ANOTHER What Car...
Discussion
A little assistance if you please?
Having succumbed to selling my motorbike as it wasn't entirely family friendly, I want to indulge in another passion and buy a classic sportscar/GT. I have up to £4.5k to spend on something immediately useable but may need ongoing bits doing to it as a "rolling restoration" type of thing.
It has to be enjoyable on Sunday blasts, but must also have proper rear seats (for small people) and the ability to do occasional long distances with relative ease.
I have always liked Scimitars in SE5 form and I guess that is the obvious answer. Would have been tempted by a Lotus Excel, but its a bit too new for my tastes (early 70s). Quite fancy a TVR M-series, but they're 2-seat only.
Over to you guys...
Having succumbed to selling my motorbike as it wasn't entirely family friendly, I want to indulge in another passion and buy a classic sportscar/GT. I have up to £4.5k to spend on something immediately useable but may need ongoing bits doing to it as a "rolling restoration" type of thing.
It has to be enjoyable on Sunday blasts, but must also have proper rear seats (for small people) and the ability to do occasional long distances with relative ease.
I have always liked Scimitars in SE5 form and I guess that is the obvious answer. Would have been tempted by a Lotus Excel, but its a bit too new for my tastes (early 70s). Quite fancy a TVR M-series, but they're 2-seat only.
Over to you guys...
Capri - Nice in 3000S form. Even though they aren't - they just semm a bit 'normal'...
Rapier - I imagine the 1700cc engine may be a little 'athsmatic' and under-powered for both long runs and Saturday morning "Milk Runs".
Gilbern Invader -
Realistically available in my budget? And the fact that they are like rocking horse poo! Always strikes me as a more exclusive Scimitar somehow.
Rapier - I imagine the 1700cc engine may be a little 'athsmatic' and under-powered for both long runs and Saturday morning "Milk Runs".
Gilbern Invader -
Realistically available in my budget? And the fact that they are like rocking horse poo! Always strikes me as a more exclusive Scimitar somehow.The Surveyor said:
Lancia Fulvia?
Good call, was going to say out of budget but...http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C343967
er, just remembered my usual
drive as many good mechanical condition examples of the model you to see how they could/should go (and that you may need to revise your budget)
and allow in your budget costs of regular full and proper servicing, maintenance and repairs
above plus regular use of the car throughout the whole year and after 12 months the car should be towards very reliable to run
Capri (a natural alternative to Scimitar that I forgot) - back seats aren't comfortable, well the ones I had in my 2.0S weren't and I know for certain there were sat in less than ten times so they weren't worn
drive as many good mechanical condition examples of the model you to see how they could/should go (and that you may need to revise your budget)
and allow in your budget costs of regular full and proper servicing, maintenance and repairs
above plus regular use of the car throughout the whole year and after 12 months the car should be towards very reliable to run
Capri (a natural alternative to Scimitar that I forgot) - back seats aren't comfortable, well the ones I had in my 2.0S weren't and I know for certain there were sat in less than ten times so they weren't worn
Ford Capri would be a good choice - 4 grand should get you a nice 2.8 injection that doesn’t need to much doing to it. The smaller engined models are OK, but you really want the oomph you get from a V6 if you want your pulse to rise. You might be able to pick up a 3 litre sport within budget if that’s your thing, but prices are rising rapidly on them at the moment, so be quick!
Check VERY carefully for rust in all the usual Ford places though – especially around the rear spring hangers. Great cars and I really miss mine.
Just read your earlier response; try and take a one out for drive if you can... a well sorted 2.8 will handle better than you imagine. Oh, and 72 mph in second gear and 96 in third is fun, fun, fun!
I’ve always wanted a Scimitar as well: very handsome cars IMO with reliable Ford mechanicals, no rust (especially on the later models with a galvanised chassis) and a decent level of support from the owners club. What more could any classic owner ask for? I’ve heard that the build quality on the interiors is quite poor and that they suffer from overheating problems (plus the usual electrical problems one finds with fibreglass bodied cars), but I would think that with your budget you could get something quite special.
Have you considered a Jag XJS? Great cars and if you get a nineties model with the straight six you’ll avoid the horrendous fuel consumption you get with the V12 (I’d still got for the big lump though! ). If you buy a good one it’ll only go up in price as most of the dodgy 500 quid specials have gone to that great scrapheap in the sky.
