Car for winter, around £1000

[V8Triumph]

Got about £1000 to spend on a car for over the winter.

Criteria as follows -
- Must be able to get onto classic insurance (modern car insurance is far too expensive) so basically it must be at least over 20 years old (some qualify, some don't)
- Must be fit to run over the winter, fairly reliable, ideally RWD or possibly 4WD (Land Rover??)
- Must have good parts availability


So far I've thought:
Triumph Dolomite
Jaguar XJ40
Rubber bumper BGT
Old Land Rover
Apart from these I'm a bit stuck

Edited by V8Triumph on Monday 19th September 11:44

[s m]

Do Sierras qualify? Rwd, easy to fix, good fun in snow,

Couple of XR4is in the classifieds around your money - they qualify for CI I think

Edited by s m on Monday 19th September 11:55

[V8Triumph]

s m said:

Do Sierras qualify? Rwd, easy to fix, good fun in snow,

Not sure in all honesty, could be worth investigating into.

[s m]

V8Triumph said:

s m said:

Do Sierras qualify? Rwd, easy to fix, good fun in snow,

Not sure in all honesty, could be worth investigating into.

Pretty sure the XR4i will qualify on Classic insurance - rwd and a great sound when you're sliding about in the snowy carparks

[V8Triumph]

s m said:

V8Triumph said:

s m said:

Do Sierras qualify? Rwd, easy to fix, good fun in snow,

Not sure in all honesty, could be worth investigating into.

Pretty sure the XR4i will qualify on Classic insurance - rwd and a great sound when you're sliding about in the snowy carparks

I know very little about Fords, well the same thing can be said for Land Rovers as well! Reckon it's one to go on the "to investigate" list. A lot of choice will be taken away with a "what can I actually find" in the real world!

[Liquid Knight]

My Rover is for sale. (SD3) 213S with new tyres, plenty of parts available, classic insurance, 1342cc and I can get over 40mpg so cheap to run, Honda reliability the only problem from your criteria is the car is front wheel drive but I didn't have any problems in last years snow and stuff.

For under a grand you're looking at project or shed Land Rovers I'm affraid.

[Devil2575]

So for the winter months you plan to buy an old and so probably unreliable car with RWD that will more than likely be poor in the snow.

Why?

[V8Triumph]

Devil2575 said:

So for the winter months you plan to buy an old and so probably unreliable car with RWD that will more than likely be poor in the snow.

Why?

Old does not = unreliable.

RWD is what I'm used to, I don't believe there are many 4WD cars out there that fit my criteria. Had £1000 worth of BGT last year for the winter it was great in the snow and sold it for £2000 once the worst of the winter was over.

[Risotto]

MX-5. I know, I know, but they meet your criteria and will be a damn sight more reliable than some of the cars on your shortlist so far.

[V8Triumph]

Risotto said:

MX-5. I know, I know, but they meet your criteria and will be a damn sight more reliable than some of the cars on your shortlist so far.

Unfortunetely it meets all the criteria but the insurance one and I don't really want a rag top for the winter! As for reliability I had a Eunos which I bought to sell and use for about 3 months - it was constantly breaking down, guess I was just unlucky ...and people moan about British tin which I've never had any major problems with - just silly stuff.

[crofty1984]

RWD in the snow will be fun, but terrible. (Last 3 winters had a 5-series and an MX5)

[hamishg]

Mercedes 190. Can get classic insurance, parts easy to find and cheap, reliable and RWD. Simple, comfy, not too slow, good heating system and mine was fine last winter in the snow.

[V8Triumph]

hamishg said:

Mercedes 190. Can get classic insurance, parts easy to find and cheap, reliable and RWD. Simple, comfy, not too slow, good heating system and mine was fine last winter in the snow.

Will check insurance, thank you

[Rude-boy]

How much is a MkII Golf driver these days? Looking at the Classifieds for 30 seconds suggests you should find one for £1k. More modern "It should start on a cold and wet January morning" bonus, with 21 year old insurance and head nods from those who might like looking at what you are driving.

ETA - sorry have ignored the RWD bit but perhaps it is time you had a little bit of a change. I miss those inside rear looking like a dog cocking it's leg moments

Edited by Rude-boy on Monday 19th September 13:13

[V8Triumph]

doogz said:

crofty1984 said:

RWD in the snow will be fun, but terrible. (Last 3 winters had a 5-series and an MX5)

Unless it has some sort of LSD, or the engine's out back.

As said before I was very happy with the BGT I had over the winter, something with wide tyres and a powerful engine is no good for snow driving - I agree. The BGT was great in the bad snow last year, though, had a couple of days were none of our cars would move but once it cleared a bit the MG was good. My Stag and MGB GT V8 aren't any good but a car with not a lot of power is fine for snow driving.

It doesn't snow that much, so snow is not my first consideration - my main consideration is to keep my other cars from deteriorating.

[Globs]

doogz said:

crofty1984 said:

RWD in the snow will be fun, but terrible. (Last 3 winters had a 5-series and an MX5)

Unless it has some sort of LSD, or the engine's out back.

You'd be surprised how little an LSD helps in the snow
It does make the whole back end slide far more easily though!

[rallycross]

Porsche 924 or 924-S like this lovely example;

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3188514.htm




I think for winter I'd want something that always starts, doesnt leak water or freeze up inside, has a good heater/demister - 100% definitely not something made in Britain 20+ yrs ago which will be a complete pain in the neck in winter.

[Volvo360]

I'd say Volvo 260GLT if you could find one!

[V8Triumph]

The Crack Fox said:

V8Triumph said:

Risotto said:

MX-5. I know, I know, but they meet your criteria and will be a damn sight more reliable than some of the cars on your shortlist so far.

Unfortunetely it meets all the criteria but the insurance one

Cobblers, mine is on a classic policy, c.£90 F/C for me and the missus. The heaters are so good in these the cabrio roof won't be a problem either.

I'll have another looksie then, thanks

[Lefty]

Early Subaru Legacy
Audi 90 quattro