What car to buy to "do up" around 1k 80's - 90's

[krisdNb]

Hey, what would you suggest as a first (im over 25) car, cheep insurance, quick engine, but economical.
Something along the lines of MK2 Golf GTI.

[TWPC]

Daihatsu Charade GTti

http://www.classicandperformancecar.com/front_website/octane_interact/carspecs.php/?see=3982

[krisdNb]

hahaha never have thought of that, looks nippy, but kinda ugly looking.

[Renovation]

Whatever you like.

The Golf is a good call as they are simple, worthwhile and have a following as do most hot hatches.

Mk1 MX5 is another obvious candidate

[anonymous-user]

Bubble shape Rover 200 series like this
One of my first cars was a 214si, it was quite a giggle and the 1400cc K-series engine was quite sprightly. Most of the ZR bits should fit too so it has a bit of potential as a cracking sleeper car. It needs stiffer springs at the front as it was quite under-steery but I liked that as it aided lift off oversteer though i was running cheap rubbish tyres too because I was poor.

[Big Fat Fatty]

Renault 5GTT, Clio Williams? Not sure what rough ones of these go for though tbh.

If you can find one and perhaps not the most obvious choice but they are rwd and have a cavernous engine bay; mk4/5 Cortina.

[TooMany2cvs]

Something you actually want to own.

Whatever it is, it's very unlikely you'll even break-even on buying/"doing-up", let alone make money. So you might as well do it for love.

[griffin dai]

Saab 9000

[psychoR1]

Mr2 Mk2?

[KM666]

You can get an Octavia with the 1.8t 20v lump from the mk4 golf gti for around £1k, although not as cheap as some mk4 golfs are now, insurance is slightly lower. A remap alone can see gains exceeding 50bhp as per the golf.

I've got one, not mapped yet but still a nice car to live with, can see 40mpg average on the motorway at 80. I'm 23 with 1 years ncb, 2 years experience, 1 non fault claim and pay £500 for the year fully comp.

Edited by KM666 on Tuesday 2nd September 22:40

[cat220]

Civic vti or for something a bit different Volvo 850 t5 or 740 turbo (not that economical though)

[Kentish]

I've just bought a late 90s e39 touring to tidy up for fun and fettle a bit to keep.

Cheap to insure and to tax and mpg not too bad either.

[The_Burg]

MGF / TF great little cars.£500 will buy something useable.
Can only go up. Wasn't that long ago an MGB was free to good home.

Don't skimp on tyres though they bite.

[pidsy]

FTO?

[hman]

something galvanised

[cat220]

Ford Puma 1.7, great little car for the money.