Madman's Shed of the Week

[Raza]

Visible bras look so ugly!  What's the point of protecting the front end if it's going to look like shit anyway?  It's like shooting yourself to make sure you don't get cancer.

[Vinsanity]

I bought a 1990 Miata with 150k miles 2 summers ago for $2,000. I don't know how many miles that white one has, but I would think that 1.6L Miatas can be had for closer to $2k than $2.5k.

[ifcar]

Visible bras look so ugly!  What's the point of protecting the front end if it's going to look like shit anyway?  It's like shooting yourself to make sure you don't get cancer.

I suppose when you take it off to sell to the next person, it's in better shape.

[Vinsanity]

I suppose when you take it off to sell to the next person, it's in better shape.

hehe that's what I did. Sold the Miata 4 months later for $2,000. I drove that car all summer for free, plus the cost of gas and one oil change

[Madman]

I bought a 1990 Miata with 150k miles 2 summers ago for $2,000. I don't know how many miles that white one has, but I would think that 1.6L Miatas can be had for closer to $2k than $2.5k.

The ad didn't mention miles, but I'm sure the brand new top adds something to the value.  Every time I see an early MX-5 in white I'm always reminded of the early Lotus Elan.  Not surprising, considering Mazda closely studied the Elan when they were developing the first MX-5.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Raza]

I suppose when you take it off to sell to the next person, it's in better shape.

Don't bras change the rate of fade, and make the front end a different color if you keep the car a decent amount of time?  I also heard they could trap water and cause rust.

Clear bras work much better (although, it seems they're a much newer invention).

[Madman]

I've always heard those vinyl bras trap dirt and moisture, which damages the car's paint.  Sort of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?  I mean, isn't that worse than a couple of stone chips?


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[nickdrinkwater]

I've hardly ever seen them here.

I'd take that MX-5 though.

[Madman]

17-23 February 2008:

How Swede it is!



I've been seeing a few of these being offered at near giveaway prices lately.  This week we have a 1997 Volvo 850 GLT with the 2.4 litre 20 valve light-pressure (190 HP) turbo five cylinder and four speed auto.  The LPT engine was tuned for bottom-end torque and is an ideal match with the autobox.  Silver paint with dark grey (almost black) leather interior.  It's got power everything, a sunroof, cassette and CD player, alloys, keyless entry, front and side airbags and cold weather pack (heated seats, mirrors and headlamp wash/wipe).  Just 176,000 miles on the clock and a price tag of $2,950 from a local used car lot.  It even looks almost new.  This car just screams seriously good value.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[the Teuton]

When are you planning on updating the Volvo fleet?

[Madman]

When are you planning on updating the Volvo fleet?

When the old one dies.  The 740 will soon hit 250,000 miles.  Be on the lookout for a post celebrating this momentous occasion!

Cheers,
Madman of the People

[nickdrinkwater]

Post some more smaller cars like the MX-5!  These are all boats.

[Cookie Monster]

Post some more smaller cars like the MX-5!  These are all boats.

+1

[Madman]

Update on a previously listed Shed.  The seller of the blue MK III Jetta I featured at the end of last year has re-listed the car for $1,800.  That's a big price cut!  It makes me wonder if there are some "issues" which have prevented this car from selling.

Here's the original feature to refresh your memory:

30 December 2007 - 5 January 2008:

Manual gearbox, anyone?



By popular demand, I present another shed with a much-sought-after manual shifter.  This week we have the tidiest-looking MK III VW Jetta I have seen in a long time.  It's a 1998 Jetta GLS with the ubiquitous 2.0 litre 8-valve motor, air-con, keyless entry, power windows, CD player, original factory alloys and rear spoiler.  Blue with black interior, it has 130,000 miles on the clock.



There appears to be one of those awful fart-can exhausts on the back, but this can be easily consigned to the trash bin where it belongs and replaced with a less obnoxious set-up.  Thankfully this appears to be the only bit of crass customising performed on an otherwise decent bargain bucket.



The stereo head-unit is obviously not original but as long as it works properly I won't complain.  Otherwise, this looks like a very clean and presentable rig.  MK III Jettas in good nick are becoming increasingly rare as most have been thrashed by careless teenage yahoos.  The fact that this is a high-spec GLS model makes this car even more desirable to the shed-hunter on a budget.  And if you get tired of it, you can always flog it to some kid to use as a college beater and get most of your money back.  $3.990 from a private seller.  Worth a look, I say.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Eye of the Tiger]

I like those wheels, and that color blue better than mine!

[the Teuton]

I really like that color of Jetta.

[Madman]

24 February - 1 March 2008:

Pretend you're Colin McRae.....


.

.


....on a VERY low budget!

