What sub 10k "classic" would you own just for the nostalgia?
Discussion
306 GTi-6.
My first car was a 1995 Peugeot 306 1.6 XS in black with the red tiger stripe sports seats. 750 quid and 1100 TPFT to insure.
The 306 is imo one of the best hatches ever made and doesn't get the recognition it deserves which is great news as they are still relatively cheap. Prefer these to the Clio 1x2's as the 306 is just the right size for the road without being too small. (I am 6ft3"). I even rate these over the legendary 205 GTi.
Engines are extremely tuneable and will easily make 200+ BHP with cams and throttle bodies on a unopened engine. The XU engine has massive motorsport pedigree powering Group B winners, F2 Kit car winners, WRC winners and plenty of manufacturer championships.
My first car was a 1995 Peugeot 306 1.6 XS in black with the red tiger stripe sports seats. 750 quid and 1100 TPFT to insure.
The 306 is imo one of the best hatches ever made and doesn't get the recognition it deserves which is great news as they are still relatively cheap. Prefer these to the Clio 1x2's as the 306 is just the right size for the road without being too small. (I am 6ft3"). I even rate these over the legendary 205 GTi.
Engines are extremely tuneable and will easily make 200+ BHP with cams and throttle bodies on a unopened engine. The XU engine has massive motorsport pedigree powering Group B winners, F2 Kit car winners, WRC winners and plenty of manufacturer championships.
Had almost exactly this choice this year. Budget was £8k. Shortlist was:
BMW Z3 2.8i. Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart & Megane 265.
Not interested enough in a Z3; Megane would be the logical choice but I wanted an auto so I bought this instead.
Provides a huge amount of fun for a comparably small outlay. Plenty fast enough for me and just the right side of hooligan.
BMW Z3 2.8i. Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart & Megane 265.
Not interested enough in a Z3; Megane would be the logical choice but I wanted an auto so I bought this instead.
Provides a huge amount of fun for a comparably small outlay. Plenty fast enough for me and just the right side of hooligan.
I bought mine a few years ago, a W202 C43 AMG.
I became a fan of Mercedes-Benz when I was 10/11 watching DTM races on Eurosport. My favourite entries were the class 1 "C-Klasse" cars, particularly the blue Zakspeed ones.
Around the same time, a friend from school began getting dropped off in what was then a brand spanking new M registered C220 Sport in light yellow. I loved that car, it seemed such a departure from the other reserved and restrained Merc models of the period.
My interest in Mercedes carried on through the GT1 and LM-GTP years in world endurance racing and Le Mans, and also with the Marlboro and then West sponsored F1 McLarens.
When I left school and (foolishly) decided I wanted to work on cars, there was only one choice of brand, it had to be Mercedes-Benz. After sending my local dealer a letter stating that I wanted to "be the best" that resonated with the manager at the time, I got taken on as an apprentice technician. This was back in the final days of proper apprenticeships, where I was effectively employed directly by the manufacturer and at the dealer as a placement.
As I progressed up the usual apprenticeship ladder of tea boy, car cleaner, vending machine stocker, chief spanner passer and then passed my driving test, I started being trusted to drive the cars into the workshop, as well as perform basic maintenance and repairs.
On one fateful day my mentor and foreman passed me a disposable floor mat and seat cover, placed a key in my hand and said "don't f**king crash it". I looked at the temporary paper tag and there it was scrawled in biro - C43. As someone also growing up around drag racing and muscle cars, this thing was literally the epitome of modern muscle to me; the recipe of big V8 from the larger model series, crammed into the engine bay of it's more modest and compact sibling. Nobody else was really doing that at that point in the late '90s and early '00s.
I remember it so distinctly to this day, steadily guiding it on to the bay in the workshop and then just sitting in the driver's seat looking around at the two-tone interior in awe, imagine owning this? What do you have to do to be able to afford one of these?!
Combined with my keenness for the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands, and my love for the W202 touring cars a few years prior, owning a C43 was always an aspirational desire from then on.
