Grandparents old car - What would you do?

Carson10

Hi Everyone

My grandmother stopped driving last June aged 90 and her car has been parked in the garage ever since. The question is what to do with the car.

1992 Nissan Primera 1.6 petrol Saloon. Was bought brand new. Has a lot of the old tax discs/ sales invoice, main dealer service history. It has only 78,000 miles and only done about 5,000 in the last 10 years. Was always mostly kept in the garage where it now lies. NCT expired Tax and Insurance. It has no rust whatsover and the inside is as new. Have taken it out and a few times since June to start it up on the driveway and wash it etc, starts every time. Would need about €500 spent on it to nct, new tyres, tax, service to put it on the road again

My family of uncle/aunts are not into cars at all and only see it as a 20 year old piece of Junk. They say its taken up room in the garage and were actually going to pay for someone to take it away and scrap it .

I would love to take it and enjoy it in a few years when iam older (iam 26) only that it would be left outside in the rain. I know its not the most desirable old car, but surely a 1 owner car like this with all receipts etc is worth more than scrap.

Id say it will stay in the garage till summer at least when lawnmower has to be taken out etc..

What would you do/suggest?

Also can you get vintage type tax/insurance for a car this old that i would only drive say on a sunday. I have owned a vintage car before that had vintage tax/ins but it was a 1970 beetle.

Thanks for help..

carchaeologist

You would get classic insurance it being 20 years old. Also it being an early Primera it would be fairly scarce. It wouldnt be worth a huge amount, but if you are selling let me know. Post up some pics if you could.

corktina

i get a perverse kick out of driving my 22 year old piece of junk...I'd say keep it if you can and use it, if not sell it to someone who will care for it (beware the banger racers...) Carchy would be a great custodian for it.

si_guru

corktina wrote: »

i get a perverse kick out of driving my 22 year old piece of junk...I'd say keep it if you can and use it, if not sell it to someone who will care for it (beware the banger racers...) Carchy would be a great custodian for it.

LOL... only as it is not a Punto!

I agree though... 5 more years and it will be rarer than an E-type... if it isn't already.

carchaeologist

si_guru wrote: »

LOL... only as it is not a Punto!.

Or an Almera at the moment, you haven't seen that one have you?

carchaeologist

I bought a 99 323f for beer money last week, it was heading for the crusher, &50 quid of parts later it's ready for the test, I sold the van and intend to use the car as a daily from now on. There's loads of stuff out there to be had like that.

bookerboy

Put a ballpark price on it here.Don't give it away,it could be worth a few quid.

The Internet Explorer

Wouldn't be bothered make coherent post. Will just use bunch of words to get point across.

Get car cover. Keep car. You know what you have to to. OP says it all. Keep car. Gone.

patwicklow

Its a good make and has had no hardship so many many years motoring left in it
if i were you id keep it as its also a piece of your family history.

carchaeologist

Family history is nice to have. Just dont let it get ratty and keep it original.

Carson10

Thanks for your replys everyone. Yeah thats why i would like to keep it. I would definitely keep original. It still has all the original stuff bar one hubcap, which i think il get on ebay. Its a good car. max speed was ever about 40mph in the last 11 years @ an average of 6 miles everytime it was taken out

Would be nice to keep it as family history, as the day my grandparents got it, it was also my communion and they drove me to the church in it as proud as.

galwaytt

Carson10 wrote: »

Thanks for your replys everyone. Yeah thats why i would like to keep it. I would definitely keep original. It still has all the original stuff bar one hubcap, which i think il get on ebay. Its a good car. max speed was ever about 40mph in the last 11 years @ an average of 6 miles everytime it was taken out

Would be nice to keep it as family history, as the day my grandparents got it, it was also my communion and they drove me to the church in it as proud as.

No question, keep it, and keep it standard. In years to come, you'll be glad you did.

carchaeologist

galwaytt wrote: »

No question, keep it, and keep it standard. In years to come, you'll be glad you did.

Yep. It's only an old car now but it will become better with age. I'd like to see it sometime, original untouched stuff is great.

hi5

Carson10 wrote: »

Its a good car. max speed was ever about 40mph in the last 11 years @ an average of 6 miles everytime it was taken out

Well that won't have done it much good,but nothing that a good blast down the motorway won't sort:D

Carson10

carchaeologist wrote: »

Yep. It's only an old car now but it will become better with age. I'd like to see it sometime, original untouched stuff is great.

sure thing. Never actually got any pictures of it. Mite take some of it next week and post them up. Always mean to take one of my Nan standing beside it cos she was the last driver and its her car, for family history sake.

Already found on ebay an identical match for the missing hubcap..:) in UK for about 15pound posted

carchaeologist

Carson10 wrote: »

sure thing. Never actually got any pictures of it. Mite take some of it next week and post them up. Always mean to take one of my Nan standing beside it cos she was the last driver and its her car, for family history sake.

