyone give you more useful advice when all you give is a year and a price? So next time atleast phone the seller post all the basics and the link and then people can give you something other than "it's crap coz it's cheap" or "buy a Focus" and "You're wasting our time"

Calum, this is excellent advice.
I'm more than happy to help but as said you need to put some work in yourself too.
I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a family where engineering and mechanical stuff was a way of life and a time when it was possible to fix almost any car with a bit of number 8 to get you home (00slk will know what I mean).
I sympathise with you and applaud that you want to learn. Follow the advice and keep asking. It's how to learn. And remember, Google is your best friend.
 

Xtractorfan

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Pay someone a few quid to go and look at the cars for you, there is always the possibility that one of them could be a diamond. slight but possible. (oh, and, pick someone who knows these cars)
 
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Calumcco

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So... why are you asking about an SD1?
My mother had one back in the 80s and it was beautiful, Ive had a soft spot for one all my life but never got one, hence why I was hoping this one might be promising. I have saved some money and wouldnt mind taking a chance. I have some contacts who can weld also so I just need to make sure the engine is sound and that the body work is the only issue.
 
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Calumcco

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Pay someone a few quid to go and look at the cars for you, there is always the possibility that one of them could be a diamond. slight but possible. (oh, and, pick someone who knows these cars)
That sounds like a good idea. :)
 


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