Fast forward to today and mine is my pride and joy. It's not fast by modern standards, the steering is vague, it's pretty basic inside and drinks like a fish. But, every single time I get behind the wheel, 17 year old me beams from within! Pure, nostalgia-fueled happiness.
A completely irrational and emotionally-led love affair, smiles per gallon.
I became a fan of Mercedes-Benz when I was 10/11 watching DTM races on Eurosport. My favourite entries were the class 1 "C-Klasse" cars, particularly the blue Zakspeed ones.
Around the same time, a friend from school began getting dropped off in what was then a brand spanking new M registered C220 Sport in light yellow. I loved that car, it seemed such a departure from the other reserved and restrained Merc models of the period.
My interest in Mercedes carried on through the GT1 and LM-GTP years in world endurance racing and Le Mans, and also with the Marlboro and then West sponsored F1 McLarens.
When I left school and (foolishly) decided I wanted to work on cars, there was only one choice of brand, it had to be Mercedes-Benz. After sending my local dealer a letter stating that I wanted to "be the best" that resonated with the manager at the time, I got taken on as an apprentice technician. This was back in the final days of proper apprenticeships, where I was effectively employed directly by the manufacturer and at the dealer as a placement.
As I progressed up the usual apprenticeship ladder of tea boy, car cleaner, vending machine stocker, chief spanner passer and then passed my driving test, I started being trusted to drive the cars into the workshop, as well as perform basic maintenance and repairs.
On one fateful day my mentor and foreman passed me a disposable floor mat and seat cover, placed a key in my hand and said "don't f**king crash it". I looked at the temporary paper tag and there it was scrawled in biro - C43. As someone also growing up around drag racing and muscle cars, this thing was literally the epitome of modern muscle to me; the recipe of big V8 from the larger model series, crammed into the engine bay of it's more modest and compact sibling. Nobody else was really doing that at that point in the late '90s and early '00s.
I remember it so distinctly to this day, steadily guiding it on to the bay in the workshop and then just sitting in the driver's seat looking around at the two-tone interior in awe, imagine owning this? What do you have to do to be able to afford one of these?!
Combined with my keenness for the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands, and my love for the W202 touring cars a few years prior, owning a C43 was always an aspirational desire from then on.
Fast forward to today and mine is my pride and joy. It's not fast by modern standards, the steering is vague, it's pretty basic inside and drinks like a fish. But, every single time I get behind the wheel, 17 year old me beams from within! Pure, nostalgia-fueled happiness.
A completely irrational and emotionally-led love affair, smiles per gallon.
This MX-5. While cosmetically a bit ropey and probably needs some attention with regards to rust, but it’s supercharged with 220 bhp, it’ll be an absolute hoot to drive!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025032706...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2025032706...
Rat_Fink_67 said:
I bought mine a few years ago, a W202 C43 AMG.
I became a fan of Mercedes-Benz when I was 10/11 watching DTM races on Eurosport. My favourite entries were the class 1 "C-Klasse" cars, particularly the blue Zakspeed ones.
Around the same time, a friend from school began getting dropped off in what was then a brand spanking new M registered C220 Sport in light yellow. I loved that car, it seemed such a departure from the other reserved and restrained Merc models of the period.
My interest in Mercedes carried on through the GT1 and LM-GTP years in world endurance racing and Le Mans, and also with the Marlboro and then West sponsored F1 McLarens.
When I left school and (foolishly) decided I wanted to work on cars, there was only one choice of brand, it had to be Mercedes-Benz. After sending my local dealer a letter stating that I wanted to "be the best" that resonated with the manager at the time, I got taken on as an apprentice technician. This was back in the final days of proper apprenticeships, where I was effectively employed directly by the manufacturer and at the dealer as a placement.
As I progressed up the usual apprenticeship ladder of tea boy, car cleaner, vending machine stocker, chief spanner passer and then passed my driving test, I started being trusted to drive the cars into the workshop, as well as perform basic maintenance and repairs.