Already found on ebay an identical match for the missing hubcap..:) in UK for about 15pound posted

See, you are already getting into the spirit of it!
Pics would be good, we like pics on here!

unkel

With €500 needed spending to get it going again, the car has negative economic value unless scrapped. I owned one of them and it was nothing to write home about but the spec was very good (UK import) and the handling was better than any other similar Japanese car of that time.

That said, worth is not all about money. You should keep it for sentimental value alone

And if you realistically can't mind the car yourself, you really should consider giving it away to a good home!

yourpics

Hang onto it. A car like that is worth more to have than to sell if you know what I mean. Also, it seems to have a sentimental value for you.

I was in a similiar position and sold a car which I since regret.

YBTurbo

Keep it!

They are really rare (Can't remember when I last seen one)

Be different at shows to the Granadas/Sierras/Cavaliers.



Ohh and pics :cool:


ETA: If you want to sell.... I mite just be interested in it.

Carson10

Carson10 wrote: »

.................

I would love to take it and enjoy it in a few years when iam older (iam 26) only that it would be left outside in the rain. ...............

Why can't you take it now, unless you meant to type 16 rather than 26?

Carson10

RoverJames wrote: »

Why can't you take it now, unless you meant to type 16 rather than 26?

no not 16, 26 is right. Have a garage at home but my dad wont want it there. Id say i will probably take it soon and let it keep me busy. Think id be happy even if i was to NCT/tax, valet/polish replace a few things and drive it every now and again for a while. Mite actually go to the Nissan garage where it was bought as its old skool and see if they have any, tax disc holders/ window stickers from 90s. It ust to have the original dealer sticker on the back window and another one about nissan 100,000km warranty, but my uncle tore them off when my grandad passed away, cos he never liked the garage wheres its out off and said there gettin free advertising :rolleyes:

I will keep ye updated on my progress.

Carson10

ok so i took the car last week and gave it a full valet. its going for the NCT in the morning. I found the old nct sheet, and has only done 900 mile since nov 09. I know it will fail on tyres, but just want to run it throu and get a list of all small bits that need doing and see if its worth spending the money on.

unkel

G'luck with the test and keep us posted

patwicklow

Yes as above poster, good luck with the nct what a fab bit of history for you,
keep it.......

corktina

best of luck...I'm sure it would be of interest at a show, many people would rememeber these and they've all been bangered or scrappped by now.

jimmyw

I assume its the model like so, and yeah they are rare now.A colleague at work had a 96 one until it failed the NCT on too many things I think.He now has an 01 model.


http://img1.hyperinzerce.cz/x-cz/inz/2639/2639883-nissan-primera-2-0-slx-1.jpg

Carson10

done NCT yesterday! failed as i knew it would, becasue had not done anyting to prepare for it.

Needs 2 new front tyres and 2 rear brake hose pipes as they were aged not worn.

passed fine on emissions despite it lying in the garage since last year

I reckon all the work should cost about €200? not bad considering age. I thought it would need a lot more spent on it.

Here are some pictures after i gave it a valet. Going to wax/bumper polish etc soon.







what do you think?

alfa beta

car looks good - but the view from your house looks seriously good!!

corktina

thats a fine result and a fine car (for a Nissan )

jimmyw

Ford, Toyota, Nissan etc, hardly going to set the heart racing:), but it would have been an absolute crime and a shame to scrap that car, glad you didn't because its really immaculate.Well done.Fair play for the pics.

galwaytt

jimmyw wrote: »

Ford, Toyota, Nissan etc, hardly going to set the heart racing:), but it would have been an absolute crime and a shame to scrap that car, glad you didn't because its really immaculate.Well done.Fair play for the pics.

+1. I don't care what badge that car wears, it looks great, and would be a crime to wreck it. For 200 you have the bargain of a lifetime, tbh, and if you are half as good as your Grandad at minding it, you're laughin.' The ultimate Bangernomics car. FREE car, cheap fix AND immaculate !

Win-Win-Win all day, methinks !

lastsaturday

jeez, that is a classic grandparents find... a classic for some, a banger for others..

my 92 year old granny still drives her immaculate 1987 beige nissan sentra (sunny, i think), in south africa.. matching Venetian blind in the back window as well.

unfortunately my dad has a 2010 skoda fabia, which i dont think my kids will appreciate as a classic, even when he pops off..

just keep the car. As a second car, learner car for your kids, etc, it's worth more to you than anyone else...

Bitten & Hisses

Well done on saving it, that model Primera is not a common sight anymore, especially in such original condition. My brother briefly had a 2.0 SLX in 1994, great car.

jimmyw

Was there a post(s) deleted on here? I got a post in my email, but its not here.

yourpics

Great car, great news that you only need a few minor things to put it on the road. €200 wouldn't go far on a modern car with diagnostics etc !

Post more photos, interior, engine etc

massey168

Carson10 wrote: »

Would be nice to keep it as family history, as the day my grandparents got it, it was also my communion and they drove me to the church in it as proud as.

