I want a Classic!

Author
Discussion

esso

1,849 posts

216 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Thinking about this practically a Triumph Vitesse would be a good choice for several reasons:-
1.Its old enough to be considered a classic.
2.It has a six-cylinder engine so can keep up with modern traffic
3.It should be pretty straightforward to maintain.
4.If you go for the convertible you have the wind in the hair feel of a sports Car
5. It's practical.
Can't think why I never bought one myself! :-)

TonyRPH

12,963 posts

167 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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esso said:
I don`t wish to sound negative here and I wish you good luck with your search but please be aware that if you intend using a classic for everyday use it will require reqular maintainence and lots of TLC,attention and care.You say you are not a technician,unless you are willing to learn and use spanners then you will have to pay someone to maintain it which will cost you.MGB`s etc are a good way into classic car ownership but be prepared for it to let you down one frosty morning!
I often see stuff like this written - but when I ran my '75 MK II Escort back in the 80's, it didn't require *that* much attention and TLC, just regular servicing.

Likewise - I had a '76 Corolla that I ran for 5 years, and that too didn't need much attention, although the rust did kill it in the end...

If you maintain any classic properly, it shouldn't be that much less reliable than a modern car IMHO (assuming you're not covering galactic distances on a daily basis of course).



Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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I'd go for an MGB over a TR6 or GT6 I used mine daily for three years with no issues.



Just before I took the tired goldseal out and replaced it with the running gear from an S14. wink



Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 30th August 11:48

SV8Predator

2,102 posts

164 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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TonyRPH said:
I often see stuff like this written - but when I ran my '75 MK II Escort back in the 80's, it didn't require *that* much attention and TLC, just regular servicing.
What? That wasn't running a classic car, it was only five or six years old!

Liquid Knight

15,754 posts

182 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
After a short ban (you get those with an MGB that can go off the clock at will) I needed something classic, practical and cheap to insure...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


...to this day one of the best all round car I have ever owned. smile

After the no fault shunt in that thread I needed something even cheaper...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

...and happened to be even rarer and just as practical.

My Panda still sits on my driveway next to my X1/9 (now the insurance is back to normal)...



Edited by Liquid Knight on Saturday 30th August 11:47

TonyRPH

12,963 posts

167 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
SV8Predator said:
TonyRPH said:
I often see stuff like this written - but when I ran my '75 MK II Escort back in the 80's, it didn't require *that* much attention and TLC, just regular servicing.
What? That wasn't running a classic car, it was only five or six years old!
I know - but what I meant was - why should it be any different to running the same car today?

Sure, it's that much older, but if kept in fine fettle why should it be unreliable?

When I lived in SA, I drove my (4 speed) MK II 900 miles in 1 day without a hitch. And that was on a hot day, running at a steady 80 mph or so.

Likewise with my Toyota, I did many long trips without any issues.

A well maintained old car should be capable of the same thing today surely?


mrtwisty

3,057 posts

164 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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esso said:
What you need to make sure of is the body/chassis is in good condition as bodywork costs money. Mechanicals on these cars should be easy to fix and not that expensive.
Which is why you should buy one of these:



Rotproof body, Ford/Triumph mechanicals (so plenty of spares available), rare, not too expensive (yet), plenty quick enough for modern traffic, nice stright six/V6 sound.....


longshot

3,286 posts

197 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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Sunbeam Alpine perhaps?

velocemitch

3,795 posts

219 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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MarshPhantom said:
Alfa 105 Spider? Seem quite reasonably priced at the moment, plenty within your budget.
Yes this, go for a late model S4 at or slightly above your 10k and it should be pretty reliable and hold or likely increase it's value.
Random example which falls just nicely in budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-1989-O...

smile

Markgenesis

536 posts

131 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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TonyRPH said:
I know - but what I meant was - why should it be any different to running the same car today?

Sure, it's that much older, but if kept in fine fettle why should it be unreliable?

When I lived in SA, I drove my (4 speed) MK II 900 miles in 1 day without a hitch. And that was on a hot day, running at a steady 80 mph or so.

Likewise with my Toyota, I did many long trips without any issues.

A well maintained old car should be capable of the same thing today surely?
Agree, i ran a Hillman imp as a daily about 10 years ago, had electronic ignition, a front rad (Fiesta) and front discs (also Fiesta) was totaly reliable, also ran a couple of 3.0S Capri's as daily's, never let me down (though they were fun in the snow and ice).

Currently trying to sort my Lotus Elite to use as a daily.

Admitedly though i am handy with spanners (was a mechanic and MOT tester back in the early 90's)

vixen1700

22,671 posts

269 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
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http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

V6 TVR S

Reliable, I use mine more often than not.
Sounds incredible.
Reasonably decent on fuel.
Looks good.
The roof comes off.
Feels likes a 60s sportscar.
Engine is a decent '80s design.
Rare.

Find a decent one and you'll love it. smile

esso

1,849 posts

216 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
TonyRPH said:
SV8Predator said:
TonyRPH said:
I often see stuff like this written - but when I ran my '75 MK II Escort back in the 80's, it didn't require *that* much attention and TLC, just regular servicing.
What? That wasn't running a classic car, it was only five or six years old!
I know - but what I meant was - why should it be any different to running the same car today?

Sure, it's that much older, but if kept in fine fettle why should it be unreliable?

When I lived in SA, I drove my (4 speed) MK II 900 miles in 1 day without a hitch. And that was on a hot day, running at a steady 80 mph or so.

Likewise with my Toyota, I did many long trips without any issues.