On one fateful day my mentor and foreman passed me a disposable floor mat and seat cover, placed a key in my hand and said "don't f**king crash it". I looked at the temporary paper tag and there it was scrawled in biro - C43. As someone also growing up around drag racing and muscle cars, this thing was literally the epitome of modern muscle to me; the recipe of big V8 from the larger model series, crammed into the engine bay of it's more modest and compact sibling. Nobody else was really doing that at that point in the late '90s and early '00s.
I remember it so distinctly to this day, steadily guiding it on to the bay in the workshop and then just sitting in the driver's seat looking around at the two-tone interior in awe, imagine owning this? What do you have to do to be able to afford one of these?!
Combined with my keenness for the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands, and my love for the W202 touring cars a few years prior, owning a C43 was always an aspirational desire from then on.
Fast forward to today and mine is my pride and joy. It's not fast by modern standards, the steering is vague, it's pretty basic inside and drinks like a fish. But, every single time I get behind the wheel, 17 year old me beams from within! Pure, nostalgia-fueled happiness.
A completely irrational and emotionally-led love affair, smiles per gallon.
That's a great story and thanks for sharing, beautiful car too. You can pick those up for 10k?I became a fan of Mercedes-Benz when I was 10/11 watching DTM races on Eurosport. My favourite entries were the class 1 "C-Klasse" cars, particularly the blue Zakspeed ones.
Around the same time, a friend from school began getting dropped off in what was then a brand spanking new M registered C220 Sport in light yellow. I loved that car, it seemed such a departure from the other reserved and restrained Merc models of the period.
My interest in Mercedes carried on through the GT1 and LM-GTP years in world endurance racing and Le Mans, and also with the Marlboro and then West sponsored F1 McLarens.
When I left school and (foolishly) decided I wanted to work on cars, there was only one choice of brand, it had to be Mercedes-Benz. After sending my local dealer a letter stating that I wanted to "be the best" that resonated with the manager at the time, I got taken on as an apprentice technician. This was back in the final days of proper apprenticeships, where I was effectively employed directly by the manufacturer and at the dealer as a placement.
As I progressed up the usual apprenticeship ladder of tea boy, car cleaner, vending machine stocker, chief spanner passer and then passed my driving test, I started being trusted to drive the cars into the workshop, as well as perform basic maintenance and repairs.
On one fateful day my mentor and foreman passed me a disposable floor mat and seat cover, placed a key in my hand and said "don't f**king crash it". I looked at the temporary paper tag and there it was scrawled in biro - C43. As someone also growing up around drag racing and muscle cars, this thing was literally the epitome of modern muscle to me; the recipe of big V8 from the larger model series, crammed into the engine bay of it's more modest and compact sibling. Nobody else was really doing that at that point in the late '90s and early '00s.
I remember it so distinctly to this day, steadily guiding it on to the bay in the workshop and then just sitting in the driver's seat looking around at the two-tone interior in awe, imagine owning this? What do you have to do to be able to afford one of these?!
Combined with my keenness for the Mercedes-Benz and AMG brands, and my love for the W202 touring cars a few years prior, owning a C43 was always an aspirational desire from then on.
Fast forward to today and mine is my pride and joy. It's not fast by modern standards, the steering is vague, it's pretty basic inside and drinks like a fish. But, every single time I get behind the wheel, 17 year old me beams from within! Pure, nostalgia-fueled happiness.
A completely irrational and emotionally-led love affair, smiles per gallon.
I also started my career at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, albeit more on the sales/admin side and probably a few years later, as we were into W203/W211 era by then. I guess the pinnacle Mercedes was the R230 SL55 AMG back then, so that's similarly aspirational for me but I do love the W202 C43 AMG. Can you get an SL55 for 10k? Possibly but it could quite easily throw you a repair bill of the same again! I imagine the W202 is a slightly simpler car to fix/work on?
white_goodman said:
That's a great story and thanks for sharing, beautiful car too. You can pick those up for 10k?
