Should I buy a project car?
Discussion
Should I buy a project car?
I’ve got very little mechanical knowledge whatsoever; I know the basic servicing, and I know my way around motorbikes, but when it comes to cars I’m a newbie. Bought my first car a month ago (EP3 Type R), and realised I don’t know how to do anything on it!
So my question is, should I jump into the deep end, and buy a project car, as in a car which needs a tonne of stuff doing to it? I’ve always liked the idea of doing up my own car, even before I could drive.
I wouldn’t need to drive it, so there’s no deadline, and I would enjoy doing something like that on evenings and weekends, but is it a good idea with such little mechanical knowledge? Will I end up having sell it again a month later when I realise I can’t do anything?
Cheers in advance
I’ve got very little mechanical knowledge whatsoever; I know the basic servicing, and I know my way around motorbikes, but when it comes to cars I’m a newbie. Bought my first car a month ago (EP3 Type R), and realised I don’t know how to do anything on it!
So my question is, should I jump into the deep end, and buy a project car, as in a car which needs a tonne of stuff doing to it? I’ve always liked the idea of doing up my own car, even before I could drive.
I wouldn’t need to drive it, so there’s no deadline, and I would enjoy doing something like that on evenings and weekends, but is it a good idea with such little mechanical knowledge? Will I end up having sell it again a month later when I realise I can’t do anything?
Cheers in advance
It's very easy to find that you've bitten off way more than you can chew and end up with a box of carelessly (through lack of knowledge and foresight) dismantled bits.
If you're going to do this, I would do a classic Wheeler Dealers type car and buy something in overall very good order but with one or two mechanical faults such as a dud gearbox or engine. Avoid something that's generally been neglected for years and is overall knackered like the plague. I'd also avoid anything needing bodywork. That isn't really something you can do at home without actual skills and a big, lit, dry and powered place to do it. Just sanding the paint off your metal to fix rust outside will not end well
If you're going to do this, I would do a classic Wheeler Dealers type car and buy something in overall very good order but with one or two mechanical faults such as a dud gearbox or engine. Avoid something that's generally been neglected for years and is overall knackered like the plague. I'd also avoid anything needing bodywork. That isn't really something you can do at home without actual skills and a big, lit, dry and powered place to do it. Just sanding the paint off your metal to fix rust outside will not end well
Okay, so maybe a cheap £1000 car, with good exterior condition, no rust etc. You mention getting something with a dud gearbox or engine, is this something I'd be able to do myself, albeit over a long time? I pick up things pretty quickly, and I'm fine on the bike, but would a gearbox be out of my depth?
if you fancy a project and have the time, tools and space available then why not?
my stepdad used to restore cat c cars for personal use then sell them on when he'd had enough. over the last few years he's done a truck project but due to lack of time and space it was very stressful this time round and is his last(and he's done many).
me and a few friends always talk about a group project but none of us have our own home or space to keep it. I WILL do a project at some point and think you should if you can.
my stepdad used to restore cat c cars for personal use then sell them on when he'd had enough. over the last few years he's done a truck project but due to lack of time and space it was very stressful this time round and is his last(and he's done many).
me and a few friends always talk about a group project but none of us have our own home or space to keep it. I WILL do a project at some point and think you should if you can.
Go newer, something with electronic fuel injection and airbags because it'll be closer to your car. Early 200'ish Fiesta's are good for this, mostly they'll fail MOT's on rust, and everything else is servicable without having to spend much. Also, scrappers are full of them, so if you need or want to learn how to change suspension parts, there'll be equivalent bits.
To be honest though, I learn more about how parts come apart from scrapyard visits for replacement bits, only thing is with scrappers, you're never as careful because you already know it's not going to be going back on the road
To be honest though, I learn more about how parts come apart from scrapyard visits for replacement bits, only thing is with scrappers, you're never as careful because you already know it's not going to be going back on the road
Pothole said:
I have the perfect project for you. 306GTI6 needs a sticky caliper rebuilding (kit included) and a new driver's window regulator (BNSH one included) but it has a current MOT.
It could do with a suspension freshen up, but has only as couple of rust spots and a very good interior.
