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So suggestions for a £5k classic .....
Jasper - 11/3/16 at 06:25 PM

Hey there chaps....

So after a few years of nothing in the garage and just the ST as a daily driver it's time for a change. I'm working from home now so no commute, we have a basic tin top for the dogs/shopping and any distance driving and now the ST has to go it's time to think about buying something that I can have a tinker/upgrade on and something that will hold most or all of it's value and not cost a fortune if it goes badly wrong.

So the budget will be £5k and so far I have been mostly looking at Capris on eBay.....

So any suggestions people? I've also been looking at 944's but worried about maintenance costs and I do love a bit of Jap classic too, though most of what I like - 240z's etc - are too expensive now.


joneh - 11/3/16 at 07:17 PM

Triumph Spitfire or GT6 at a stretch?


jps - 11/3/16 at 07:24 PM

I reckon Capri is a good shout, you don't see many about!

I reckon at that price you could get a decent Mini, or an MGBGT. Which is what I'd be torn between!


JoelP - 11/3/16 at 07:31 PM

M5.


Toprivetguns - 11/3/16 at 07:33 PM

I stumbled upon this last week

http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/en/classic-auctions/latest-classic-car-catalogue/saturday-9th-april/1986-ford-capri-16-laser/

Also a very tasty Peugeot 205 Gti 1.9 on the same page


mark chandler - 11/3/16 at 07:47 PM

Having owned capris as a lad 30 years ago you would want a v6

Mk1 Granada ghia, had one of them, excellent cars better than the 2.8 MkII also had both.

SDI v8, enjoyed smoking around in one of these, more practical car.

If you want to make money then a rust free XK8 is in reach


Jasper - 11/3/16 at 08:18 PM

Great ideas, cheers, it's got to suit my wife as well so nothing too big and no rovers or jags


roadrunner - 11/3/16 at 09:29 PM

Renault 5GT turbo


mark chandler - 11/3/16 at 10:21 PM

Boxster is now within range as well


james h - 11/3/16 at 11:36 PM

I've mentioned this elsewhere:

Mercedes 190E 2.3-16


unijacko67 - 12/3/16 at 12:58 AM

Volvo Amazon, Don't need to be a "Guy Martin" project, but i'm looking & thinking about one, well the wagon/estate


LBMEFM - 12/3/16 at 04:13 AM

How about a Saab 900s turbo, not had one myself, but always fancied one. Fast, practical and with £5k yoiu should get a mint one with plenty of change ?

[Edited on 12/3/16 by LBMEFM]


jeffw - 12/3/16 at 06:51 AM

Honda S2000....future classic


Ugg10 - 12/3/16 at 08:06 AM

Pre 1960 don't need an mot if you want to go that classic, some nice 100e out there for that money, often with a pinto. Or a 105e with a Xflow.

Shame this has already gone - http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=888153


mcerd1 - 12/3/16 at 08:10 AM

Reliant Scimitar, £5k would give you a choice of some pretty good ones, they are easy to work on and parts are fairly cheap too


Jasper - 12/3/16 at 08:54 AM

Like the S2000 and the Amazon, don't like Saabs or Scimitars, possible Merc, Porsche a worry with repair costs, ....., loved the Ford Pop!

[Edited on 12/3/16 by Jasper]


scootz - 12/3/16 at 09:27 AM

VW Corrado
VW Scirocco

Audi 80 Coupe


britishtrident - 12/3/16 at 09:31 AM

quote:
Originally posted by unijacko67
Volvo Amazon, Don't need to be a "Guy Martin" project, but i'm looking & thinking about one, well the wagon/estate


That would be a good choice.


britishtrident - 12/3/16 at 09:56 AM

Capri is a really bad choice -- back when 1980s when production stopped they were talked of as future classics and were getting bought up by day dreamers right left and center , but how many of them are still around? They fell out of fashion frst of all like many they high volume cars of that era the suffered badly from rust in places that is realistically not viable to repair. Rust in the seam where the front inner wing joins the bulkhead is deal killer , secondly like flares and medallion man they just fell out of fashion.

In contrast look at the Spitfire/GT6 nobody in the 1970s had very high opinnion of them but threre are loads of them still around, why ? simples although they rust, the rust is relatively easy and cheap to repair.
Another classic favourite MGBs unlike the Triumphs don't have a separate chassis but they are relatively easy to put right.

The rule for buy a classic is buy on maintainabilty and condition.

For something out of left field what about this 1974 HILLMAN IMP SUPER BEIGE



[Edited on 12/3/16 by britishtrident]


rdodger - 12/3/16 at 10:13 AM

Have you considered an M100 Elan?


scootz - 12/3/16 at 10:16 AM

XJS's are starting to rise now...

Was only a matter of time.


hicost blade - 12/3/16 at 10:57 AM

I have been looking at Jenson Healeys, +/-£5k and sure to go up in value...

http://m.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C657157


Jasper - 12/3/16 at 11:02 AM

Don't like the Elan or Jags, Scirocco not a bad idea but do fancy RWD

Amazon a bit old and a bit big for my wife, I love it though.

I'm not so sure you're right about Capri's being a bad choice, they are going up in price all the time as people can't afford Escorts any more, and they are definitely trendy again atm, thanks for the tip on the rust though.

I hate old MG's and Triumphs, too 'old man' for me, I'm a child of the 70's and 80's, not the 60's. But the advice is appreciated, thanks

Quite like the Healey but don't want a convertible.

