What classic for less than £3000?

[elephantstone]

I've now got a 59plate Audi A3 diesel as a daily and after having two MX5's, MGB and a V8 Jag I am missing something I look forward to driving at the weekend.

It needs to be:

- Either a classic or old enough to qualify for classic insurance
- No more than £3000
- reliable or if it's a classic easy to DIY for a novice
- fun to drive.. Not really heavy, done the v8 barge thing
- Would like a ragtop but would be happy with a coupe or a small saloon
- Rust free or little rust examples in the price range

So far contenders are MG midget and Porsche 924 and Morris Minor...

[Sideways Tim]

I have a '72 Spitfire and an '86 2CV both fit the bill, in different ways. There's tons of stuff out there, just get the best bodywork you can find, mechanicals are easy to sort.

[Colin RedGriff]

TVR S is great fun and easy to spanner. Buy a good one and it'll also be reliable.

[Oldred_V8S]

Colin RedGriff said:

TVR S is great fun and easy to spanner. Buy a good regularly used one and it'll also be reliable.

Updated

[Jimmy No Hands]

In that budget I've bought and ran (sometimes as daily drivers, mostly fun cars)

84? Porsche 924
88? Porsche 944
74 Volvo 144
75 E12 5 Series
83 MK1 Golf
88 E30 3 Series
Plus probably other stuff I've forgotten

All on classic policies, all with no issues (of the large variety anyway)

At the money I was spending I didn't care for history really, just bought on condition (while still doing the obvious checks)

Managed to snag a mint E12 520 with twin carbs for £750, it was almost theft looking back. Still kick myself for selling..

[bstark]

If it's fun you want rather than fast then a Midget is hard to beat for the money

[vixen1700]

Oldred_V8S said:

Colin RedGriff said:

TVR S is great fun and easy to spanner. Buy a good regularly used one and it'll also be reliable.

Updated

Yeah I'd go along with that, use mine all the time and it never lets me down, but I think you'd be hard pushed to get something decent under 3k these days.

Just don't believe what the fuel gauge says

[Evo]

I'd say Porsche 924S or 944 would fit the bill nicely, minimal rust issues, about as reliable as you could expect, nice bit of poke and room for four (ish)

[Jimmy No Hands]

Evo said:

I'd say Porsche 924S or 944 would fit the bill nicely, minimal rust issues, about as reliable as you could expect, nice bit of poke and room for four (ish)

Yes if you're good friends with Warwick Davies and his wife, you'll have no issues seating four.

[MethylatedSpirit]

TVR S or wedge

Job jobbed, lock thread and have a mug of tea

[tortop45]

205gti

[V8 Fettler]

MethylatedSpirit said:

TVR S or wedge

Job jobbed, lock thread and have a mug of tea

Wedge is a fine way into V8 ownership, although perhaps a bit raw for the average classicist(?).

[scoote7002]

I'm going to give you a curveball here and say a Reliant Scimitar SE6A - I had one for a couple of years, and it was fantastic. It had a full length webasto roof so was near enough a convertible - It's GRP and has a solid ladder chassis, so very few rust worries. All parts are available from businesses like Grahm Walker Ltd, and the Ford V6 engine makes it feel quick; and it sounds good. The car felt sporty too. People used to admire it. I'd had an MGB GT before it, and I hated the disappointment of seeing new rust bubbles appearing on it all of the time, having damp carpets etc.. The Scimitar felt very well built, and £3000 will get you a rather good one.

[Markgenesis]

A Reliant Scimitar is a good suggestion.

I would have suggested a Lotus Elite/Eclat, bought an S1 Elite last June and loving it, feels/looks a lot more exotic than it is, sounds nice, DIY is not too bad, it's quite hard to find a decent roadworthy one though and a bit more fragile than the Scimitar.

What about an ADO16 ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/austin-1100-2-door-/1515...

Cheap to run, easy to work on, loads of tuning bits for the Mini engine, never driven one but heard they ride really nice (Hydrolastic suspension)

The two door MG and Riley versions are especaily nice (and rare) as are the 1300GT.

[Dr Jekyll]

Can you get a decent Herald for that budget?

[Riley Blue]

I'd be looking for a Riley 1.5 - but I would, wouldn't I?

[Markgenesis]

Dr Jekyll said:

Can you get a decent Herald for that budget?

Pretty sure you could, or maybe a Vitesse needing a bit of work.

A Dolomite would also be a good choice, could find a nice 1850HL for 3K.

[GTIAlex]

205 cti, I bought one for £850 and loved every minute of it.

[clarki]

Great question. In the same boat myself. Going to get my 1st classic this year. Could probably go to 5K, but 3 - 3.5 would be best.