Your recommendations? £5k - £6k Classic?

[iDrive]

Hi

Long-time lurker, I've registered to seek recommendations for a £5k - £6k Classic.

In the past I have owned Mk1 MR2, 190E Merc, S2a LandRover, Pagoda SL, CSK RangeRover and am looking for something to different to run for a couple of years (not as a daily driver, probably 1k miles/year max).

Budget is £6k max, I am looking for something in Good to Excellent condition (don't want to spend time getting body work sorted etc).

Currently browsing Lotus Excel, Mk1 Golf GTI and perhaps another S2a.

I like original condition, not modified and ideally want something that won't depreciate too much (all of my previous sold for the same or more as when bought)

Open to suggestions - it will be kept in a carpeted, heated garage...

Thank you!

[Mellow Yellow]

To get the ball rolling, how about this TVR S3, seems pretty good condition, well looked after and ticks all your boxes, £5,500:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[iDrive]

S3 looks good.

Classifieds show a nice selection of Boxsters, quite like an R129 SL, 280CE, not quite Elise money.

[The Surveyor]

TVR looks nice or how about a nice Porsche.

You can get a very usable 944 for that money, including this lovely looking 944 cabriolet.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/p...

or, if you fancy playing at weekend rally driver, a very smart looking Manta:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/o...

Or, go very traditional and look at MGB's. You'll struggle to find a more 'classic' car in that price range and that's the reason they're so popular:-

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/m...


Paul

[Benbay001]

I had the same budget as you.(although i started stretching it at one point, with "man maths" justifications.
I looked a TVR 400SE, and would have checked out an S Series TVR, but no appealing ones came up.

In the end i plumped for an Excel SE.
The car is quicker than my previous mk2 MR2, and is noticeably torqier.
Generally very very pleased.
Mine set me back £5k.

[blueg33]

I rather enjoyed my Renault Alpine GTA turbo for a couple of years. They are about that budget

[sparkey]

blueg33 said:

I rather enjoyed my Renault Alpine GTA turbo for a couple of years. They are about that budget

I got an Alpine GTA Turbo this year and it's great fun and very different. Performance is similar to an Esprit turbo of similar vintage (most magazine tests at the time found it faster) and it's less than half the price of an Esprit in similar condition.

You can get a decent one for about that budget and it has the attraction that you're never likely to see another.

[williamp]

Xk8, xjs, xj12
Roll the dice on a 928?

[iDrive]

I can't explain why, but the Alpine just never floated my boat? Nor the XK8 - but the XJ-S always has. I'll take a look.

Not sure the Elan is a great choice, but I've a soft spot for them.

944 is interesting - I'll take a look there too.

Thank you!

[TISPKJ]

If you can stretch the budget a touch more the 968 is a far better car IMHO, and I maybe talked into selling you the wifes car as looking to upgrade to a Cayman or 996 Targa sometime soon.

[anonymous-user]

iDrive said:

I can't explain why, but the Alpine just never floated my boat? Nor the XK8 - but the XJ-S always has. I'll take a look.

Not sure the Elan is a great choice, but I've a soft spot for them.

944 is interesting - I'll take a look there too.

Thank you!

928S2 - pure lines of the original coupled with the uprated technology of the later S4

[E31Shrew]

A late 840 Sport?

Mine here sold last year!

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...

[Furyblade_Lee]

A red 840 / 850? passed me earlier going the opposite direction, it looked absolutely wonderful and I am not a BMW fanboy trust me!! Can only go up in value if you get a good one, they have got way better with age an UBER cool in my eyes.

[jacklewisno1]

Ive found myself in a similar position to you. At the moment im thinking about getting a Mini Marcos. Not the prettiest thing ever built but is sometimes regarded as one of the best handling cars ever built. Weighing in at about 580kgs its nice and nimble. You can pick them up for around 5-6k and some specialists will even build you a new one. Plus because its made of Mini bits its cheap to maintain.

[e21Mark]

E21 BMW 3 Series.

Ideally a 6 cylinder model, although the m10 engine in the 316 is a gem. If you can find a 323i though, it's a great little car and values are set to rise quickly.

[Olivera]

Good condition and low mileage XJS V12 6.0 litre.

[blueg33]

Ginetta G32 or a G15 could be left of field choices. Both handle very well and are highly unlikely to depreciate.

[mickyveloce]

129 Mercedes are plentiful, but the top quality examples are creeping up now.

For the money, they are a great year-round great car which tick nearly ever motoring box. Current owners love them!

Excels are different again; I've had an Éclat in the past and they are capable of some big bills and annoying foibles.

Edited by mickyveloce on Thursday 6th November 18:09

[Markgenesis]

Ford Capri 3.0S, had a couple and loved them (need to be standard though, hate them with big wheels etc), would buy another but noticed the prices steadily rising the last few years.

A bit more raw and unrefined than the 2.8i (and only four gears) but that was part of the appeal for me.

Handling no where near as bad as some would suggest.

[iDrive]

The choice is pretty varied - seems to be a good time of year to buy too!