What car to 'play around with'
Discussion
I have an every day car and a Lotus Elise S2 for weekend blasts.
Of late I have been hankering after a hobby car that I can maintain myself and get my hands dirty with.
I am pretty much a novice when it comes to car mechanics and I want something that is relatively simple to work on and fairly cheap, so that I can happily get stuck into without worrying too much.
Given that my formative petrolhead years were in the 80s I would like something from that era, but would be open to other decades.
I keep coming back to the Porsche 944. Loved them as a kid and they seem to be very much of the period. I also really liked the Audi quattro but don't think that given they have a turbo and are 4wd that they fit my simple mechanicals requirement.
Budget would stretch to £5K - is a 944 viable for what I want or should I be looking at something else?
Any suggestions/recommendations gratefully received
Of late I have been hankering after a hobby car that I can maintain myself and get my hands dirty with.
I am pretty much a novice when it comes to car mechanics and I want something that is relatively simple to work on and fairly cheap, so that I can happily get stuck into without worrying too much.
Given that my formative petrolhead years were in the 80s I would like something from that era, but would be open to other decades.
I keep coming back to the Porsche 944. Loved them as a kid and they seem to be very much of the period. I also really liked the Audi quattro but don't think that given they have a turbo and are 4wd that they fit my simple mechanicals requirement.
Budget would stretch to £5K - is a 944 viable for what I want or should I be looking at something else?
Any suggestions/recommendations gratefully received
You could pick up a Sapphire cosworth for £5k. At that price, it may have alot of miles on it and some bodywork imperfections, so it could be a perfect car for you to learn with. I personally think they look fantastic, but its due to me owning 2 of these in the past. If you did decide to buy one, get a 2wd one. Its more fun. Obviously, you feel safer and more "planted" in the AWD model, but it understeers very badly and takes the fun out of driving it imo. Some people may call them "chavvy". Its all down to taste.
There great cars, and very understated. They also hold there value well and are actually starting to rise again in value, even if it needs some TLC!.
A porsche 944 would be a good bet. Nice handling cars too. I've never owned one, but i have driven a fair few, and i get two that come to my garage regularly for routine work and servicing. There very very nice looking cars, and the turbo ones are very quick. Im not sure whether you could pick up an S2 turbo for £5k, but imo, that would be the best of the bunch.
Mitsubishi starion? Great looking cars providing its the "wide body". There handling is...interesting on standard springs and shocks, so i would suggest fitting a coilover kit to stiffen it up and enjoy the car more. I used to own a 2.6 turbo "widebody" model 2 years ago. It was a great car all in all, and i never had any reliablity issues apart from a faulty turbo, which was replaced under warranty.
There great cars, and very understated. They also hold there value well and are actually starting to rise again in value, even if it needs some TLC!.
A porsche 944 would be a good bet. Nice handling cars too. I've never owned one, but i have driven a fair few, and i get two that come to my garage regularly for routine work and servicing. There very very nice looking cars, and the turbo ones are very quick. Im not sure whether you could pick up an S2 turbo for £5k, but imo, that would be the best of the bunch.
Mitsubishi starion? Great looking cars providing its the "wide body". There handling is...interesting on standard springs and shocks, so i would suggest fitting a coilover kit to stiffen it up and enjoy the car more. I used to own a 2.6 turbo "widebody" model 2 years ago. It was a great car all in all, and i never had any reliablity issues apart from a faulty turbo, which was replaced under warranty.
Is the 'new' car just for cruising or a daily driver to save the elise for the weekends - or are you aiming to have this new one as a possible track car or something to 'enhance'???
I'd say a 944 would be an interesting option at that money!
As someone already said, a late MG would also be easy mechanics and 5k should see you into a good one.
TR7 V8 for an 80's wedge with a bit of grunt!?
Or keep it in the family and look at an old Elan or similar.
Depends what you want it for I guess.
Happy Hunting!
I'd say a 944 would be an interesting option at that money!
As someone already said, a late MG would also be easy mechanics and 5k should see you into a good one.
TR7 V8 for an 80's wedge with a bit of grunt!?
Or keep it in the family and look at an old Elan or similar.
Depends what you want it for I guess.
