Charlie
Established
Let me try that again. Picture of 2001 MR2 Spyder
Silva Lining
CanoHasseLeica
Toby said:The only car ever mass produced in scotland was the hillman imp
Heh, now a fair number of Scots have been very good drivers, Jackie Stewart, Duncan/Donald Cambell, David Coulthard etc., but the only good exhaust systems in Scotland are the one at the back of the cafes that sell deep fried, battered Mars bars.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I heard my brother silence a group of friends naming sports
cars when he told them he once owned a Berol Mirado...
Chris
cars when he told them he once owned a Berol Mirado...
Chris
MelanieC
Well-known
I miss my small, fast car. My family has always had Hondas, and I've always driven hand-me-downs. My first car, Zippy, was a 1986 Accord with flip-up headlights and a moonroof. Zippy died a tragic death at the hands of my brother and I've never forgiven him (my brother, that is, not Zippy -- Zippy was a guy by the way).
The next car that had my heart was my silver Acura Integra, Estella. She was sleek, fast, and fun to drive, not because her engine was anything to write home about -- 4 cylinders, 140 hp -- but because Integras are made out of aluminum foil and weigh about as much as a keg of beer. She got traded in for my current car, and probably exists as parts in Integra tuners all over the country.
I needed a dogmobile, so my current ride, the first non-hand-me-down car, is an orange Honda Element. His name is Animal. Animal is not what I would call "fun" to drive, but he has his charm and is very practical without being stuffy. Animal also gets 27 mpg highway!
I've never had any interest in old cars or nonreliable marques -- I want my vehicles reliable and maintenance-free. I have never broken down, anywhere, at any time, nor have I ever had to pay for a major repair even though I pounded my Integra into the ground. Go Honda!
The next car that had my heart was my silver Acura Integra, Estella. She was sleek, fast, and fun to drive, not because her engine was anything to write home about -- 4 cylinders, 140 hp -- but because Integras are made out of aluminum foil and weigh about as much as a keg of beer. She got traded in for my current car, and probably exists as parts in Integra tuners all over the country.
I needed a dogmobile, so my current ride, the first non-hand-me-down car, is an orange Honda Element. His name is Animal. Animal is not what I would call "fun" to drive, but he has his charm and is very practical without being stuffy. Animal also gets 27 mpg highway!
I've never had any interest in old cars or nonreliable marques -- I want my vehicles reliable and maintenance-free. I have never broken down, anywhere, at any time, nor have I ever had to pay for a major repair even though I pounded my Integra into the ground. Go Honda!
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BillBingham2
Registered User
I live in the rust-belt so I could only drive anything classic part of the year. While there have been many cars I would love to drive, these days it's a Scion XA (size, cost, safety). Perhaps some day I will end up with a 2CV or an R4. New cars are somewhat like auto-everything cameras. You don't fix-em, you buy a new one, UGH. I could work on an old Renault engine, but my Scion has way too much electronics. Give me a pure electronic car or simple flat 4, this inbetween stuff is way too much work.
B2 (;->
B2 (;->
SteveM(PA)
Poser
Hey Ash, is there some stigma/lack of romance about the classic Mini in the UK? I wish we had parts and service here for those. And yeah man, 2CV...I heard there is a company in the south of France that bought the old tooling and is producing fresh ones. I would dig a roll back canvas roof. I like those Honda Elements, Melanie...utilitarian, rugged, no nonsense.
John Robertson
Well-known
Yes the Rootes group (Hillman,Humber etc) set up a factory up here with government money, a disaster looking for somewhere to happen. Unfortunately they chose Scotland.Toby said:The only car ever mass produced in scotland was the hillman imp
We had Arrol -Johnston, Argyle,Albion and Beardmore long before that!!
Albion were still building buses and trucks into the 70's, and Beardmore Produced taxis. Now Britain only mass produces vehicles for non British companies.
I've never actually owned a British car in over 40years of motoring.
I have owned several British motorbikes some good some bad, also some good and bad Japanese bikes. My 125 Honda Benly's engine was a basket case after only two years of careful use.
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Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Show and Tell
Show and Tell
Seeing as we're putting pics of our own in ... here goes:
This is what we call a "good Aussie ute" Ford Falcon .. Six cylinder .. 24 valve Four Litre engine and, incredibly cheap to run ........... Why so cheap to run?
It was built in the Ford factory in Oz to run on LPG and doesn't use petrol at all. LPG is currently around fifty cents per litre. The tank costs about $40.00 to fill and gives me close to 600 kilometers!
Per kilometer I have worked out that it costs about the same to run as a Toyota Hybrid Prius!
Show and Tell
Seeing as we're putting pics of our own in ... here goes:
This is what we call a "good Aussie ute" Ford Falcon .. Six cylinder .. 24 valve Four Litre engine and, incredibly cheap to run ........... Why so cheap to run?
It was built in the Ford factory in Oz to run on LPG and doesn't use petrol at all. LPG is currently around fifty cents per litre. The tank costs about $40.00 to fill and gives me close to 600 kilometers!
Per kilometer I have worked out that it costs about the same to run as a Toyota Hybrid Prius!
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SteveM(PA)
Poser
SteveM(PA) said:
What I was thinking of was the Citroen 4CV...I haven't picked up an issue of "Classic and Sportscar" in quite a while, getting my marques mixed.