[Edited on 12/3/16 by Jasper]


scootz - 12/3/16 at 11:12 AM

70's and 80's child... has to be a wedge-shape!

TVR or Lotus FTW!

I'm still waiting for the right 1974 Lotus Europa to hit the market!


Jasper - 12/3/16 at 11:17 AM

quote:
Originally posted by scootz
70's and 80's child... has to be a wedge-shape!

TVR or Lotus FTW!

I'm still waiting for the right 1974 Lotus Europa to hit the market!


I need some level of reliability!! And don't want a convertible....

[Edited on 12/3/16 by Jasper]


SJ - 12/3/16 at 11:22 AM

Theres a lovely Alfasud Sprint on ebay for this sort of money. Its LHD though as it has come from the South of France.


Ugg10 - 12/3/16 at 11:22 AM

these look pretty tidy -

Opel Manta GTE - Opel Manta GTE

Porker 944 - 1988 PORSCHE 944 S 16V GRAND PRIX WHITE 3 OWNERS MASSIVE SERVICE HISTORY FOLDER

BMW 635 with a bit of bling - bmw e24 635csi auto HARTGE series 1

Waftmobile - Jag XJR - Jaguar XJR 1998

Couple a bit more modern special editions - Clio 182 trophy - 2005 (55) RENAULT CLIO TROPHY, TIMING BELT AND DEPHASER DONE182,172,200,197,R26,

A few more to think about ???

Edit - not sure what happened to this post there were a few more suggestions but they have been edited out ???

So here they are -

Alfa 146 GTA - bit over budget but you got to love that v6 (there is also a 156 GTA at this price) - 2003 ALFA ROMEO 147 V6 24V GTA GREY

Megane r26 with a few tweaks - 2007 RENAULT MEGANE R26 230 270BHP+ 2.0T FSH F1 TEAM RENAULTSPORT LSD NOT 225 PX



[Edited on 12/3/16 by Ugg10]


trextr7monkey - 12/3/16 at 11:51 AM

TR7 V8 luv em or hate them! They didn't all rust away and there are some superb examples about. Drives like a modern car not really a proper Triumph as the pipe and slippers boys will be very keen to tell you. It's for the by boom generation who now have disposable cash and happy memories . Early fixed head cars are being snapped up for historic rallying since cost of old escorts has gone through the roof.


mark chandler - 12/3/16 at 08:04 PM

A sorted TR8 is a very fast car!


Ugg10 - 12/3/16 at 08:45 PM

Only problem is that the cheapest tr8 is now £10k plus!!!

Don't think anyone has mentioned a classic mini yet, 1275 clubman would be nice.


Jasper - 13/3/16 at 01:11 PM

More great stuff there, like lots of them but they are either too similar to what I have (newish Alfa, Megan, Clio etc) or too large or too German for my wife!

Thanks everyone for their input - thing I'm still hankering after a nice 3ltr S Capri:

FORD CAPRI 3.0S, ORANGE, 1981 one of the last

And as much as I love of Mini I wouldn't want my wife driving round in one, just not enough metal around you .... and the last one I had gave me a bad back!

And that Opel Manta is amazing ... but it would need to be kept in a garage and only driven in the dry, it's far too nice!

[Edited on 13/3/16 by Jasper]


rdodger - 13/3/16 at 01:31 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
More great stuff there, like lots of them but they are either too similar to what I have (newish Alfa, Megan, Clio etc) or too large or too German for my wife!

Thanks everyone for their input - thing I'm still hankering after a nice 3ltr S Capri:

FORD CAPRI 3.0S, ORANGE, 1981 one of the last

And as much as I love of Mini I wouldn't want my wife driving round in one, just not enough metal around you .... and the last one I had gave me a bad back!

And that Opel Manta is amazing ... but it would need to be kept in a garage and only driven in the dry, it's far too nice!

[Edited on 13/3/16 by Jasper]


Get the Manta and drive it every day! It's far too nice to leave in a garage!


mark chandler - 13/3/16 at 02:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jasper
More great stuff there, like lots of them but they are either too similar to what I have (newish Alfa, Megan, Clio etc) or too large or too German for my wife!

Thanks everyone for their input - thing I'm still hankering after a nice 3ltr S Capri:

FORD CAPRI 3.0S, ORANGE, 1981 one of the last

And as much as I love of Mini I wouldn't want my wife driving round in one, just not enough metal around you .... and the last one I had gave me a bad back!

And that Opel Manta is amazing ... but it would need to be kept in a garage and only driven in the dry, it's far too nice!

[Edited on 13/3/16 by Jasper]


I had one in that colour, it had 2" straight through exhaust, 390 Holley and leather 2.8i interior and wheels, it got stolen


perksy - 13/3/16 at 03:08 PM

Have to say that Mante GTE looks very tidy


Ugg10 - 13/3/16 at 03:21 PM

How about this - Ford Capri Turbo Technics

Got a feeling it may go for a bit over your budget though.

This looks intersting tvr hard top wedge with the 2.8 cologne in it - a Capri with a plastic body so no rot?

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/tvr/wedges/1983-tvr-280i-fhc/5287161?v=b


[Edited on 13/3/16 by Ugg10]

[Edited on 13/3/16 by Ugg10]


Jasper - 15/3/16 at 11:13 AM

TVR's too scary for my wife, but she's happy with the Capri choice and there's loads out there, so that'll be the one!


Volvorsport - 15/3/16 at 12:51 PM

10 x Volvo 240s