Tried emailing you Pothole, but it didn't work. Interested in it though, you got an email addy?It could do with a suspension freshen up, but has only as couple of rust spots and a very good interior.
chrispwill said:
Okay, so maybe a cheap £1000 car, with good exterior condition, no rust etc. You mention getting something with a dud gearbox or engine, is this something I'd be able to do myself, albeit over a long time? I pick up things pretty quickly, and I'm fine on the bike, but would a gearbox be out of my depth?
That's what I'd suggest. The thing about a known issue like a gearbox is that if you get a Haynes manual or join a specialist forum or owners' club if you feel alone then you can work your way through something fairly specific and once you're finished (it's not hard - just methodical - honest) you'll have something that works and you get the reward. At every step along the way the reward is in sight and you know you're working towards it.In other words, you have a known scope of work to get through and you'll get a running car.
If by contrast you buy an old heap that's effectively knackered it can seem extremely daunting even to those of us quite experienced with cars. Everything you touch reveals something else that needs attention. The end goal of the working car seems to get further and further away. This can be a rewarding challenge in itself and often ends up being a nut and bolt restoration but if you look at the number of abandoned projects (effectively a rusty shell and loads of boxes of unlabelled bits) on ebay you'll see why I'm cautioning getting in too deep without having developed the skills, both technical and organisational to complete something like this.
I'd recommend you get something - price down to you - desirable or interesting. You need to want the finished car and want to drive it. Buying a 1.2 Corsa just to fix will provide little motivation to actually work on it in my experience. It wants to be something you're really keen to take out on the road as soon as you can get it running.
Something like a Spitfire is, like most BL stuff, very easy to get virtually all parts for. The chances of getting one needing a "contained" amount of work to get going are small though. Most are either relatively freshly restored, ropey runners or are abandoned project basket cases. The latter can be a steal if someone has done all the metalwork to a good standard and the car is complete, but you need to know your subject matter to make that call as well as to be able to reassemble the bloody thing!
If you wanted a Spitfire I'd get a running one and just maintain it which should keep you busy enough although to be honest I think there are more suitable types of car out there than low-value classic Brits to begin with. They're extremely simple cars, but they're often a can of worms. My current Midget is like this, as was my old Spitfire IV. Whether your budget could stretch to it is another matter but a car like Wheeler Dealer's Porsche Boxster with the gearbox fault was what I had in mind - i.e. an interesting and tidy car for a good price. Worst case scenario is you have to fit a 2nd hand gearbox. In their case they got lucky and fixed it with a fluid change. You may be able to find an MR2 in need of some work, or maybe a 200SX?
ETA: That 306 sounds fine. It should get an MOT easy enough and you can hit suspension bushes, balljoints and dampers at a more leisurely pace. That'll also give you the experience of driving the same car back to back on tired suspension versus fresh suspension, which should illustrate why a few weirdos like myself consider suspension to be semi-consumable
Edited by jamieduff1981 on Thursday 17th July 13:04
jamieduff1981 said:
That's what I'd suggest. The thing about a known issue like a gearbox is that if you get a Haynes manual or join a specialist forum or owners' club if you feel alone then you can work your way through something fairly specific and once you're finished (it's not hard - just methodical - honest) you'll have something that works and you get the reward. At every step along the way the reward is in sight and you know you're working towards it.
In other words, you have a known scope of work to get through and you'll get a running car.
If by contrast you buy an old heap that's effectively knackered it can seem extremely daunting even to those of us quite experienced with cars. Everything you touch reveals something else that needs attention. The end goal of the working car seems to get further and further away. This can be a rewarding challenge in itself and often ends up being a nut and bolt restoration but if you look at the number of abandoned projects (effectively a rusty shell and loads of boxes of unlabelled bits) on ebay you'll see why I'm cautioning getting in too deep without having developed the skills, both technical and organisational to complete something like this.
I'd recommend you get something - price down to you - desirable or interesting. You need to want the finished car and want to drive it. Buying a 1.2 Corsa just to fix will provide little motivation to actually work on it in my experience. It wants to be something you're really keen to take out on the road as soon as you can get it running.
