Your Inspiration Please
Discussion
I'm keen to get a classic daily driver (currently like but don't love an E39 BMW) and having spent the normal hours trawling carandclassic, PH and classiccarsforsale, I'm turning to you all for advice!
I'm ok with fairly heavy fuel consumption (low 20's ok, high teens a bit too much) and running repairs are all part of the game.
However, my wish-list is as follows. It must be:
comfortable on a cruise, and easily capable of 70mph
reliable (relatively)
large, and at least a 2+2, preferably full 4 seater
Either drop-dead stylish, or at least a bit cool (preferably both)
The sad news is: only £2500 in the kitty for the purchase.
I've browsed Jaguar XJS and XJ6, Rover P5 and P6, Mercedes SE, CE and SL
what am I missing? Any tales of woe or encouragement?
Thanks chaps and chapesses.
I'm ok with fairly heavy fuel consumption (low 20's ok, high teens a bit too much) and running repairs are all part of the game.
However, my wish-list is as follows. It must be:
comfortable on a cruise, and easily capable of 70mph
reliable (relatively)
large, and at least a 2+2, preferably full 4 seater
Either drop-dead stylish, or at least a bit cool (preferably both)
The sad news is: only £2500 in the kitty for the purchase.
I've browsed Jaguar XJS and XJ6, Rover P5 and P6, Mercedes SE, CE and SL
what am I missing? Any tales of woe or encouragement?
Thanks chaps and chapesses.
I would have to go with the XJ6.... but then again I'm biased because that's what I have.
I love the thread title... inspiration. The XJ6 for me fits that. I've always wanted one. No Ferrari's or E-types, just an XJ6... nothing more. My Dad ran them when I was a toddler and even then they had me. Mum and Dad reckoned the only way to get me to sleep sometimes was to take me for a run in the car.
I helped wash the old car and as I grew older started helping Dad service it. I can come across one in a breakers and the first thing I usually catch myself doing is checking the oil on the dipstick, as that was the first thing my Dad taught me some 25 years ago.
The car he had fell apart years ago, and when I got old enough I set about getting myself an XJ6. I had a few series 3's and a series 2, and finally I've managed to get myself a series 1, that is nearly identical to the one Dad had.
I love it. I go to work in it. I go to the shop in it. To the coast. Everywhere I go it goes, I don't give a damn whether it does 16mpg or 6. I have 23mpg out of it on the motorway, providing I don't open her up. If I do then the ghosts of Le Mans come out of the engine and it starts to drink quite heavily... but what a noise! Even the silencers can't keep it back. I feel like I'm missing an arm at the moment as she's off the road while I replace the rear brake discs.
I don't have too much of an issue with reliability, the series 3 and series 2's were hell compared to this car, whether I got a good one, I don't know. I hope so. The Automatic Enrichment Device is the same infernal fuel wasting contraption it was on the later cars, and the heater vacuum sytem is antiquated.
But I draw inspiration from this car. It's a link to my past. The smell; of warm leather, wood, and oil. The bass grumble of the engine, are all the same as my memories. It makes my day to day commute just that little bit better, which is why I've been grumpy this past week or so.
As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6. It shows an XJ6 on a country road a lot like up here in Derbyshire where I live. The adverts text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
That pretty much sums up what I think when I walk out into the work carpark. It's why I'm smiling as I see my car. Every time.
Regards,
Ric
I love the thread title... inspiration. The XJ6 for me fits that. I've always wanted one. No Ferrari's or E-types, just an XJ6... nothing more. My Dad ran them when I was a toddler and even then they had me. Mum and Dad reckoned the only way to get me to sleep sometimes was to take me for a run in the car.
I helped wash the old car and as I grew older started helping Dad service it. I can come across one in a breakers and the first thing I usually catch myself doing is checking the oil on the dipstick, as that was the first thing my Dad taught me some 25 years ago.
