People's opinion on the Morris Marina?

[DrSebWilkes]

So my Dad has a 'few questions':

1] How much would a day's worth of Car insurance and breakdown cover be for a car like that (roughly)?
2] What would the tax be like on something like that (roughly)?
3] Would it break if left on the drive over summer 'unused'?

[VW]

May 7, 2016 19:07:26 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

May 7, 2016 18:43:18 GMT 820 said:

As most have already said they were a 70's car that had leaf springs, drum brakes, OHV engines and rust like almost everything else at the time except probably Lancia's, Alfa Romeo's and Fiats but they had some extra rust.


Be prepared to do some work on it though and be let down now and then, points, condensers, HT leads.I would definitely have another one if I had space.

I'm not worried about ride comfort or handling at all really. All I care about is if the car will break with very light use; if it has a high chance of doing so, then I will have wasted literally all my savings and that worries me!

I think we need to clarify what you mean by break and therefore loose your savings.

It will break down.
Parts will break.
You will need to work on it.

Will you be able to (or willing to learn) fix it?

Would it loosing spark, or needing suspension bushes, or carb rebuilding cause you to have to give up and sell at a loss?

If the only real concerns are terminal rot or engine/gearbox failure then buy a good one and have fun.

If reasonably minor things are going to cause the issues you fear, then maybe think again.

Having said that, all cars break, even new ones.

[DrSebWilkes]

May 7, 2016 21:31:01 GMT VW said:

I think we need to clarify what you mean by break and therefore lose your savings.

It will break down.
Parts will break.
You will need to work on it.

Will you be able to (or willing to learn) fix it?

Would it loosing spark, or needing suspension bushes, or carb rebuilding cause you to have to give up and sell at a loss?

If the only real concerns are terminal rot or engine/gearbox failure then buy a good one and have fun.

If reasonably minor things are going to cause the issues you fear, then maybe think again.

Having said that, all cars break, even new ones.

I am willing to learn; this whole experience has been fascinating and I really want to become 'self sufficient' when it comes to Car repairs (or best of my ability). If something fairly minor were to occur, where the part replacement was only <£100 then that'd be fine. It's when whole sections of the engine or if a rot hole were to appear and needs welding (or whatever) where costs are the limiting factor. 

So, yeah ... I really hope I do indeed find a good one!

[VW]

In that case, check very carefully for rot and check mechanicals thoroughly. don't kid yourself a bit of a noise is ok.

Then, all you have to worry about is running repairs and the odd replacement bearing, brakes or whatever.

Go for it.

don't listen to your parents.

Worse case cenario is you blow £1500.

I blew 40k when I was young and have no regrets lol.

[pistonpopper]

What could go wrong? It's an experience if nothing else, and remember if it breaks and you can't fix it there will always be someone who knows how to fix it, and they'll probably be on this forum! Buy the Marina, it doesn't matter what your parent, or anyone else for that matter thinks, it's your car, your experience, your life! Get the car, and get a build thread going, it'll be great!

[VW]

May 7, 2016 21:27:55 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

So my Dad has a 'few questions':

1] How much would a day's worth of Car insurance and breakdown cover be for a car like that (roughly)?
2] What would the tax be like on something like that (roughly)?
3] Would it break if left on the drive over summer 'unused'?
4] Would insurance be super expensive for it? 

no idea on insurance, phone a few places tomorrow. Insurance will probably have breakdown cover.


Will it break over summer?
What do you mean break?
Nothing can break without use.

Will it start straight away?
No, probably not. But it will only take 10 mins to half a day to get it going again (battery, fuel, maybe carb clean and points clean).

[DrSebWilkes]

Thanks for the replies guys! This sounds brilliant.

[mexicansteve]

I'm fairly curse word with mechanics and hopeless with bodywork, my old jalopies live outside and spend a lot of time sat idle over the summer while I work away. Still, as said, between this forum, youtube and a Haynes manual I can get it started again if its being reluctant. Keep on top of things and it'll be worth it for the stupid grin you'll have every time you get in it.
If possible find someone on here near to you or a mechanic friend/relative to have a look at it with you.
Happy motoring.

[Tepper]

Do it, you'll be fine. Buying a car like that is a great way to learn, it will break but it'll be cheap and easy to fix when it does play up which is often not the case with modern stuff. Don't expect it to be 100% trouble free like your mate's brand new Corsa, don't be afraid to get stuck in and you'll have a great time driving what YOU want to drive

[DrSebWilkes]

May 8, 2016 7:46:02 GMT mexicansteve said:

I'm fairly curse word with mechanics and hopeless with bodywork, my old jalopies live outside and spend a lot of time sat idle over the summer while I work away. Still, as said, between this forum, youtube and a Haynes manual I can get it started again if its being reluctant. Keep on top of things and it'll be worth it for the stupid grin you'll have every time you get in it.
If possible find someone on here near to you or a mechanic friend/relative to have a look at it with you.
Happy motoring.

Sounds like a great little hobby! Thank you

May 8, 2016 7:49:30 GMT Tepper said:

Do it, you'll be fine. Buying a car like that is a great way to learn, it will break but it'll be cheap and easy to fix when it does play up which is often not the case with modern stuff. Don't expect it to be 100% trouble free like your mate's brand new Corsa, don't be afraid to get stuck in and you'll have a great time driving what YOU want to drive

I can imagine my smugness when it works and his when it doesn't!  

[Darkspeed]

May 7, 2016 21:27:55 GMT DrSebWilkes said:

So my Dad has a 'few questions':

1] How much would a day's worth of Car insurance and breakdown cover be for a car like that (roughly)?
2] What would the tax be like on something like that (roughly)?
3] Would it break if left on the drive over summer 'unused'?
4] Would insurance be super expensive for it? 

