Trying to convert the mother.

[tigran]

Hey up gang. The mother looks like she'll be getting shot of her car soon, I am half contemplating trying to get her into retros. Anyone got any cool suggestions? It would have to be an everyday car - and she is wibblepoo with anything mechanical so would have to be the most reliable of retros. If I can find a car she likes enough I reckon up to 10,000 would be the max budget. Would prefer to find the very best example of something cool for that money rather than the most ropey example of something uber amasing. Any suggestions?

p.s. 4seats is a must.

[Lewis]

A Triumph 2500, on carbs? Bulletproof mechanically, relatively modern handling, power steering, decent brakes (although nowhere near modern cars, so some acclimatisation will be required), comfortable and with the option of an excellent automatic box or strong manual.

A 2500 or 2000 will have no bugbears about daily use, are simple enough to withstand abuse and easy to obtain parts for, get garage work done on and keep on the road







Or an earlier Mk1 - also tax exempt if you make the correct pick!

[skudupnorth]

How about a Nissan Figaro ? Retro looks,Nissan Micra running gear

[bryn]

Like the idea of a Figaro, but the need for four seats might be an issue...

Triumph sounds good, Volvo Amazon, BMW 2002, dare I say something small and American? Basically all manufacturers will have something suitable within that price range, show her some pictures, see what she fancies.

10K will buy you just about the best of anything that could suit, so it would come down to personal taste. On the plus side, older cars are easier to maintain than most moderns, look for a local specialist maybe? Somebody she could entrust with caring for it?

Plus sell it to her on the resale value, tax exempt reasoning etc. If she's selling a modern that she's lost money on, it could swing it...

Go, go, gadget Tigran. Best of luck

[Autofive]

whats she driving now - to give some indication of her likes and wants



Ive been trying to get my mother to buy a Mk1 granada - but she wants a retro motorbike instead - i ve told her thats no good as i don't have a m'bike licence

[Seth]

Combining Lewis's and Bryn's adivce I know a very good Triumph specialist in the centre of Potters Bar

[twinspark]

You could get an absolute minter of a Rover P5B Coupe or P6B for that kind of money.

It's almost certainly where I'd put my money.

[Lewis]

Oh yea, that's a great one! Almost forgot about those, haven't seen one for ages! Lovely ride in the P6's

[loon]

I would go with the volvo amazon any day they were built to withstand the cold there heaters are so good that you cant leave them on for to long.
ive owned 5 amazons as daileys and only had 2 breakdowns
so for 8 years of motoring you cant go wrong..
spares are easy to get there are 3 dealers that I use
there are diferant models to choose from depending on your needs 2dr 4dr and estate 1.8 2.0 both engins can tow with ease ime sure that Paul h and others will vouch for me on what I put here
5k would buy a corker close to mint

regards l :on

[bryn]

twinspark said:

You could get an absolute minter of a Rover P5B Coupe or P6B for that kind of money.

It's almost certainly where I'd put my money.

P6? Legend of a choice... ;D How could I have forgotten that one? Car of the Year 1966/something???

Did thousands in my 2000TC and it never let me down, even with a hole the size of Malta in the rad, a goosed diff, shonky brakes and an electrical fault that eventually saw it catch fire.

[tigran]

seth said:

Combining Lewis's and Bryn's adivce I know a very good Triumph specialist in the centre of Potters Bar

Yeah cam's do any work on her car at the mo and on mine when i don't have time, the leg-ends.

autofive said:

whats she driving now - to give some indication of her likes and wants



Ive been trying to get my mother to buy a Mk1 granada - but she wants a retro motorbike instead - I ve told her thats no good as I don't have a m'bike licence

She uses my focus quite a bit but her usual drive is a grand voyager. So boat like handling won't surprise her.

She is becoming a bit of a speed freak though, so something V6/V8 with four seats. The P6 is sounding good.

[tigran]

Another suggestion that I want to put to her is a minty Rover P5 3.5.

Think that just about fits the criteria.

[tigran]

Well having done a bit of poking about the P5B seems to be the stylish slightly classier option but slow-as-death. The P6 3500 seems the quicker option with almost-modern performance. But then the 3.5 Rover is a tuneable beastie.

Decisions decisions.

[Seth]

tigran said:

seth said:

Combining Lewis's and Bryn's adivce I know a very good Triumph specialist in the centre of Potters Bar

Yeah cam's do any work on her car at the mo and on mine when I don't have time, the leg-ends.

I wasn't thinking of Cams. There's Moordale Motors on the other side of the lights. Its hidden behind a small row of shops that are set back from the road. I guess they might be willing to take on other classic stuff too.

[street]

Yeah I reckon a P5 or a P6 would be perfect. Like you say though, the P5 doesn't like to be hurried, so unless you find one thats had an engine swap, i'd go for a P6 3500V8. Very reliable, very tuneable, very comfortable..... just make sure you get one with power steering

[dollywobbler]

tigran said:

Well having done a bit of poking about the P5B seems to be the stylish slightly classier option but slow-as-death. The P6 3500 seems the quicker option with almost-modern performance. But then the 3.5 Rover is a tuneable beastie.

Decisions decisions.

I'm confused. Both cars weigh a bit but they have the same engine. AFAIK, the P5B tops out at 108 compared to 112 in the P6 (which is a bit more streamlined). Wouldn't have thought a P5 would be slower in acceleration terms.

Both are cool but make sure you get PAS. My early P6B didn't have it and while it wasn't a problem for me, if most driving is done around town, it would quickly get tiring! Filling up a P6 with fuel is an acquired art too.

Ian

[street]

I thaught the P5 had a 3.0 engine and not the 3.5 like the P6?

[Seth]

You'd need a P5B for the V-8. B stands for Buick

[dollywobbler]

Yup. P5 equals three litre six and poor performance. P5B equals V8 wuffle and go, go, go.

P6 equals two litre (later 2.2) four pot and can be nippy in twin carb TC form (albeit they drink almost as much fuel as a V8). P6B equals V8 wuffle etc, etc.

[Paul H]

loon said:

I would go with the volvo amazon any day they were built to withstand the cold there heaters are so good that you cant leave them on for to long.
ive owned 5 amazons as daileys and only had 2 breakdowns
so for 8 years of motoring you cant go wrong..
spares are easy to get there are 3 dealers that I use
there are diferant models to choose from depending on your needs 2dr 4dr and estate 1.8 2.0 both engins can tow with ease ime sure that Paul h and others will vouch for me on what I put here
5k would buy a corker close to mint

regards l :on

I can indeed vouch for what you say! The heaters are especially volcanic (especially on long journeys ;D), and they are very reliable & tough, especially for a car of this age. Mine hasn't been entirely troublefree over the 30K & 4 1/2 years I've had it but my only breakdown call-outs have been two occasions (4 years apart) when still driveable, but curse word fuel due to a large piece of crud has clogged the carb floatcamber jet. As I don't have a vice in the boot, I wasn't able to get the float off the lid & then clean the jet. The rest of the time, it has given plenty of advance warning of any problems so that I could have them dealt with when convenient.

Very relaxing to drive, as plenty of torque. However no PAS, but that's only really an issue in London parking. I'd advise getting one with twin carbs & o/d (either B18 or B20 - avoid the boat anchor B16) as these will cruise easily at 85 / 90mph all day (even up motorway hills), & with the braking power to match. Interiors are tough & hardwearing, if somewhat spartan looking, but extremely comfortable. Your £10K would buy two absolute stunners & still with plenty of change!

All in all, the truly practical classic car