HFS's car thread | Nearly-5000-miles update
- Thread starter homeforsummer
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It's not so much difficult, as I'm disappointed that I've not been able to finish it. Feels like I'm contributing to another's demise.
I've got a restorer interested though, who may take it off my hands. Whether they rebuild it or use it for parts, is up to them. I'd like to see it rebuilt, but even used for parts it'll go towards helping some others live, so I don't mind.
I've got a restorer interested though, who may take it off my hands. Whether they rebuild it or use it for parts, is up to them. I'd like to see it rebuilt, but even used for parts it'll go towards helping some others live, so I don't mind.
👍
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Good news. Someone is coming to look at the car and its associated bits on Sunday. Might be the quickest I've ever had on a car, though I have put it up for sale pretty cheaply. But then I didn't pay much for it, so I've not lost much. Lost more on the Rover in two months than I have on Roland in two years...
Anyhoo, mulling over replacements. Ranging from sensibles to quirkies to sporties to quickies.
Off the top of my head, sensibles include the Audi A2 and Lexus IS200; quirkies include the Saab 96 and Citroen GS; sporties include the MX-5, Peugeot 106 Rallye and Porsche 944 (or an early 924); quickies include an ST185 Celica GT4 or a Saab 9-3 Aero.
Yeah, my tastes are a bit eclectic.
Only some of those will fit in the garage mind, but with the newer stuff it doesn't matter as much as it's less likely to rust/be nicked. Wouldn't be too worried leaving an A2/IS200/9-3 on the drive but the others shouldn't really live in the open.
Draw of the 96, MX-5 and 944 is strongest at the moment. But I've never really owned a "fast" car, so the 9-3 and Celica do appeal. Particularly if I can find a nice example of either. 'Tis the curse of the petrolhead.
Anyhoo, mulling over replacements. Ranging from sensibles to quirkies to sporties to quickies.
Off the top of my head, sensibles include the Audi A2 and Lexus IS200; quirkies include the Saab 96 and Citroen GS; sporties include the MX-5, Peugeot 106 Rallye and Porsche 944 (or an early 924); quickies include an ST185 Celica GT4 or a Saab 9-3 Aero.
Yeah, my tastes are a bit eclectic.
Only some of those will fit in the garage mind, but with the newer stuff it doesn't matter as much as it's less likely to rust/be nicked. Wouldn't be too worried leaving an A2/IS200/9-3 on the drive but the others shouldn't really live in the open.
Draw of the 96, MX-5 and 944 is strongest at the moment. But I've never really owned a "fast" car, so the 9-3 and Celica do appeal. Particularly if I can find a nice example of either. 'Tis the curse of the petrolhead.
- 12,389
- Betelgeuse
- Beeblebrox_237
The MX-5 and 944 sound pretty attractive to me, especially the Porsche. Though it would be expensive.
- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
Did UK get Mitsu Galant VR4? And what about an FTO?
- 8,216
- Drayton Bassett, North Warwickshire
- Duffers999
- Clark Duffy
The problem I think you'd find with the Celica and the 9-3 is that the speed they'd proved over something like the 944 wouldn't outweigh the fun you get from owning and driving a modern classic.
They just feel some much better to drive, and you get that proud feeling, you can't walk away from you car when you park up without turning around for another glance.
As a Porschephile I say go for the 944, it will be very reliable, and if you get a good one I doubt it will give you many, if any, headaches.
If you do get one get it in red
They just feel some much better to drive, and you get that proud feeling, you can't walk away from you car when you park up without turning around for another glance.
As a Porschephile I say go for the 944, it will be very reliable, and if you get a good one I doubt it will give you many, if any, headaches.
If you do get one get it in red
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That's my worry about the newer stuff. It might be faster, but it won't necessarily be any more fun to drive or interesting to own.
Whereas, with the 96 for example, it may only have 65 horses or so but every journey would be an event. It's also about as old as I can go without it then being unusable for the occasional longer trip - those 96s have a great rep for reliability and comfort. And I'm told there's not a classic car around that's better when it snows...
944 is still one of my stronger considerations as I suspect it'd be a good all-rounder. Competent on long trips, fun when it needs to be, old enough to be interesting etc.
106? Lightweight and fun. A2? Modern classic. IS? Good comfort/reliability/fun mix. GS? Fantastic engineering. Aero? Quirky, fast. Celica? Fast, rally kudos. And the MX-5 is there because I already know they're brilliant.
Whereas, with the 96 for example, it may only have 65 horses or so but every journey would be an event. It's also about as old as I can go without it then being unusable for the occasional longer trip - those 96s have a great rep for reliability and comfort. And I'm told there's not a classic car around that's better when it snows...
944 is still one of my stronger considerations as I suspect it'd be a good all-rounder. Competent on long trips, fun when it needs to be, old enough to be interesting etc.
