Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 15:58:13

Title: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 15:58:13
Hello all!

This April I'm doing the Coyote Rally around Europe for charideeeeeee.

Calais - Paris - Munich - Prague - Amsterdam.
About 1,500 miles in total.

The car can't be worth more than £500 so I'm looking for ideas, and thought I'd ask my fellow Omega clansmen.

It needs to be pretty bulletproof, and comfortable - that's a LOT of driving in 4 days.

I'm toying with an older Omega, but not sure. There seems to be quite a few Mondeos & Vectras about the right price, age & condition out there, and I'm thinking these could be cheap to patch up and prepare.

If anyone fancies supporting us, take a look at

http://www.imagineeruk.com/2amigos
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Craig_R on 10 January 2008, 16:06:37
Tunnies old senator would have been spot on for this
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 January 2008, 16:08:04
Quote
Hello all!

This April I'm doing the Coyote Rally around Europe for charideeeeeee.

Calais - Paris - Munich - Prague - Amsterdam.
About 1,500 miles in total.

The car can't be worth more than £500 so I'm looking for ideas, and thought I'd ask my fellow Omega clansmen.

It needs to be pretty bulletproof, and comfortable - that's a LOT of driving in 4 days.

I'm toying with an older Omega, but not sure. There seems to be quite a few Mondeos & Vectras about the right price, age & condition out there, and I'm thinking these could be cheap to patch up and prepare.

If anyone fancies supporting us, take a look at

http://www.imagineeruk.com/2amigos


Not much of a challenge that.....we did checkwrecks 18 months ago and the car cant cost more than 100 quid on that one.

We opted for a 24V Senator.....not pretty but did us proud.

My advice would be the bigger the better, some of the driving legs can be pretty long and try for a manual if your going near any of the mountain passes (I guess your not doing to many given the short trip mileage) although we managed on an auto but, you have to learn how to descend slopes with little brake useage.
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Kevin Wood on 10 January 2008, 16:09:56
Yep. Senator all the way. Much less boring than driving a Mundaneo all those miles.

Kevin
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 January 2008, 16:11:34
Quote
Yep. Senator all the way. Much less boring than driving a Mundaneo all those miles.

Kevin

The Mundaneo that was on the same rally as us only made it thanks to our helping it along!
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 16:16:28
Not thought about the senator... Good idea!

You're right though, it needs to be comfortable.

This is a starter rally for us, we hope to do some more in the future, and organise our own as well sometime soon :y
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Martin_1962 on 10 January 2008, 16:18:20
94 95 96 V6 Omega
Late Carlton
Late Senator
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Jay w on 10 January 2008, 16:20:34
would try and get the best possible calton, senator or possibly Omega that i could get for my money......

There are a few out there

Big Volvos might be worth a look at as well, but they really drink the juice though
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: ians on 10 January 2008, 16:22:10
Pains me to say it,  but I think reliable = Japanese, probably Toyota, Camry?  - boring certainly but should be comfy and reliable.

Ok bring it on... ::)
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Martin_1962 on 10 January 2008, 16:22:30
Quote
would try and get the best possible calton, senator or possibly Omega that i could get for my money......

There are a few out there

Big Volvos might be worth a look at as well, but they really drink the juice though

940 or 960 would now be cheap but they don't handle too well
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Martin_1962 on 10 January 2008, 16:23:33
Quote
Pains me to say it,  but I think reliable = Japanese, probably Toyota, Camry?  - boring certainly but should be comfy and reliable.

Ok bring it on... ::)

£400 - £500 for  a 2.5 CD

Do the cam kit and crank sensor

Ready to go
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Jay w on 10 January 2008, 16:24:15
Quote
Pains me to say it,  but I think reliable = Japanese, probably Toyota, Camry?  - boring certainly but should be comfy and reliable.

Ok bring it on... ::)


you're right, they are boring as hell, lots of toys in the top spec ones......but they willl go on and on and and on and...........

Bet a low miler could be found for peanuts, something an OAP has had as a sunday driver
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 10 January 2008, 16:27:46
Quote
Quote
Pains me to say it,  but I think reliable = Japanese, probably Toyota, Camry?  - boring certainly but should be comfy and reliable.