I also started my career at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, albeit more on the sales/admin side and probably a few years later, as we were into W203/W211 era by then. I guess the pinnacle Mercedes was the R230 SL55 AMG back then, so that's similarly aspirational for me but I do love the W202 C43 AMG. Can you get an SL55 for 10k? Possibly but it could quite easily throw you a repair bill of the same again! I imagine the W202 is a slightly simpler car to fix/work on?
Thanks!I also started my career at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, albeit more on the sales/admin side and probably a few years later, as we were into W203/W211 era by then. I guess the pinnacle Mercedes was the R230 SL55 AMG back then, so that's similarly aspirational for me but I do love the W202 C43 AMG. Can you get an SL55 for 10k? Possibly but it could quite easily throw you a repair bill of the same again! I imagine the W202 is a slightly simpler car to fix/work on?
You can pick a ropey one up for half to be honest! But when I bought mine, a tidy example for £10k was possible. As you'll know having a Mercedes background, corrosion is the killer, so the old adage of buy on condition not mileage definitely rings true with any flavour of W202.
I love the SL55 AMG as well, and have considered one more than once. It's the potential ABC suspension borkage and water ingress that puts me off though. They have a proper old school hot rod vibe about them when you drive one though; I used to PDI them when brand new, and it was always a fun test drive when the buyer had chosen the de-limit option!
.You probably could get a higher mileage SL55 with a couple of niggles for around the £10k mark in all honesty, although I'd be aiming to pay double that for one that was a little more trouble free.
The W202 is really easy to work on in comparison though, yeah. The ignition switch can be a pain if it fails, but barring that, everything is very much mechanical. Even the front bottom ball joints just unbolt!
BricktopST205 said:
306 GTi-6.
My first car was a 1995 Peugeot 306 1.6 XS in black with the red tiger stripe sports seats. 750 quid and 1100 TPFT to insure.
The 306 is imo one of the best hatches ever made and doesn't get the recognition it deserves which is great news as they are still relatively cheap. Prefer these to the Clio 1x2's as the 306 is just the right size for the road without being too small. (I am 6ft3"). I even rate these over the legendary 205 GTi.
Engines are extremely tuneable and will easily make 200+ BHP with cams and throttle bodies on a unopened engine. The XU engine has massive motorsport pedigree powering Group B winners, F2 Kit car winners, WRC winners and plenty of manufacturer championships.
Would also be top of my list too - my fave hot hatch. A few days ago I was idly browsing used cars and found that for the equivalent of £10k I could get a v v clean 406 Coupe 3.0 Manual, or both a 306GTI6 and a 405 Mi-16My first car was a 1995 Peugeot 306 1.6 XS in black with the red tiger stripe sports seats. 750 quid and 1100 TPFT to insure.
The 306 is imo one of the best hatches ever made and doesn't get the recognition it deserves which is great news as they are still relatively cheap. Prefer these to the Clio 1x2's as the 306 is just the right size for the road without being too small. (I am 6ft3"). I even rate these over the legendary 205 GTi.
Engines are extremely tuneable and will easily make 200+ BHP with cams and throttle bodies on a unopened engine. The XU engine has massive motorsport pedigree powering Group B winners, F2 Kit car winners, WRC winners and plenty of manufacturer championships.
So, prob some form of 80s/90s sporty Peugeot for me
And, as nostalgia ain’t what it used to be, about 9 years ago I was looking at very tidy E34 M5s and E36 M3s for £10k, and I think that’s about what I paid for my 928S4…
Nostalgia usually involves cars that may have had merit, back in the day but are ostensibly crud nowadays. My first car was an A40 Farina Mk II but all I ever did was doodle sketches with boxed or bubble arches and a Rover V8.
Even then it was littered with sawn gear lever and small steering wheels.
I would like something like a 1986 Corolla Coupe red which I never once owned. After all, why repeat the past, indulge in what you missed.