106? Lightweight and fun. A2? Modern classic. IS? Good comfort/reliability/fun mix. GS? Fantastic engineering. Aero? Quirky, fast. Celica? Fast, rally kudos. And the MX-5 is there because I already know they're brilliant.
- 8,216
- Drayton Bassett, North Warwickshire
- Duffers999
- Clark Duffy
Yeah before I got my E30, my uncle lent me a Vauxhall Corsa VXR Nurb for a weekend, it was ballistic, my car would've have a chance in hell of keeping up.
But I'd never have it over my car. It didn't sound as good, the RWD was more fun and it of course it just looked like a Corsa when some massive wheels and tacky interior.
But I'd never have it over my car. It didn't sound as good, the RWD was more fun and it of course it just looked like a Corsa when some massive wheels and tacky interior.
- 3,279
- UK
- GTP_VEXD
The Celica or 944 get my vote. The Porsche would be great if you can find a good example, but I think the Celica is a much better looking car and it doesn't look like you're having a mid life crisis in a Celica.
Hfs can never look like he's having a mid-life crisis, because (with the greatest respect) he loox perma-18.
Now is not the time of year to be looking for an MX-5 though Hoofs.
They all have an extra bag of sand on them because it's sunny for the first time in 7 years.......
Get a Porsche.
Then we can all look at it at UKGTP's.
That'd be nice.
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- Murcie LP710
Dear Lord, I read Excel and immediately thought of the Hyundai Excel...was about to express my great displeasure in these piles of garbage:
Now that I remember it's also a Lotus, I was very much relieved.
Also +1 for the Celica or, even though I have a feeling this won't go down that well, Impreza Turbo?
'Cause GTP definitely needs more Subaru owners than the eleventy billion that already exist.
Now that I remember it's also a Lotus, I was very much relieved.
Also +1 for the Celica or, even though I have a feeling this won't go down that well, Impreza Turbo?
'Cause GTP definitely needs more Subaru owners than the eleventy billion that already exist.
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For about five and a half seconds I did think about a bugeye Turbo, but there are a few problems with that. The first is that for my budget you'd still be looking at a "well used" example; the other is that it doesn't really appeal to me in the same way as the others.
Incredibly competent it may be, but next to my other "fast" choices, it just doesn't quite grab me. Juha Kankkunen > Petter Solberg
Incredibly competent it may be, but next to my other "fast" choices, it just doesn't quite grab me. Juha Kankkunen > Petter Solberg
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- United Kingdom
The Beetle has sold Going to a young chap who's going to restore it to driving condition, then use it as a rolling project. Sounds more fun than my "static project" plan and glad it won't be parted out.
Anyhoo, I'll have an empty garage soon. So back to looking for something to fill it. Main choices still include a Saab 96 and an MX-5, but Celicas and Preludes of various vintages are still on the list (1st-gen Preludes are rare but quite lovely), as are Mercedes 190s, and E21 3-Series have also crept on. As long as it's reasonably old, interesting and generally usable and reliable it's a consideration.
Going to a young chap who's going to restore it to driving condition, then use it as a rolling project. Sounds more fun than my "static project" plan and glad it won't be parted out.Anyhoo, I'll have an empty garage soon. So back to looking for something to fill it. Main choices still include a Saab 96 and an MX-5, but Celicas and Preludes of various vintages are still on the list (1st-gen Preludes are rare but quite lovely), as are Mercedes 190s, and E21 3-Series have also crept on. As long as it's reasonably old, interesting and generally usable and reliable it's a consideration.
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- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
W123 300CD with OM606?
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- United Kingdom
Yeah, it's a pain even finding E30s that are manual now which aren't overpriced.
I'm not too bothered about a six though unless a nice one comes up at a decent price. Not much of a speed freak (and I get my fix from my job, anyway...) so I'd just be happy enough with a nice, solid example of pretty much any engine. This, for example, is quite nice.
If I'm getting an older car I'm just looking for the older car feel and experience really - the Saab 96, the basic BMWs, the early Japanese stuff, none of it is very quick but it's old and cool so I like it.
Hard to come by now. I do like W123s, but it wouldn't fit in the garage. Which is my other concern. Even the 190 would be a bit of a squeeze.
- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
Even the 190E would be a squeeze? Oh.. Most British garages were designed around Mini and Lotus weren't they.. Hmmm... E30? E36 318Ti?
Hmmm... E30? E36 318Ti?
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Mustang is sadly both too big and too expensive for me - though they are quite reasonably priced in the UK. You can get a nice 60s notchback for under £10k without much trouble.
Heh, our house was built in the 60s. At the time it was probably a 2-car garage; now it's a wide one-car garage, and would be long enough but we have cabinets etc at the back which eat into the space.
Also, it's not technically my garage so I don't want to occupy all of it.