Sorry, no fire-breathing turbocharged engines or all-conquering four wheel drive here.  But who says you can't live out your WRC fantasies in a car that came from the same stable as McRae's championship-winning chariot?  This week's specimen is a 1995 Subaru Impreza L Coupe with 1.8 litre (110 horsepower) boxer four and four speed automatic.  It's a two-wheel (FWD) drive model in blue with light grey cloth interior.  It has air-con, an AM/FM/Cassette stereo and a rather snazzy-looking rear spoiler.  This looks to be a remarkably clean example with only 104,945 miles on the odometer.  It's being sold by the local franchised Volvo dealer (presumably this was a part-exchange) for only $2,995.  I imagine a set of WRX alloys would make this car quite a looker!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[ifcar]

That's not such a good price.

[CALL_911]

That's expensive.

But Teuton will love it.

[Madman]

That's expensive.

But Teuton will love it.

I suspect he will, too!

Sure the price is a bit high for this car, but I've been seeing this ad for a few weeks now and I think the dealer will do a seriously good deal after sitting on it all this time.  Considering the relatively low miles and the good condition, I think this car can be good value for a hard-nosed negotiator.  There looks to be plenty of life left in it.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Cookie Monster]

Too bad it's a 2WD automatic version.

[Madman]

2-8 March 2008:

Turbocharged Thunder!



Yep, it's another Volvo.  But it's no ordinary Volvo.  This one is a 1998 S70 T5 Auto.  Yes, T5; as in 236 horsepower high-pressure turbo nutter hooligan engine!  This is a real wolf in sheep's clothing.  Arrest-me-red with big alloys and charcoal leather interior.  It also has dual-zone climate control, cassette/CD stereo, keyless entry with alarm, three-position memory driver's seat, sunroof and rear spoiler.  It has 230,000 miles on it but appears to be well looked after.  $2,250 from a private seller.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Cookie Monster]

You need to diversify and stop posting so many Volvos.

[CALL_911]

If it was a manual, that would be schweet.

[the Teuton]

That's expensive.

But Teuton will love it.

Teuton bought a car that was maybe 2 years older with 40,000 more miles that wasn't a Brighton for about a quarter of the price.  Oh yeah, mine has AWD, too.  I'm not sure I can love that Aegean Blue beauty for anything more than how well-maintained it looks.

[nickdrinkwater]

24 February - 1 March 2008:

Pretend you're Colin McRae.....


.

.


....on a VERY low budget!

Sorry, no fire-breathing turbocharged engines or all-conquering four wheel drive here.  But who says you can't live out your WRC fantasies in a car that came from the same stable as McRae's championship-winning chariot?  This week's specimen is a 1995 Subaru Impreza L Coupe with 1.8 litre (110 horsepower) boxer four and four speed automatic.  It's a two-wheel (FWD) drive model in blue with light grey cloth interior.  It has air-con, an AM/FM/Cassette stereo and a rather snazzy-looking rear spoiler.  This looks to be a remarkably clean example with only 104,945 miles on the odometer.  It's being sold by the local franchised Volvo dealer (presumably this was a part-exchange) for only $2,995.  I imagine a set of WRX alloys would make this car quite a looker!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

One of my friends has a Subs of that age(ish).  It's 1994 with 1.6L engine, manual, and a slow puncture.  I drove it and it was quite smooth except for the clutch, which had seen better days.  Though I couldn't adjust the side mirrors and it doesn't have a rear view mirror

[Madman]

9-15 March 2008:

Jeepers Creepers!



This week's big snowfall has got me thinking about four wheel drive.  And there are some seriously cheap 4X4s out there at the moment.  Like this one; a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo.  This tidy looking example has the 4.0 litre inline six-pot motor, four speed auto, 4WD, ABS, leather, air con, cruise control, power locks and windows, tilt steering wheel, cassette stereo and sliding roof bars.  Silver with beige/tan leather interior, this Jeep is no heap.  No clue about miles but it looks to be a Bargetastic Bargain at only $2,700 from a local beater dealer.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Cookie Monster]

[Madman]

16-22 March 2008:

White lightning!  Well, sort of.



It's amazing what you can find going for pocket change these days.  This 1993 Mercedes Benz 190E 2.6 Auto harks back to the glory days when Mercs were built up to a standard and not down to a price.  You get air-con, cruise control, power windows and locks, AM/FM/Cassette stereo, leather upholstery and sunroof.  It even has a new set of tyres.  No mention of miles but old Mercs don't seem to be bothered by mega-miles anyway.  Besides, this one looks clean enough to eat off of, so I can only assume it was well looked after.  $2,800 from a local used car dealer.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Cookie Monster]

Depending on price, that could be a good deal.