What Retro/Classic Car?

Author
Discussion

Negative Creep

Original Poster:

25,156 posts

233 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
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Now hopefully this won't be premature as I've sold my Colt but the buyer isn't coming with the cash until Friday morning. Presuming it all goes through, I'll be in the market right away for a second car. I don't like driving my Datsun every day and I have an evening delivery job it really isn't suited to. So I am after something that:

- Is pre 1990 (i.e registered by 31st December 1989 at the very latest) that way I can get dirt cheap classic insurance

- In decent condition. Not expecting a minter, but must be solid and capable of daily use.

- MOT essential

- Sierra sized at the most, but ideally smaller

- Not worried about age, practicality or equipment

- Fun to drive

- Under £1000

- Not thirsty (so no barges) but doesn't have to be ultra economical

- Rear wheel drive would be nice, but not the be all and end all

- The final thing is important - I recently hurt my back so needs to be fairly comfy, able to get over speedbumps and be easy to get in and out of. So no slammed or track day specials sadly



I'm thinking mk.2Golf GTi E30 318is, 205 GTi. Other than that, any ideas?

james28

448 posts

209 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
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if it were my 1000 i would be swinging toward a mk1 mr2 smile
butrecon you will be hunting for a lont time for a nice one for 1k

jimmyjam

2,341 posts

225 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
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Alfa 75
Alfetta GTV
Scirocco
Audi Coupe

Negative Creep

Original Poster:

25,156 posts

233 months

Wednesday 7th January 2009
quotequote all
Dear God man, don't tempt me with an Alfa! I've only just managed to go head over heart on them and convince myself it would spend more time broken than moving. But then again, just look at them.............phew, there's none on PH classifieds to tempt me

alolympic

700 posts

203 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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Dolomite Sprint - RWD, fun, good handling but also very civilised and comfortable.

coetzeeh

2,706 posts

242 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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jimmyjam said:
Alfa 75
oh yes!

red_rover

848 posts

226 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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Rover P6? Tough as old boots, RWD and great fun to drive smile

wulmar

62 posts

216 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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[quote=red_rover]Rover P6? Tough as old boots, RWD and great fun to drive smile[/quote

That was one of my first cars, my mother gave it to me, just after passing my test.

Nick_F

10,265 posts

252 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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SAAB 900. You'll be pushed to find a sound T16S for £1k, but you should be able to find a Turbo.

robminiman

230 posts

191 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
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there is only one option ford crapi

Negative Creep

Original Poster:

25,156 posts

233 months

Thursday 8th January 2009
quotequote all
The days of cheap Capris (and original Minis) seem to have gone. If I were to get a Capri it would have to be a 2 litre or above and I dobut I could get one of them for under a grand.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Top of the list so far is a mk.2 Golf GTi 16v, completely original and looks well cared for

daninsidious

156 posts

193 months

Friday 9th January 2009
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It's quite simple I reckon (then I am biased) a Mk2 Golf GTI 16v/8v. Nuff said really....

minimatt1967

17,198 posts

212 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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alolympic said:
Dolomite Sprint - RWD, fun, good handling but also very civilised and comfortable.
Negative Creep said:
- Rear wheel drive would be nice, but not the be all and end all
A sprint for a bag? Boy would that be rough!

L100NYY

35,458 posts

249 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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215cu

2,956 posts

216 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
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P6 for a grand.

You might get lucky with a Series 2 2000SC/TC but it may need a little work.

Original high milers end up at around a grand because the engines normally need a rebuild at 120,000. Replacement is a cheaper option but low miler engines are getting hard to find. The TC's only clock 22-5mpg but as it was the version chosen for rallying, the mechanical quality, ride quality and handling is the best of the P6 range. Those nice Rover works engineers put everything they learnt from rallying into the production cars.

My choice would be a slightly tatty VW Golf Mk1. Definitely one to keep for the future and a very easy proposition to either get up to standard or just hoon into the ground.


Edited by 215cu on Saturday 10th January 12:45

red_rover

848 posts

226 months

Saturday 10th January 2009
quotequote all
215cu said:
P6 for a grand.

You might get lucky with a Series 2 2000SC/TC but it may need a little work.

Original high milers end up at around a grand because the engines normally need a rebuild at 120,000. Replacement is a cheaper option but low miler engines are getting hard to find. The TC's only clock 22-5mpg but as it was the version chosen for rallying, the mechanical quality, ride quality and handling is the best of the P6 range. Those nice Rover works engineers put everything they learnt from rallying into the production cars.

My choice would be a slightly tatty VW Golf Mk1. Definitely one to keep for the future and a very easy proposition to either get up to standard or just hoon into the ground.


Edited by 215cu on Saturday 10th January 12:45
Good call - forgot about the grand frown

Negative Creep

Original Poster:

25,156 posts

233 months

Sunday 11th January 2009
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Ok, thanks for all the advice. I've now bought a retro/classic off ebay - without seeing it. It seems in good condition, has history and the seller sounds like a nice bloke but we'll have to wait and see.

Presuming it is as the description, I think I'm going to enjoy it. What car? Well, you'll just have to wait and see wink