a what car conundrum...
Discussion
What to do with the Morgan?
i have other cars for hard core driving, and mostly prefer those for an "A-to-A" drive.
The Morgan was for the 2 of us to tour together. It's a great open top experience with long bonnet, noise, leather, wood etc. swmbo probably pictured herself in a headscarf along the Amalfi coast... Over 2 years later and we haven't done many tours or weekend trips. There's often a good reason to use something else because of unpleasant motorway miles or baggage space or bad weather. Maybe we should keep it and try harder....
New Year gets me thinking of alternatives that have character but can also tour in a degree of comfort and with luggage space. A convertible is a must really, a shame because i have an air cooled 911 itch to scratch somehow. Flicking through magazines I'm struggling:
- Pagoda: lovely, know them well, just not inspired.
- E-Type: yes, quite possibly. That's a budget hike too.
- Alvis: OH loves these after a teal blue one in movie and then at Goodwood. Lovely idea, but i'm thinking a little more modern.
- XK8: my favourite right now. Usable, modern yet distinctly from the past. Not sure she'll think it's old enough though...
shel'll say "it's no E-Type" and i'll probably reply "but would you actually drive in the E-Type more often?"
- AM: similar arguments to XK8 but more expensive.
We used to have an E46 convertible which was frankly the best option. Driving to our destination we could have roof up in total refinement, when we got there the roof could come down and we could enjoy the scenery and all the other old cars on the road (you can't see your own car when driving).
At some point we should all make a decision and enjoy it.... just our first decision wasn't optimal.
i have other cars for hard core driving, and mostly prefer those for an "A-to-A" drive.
The Morgan was for the 2 of us to tour together. It's a great open top experience with long bonnet, noise, leather, wood etc. swmbo probably pictured herself in a headscarf along the Amalfi coast... Over 2 years later and we haven't done many tours or weekend trips. There's often a good reason to use something else because of unpleasant motorway miles or baggage space or bad weather. Maybe we should keep it and try harder....
New Year gets me thinking of alternatives that have character but can also tour in a degree of comfort and with luggage space. A convertible is a must really, a shame because i have an air cooled 911 itch to scratch somehow. Flicking through magazines I'm struggling:
- Pagoda: lovely, know them well, just not inspired.
- E-Type: yes, quite possibly. That's a budget hike too.
- Alvis: OH loves these after a teal blue one in movie and then at Goodwood. Lovely idea, but i'm thinking a little more modern.
- XK8: my favourite right now. Usable, modern yet distinctly from the past. Not sure she'll think it's old enough though...
shel'll say "it's no E-Type" and i'll probably reply "but would you actually drive in the E-Type more often?"
- AM: similar arguments to XK8 but more expensive.
We used to have an E46 convertible which was frankly the best option. Driving to our destination we could have roof up in total refinement, when we got there the roof could come down and we could enjoy the scenery and all the other old cars on the road (you can't see your own car when driving).
At some point we should all make a decision and enjoy it.... just our first decision wasn't optimal.
TVR - yes, i thought that might arise. And they're in my fantasy garage already. OH thinks they're a bit "space ship like", after i had a Tuscan. But a Griff would be more conventional and simpler inside. Good call. Money wise overall too. Maintain well and should be less trouble than an E-Type.
993 Cab - i have a real problem with 911 Cabs. I think they're wrong. Most cabs are compromised, but a 911 more so as it's a sports car in the first place not a GT car (XK8) or an open top from design stage (TVR).
993 Cab - i have a real problem with 911 Cabs. I think they're wrong. Most cabs are compromised, but a 911 more so as it's a sports car in the first place not a GT car (XK8) or an open top from design stage (TVR).
phib said:
Bit left field but how about an audi Rs4 cab ?
Phib
Not an Audi fan at all, my current garage represents everything Audi don't stand for - handling, steering, feedback etc. Not opening old threads, but not for me. In a way, with other changes, the Morgan replaced the E46 anyway. OH - 'Too sterile". She needs to make up her mind, sterile and reliable or character and compromised. The Mog was new, intended as character on top with reliable greasy bits.Phib
If i choose it could well be TVR. OH happy with cash saved! That'll sell it.
E-Type still in the wings, especially if we have a market crash next year or so.
Left field for me would be old 911, but endure h/top with no AC. That's character. 993 is an obvious choice, but i still think 964s/SCs have a lot of charm. OH loves pre-impact bumber, but you could have guessed that...
I'm currently looking at the BMW 8 Series - they appear to be reaching the bottom of their price curve and can only really go one way.
They appeal for their power, relative modern driving comforts yet not quite as inaccessible as current day equivalents. Plus they have pop up lights and pillarless windows.
