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I know it is impractical, and cannot carry bikes but I'm single so only need one and occasionally two seats. It's cheap to buy and insure and I know a guy that restores and fixes them.
I know it will break down, I know it will probably leak. But they are classic and I have always wanted one, now is my chance. I will only use it for a year and it has a CD player. Now am I just being silly and should I get a real car, or should I just go for it?
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If you like it, want it and can afford it - buy it.
Do it. Can't guarantee you won't regret it, bt if you've always wanted one then you won't get a better chance.
Buy it or regret it for the rest of your life.
I think I am possibly being encouraged by the impractical car thread, oh I want it!
Pre face lift/US regulation bumpers and wire wheels what's not to love.
Buy it and chisel off that stupid front spoiler.
Clearly with the 37 year old 1.8l engine it needs the downforce.
Go for it. In your situation i had any number o total impractical cars as my means of transport; Spitfires, Midgets, various kits...
A lot nicer than the rubber bumper ones....do it
Bought one in 2003 still got it though garaged at the moment.
Used it to commute up the M25,M1, 60 miles each way for six months no problem. Very cheap to maintain and parts are very easy to obtain.
Have you bought it yet?
Where is it? How much? (Might fancy it myself)
Lucky bum!
I'm going to view, drive and possibly buy on Sunday. Anyone want a reliable but boring Nissan Almera?
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Don't worry I live in Hampshire and have 13 polo ponies at my work, I can join the Toffs club.
Seriously call me gay and all but why not a MX5? ultra reliable and usable all year round. You can even put a bike rack on it.
I can't get insurance on it, I only have 1 1/2 year no claims that's the problem with being a student.
I was looking at one.
okay. Hora, you are gay.
MX5 is great therefore boring and uncool, ask Clarkson for explanation. MG is waaay nicer. One day I'll have a Stag or a Spitfire or an MGB GT. One day...
No no no no just awful, unless it has been cherished it will be rotten in all sorts of places. I helped fix one and it was just shite.
Should I buy a 1972 MGB GT?
No.
Lotus Elan circa 1965 is far, far cooler.
Yes and far far more expensive in every way.
we've got a midget, lots and lots of fun, get a roadster and buy a hardtop if you must. Then yuve got the option of some toppless fun in the summer. The handling wont suffer as they were rubbish to start with. The GT was suposed to handle better but only because of the extra weight.
Dont get hung up on wire wheels (they make the handling worse and take a lot of polishing) an chrome bumpers (they cant cope with speed bumps).
things to look out for:
usual engine, gearbox, drivetrain noises and problems, all parts are available and theyr fairly easy to work on with th eright tools.
Rust, everywhere, usualy in places you cant see, check everywhere you can see, then check the do/body gap, you should be able to run a poud coin down it with consistent clearence the whole way, if not the chassis has sagged as the sills rotted away. if you can find oe get a re-shelled one, its as close to uying anew car as you'll get. Just beware a £4000 re shelled car may not be as reliable as a £4000 car with a rotten chassis but a new engine.
Have a ood look at 5 or 6 to get an idea what the money gets you, a wreck for £500 and a concours winner for £15K will look very similar form a distance.
If your a student I'd wait till you have space, a garage, tools and the time to work on one. i've already got 1st dibs on the midget when it comes up for sale 🙂
alwyn, on a 1.6? How about you insure it on your parents address? 🙄
Regarding the rust, there is a little bit. But apparently it isn't too bad. Can this easily be fixed? Or is a right off problem. Anything out to look out for, it has had new rear springs, fuel pump, master cylinder and rear axle.
alwyn, as insurance cost is an issue I'd walk away from a MGB for now. Classic cars really need cover from all weathers and regular TLC- for anyone who says not necessarily I say assume the worse is a safe bet. I see a classic car like an Alfa. You need to put aside money for the 'just incase' big repair and sundries. I admire your passion though. I'd love a 50/60's Alfa Spyder (coupe version)- you can buy them cheapish but you can't run it as your only car.
