Just been offered a free senator CD 24v, need some advice.

[Brian Stirrup]

I was talking to a friend earlier who has just brought a RAV 4 for his missus to drive around in since her Senator 3.0l 24v CD is a little bit old now. Just blown a rad hose and they got the Toyota for a bargain price. They are not into cars and first off said I could have the car for £200. Then they agreed I could hace it for free if I wanted it as they know I love my cars.

The car is average condition, bit of rust, couple of small dents, laquer pealing on the bootlid and the interior would need a very good clean, it is certainly no minter.

I have never considered one of these as a project and in the past have restored cars that are common that I could pick up bits from breakers yards and people breaking them.

I want to know if I should walk away from it or would they be worth a bit If cleaned up?

How difficult are they to get 2nd hand bits for?

It has over 200K in the clock but runs like a dream I am told. This is a nice couple and they explained all the little niggles they could.

Any comments or pictures welcome.

[TurboCav220]

I had a 24v a couple of years ago. H reg with 160k, FSH, and I got £650 for it. It was really tidy though and mint inside.

Why not just break it? The engine and boxes go for a fair bit and thers all the little bits and pieces too. If it has the black leather too, thats pretty rare and would fetch around £150 at least if it decent.

[Colonel K]

Engines go for naff all really.

You can buy averagely tidey sennys for less than a grand these days.

Is it an auto or manual?

I should check the front and rear chassis legs for rust as these are the real killers on these cars. be careful with the rear arches as you cant get replacement panels any more.

If not I should offer it to the lads on http://www.totalcarlton.com as carltons are just senators underneath! They will have more answers to your questions too.

[Drizz]

Kept that one quiet

[stt]

I've just broken a 24v senator,
I still have some bits left - including - radiator hoses, bootlid (satin red), auto box, leather, 3 Decent tyres.
I also have a good passenger side rear wheel arch which i cut off the car.

Let me know if you want any bits

They are nice cars - just very thirsty!

[stt]

btw i sold the engine out of mine for £160

[Brian Stirrup]

Dont sound too good then, I dont want a money pit really. Was gonna get the car back on my drive then SORN it off road so I dont need TAX or insurance and just tinker with it. Mainly doing what I do best, stripping, cleaning replacing worn bits with better second hand bits and hopefully end up with a cheap tidy motor.

I turned down a free almost mint MK1 Astra GTE a few years ago and have regretted it ever since, especially now they are so rare and people are paying good money for them. I know the Senator was a good car as the cops loved them so much, and I dont want to be in the same situation in a few years.

Anyone got any pics of the Senator CD 3000 24v?

[Brian Stirrup]

Anyone seen these in there local breakers?

[Colonel K]

you're best off contacting people who break them on the forums.

What sort of pics you after? Clean / Modified? LOL

[lenbeach]

A bit of inspiration from the Colonel:
http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/vauxh...t-carlton.html

[Gordon Livsey]

get it over to your local retail park and get the thing sideways. lmao lmao lmao lmao

[Brian Stirrup]

Found a lot of great information on the Autobarnstormers site. There are a few fans of this car around and the when they are pristine they look great. Trouble is this on is not pristine and I am worried it is gonna start to cost me loads of cash to get it looking half decent then I will find I cant get rid of it.

It is one of those cars that realy dont grab you, like a Cav GSI for example. Went over to view it yesterday and sat staring at it for about 10 minutes and could not get exited about it. The leather seats look very flat almost like a basic corsa seat shape, only bigger and in leather, there are no bolsters as such to make you feel you are in something fast. I can see why they never were as popular as some other vauxhalls.

I have told the guy I will have it on the basis of it being a gift, now I need to worry about getting it home as it has no MOT and the Tax will be cashed in at the end of the month so it has 2 weeks left on it.

Why couldn't he have had a Cav GSI or even a 5 series BMW.

[Drizz]

You shouldnt bother mate. Get it collected by the scrappy instead

[BlackIce]

Found a lot of great information on the Autobarnstormers site. There are a few fans of this car around and the when they are pristine they look great. Trouble is this on is not pristine and I am worried it is gonna start to cost me loads of cash to get it looking half decent then I will find I cant get rid of it.

