What cheap car to learn spanering on?I like the MX5 but RUST

[Jamaica]

Any other ideas for a decently fun car that i can do spannering on. I would love to do the mx5 but they are just too rusty. Any other cars that fir the bill?

Celica? MR2? MG? Alfa Romeo GTV.

Ideally under 1k.

Edited by Jamaica on Sunday 7th June 14:11

[bluezedd]

Do you have a car you currently use that you could start repairing yourself or have any experience working on cars? If the sole purpose is to learn repairs, it's often worthwhile starting with the small jobs on your current car and moving on to more difficult jobs as you accumulate tools etc.

I would say it'd need to be something you really want regardless of what it is, as you could end up putting a fair bit of money into it if you do get another car.

I quite like the celicas and MR2s, but I suspect that they're on their way to becoming serious rust/money pits at this stage if you're not talking about the most recent ones, so going to have to be something you love. I have no knowledge of the MG or alfa though.

If I was buying a project car, I think it'd probably be an RX8 needing apex seals replaced. It's probably not something I'd suggest for learning engine maintenance/repair work though.

Edited by bluezedd on Sunday 7th June 20:13

[Drive it fix it repeat]

I started learning on a saxo and an mx5. Mx5 is ideal, engine the right way around so loads of room around it to work. Parts are easy to get hold of, and cheap. About the most ideal to start on. Avoid anything with a larger engine in a small car as lack of space is really annoying and a PITA. Clio 172 and 182 are pretty straight forward to work on until you get to Cambelt and timing. Very little that I DIDNT do to my 172, all on the driveway aswell.

[Fattyfat]

Leftfield choice. Saab 95 Aero

Straightforward for brakes and suspension and easy to change engine components such as the Turbo. Generally good bodywork. Tuneable, cheap parts and still plenty of forum support.

[Jamescrs]

MGF ./ TF may be an option?

I'd still say go for the MX-5 but buy carefully, there are some relatively clean ones out there but you may have to up your budget a bit, especially at this time of year.

[crofty1984]

MGTF. Plenty about in your price range. Most will have had the HG done by now. Otherwise very basic. I replaced the throttle (just a cable) and alternator on mine parked in the road. Also added a brake servo brace to improve the braking. Access not as bad as you'd think as the "parcel shelf" unbolts to reveal the top of the engine, so you're not fking about through that little window in the boot. OK, it's not 1.3 litre capri levels of access, but not too bad. Fun car to drive too. I'll have another one I think.

[mikeyr]

So a little left field but I changed a battery in a Fiat Panda recently and the engine was so small that it made life very easy as didn't have to struggle to work around a packed engine bay. Now I don't know if the 100hp has similar amount of space to work around, maybe the 1.4 engine fills up considerably more but there are a fair few 100hps for sale at the £1250 mark, maybe you could find one with imminent MOT for your price?

Guess what I'm saying is look for something with easy access to the fixy bits!

[stedaley]

MK1 Audi TT

[Burnzyb]

stedaley said:

MK1 Audi TT

a £1k Audi TT will be a money pit.


Something ford or Vauxhall’s will be cheap to fix, parts plentiful and cheap and loads of info, you can buy the info from the ford Etis website if you ever get stuck too.

[Gareth1974]

Do you still need an automatic?

Jamaica said:

Due to injury i need an automatic

[Jefferson Steelflex]

Inspired by Wheeler Dealers, I decided to become an amateur mechanic about 10 years ago and spent £800 on a ‘98 E38 728i in a bit of a state. Sold it for £2.5k 2 years later having replaced almost everything I could copy from the Haynes manual.

I’ve had a few cars since, and the BMWs of that era are fantastic to work on, engines are easy to access, parts cheap and most importantly the amount of online resource means all of the jobs are well documented. I rinsed and repeated on an E36 328i coupe, E89 Z4 and a few others, and tried the same on a Porsche 996 and now on my Merc R129 SL.

Try and find something with plenty of online resources, it makes massive difference to have cars where people all over the world have done work on them and created how-to guides and You T7be videos.