Ok bring it on... ::)


you're right, they are boring as hell, lots of toys in the top spec ones......but they willl go on and on and and on and...........

Bet a low miler could be found for peanuts, something an OAP has had as a sunday driver

As with ANY car....there only as good as the last owner.
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: tunnie on 10 January 2008, 17:27:12
i took a £300 senator over 2,300 miles around Europe. UK>France>Netherlands>Germany>Swizerland (including the alps)

Fully loaded with camping gear, 3 big guys.... it never missed a beat and sat at 100+ all day long!!!
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: ians on 10 January 2008, 17:48:10
Quote
i took a £300 senator over 2,300 miles around Europe. UK>France>Netherlands>Germany>Swizerland (including the alps)

Fully loaded with camping gear, 3 big guys.... it never missed a beat and sat at 100+ all day long!!!

me thinks you are exaggerating a little. ::)

100+ (even if km) all day long...... in the alps!
+ the Swiss would have thrown away the key (not the one for your car..) ;)
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 18:52:50
Well if the problem turns out to be just the oil cooler I will have an M reg 95 elite up for sale in the very near future...MOT for 8 months but no tax...as its for charidee I could do it for under £500 I'm sure :)
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 19:07:09
Ooooh, keep me posted on that then :)

Thanks for all the ideas guys, as it's not until April we have a little time to try and get it sorted.

Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 19:10:57
I'm assured it is oil cooler...its having a replacement one put in when I get the car next week and I have a decent radiator to put in too, will probably take the leather out and replace with more ordinary interior but will be sound all round...would you want the things like cruise control 6 cd changer etc? :)
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 19:18:59
Cruise would be good, and the CD changer I think essential! Haha.
Unless I put a MP3 player in, we'll need the music to cruise to!
 :D
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 19:22:39
There you go...sorted...will let you know how it goes next week...if you wanna pm me we can always sort out a price for the working car if all goes well?
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 19:30:06
Pics...

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteFrontM138EFK.jpg)

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteSideM138EFK.jpg)

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteInterior2M138EFK.jpg)

Leather will be clean good ordinary interior and projectors will be back to normal 1995 headlights but all in working order and only 97.5k on the engine :)
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 20:08:43
Looks good - could be an answer.

What's the economy on a 3.0 though? I know my 3.2 is a very thirsty beast. Sigh
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: tunnie on 10 January 2008, 20:13:04
Quote
Quote
i took a £300 senator over 2,300 miles around Europe. UK>France>Netherlands>Germany>Swizerland (including the alps)

Fully loaded with camping gear, 3 big guys.... it never missed a beat and sat at 100+ all day long!!!

me thinks you are exaggerating a little. ::)

100+ (even if km) all day long...... in the alps!
+ the Swiss would have thrown away the key (not the one for your car..) ;)

No not in the alps, but it did 100+ everyware else....

i did some some long streches at 90mph on the swiss motorways... when you actually get out into sticks, they are actually quick roads.... not much slower here than the UK, everyone was cruising around 70-80.

Along the A type roads still did 60.... Swiss roads are not as slow as everyone thinks.
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 20:41:43
About 30mpg average, but obviously if you boot it that drops lol
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: Jay w on 10 January 2008, 20:51:12
Quote
Pics...

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteFrontM138EFK.jpg)

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteSideM138EFK.jpg)

(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/CrazyCav/OmegaEliteInterior2M138EFK.jpg)

Leather will be clean good ordinary interior and projectors will be back to normal 1995 headlights but all in working order and only 97.5k on the engine :)

that will get you there and back with no issues, 30mpg and still keep a respectable speed up

And you may even get your money back on it if you wanted to sell it on after you come back
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: JayUK on 10 January 2008, 20:54:25
Good idea, hadn't thought about selling it when we get back - but obviously that'll then be more cash for the charities involved!

It'll take a little while to take the decals / stickers off after the rally I'm sure!

Great information from all - as usual :D
Title: Re: Reliable cars - Under £500 for Charity Rally
Post by: MutantCav on 10 January 2008, 21:14:38
Well its pretty low milage so chances are you will get as much if not more back when you get home...