It is one of those cars that realy dont grab you, like a Cav GSI for example. Went over to view it yesterday and sat staring at it for about 10 minutes and could not get exited about it. The leather seats look very flat almost like a basic corsa seat shape, only bigger and in leather, there are no bolsters as such to make you feel you are in something fast. I can see why they never were as popular as some other vauxhalls.

I have told the guy I will have it on the basis of it being a gift, now I need to worry about getting it home as it has no MOT and the Tax will be cashed in at the end of the month so it has 2 weeks left on it.

Why couldn't he have had a Cav GSI or even a 5 series BMW.

It wasnt really offered on the market as a sports car - more an executive saloon, like the bmw 5 series or a merc, ie - ultra comfy, big engine, just made to sit at 90mph down the motorway. They saved the sporty side of the 3ltr engine for the Carlton GSi

[TurboCav220]

Id stick it on ebay and see what happens. Got to be worth a couple of hundred to someone if its running well.

[Brian Stirrup]

I know the guy well and he pretty much expects me to tidy it up and use it, for a while anyway. His son wanted it and he was gonna sell it for a couple of hundred so I am not gonna strip it or sell it on right away. Perhaps I will tidy it up, Tax and insure it and use it over winter. The wife does not want to use the Astra over winter as her car park at work is a bit awkward with big slopes. Not good in the ICE

[Mark T]

I know the guy well and he pretty much expects me to tidy it up and use it, for a while anyway. His son wanted it and he was gonna sell it for a couple of hundred so I am not gonna strip it or sell it on right away. Perhaps I will tidy it up, Tax and insure it and use it over winter. The wife does not want to use the Astra over winter as her car park at work is a bit awkward with big slopes. Not good in the ICE

and a 200BHP RWD tank is going to be good in the ICE?

[Brian Stirrup]

and a 200BHP RWD tank is going to be good in the ICE?

Thats not the problem, the Astra is mint and I would be more worried about cars sliding into it, with the Senator a few knocks wont worry me.

[TurboCav220]

Be prepared for 20 mpg at the very best then, much less using the power to its best.

[Brian Stirrup]

I dont think I am getting much better in the Astra. A full tank is about £40 nowdays and will only last about 200 - 250 miles depending on how and where (Town or motorway) it is driven.

[BlackIce]

I dont think I am getting much better in the Astra. A full tank is about £40 nowdays and will only last about 200 - 250 miles depending on how and where (Town or motorway) it is driven.

Thats poor, what engine is in the astra?

[Brian Stirrup]

20XE with a couple of mods

Lightened flywheel
Underdrive alloy pulley
Powercap
FSE boost valve
K&K panel filter
Modified airbox
Stage 2 ported and polished Coscast head

Running 168 BHP

[TurboCav220]

I dont think I am getting much better in the Astra. A full tank is about £40 nowdays and will only last about 200 - 250 miles depending on how and where (Town or motorway) it is driven.

Thats about 22-27 mpg som not that bad really. Yoll be looking at about 20% higher fuel bills then. Not too bad.

[Brian Stirrup]

Have got the car home now (Thanks Mr AA flatbed. ) and it is not bad at all. The guy cleaned it out a bit and I can now see that with a bit of elbow grease it should clean up nicely. It needs both rear door replacing because of Rust and has a small patch of surface rust in the corner behind the rear door near the arch, but dont look too bad.

The boot needs a respray or replacement, if I can find one in the right colour, and the roof has a dent in that would need a bodyshop to sort out, but as it is only one panel should not cost the earth to get done. Engine purrs and there is no smoke on start up or when revved.

All in all quite a bargain so far. I am on the lookout for the the parts mentioned as well as the plastic that goes on the bottom of the front bumper that is missing, so if anyone is breaking one then please let me know.

The car is Black by the way.

[Drizz]

Best colour. Brians Funeral Service Ltd