A very classy coupe which i think would make a perfect touring GT, especially in 850 guise
They appeal for their power, relative modern driving comforts yet not quite as inaccessible as current day equivalents. Plus they have pop up lights and pillarless windows.
A very classy coupe which i think would make a perfect touring GT, especially in 850 guise
plasticpig said:
I assume your thinking TD21, TE21 or TF21 in terms of the Alvis? Beautiful cars but I am not sure you would be happy with one from your comments. Acceleration is glacially slow even compared to an E-type.
Yes. This is no more rational than a lovely teal blue coloured one in a movie, where several times the line "i'll take the Alvis" was spoken. Classic. Then saw same coloured example at Revival. My dithering is all about combining different needs, mostly between swmbo and self.Alvis/Pagoda would suit our tours together. V8 would suit my drives alone.
We had a Bentley Turbo R for a w/end recently and was seriously impressed. A little ostentatious but as least they now look like classic cars and are 'acceptable'. Struck me that would be a great car to share with a couple of friends and just use occasionally. i digress.
PS i don't find E-Types slow!
Living in Switzerland it has to be a Graber: http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/car-advert/alv...
Robert Elise said:
A convertible is a must really, a shame because i have an air cooled 911 itch to scratch somehow. Flicking through magazines I'm struggling:
- Pagoda: lovely, know them well, just not inspired.
- E-Type: yes, quite possibly. That's a budget hike too.
What about an early/mid 70's 911 Targa then.....almost roof off and air-cooled lovliness, and purity of 911 shape as well.- Pagoda: lovely, know them well, just not inspired.
- E-Type: yes, quite possibly. That's a budget hike too.
Pagaoda is a great call IMHO, or what about a 70's/early 80's W107 SL V8? Character still, and bulletprrof for touring, but a bit more modern.
E-Type is budget will allow would be lovely, as would a XK140 or 150.
aeropilot said:
What about an early/mid 70's 911 Targa then.....almost roof off and air-cooled lovliness, and purity of 911 shape as well.
Pagaoda is a great call IMHO, or what about a 70's/early 80's W107 SL V8? Character still, and bulletprrof for touring, but a bit more modern.
E-Type is budget will allow would be lovely, as would a XK140 or 150.
Pagoda is the obvious cruising choice and they are lovely. I still drive a different one every year (classic club). But they're a little safe and leave me untickled! Definition of wafting, and in a good way.Pagaoda is a great call IMHO, or what about a 70's/early 80's W107 SL V8? Character still, and bulletprrof for touring, but a bit more modern.
E-Type is budget will allow would be lovely, as would a XK140 or 150.
Targa, yes, on the list.
E-Type over earlier Jags for this requirement. It should offer easy cruising and the XKs get into Morgan territory for overall refinement.
Not sure whether this will be a UK or CH car yet. A Stag wouldn't live well in CH without heaps of tlc for MoT. Nicholas Ball - what was that tv series?
A lovely dilemma. I'm leaning towards TVR for a while, then to move to Targa/Jag later. These have to be ticked off before a Pagoda in my dotage.
Only makes my think that these car clubs should work better, or even car sharing amongst like-minded PHers. I don't mean sharing full-on sports cars but more relaxed, wafters that won't get abused. Imagine four couples get one car each (Bentley, Pagoda, E-Type and a Stag).
Robert Elise said:
aeropilot said:
Hazell.
Can't remember the colour of the Slag though?
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Green again i thnk. Can't remember the colour of the Slag though?
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we've just dated ourselves as definitely non-millennials!
I can remember sitting in what the dealer at the time (don't they all) was the last available unregistered Stag. Was early Aug 1978, and my father at the time had just bought an early 70's Triumph 2000, and we stopped off at this Triumph dealership somewhere near Epping Forest for a part en-route to somewhere I don't remember. While he was at the parts counter, I wandered over to the unregistered Stag in the showroom and got in it (as you do as a car mad 15/16 yr old) and when my father came to drag me out to go, salesguy came up and said that production had ended and this was the last one they had, and was the last one any dealer had.
Given this was only a week or two after 1st Aug new reg, and I've seen loads of S-reg Stag's over the years, I doubt very much it was the last one left in any dealer, although it may well have been their last one left.
It was Russet Brown IIRC.
Great car the Slag, was 20 years ahead of it's time when you thing of it. Was effectively a 2 door/4 seat/soft top version of the Triupmh 2000/2500 - and exactly what a BMW 3 Series is today, and yet back then, it wasn't that successful (even if you ignore the BL reliability issues!!)
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