I want a classic fast Ford

[davgen7]

Hey guys,

Two days ago I had the most unfortunate day of my life so far. I was involved in a low-speed road accident that in practice wasn't my fault, but by law technically was so I am going to pay around £175 for a split second of soul-destroying misfortune. Even driving veterans have told me that it was completely unfair on me. The only lesson I could take from this was that st happens.

This got me thinking that if it's that easy to lose a bit of money, even in circumstances where that shouldn't have been the case, then life is too short to not just spend your money on stuff you really want as long as it's not a stupid financial decision.

I have wanted a classic fast Ford for a while now, and having realised that I will have spent more money repairing someone else's car (when I really shouldn't be) than I've spent on myself in recent times, I've decided life is too short for me to deny myself the pleasure of finally owning a car I've always had the urge to have.

So this brings me to my question. I'd be looking at spending about 5k tops realistically, and insuring it on classic insurance (I'm 19 so that's the only viable way). It will be a second car and will be kept on a driveway under a cover, or a garage if I can get my hands on one.
My daily is a Mondeo ST, so I'd be looking for something different enough to that to justify ownership. I'm not sure how viable this is with a classic fast Ford, but I'd also be after something as quick as possible, although that requirement comes second to good handling and fun factor. I do have the means to undertake some work on the car with the help of some family friends.

I've been thinking of an RS Turbo of some sort, most likely an Escort. Initially I was thinking of something rear-wheel-drive, but I don't fancy a Capri too much and a Sierra Cosworth of any kind is miles out of my budget.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

David

[davgen7]

This is probably just me being dense, but it this not a suitable RS Turbo within my budget..?
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122111369931

Had a look at XR2s aswell - definitely wouldn't mind one at all, and quite attracted to the prospect of modification on offer. Will also be easier to find one within my budget.

I'd rather not talk or think about the accident to be honest. I already know by law it's down to me to pay up so I don't fancy discussing it really as it makes me feel like a piece of st.

[davgen7]

Well, since I've obviously gathered a fair amount of attention purely based on my accident, I will now explain and hopefully put it to rest.

I am in the left hand lane stopped at a red light. There is nobody behind me and someone is trying to reverse off their drive. I willingly reverse slowly to allow them space and all is good. There is a petrol station on the left hand side and a man comes straight out without looking at what is actually going on on the road and I slam on my brakes as he appears in my mirror but it is too late and he rear-ends me. Had he been looking where he was actually going nothing would have happened, but he wasn't and although I stopped instantly, because I was in reverse gear I know by law this is technically my fault, although the obvious follow-up question would have been to ask why he wasn't looking where he was going. This was so unfortunate that I have had 50-year driving veterans, who've never had accidents, tell me themselves that something as bizarre as that could just as easily have happened to them. The damage was very minor. I have been advised many times to contest this - not much doubt that I'd win - but then there will definitely be an increase in my premium for a non-fault accident. It is cheaper for me to just pay out of my pocket in this instance (it was a minor accident), to bite the bullet and just find some comfort in the fact that I couldn't have done more.

I'd also like to thank you for trying to make me out to be an idiot. When I rear-end someone at a roundabout, roll the car, wrap it around a tree, hit someone under normal circumstances - an instance whereby I really am just wrong - you are more than welcome to criticise and talk about my "famous last words". But in this instance, I'm just trying to not bite my nose to spite my face despite the injustice. I had a job driving long-wheel-base Sprinter vans between Birmingham and central London in rush hour for a while and nothing happened; I had a job driving a Suzuki Wagon R to deliver pizzas around the area for a while too. In each instance, absolutely nothing happened. If there were going to be "famous last words", it would have happened then - not now under such bizarre circumstances.

Thanks to everyone who has given advice regarding the car so far, it is greatly appreciated.

Edited by davgen7 on Friday 2nd September 20:19

[davgen7]

I'm sorry, I'm honestly trying to not talk so much about the accident (and I agree, it wasn't worth me bringing up) and more about the car but now I've started I will try to sketch out a diagram. For now I will try to clarify what I am saying.

I wasn't going to be moving forwards because I was at a red light and there were no cars behind me. Hence, I tried to give the other bloke space to reverse out his drive. Another driver then comes out the petrol station behind me and hits me just after I'd finished reversing (I slammed on the brakes and still in reverse gear). Hence, I was under the impression that because I'd reversed, by law it was most likely my fault. I also knew however that in practice, it was not my fault. I would have had to contest this, and I would have won. This would have meant that it would have gone down on my record as a not-at-fault accident, and this would have resulted in my premium raising far beyond the cost of just repairing his bloody car, so I swallowed my pride and made the best I could out of it. Had I been older, this would not have been worth doing. Hopefully the confusion that has arisen already is testament to the bizarreness of the incident. A diagram would also not make things much better and I've tried to use one to explain to people already, to no avail.

In all fairness, as much as I hate to admit it, if I were reading this thread from someone else's perspective, I'd probably be asking similar questions in such a bizarre situation.

[davgen7]

I absolutely understand what you're saying. It was a freak accident, but that decision was certainly questionable. Hence, while it may not have been my fault (obviously it doesn't mean much over the internet, but he really did go into me) I am appreciative that I didn't make it easier for anyone. I will be buying a dashcam and back mirror camera as a result of this incident, however.

Hopefully that's cleared up, can we talk about classic Fords again please?

[davgen7]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think so far I've compiled a list of five or six cars that are interesting to me.

One problem I think I may face with slightly newer cars like the Mk5/6 Escort RS2000 and the Sierra Sapphire is that a second car was only really viable with classic car insurance and I fear these cars may be too modern to be eligible. Am I wrong?

[davgen7]

I've had some very good suggestions on this thread. I think I've decided that any of the aforementioned cars would fit the bill to a satisfactory degree so it's just a matter of waiting till one pops up. In light of the recent accident costing a good amount more than anticipated, it will have to be a longer-term goal at this point though (the regret is killing me).

If I can't find one I will happily just wait and save up more and more, by which point I might even have enough to just go straight to the big boys and get a Cosworth or MK1 Focus RS.