What Post 2000 year cars do you fancy for 2 to 3000 quid?

[Rally Pack 2000]

Just out of curiosity in the UK and Europe when the airbags go off in a car like an old Focus do the cars just get written off because the cost of airbag replacement is more than the cars worth? Or do they put the cars back on the road without the airbags installed?

[Johnny Boy]

If it happened to me, I'd get 2nd hand air bags. I don't know how much new ones are, maybe there cheaper now ?

 

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by Johnny Boy

[Vista]

6 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Just out of curiosity in the UK and Europe when the airbags go off in a car like an old Focus do the cars just get written off because the cost of airbag replacement is more than the cars worth? Or do they put the cars back on the road without the airbags installed?

I'd have thought that generally if a car that old has been in a smash big enough to set off the air bags, the damage will be more than the car is worth even without factoring in the cost of airbag replacement 

[DT36]

7 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Just out of curiosity in the UK and Europe when the airbags go off in a car like an old Focus do the cars just get written off because the cost of airbag replacement is more than the cars worth? Or do they put the cars back on the road without the airbags installed?

Front airbags usually only go off on front or side impact. With this being the case, there is also a lot of cosmetic and structural chassis damage done too.  If a car of this age went through an insurers recommended repair shop, it would probably get written off.

 

[katana]

And if the car was manufactured with airbags and you tried to go through a MOT without them, the little 'tell tail' warning light would be a instant fail!

[Rally Pack 2000]

8 hours ago, Vista said:

I'd have thought that generally if a car that old has been in a smash big enough to set off the air bags, the damage will be more than the car is worth even without factoring in the cost of airbag replacement 

That's the thing the airbags often constitute two thirds of the repair because they are so expensive. It happens alot where what is just repairable bumper damage turns into a right off because the airbags and bumper sensors are so expensive to replace that the car is written off. The amount hardly damaged cars that get written off here is astounding all because of airbag costs. I thought maybe the UK had an ingenious work around.

6 hours ago, katana said:

And if the car was manufactured with airbags and you tried to go through a MOT without them, the little 'tell tail' warning light would be a instant fail!

So there is no putting covers over empty airbag holes and pulling the bulb light then?

[eeb43]

drivers side airbag is easy to get away with in the uk just replace the whole thing with a sports style steering wheel no problem with mot then

[katana]

59 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

So there is no putting covers over empty airbag holes and pulling the bulb light then?

Well, over here, its a fail if the light doesn't illuminate at key on and then goes off after self test is complete. Obviously un-fired airbags have value so scrappers will actually remove them carefully for re-sale (as getting it wrong can do some physical harm!) And they are plenty of rear end / side impacts that don't trigger the front bags, such that they aren't stupidly expensive to prevent the DIY or smaller dealer, fix and flip merchants!

[Vista]

1 minute ago, katana said:

Well, over here, its a fail if the light doesn't illuminate at key on and then goes off after self test is complete. Obviously un-fired airbags have value so scrappers will actually remove them carefully for re-sale (as getting it wrong can do some physical harm!) And they are plenty of rear end / side impacts that don't trigger the front bags, such that they aren't stupidly expensive to prevent the DIY or smaller dealer, fix and flip merchants!

You mean this isn't what used airbags are for? 

 

[katana]

I wonder what quantity of either / or alcohol / controlled pharmaceuticals were consumed prior ? 

[Rally Pack 2000]

9 minutes ago, Vista said:

You mean this isn't what used airbags are for? 

 

My balls my balls!!! Hahahahaha

[Rally Pack 2000]

If the Focus doesn't pan out this Mitsubishi Lancer Estate was a backup option. It seemed just a bit more substantial than the Toyota Corolla Wagons that are about and for some strange reason fetch over inflated prices.

[Miniliteman]

21 hours ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

 I thought maybe the UK had an ingenious work around.

Over here a lot of crashed cars with blown airbags are sold for scrap value to Poland. They have a "work around" : they repair the car (bodywork and mechanicals, labour is still cheap over there) then make a list of airbags needed to make those cars complete again. Some of their friends then travel back to Holland with said shopping list and they remove the airbags from parked cars during the night. Sometimes a few dozen in the same night. Airbags are fitted to the repaired cars and the cars are sold in Poland for good money. Or they are brought to Germany then exported to Holland where they are sold as used German cars. 🙄

[katana]

Don't you just love a 'common market' - not judging, just sayin'! Buy cheap & export within the EEC, nick the parts to fix within the EEC, then sell back within the EEC and for a profit - that's genius 

[Rally Pack 2000]

