Discussion
Ok people,
Think back to your younger days (where applicable). What was the first 'proper' car you had?
The first one you got because you had the money to buy what you wanted?
I made a bit of a whoopsy with my choice; the currently up-on-bricks Escort. I was thinking about getting a series 1 MR2 as soon as I can get rid of the Ford, any opinions? Suggestions?
Budget is from 1k to 1.5K, depending what I get for the Escort.
I know it's a much lesser budget than most people here currently enjoy, but I'd appreciate the opinions of some proper drivers, not the Max Power aspriations of my car-inclined friends round here (I blame them for the Escort!).
I want something that's all round fun to drive.
WARNING; REALLY BUDGET BIT - please remember these are comparrisons between truly LAME vehicles!!!
The Cavalier has a half decent engine but it's got vauxhall handling and (brace yourselves) a 3 speed autobox.
The escort was grippy and had a perky engine but the steering was terrible. Not to mention reliability, which wasn't an issue as it didn't have any.
My ideal is something with enough poke for a passenger to be able to feel when you're acceleratring harder than usual, (low aspirations I know!), enough composure to be fun through twisty B-roads, and yes, a shade of reliability.
And rear drive, of course!
Appologies if this topic bores the TVR/Porsche/Lotus owners amongst us, hopefully I'll be discussing A Cerb/911/Exige at some point in the not too far distant future!
Cheers...
Think back to your younger days (where applicable). What was the first 'proper' car you had?
The first one you got because you had the money to buy what you wanted?
I made a bit of a whoopsy with my choice; the currently up-on-bricks Escort. I was thinking about getting a series 1 MR2 as soon as I can get rid of the Ford, any opinions? Suggestions?
Budget is from 1k to 1.5K, depending what I get for the Escort.
I know it's a much lesser budget than most people here currently enjoy, but I'd appreciate the opinions of some proper drivers, not the Max Power aspriations of my car-inclined friends round here (I blame them for the Escort!).
I want something that's all round fun to drive.
WARNING; REALLY BUDGET BIT - please remember these are comparrisons between truly LAME vehicles!!!
The Cavalier has a half decent engine but it's got vauxhall handling and (brace yourselves) a 3 speed autobox.
The escort was grippy and had a perky engine but the steering was terrible. Not to mention reliability, which wasn't an issue as it didn't have any.
My ideal is something with enough poke for a passenger to be able to feel when you're acceleratring harder than usual, (low aspirations I know!), enough composure to be fun through twisty B-roads, and yes, a shade of reliability.
And rear drive, of course!
Appologies if this topic bores the TVR/Porsche/Lotus owners amongst us, hopefully I'll be discussing A Cerb/911/Exige at some point in the not too far distant future!
Cheers...
My 1st car was a yellow vauhurl chevette , but was bored out to 1500cc with a supercharger and a manta 5 speed box and rear axle took a lot of work to build but was well worth it blew rs turdbo escorts etc into the weeds , from the out side the car looked standard apart from the flared rear arches and golf 16v BBS cross spoke alloys 
www.findit.co.uk/cars/performance/coupes/458976.htm
This should be within budget, small cheap and cheerfull, if not have a look around www.findit.co.uk theres plenty on there. Enjoy
This should be within budget, small cheap and cheerfull, if not have a look around www.findit.co.uk theres plenty on there. Enjoy
I am very fond of CRX's, the only reason I got the Escort last time was my inability to pin down a decent one.
That one looks fine, but as mentioned I can't lash out till the Escort goes, and nobody in their right mind sells a convertible in winter.
Only problem with a CRX is its FWD, and I've got my heart set on a rear driver as I'd love to do a trackday or two (prefferably in the wet).
I aspire to on-limit car control such as displayed on Evo's Ecoty CD, and FWD just isn't going to teach me what I need to know. I know a 1.6 MR2 won't make a much better attempt, but it's a start.
I've also considered classics, but I'm not sure about reliability. I certainly don't have the budget to restore anything, and I'd really like a car I can trust, no matter what the conditions.
Thanks for the suggestions, keep em comming!
That one looks fine, but as mentioned I can't lash out till the Escort goes, and nobody in their right mind sells a convertible in winter.
Only problem with a CRX is its FWD, and I've got my heart set on a rear driver as I'd love to do a trackday or two (prefferably in the wet).
I aspire to on-limit car control such as displayed on Evo's Ecoty CD, and FWD just isn't going to teach me what I need to know. I know a 1.6 MR2 won't make a much better attempt, but it's a start.
I've also considered classics, but I'm not sure about reliability. I certainly don't have the budget to restore anything, and I'd really like a car I can trust, no matter what the conditions.
Thanks for the suggestions, keep em comming!
Dancing Moose said: Dennis, that sounds awesome! Sadly I have neither the budget or the time to modify&insure such a car.
Cheers mate
i spent a lot of man hours and money building the car , But i wanted to keep it as standard looking as possible the insurance was £800 if i remember correctly and it was a hoot to drive the engine was the standard 1256 lump bored out so it killed a valve or 2 but as it was my own work i didnt mind repairing it , as far as i know its in the manchester area if it hasnt been written off , if it has i will be dissapointed as it was an old bloke who bought it I'm forever tempted to keep the cavalier's engine after it dies.
It was factory tuned for torque delivery (to drive the slush-shift), so it's a lovely unit. Only problem is finding something to put it in, and somewhere to do the conversion.
By the time I actually have time/space I reckon I'llbe looking at buying a car that was nice to start off with.
Unless....
Quick vote, who reckons I can 'do a Chasis' and shoe-horn a 2.0 Vauxhall engine into an MR2???
It was factory tuned for torque delivery (to drive the slush-shift), so it's a lovely unit. Only problem is finding something to put it in, and somewhere to do the conversion.
