A cage with character

[Keith1983]

Well I am very sad to admit that the time has come when I need to buy a cage. I have got about £5k to spend. I could get something reasonably new and boring, or something a bit older with some character. By this I mean a nice Ford Escort RS Turbo, or a mk1 VW golf gti. Any sugestions?:confused:

[Frank]

my car is up for sale in 4 weeks

[Keith1983]

what is it?

[fizzwheel]

mk1 VW golf gti.

Thats what I'd go for, always had a soft spot for them, but It would have to be totally standard or put back to standard if it had been molested.

[Frank]

mk4 1.8 16valve Astra Sport

[Wideboy]

a Capri, I've always wanted one, even though every owner I've spoken to says it handles like a double decker

[Keith1983]

definitely fizzwheel, Im after something oroginal, maybe a few subtle improvements but not something that looks like it has been crashed intop halfords

[Razor]

Suzuki ignis sport!

http://www.paszti-suzuki.hu/hirlevel/ignis_super.jpg

[Keith1983]

A capri? Sorry mate thanks for the suggestion but not my thing. I'm after a stlye icon not victim! lol

[fizzwheel]

Something like this, might need a bit of work but looks standard

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/VOLKSWAGEN+GOLF/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146,N-24-54-4294961522-4294964792-4294966995-4294967159/advert.action?R=200744297495659&distance=114&postcode=BA20+2NE&channel=CARS&make=&model=&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=

[Keith1983]

An ignis sport? Do you have one or have you driven one?

[Keith1983]

that link is good fizz, I was wondering about getting something along those lines and then having it professionaly restored to good as new condition.

[fizzwheel]

that link is good fizz, I was wondering about getting something along those lines and then having it professionaly restored to good as new condition.

if I had the cash thats what I'd be doing, I quite like Phase One Escort RS Turbo's as well though. What about a Mk I Fiesta XR2 or you really go old school an Mk1 or Mk2 Escort...

[kwak zzr]

any mk3 mk4 escort 1600i to RS turbo are ace:) MK1 Golf Gti also classic, i had a astra mk1 GTE 1800i on an A reg, so much fun to drive and like you say bag's of character:)

[Razor]

An ignis sport? Do you have one or have you driven one?

I test drove one, before I lost my job, very good on back roads, entertaining :D

[kwak zzr]

if I had the cash thats what I'd be doing, I quite like Phase One Escort RS Turbo's as well though. What about a Mk I Fiesta XR2 or you really go old school an Mk1 or Mk2 Escort...

ohhhhh mk2 rs2000:smt055

[Keith1983]

I appreciate this sounds incredibly geeky, but I'd like something form 1983 as this is the year I was born. Sad I know, but the golf is really sticking out at the minute. Maybe something a bit weirder like an early fiesta?

[Keith1983]

ooooooh a mk1 astra gte, it'd have to be orange! lol. Im liking nearly all of the suggestions so far, I must admit Im impressed by everyone's taste! I like the iconic status of the golfs, but then the astras are that little bit less common.

[hovis]

old ford= rust bucket

depends if you want somthing reliable......... or not

TRIUMPH DOLIMITE SPRINT

[Keith1983]

Gid What Is It You Have That Will Be Up For Sale?

[fizzwheel]

ooooooh a mk1 astra gte

Yep they are nice to, but you'll IMHO struggle to find one that isnt full of rust... and I reckon the Golfs a better car anyway.

[Keith1983]

Hovis, I would have to disagree, I think anything from the era I am looking for will be more prone to rust than a modern day equivalent that is why they are not so common now and a nice one is even more to behold!

[kwak zzr]

I appreciate this sounds incredibly geeky, but I'd like something form 1983 as this is the year I was born. Sad I know, but the golf is really sticking out at the minute. Maybe something a bit weirder like an early fiesta?

X/Y reg?

[kwak zzr]

Yep they are nice to, but you'll IMHO struggle to find one that isnt full of rust... and I reckon the Golfs a better car anyway.

VW are 10X better built.

[Keith1983]

how old does something have to be to qualify for calssic insurance does anybody know?

[Keith1983]

I could also be quite partial to things like a nice cavalier gsi?