A well maintained old car should be capable of the same thing today surely?
Tony RPH.....I am only trying to offer some helpful advice here and I feel qualified enough to do it as I have owned classics for nearly 40 years.As someone has said a `75 Escort was hardly a classic in the 80`s was it? Also regarding your Toyota `it didn`t need that much attention although rust killed it after 5 years`.....didn`t maintain it and give it the attention it needed did you? irked

Edited by esso on Saturday 30th August 16:42


Edited by esso on Saturday 30th August 16:46


Edited by esso on Saturday 30th August 16:49

TonyRPH

12,963 posts

167 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
esso said:
Tony MPH.....I am only trying to offer some helpful advice here and I feel qualified enough to do it as I have owned classics for nearly 40 years.As someone has said a `75 Escort was hardly a classic in the 80`s was it? Also regarding your Toyota `rust killed it after 5 years`.....didn`t maintain it that well did you?
I believe I addressed that in one of my posts above - but my point was if it was reliable back then - if well maintained there's no reason it shouldn't be reliable now.

Also - my Toyota... I lived in East London (very humid city in SA) - and the car spent a lot of time at the beach front - and despite regular washing and corrosions treatment (an SA product called Tectyl) - the car still succumbed.

I saw brand new Toyotas with rust in the body seams - the problem being that they were built in Durban (notoriously humid) and not rust proofed at source.

VW had a similar problem for a while as well, during the 70's / 80's.

In fact, very few cars survived beyond 10 years at the coast back then.


smn159

12,449 posts

216 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
esso said:
I don`t wish to sound negative here and I wish you good luck with your search but please be aware that if you intend using a classic for everyday use it will require reqular maintainence and lots of TLC,attention and care.You say you are not a technician,unless you are willing to learn and use spanners then you will have to pay someone to maintain it which will cost you.MGB`s etc are a good way into classic car ownership but be prepared for it to let you down one frosty morning!
My experience of this, having run an Austin A30, Sunbeam Alpine and Triumph Vitesse as dailies over the past few years and currently running a VW Corrado during the week and a series Landy at weekends, is that any unreliability comes from buying something that isn't up to standard in the first place. All of the above were completely reliable in daily use, with just basic servicing.

MarshPhantom

9,658 posts

136 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
velocemitch said:
MarshPhantom said:
Alfa 105 Spider? Seem quite reasonably priced at the moment, plenty within your budget.
Yes this, go for a late model S4 at or slightly above your 10k and it should be pretty reliable and hold or likely increase it's value.
Random example which falls just nicely in budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-1989-O...

smile
There's a rather sexy black S4 on the the bay now too. Sub 10k.


esso

1,849 posts

216 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
All the recent comments state if a classic is going to be used daily then it needs to be regularly maintained and serviced to avoid issues.The OP stated that she was not a technician and I was mearly trying to point out that if a classic is to be used daily then it will need attention on a regular basis.
I`m fortunate to have a company Mondeo,its serviced every 12500 miles and i hardly lift the bonnet between services,i also have a TVR Cerbera as a weekend toy and i never know when i get it out of the garage whats going to require fixing next!...that`s the difference.I`m trying to point out to the OP when going from a regular,reliable modern car to using a classic as a daily driver what the pitfalls maybe.My example is extreme i know but i`m just pointing out what can occur. thumbup

80quattro

1,724 posts

194 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
OP doesn't state how many seats/level of practicality he needs, but if both of these feature high up the list, I would recommend a BMW E28. I own one, and despite not needing to use it as a daily, I would not hesitate should I have to.

It starts first time, every time. It has a good heater and fan, power steering, five seats and s great boot. It 'bongs' at me when its cold enough to be icy outside, I have a low fuel light, a fuel computer, lovely comfy recaro leather seats, and a good fun factor provided by circa 220bhp at the rear wheels via a limited slip diff. £10k budget would be more than adequate to get a super clean one, possibly two.

Skyedriver

17,667 posts

281 months

Saturday 30th August 2014
quotequote all
Hi
Have just read your profile, can I suggest a Porsche 924, never had one but seems to cover all the bases.
There's a few out there well within your price range, reliable, galvanised I think, fits into your "really like" bracket, sporting pretensions, handle better than I "B" I would guess......

craig_m67

949 posts

187 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
quotequote all
MarshPhantom said:
velocemitch said:
MarshPhantom said:
Alfa 105 Spider? Seem quite reasonably priced at the moment, plenty within your budget.
Yes this, go for a late model S4 at or slightly above your 10k and it should be pretty reliable and hold or likely increase it's value.
Random example which falls just nicely in budget.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Alfa-Romeo-Spider-1989-O...

smile
There's a rather sexy black S4 on the the bay now too. Sub 10k.
^^This^^,
Parts are a plentiful. This model (the last) had the best rust protection. It's also considered the last real** Alfa spider and as such likely to increase in value. If you do buy an Alfa check it throughly for any rust.

The mechanicals are bullet proof, plentiful and easily maintained by any indie as they're pre (most) compute, pute, pute, pute, pute, pute, compute, compute, computer games.. Nah na nah na na nah.


  • real is a subjective term, the author doesn't actually hold to this opinion as expressed or reasonably held by others (usually septics), as with most things your mileage may vary, if pain persists see a doctor, never operate machinery when drowsy
Edited by craig_m67 on Sunday 31st August 03:23

YogaBunny

31 posts

115 months

Sunday 31st August 2014
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V1C, What's your journey to work like? If you've got bumper to bumper motorway traffic for 30 miles they tend not to like that much!!
I don't think the reliability is the problem necessarily - but often they are much smaller and sometimes much slower than other cars so you can feel vulnerable on the motorways and driving in extreme conditions in winter isn't great.
Practicalities rather than reliability are worth considering.