£1500, what car?

[Jimmy No Hands]

I'm car-less at the moment, and have a budget of around £1500 to spend. I have always wanted something along the lines of an MGBGT or a 944, however with only £1500 am I only going to be getting ropey examples? I don't mind a bit of a project but it will be used several days a week. I work local so I probably won't do more than 6000 a year. I'm 22 and hoping for a classic policy, where am I best turning?

Also open to other suggestions!

Thanks!

[//j17]

Jimmy No Hands said:

I'm car-less at the moment, and have a budget of around £1500 to spend. I have always wanted something along the lines of an MGBGT or a 944...

Sounds like you're a coupe man, so out go all the best value cars in your price range (big Triumph/Rover/etc saloons - lots of car for very little money).

1.5k is probably a little low for a 944 but should pick up a reasonably tidy base-model 924 - especially if you go for an unfashionable colour (a LOT of brown velor came out of Wolfsburg).

Think it's a little cheap for MG B's too but you might hunt down an MG Midget or Triumph Spitfire and a coupe hardtop (eBay) - http://www.williamsandpritchardregister.co.uk/hard... or http://motivational-poster-news.blogspot.com/2011/... (8th one down).

[Jimmy No Hands]

I do like the Spitfire, not so keen on the Midgets. Prefer the looks of the 944 to the 924 in a way. Was also looking at a few classic minis that seem to pop up in and around that price range. Good suggestions though!


I can probably stretch to a few hundred more at a push.

[williamp]

The good news about buyign somehting classic for that price is that you might make your money back when you sell it- might even make enough to cover the costs of improving it.

I would go for the 944, but a 924 is a good choice, too.

How about an 80s BMW, before they all rot away?

Rover Tomcat?

[niagra]

You should be able to find a 944 for £1500 to £2000 but it'll be a non-oval dash car. The advice (from what I've heard/read about) with any 944 is to budget at least another £1500 for the first year's maintenance costs. How about a Reliant Scimitar? There's normally the odd one around within your budget.

Check this one out, it's an auto though.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2735483.htm

Capri? I guess you won't get a V6 with that budget though.

[Jimmy No Hands]

What does everyone think about this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-PORSCHE-944-WHITE-Priva...

[Danesgate]

These went through at Kings Lynn last week;

http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/classic-auction...

I had a good look around most of them, the MR2 stands out as being a really good way to spend £1500 - buy right and you won't lose your money...

[papple]

Have you considered an old skool Ford Capri?

[itiejim]

Jimmy No Hands said:

What does everyone think about this? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1984-PORSCHE-944-WHITE-Priva...

Looks good, I'm a Triumph man, but have also had a 968 CS - the 944 will be much more useable and feel from another generation from the Spitfire (as it is!)

[52classic]

Good selection at Anglia. It'd be the Viva HA, Triumph 2000 Auto or that green Capri for me.

[wildoliver]

I would buy a very nice 924 be it 2.0 or S for £1500 rather than a doggy 944 (and they all are at that price).

Places to look are simple to judge how well the cars been looked after.

Top of dash - they crack like hell, if it's not cracked it's either been garaged/replaced/repaired all of which suggest care.

Sills and in to front wings - Massive rot point and in to the rear seatbelt mounting area and suspension pick up points. If it's rotten or full of filler avoid. If it's solid it's well looked after.

Inside boot lift carpet and look at behind where number plate would be, this area rots around the no. plate lights, also there should be a sticker here with chassis number/colour and spec on it. If it's not there there is usually a reason it's not a place you would peel it off.

While in there look at the spare, is it the right one for a start, depending on model it will either be a steel, alloy, steel space saver or alloy space saver. Check the tool kit, if it's complete (even if rusty) it's a well looked after car, on a 2.0 car you want to be seeing the proper plug spanner too. Same goes for keys (2 at least and matching the locks all round) and handbook.

Seats, they are fragile, while I've had good cars that needed seats I've never seen a badly looked after car with mint seats.

A 2.0 924 is slow but quicker, smoother, more reliable and usable than anything british from that period (and if you look at my car list you will see I am not anti british car) a turbo is good fun but always a bit of a worry and an S makes a fantastic car, a 944 in a 924 body.