[hovis]

:smt017old ford= rust bucket

depends if you want somthing reliable......... or not

TRIUMPH DOLIMITE SPRINT

Hovis, I would have to disagree, I think anything from the era I am looking for will be more prone to rust than a modern day equivalent that is why they are not so common now and a nice one is even more to behold!

:smt017 DISAGREE OR AGREE?

you will be very lucky to find a good cond mk1 feista

what do you want the car for?

[kwak zzr]

There is no fixed definition of a Classic car. Two taxation issues do impact however, leading to some people using them as cutoff dates. All cars built before 1 January 1973 are exempted from paying the annual road tax vehicle excise duty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_excise_duty) - this is then entered on the license disc displayed on the windscreen as "historic vehicle" (if a car built before this date has been first registered in 1973 or later, then its build date would have to be verified by a recognized body such as British Motor Heritage Foundation to claim tax free status). The government Revenue and Customs define a classic car for company taxation purposes as being over 15 years old and having a value in excess of £15,000.

[hovis]

:smt017



:smt017 DISAGREE OR AGREE?

you will be very lucky to find a good cond mk1 feista

what do you want the car for?

if its to be your main transport, i would not spend £5000 on a 20 year old car

[Keith1983]

The car will be used every day as my main mode of transport. This doesn't mean it will be neglected though. It will only have to transport myself and maybe a lucky lady!

[kwak zzr]

MINI COOPER

[hovis]

nissan skyline

[fizzwheel]

The car will be used every day as my main mode of transport. This doesn't mean it will be neglected though. It will only have to transport myself and maybe a lucky lady!

then I'd Defo be looking for a Golf.

[Keith1983]

wow cheers kwak, well it might be older than 15 years, but unfortunately seeing as I cant afford a nice Dino or E-Type it wont be worth over £15k!

[hovis]

I could also be quite partial to things like a nice cavalier gsi?

:laughat:

[Razor]

Old car=money pit.

[hovis]

go for a 3-5 year old sporty little number???

[Keith1983]

A skyline hovis? I'd do well to find one worth having for £5k would I not?

[kwak zzr]

Old car=money pit.

Thats exactly how i'd have described my MK1 astra.

[GastonJ]

From '83 you'd probably be looking at a Ford Sierra, was around that time from what I remember, or has been said the Mk1 Astra, neither of which I'd ever want tbh. Can't even think of a car I'd want from that time.

[hovis]

porshe

[kwak zzr]

my cousin (cuz) has a A reg sierra XR4X4 on his drive doing nothing:)

[Keith1983]

what would you recommend for £5k in the 3-5 year age group hovis? I would like something fun, but with character aswell. What kind of money do Impreza's go for?

[GastonJ]

Maybe a porsche 911 targa.... a friend of mine at college had one, nice car.

[Keith1983]

what conditionm is the sierra in kwak? COuldn't get him to email me some pics could ya? If he is wanting to sell.

[hovis]

what would you recommend for £5k in the 3-5 year age group hovis? I would like something fun, but with character aswell. What kind of money do Impreza's go for?

£10k?


im in work & my searching skills are weak

[Keith1983]

sierra gt?

[hovis]

A reg sierra

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[GastonJ]

Ain't going to get much for 5k in the 3 to 5 year bracket, well nothing exiciting anyway. Have to look further back. Find an nice Mazda RX7 Mk2 or an MX6

[petevtwin650]

A Triumph TR7 with a V8 conversion.

Good owners club and support.

Soft top, sexy and great to drive once fettled. Plus cheap classic insurance.

http://www.tr-register.co.uk/

[hovis]

Mr 2 ?

[Keith1983]

mr2 maybe hovis?

[kwak zzr]

what conditionm is the sierra in kwak? COuldn't get him to email me some pics could ya? If he is wanting to sell.

sorry keith he said he dont want to sell it, its got no tax or mot and one day he says he will give it a new lease of life.

[yorkie_chris]

ohhhhh mk2 rs2000:smt055

+1 :-D

[Keith1983]

well so far guys and girls if I can find a nice mk1 golf gti cabriolet that would probably be the winner. I'm luckily not in a rush so I can take my time and find a good one. Please keep the suggestions coming after all if I have to subject myself to a cage Im going to make it a good one!

