Something interesting for a bag 'o' saaaand...

[jimmy]

We're saving at the minute for a new house etc. but the missus has given me a grand and told me to go and buy something to cheer me up.....

I've been looking at all sorts but wondered if you guys had any suggestions?

Main criteria is:

Gotta be interesting
Gotta be useable (Don't mind no T&T but don't want something that'll need loads of work and end up as another project!)
70's, 80's or interesting EARLY 90's stuff only please.......

Hit Me!!!!!

[TurboDieselWeasel]

I can't offer anything - but can I have your missus!?

[dave21478]

[spandelly]

I am going to throw in my favorite. The Porsche 924. Cheap, pretty practical, easy to work on, great parts availability and they don't rust badly. The 2.0 is a good car but the s has the same engine and running gear from the early 944 so plenty of scope for tuning etc.
It may have the reputation of being the poor mans porsche but thats exactly what it is and theres nothing wrong with that. I love em.

[dubmeister]

Mercedes v8 s class w140 ,dirt cheap 340ish bhp for next to nowt .mine owes me £300

[grumpy]

Dolly sprint ? Might even go up in value over the next year or two .

[fred]

Opel manta ?
might have one going soon!!

[boom666]

how about a jago jeep. good cheap summer fun and rear wheel drive driftage . win win

[omega]

205 gti

[dbizzle]

An early MX-5 will make you very happy.

[joem83]

Jun 21, 2013 20:34:42 GMT dbizzle said:

An early MX-5 will make you very happy.

I was just going to say that lol

[Dorset_Clive]

Saab 900/93 convertible? 2.0 or 2.3 turbo has lots of potential if you have the inclination and quite a nice place to be

[PhoenixCapri]

A nice solid Chevette fit that bill for me perfectly and it does the daily commute really well too Cost me exactly a grand, but I've seen decent enough ones from £800, damn cheap insurance too.

[jimmy]

Thanks for the ideas guys.....I've used my puppy dog eyes on the missus and she's given me another 500 quid, so I've been looking at 944's as I've wanted one for a fair while now, although I'm still open to suggestions for my new inflated toy budget......

[ben711200]

Jun 21, 2013 20:34:42 GMT dbizzle said:

An early MX-5 will make you very happy.

I think I must be the only person ever that has bought an MX5 and was left just making a 'meh' noise. I swapped it for a Volvo 3 weeks later

[Dez]

Jun 23, 2013 14:04:19 GMT ben711200 said:

Jun 21, 2013 20:34:42 GMT dbizzle said:

An early MX-5 will make you very happy.

I think I must be the only person ever that has bought an MX5 and was left just making a 'meh' noise. I swapped it for a Volvo 3 weeks later ;D

oh, i did the same. stock ones are, well, just stock really. they need a fair few mods to get interesting in my eyes. that and theres the smll issue if the top of the screen in one being about at the top of my forehead, so i end up with a blow-dry afro within 10 miles.

[surprisingskoda]

Jun 23, 2013 14:04:19 GMT ben711200 said:

Jun 21, 2013 20:34:42 GMT dbizzle said:

An early MX-5 will make you very happy.

I think I must be the only person ever that has bought an MX5 and was left just making a 'meh' noise. I swapped it for a Volvo 3 weeks later

I only got as far as the test drive before the meh.

For a grand, mark3 supra, renault 19 convertible, even maybe an e30 cab would be just about in reach. Something driveable but also a bit of top down fun if possible.

[Copey]

Sierra?

[ChasR]

Dolly Sprints have already risen in value. For quite some time I have not seen a reasonable MOT'd Sprint go for less than £2k. Yes you can get a non runner for less, but even with a ticket they can come with issues (rust, poor workmanship (through a lack of understanding etc.). Good cars but like the MX-5 IMHO they need a few mods to make them 'great'. That said, nothing is impossible.

924 is a great suggestion for £1500. The Audi based engine is great to work on, and the lack of weight can give you the best of both worlds. When I was buying my first 944 years ago, the cars for £1500 were tired truth be told from what I saw. The gulf between tired smokers and great cars is larger than one thinks. To put it one way the two 2.5s I initially saw were tired (engine performance was poor in comparison to a car I drove a few weeks back), with a plethora of bodges (filler in the sills, and bypass switches for the electrical fans) in addition to driving poorly (vague/playful steering and curse word roadmanners (although the owners thought they were great)) although they did look tidy upon initial glances. Eventually I settled on an £1800 S2 which was far better but it came with its own faults (a knackered engine (££££), and a leaky heater matrix).

If I am honest, the chap who let me drive his tidy early 944 (he paid £2-2.5k for that IIRC) was a delight to drive. The lack of power in comparison to mine at the top end was not a problem and it was joy in the corners at any speed. A lack of power steering did not even deter me despite its further limited lock (whether that is an early offset car issue or a steering rack limitation I do not know).

MX-5 is a great chouce, but I can appreciate that they are not for everyone.

If you come across one, Nissan S12 Turbo?

[joem83]

What about an Mk2 MR2? Best one is Rev 2 onwards though as the Rev1's have, interesting handling.
Can get a nice one for £1500.

Something like this? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toyota-MR2-2-0-GT-/111104861093?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19de5da3a5