Something like a Spitfire is, like most BL stuff, very easy to get virtually all parts for. The chances of getting one needing a "contained" amount of work to get going are small though. Most are either relatively freshly restored, ropey runners or are abandoned project basket cases. The latter can be a steal if someone has done all the metalwork to a good standard and the car is complete, but you need to know your subject matter to make that call as well as to be able to reassemble the bloody thing! If you wanted a Spitfire I'd get a running one and just maintain it which should keep you busy enough although to be honest I think there are more suitable types of car out there than low-value classic Brits to begin with. They're extremely simple cars, but they're often a can of worms. My current Midget is like this, as was my old Spitfire IV.
Whether your budget could stretch to it is another matter but a car like Wheeler Dealer's Porsche Boxster with the gearbox fault was what I had in mind - i.e. an interesting and tidy car for a good price. Worst case scenario is you have to fit a 2nd hand gearbox. In their case they got lucky and fixed it with a fluid change. You may be able to find an MR2 in need of some work, or maybe a 200SX?
Thanks for that, very useful. In other words, you have a known scope of work to get through and you'll get a running car.
If by contrast you buy an old heap that's effectively knackered it can seem extremely daunting even to those of us quite experienced with cars. Everything you touch reveals something else that needs attention. The end goal of the working car seems to get further and further away. This can be a rewarding challenge in itself and often ends up being a nut and bolt restoration but if you look at the number of abandoned projects (effectively a rusty shell and loads of boxes of unlabelled bits) on ebay you'll see why I'm cautioning getting in too deep without having developed the skills, both technical and organisational to complete something like this.
I'd recommend you get something - price down to you - desirable or interesting. You need to want the finished car and want to drive it. Buying a 1.2 Corsa just to fix will provide little motivation to actually work on it in my experience. It wants to be something you're really keen to take out on the road as soon as you can get it running.
Something like a Spitfire is, like most BL stuff, very easy to get virtually all parts for. The chances of getting one needing a "contained" amount of work to get going are small though. Most are either relatively freshly restored, ropey runners or are abandoned project basket cases. The latter can be a steal if someone has done all the metalwork to a good standard and the car is complete, but you need to know your subject matter to make that call as well as to be able to reassemble the bloody thing!
If you wanted a Spitfire I'd get a running one and just maintain it which should keep you busy enough although to be honest I think there are more suitable types of car out there than low-value classic Brits to begin with. They're extremely simple cars, but they're often a can of worms. My current Midget is like this, as was my old Spitfire IV. Whether your budget could stretch to it is another matter but a car like Wheeler Dealer's Porsche Boxster with the gearbox fault was what I had in mind - i.e. an interesting and tidy car for a good price. Worst case scenario is you have to fit a 2nd hand gearbox. In their case they got lucky and fixed it with a fluid change. You may be able to find an MR2 in need of some work, or maybe a 200SX?
I agree with your point about a 1.2 Corsa. Finally bringing one of those up to a good standard would fill me with a great sense of mundane, and the feeling of pointlessness. I do like the old Brits, they just look fun and would be great to say I've brought one back up to spec, but they are old, and I don't want to be chasing a never ending finish line.
I'll take a look at some of your suggestions. Where would be the best place to find cars like these, I've been typing 'project' into gumtree, but obviously that mostly brings up cars which need a lot of body work doing to them. Similarly typing in 'Cat D' just brings up body panel damaged cars. I need to find a place where they sell cars with mechanical faults, or is it just a case of searching on autotrader for a specific car, and starting with the cheapest?
a neighbour recently gifted me his garage, as he has no use for it, and its next door to mine and we have two cars, rather handy.
I've been considering getting myself a workable project to fill my garage with, and park my car in this newly aquired garage.
I've had my eye on a MR2 T-Bar for sale at a scrappy thats not to far away from me. Very tempting to do it, but I need to save up for a wedding next year.
You should do it!
I've been considering getting myself a workable project to fill my garage with, and park my car in this newly aquired garage.
I've had my eye on a MR2 T-Bar for sale at a scrappy thats not to far away from me. Very tempting to do it, but I need to save up for a wedding next year.
You should do it!
Pothole said:
I have the perfect project for you. 306GTI6 needs a sticky caliper rebuilding (kit included) and a new driver's window regulator (BNSH one included) but it has a current MOT.
It could do with a suspension freshen up, but has only as couple of rust spots and a very good interior.
You got an ad mate? PH not letting me email anyoneIt could do with a suspension freshen up, but has only as couple of rust spots and a very good interior.
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