1k retro rwd fun car wanted!

[MattMoore]

Evening all,
I've recently posted a post on the general gassing forum about a second fun car for me.
I've got about 1k to spend.
the suggestions over there were the usual mx5 mr2 etc etc.
I want to maintain and upgrade the car myself, so how easy it is to work on is a big consideration in the car.
I'm in the process of selling a 190e cosworth so something with a similar power/weight is what im looking for, and definately RWD.
The short list I have drawn up so far is
318is
m535
hillman imp
rover p6
The last 2 were previous cars my dad has owned, so it would be great to own one myself, but i'm unsure about spares availability.
I would really appreciate some more suggestions of cars.

Many thanks

[Joe T]

How much more RWD fun can you get than a Capri 2.8 inj or some of the other variants.
Opel Manta, Ascona,
I see you have a P6 Rover but the SD1 had some nice models.
Alfa 75, GTV........

I will stop now but there should be loads in that price range

[Huntsman]

Any of the old BMW tackle is good. I drive a E28 520, its not quick but its a great drive,

P6 - by todays standards the 4 bangers will feel a bit tardy, the V8's are excellent, spares sitauation was ok 10 years ago when I had my second P6, there was a firm called Murray and Walker (or something like that!) who were good for everything. A grand's worth of P6 V8 is likely to be more trouble than its worth.

Triumph 2000?

[alsaautomotive]

The Triumph 2000/2.5 range are fab cars, I've run a few over the years. Particularly the MK1 & if you look hard enough you could even find a decent but scruffy MK1 Estate like this........it was our family car for 12 months until a year or so ago, totally reliable, carried the kids & retriever everywhere, went all over the country pricing up jobs & did about 20,000 in the short time we had it. As I said, great cars
But if you want fun per £££££ then the Imp or a derivative is probably the way to go (& I've had a few of those as well)





Good luck, Al.

[wadgebeast]

Tons of spares available for an Imp and they're pretty tuneable as well. However, there's only so much you're going to get from an 875 cc engine although the fun factor will be very high and it'll certainly start conversations in petrol stations.

For a grand, I'd be looking at a capri or something very similar. You'll probably find a beemer down at that price range a bit sanitised.

[FHCNICK]

something like this one http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/266367.htm

[racingsnake]

Alfa 75 is still very underated and cheap.

[Caruso]

Based on your list, I would keep the 190.

A lot of lesser cars have come up in value for a decent one e.g. SD1 or Capri.

Something still widely available with a bit of RWD handling finesse would be a manual E34 535i manual.

[eccles]

wadgebeast said:

Tons of spares available for an Imp and they're pretty tuneable as well. However, there's only so much you're going to get from an 875 cc engine although the fun factor will be very high and it'll certainly start conversations in petrol stations.

For a grand, I'd be looking at a capri or something very similar. You'll probably find a beemer down at that price range a bit sanitised.

as i've just dicovered after moving into imp derived cars from minis, you'll need to spend a lot more than a grand to get serious horsepower out of an imp engine!

[MattMoore]

Thanks for all the replies guys,
I would liek to keep the merc, but I really want a car I Can work on without too much worry.
The merc is a bit too nice to be fettling with.
Hence me wanting a car for under a grand that I wont feel bad about changing parts on.
I'm after somethings thats fun to drive but not necassarily out and out fast.
As this is going to be the car where I want to learn alot about cars in general I'd lik somethingsthats easy to work on, hence the Imp idea.

Thanks

Matt

[alanruss]

MattMoore said:

Thanks for all the replies guys,
I would liek to keep the merc, but I really want a car I Can work on without too much worry.
The merc is a bit too nice to be fettling with.
Hence me wanting a car for under a grand that I wont feel bad about changing parts on.
I'm after somethings thats fun to drive but not necassarily out and out fast.
As this is going to be the car where I want to learn alot about cars in general I'd lik somethingsthats easy to work on, hence the Imp idea.

Thanks

Matt

I'd say you could get a 944 Lux for that. I have done loads on mine and it really is not that hard to work on at all. German reliability and engineering goes a long ay under it and its all easy to see and solid.

Al

[aeropilot]

Well, if you want cheap, simple to work on mechanics, then you really do have to be looking pre-1980 TBH.

With plenty of specialists remanufacturing parts for Fords, I'd seriously look at a Mk1 or Mk2 3 litre Capri.

Imp are huge fun, especially when tuned, but, as has been said, tuning them isn't exactly cheap nowadays.

Better bet from the Routes camp, is an Avenger GT or Sunbeam Ti.....plenty of ex-rally Group A engine bits around, and a good tunable and fun rwd chassis.

A Rover P6 in the 1 grand bracket is liable to be a bit of a shed bodywise and to be avoided unless you are talented and have the facilities to undertake repairs to the complex P6 bodyshell.

[52classic]

A Triumph 2000 would be good especially the MK1

But a more practical daily driver would be a non sprint Dolomite.

And just a word in support of BMW 2002.

[MattMoore]

Thanks for the replies, it doesn't have to be a daily driver, it will be an occasional weekend car. I'm about to do an advanced driving course, and feel I would learn more from it in a car that needs driving, I have an Octavia RS and as nice as this is, its very boring to drive.
Aslong as it is reasonabky easy to work on I will look into it, alot of the parts will probably get changed as my driving progresses.

Matt

[Monza Phil]

Opel Monza GSE, Rover SD1, Triumph 2000/ PI, BMW 635CSI, Merc 500SEC (see where I'm going with this list... )

[philoldsmobile]

i'd vote capri V6, alhough finding a decent one for £1k might be tough..

[Nuova500]

E34 525i M50 lump.

Pop some rubbish rear tyres on & loads on sideways action.

[Rum Runner]

2.0 GLS or GT Sierra . sideways central.

[215cu]

Only to add that as P6's go at £1000 you'd be best off with a 2200TC. Almost as quick as a V8 but can take unleaded fuel and offer a few more mpg which is the biggest running cost.

As for condition. Definitely Condition 2- but not all bad, it would certainly need urgent remedial work in the next 12 months but nothing too bad.

[bez 101]

deffinately an e30 bmw, old school, £1000 will buy you a beautiful one.
very fun and controllable, easy to maintain, if you can get a straight 6 one (320 or 325) them engines are even sweeter!