Should I buy a Wedge?
Discussion
Ok ok...your all going to say yes...but hang on.
I'm looking for a RWD sports car for about 5K.
Now if you look in the cars for sale area theres a 350i just gone up for about 5K.
Sounds good so far.
However this would be my only car, I do not have a garage to keep it in, I do about 10,000 a year.
Will leaving the car in the open destroy it?
Will the engine cope with my 15min drive to and from work. Or will these short runs kill it?
Any idea what sort of insurance a 25yo is looking at?
I dont want to destroy a nice car, if it's going to rot away underneath cos it's in the open, or i'm going to nadger the engine i'd prefer someone else who will look after it had it.
So what do you think as owners?...should I?
I'm looking for a RWD sports car for about 5K.
Now if you look in the cars for sale area theres a 350i just gone up for about 5K.
Sounds good so far.
However this would be my only car, I do not have a garage to keep it in, I do about 10,000 a year.
Will leaving the car in the open destroy it?
Will the engine cope with my 15min drive to and from work. Or will these short runs kill it?
Any idea what sort of insurance a 25yo is looking at?
I dont want to destroy a nice car, if it's going to rot away underneath cos it's in the open, or i'm going to nadger the engine i'd prefer someone else who will look after it had it.
So what do you think as owners?...should I?
12 years driving my 350i as only car. 4 months driving my SEAC as only car (350 now 2nd car).
My view is that driving them keeps them alive!
If you drive it regular it wont rot or rust chassis.
OK short journeys dont do any engine much good unless you warm it up before you drive off.
£5000 should get you a lot of 350i.
If/when i sell mine youd get a fair bit of change as well
Go for it you know you want to.
My view is that driving them keeps them alive!
If you drive it regular it wont rot or rust chassis.
OK short journeys dont do any engine much good unless you warm it up before you drive off.
£5000 should get you a lot of 350i.
If/when i sell mine youd get a fair bit of change as well
Go for it you know you want to.
Munter said:
Will leaving the car in the open destroy it?
Not as long as you give it some protection from the extremes of weather, a cabin cover should be sufficient on a fibreglass car.
Munter said:
Will the engine cope with my 15min drive to and from work. Or will these short runs kill it?
Not if you are prepared to let it warm up first for a few minutes and not give it beans until it's up to temp.
Munter said:
Any idea what sort of insurance a 25yo is looking at?
Try the classic insurance companies for a limited mileage policy.
How about cycling to work?
Munter said:
So what do you think as owners?...should I?
Of course.
YES!! tallbloke said:
Any idea what sort of insurance a 25yo is looking at?
Try the classic insurance companies for a limited mileage policy.
I think you could be pleasantly surprised - try the usual suspects - Direct Line, Tesco, A Manning etc
I was 25 when I got my first Chim - insurance was under £1000 (inc business use) for around 18k pa. That was through Direct Line IIRC.
Just taken on similar action with 400SE
ditched company Teutonic Tin Top for Shadowfax
and will be running as daily hack.
As others will state get a good un to start with and regular use with proper maintanence should not cause you any more grief than many a eurobox
and just for the noise alone it will all have been worth it!
Have a look on e-bay theres are red 350i at about 4K at the mo might be worth considering.
Go on come over to the Dark Side you won`t regret it well not much.
ditched company Teutonic Tin Top for Shadowfax
and will be running as daily hack.
As others will state get a good un to start with and regular use with proper maintanence should not cause you any more grief than many a eurobox
and just for the noise alone it will all have been worth it!
Have a look on e-bay theres are red 350i at about 4K at the mo might be worth considering.
Go on come over to the Dark Side you won`t regret it well not much.
Munter said:
However this would be my only car, I do not have a garage to keep it in, I do about 10,000 a year.
So what do you think as owners?...should I?
Realistically ( though some afficianados, wealthy chaps, hard cases and / or very capable mechanics on here will disagree) you may want an option...
Buy a mini ( i.e. punto or summat) for £500 or less, insure as main car, use it for short runs to work & back, call home for covered and immobilised tvr for longer place to place business runs if you want, but defo use tvr for out of work stuff, and insure it on classic ins for 5k p.a.
And look after it - you wont regret it - unless you are a silly billy and then sell it - especially just before they shoot up in value
tallbloke said:
tallbloke said:
let it warm up first for a few minutes and not give it beans until it's up to temp.
Or soup....but oil is good! ok ok started the wine early tonight
Hmmm, this Leffe beer is nice too.
Cheers!
Leffe Triple, or Radieuse?
Or just the standard lager or Brune?
Arse. I'm on Spotty Chicken tonight...
Ian
dickymint said:
Or soup....but oil is good! ok ok started the wine early tonight
You might want to go easy on that stuff!....!
Ok a lot of go for it's and a couple of cautions. Cant realy run 2 cars (lack of parking space...).
But it's not sounding Unrealistic, so it'll go in the test drive/have a poke list....and thinking about it my boss knows a lot about RV8's.....
Would add that IMHO a 350i with "standard" cam and therefore cold start injector connected is no problem in the mornings, but the SEAC runs like a bag of spanners when cold (rough idle etc).
I really think that its border line wether the larger engines should be used every day on short journeys.
I really think that its border line wether the larger engines should be used every day on short journeys.
I ran my 350i as my only car for 3 years and yes they can be kept outside with a minimum of problems but get at least a cabin cover as the hood tends to be not very watertight and once everything gets damp, seeing out on winters morning is a bit touch and go. See the wedgepages for buying guides and the maintence side. These cars can be quite cheap to run if you maintain yourself, as most of the bits are Ford granada or Jaguar XJS. Also go for a series II / post '86 350 as the later suspension is far superior to the early spec.
Oh and the std non vented brakes are pretty dire so be prepared to fit the vented stuff ( 2.8 granada opposed to 2.3 granada) early on
Matt
Oh and the std non vented brakes are pretty dire so be prepared to fit the vented stuff ( 2.8 granada opposed to 2.3 granada) early on
Matt
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