Wow, just wow. Thats a classic car deam right there. What I would not give to own the new car that drove me to my first commuinion 30+ years ago. No amount of money could ever buy a memory and story like that, you've got to preserve that car if you can, for as long as you can. For you, it's actually a personal time machine and direct link to that never to be repeated past. I've seen the photos, she's a nice origional well kept car, a real beauty. Best of luck with her.

unkel

jimmyw wrote: »

Was there a post(s) deleted on here?

Yes there was. A user posted a post and then deleted it.

jimmyw

Carson10

Here are some more pictures of the car and also the interior that you have asked for.
Work so far:
Bumper restore - black to black
Inside Valet
Exterior Polish
New Number Plates. The Orig ones were a bit faded and the one on the front had seen 20 years of parking dungs so i decided to get two fresh plates. I found some of the old tax and NCT disks in the glovebox and think the older ones are in a folder in my Grans house.

More work to be done..

jimmyw

Wow! what a superb condition, any chance of an engine pic?

yourpics

Absolutely amazing car, the tax disc photo is classic!

I know if I owned that car that money could not buy the smile I would have driving it.

carchaeologist

Excellent stuff. Keep an eye out for Primeras of a similar age and i bet it will be ages before you come across one. Cars like this will be rarer than Cortinas in years to come.

yourpics

I see it has a 100,000 mile warranty so you are good for another 20,000 miles.
I wonder would a Nissan dealer still honour it!

Carson10

yourpics wrote: »

I see it has a 100,000 mile warranty so you are good for another 20,000 miles.
I wonder would a Nissan dealer still honour it!

LOL.. The Nissan Garage that my grandparents bought it in closed down last month in Sligo. It still has the original mudflaps on it wouldnt mind calling over to the garage and asking if they have any old stickers, tax disc holders from the 90's era. The Garage owner only lives next door to the premises. As long as i have the car, its going to be kept original.

Carson10

yourpics wrote: »

Absolutely amazing car, the tax disc photo is classic!

Thats only the tax discs for the last 10 Years. I know the rest of the tax discs from new are in my Grans house in a folder somewhere. My grandad kept them in a photo album along with the insurance discs and stuff. Il get them soon. Just have to call over for more Tea:)

Carson10

carchaeologist wrote: »

Excellent stuff. Keep an eye out for Primeras of a similar age and i bet it will be ages before you come across one. Cars like this will be rarer than Cortinas in years to come.

Thank you. have to say iam enjoying the feedback. Its making me keep the car. The rest of the family are puzzled as to why i want 'that old thing'. Havent seen any of these primeras around sligo in a while. I would say most of them were scrapped. I think the boot spoiler was the equivalent of having sat nav..LOL

squonk

Well done OP! I haven't seen one of those in a long time. I certainly haven't seen on in such good condition. The car is a great colour too. I saw an 88 Bluebird a few months ago outside a neighbour's house. It was really impressive to see as it was in good nick. Yours is the exact same, just very impressive to see. Keep up the good work! These are real rarities.

Anan1

Is that an aftermarket manual choke?

Carson10

Anan1 wrote: »

Is that an aftermarket manual choke?

Yes that choke was fitted to the car a few years ago as it kept cutting out at low revs. Mainly for safety cos my gran was nearly 90 driving the car and it never warmed up or went over 30 miles an hour. so what happened was when she was driving it, stopping at lights or in town etc, it would cut out, and then it the engine would flood cos it kept getting restarted. Id say the main reason was it never got a good run. about 500 miles a year in the last 10 years.

Carson10

Well lads, just an update on the Primera as i was gratefull for your earlier comments.

The car is now on the road: NCT'd 05/13 Taxed: 07/12 Insured: 04/13..I was lucky to get the car Insured with FBD as a second car classic Insurance (20yr old Car). I had to join the IVS Irish Vintage Society E25. Heres the best bit, the cheap classic insurance was E133, i had a voucher for FBD for E35 so i got the car insured for a full year for E98euro, yes 98 euro

The overall spend on taking the car from my grans garage to on the road was about E550 all in

NCT 55
Retest 28
Repairs 70
2 new front tyres 120
Tax 135
Insurance 98
W/Blades 20

My gran was delighted to see me taking the car and i now keep it in the Garage at home taking it out for a spin about twice a week.

I will prob put it up for Sale in a month on Donedeal as being really honest it does nothing for me. Id have preferred if it was a 92 Golf or Fiesta. If i sell it, family history aside, i will have been happy to know i saved it from being scrapped put up a few 100 miles on it.

Any1 no how much i would sell it for or would there be any interest?

Bigus

Fair play to you you started something and saw it through to the finish,good one for your CV.

You might be better to hang on until terenure show in June or July(or similar Local Show to get a premium for it rather than deal with a load of muppets on Donedeal offering a 100 euro for it. Maybe try a few nissan Dealers with it first.