What cars do you wish you'd bought?
Discussion
When I was 18, Audi Quattro Turbos and Lancia Delta Integrales were going for £4k. I desperately wanted one or the other, and spent weeks trying to find someone willing to insure me. Everyone wanted a minimum £50k p.a.
Quattros seemed to stay at around the same level, and remained a distinct possibility, until "Life on Mars" or whatever it was. Suddenly overnight they went to £20k.
At that time too, Lotus Carltons and RS2s could be had for £12k - although I never had that sort of money at the time, so no regrets about those!
Now I do have the money, I just don't see any similar "greats" for money I'd be willing to fork out.
Quattros seemed to stay at around the same level, and remained a distinct possibility, until "Life on Mars" or whatever it was. Suddenly overnight they went to £20k.
At that time too, Lotus Carltons and RS2s could be had for £12k - although I never had that sort of money at the time, so no regrets about those!
Now I do have the money, I just don't see any similar "greats" for money I'd be willing to fork out.
Bispal said:
vournikas said:
Back in 2003 when I had some disposable cash after selling my place and moving in with the GF (who is now Mrs V), I was after a weekend toy. Top of the list was a M635CSi.
There were plenty of very nice examples for sale at around the £13k - £15k mark, but I bottled it at the thought of running costs and potential bork so I bought a sensible old classic instead.
This is where they sit now
f
ksocks
You made the right choice! I spent 2 years looking for one (they were my childhood dream) and bought an immaculate one 3 years ago for £10,500. 6 months and £7,500 later sunk into a seemingly immaculate car I was still looking at the same again for even more work! I sold it 2 years ago for what I paid, £10,500 after losing all the money I had spent on it. Every time I took it out something broke, They rust, the engines are very complex as are the 1980's electrics which are a nightmare (the abs is unfixable if it malfunctions). They sound nice and go well but the steering is about the worst I have ever experienced, the doors never seal and the wind noise is very annoying. Something breaks every time you use it. My point is these cars do increase in value but not as much as you spend on them. Don't do it!!!There were plenty of very nice examples for sale at around the £13k - £15k mark, but I bottled it at the thought of running costs and potential bork so I bought a sensible old classic instead.
This is where they sit now
f
ksocksI bought an M635CSi in 2004 for £6,500. It's never gone drastically long with a suspension coil, a radiator and a pulse sensor being the only stoppers in 12 years. Three years ago I had it stripped back and restored and it is like new inside and out. It has always driven beautifully, it turns heads and garners appreciative comments wherever I go and my 8 year old daughter fell so in love with it that I've promised it to her when she's twenty five years old and the car will be 48 years old.
Cars I should bought over the years have been an E28 Alpina B7S for £7,500, the sub £10k Ferrari's, the £40k BMW Z8's and M1's and perhaps I should sold everything to buy a Ferrari 288GTO when they were still in 5 figures.
Dominicc01 said:
At that time too, Lotus Carltons and RS2s could be had for £12k - although I never had that sort of money at the time, so no regrets about those!
thanks for reminding me! I seem to recall looking for a car and seeing an RS2 @ about £14k and being tempted but in the end going for something cheaper that I hated withing a few hours of having bought it and it lost me about £5k over the 18 months I suffered with it 
in 1980 I was offered a 1973 Ferrari 246 Dino for £5500 but it was the year we were getting married at the time I and my future wife each had Mk2 RS 1800 Escorts obviously she wanted me to have a family car so I bought a new RS2000 CUSTOM. Still wish I had bought the Dino saw one in 1983 for 40k.
NEARLY bought a Alfa GTV 3.0 v6 busso in 13'-14' when you could get a really clean one for ~£2000. Decided to be sensible and not bankrupt myself. Bought a Fabia VRS.
Nearly bought an old Capri in 10'-11' when they where <£1500. Bought a dirtbike instead which I then... crashed a bit.
All my 'sensible' decisions have ended awfully. Glanced at Lupo GTi's, Scarlet Glanza's and Yamaha DTs in the past too. All have shot up in bloody price in the last couple of years.
Nearly bought an old Capri in 10'-11' when they where <£1500. Bought a dirtbike instead which I then... crashed a bit.
All my 'sensible' decisions have ended awfully. Glanced at Lupo GTi's, Scarlet Glanza's and Yamaha DTs in the past too. All have shot up in bloody price in the last couple of years.
Edited by caelite on Sunday 21st August 04:10
A few I have not bought and some I have.
I was not in the position to buy expensive cars.
2004 I was offered a rust free 83 MK1 Golf GTI that had been off the road since 93 for £250. I bought this as it was affordable. I still have it and it needs not to much to complete. Sits in my garage with a sheet over it to this day with a full respray, poly bushed, wish bones and axle powder coated etc.
I knew a guy with some Audi quattro UR models sitting in his shed. I knew they could be bought cheapish. This was around 01. He said £500 for one, I was still at school and my parents wouldn't buy it. He had three of them sitting.
In 2011 I bought an E36 M3 86k miles with a little rust and full history for very little and it sits in the same condition today in the shed. I wanted one of these since I was at school and the time came I could afford it. I snapped it up and plan to restore it and keep it.
205 GTI 1.9 for £250 with 90k miles on it back in 2006, I had the MK1 and thought, its not complete I need no more.
E30 325i Sport £1500 circa 07. A red 325i.
Corolla GT coupe twin cam for £1200 in 02 but funds didnt allow.
Now I have a company car and anything else I buy is aimed at appreciation or at least driving it with no depreciation. Now I look at cars like a Clio 182 and see it as the next 205 GTI as they dont make them like this anymore. £2k today maybe £20k in ten years, who knows.
I was not in the position to buy expensive cars.
2004 I was offered a rust free 83 MK1 Golf GTI that had been off the road since 93 for £250. I bought this as it was affordable. I still have it and it needs not to much to complete. Sits in my garage with a sheet over it to this day with a full respray, poly bushed, wish bones and axle powder coated etc.
I knew a guy with some Audi quattro UR models sitting in his shed. I knew they could be bought cheapish. This was around 01. He said £500 for one, I was still at school and my parents wouldn't buy it. He had three of them sitting.
In 2011 I bought an E36 M3 86k miles with a little rust and full history for very little and it sits in the same condition today in the shed. I wanted one of these since I was at school and the time came I could afford it. I snapped it up and plan to restore it and keep it.
205 GTI 1.9 for £250 with 90k miles on it back in 2006, I had the MK1 and thought, its not complete I need no more.
E30 325i Sport £1500 circa 07. A red 325i.
Corolla GT coupe twin cam for £1200 in 02 but funds didnt allow.
Now I have a company car and anything else I buy is aimed at appreciation or at least driving it with no depreciation. Now I look at cars like a Clio 182 and see it as the next 205 GTI as they dont make them like this anymore. £2k today maybe £20k in ten years, who knows.
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