Buying the car now that you didn't buy new back then
Discussion
I keep looking at a "classic" car that was on a short list of 3 new cars I went and looked at in the showroom in 1989. I bought new in 1989 a Scirocco GT2 in mars red, enjoyed it and used the two extra seats when my wife and I needed to carry a passenger, however....
I really wanted the X19 Finale model that was on sale at the same time. It was £300 more (a massive amount as I was going to borrow £1000 to buy this new car) and had nearly nearly bought a used X19 previously bit had an Alfa 33 instead (my final "new" car on the list was an Alfa Sprint).
In nearly buying a used X19 a test drive confirmed all was correct about where you steered it went. It is also very small agile and lovely.
So if I chose to buy a toy (that I have eschewed to own for a long long time) why do I keep looking at X19 adverts over much more recognised "cars". I actually within reason am fortunate to go a little crazy, but a little X19 that I have wanted for about 40 years....
I really wanted the X19 Finale model that was on sale at the same time. It was £300 more (a massive amount as I was going to borrow £1000 to buy this new car) and had nearly nearly bought a used X19 previously bit had an Alfa 33 instead (my final "new" car on the list was an Alfa Sprint).
In nearly buying a used X19 a test drive confirmed all was correct about where you steered it went. It is also very small agile and lovely.
So if I chose to buy a toy (that I have eschewed to own for a long long time) why do I keep looking at X19 adverts over much more recognised "cars". I actually within reason am fortunate to go a little crazy, but a little X19 that I have wanted for about 40 years....
Bought this in 1996 an excellent condition low miles car kept it until 2013 plenty of miles later still in good condition.
Used it daily for a few years then as a weekend user until I sold it. Loads of fun not the fastest of cars but a nice revey engine and 5 speed box helped on motorways.
Be very careful if buying one buy on bodywork condition as rust is expensive to put right.
Reality Vs Fantasy.
Recently bought my son an MR2 Spider as his first car. 23 years old, 6 years older than him.
Great car but the rusty bits...nightmare.
Getting in. Nightmare. Ooh, me back...
My mate had an X1/9 back in the day. He bought an Elise in later life but sold it in favour of a Jag XJ but kept his Lotus Eclat.
Recently bought my son an MR2 Spider as his first car. 23 years old, 6 years older than him.
Great car but the rusty bits...nightmare.
Getting in. Nightmare. Ooh, me back...
My mate had an X1/9 back in the day. He bought an Elise in later life but sold it in favour of a Jag XJ but kept his Lotus Eclat.
just do it, Fiat X1/9 are fantastic cars, I've owned at least 5 times such X1/9 4 were the lovely 1.3 and one was a 1.5, but to be fair, the 1.3 cars are 'better' more fun to drive.
and yes, they can rot a lot, my first car ever was a Fiat X1/9 back in 1981 it was a 1974 car and yes needed lots of metal work :-) but it drove fantastic in those days.
but... some seem to be very good, only seen dry weather and were protected from new, but those are rare.
and yes, they can rot a lot, my first car ever was a Fiat X1/9 back in 1981 it was a 1974 car and yes needed lots of metal work :-) but it drove fantastic in those days.
but... some seem to be very good, only seen dry weather and were protected from new, but those are rare.
I wonder if we really ought to revisit our old heroes. It could end in disillusionment . I have a soft spot for Morris Minors, for example. Also as a young schoolboy I was given a lift in a neighbour’s Rover 80. Oh, what luxury …the scent of leather…the near silence and just the serenity of the experience, compared to my father’s everyday BL stuff. Now, a few years ago a specialist used to visit a favourite pub in a beautiful black ‘auntie’ Rover, it may have been a 100. When I expressed admiration, he thanked me before saying “. but it won’t go round corners, and it won’t stop”.
summit7 said:
I actually within reason am fortunate to go a little crazy, but a little X19 that I have wanted for about 40 years....
This is the opposite of that thread we had the other day to the effect "I'd like a classic, which one shall I buy?" Satisfying an ambition held for 40 years is the very best reason to buy a particular car, especially if you can get the right one,. You'll be keen to keep it up together, but forgiving and remain enthusiastic when it inevitably goes wrong. I've been looking at X1-9s recently but I think I'm too tall to fit.
hilly10 said:
Always lusted after TR6 in 1974 I was 17 it was well out of reach. Fast forward to 2017 hey presto I now have my boyhood dream
Fabulous - love thatMine was this. Back in 1979, the same price as the average 3 bed semi.
Since buying it, it has cost me the price of an average 3 bed semi in 2023....
Oh, and so has the 928....
The Alfa 75 thread in General Gassing has reminded me I wanted one of those in the late 80s/early 90s.
I test drove a used Twin Spark but didn't get offered enough for my MG Maestro sadly.
A couple of mates had 75 V6s (2 2.5s and a 3 litre) when they were dirt cheap
I'm in the fortunate position now where I could get a decent one but Mrs 5 wouldn't approve since there's already a rusty German to be attended to and a stashed Fiat Coupe becoming a barn find at my mum's!
I test drove a used Twin Spark but didn't get offered enough for my MG Maestro sadly.
A couple of mates had 75 V6s (2 2.5s and a 3 litre) when they were dirt cheap
I'm in the fortunate position now where I could get a decent one but Mrs 5 wouldn't approve since there's already a rusty German to be attended to and a stashed Fiat Coupe becoming a barn find at my mum's!
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