which cars are are a pleasure to work on?

[pimping]

i really enjoy tinkering with any vehicle i have but am looking for possibles that i can use as an every day driver but will be quite simple to work on.

i do so few miles that anything goes really. been thinking of acquiring an older car for a while now for its sheer simplicity and watching 'wheeler dealers' on youtube has wetted my oily appetite although i won't be working on the vehicles with the intention of selling on.

cash wise not looking to spend any huge amoutns and i'd even say i'll stick to around the snotter amount of a few hundred quid as anything expensive would be a shame to ruin due to my mechanical vigour/ineptitude.

speaking of 'wheeler dealers' which put the idea in my head of tinkering more i really don't want anything that is a complete nightmare to work on like the lancia integrale (way out of my budget).

any thoughts?

[lance1a]

E30's (and most early BMW's) are pretty simple but at least offer a modern drive and performance package for decent money. 240 Volvo's and the like are similar. W124 mercs are also a good choice and there is a decent support network for all the above. You could go MG (BGT) but though parts are plentifull, it's not quite an everday car.

[300bhp/ton]

Land Rover, Anything up to a Disco (maybe Disco II/P38a Rangie, but more electrics). They are all nuts and bolts and easy to work on.

[sherman]

300bhp/ton said:

Land Rover, Anything up to a Disco (maybe Disco II/P38a Rangie, but more electrics). They are all nuts and bolts and easy to work on.

This.

A defender you can actually see the ground through the engine bay.

[pimping]

saw a pristing old volvo 360? outside the cinema months ago and i couldn't stop staring. my cousin thought it was horrible and that i was insane but it was mint and on some lovely wheels. not chav at all just mint retro cool.

[pimping]

have actually worked ona few land rover defenders at work and they are as bog basic as you get but obviously for a reason. might consider one but s/h prices seem a bit steep.

[sherman]

pimping said:

have actually worked ona few land rover defenders at work and they are as bog basic as you get but obviously for a reason. might consider one but s/h prices seem a bit steep.

You need about 3 grand for a half decent one.

[dnb]

My P38 has proven to be annoying to work on. For example, the exhaust made from steel that even didn't want. Thankfully I haven't had to do too much to it.

My classic Imprezas, however have always been good to work on.

[pimping]

p38? been looking at early imprezas but so many have been ruined i have kind of given up trying to find a nice one. do love that boxer sound though.

[Otto]

MGB has plenty of space around the engine, cheap parts etc.
Mk2 Golf GTi was pretty easy to work on.

Generally older (i.e. pre 1990ish) cars have more space around the engine and are from an age where it was common to work on your car yourself.

[MonkeyBusiness]

The PH favourite the MK1 MX5 isn't bad.

[Sparky1988]

Imprezas are pretty easy to work on, took the engine out when it jumped wait for it.....16 teeth on the timing and went back in no probs and tht was at the side of the road last winter lol but changing the spark plugs is the only bd other than that not to bad,yet to work on my integra but should b ok

[GadgeS3C]

Triumph Spitfire or GT6 - best engine access ever! Usually room to get at the inner body work through the holes in the outer too ;-)

[killsta]

Any Alfa with a V6.

..you get to see this every time you open the bonnet:





Just me?

[pimping]

nearly bought a 98 mx-5 earlier today but the seller was completely honest and mentioned the rusty sills and the fact that it needed a new hood over the phone instead of after i had travelled 2 hours.

superb guy and i really enjoy cars off fellow car enthusiasts instead of stitch up merchants on ebay.

[chrisr29]

Merc 190 Cossie. Had a couple of them now and they're a pleasure to work on. 20 year old suspension bolts come out looking like new. Pretty much everything is available and you can do most jobs with just regular hand tools.

As someone mentioned, Impreza's aren't too bad, can take the engine out in about 3 hours single handedly.

E30 Beemers are pretty simple as well.

[jbi]

body on frame vehicles in general...

Lift the body off... voila

[NickXX]

I have an e36 318iS which has been great to work on.

[Spudler]

Vauxhall Shovette...if you can find one

[Tunku]

4 in line Volvo with rear wheel drive. Tons of room to work in, and everything in the right place.