Even then it was littered with sawn gear lever and small steering wheels.
I would like something like a 1986 Corolla Coupe red which I never once owned. After all, why repeat the past, indulge in what you missed.
Rat_Fink_67 said:
Thanks!
You can pick a ropey one up for half to be honest! But when I bought mine, a tidy example for £10k was possible. As you'll know having a Mercedes background, corrosion is the killer, so the old adage of buy on condition not mileage definitely rings true with any flavour of W202.
I love the SL55 AMG as well, and have considered one more than once. It's the potential ABC suspension borkage and water ingress that puts me off though. They have a proper old school hot rod vibe about them when you drive one though; I used to PDI them when brand new, and it was always a fun test drive when the buyer had chosen the de-limit option! .
You probably could get a higher mileage SL55 with a couple of niggles for around the £10k mark in all honesty, although I'd be aiming to pay double that for one that was a little more trouble free.
The W202 is really easy to work on in comparison though, yeah. The ignition switch can be a pain if it fails, but barring that, everything is very much mechanical. Even the front bottom ball joints just unbolt!
I guess the "sensible" answer is an R230 SL350 as it still looks a million dollars but does without the complex suspension but it's just not an SL55 is it? Or you go R129 and then you can have the V8 without the added complexity of the R230? I like that the R230 has the refinement and security of the hardtop though but you can drop it at will. You get the hardtop with the R129 too but you have to make that decision before you leave home!You can pick a ropey one up for half to be honest! But when I bought mine, a tidy example for £10k was possible. As you'll know having a Mercedes background, corrosion is the killer, so the old adage of buy on condition not mileage definitely rings true with any flavour of W202.
I love the SL55 AMG as well, and have considered one more than once. It's the potential ABC suspension borkage and water ingress that puts me off though. They have a proper old school hot rod vibe about them when you drive one though; I used to PDI them when brand new, and it was always a fun test drive when the buyer had chosen the de-limit option!
.You probably could get a higher mileage SL55 with a couple of niggles for around the £10k mark in all honesty, although I'd be aiming to pay double that for one that was a little more trouble free.
The W202 is really easy to work on in comparison though, yeah. The ignition switch can be a pain if it fails, but barring that, everything is very much mechanical. Even the front bottom ball joints just unbolt!
white_goodman said:
I guess the "sensible" answer is an R230 SL350 as it still looks a million dollars but does without the complex suspension but it's just not an SL55 is it? Or you go R129 and then you can have the V8 without the added complexity of the R230? I like that the R230 has the refinement and security of the hardtop though but you can drop it at will. You get the hardtop with the R129 too but you have to make that decision before you leave home!
An SL350 is great in principle, until you start driving it. They go and sound well enough, but it's no blown V8. It's like pulling the stunner in a club, taking her home and then discovering she'd been stuffing her bra with padding 
.An R129 SL500 is a good shout! Another one of my favourites. The detachable hard top is a bit of a pain, but at least the option is there, and the entire car is literally made from granite! Jury's out on what the best engine is; purists prefer the quad cam M119 for it's rawer power delivery and better sound, whereas the lighter weight and added refinement of the later M113 is preferable to others. Either option is great in reality, then there's always the SL60 for the ultimate V8 R129! Just not for £10k
cerb4.5lee said:
Falsey said:
Ill take an E30 or a 200SX if there are any left.
Same. Although you'll be lucky to get either nowadays for under £10k though(nice ones anyway). 
Or a Mk1 Cavalier 2000GLS in Jamaica Yellow with vinyl roof, I loved that car.
Alternatively, I've always had a soft spot for the first car I ever rode in:
If you'd asked me a few years ago it would have been this, in fact it almost was but it sold before I could raise the dosh. Not a great photo I'm afraid but it's a very well spec'ed car; info in link below the photo:
https://www.classicandsportscar.ltd.uk/riley-one-p...
https://www.classicandsportscar.ltd.uk/riley-one-p...
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff