The best car without a computer

[RevNuts]

My next project in this temporal existence we call life is to master basic car mechanics. I'd like to learn the nuts and bolts by working upon a car that's devoid of any form of internal computer. Why? Because I, like many, crave simplicity and detest the "computer says no" scenarios.

Of course, it's a highly debatable question and I suppose there will never be an agreed top trump, but in any case, what make, model and year would you recommend?

Personally, the following characteristics would be present for my choice: 2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable, no cam belt, no electric windows/sunroof/mirrors, comfy, 4/rear wheel drive, power steering, nice body. I was thinking about the Audi Quattro for starters.

[thinfourth2]

RevNuts said:

My next project in this temporal existence we call life is to master basic car mechanics. I'd like to learn the nuts and bolts by working upon a car that's devoid of any form of internal computer. Why? Because I, like many, crave simplicity and detest the "computer says no" scenarios.

Of course, it's a highly debatable question and I suppose there will never be an agreed top trump, but in any case, what make, model and year would you recommend?

Personally, the following characteristics would be present for my choice: 2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable, no cam belt, no electric windows/sunroof/mirrors, comfy, 4/rear wheel drive, power steering, nice body. I was thinking about the Audi Quattro for starters.

What the fuel injected 5 clyinder turbo car with a cambelt and a full brace of electric toys and a nasty unreliable electronic dashboard Audi Quattro

[scotty_d]

Not 4 or RWD but great car to learn most aspects of a car from welding ground right up to a full car rebuild the classic MINI i spent most of my teenage years tinkering with these and so did most of my mates great to learn on and as simple as you can get really.

[moleamol]

Definitely not a Quattro. I think you want something closer to my '71 Capri. It's a 3000 GT so it's a V6 but you can reach every part of the engine without removing half of the car. It's all basic, it looks brilliant, it sounds brilliant and it welcomes faffery.

[The Black Duke]

Any Series Land Rover.

[moleamol]

The Black Duke said:

Any Series Land Rover.

OP said:

2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable

Probably not.

[R11ysf]

Mk1 Golf Gti (mechanical injection)

[The Black Duke]

moleamol said:

The Black Duke said:

Any Series Land Rover.

OP said:

2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable

Probably not.

Buy the straight 6. Sounds amazing. No, it really does. Oh and its quite rare. Oh or even a V8 Stage 1.

Okay I will pass on the nippy but I guess it could be called that compared to a John Deer.

Edited by The Black Duke on Thursday 8th April 07:38

[mat205125]

You want an old essex engined Capri

[BriC175]

RevNuts said:

alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable, no cam belt, no electric windows/sunroof/mirrors, comfy, 4/rear wheel drive, power steering, nice body. I was thinking about the Audi Quattro for starters.

So you want a car with no ECU (a Carb'd car), no electrics / luxuries EXCEPT for power steering, both comfy and nippy and you come up with an Audi Quattro?

So like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1988-AUDI-QUATTRO-TURBO-BLUE...

[sadako]

You may wish to consider that some cars with computers are ok to work on. My MR2 has a computer that is the equivalent of a pocket calculator, never needs tinkering with, is totally self contained on its own wiring loom to the injection system and is dumb as a box of rocks. If for example you feed nitrous into the car the ECU still sits here happily injecting fuel without a care in the world.

My smart car on the other hand is a pain in the arse and needs a full rewire to get rid of the unreliable POS computer wired up to just about everything for no reason...

[The Black Duke]

BriC175 said:

RevNuts said:

alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable, no cam belt, no electric windows/sunroof/mirrors, comfy, 4/rear wheel drive, power steering, nice body. I was thinking about the Audi Quattro for starters.

So you want a car with no ECU (a Carb'd car), no electrics / luxuries EXCEPT for power steering, both comfy and nippy and you come up with an Audi Quattro?

So like this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1988-AUDI-QUATTRO-TURBO-BLUE...

I quite like that. I wish they would clean cars before selling them though.

[saaby93]

Here's a beige 1.8 2WD
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
Rare but misses out on the growl of the 5 cylinder

[braddo]

Isn't the other drawback of the Quattros that they're a pig to work on? Not exactly the right car for learning to twirl a spanner with. A couple of the staff cars in PPC magazine (Quattro and Audi 80) are always causing stories of tinkering taking way longer than they expect.

If you want no electronics you need carbs so you're looking at 30+ year old cars - Capri, Escort, Triumph Dolomite Sprint, BMW 2002, Rover P6, Alfas (Giulias or Alfettas). They were some of the ones on my list when I was looking to buy.

[Plotloss]

Mini

No computers, loads of upgrade options so you understand the theory of engineering once you've learnt the mechanics and they're cool as fk!

[kambites]

I think the Capri suggested above does a pretty good job of meeting the requirements. Anything much newer will have fuel injection which is (almost) always computer controlled.

[V88Dicky]

You haven't mentioned budget, but something like this fits your criteria almost perfectly;

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/741142.htm

[road_rager]

E30 325 coupe, it has electronics but they're pretty basic by modern standards.

[300bhp/ton]

RevNuts said:

My next project in this temporal existence we call life is to master basic car mechanics. I'd like to learn the nuts and bolts by working upon a car that's devoid of any form of internal computer. Why? Because I, like many, crave simplicity and detest the "computer says no" scenarios.

Of course, it's a highly debatable question and I suppose there will never be an agreed top trump, but in any case, what make, model and year would you recommend?

Personally, the following characteristics would be present for my choice: 2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable, no cam belt, no electric windows/sunroof/mirrors, comfy, 4/rear wheel drive, power steering, nice body. I was thinking about the Audi Quattro for starters.

ok, like others have said, your post seems a little at odds really.

Can't see a Quattro really meeting any of the criteria you've set out.

Now, more importantly - what is it you want to get from this?

Is it a nice, fun and/or fast car? Or is it more about the learning and having it as a project?

Someone else suggested a Series Landy, not knowing your budget I'd say this is a very good suggestion.

Why?

Because they are cheap to buy, easy to work on and have a HUGE following. This means ALL parts are easily available at sensible money.

Ok they won't be fast and they aren't a coupe, but they can still be a lot of fun and with many varied options from 150hp diesels engines to V8's.

They are also easy to sell on and for sensible money.


Following this same logic. Pretty much any British Leyland, BMC, Morris, MG, Triumph, Rover, etc will be of similar virtue.

As in a very good parts supply for most models.

Some Ford's and Vauxhall's also fall into this category, but arguably to a lesser degree.

If you are wanting to tear down and rebuild a car, being able to get parts for it easily, really will make a difference to the time, standard of work, ease of work, enthusiasm and so on and of course budget required.

So using this as a basis, possible suggestions would be:

-MGB
-TR7
-GT6
-Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 PI
-Rover P4, 5 or 6
-Rover SD1
-MGC for something a little different
-Escort
-Capri
-Cortina
-Viva
-Cresta

If you fancy something more modern yet still different then maybe something American would be of interest. Parts are fairly easy to find for most and fairly easy to source.

So things like a 1980's Fbody (Camaro or Firebird), Mustang, early Corvette C4. Maybe even 2nd gen Firebirds and Camaro's from the late 70's.


There really are 100's of other possibilities, from Datson 120Y's to 70's Golfs.

[300bhp/ton]

The Black Duke said:

moleamol said:

The Black Duke said:

Any Series Land Rover.

OP said:

2+ litres with an alluring growl, nippy, coupé, reliable

Probably not.

Buy the straight 6. Sounds amazing. No, it really does. Oh and its quite rare. Oh or even a V8 Stage 1.

Okay I will pass on the nippy but I guess it could be called that compared to a John Deer.

Edited by The Black Duke on Thursday 8th April 07:38

They can be made surprisingly nippy if you want though, enough to upset more than a few Barry boys