Pre 84 car

[Muzzman]

We have the family car, I have my car and a track car.

I only do 1500 miles a year, the missus came out with 'I like the old cars, why don't you sell yours and get one that doesn't need tax or MoT?'. I must admit I quite like her thinking.

Budget about £15k.

The arguments against this is the garage is full of stuff so will need to be parked on the drive and my mechanical skills are okay but I'm no master mechanic.

Obvious choice is BMW e30 but I've had a couple of those so thinking elsewhere. 911 SC is out of budget unfortunately.

I need four seats for the occasional running the kids (8 and 9) to clubs.

Thoughts?

[85Carrera]

Transaxle Porsche.

[Muzzman]

85Carrera said:

Transaxle Porsche.

In your opinion what's the best for the budget? I was thinking 944 could be an option. TBF I don't mind pushing it out a couple of years to 86

[sixor8]

A car becomes MoT exempt at 40 but can only be put into the Historics Category and be rated £0 for VED from April 1st the year AFTER it is 40. So, 1983 cars in 3 months time. This is presuming it will roll forward in the budget, which it has every year since re-introduction as a rolling threshold in 2014.

The thing to consider though is the running / repair costs of an older car may not offset this saving. Any car below 1550cc and made before March 2001 is only £200 p.a. (£325 if bigger engine). Admittedly, if you buy right, it won't depreciate but using an old car in all weathers will not be good. I'd only drive it as a second (or even third) car.

[Muzzman]

[quote] I'd only drive it as a second (or even third) car.
[/quote]

Thanks for the extra info.

It's a second car and I only do a few miles per year as I commute on the train to work, but yes it would be handy if it was relatively reliable.

[ITP]

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1665111

This is an 88, but they were around in 84.

Edited by ITP on Sunday 31st December 12:58

[ClaphamGT3]

We found a 1982 Range Rover a surprisingly usable and practical day to day classic.

Maybe a Mk1 (or very early Mk2) Golf GTi or a very early Mercedes 190?

You have mentioned the E30 3 series but you'd need one of the very 1st. An E23 could be a good shout and, if you scour the higher branches, you may find a decent 323i in budget. They will rot more than the Golf and the MB (which will, themselves, rot) so do make free with the Waxoyl and be sure to use regularly to heat everything up and get air circulating

[Glasgowrob]

it sounds like you want something semi practical and useable.


Sierra XR4i estate?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186208354341?hash=item2...

not perfect in any way shape of form but its cheap enough coming with a years MOT and quickly heading towards classic status.

theres a also a nice 83 XR4i for sale on ebay atm for 12k

budget would also just about get you into a RS Turbo as well.

in fairness its a good budget and if you buy carefully, your not going to lose any money with the right choice of car.

personally this would be up there for me

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126247722977?hash=item1...

[soxboy]

Here’s my choice
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auctions/2...

[Muzzman]

ITP said:

https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1665111

This is an 88, but they were around in 84.

Edited by ITP on Sunday 31st December 12:58

I have always loved a Saab 900

[turbomoggie]

Are you doing this to save money? Or for fun?
Keeping old cars on the road can become expensive very quickly.

[ClaphamGT3]

Muzzman said:

I have always loved a Saab 900

In many ways a good shout but they do rust prodigiously and parts availability/experts who really know these quite quirky cars seem to be becoming thinner and thinner on the ground

[sherman]

Mk11 Jag 1966
https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1573742

[Muzzman]

ClaphamGT3 said:

We found a 1982 Range Rover a surprisingly usable and practical day to day classic.

Maybe a Mk1 (or very early Mk2) Golf GTi or a very early Mercedes 190?

You have mentioned the E30 3 series but you'd need one of the very 1st. An E23 could be a good shout and, if you scour the higher branches, you may find a decent 323i in budget. They will rot more than the Golf and the MB (which will, themselves, rot) so do make free with the Waxoyl and be sure to use regularly to heat everything up and get air circulating

Love the idea of an early Range Rover particularly a 2dr but I think they are expensive.

I don't think the missus would like the Golf or 190, unfortunately, that is a requirement

[Muzzman]

turbomoggie said:

Are you doing this to save money? Or for fun?
Keeping old cars on the road can become expensive very quickly.

To have fun, in no way to save money. I am just using my wife's comment to my advantage.

[Muzzman]

soxboy said:

Here’s my choice
https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auctions/2...

Oh that is bloody lovely.

[Muzzman]

Just to add some clarity to this post, whilst usually I just arrive home with cars and say 'wow, look at this, isn't it amazing' and work through the forgiveness process, on this occasion the car will have to go through the wife approval process and an xr4x4 estate will not pass :-)

She wants to drive this....

[Bobupndown]

Clear the crap out of the garage. No 40 year old car used so sparingly will benefit from being left out in the elements.
Mk1 or 2 Golf GTI or E30 BMW are good contenders.

[ClaphamGT3]

Muzzman said:

Oh that is bloody lovely.

Achieving so many different shades of ostensibly the same colour on one small hatchback is, indeed, remarkably impressive - as is the wide variety of panel gaps achieved.

I'd love to meet the guy who did the bodywork on this - if only to find out what he actually does for a living.

[biggbn]

Volvo 245 GLT, buy the best one you can, safe place to keep your money and as practical as a Swiss Army Knife. Better still, an older 145.