[greeneggsnsam]

I set out with a budget of about £1000 and ended up spending double that on a Spitfire. You really do need to buy the best condition motor you can afford or it will be a right nightmare. Bodywork is the most important on a classic- engine bits are fairly cheap but a respray or rust fixing doesn't come cheap! If you need more info on buying a Spit you can ask me or DazBlock about anything- (insurance etc).

[Jimmy No Hands]

greeneggsnsam said:

I set out with a budget of about £1000 and ended up spending double that on a Spitfire. You really do need to buy the best condition motor you can afford or it will be a right nightmare. Bodywork is the most important on a classic- engine bits are fairly cheap but a respray or rust fixing doesn't come cheap! If you need more info on buying a Spit you can ask me or DazBlock about anything- (insurance etc).

It's more than likely going to end up as a toss up between the best Spitfire or 944 I can find for that money. Currently in an epic search for both. Given a choice of a 100% mechanically sound car with a bit of faded paint and a single patch of rust, or a completely rust free body with no fade, but maybe the electricals arn't up to scratch or there's a whine or a bit of knocking. Am I best buying solely on body work?

(Don't mind a project, but I'd want a rolling one, as I do need transport.)

[Phil5343]

If your still interested in an MGB i have one for sale? Its Old English White, black cloth, chrome bumper, Tax Exempt, Overdrive box etc.

Rostyle wheels, GAZ coilovers, up-rated springs/bushes EBC pads, new calipers, grooved and drilled discs, braided hoses...the list goes on and on.

It also has A fibreglass MGC bonnet and Sebring front valance.

Its Taxed but has just run out of MOT. I'm looking for around £1800ish as is or £2000 with 12 months MOT?

I know its a little bit over your budget but i thought i'd let you know!

My email is [e-mail] if you want any pictures or more information.

Cheers,
Phil

[Gruber]

wildoliver said:

Lots of excellent advice about 924s

+1. This is where I'd be spending my £1.5k if I was after reliability and fun.

A few years back I ran a rather knocked about 2.0 924 for a few months as my daily snotter and it was ace. Not massively quick, but it carried speed through corners very well indeed, and being so low to the ground it felt faster than it was.

Parts are cheap and readily available, it's practical, they return ok-ish mpg... all in all, a good bet if you can find one that's been well looked after.

[pacoryan]

I reckon the 900 T16 in that Anglia auction was a pretty good idea, looked like a great buy and also insurable. Don't worry about the mileage, I sold my last one at about 190k from memory and it was rock-solid reliable, even having been gently tweaked to 220 bhp. Used to surprise a lot of people with that car!

[greeneggsnsam]

Jimmy No Hands said:

It's more than likely going to end up as a toss up between the best Spitfire or 944 I can find for that money. Currently in an epic search for both. Given a choice of a 100% mechanically sound car with a bit of faded paint and a single patch of rust, or a completely rust free body with no fade, but maybe the electricals arn't up to scratch or there's a whine or a bit of knocking. Am I best buying solely on body work?

(Don't mind a project, but I'd want a rolling one, as I do need transport.)

It's all about structural rust. My spit's paint is patchy and there's some filler in the boot lid but other than that it was bought on the basis that there is not a spot of rust on the important bits. On the spit that's sills and floor- ask the 944 fans for the rust areas on that car. Don't worry about the paintwork too much would be my advice.

[Penguinracer]

I'd consider an Alfa 156 or a 166.

[greeneggsnsam]

Penguinracer said:

I'd consider an Alfa 156 or a 166.

Insurance will be high as getting a classic policy will be nigh on impossible.

[Jimmy No Hands]

greeneggsnsam said:

It's all about structural rust. My spit's paint is patchy and there's some filler in the boot lid but other than that it was bought on the basis that there is not a spot of rust on the important bits. On the spit that's sills and floor- ask the 944 fans for the rust areas on that car. Don't worry about the paintwork too much would be my advice.

Well the chassis and floor pan are clean and straight, and apparently the seller had it inspected before alot of work was carried out on the mechanicals. The paint is a bit faded on one of those wings. But the sills are solid and rust free. It's just the one patch of rust that worries me, but it's not massive and not in an area I'd consider important.

Ironically I've just watched the £1500 Porsche challenge on Top Gear