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I'm in the lucky position of having some spare funds to spend on a classic car. (I've got enough bikes and bits for now so it's time to splash the cash on another hobby).
It will need to be stored outside, but can be under cover. Needs to be something I can reliably, well as reliably as any classic, expect to start, stop and go when required without spending hours maintaining it every week.
Ideally a soft top, or removable hard top. Something with a bit of get up and go and space for weekend bags.
I've got around £15k to spend.
The shortlist so far, in no particular order of preference -
Triumph Stag
Triumph TR6
Alfa Romeo Spider
BMW 1602 / 2002
MGB
Triumph TR6
Lotus Elise
Any other recommendations of what I should have a look at?
Impact bumper 911...SC?
A garage! Old British tin doesn't ten to weather well. An Elise should be ok mind.
Mazda RX8 I reckon will go down as a classic.
[img] http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/modelpicture.php?id=672 [/img]
A bit of get up and go...
Which ever one comes with a pot of degreaser and an Anorak.
possible future classics
S2000
Z350
TT 225bhp
997 911
RS4
a really really clean E46 M3
Yeah, V8 Stag whoop
Fiat barchetta or an unadulterated coupe.
The Elise's boot is less practical than the panniers on my KTM. How's about its unloved cousin the Europa?
Alfa Brera S (the 3.0 2wd version fettled by prodrive)
Sell a kidney?
[img] http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servlet/media?id=c71721225f10eaac0cf671a0b3f33a8d&width=640&height=480 [/img]
Stoner - Member
Mazda RX8 I reckon will go down as a classic.
POSTED 13 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
Really!?!? Mine was shit.
I had a porsche 944 turbo a good low milage coupe will go for about 13K and prices are on the up...
Clio Williams
I too would go with a Porsche 911, a Carrera or Targa but not the 4S Turbo trash. Something simple with the clean ethos of original Porsches design.. Try the 80's/ very early 90' s variants for most choice.
I've a mate that has a 90's Carrara sport, 3.2 and it's a lovely car, he uses it daily in town and it goes very well, still has enough power when he hops back to Herts to see his parents and yet blends in nicely and isn't a shorty car at all...
More than a kidney for that jag. Guy I work with has one (5litre supercharged) and he says he would be happy to get double figs for mp/g. What about a standard XK
I'd seriously consider renting a garage if you don't have access to one.
Even with a cover on cars will be get a lot of moisture on them and you will get rust on anything steel.
Impreza P1
Prolly the TR6 out of that list. 🙂
Whatever you buy, make sure it is mint.
Ford Cosworth
Lancia Delta
Subaru 22B
E30 M3
All already classics, you probably wouldn't lose money.
Cars that are starting to appreciate:
E34 M5
E39 M5
Honda Integra Type R
Lotus Elise
Focus RS
Pegeuot 106 rallye
there is a Mazda factory issued, early special edition MX5 Eunos M2-1001 for sale in Japan for approx £11K. It's low mileage, hasn't been messed around with and looks amazingly clean for a 21 year old car. They had upgraded suspension, engine and body mods and interior changes. They're rare as rocking horse poo in the UK.
http://www.goo-net-exchange.com/usedcars/EUNOS/EUNOS_ROADSTER/700973069420131125001/index.html
It'd probably be within budget (just) after shipping.
I had the money I'd be buying it and then mothballing it. That said it'd be plenty reliable as a daily driver and early 5's that haven't been modd'ed or rusting are starting to get hard to find. The BBR turbo editions and Le Mans etc are appreciating.
(ducks and awaits the usual flaming about hairdressers)
peugeot 106 xsi/rallye/gti/quicksilver
edit: damn.
balls. It would appear that my original link has changed and they're now advertising another M2 for approx £20K (the link shows a car with approx 34,000km on the clock, the one I was looking at had 64,000km).
Somewhere on goo-net is the 11K version, unless it's sold already...
Space for weekend bags and you say Elise? 😆
Whatever you decide on it will be worth more if it is totally standard with original parts. Old BMW's 325, etc are appreciating quite well.
Pembleton three wheeler Grasshopper with a Moto Guzzi 750 V Twin.
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I love Alfa's, really really love them, but I wouldn't feel happy if it lived under a cover
I had one of these
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and stored it in one of these
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from your original list, I'd get a BMW 2002. Lovely car and I would love to be able to afford one. Although rust is still a problem, I think they fare better than a 60's Alfa
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old style 70s 911 Targa? - mate had one of those, bloody lovely car. Quite a bit of work to keep it going though.
The soft top bit makes it harder. Saab 900 convertible?
Peugot 205 GTI / convertible?
even an old style Golf convertible - nothing fancy..
TVR as above - Tasmin / Chimaera?
A Lancia Fulvia or Montecarlo?
that bmw - *rubs thighs*
My neighbour has a griff 500.
Lovely sound, nice looking car. Money pit though 😉
Un hedged rb5
22b
P1
I like imprezas...
From your list, the only one I'd consider as feasible to be kept outdoors is the Lotus.
audi a2 😉
there's two issues with 22bs , finding one and then finding the £30k+ to buy it.
One can dream....
E46 M3, ideally a special edition like a CS. Doubt £15k would get a CSL unfortunately...
Z3M Coupe
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Audi WR Quattro.. ?
ttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/audi-ur-quattro-turbo-wr-2-1-classic-not-rs-/141224014762?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20e19b73aa
peugeot 106 xsi/rallye/gti/quicksilver
+1 Always regretted not keeping my second GTi in diablo red.
Z3M Coupe
Z4M Coupe would be just about within budget I think...
[img] https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQt0XlZXweuIgn6uMn1honn1Ogw1wENdSLf_S3SS2mzlNWNKmJK [/img]
66 V8 Mustang?
Me and My Dad shared one of these for about 10 years, imports from Florida will be rust free (might need a paint job tho). Lovely to drive, V8 sounds lovely, get lots of admiration and rare enough to turn every head.
my line of thought would suggest cars like stags etc are going to need a fair bit of tinkering to keep them good, even once restored. Something like an older BMW or a Jap car, I would have thought would be less aggro if that's what you are after and probably more straight forward getting parts etc. IMHO May be proven wrong though.
If you can find one… Gorgeous cars.
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Ford racing puma. Low numbers, largely not thrashed. Not expensive to run. Look at the price of cosworth, xr3 and xr4is, to see where these will go.also quite understated I'm everyday use.
From your list I too would say TR6. I would also agree not outside, not for any classic you are trying to "cherish".
The Lancis Fulvia crossed my mind too and I reckon the Z3 Coupe is definitely a contender for future classic. Unique looks and a boot big enough to carry lots of [s]spares[/s] weekend luggage.
Abarth 500... almost went for one of these last month that looked like a real bargain, but bottled it and got a standard 500. Kind of regretting it now!