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Nov 23, 2020 22:30:24 GMT
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I'm new to RR, so hello. I am a very beginner amateur mechanic - I have some tools but no skills (yet!). Thinking of buying something cheap to play about with and learn some skills. Any suggestions as to what to buy? Currently split between spending 500 quid on something a bit ropey so that if I take it apart and can't get it back together I can scrap it, and a bit more (2k?) on something a bit better that I might actually enjoy owning. Other than that, the only criteria is something that isn't going to be a total rot box (mk2 mx5s I'm looking at you), easy enough to work on, and something at least mildly interesting about it (not sure id have the motivation to work on a diesel Honda jazz for example).
Been looking at X300 xj8s/xj6s, mx5s (rust!), various mgs/rovers (my daily driver is a 75), e46s, etc. So a wide range of things really I'm not fussy...
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merryck
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 477
Club RR Member Number: 9
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What first project car?merryck
@merryck
Club Retro Rides Member 9
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Nov 23, 2020 22:37:26 GMT
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I'd go with something economy and small personally, but I'm a Mini fan. If you go older (60's-80's) you should find that the vehicles are a bit simpler and easier for an amateur mechanic to get their head around. Personally my first classic was a Mini, and there's really not a lot to them at all.
The other things to think about are parts availability and scene tax. You don't want to go VW Beetle unless you REALLY want one, as you'll be paying a lot more money because there's a vibrant community and therefore more people vying for the cars. On the flip side, if you go and find some obscure Soviet hatchback from the 70's that no one's ever heard of, you'll never be able to find parts for it.
I don't have any real suggestions for which car to go for unfortunately, but definitely start simple, and don't get a non-runner unless you're in it for the long haul. It's much easier to tackle issues as they're cropping up rather than having a list as long as your arm to deal with before you can even enjoy the thing!
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Nov 23, 2020 22:45:48 GMT
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I'd suggest you look for something fairly common so parts are cheap and at the bottom of it's depreciation curve so you can't really loose too much, ones which spring to mind as a bit different are, mgf, puma, sport /street ka, mx5, mg versions of rover 200 / 400 etc. probably plenty more I have forgotten.
They are all 20 years or more old so plenty of rot boxes but if you hunt around there are good ones and they are not that much more expensive.
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Last Edit: Nov 23, 2020 22:48:20 GMT by kevins
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Nov 23, 2020 22:53:12 GMT
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Thanks, both. Perhaps an XJ8 wouldn't be the greatest idea ... (expensive parts, complicated, heavy). Problem with a few of the cars mentioned is they seem to all be rot boxes - mx5s, pumas, kas especially. An MG ZR would appeal; I'd also quite fancy an Ignis Sport if I could find a decent one cheap enough. I'm very open to the idea of an older car, but I figure the older I go the more rust I have to deal with. I am not going to learn to weld! I'd have a mild preference for RWD but not so important ... I plan to buy a Corvette C5 at some point in the not too distant future for my RWD fix Definitely agree that a non-runner probably isn't sensible - I can imagine it being in bits in a few months time and paying someone to take it off to the scrapyard as I am fed up with it!
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Nov 23, 2020 23:06:48 GMT
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Something that has a good support base, cheap parts, good availabilty of parts, & the most important thing - something that isnt rusty.
What about a Toyota Starlet P90 (96-00), I have seen lots for cheap that don't look rotten. Not as common as something like a Polo but still enough about for parts not to be unobtainum. My mum had one new & I loved it. Failing that a Polo 6n/6n2 or Lupo - really cheap, easy to work on, parts are like lego so swap over between models.
I know these might not sound that exciting, but nothing worse than loosing mojo on a project car and it sitting in the garage for 5 years (speaking from experience there lol)
*edit, Ethan of Car throttle fame has just bought a Z3 as his first project car - if he can work on one, I reckon anyone can (he also has a Jazz haha)
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Last Edit: Nov 23, 2020 23:11:17 GMT by joem83
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Nov 23, 2020 23:07:12 GMT
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Alfa 156 2.0. Good one's sub £2k. A bit of a curved ball but that would be my pick.
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Last Edit: Nov 23, 2020 23:07:54 GMT by Woofwoof
Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Nov 23, 2020 23:08:41 GMT
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E36 . hands down best beginner project and still if you for some reason need to pack it in or mess it up (hopefully not for your sake chap ) you WILL be able to sell and not loose much £ . easy to work on and parts and tuning aplenty
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Nov 23, 2020 23:10:56 GMT
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Alfa 156 2.0. Good one's sub £2k. A bit of a curved ball but that would be my pick. I had a 2.5 v6 156 last year they definitely like to rust...
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Nov 23, 2020 23:16:01 GMT
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E36 . hands down best beginner project and still if you for some reason need to pack it in or mess it up (hopefully not for your sake chap ) you WILL be able to sell and not loose much £ . easy to work on and parts and tuning aplenty This looks quite nice www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154190753007Seems a manual would require a bit of budget creep!