I say walk away for now and comeback to one in a years time. 🙂
Regarding the rust, there is a little bit.
Means there's alot more underneath. Unless you are getting it for a song/a few hundred pounds certainly not more than a bag of sand then walk away.
Owning a classic car should be a pleasure, if you are not handy with filler/spanners then buy the best one you can possibly afford.
Good luck 🙂
i had a '66 roadster for 3 or 4 years...
the plus: sold it for more than i paid for it.
the negative: always had a little niggle somewhere (starter motor sticking, dynamo burning out, getting hot in a traffic jam and just stopping) and until you drive an old car you don't realise how much you take modern cars for granted (decent brakes, heaters that work and demisters that clear windows).
also bear in mind that if you have a crash the car will disintegrate.
as has been posted already, DO NOT buy the first one you see. look at as many as you can, the variations in price/quality are huge.
definitely get the car into an mg specialist for a checkover before you buy, there are certain bits (sills, floor, rear shock mounts on the chassis) that can costs 000's to sort.
Oh, and join the club, cheap insurance, and any number of [s]mugs[/s]willing volunteers that will help you fix the thing
If you get a dodgy one it can be a pain in the arse. My dad picked up a 'project' car that all it really needed was a new fuel pump. one new fuel pump later, and this, and that, and wiring and it still dosent run. Most of all its rotted away quickly to show cracks in the 'respray', basically alot of filler. It was a duff one bought of ebay for a couple of hundred, but check it all carefully as although they are easy to work on they are tedious little cars.
Not my cup of tea but go for it. Old cars are great, but as many have said, make sure you can afford to get whatever repairs it will need.
v8 one might be worth a look at, wouldn't entertain a 1.8 morris marina engine - gutless.
Pah, Im getting old.
Id prefer the Berlingo on the drive over the road.
Do it, do it, do it...
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all the hassle and expense of a proper sportscar, but without the handling, speed, and safety features.
sorry. non.
The guy on the left looks like a 'tached Neil Morrisey.
Just don't ok.
loads of rust,time,hassle,money
Little performance, reliability, class or beauty (imho)
bargain, not.
Never that keen on them in 72, my opinion hasn't changed.
I've got a MG Midget in the garage. Was highly unreliable, cost a lot in constant maintenance, not comfy, terrible brakes, only good for shopping if you were buying 2 tins of beans, a struggle to get out of, noisy, freezing in the winter, roasting in the summer, prone to rust and felt highly dangerous on the road.
Most fun car I have ever driven.
Do it.
alwyn, my deatils here, if of any use to you
www.peterflynnclassiccars.com
Alwyn, dunno if you're still looking at the thread, but only do it if you have a lot of money to spend on upkeep and/or are great with car maintenance yourself. My parents had a 1968 MGB GT and it got to a stage where the rust would never completely go (along the back "wings") and had to be treated annually.
Also, have you driven one? The only thing I remember about driving it was it was horrendously slow for a 1800cc engine (I had a Triumph 2000 that positively FLEW in comparison) and the steering was really heavy (my mum had the biggest biceps of any woman).
Beautiful to look at though eh? (the car, not my mum)
🙂
I've had two. Best point: the looks
Worst point: everything else.
Still, if you want one, you'll probably get one. Watch out for rust everywhere, smoky engines, whiny axle, overdrive that doesn't, trim (expensive, wheel spokes. The webasto fabric sunroof is a nice thing to have.
Basically, you have to be prepared to get your hands dirty. Parts are easily obtained and relatively cheap. Join the MG Owners club (but don't go to any meetings!)
Yes, yes, and yes again....
Had a Midget that I rebuilt a few years back, yes it was impractical, it leaked, and was incredibly unreliable but I loved it, could help but grin from ear to ear every time I got into it.
Used to love working on the engine and spending whole weekends polishing and cleaning it.... sigh