[Biker Biggles]

Porsche 944 for ?5000 is doable.
Triumph TR7V8
Audi Quattro
Renault 5 Turbo(Fragile)
Scirrocco GTI (cheaper than Golf)
Corrado(Better than Golf)

[Frank]

TRIUMPH DOLIMITE SPRINT[/quote]
had one of those with two twin choke webbers.Tha phrase "teabag" springs to mind

[Ace-T]

Alfa GTV 3ltr V6 Described as a 'mini ferrari' in its time. Get a good one, get it looked after by an independent and you have one hell of a car for in essence peanuts. www.sportsalfa.com is this sites equivalent.

Lovely v6 engine, beautiful interior, striking exterior, 240 bhp (with a couple of mods) not many on the road so won't be 'common';). And of course "you are not a proper petrolhead until you have owned an Alfa".

Only one problem in my eyes, they ain't rear wheel drive. But hey, you can't have everything.

Trace :eek:

[SVTONYB]

Suzuki ignis sport!

http://www.paszti-suzuki.hu/hirlevel/ignis_super.jpg

is it just me or has the guy in the nearside seat got the smallest head ever :confused:

[SVTONYB]

My suggestion is a Ford Escort Mk 2 RS2000 :smt023

[amarko5]

alfa 33 cloverleaf or lacia delta hf integrale

[SVTONYB]

http://membres.lycos.fr/sigmas/DarkAngeL/Ford_Escort_RS2000.jpg

[kwak zzr]

^^^^^^^^^^^^is nice:cool:^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Luckypants]

alfa 33 cloverleaf

+1 If you can find one that is not a heap of iron oxide.

[leemole]

BMW e30 325i mtec

well i would :)

[gettin2dizzy]

I'm with Biggles,
Corrado 2.9 VR6

[mattSV]

what would you recommend for £5k in the 3-5 year age group hovis? I would like something fun, but with character aswell. What kind of money do Impreza's go for?

Keith - I only paid £2800 for this, yest I know it is the estate, and it is white however:-

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/424188608_8c78ef00d7_b.jpg

One owner, 86k miles, superb condition in & out - totally standard except for a pro-drive quick shift gear linkage.

Goes like **** off a shovel, sticks like **** to a blanket, first tank I got 21 mpg!!!!

[timwilky]

I can't believe you lot. Cars of that era are absolute rust buckets. chances are any "Nice Ones" have been bodged. Even professionally restored are a problem waiting to happen. Where ever you weld new panels to is a new potential rust spot.

Would I buy a Golf, RS2000 etc. No. Hovis I had a brand new Dolly Sprint it was a pig, TR7/TR8?, no rusted like an old bean can from which the steel was made. I have two friends who both own multiple Dollops. you can seen the rust falling whilst they are parked up.

Now a car with character, cheap, not going to rust.... Trabant maybe;) or Reliant Scimitar. Or how about this (http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/LOTUS/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146,N-19-4294967171/advert.action?R=200741296491537&distance=203&postcode=pr6+7pz&channel=CARS&make=&model=&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=)

[Grinch]

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/23/14/23111423.jpg
Can you tell was it was yet! lol.

[kwak zzr]

my niece is cavalier mad and her and her hubby have stripped and rebuilt this 1992 cav sri, its took along time but its her pride and joy.
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/kwak-zzr/CAVSRI.jpg

[hovis]

nice private plate

[rictus01]

I thought the original post said character?

the last car I had was one of these (http://www.rovercarclubaust.asn.au/images/conc20.jpg)

preceeded by one of These (http://www.ncvc.org.uk/images/vehicles/SHA1.JPG), both has real charater, leather and wood abound.

Cheers Mark.

[krhall]

Porsche 944, that's the way to go. You can get a really nice one for the money and they are an everyday usable car, which if you are careful and choose the right one won't be a money pit. The 911 is not useable everyday.

I had a 944 S2 and used it only my daily commute for ages and it is the only car I have ever owned which comes close to the feeling of joy I get from the bike. If you get one get the newer 'oval dash' model if you like your knees.

I bought mine off of Ebay for ?1850 and sold a year later for ?2150 and it is the worst thing I ever did. Am currently looking for another.

[krhall]

Did I mention make sure it has decent history, as I'm sure you would with any car and also go for a manual not the horrid auto.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/krhall_2006/desktop.jpg

Look at her - why oh why did I get rid of you?