Cant come to terms on all the gadgets on these modern cars and im not even looking at the current generation with SatNavs and all that. If you don't update with each generation of car when finally you're forced to change you leap several generations and its almost daunting!. Some of the cars I tried were so encapsulating it was like driving in a bathtub and peering over the rim, there was virtually no vision to the sides or rear and just the most minimal slit to the front. Not one car could you see the front corner points of the car so its all guesswork where the bonnet is while parking. A Pillars are now as thick as Nelson's Column! I cant help but wonder if I just should have bought something older with low miles on it and stay within my comfort zone? Even these huge button keys seem silly on my tiny 70's style keyfobs. On a car like he Focus if the key still unlocks everything, central locking, boot etc is there any need for the buttons on the keys? Can you just get a conventional type cut and use it like a regular key on an OSF? Or is there some immobilizer feature that's vitally important that has to be use? Im a simpleton so if I can bypass buttons and gadgets I will.

[katana]

Usually the key (the metal bit) will open door locks but I think if the buttons aren't used ie. to 'unlock the door' it doesn't disconnect the immobiliser at the same time so you can't go anywhere! Regarding the pillars - totally agree but welcome to the 1990's when they started to become a thing. They may be great in an accident but for 99% of the time, the blindspots they create are liable to cause an accident!

[Rally Pack 2000]

11 hours ago, katana said:

Usually the key (the metal bit) will open door locks but I think if the buttons aren't used ie. to 'unlock the door' it doesn't disconnect the immobiliser at the same time so you can't go anywhere! Regarding the pillars - totally agree but welcome to the 1990's when they started to become a thing. They may be great in an accident but for 99% of the time, the blindspots they create are liable to cause an accident!

I will have to do some testing to see if I can get away with it. Maybe if I lock it with the key it wont engage the immobilizer if it has one? (Im not sure if even does but there is a light on the dash that flashes in the dark every so often after you lock it up) I have seen some online sellers offer regular keys for Focus so I will experiment.

The enclosed obstructed view of modern cars seems counterproductive to me. They add all these safety features but then make it more difficult to drive by creating open vision problems. Maybe I have been living under a rock as far as cars are concerned. The 2010 Ford Fiesta I tried there was virtually no view to the sides so checking blind-spots can only be done with mirrors and the view front and rear was like a WW2 Pillbox. You could just see the car in front to apply your brakes but that's about it. Enjoying the scenery as you drive along is simply not going to happen. Im also a Caver (what you would call a potholer) and I felt ill with claustrophobia in this thing! Its not only absurd its dangerous. The 2007 Mk2 Focus is definitely better but all it does is beep and chime all the time. It sounds a selections of noises when you insert the key, It gives a warning siren if you even just touch the drive selector. How do you shut all these noises off? Then with the one noise I want to hear when I stop at a set of lights I think the engine has stalled because its virtually silent! Its creepy.

Break it too me gently, Im just plain old aren't I?

PS @Vista I cannot add photos to this post and an error message keeps coming up.

[Rally Pack 2000]

My Focus Ghia.

Leather seats are all well and good in brochures and all that but they are so hard I get a sore back every time I drive it!

Can you really get keys cut simply by sending them a photo these days? Is that even safe?

[DT36]

I like that.  I bet it has all the bells.  Can you access the boot space through the back seats?  

Look at getting a trial copy of FORscan for future use if keeping the car long term.  Windows version just needs trial license renewed about every 2 months.

Android Lite or Apple version needs a fairly expensive dongle though to get it to work.  Windows version is not so choosy.  I use a TunnelRat modified OBD with USB, which works with windows, but not Lite version.  However, the TunnelRat OBD will communicate through the Torque App and allows me to read a lot of channels, fault codes and reset fault codes.  Recently did a coil misfire on a MK2 Focus RS for a mate using Torque and the fault has not come back.

Widows version should allow you to programme your own keys if you think that the previous owner might have a set.  Not done a set myself, but I'm sure the function is in there.

Lots of FORscan tutorials on Youtube.

https://forscan.org/home.html

Edited November 17, 2021 by dt36

[Rally Pack 2000]

26 minutes ago, dt36 said:

I like that.  I bet it has all the bells.  Can you access the boot space through the back seats?  

Look at getting a trial copy of FORscan for future use if keeping the car long term.  Windows version just needs trial license renewed about every 2 months.

Android Lite or Apple version needs a fairly expensive dongle though to get it to work.  Windows version is not so choosy.  I use a TunnelRat modified OBD with USB, which works with windows, but not Lite version.  However, the TunnelRat OBD will communicate through the Torque App and allows me to read a lot of channels, fault codes and reset fault codes.  Recently did a coil misfire on a MK2 Focus RS for a mate using Torque and the fault has not come back.

