Ginetta G15 - Educate me please!
Discussion
Dear all.
I am new to Ginetta so please bear with me.
I am in the market for a classic car that can be used daily for a 20 mile each way commute.
The car needs to be small as I have a double garage, but most of it is occupied with the childrens toys and bikes. I looked at Lotus Elan (original) and Elise- but these are costly. I looked at Toyota MR2 Mk1 and the Mazda MX5 and these are just a little bit predictable.
I have fallen in love with the Ginetta G15 after seeing a green car fitted with turbo charger on retro rides. I have been looking for a decent car - but the price always puts me off.
I have seen a yellow G15 in racing guise on Ebay over the last day or so. Does anyone know this car? What sort of price will it go for?
Are they easy to work on?
I know that the engines are tiny (998cc) are they under powered? Has anyone replaced this with a bike engine?
Thanks
I am new to Ginetta so please bear with me.
I am in the market for a classic car that can be used daily for a 20 mile each way commute.
The car needs to be small as I have a double garage, but most of it is occupied with the childrens toys and bikes. I looked at Lotus Elan (original) and Elise- but these are costly. I looked at Toyota MR2 Mk1 and the Mazda MX5 and these are just a little bit predictable.
I have fallen in love with the Ginetta G15 after seeing a green car fitted with turbo charger on retro rides. I have been looking for a decent car - but the price always puts me off.
I have seen a yellow G15 in racing guise on Ebay over the last day or so. Does anyone know this car? What sort of price will it go for?
Are they easy to work on?
I know that the engines are tiny (998cc) are they under powered? Has anyone replaced this with a bike engine?
Thanks
Well a G15 certainly is small. Smaller than an MX5 or MR2. If you're much over 5'10" and size 9 feet, you really need to try one before you commit.
Standard engine is 875cc, but many (like mine) have 998's instead. It's not what you might call a powerhouse, but in a car of around 500kg, 65-75bhp is just fine. Bearing mind it's a 40+ year old car, and won't necessarily compete with something more modern on a daily commute.
Yes, bike engines have been fitted. As have a few other alternatives.
I don't know the one on eBay, but it 'sold' there a month ago for £3,800. The fact that it's back suggests the sale fell through, but I don't know why.
That one would, in my opinion, take a fair bit to make it suitable for commuting in. Carpets, sound proofing and so on. They are rare, and good ones will cost upwards of £4k. £4-8 is probably the range for decent examples.
I certainly wouldn't commute in mine. I've used classics as daily drivers for many years, but the G15 is kept for fun.
Standard engine is 875cc, but many (like mine) have 998's instead. It's not what you might call a powerhouse, but in a car of around 500kg, 65-75bhp is just fine. Bearing mind it's a 40+ year old car, and won't necessarily compete with something more modern on a daily commute.
Yes, bike engines have been fitted. As have a few other alternatives.
I don't know the one on eBay, but it 'sold' there a month ago for £3,800. The fact that it's back suggests the sale fell through, but I don't know why.
That one would, in my opinion, take a fair bit to make it suitable for commuting in. Carpets, sound proofing and so on. They are rare, and good ones will cost upwards of £4k. £4-8 is probably the range for decent examples.
I certainly wouldn't commute in mine. I've used classics as daily drivers for many years, but the G15 is kept for fun.
have to agree with doofus....
I've had my g15 for about 40 years and in the early days used it as my daily [only!] driver travelling all over, but not sure I would recommend that now!
....definitely fun, and the quickest on [dry] corners of any car I've ever driven, including my current classic toy, a lotus elan s4.
I suppose it depends on whether you can 'tinker', and have a second vehicle....
I've had my g15 for about 40 years and in the early days used it as my daily [only!] driver travelling all over, but not sure I would recommend that now!
....definitely fun, and the quickest on [dry] corners of any car I've ever driven, including my current classic toy, a lotus elan s4.
I suppose it depends on whether you can 'tinker', and have a second vehicle....
Edited by g15wiz on Sunday 8th November 12:37
I regularly drove mine daily (50 miles) for years, clocking up over 100,000 miles before I sold it in the mid 80s. But then i was a tad enthusiastic about the car. 
And it was noticeable to other drivers. Must have been the only one with a rear wiper (I needed to see how close the idiot behind was in the rain or snow).
Would I do that now?
No, because I don't need to drive 50 miles a day. But I'd use it as a out-in-the-sun, weekender.
The worry today would be the morons on the roads who probably wouldn't even spot the car seated high up in their 4x4s etc. It was bad enough over 30 years ago driving something the height of a bus tyre, but it was incredible fun whereas today it would be a nightmare to be in a rush hour in one.
And it was noticeable to other drivers. Must have been the only one with a rear wiper (I needed to see how close the idiot behind was in the rain or snow).Would I do that now?
No, because I don't need to drive 50 miles a day. But I'd use it as a out-in-the-sun, weekender.
The worry today would be the morons on the roads who probably wouldn't even spot the car seated high up in their 4x4s etc. It was bad enough over 30 years ago driving something the height of a bus tyre, but it was incredible fun whereas today it would be a nightmare to be in a rush hour in one.
Edited by dandarez on Wednesday 6th August 11:10
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