£1k - £2k play around learning project
Discussion
Hi all!
I’m a new member here but been reading the threads for a while. I am looking for a car that I can do some basic tinkering with, start building my tool kit etc. I have seen some high miler e46 318 and 320’s. I am fairly open to all ideas. The only thing I would like to stick to is the car being petrol. Manual or auto I don’t really mind. I’ll basically just drive it about at the weekends and just for fun to see how much I can improve it (if at all haha)
What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance
I’m a new member here but been reading the threads for a while. I am looking for a car that I can do some basic tinkering with, start building my tool kit etc. I have seen some high miler e46 318 and 320’s. I am fairly open to all ideas. The only thing I would like to stick to is the car being petrol. Manual or auto I don’t really mind. I’ll basically just drive it about at the weekends and just for fun to see how much I can improve it (if at all haha)
What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance
Edited by Sameep91 on Friday 16th February 10:28
Edited by Sameep91 on Friday 16th February 10:29
My suggestion would be a cheap MG with a K-series engine in it. A few reasons for this.
1) It's a pretty good example of a fuel-injected DOHC petrol that has been used in lots of applications (Lotus Elise, Caterhams, Rovers, MGs, all sorts of kit cars, even the first Ariel Atoms, etc.). Learn your way around one of these and the skills/principles are applicable to virtually any other modern petrol.
2) You can pick them up dirt cheap - both in terms of the cars they're attached to and any parts/odds/ends you might need. Lots of information available online; they are well known and understood. I stripped down my first one without a workshop manual - just a forum thread 'how-to' and lots of post-it notes for keeping tabs on what went where.
3) You'll learn how to change a head gasket! (thought I'd get that one in there before one of the internet 'experts' wades in and trots out that old chestnut). Most have been fixed by now - even if not you can do it yourself on a sunny afternoon for less than £70 in parts.
4) When in a good state of tune (and in a good platform) - they make a fantastic noise and thrive on being revved and worked. Good old school fun.
For learning purposes, I'd go for a fairly simple 4-pot petrol like the example I've given (other options are available). Then you can progress onto more cylinders and bigger capacities as your confidence progresses.
1) It's a pretty good example of a fuel-injected DOHC petrol that has been used in lots of applications (Lotus Elise, Caterhams, Rovers, MGs, all sorts of kit cars, even the first Ariel Atoms, etc.). Learn your way around one of these and the skills/principles are applicable to virtually any other modern petrol.
2) You can pick them up dirt cheap - both in terms of the cars they're attached to and any parts/odds/ends you might need. Lots of information available online; they are well known and understood. I stripped down my first one without a workshop manual - just a forum thread 'how-to' and lots of post-it notes for keeping tabs on what went where.
3) You'll learn how to change a head gasket! (thought I'd get that one in there before one of the internet 'experts' wades in and trots out that old chestnut). Most have been fixed by now - even if not you can do it yourself on a sunny afternoon for less than £70 in parts.
4) When in a good state of tune (and in a good platform) - they make a fantastic noise and thrive on being revved and worked. Good old school fun.
For learning purposes, I'd go for a fairly simple 4-pot petrol like the example I've given (other options are available). Then you can progress onto more cylinders and bigger capacities as your confidence progresses.
MX5 is a very good starting base. Easy to work on, reliable, cheap parts and cheap to fix, run and maintain. A very good first car to start learning the basics on and then move on from there.
Clio 172's and 182's are usually my first suggestion, but the 2.0 F4R engine is very cramped in there for space to work on. It's not impossible but not a very good starting point either.
You could always move on from one to the other once you've gained some skills and confidence, if that's what you wanted to do.
Clio 172's and 182's are usually my first suggestion, but the 2.0 F4R engine is very cramped in there for space to work on. It's not impossible but not a very good starting point either.
You could always move on from one to the other once you've gained some skills and confidence, if that's what you wanted to do.
My advice would be MG or Triumph. A Midget or Spitfire. Both cheap to buy and run, spares availability excellent and both very simple to maintain. None of this modern elastictrickery (other than lights) to let all the magic smoke out of. Of and they will both be a blast to drive and feel much faster than they actually are.
My suggestion is the often forgotten MG TF:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
welcome to PM if interested.
Hi Guys,
Big thanks to all that replied, really good advice. A great welcome to pistonheads I have been having a look at the cars suggested and I think the choice is likely to be between the MX-5 and the MG TF. I would love a spitfire but unfortunately they are just a little outside my price range.
Is the MG easy to work on without the need of a lift? I am assuming that access to some parts of the engine will be a little tough.
Definitely time to break out the good old excel sheet and see which car I like the best
Big thanks to all that replied, really good advice. A great welcome to pistonheads
I have been having a look at the cars suggested and I think the choice is likely to be between the MX-5 and the MG TF. I would love a spitfire but unfortunately they are just a little outside my price range. Is the MG easy to work on without the need of a lift? I am assuming that access to some parts of the engine will be a little tough.
Definitely time to break out the good old excel sheet and see which car I like the best
Edited by Sameep91 on Sunday 18th February 21:18
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