Best classic car for first car?
Discussion
Best classic car for first car?
I've been looking at a spitfire (as well as other classic) as my first car, but I have no experience in repairing cars.. I'm also going to be at university so I won't have the money or much time to take care of it. Will a spitfire for example need a lot of repairing or maintenance? Or am I better off with something more 'modern'
I've been looking at a spitfire (as well as other classic) as my first car, but I have no experience in repairing cars.. I'm also going to be at university so I won't have the money or much time to take care of it. Will a spitfire for example need a lot of repairing or maintenance? Or am I better off with something more 'modern'
It probably will need plenty of fettling but regular use minimises this. Thing about a Spitty, or Midget/MGB is that it’s all extremely simple to do and the bits are pennies (it’s also rather fun).
More modern classics may in theory be more reliable but this is often something of a fantasy and they’re inevitable more complicated (and bits can be difficult and/or expensive.
I had a cheap and rotting MGB GT at Uni’ and loved it!
More modern classics may in theory be more reliable but this is often something of a fantasy and they’re inevitable more complicated (and bits can be difficult and/or expensive.
I had a cheap and rotting MGB GT at Uni’ and loved it!
MX-5.
Not as glamorous, but they make a great starter classic - plus they will require little maintenance and will generally always work. They're also quite easy to work on, and parts are readily available and cheap.
Someone will mention rust soon, so buy the best you can and, if it needs repairs, always take it to someone who specialises in MX-5 bodywork repairs.
Buy an older car in a couple of years when you've learnt a few wrenching skills and you don't need to depend on it. That's what I did! Although, 12 years later, I still have my 'starter' classic. They get under your skin...
Not as glamorous, but they make a great starter classic - plus they will require little maintenance and will generally always work. They're also quite easy to work on, and parts are readily available and cheap.
Someone will mention rust soon, so buy the best you can and, if it needs repairs, always take it to someone who specialises in MX-5 bodywork repairs.
Buy an older car in a couple of years when you've learnt a few wrenching skills and you don't need to depend on it. That's what I did! Although, 12 years later, I still have my 'starter' classic. They get under your skin...
NDNDNDND said:
MX-5.
Not as glamorous, but they make a great starter classic - plus they will require little maintenance and will generally always work. They're also quite easy to work on, and parts are readily available and cheap.
Someone will mention rust soon, so buy the best you can and, if it needs repairs, always take it to someone who specialises in MX-5 bodywork repairs.
Buy an older car in a couple of years when you've learnt a few wrenching skills and you don't need to depend on it. That's what I did! Although, 12 years later, I still have my 'starter' classic. They get under your skin...
MX5-Parts - good source of spares, but harder to work on than a classic like a spitfire, especially for someone starting on spannering. Everything is tightly packed - although rarely goes wrong.Not as glamorous, but they make a great starter classic - plus they will require little maintenance and will generally always work. They're also quite easy to work on, and parts are readily available and cheap.
Someone will mention rust soon, so buy the best you can and, if it needs repairs, always take it to someone who specialises in MX-5 bodywork repairs.
Buy an older car in a couple of years when you've learnt a few wrenching skills and you don't need to depend on it. That's what I did! Although, 12 years later, I still have my 'starter' classic. They get under your skin...
Byker28i said:
MX5-Parts - good source of spares, but harder to work on than a classic like a spitfire, especially for someone starting on spannering. Everything is tightly packed - although rarely goes wrong.
That's fair enough - although it still looks very spacious in there compared to a lot of modern cars! However, the engine is still simple enough that even relatively advanced stuff, like a changing a cambelt, is within the reach of a driveway mechanic.After being laid up through Coronavirus, I had to start mine at the weekend by giving the starter solenoid a clonk with a wrench. See, it's a proper classic now!
jusxusfanatic said:
Many thanks for the suggestions so far, but I have no experience in repairing cars again, so what would I do if I do breakdown? Also might be hard for me to do some tinkering when it's parked at university
You can go an awful long way with a set of wrenches and Google.jusxusfanatic said:
Also might be hard for me to do some tinkering when it's parked at university
Pffft! Youth of today. 
I seem to remember changing a clutch on my friend's BMW whilst lying on the ground in the university car park, and fixing the brakes on a Mini in the same car park. In the the snow.
It all depends upon your motivation ...
jusxusfanatic said:
Many thanks for the suggestions so far, but I have no experience in repairing cars again, so what would I do if I do breakdown? Also might be hard for me to do some tinkering when it's parked at university
Don’t worry about it - I have no mechanical aptitude but I managed to bodge along merrily with a Haynes Manual (would be Google now). To be fair my MGB was actually really reliable and other than the odd lengthy cold start never actually broke down - I just had to replace the odd broken/worn out thing.You might also consider a Triumph Herald Saloon which is easy to repair and shares a lot with the Spitty or a Morris Minor which is utterly reliable though it looks boring
I use my Triumph Herald as the daily and its quite good apart from the fact that water leaks into the front right floor board and a bit into the boot !
I use my Triumph Herald as the daily and its quite good apart from the fact that water leaks into the front right floor board and a bit into the boot !
If your first car how much driving experience do you have? Cars of the 1980s and earlier don't generally have the same crash proof-ness or accident prevention tricks like airbags and ABS. Later classics do. The probability of being in an accident is generally highest when you first start driving. Given your allergy to spanners why not consider a more modern classic that would be both safer and less likely to bork itself by the roadside on a dark wet night?
I agree with a mk1 mx5. I am no expert in mechanics but managed my mx5 with ease. It should be more reliable than the equivalent 1970s British sports car. However you will find issues. Mine had headlight failure (simple £10 relay), electric window problem (2nd hand eBay special), water pump failure and just regular oil changes. Good fun to learn on with a good on line following and YouTube videos etc.
An mx5 will generally rust in the sills and rear arches only whereas the spitfire I had was rusted everywhere (chassis legs, sills, arches, boot floor, main floor, front wings, etc.) Just have a slush fund to repair the sills in an MX5 - I would get it done professionally.
Enjoy...
An mx5 will generally rust in the sills and rear arches only whereas the spitfire I had was rusted everywhere (chassis legs, sills, arches, boot floor, main floor, front wings, etc.) Just have a slush fund to repair the sills in an MX5 - I would get it done professionally.
Enjoy...
Beware you don't make the 'classic' error of buying the car to fit your ego rather than to fit you.
Many elder cars look great (good for the ego) but are pure and utter rubbish to drive, from the driving position to the suspension, steering and ...well, everything.
If you really are worried about breakdowns, look for one that has had issues sorted. Problem is that raises the cost to buy.
With the worries you have it does indeed sound like you may need to consider Japanese Lotus copies such as the MX-5.
A Daihatsu Copen is a quirky little thing that might be worth a look.
Many elder cars look great (good for the ego) but are pure and utter rubbish to drive, from the driving position to the suspension, steering and ...well, everything.
If you really are worried about breakdowns, look for one that has had issues sorted. Problem is that raises the cost to buy.
With the worries you have it does indeed sound like you may need to consider Japanese Lotus copies such as the MX-5.
A Daihatsu Copen is a quirky little thing that might be worth a look.
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