1- You are the only person who will know that once you made a few calls
2- There is no roughly required - 1800 road tax fund is £235 - if they continue to roll the Historic then it may become free in a few years.
3- Depends what you mean by break - there is every chance it will not start for many reasons.
4- See 1.

The link is probably the worse Marina option of all in my personal opinion - Vinyl roof/Colour/Doors/Engine/Interior - The underseal tidemark - There is every chance of depreciation as it has zero desirability - unless prior referenced Amazon TV donor status - no-one but previous owners know whats lurking under the paintwork. They are gutless, even in 1800 form - Thirsty, especially in 1800 form the handle appallingly due to compromised cost cutting suspension. And unlike a decent wine ( not the gearbox) it will not have improved with age. I had a couple of 1300's - because they were throw away £50 cars at the time - well one was £50, the other one was free because the engine had a hole in the block. Someone from the Marina owners Club asked to buy it from me and they did not have to ask twice.

www.morrismarina.org.uk/buyers-guide-what-to-look-out-for/

My advice - if that's what you want then go for it - but take someone along who knows about cars when you go to look at anything and do not ignore their advice. Do a an MOT history check to see mileage its done over the past years and what fails and advisories it's had. - I did one for a car for sale on here recently which made for interesting reading.

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

[1900sr]

The other question is what's the alternative? If you've got around £2000 to spend on a car and don't go "old" you'll get something probably around 7 years old, that will still have the potential to break down, could well still rot depending on model, and if it does go wrong will be much harder to fix diy.

I'd go for the Marina, sure they weren't great in the day but they will get you from A to B, and shouldn't depreciate as long as you keep on top of it, whereas the modern-ish alternative is still on it's downward curve.

[composimmonite]

Your budget would get a Porsche 924
VED same as 1800 Marina. Insurance could possibly be classic policy (no commuting to work can reduce premiums). Relatively rust free body & good spares availability.

[DrSebWilkes]

May 8, 2016 8:20:45 GMT Darkspeed said:

1- You are the only person who will know that once you made a few calls
2- There is no roughly required - 1800 road tax fund is £235 - if they continue to roll the Historic then it may become free in a few years.
3- Depends what you mean by break - there is every chance it will not start for many reasons.
4- See 1.

The link is probably the worse Marina option of all in my personal opinion - Vinyl roof/Colour/Doors/Engine/Interior - The underseal tidemark - There is every chance of depreciation as it has zero desirability - unless prior referenced Amazon TV donor status - no-one but previous owners know whats lurking under the paintwork. They are gutless, even in 1800 form - Thirsty, especially in 1800 form the handle appallingly due to compromised cost cutting suspension. And unlike a decent wine ( not the gearbox) it will not have improved with age. I had a couple of 1300's - because they were throw away £50 cars at the time - well one was £50, the other one was free because the engine had a hole in the block. Someone from the Marina owners Club asked to buy it from me and they did not have to ask twice.

www.morrismarina.org.uk/buyers-guide-what-to-look-out-for/

My advice - if that's what you want then go for it - but take someone along who knows about cars when you go to look at anything and do not ignore their advice. Do a an MOT history check to see mileage its done over the past years and what fails and advisories it's had. - I did one for a car for sale on here recently which made for interesting reading.

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

Wow that's pretty damning! What do you mean about the underseal tidemark? (Sorry for being a noob! ). Why are vinyl roofs so bad? (again, forgive my lack of knowledge!!) And finally what do you mean by Gutless? 

As for the paint remark, you are right but surely that applies to most classic cars anyway? One must hope that the paint is legitimate and not there to cover up anything. Surely someone would have had to pay quite some money to paint the car up if it is rotting just to sell it on? 

[DrSebWilkes]

I did the MOT background check and this came up. How bad is this as a potential buyer?

[pistonpopper]

Doesn't look too bad, buy it! If you really want it you need to stop procrastinating, you'll kick yourself when you finally decide to buy it, only to find that someone else bought it yesterday! Somethings should be bought with the heart, not the head. If you always take the sensible option you'll most likely never have anything interesting or cool!

[Dez]

I learnt pretty much everything I know by making inappropriate purchases and ignoring the advice of family, etc. tbh certain people telling me not was basically goading me on.

At the end of the day 1500 quid is small beans in car money these days. You can either be the boring sod who buys a 'sensible' car that nothing ever goes wrong with, and regale everyone with exciting tales of how you topped 48mpg on the motorway and saved yourself 50 quid by using a comparison site to insure it, or you can have tales of the daft situations you got yourself into having fun being the cool guy in a sh1t old car.

[bigdaz]

Someone a few doors down from me has two coupes been covered up for a few years, I think getting in touch with the owners club is your best bet, my advice is don't buy with your heart and look at few before you commit your self rust is your biggest problem bl build quality wasn't great at that time, nice cars tho I bet there's only a few hundred left

[DrSebWilkes]

May 8, 2016 11:47:57 GMT bigdaz said:

Someone a few doors down from me has two coupes been covered up for a few years, I think getting in touch with the owners club is your best bet, my advice is don't buy with your heart and look at few before you commit your self rust is your biggest problem bl build quality wasn't great at that time, nice cars tho I bet there's only a few hundred left    

I'm not totally sure who to contact. I don't want to contact someone really important in the club (such as the president) to just ask "oh yeah, is this Marina rust free?". I'm sure they got much better things to do

[bigdaz]

Even if it was the president I'm sure he's a very passionate about marinas and would be pleased to help you out, Google marina buyers guide I'm sure there will be one somewhere that would help out a lot to