Happy Hunting!
So buy something totally different from the Elise… no mx5, Elan etc but something comfy, sporty and scary if you drive it quickly …. Late 80’s XJS OK but there are plenty of nice ones in budget, second hand and new parts are OK in price and they can only go up in value.. not to mention you can race it at the weekends
Thanks for the replies.
The car really is just for a bit of a hobby (first kid on the way and will be wanting an excuse to get out of the house and into the garage every now and then!)
Point taken about electrics and will bear that in mind. Given that the last time I had the Elise serviced there were two M100 Elans in the workshop with most of their looms in a pile in the footwell I think they are ruled out!
TR7 out of the question, have been thinking about MGBs but don't know whether I can do it!
Have also been thinking that this car should really be totally different to the Elise but didn't think XJS but perhaps BMW 6 series or I suppose the Sapphire Cossie mentioned would also fit the bill, or maybe a Merc 190.
The car really is just for a bit of a hobby (first kid on the way and will be wanting an excuse to get out of the house and into the garage every now and then!)
Point taken about electrics and will bear that in mind. Given that the last time I had the Elise serviced there were two M100 Elans in the workshop with most of their looms in a pile in the footwell I think they are ruled out!
TR7 out of the question, have been thinking about MGBs but don't know whether I can do it!
Have also been thinking that this car should really be totally different to the Elise but didn't think XJS but perhaps BMW 6 series or I suppose the Sapphire Cossie mentioned would also fit the bill, or maybe a Merc 190.
Stitch said:
Have also been thinking that this car should really be totally different to the Elise but didn't think XJS but perhaps BMW 6 series or I suppose the Sapphire Cossie mentioned would also fit the bill, or maybe a Merc 190.
The 1980s was something of a crossover point with carbs and points & condensor ignition (maintainable at home) going from being prevalent at the start to pretty much disappearing by the end of it it to be replaced by injection / engine management (a lot less maintainable at home). I don't knwo for sure in a couple of cases but the cars you list are more likely to have all the electronic gubbins, which is fine as it tends to stay in tune and not break down, it's just a lot more problematical when it does.I'd suggest a Talbot Sunbeam (the 2.2 litre version).
Take a look at the Triumph Herald/Vitesse/Spitfire/GT6 family. Cheap, good parts supply, really simple mechanics and thanks to the separate chassis construction and flipping front end great access to the engine/gearbox.
OK, I'm not suggesting it's something you will want to keep long term but it's a great way to get more in to the mechanicals. Everything is 'on show' and easy to access and see how everything fits together and works.
Then you can move on to something else where you understand how it works and just have to worry about how in gods name you are meant to get a spanner between the engine and body to remove that nut!
OK, I'm not suggesting it's something you will want to keep long term but it's a great way to get more in to the mechanicals. Everything is 'on show' and easy to access and see how everything fits together and works.
Then you can move on to something else where you understand how it works and just have to worry about how in gods name you are meant to get a spanner between the engine and body to remove that nut!
Late '80s TVR 390i or 400SE?
A lot of sound & speed for your buck.
Or another left-field choice, how about a Bitter?
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
A lot of sound & speed for your buck.
Or another left-field choice, how about a Bitter?
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
Edited by vixen1700 on Tuesday 28th July 15:35
I have just got myself a tidy '72 scimitar GTE, se5a model with the chrome bumpers and 3.0 v6. Absolutely loving working on it, everything is so simple and easy to get to. Done my first points and condenser for 15 years, immense satisfaction when it all ran sweetly again! There is something about old school mechanicals, I wanted to get a car before I forgot what little I had learned about mechanicals way back!
Stitch said:
Mini I like - but at 6 foot odd, will I fit?
Scimitar is certainly worth considering. But why do they all seem to have towbars fitted?
my 6 foot 4 dad never struggled with it. easy to fit another seat and rails though if you needed. tools required for a mini - five spanners between 3/8 inch and 7/8 inch, two screwdrivers, one hammer, one brake spanner, one set feeler gauges. my push bike needs a more comprehensive tool kit!Scimitar is certainly worth considering. But why do they all seem to have towbars fitted?
Edited by Stitch on Tuesday 28th July 17:05
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff