There’s a fine line to tread with parts but some parts are critical to keep your car on the go.
Brakes need not be top drawer but neither should you consider bargain bucket knockoffs from a back street in Bombay.
Tyres although less critical on an f than on a tf, should focus your mind & if your exhaust & cat aren’t up to scratch your not going to get an MOT.
Running any car on a budget is a balancing act but our cars are well supported by companies who had the foresight to lay in new old stock parts when you have no other route & because some ex owners haven’t had the staying power, there are bags of donor vehicles.
My pet scrappy doesn’t have any of our cars on at the moment but there are a number of parts that bleed through from Rover cars. I spent a full £3 earlier on oddments including OEM fuses, Littlefuse fuses blow at the value moulded on to them; I tested several unbranded fused a while back & non failed at the rated value. Not so with OEM.
Don’t loose heart, once sorted you’ll be rewarded with some great drives. Unless, that is, you live in a low emissions prison.
M