The car he had fell apart years ago, and when I got old enough I set about getting myself an XJ6. I had a few series 3's and a series 2, and finally I've managed to get myself a series 1, that is nearly identical to the one Dad had.
I love it. I go to work in it. I go to the shop in it. To the coast. Everywhere I go it goes, I don't give a damn whether it does 16mpg or 6. I have 23mpg out of it on the motorway, providing I don't open her up. If I do then the ghosts of Le Mans come out of the engine and it starts to drink quite heavily... but what a noise! Even the silencers can't keep it back. I feel like I'm missing an arm at the moment as she's off the road while I replace the rear brake discs.
I don't have too much of an issue with reliability, the series 3 and series 2's were hell compared to this car, whether I got a good one, I don't know. I hope so. The Automatic Enrichment Device is the same infernal fuel wasting contraption it was on the later cars, and the heater vacuum sytem is antiquated.
But I draw inspiration from this car. It's a link to my past. The smell; of warm leather, wood, and oil. The bass grumble of the engine, are all the same as my memories. It makes my day to day commute just that little bit better, which is why I've been grumpy this past week or so.
As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6. It shows an XJ6 on a country road a lot like up here in Derbyshire where I live. The adverts text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
That pretty much sums up what I think when I walk out into the work carpark. It's why I'm smiling as I see my car. Every time.
Regards,
Ric
richw_82 said:
I would have to go with the XJ6....
As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6 which text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
What an inspirational piece of writing for an ad. As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6 which text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
I`m with you..XJ6 is a lovely choice.
mark387mw said:
davepoth said:
What about a rover SD1?
I also thought about the SD1, I had a Vitesse and would have suggested that but the requirements are drop dead stylish and cool.I'm not too sure about the SD1 now. Does it have those qualities at all?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH0gGZsObqg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozm2whDhELc
Very nice example under the hammer this week.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-SD1-Vitesse-Manual_W0Q...
TheD said:
Brian_M said:
Late model 2 litre Volvo Amazon with overdrive
Cruises 75-80 all day
35mpg at motorway speeds. LPG conversion available.
Excellent spares back up, (not that you need many).
Just like mine - no it's not for sale!
I was thinking this ^^^ but would he get a good one for 2500Cruises 75-80 all day
35mpg at motorway speeds. LPG conversion available.
Excellent spares back up, (not that you need many).
Just like mine - no it's not for sale!
BarnatosGhost said:
chard said:
Reliant Scimiter
Fiat Coupe
Saab 900 (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
Vauxhall Senator (ditto)
Golf GTI mk1
VW Scirocco
VW Corrado
Thanks for those. I'm afraid they're all too new and with the exception of the Senator, too small.Fiat Coupe
Saab 900 (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
Vauxhall Senator (ditto)
Golf GTI mk1
VW Scirocco
VW Corrado
plasticpig said:
BarnatosGhost said:
chard said:
Reliant Scimiter
Fiat Coupe
Saab 900 (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
Vauxhall Senator (ditto)
Golf GTI mk1
VW Scirocco
VW Corrado
Thanks for those. I'm afraid they're all too new and with the exception of the Senator, too small.Fiat Coupe
Saab 900 (beauty is in the eye of the beholder)
Vauxhall Senator (ditto)
Golf GTI mk1
VW Scirocco
VW Corrado
richw_82 said:
I would have to go with the XJ6.... but then again I'm biased because that's what I have.
I love the thread title... inspiration. The XJ6 for me fits that. I've always wanted one. No Ferrari's or E-types, just an XJ6... nothing more. My Dad ran them when I was a toddler and even then they had me. Mum and Dad reckoned the only way to get me to sleep sometimes was to take me for a run in the car.
I helped wash the old car and as I grew older started helping Dad service it. I can come across one in a breakers and the first thing I usually catch myself doing is checking the oil on the dipstick, as that was the first thing my Dad taught me some 25 years ago.
