Which way do i want to go? marcos or lancia?
Discussion
Hi all. I graduated in the summer and started a new job 2 months ago, at that time i had two lancia beta volumexs, unfortunately one of them has succumbed to the 250 mile a week commute (not terminal but retired from daily commute service) and the other one needs some fresh paint. Ive got a lousy renault 5 as a commuting car in the meantime.
Ive decided to sell the beta in need of attention, and now im wondering what approach to go for with my cars now. Ive thought about getting a new car (smart roadster) but realised for the same money you can get a tvr griffith! - although obviously running costs are in a different league. This made me come to my senses and ditch the new car idea. But what instead? i cant only have a renault 5. That would just be bad!
Is a marcos (im thinking an early steel chassis example) up to being a weekend / occasional commuting car?
The options are to get my other beta painted and use that as i would use a marcos - I know the beta is up to it
To completely ditch betas for the moment and get myself a marcos
To live in boredom with my useless 5.....
Or, to succumb to a bigger loan and get the beta repainted and get a marcos! but then theyd both get used less often
Ive decided to sell the beta in need of attention, and now im wondering what approach to go for with my cars now. Ive thought about getting a new car (smart roadster) but realised for the same money you can get a tvr griffith! - although obviously running costs are in a different league. This made me come to my senses and ditch the new car idea. But what instead? i cant only have a renault 5. That would just be bad!
Is a marcos (im thinking an early steel chassis example) up to being a weekend / occasional commuting car?
The options are to get my other beta painted and use that as i would use a marcos - I know the beta is up to it
To completely ditch betas for the moment and get myself a marcos
To live in boredom with my useless 5.....
Or, to succumb to a bigger loan and get the beta repainted and get a marcos! but then theyd both get used less often
.Well, at the moment im going for the best of both worlds, keeping one of the betas and going to pay a visit to redline sports cars to check out the yellow v6, that looks perfect for me.
Can anyone tell me how much of a pain the body on these is? ie how much do i have to worry about spidering etc. how long roughly do they last between needing repaints?
Oh, and which to go for - the essex v6 in yellow, which is tax exempt and looks awesome, or a rover v8 one in dark blue needing some tlc to the paintwork?
Am i going to miss the extra v8 grunt?
It will be my first chuckable rwd car (only other rwd ive owned was a jaguar xjs), so im leaning towards the less powerful v6
Can anyone tell me how much of a pain the body on these is? ie how much do i have to worry about spidering etc. how long roughly do they last between needing repaints?
Oh, and which to go for - the essex v6 in yellow, which is tax exempt and looks awesome, or a rover v8 one in dark blue needing some tlc to the paintwork?
Am i going to miss the extra v8 grunt?
It will be my first chuckable rwd car (only other rwd ive owned was a jaguar xjs), so im leaning towards the less powerful v6
Chris
I've had Lancia VX's for the last 18 years and having considered all the replacement options (including a Stratos) I took on a Marcos V8 last year
Don't regret it at all (love em both) but would also love the time to look after em properly as well
Took the Lancia down to Sussex for semi retirement last week and it still goes like stonk on the motorway - at 120 (theoretical like) it feels much happier than the Marcos - but on the twisty turnies and overall driving experience the Marcos win's out hands down
Neither of them like in town driving much so I use a Punto for that
Only problems I've had with the Marcos are minor trim, power steering, CV joints, getting warnm in traffic (solved by removal of thermostat) and minor electrical glitches - which is all a bit as you were if you are used to a VX.
VX's are going up in price though so I'm going to restore mine before I, er maybe think of letting it go...
I've had Lancia VX's for the last 18 years and having considered all the replacement options (including a Stratos) I took on a Marcos V8 last year
Don't regret it at all (love em both) but would also love the time to look after em properly as well
Took the Lancia down to Sussex for semi retirement last week and it still goes like stonk on the motorway - at 120 (theoretical like) it feels much happier than the Marcos - but on the twisty turnies and overall driving experience the Marcos win's out hands down
Neither of them like in town driving much so I use a Punto for that
Only problems I've had with the Marcos are minor trim, power steering, CV joints, getting warnm in traffic (solved by removal of thermostat) and minor electrical glitches - which is all a bit as you were if you are used to a VX.
VX's are going up in price though so I'm going to restore mine before I, er maybe think of letting it go...
Well, if you need parts give me a shout, as it looks like one of mines going to the scrapyard in the sky. Redline should be getting in the yellow v6 im interested in this weekend, so not too long before i get to check them out. Only concerns at the moment are the long bonnet making it difficult to see out of junctions (had that when i had a jag xjs), and the driving position being too low - got a feeling itll be like my dads 944, which although i never had a chance to get used to having only driven it about twice, it felt odd to say the least.
The long bonnet is a pain, but like anything else you adjust to it. Just edge it out a touch and someone will always let you go, I had a TVR before the Mantula and the reaction was never as good, always a bit of "rich w@nker" attitude from the general public.
Low seating position the same but you get used to it. I put a layer of foam camping mat under my drivers seat, probably raised it by no more than 5mm, made a big difference. Beware, if you are less than 5'7" you'll have trouble.
Jeremy at RedLine a knowledgeable chap, he'll see you right. Oh, and if ever fancy V8 grunt you can always drop a Rover block into a V6 hole. Few adjustments (like the radiator) and you're away. I don't think the performance is that different but you can't beat that V8 noise!
Low seating position the same but you get used to it. I put a layer of foam camping mat under my drivers seat, probably raised it by no more than 5mm, made a big difference. Beware, if you are less than 5'7" you'll have trouble.
Jeremy at RedLine a knowledgeable chap, he'll see you right. Oh, and if ever fancy V8 grunt you can always drop a Rover block into a V6 hole. Few adjustments (like the radiator) and you're away. I don't think the performance is that different but you can't beat that V8 noise!
Sob. Redline still havent got the car in for me to look at 
There seem to be even less than normal older ones for sale at the moment. Anybody know of a source i dont? Im not a member (of either club) yet, so if theres any that might suit in a club magazine id appreciate it if someone would let me know.
Im ideally looking for a sub £7k early 70s gt.(tax exempt would be nice) Engine spec isnt desperately important, but id prefer to have one of the more pokey ones obviously.
Failing that being around, anything less than £7k
Will consider cars needing work, but really looking for something that i can have the occasional tinker with without it having massively usability issues.
There seem to be even less than normal older ones for sale at the moment. Anybody know of a source i dont? Im not a member (of either club) yet, so if theres any that might suit in a club magazine id appreciate it if someone would let me know.
Im ideally looking for a sub £7k early 70s gt.(tax exempt would be nice) Engine spec isnt desperately important, but id prefer to have one of the more pokey ones obviously.
Failing that being around, anything less than £7k
Will consider cars needing work, but really looking for something that i can have the occasional tinker with without it having massively usability issues.
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