By the time I actually have time/space I reckon I'llbe looking at buying a car that was nice to start off with.
Unless....
Quick vote, who reckons I can 'do a Chasis' and shoe-horn a 2.0 Vauxhall engine into an MR2???
Good engine those, a friend of mine has one in his Nova
Some may laugh, but I've clocked it doing 0-60 around 6 secs, and that was his first ever attempt, feturing a lot of wheelspin and a back-off to look at the marks he left.
>> Edited by Dancing Moose on Saturday 23 November 05:23
Some may laugh, but I've clocked it doing 0-60 around 6 secs, and that was his first ever attempt, feturing a lot of wheelspin and a back-off to look at the marks he left.
>> Edited by Dancing Moose on Saturday 23 November 05:23
I had a Nova 1.3SR back before it became the Max power muppets & spotty chimps choice- indeed before Max power mag was even out
I loved it, not lots of power but a great responsive little car with much much cheaper insurance than the other warm/hot hatches of the time ie XR2, 205GTi etc Dunno if there are any standard ones left nowdays tho!!
Or check the trackday forum where i ramble on about a little suzuki swift gti that was a great elise worrier for £300, that was a genuinely rapid litle car on a B rd with 750kg and 101 bhp from a rev happy 1300cc.
I loved it, not lots of power but a great responsive little car with much much cheaper insurance than the other warm/hot hatches of the time ie XR2, 205GTi etc Dunno if there are any standard ones left nowdays tho!!
Or check the trackday forum where i ramble on about a little suzuki swift gti that was a great elise worrier for £300, that was a genuinely rapid litle car on a B rd with 750kg and 101 bhp from a rev happy 1300cc.
If you're prepared to stray from the mainstream you might want to consider an old GTM, either coupe or original convertible Rossa.
Not a huge number around of course, but you should be able to pick up examples of either in your price range. Both are mid-engined two-seaters with simple Mini mechanicals, rust free GRP bodies and highly rated handling, albeit a bit basic in creature comforts.
Look on them as being a sort of Mini based Elise - small engine but light, economical and fun to drive.
Check out the ads in the kit car mags or have a word with the GTM owner's club. Last contact I have is Liz Maddison, 01909 550007.
Not a huge number around of course, but you should be able to pick up examples of either in your price range. Both are mid-engined two-seaters with simple Mini mechanicals, rust free GRP bodies and highly rated handling, albeit a bit basic in creature comforts.
Look on them as being a sort of Mini based Elise - small engine but light, economical and fun to drive.
Check out the ads in the kit car mags or have a word with the GTM owner's club. Last contact I have is Liz Maddison, 01909 550007.
OK I realise I may be a little bias here...
But the Spitfire idea was half way there (
) - what about a MG Midget?
Not fast, but feel it.
All the RWDness you could want.
Fairly cheap. No depreciation if you look after it.
Dead simple, easy and cheap to fix (although admitedly may need it more than more modern cars).
Simple to mildy tune/modify.
Not a target for thieves/idiots.
No hassle from the Police, even if you are young
If you don't fancy an older 'classic', somebody elses suggestion of a cheap kit car was a good'un I reckon.
Perhaps a Mk1/2 Escort? Still too retro?
The earlier Nissan 200 are pretty cheap now - lot of performance, but very little image (if that bothers you).
Though admitedly I have looked at Mk1 MR2's myself - you know, when looking for a nice liitle car for the Fiancee
Cheers, Phil
But the Spitfire idea was half way there (
) - what about a MG Midget? Not fast, but feel it.
All the RWDness you could want.
Fairly cheap. No depreciation if you look after it.
Dead simple, easy and cheap to fix (although admitedly may need it more than more modern cars).
Simple to mildy tune/modify.
Not a target for thieves/idiots.
No hassle from the Police, even if you are young
If you don't fancy an older 'classic', somebody elses suggestion of a cheap kit car was a good'un I reckon.
Perhaps a Mk1/2 Escort? Still too retro?
The earlier Nissan 200 are pretty cheap now - lot of performance, but very little image (if that bothers you).
Though admitedly I have looked at Mk1 MR2's myself - you know, when looking for a nice liitle car for the Fiancee
Cheers, Phil
Point taken Phil, though *ashamed* I do have to bear looks in mind a ikle bit, as noted all my mates are Max Power nuts. They'd never speak to me again if I got a non-Nova car without a spoiler or something.
A colleague of mine used to own a MG V8 thing, which I never got to see, but it was very highly regarded.
I'd love to do a project car, and an MG is right up there with the best of the older rally-conversions i.e. MK1 Escort.
Cheers all...
A colleague of mine used to own a MG V8 thing, which I never got to see, but it was very highly regarded.
I'd love to do a project car, and an MG is right up there with the best of the older rally-conversions i.e. MK1 Escort.
Cheers all...
Graham, those 'mini-elises' aren't on my insurer's list (though if they were they'd be high on mine).
Sadly I can't shop about for alternative insurers, my Dad gets staff discount for me at my current place, which is why I'm paying just over £300 fully comp as a 21yr old in a 2 litre.
Obviously that's quite good as it is, but the best bit is the fact that my premium hasn't changed from last year...
Sadly I can't shop about for alternative insurers, my Dad gets staff discount for me at my current place, which is why I'm paying just over £300 fully comp as a 21yr old in a 2 litre.
Obviously that's quite good as it is, but the best bit is the fact that my premium hasn't changed from last year...
I think the MR2 mark 1 is a good option, even maybe stretching to a mark 2 by the time you want to change cars. I've seen them at low £2Ks if you get one a little shabby bodywork wise, their mechanicals are bullet proof. Mark 1 is apparently a very well handling car. RWD, mid engined, jap car. How can you go wrong? (Other than rust might be a problem!!)
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