Check VERY carefully for rust in all the usual Ford places though – especially around the rear spring hangers. Great cars and I really miss mine.
Just read your earlier response; try and take a one out for drive if you can... a well sorted 2.8 will handle better than you imagine. Oh, and 72 mph in second gear and 96 in third is fun, fun, fun!
I’ve always wanted a Scimitar as well: very handsome cars IMO with reliable Ford mechanicals, no rust (especially on the later models with a galvanised chassis) and a decent level of support from the owners club. What more could any classic owner ask for? I’ve heard that the build quality on the interiors is quite poor and that they suffer from overheating problems (plus the usual electrical problems one finds with fibreglass bodied cars), but I would think that with your budget you could get something quite special.
Have you considered a Jag XJS? Great cars and if you get a nineties model with the straight six you’ll avoid the horrendous fuel consumption you get with the V12 (I’d still got for the big lump though!
). If you buy a good one it’ll only go up in price as most of the dodgy 500 quid specials have gone to that great scrapheap in the sky.I'd rule out the Fulvia if you need space for little 'uns in the back. I bought one for the same reason, leg room looked fine, but when you put the booster seats in there is no room left! It may be the situation for may plus twos, so make sure you take a booster seat with you when viewing.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
From the Classic TVR forum, this has just been bought for more or lesss your budget, but 'M's are starting to creep up now, but there are relatively plenty about if not in the numbers of Capris & Scimitars.
Forget that, just re-read that you need back seats.
From the Classic TVR forum, this has just been bought for more or lesss your budget, but 'M's are starting to creep up now, but there are relatively plenty about if not in the numbers of Capris & Scimitars.
Forget that, just re-read that you need back seats.
Capri 2.8i - Again - doesn't appear very "special" (sorry for the pun) and is suddenly everything 80s can be. Great, but not the era I'm after. Had a Mk1 XR2 in a previous life and it was a hoot other than having to mend it every time I drove it. Capris in general just don't do it for me. I like the grunt of the Essex V6 and know that 3.0S Capris can be fun and made to handle incredibly well - I assisted with building a Mk2 3S for some Historic Touring Car races and its surprising what you can do with a drill and a hammer!!
Lancia Fulvia - I often lusted after an HF when I was younger. In the 1300 form that I could afford, is it going to be comfortable enough for a family of 3 plus luggage for a week when needed? I understand they are brilliant to chuck about but need the nuts revved out of them (am I right in thinking they had an adjustable redline?).
XJS - Hmm... The straight 6 engines (3.6 / 4.2?) are good solid lumps. Again, in a previous life I had a 3.6 Sovereign and it was quick but very wafty. How different is the XJS? Am I likely to find one with a manual gearbox?
Am I wrong to be concerned about the smaller engined cars?
Lancia Fulvia - I often lusted after an HF when I was younger. In the 1300 form that I could afford, is it going to be comfortable enough for a family of 3 plus luggage for a week when needed? I understand they are brilliant to chuck about but need the nuts revved out of them (am I right in thinking they had an adjustable redline?).
XJS - Hmm... The straight 6 engines (3.6 / 4.2?) are good solid lumps. Again, in a previous life I had a 3.6 Sovereign and it was quick but very wafty. How different is the XJS? Am I likely to find one with a manual gearbox?
Am I wrong to be concerned about the smaller engined cars?
vixen1700 said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a......
Forget that, just re-read that you need back seats.
Don't rub it in!! Been reading that over the weekend - not jealous one bit!Forget that, just re-read that you need back seats.
PoshTwit said:
XJS - Hmm... The straight 6 engines (3.6 / 4.2?) are good solid lumps. Again, in a previous life I had a 3.6 Sovereign and it was quick but very wafty. How different is the XJS? Am I likely to find one with a manual gearbox?
Plenty of manual 3.6 XJ-Ss about, loved my old 3.6 it felt like a really nice sporty GT car. You could get a really nicely sorted Scimitar for that budget.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C338242
Bit of a curve ball here, not sure how you'll feel about it.
Not what you'd call a sportscar, but a pretty classic.
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