[carty]

Jaguar S-type, 3-6 years old. Loads of them around, generally with full service history and very good condition cos they've been owned by 'senior' members of society, (not wishing to offend anyone!)

Or if you don't like the Jag brand, for something you're going to use everyday you want something fairly new unless you want that £5000 to become £10000 pretty quickly!

Cheers,
Matt

[petevtwin650]

Mr 2 ?

+1.

A Mk1, not the flabby Mk2. Handles superbly, and goes very well from it's Yamaha designed and built engine. Good owners club and cheap classic insurance.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/petevtwin650/orgphoto/File0204.jpg
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i184/petevtwin650/orgphoto/MR21.jpg

[neio79]

Golf VR6, Lancia Delta, or the early S4 A4's the A4 would be my choice prob the best of the bunch. early M3?

[gettin2dizzy]

I know someone who's been through 3 of those.... toyota reliability or not, any old car with sporting pretentions will have been abused at some point. Avoid imho.
My Focus is great fun!

[fizzwheel]

I like the idea of a 944 I'd always discounted it as being to costly. What are the running costs like ?

As for the MR2 well I wouldnt touch one, my brother works at a Toyota main dealer, he said he'd never touch one as they are in his words "Sh*t"

[petevtwin650]

Seems like with my choice of cars, Tr7s and MR2s, I have owned some pups.

However I enjoyed em.:p:p

[Biker_Billy]

gotta be an E36 BMW M3...321bhp, rear wheel drive, and no traction control! Oooh, and it just so happens that I have one for sale!

[fizzwheel]

However I enjoyed em.:p:p

But thats what buying a car with character means though is it iconic like a Mk1 Golf, or is it a pile of bolts that needs constant fiddling with to keep it going like my dads Dolomite was, bonnet up every weekend, ace car when it worked, which wasnt for very long...

[kwak zzr]

you guys seen this - http://www.intuh.net/barnfinds/index.htm
i had an email about it a while back now about a man who brought a house with a very large locked barn, when he opened the barn it was full of classic cars. what a find.

[krhall]

[quote=fizzwheel;1331737]I like the idea of a 944 I'd always discounted it as being to costly. What are the running costs like ?
[quote]

Well I can only speak from my experience of owning one and not only did I make money when I sold it, the only cost I incured was MOT, TAX, Insurance and some glue for the rear-view mirror which fell off.

That said I have heard a few horror stories about really bad ones.

I had three cars at the time and chose to be sensible and get rid of the Porsche as it was less practical - biggest motoring mistake I have ever made and to this day (nearly 4 years on) I regret it. Especially as the ones I am currently looking at are not even close to the same league of it.

[GastonJ]

you guys seen this - http://www.intuh.net/barnfinds/index.htm
i had an email about it a while back now about a man who brought a house with a very large locked barn, when he opened the barn it was full of classic cars. what a find.

It's a hoax story, that's life.

[Razor]

You want character?






You know what you should get then...












Get one of these...








They don't call them Hitler's revenge for nuffin y'know...

http://www.edmunds.com/media/advice/specialreports/instant.car.classics/70.vw.beetle.500.jpg

[kwak zzr]

when someone mention's a character car they are usually referring to a car that was about that you prob couldn't afford or that you did have and you'd love another when you first passed your driving test so it all depends on your age really, like with me ive been driving since 89 so i sort of class a character car around the 1980 - 1989 era, if that makes any sense?

[StreetHawk]

If it were my £5k... I would buy a Golf Mk4 GT-TDI, probably the 115bhp 6-speed in silver, decent history, mint condition, a/c etc.. :-) Fast, well built, reliable, low depreciation, can't go wrong!

[krhall]

Another car with character would've been my first ever car. A mini 1275 GT in black with gold writing, it was my favourite car until the 944. It had plenty of character, which basically means it was always being repaired (or towed) somewhere.

Did look the nuts when it was on the road though.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l286/krhall_2006/1275GT_4_lowres.jpg

Almost identical to this, except mine had chrome bull bars front and rear.

[K]

I'm biased:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/spazmutt/PHOT0060.jpg

... but how's about an MG?

Good GT's are harder to find, but you could net yourself a decent enough roadster - or even perhaps an RV8. Very sweet.