Widows version should allow you to programme your own keys if you think that the previous owner might have a set.  Not done a set myself, but I'm sure the function is in there.

https://forscan.org/home.html

Ummm yes too many bells unfortunately! I dont need a warning beep when I start the car telling me to clip in my seatbelt nor do I need a beep to tell me I just put it into reverse as I just did it! (can audio these things be switched off?) It only took a couple of days before there was total confidence in driving it. I thought it would take a few weeks so that's something. I know many think the sedans look ugly too but the rear boot section seems more blended than the Mk1 version so its not obtrusive.

You know I barely understood any of what you were saying regarding diagnostics for this thing but it sounds really ingenious. I dont use smartphones actually. I do use Windows 7 but that's as far as my computering goes. I was thinking of doing away the button keys altogether and just get a regular one cut as everything still seems to work. Just a pain for the passenger not having a lock on that side.

Yes the rear seats are foldable but its not the square opening to the boot that you might expect its got like an arch so you only get full access to the boot in the middle of it.

Took me a while even to find high beam. Pulling the indicator stalk back seemed to flash but not keep them on but if you hold it for a couple of seconds it does keep then on even though the lever goes back to its position.

Its the seats though which is the main hurdle. they just arent comfortable and feel like they are poking at my kidneys and if I drive it for more than a few miles I  have an ache in my back afterwards. I cant believe this is normal though. Long trips are definitely out if I cant figure how it works. the old 70s Scheel seats in the Escort leave it for dead even with the Mk2s rough suspension. I was actually expecting a smoother ride for the skip in generation from the Toyota from the 80s but its just as rough as that. Ive wound the lumber support right off but there still feels a bulge there. Im not sure a set of thick sheepskin covers are going to solve the problem either. If the seat issue isn't resolved I have warned all that it will be sold cause I cant maintain it as it is.

[katana]

43 minutes ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

 I dont use smartphones actually. I do use Windows 7 but that's as far as my computering goes.

Good Man - you and me brother (although I have moved to Win10 to be compatible with work!)

Leather needs 'feeding' and I guess a lot of people just can't be bothered, also the climate in Aus. (sun, hot and dry) isn't going to be beneficial to leather. It won't be an overnight fix, but a good dressing with a leather feed a few times may start to supple it up so that its bearable & the more its done the better it will get - just look at the leather armchairs in Jags etc. from the 60's and 70's so soft, so supple - even now! 

[Rally Pack 2000]

9 minutes ago, katana said:

Good Man - you and me brother (although I have moved to Win10 to be compatible with work!)

Leather needs 'feeding' and I guess a lot of people just can't be bothered, also the climate in Aus. (sun, hot and dry) isn't going to be beneficial to leather. It won't be an overnight fix, but a good dressing with a leather feed a few times may start to supple it up so that its bearable & the more its done the better it will get - just look at the leather armchairs in Jags etc. from the 60's and 70's so soft, so supple - even now! 

Being a camera collector from the old films days I have always felt cameras should be cameras, phones should be phones and computers should be computers. I have been proven right if you see the repressive measures used on everyone with a smartphone here. I have even been denied covid tests through medial facilities unless I give them a mobile number and QR setup. The harder they push the more I refuse to use their tech. Sorry Metaverse I wont be joining you.

The leather is hard yes and not supple at all (It may well not be real leather?) But I think its something underneath thats causing the problem like there is a lumbar lump thats there even if the lever its wound right off. I know I don't have the best posture in the world but it shouldn't hurt to sit in a car seat either.

[DT36]

1 hour ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

Ummm yes too many bells unfortunately! I dont need a warning beep when I start the car telling me to clip in my seatbelt nor do I need a beep to tell me I just put it into reverse as I just did it! (can audio these things be switched off?) 

Yes, through a Windows 10 laptop with FORscan 🤣  🤣🤣

Get on one of your local Performance Ford forums and chat with one of the younger guys about it.  He'll probably do it for you in a McDonalds car park for the price of a Happy Meal and Mr man toy.

[DT36]

1 minute ago, Rally Pack 2000 said:

The leather is hard yes and not supple at all (It may well not be real leather?) But I think its something underneath thats causing the problem like there is a lumbar lump thats there even if the lever its wound right off. I know I don't have the best posture in the world but it shouldn't hurt to sit in a car seat either.

Is the passenger seat the same?  Previous owner might have had a child sitting behind them who kicked seven bells out of it.

[Rally Pack 2000]

4 minutes ago, dt36 said:

Yes, through a Windows 10 laptop with FORscan 🤣  🤣🤣

Get on one of your local Performance Ford forums and chat with one of the younger guys about it.  He'll probably do it for you in a McDonalds car park for the price of a Happy Meal and Mr man toy.

If I can get rid of the beeps with FORsacn as you say I will get dedicated laptop with Windows 10 just to do it! I was given a laptop that I never used and its still in its box. Old fashioned by modern standards but if it only has one use maybe it could work!