E30 is a potential, if I can find a nice one in-budget. E36 318ti I still like, but I'm sort of "over" them as far as wanting to own one goes. Unless something has a real performance benefit now (like the few cars I mentioned a few months back) I'm tending towards older stuff.
The exact list of stuff I'm considering at the moment includes the MX-5, Saab 96, Mk1 or Mk2 Prelude, E21 or E30 3-Series, and ST162 Celica. MX-5 is there because MX-5; the rest are there because they're all old and interesting but also reliable enough to use with reasonable frequency.
Even the 190E would be a squeeze? Oh.. Most British garages were designed around Mini and Lotus weren't they..
Heh, our house was built in the 60s. At the time it was probably a 2-car garage; now it's a wide one-car garage, and would be long enough but we have cabinets etc at the back which eat into the space.
Also, it's not technically my garage so I don't want to occupy all of it.
E30 is a potential, if I can find a nice one in-budget. E36 318ti I still like, but I'm sort of "over" them as far as wanting to own one goes. Unless something has a real performance benefit now (like the few cars I mentioned a few months back) I'm tending towards older stuff.
The exact list of stuff I'm considering at the moment includes the MX-5, Saab 96, Mk1 or Mk2 Prelude, E21 or E30 3-Series, and ST162 Celica. MX-5 is there because MX-5; the rest are there because they're all old and interesting but also reliable enough to use with reasonable frequency.
- 12,892
- Cambridge
- Moglet85
- Moglet
For a laugh (I know this isn't what you're after), you could get one of these for £600 with a rebuilt engine still under warranty
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=54454
It's nowhere near what you want but 2 things worth mentioning:
1) It's £600
2) It's £600
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=54454
It's nowhere near what you want but 2 things worth mentioning:
1) It's £600
2) It's £600
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- 23,800
- Philippines
For a laugh (I know this isn't what you're after), you could get one of these for £600 with a rebuilt engine still under warranty
http://www.rx8ownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=54454
It's nowhere near what you want but 2 things worth mentioning:
1) It's £600
2) It's £600
Rent it or buy it?
But with those prices, you can pretend you're renting it, and chuck the engine when it goes again.
Swap in a Beetle motor.
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Well unless a really lovely early Prelude or Saab 96 comes up for sale near me in the next few weeks, it's looking like I may be going down the MX-5 route again.
Went to the specialist who I'd spoken with while writing the buyers guides for the book (plus he lent me a couple of cars for photographs) yesterday morning, partly to give him the copy I'd promised him, partly to have a chat and partly to look at his stock. There are some very nice cars in right now and pretty reasonably priced too.
For a start, there's an import Mariner Blue '91 for around £1.3k with under 100k on the clock. Aside from a few reversible mods (chrome roll hoops, a non-standard Nardi wheel I don't really like and a chrome shifter I also don't really like) it's a solid example in a good color and the same year as my first one.
Then there's another import, G-Limited special edition. 95 car, 1.8 engine, 83k, very dark blue over silver on a set of Panasports. Very Lotus-esque but not tastelessly so. £1.9k.
Final one is a V-Spec. 91 car, 1.6, only 77k, almost totally original save for a RacingBeat roll bar. Been in the UK since 06 and maintained by them since. £2.5k so right at the top of my budget, but about as original a V-Spec as you'd find in the UK.
So yeah, tempted. Knowing that all are rust-free is also good - early MX-5s are getting to the age where many hold a multitude of hidden rust issues. His workshop is full of cars having their sills and rear wings cut out...
Went to the specialist who I'd spoken with while writing the buyers guides for the book (plus he lent me a couple of cars for photographs) yesterday morning, partly to give him the copy I'd promised him, partly to have a chat and partly to look at his stock. There are some very nice cars in right now and pretty reasonably priced too.
For a start, there's an import Mariner Blue '91 for around £1.3k with under 100k on the clock. Aside from a few reversible mods (chrome roll hoops, a non-standard Nardi wheel I don't really like and a chrome shifter I also don't really like) it's a solid example in a good color and the same year as my first one.
Then there's another import, G-Limited special edition. 95 car, 1.8 engine, 83k, very dark blue over silver on a set of Panasports. Very Lotus-esque but not tastelessly so. £1.9k.
Final one is a V-Spec. 91 car, 1.6, only 77k, almost totally original save for a RacingBeat roll bar. Been in the UK since 06 and maintained by them since. £2.5k so right at the top of my budget, but about as original a V-Spec as you'd find in the UK.
So yeah, tempted. Knowing that all are rust-free is also good - early MX-5s are getting to the age where many hold a multitude of hidden rust issues. His workshop is full of cars having their sills and rear wings cut out...
- 5,303
- Riverside, Ca
- GTP_Leonidae_MFT
What about Datsun Z's? 240Z, 260Z, 280Z?
