Inward123
New member
So following on from the Auction section I thought it best to introduce my new car. I purchased it mid Oct off EBay. I’ve wanted a project car for some time, the following criteria need to apply, needed to be £500 ish, have 4 seats and be around 4m to fit in my garage.
I was looking at Peugeot 205, Fiat Punto and the like... I was also after a part for my wife’s Seat Altea. Bang suddenly it jumps out at me “Seat Marbella Convertible”. So I’m interested it fits my criteria and I know it will go cheap. I watch and wait and one bid and £176 I own a 1990 convertible.
Collection and Condition
My initial thoughts were good and bad. The good points is there is zero rust, which I well impressed with the sills, underside and body only has one bit of rust the size of a 10p so this is a good start. The engine is in good nick, the oil was deep brown is cold but not “gunky” I checked for mayonnaise and nothing – few. The roof well this is bad it looks to have shrunk and it leaks slightly.
The interior ...well where do I start, It has the original hammock back seat (it stinks and is badly discoloured). The front passenger seat isn’t original and it doesn’t match the driver seat there’s a couple of puddles on the floor (thank god for the plastic flooring)
The adverts said “interior needs tidying” ...well little did I know that there are so many unemployed estate agents selling cars. To be fair I knew I was taking a gamble - it looks to have paid off.
Two weeks later
So I decide to go do the route of getting the MOT done and then panic! Rather than take a punt do some work and miss something it fails on the following
1. Driver’s seat insecure
2. Rear fog lamp tell tale not working
3. Windscreen blade broken
4. Rear number plate not working
5. Windscreen washer doesn’t work
6. Horn doesn’t work
7. Sidelight bulb out
8. Offside front disc too pitted
9. Brakes recording little or no effort
Well a week later
Bulbs, Blade, Horn front discs and pads and two rear cylinders it passes (yippee)
Next stop find an interior !!!!!!
I was looking at Peugeot 205, Fiat Punto and the like... I was also after a part for my wife’s Seat Altea. Bang suddenly it jumps out at me “Seat Marbella Convertible”. So I’m interested it fits my criteria and I know it will go cheap. I watch and wait and one bid and £176 I own a 1990 convertible.
Collection and Condition
My initial thoughts were good and bad. The good points is there is zero rust, which I well impressed with the sills, underside and body only has one bit of rust the size of a 10p so this is a good start. The engine is in good nick, the oil was deep brown is cold but not “gunky” I checked for mayonnaise and nothing – few. The roof well this is bad it looks to have shrunk and it leaks slightly.
The interior ...well where do I start, It has the original hammock back seat (it stinks and is badly discoloured). The front passenger seat isn’t original and it doesn’t match the driver seat there’s a couple of puddles on the floor (thank god for the plastic flooring)
The adverts said “interior needs tidying” ...well little did I know that there are so many unemployed estate agents selling cars. To be fair I knew I was taking a gamble - it looks to have paid off.
Two weeks later
So I decide to go do the route of getting the MOT done and then panic! Rather than take a punt do some work and miss something it fails on the following
1. Driver’s seat insecure
2. Rear fog lamp tell tale not working
3. Windscreen blade broken
4. Rear number plate not working
5. Windscreen washer doesn’t work
6. Horn doesn’t work
7. Sidelight bulb out
8. Offside front disc too pitted
9. Brakes recording little or no effort
Well a week later
Bulbs, Blade, Horn front discs and pads and two rear cylinders it passes (yippee)
Next stop find an interior !!!!!!