The car he had fell apart years ago, and when I got old enough I set about getting myself an XJ6. I had a few series 3's and a series 2, and finally I've managed to get myself a series 1, that is nearly identical to the one Dad had.
I love it. I go to work in it. I go to the shop in it. To the coast. Everywhere I go it goes, I don't give a damn whether it does 16mpg or 6. I have 23mpg out of it on the motorway, providing I don't open her up. If I do then the ghosts of Le Mans come out of the engine and it starts to drink quite heavily... but what a noise! Even the silencers can't keep it back. I feel like I'm missing an arm at the moment as she's off the road while I replace the rear brake discs.
I don't have too much of an issue with reliability, the series 3 and series 2's were hell compared to this car, whether I got a good one, I don't know. I hope so. The Automatic Enrichment Device is the same infernal fuel wasting contraption it was on the later cars, and the heater vacuum sytem is antiquated.
But I draw inspiration from this car. It's a link to my past. The smell; of warm leather, wood, and oil. The bass grumble of the engine, are all the same as my memories. It makes my day to day commute just that little bit better, which is why I've been grumpy this past week or so.
As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6. It shows an XJ6 on a country road a lot like up here in Derbyshire where I live. The adverts text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
That pretty much sums up what I think when I walk out into the work carpark. It's why I'm smiling as I see my car. Every time.
Regards,
Ric
great post, thanks. What are your thoughts re an xjs 3.6 or 4.0?I love the thread title... inspiration. The XJ6 for me fits that. I've always wanted one. No Ferrari's or E-types, just an XJ6... nothing more. My Dad ran them when I was a toddler and even then they had me. Mum and Dad reckoned the only way to get me to sleep sometimes was to take me for a run in the car.
I helped wash the old car and as I grew older started helping Dad service it. I can come across one in a breakers and the first thing I usually catch myself doing is checking the oil on the dipstick, as that was the first thing my Dad taught me some 25 years ago.
The car he had fell apart years ago, and when I got old enough I set about getting myself an XJ6. I had a few series 3's and a series 2, and finally I've managed to get myself a series 1, that is nearly identical to the one Dad had.
I love it. I go to work in it. I go to the shop in it. To the coast. Everywhere I go it goes, I don't give a damn whether it does 16mpg or 6. I have 23mpg out of it on the motorway, providing I don't open her up. If I do then the ghosts of Le Mans come out of the engine and it starts to drink quite heavily... but what a noise! Even the silencers can't keep it back. I feel like I'm missing an arm at the moment as she's off the road while I replace the rear brake discs.
I don't have too much of an issue with reliability, the series 3 and series 2's were hell compared to this car, whether I got a good one, I don't know. I hope so. The Automatic Enrichment Device is the same infernal fuel wasting contraption it was on the later cars, and the heater vacuum sytem is antiquated.
But I draw inspiration from this car. It's a link to my past. The smell; of warm leather, wood, and oil. The bass grumble of the engine, are all the same as my memories. It makes my day to day commute just that little bit better, which is why I've been grumpy this past week or so.
As I write this there's a copy of Motor magazine from Sept 1976 at the side of me. In it there is an advert for the XJ6. It shows an XJ6 on a country road a lot like up here in Derbyshire where I live. The adverts text says; "It will reassure you when you need it. It will help restore your confidence should it ever desert you. It will soothe and solace you after a hectic day. It will insulate you from the noise and chaos of the outside world. It will rebuild your morale; your ambitions. But most of all, it will remind you that your life has not been totally without success."
That pretty much sums up what I think when I walk out into the work carpark. It's why I'm smiling as I see my car. Every time.
Regards,
Ric
FM said:
mark387mw said:
davepoth said:
What about a rover SD1?
I also thought about the SD1, I had a Vitesse and would have suggested that but the requirements are drop dead stylish and cool.I'm not too sure about the SD1 now. Does it have those qualities at all?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH0gGZsObqg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ozm2whDhELc
Very nice example under the hammer this week.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rover-SD1-Vitesse-Manual_W0Q...
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