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Nov 23, 2020 23:24:31 GMT
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Something that has a good support base, cheap parts, good availabilty of parts, & the most important thing - something that isnt rusty. What about a Toyota Starlet P90 (96-00), I have seen lots for cheap that don't look rotten. Not as common as something like a Polo but still enough about for parts not to be unobtainum. My mum had one new & I loved it. Failing that a Polo 6n/6n2 or Lupo - really cheap, easy to work on, parts are like lego so swap over between models. I know these might not sound that exciting, but nothing worse than loosing mojo on a project car and it sitting in the garage for 5 years (speaking from experience there lol) *edit, Ethan of Car throttle fame has just bought a Z3 as his first project car - if he can work on one, I reckon anyone can (he also has a Jazz haha) Point noted, but feel I must be able to find something a little more interesting than a Starlet or a Polo...!
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Alfa 156 2.0. Good one's sub £2k. A bit of a curved ball but that would be my pick. I had a 2.5 v6 156 last year they definitely like to rust... Are they all rusty? I've been tempted to get one a while now.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Whatever you decide to get try to find one that isn't rusty, especially since you're not keen to do your own welding. Fixing mechanical things usually pretty straight forward and is a finite cost whereas chasing rust goes on for ever and quickly becomes prohibitively expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it. Disclaimer; I live in New Zealand. We don't salt the roads here so non rusty cars are easier to come by.
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I had a 2.5 v6 156 last year they definitely like to rust... Are they all rusty? I've been tempted to get one a while now. They rust through the floors mainly, but mine also had a hole in the sill. I don't think they rust as badly as say a mk2 mx5 or a puma, but they definitely rust! Very pretty though, especially with tan leather...
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The thing is with virtually all cars 20 years old there are plenty of rot boxes out there, but there are plenty of cars full stop, dig around and there are a reasonable number of pretty good ones, even KA's and mk2 MX5's which seem to rot in a league of their own, in my experience pumas seem pretty average for cars of the era with rear arches being the first point to go. There's plenty of rotten beamers and golfs out there as well, dig around for something not too complicated with good parts availability and above all not rotten and you should be fine. (when you find that rot free car your first purchase might be best to be some rust protection to keep it that way!).
Another option might be something fiberglass, tvr, lotus reliant SS1 etc, just check the chassis thoroughly!
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Nov 24, 2020 11:04:18 GMT
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Last Edit: Nov 24, 2020 12:18:21 GMT by joem83
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paul99
Part of things
Posts: 410
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Nov 24, 2020 12:37:18 GMT
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Whatever you decide to get try to find one that isn't rusty, especially since you're not keen to do your own welding. Fixing mechanical things usually pretty straight forward and is a finite cost whereas chasing rust goes on for ever and quickly becomes prohibitively expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it. Disclaimer; I live in New Zealand. We don't salt the roads here so non rusty cars are easier to come by. Would second the 'avoid rust' route, mechanical issues far easier to fix. Personally would be looking at German or Swedish for that alone. Beyond that, what are you going to be using it for? Sporty? Cruising to shows? or does it need to be practical/family/dog friendly? Are you planning to modify or leave fairly stock? Would be looking at C70 Volvo's in your shoes myself
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Nov 24, 2020 12:41:28 GMT
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That little XR appeals, not too far away, can insure for pennies. Know nothing about them, has a few advisories, oil leak, discs, drive shaft boot, all fixable; sub-frame corrosion, guess can't avoid rust entirely. Anything worth knowing?
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Nov 24, 2020 12:48:58 GMT
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Whatever you decide to get try to find one that isn't rusty, especially since you're not keen to do your own welding. Fixing mechanical things usually pretty straight forward and is a finite cost whereas chasing rust goes on for ever and quickly becomes prohibitively expensive if you have to pay someone else to do it. Disclaimer; I live in New Zealand. We don't salt the roads here so non rusty cars are easier to come by. Would second the 'avoid rust' route, mechanical issues far easier to fix. Personally would be looking at German or Swedish for that alone. Beyond that, what are you going to be using it for? Sporty? Cruising to shows? or does it need to be practical/family/dog friendly? Are you planning to modify or leave fairly stock? Would be looking at C70 Volvo's in your shoes myself Thanks - yes, definitely trying to avoid rust! It doesn't need to be practical for anything, it doesn't even need to really serve a purpose, other than be a bit interesting to play about and tinker with - I don't really like boring cars (do any of us?), so the more unusual a sight it is on our roads, the better. Oh, and cheap to insure is also a bonus, which the lighter/lower powered/older cars tend to be - 600 a year for the 75, only 250 a year for the XR above, 800+ a year for anything quick/rwd etc. If I could get something that was light and sporty, that would probably suit best, as my daily driver is a Rover 75, and parts will be cheaper etc. Initially the plan would just be to tinker and improve, service it, new discs and brakes, refresh suspension components etc. but I wouldn't be averse to modifying, just for fun. My mechanical abilities are close to nil, so far I've only serviced the 75 and changed the drop links, so easy to work on is a bonus so I don't get stuck and fed up. So, from starting by saying no criteria, now I am thinking that light/sporty/old would be beneficial.
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Nov 24, 2020 14:10:43 GMT
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Nov 24, 2020 17:01:43 GMT
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Thanks. I have left a message with the seller of the 205 and hope he will ring me back. Quick query - car was off road for ten years, he has MOT'd it, have asked what he did to recommission. Do we think that an oil change would be sufficient to get it back on the road and at least drive it home? Suspect I would also want to look at changing tyres and coolant in the short term, and change the cambelt and a full service. Would be plenty to keep me busy ...
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