Rear wheel drive fun and simple mechanics that respond well to the 'just threaten it with a hammer' school of repair! ;)

I'm two panels short of taking my baby off the road for a body restoration- but in the 11 years I've owned her, on average, she's cost less in mechanics bills than a new car would in repayments.
Economy's not to bad either (once you get a decent pair of carbs and know how to balance them every month or so) with about 30mpg round town.

As for Classic Insurance - two points, generally a car needs to be over 15 years of age, but the value doesn't matter - it simply will raise or lower you premium is all.
Average annual milage will affect your premium's cost too.

The main thing is you won't earn any no claims bonus, and any you already have is unlikely to affect your premium price... this also means that after two (or three years, I can't remember which) you'll effectively have zero NCB when insuring on a 'regular' policy.
Some companies will take it into account if you've been driving an 'average' annual milage of above 5k on a classic policy, but not all do - which is why some owners will insure on a 'regular' policy once every couple of years.

I only know this as I only put Red onto a Classic policy this year for the first time, so was introduced to some pitfalls by a nice man from the AA. ;)

[Pedro68]

Well I used to own a mk2 MR2 (http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TOYOTA+MR2/Ne-2-4-5-6-7-8-27-44-49-53-61-64-67-103-133-146,N-4294965772-4294967173/advert.action?R=200736294265169&distance=90&postcode=CH45+8PQ&channel=CARS&make=&model=&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=) and I never had any problems with it ... except that replacement parts were ludicrously expensive and I kept crashing the damn thing :(
Mine was an L reg in white, and was pristine :D ... loved it, although the clutch was a little heavy.

Crashed it twice:
Once when some t**t in a box van pulled out onto a roundabout without looking, forcing me to swerve to avoid him, lost the back end (not being used to RWD) and went up the pavement and into a hedge @ 40mph = ?4,500 worth of damage (bloody fibre-glass body).

Second one, I'd just had it serviced and tyres were "below the legal limit" (when I looked at them after the crash, both my rear tyres looked like well-worn racing slicks! I got 3pts for one of them, and copper let me off with the other cos he said he could see I was shaken). I aquaplaned and glanced a motorway central reservation barrier @ 80mph = ?4,500 worth of damage (bloody fibre-glass body!)

Had to sell when my first-born arrived.

I'd have another though :D Great fun :D

[northwind]

Mk 1 or Mk 2 Golf GTI + 1.8T engine... Modern go, combined with a chassis from back when a hot hatch actually weighed less than a van.

I'd really like a Mk 1, but to be honest the Mk 2 just makes miles more sense, what with galvanising etc.

But then, whenever I start thinking down those particular lines I end up wanting a Corrado, and that just makes no sense at all.

[fizzwheel]

But then, whenever I start thinking down those particular lines I end up wanting a Corrado.

You and me both, I really like Corrado's

[Biker_Billy]

You want character?






You know what you should get then...












Get one of these...








They don't call them Hitler's revenge for nuffin y'know...

http://www.edmunds.com/media/advice/specialreports/instant.car.classics/70.vw.beetle.500.jpg

Now you are talking....brings back memories of my 72, 1200, with a 2 litre motor in it....

No rear seats and about 170 bhp...had fun burning chavs in their 1.1 saxo's off the lights...

[kwak zzr]

this is my niece's husbands car, 1600 crossflow with twin 40's-
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k120/kwak-zzr/P32502091.jpg

[fizzwheel]

this is my niece's husbands car, 1600 crossflow with twin 40's-


thats nice that is

[colinsv25]

my old mans got a rover p5 3.5litre v8 sat in a garage somewere thats pretty fast for an old timer

[Skip]

The list is endless really of things to go for - but if it was my £5k and I had to use it everyday including through the winter it would have to be a BMW E36 328i Sport - a mate of mine has one and its spot on...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/skip665/BMW328i.jpg

But then I wouldnt spend the £5k on a car - I would keep my £1k BMW E30 325i Touring which has bags of character and is great fun to drive and spend the £5k on another bike :twisted:

[Keith1983]

Hi there guys. First of all thanks for all of your comments, the good, the bad and the ugly! Does anyone know much about 205 gti's? Surely worth a look, quick, cheap and fun? Do tell me more.

[kwak zzr]

great fun to drive like a fri@@ fast go cart but i'd say very hard to find a clean un thrashed one, 1.9 better than 1.6.