A calssic for 1K is it feasible?
Discussion
Hi, i'm in a position at the moment where i'm don't need a car but rather want one.I was thinking instead of dropping £500 on a snotter that may last a year if i'm lucky.Then there's insurance which would be another £600 or so, that I might be able to go the classic route.
I have read some threads on here and was thinking the money could be better spent, ie 1k on a classic which should ensure a reasonable insurance premium and then with a bit of luck and care the car won't depreciate.
I have looked around and I appreciate a Herald or Midget are probably out of my reach but i've seen some interesting ones.A guy locally was selling a Nissan Bluebird which he said he'd insured for peanuts.
Anyone done something similar with my budget?
Cheers
I have read some threads on here and was thinking the money could be better spent, ie 1k on a classic which should ensure a reasonable insurance premium and then with a bit of luck and care the car won't depreciate.
I have looked around and I appreciate a Herald or Midget are probably out of my reach but i've seen some interesting ones.A guy locally was selling a Nissan Bluebird which he said he'd insured for peanuts.
Anyone done something similar with my budget?
Cheers
There's a surprising range of classics available for under a grand. Have a look on Car and Classic and you'll find a wide choice of Mercedes, several rare 1980s Renaults and even a Porsche with a year's MoT. Go for it!
Quite feasable - I bought my Midget last July, £700, MOT & Tax, solid in all the right places.
The paint isn't great (but then for £700, it's not going to be a show queen). I bought it cheap as it needed a bit of TLC, but nothing i couldnt do myself (I'm no mechanic, but I'm happy to get stuck in and have a go) and decided to buy it to see how i got on with it.
I have a dull daily, so this is my weekend toy, but as it was cheap I don't worry too much about being purist. And if it fails miserably on the MOT, I can sell it on for not to much of a loss.
If you have never had a classic before, its the best way to do it, so long as you don't mind fiddling and fixing with bits when they inevitably break or fall off...
The paint isn't great (but then for £700, it's not going to be a show queen). I bought it cheap as it needed a bit of TLC, but nothing i couldnt do myself (I'm no mechanic, but I'm happy to get stuck in and have a go) and decided to buy it to see how i got on with it.
I have a dull daily, so this is my weekend toy, but as it was cheap I don't worry too much about being purist. And if it fails miserably on the MOT, I can sell it on for not to much of a loss.
If you have never had a classic before, its the best way to do it, so long as you don't mind fiddling and fixing with bits when they inevitably break or fall off...
Opara said:
I tell you what, i'd bloody love a 924.I have actually seen a couple but I figured they'd cost a fortune in maintenance and running costs.
The other options look good too, the Merc and MX5 especially, anyone getting good quotes on not so classic "classics"?
I got mine a little over a year ago, has cost me nothing but £40 on oil and filter (barring a new battery and some other bits to get it through the MOT when I first got it), I service it myself, and have done 5k miles without incident.The other options look good too, the Merc and MX5 especially, anyone getting good quotes on not so classic "classics"?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
There are a few niggles though......
I'd avoid the 924(S) as some of the bills can be quite large relative to the value of the car. I'm unsure if they will ever be a desired classic either.
A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
CaptainSlow said:
I'd avoid the 924(S) as some of the bills can be quite large relative to the value of the car. I'm unsure if they will ever be a desired classic either.
A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
I'm on my mum's insurance for when she needs driving to the airport etc would this count?A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
Opara said:
CaptainSlow said:
I'd avoid the 924(S) as some of the bills can be quite large relative to the value of the car. I'm unsure if they will ever be a desired classic either.
A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
I'm on my mum's insurance for when she needs driving to the airport etc would this count?A Mk1 MX5 or Eunos is a good idea, a good one can be found for under a grand if you look hard enough. I believe values of these are at their lowest and they'll start creeping back up as more get broken/scrapped. Parts are plentiful and cheap at the moment so you can make it perfect for not much outlay.
You may find insurance tricky as many insurers require you to have access to other cars to qualify for classic insurance. Mk1 MX5s qualify.
MGgeordie said:
However, I still dont see it as a proper 'classic'. Proper classics have chrome bumpers & black & white numberplates! 
I don't either. As nice as they are, they are old 'new' cars IYSWIM.
Oh & to answer another post, I've got my Jag on classic insurance without a normal car. I think it's with Lancaster.
The_Burg said:
MGF, any older than 15 will be insurable as classic. Dirt cheap to run, parts easily available and don't rust unlike the MX5. Quicker and more economical too. Bit of hunting and you should be able to buy and insure for that sort of money.
No basically - my 2002 MGTF with only 60k on the clock has just been scrapped due to the entire sub frame being rusted out. I imagine a 15 year old one would be just as bad. 'Modern classics', by the sounds of it then. If a classic policy won't work, look for 'cherished' car policies. The mileage is usually less limited and the savings against insuring an older car on a normal policy should be good.
Example- I insured my '96 525i with Admiral last year for £680. This year I've got it on a cherished car policy with Adrian Flux for £325.
Example- I insured my '96 525i with Admiral last year for £680. This year I've got it on a cherished car policy with Adrian Flux for £325.
We've got an MR2 which we've had for 4-5yrs now. Insurance (I'm old) has always been in the £220-£230 range with a full NCB and it's been very cheap to run. If you don't have an NCB or another car insured then I think you'll struggle to get traditional classic car policies.
MR2 Mk1's are climbing in price now and I'd guess anything worth having would be out of the budget, but the Mk2's are dropping into your budget range.
MR2 Mk1's are climbing in price now and I'd guess anything worth having would be out of the budget, but the Mk2's are dropping into your budget range.
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