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
Hi Ash
Not sure what you want a Triumph for! I suspect there is an issue of street cred here. But you have that already with the Leica Standard. If you want wheels to go from A to B to use the Standard then go for something simple.
I always fancied a Skoda even in the old Octavia days. I never got one but nearly bought a Favorit a few years back. Had a test drive and loved the simple engine - you really had to drive the car. Happens to be a relatively safe car, reasonable spart parts and service. If its wheels you want you could do worse.
I have a new Octavia now! Best car I have ever had.
Not sure what you want a Triumph for! I suspect there is an issue of street cred here. But you have that already with the Leica Standard. If you want wheels to go from A to B to use the Standard then go for something simple.
I always fancied a Skoda even in the old Octavia days. I never got one but nearly bought a Favorit a few years back. Had a test drive and loved the simple engine - you really had to drive the car. Happens to be a relatively safe car, reasonable spart parts and service. If its wheels you want you could do worse.
I have a new Octavia now! Best car I have ever had.
jaapv
RFF Sponsoring Member.
John Robertson said:
That is not a problem- the mechanism will break down within the year....
Did you see the Top Gear episode where they drove three under- 1500 GBP sportscars to Brighton?
As I recall only one arrived under its own steam- steam to be taken literally!
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Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Well I think I want a 'classic' car because I can't get a taxi. I really want one of those bad boys - a well-used, and taken care of mercedes, that is exempt from congestion charges in London!!!
Great thoughts on cars though. Seems that everyone has had a love for cars somewhere down the line
Great thoughts on cars though. Seems that everyone has had a love for cars somewhere down the line
pvdhaar
Peter
I recall running across something that went like 'All the parts falling off this car are of the very finest British manufacture..'
Well, the same held for the Saab 900 I had a long time ago. If ever there was a money pit from hell, that was it. It had the B20 engine licenced from no other than Triumph.. it broke down about every hundred miles, that is, if it would start at all.. somewhat like Windows XP.. and equally frustrating.
Ash, take my advice, buy something sensible.. get a cute Daihatsu or Kia if you want to pick up and keep the girls.. It's only blokes who are impressed by TR7's or big Mercedes-es..
Well, the same held for the Saab 900 I had a long time ago. If ever there was a money pit from hell, that was it. It had the B20 engine licenced from no other than Triumph.. it broke down about every hundred miles, that is, if it would start at all.. somewhat like Windows XP.. and equally frustrating.
Ash, take my advice, buy something sensible.. get a cute Daihatsu or Kia if you want to pick up and keep the girls.. It's only blokes who are impressed by TR7's or big Mercedes-es..
methinks
Member
Hey Ash,
There have been some really good suggestions in this thread, hope it's given you some stuff to think about but not give up on classics, they really are fantastic first cars if you give them the time!
A few observations (and this isn't meant to offend/beat down anyone) but I must say that I would never call MGs good value for money! My dad's had 2 Midgets now, and every time I flick through the classifieds at the back of his MGOC mag I'm surprised at how much they go for. Now don't get me wrong, I think they're lovely and regularly have to stick up for the MGB in Triumph rants, but I think the "quintessential Britishness" of them does up the price tag somewhat. I think for a decent MBG GT you're talking £3500/4000 and probably another £500/1000 on top of that for a really good roadster... that's a lot of cash... you could buy a near concourse Spitfire Mk3 for that money, I'm sure Mini's don't fetch that much and you would probably be in TR7 V8 money the 7's are so undervalued...
As I said in my last post, there are dogs and there are minters, regardless of whether you spend £1500 or £15,000. If you buy an MGA for £15,000 it doesn't mean it's not going to break down
Also, though we all dream of TR4s & Healey 3000's I imagine (no offence to you Ash!) that they're a bit out of your price range (I know they are to me at 22... and for a long time!), you probably wouldn't get insured on them even with classic insurance, and as I just said they're going to break down anyway, any 35 year old car, regardless of nationality will sooner or later!
If I were looking for a cheap classic car I would probably be on the look out for one of these cars... sorry if its a bit Triumph heavy!
- Triumph Herald
- Truimph Spitfire MkIV/1500
- Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850
- Triumph TR7
- Triumph 2000/2500
- Mini
- Hillman/Sunbeam Imp (so undervalued its untrue!)
- MG Midget 1500 (no-one seems to like the rubber bumpers!)
I'll keep thinking...
There have been some really good suggestions in this thread, hope it's given you some stuff to think about but not give up on classics, they really are fantastic first cars if you give them the time!
A few observations (and this isn't meant to offend/beat down anyone) but I must say that I would never call MGs good value for money! My dad's had 2 Midgets now, and every time I flick through the classifieds at the back of his MGOC mag I'm surprised at how much they go for. Now don't get me wrong, I think they're lovely and regularly have to stick up for the MGB in Triumph rants, but I think the "quintessential Britishness" of them does up the price tag somewhat. I think for a decent MBG GT you're talking £3500/4000 and probably another £500/1000 on top of that for a really good roadster... that's a lot of cash... you could buy a near concourse Spitfire Mk3 for that money, I'm sure Mini's don't fetch that much and you would probably be in TR7 V8 money the 7's are so undervalued...
As I said in my last post, there are dogs and there are minters, regardless of whether you spend £1500 or £15,000. If you buy an MGA for £15,000 it doesn't mean it's not going to break down
Also, though we all dream of TR4s & Healey 3000's I imagine (no offence to you Ash!) that they're a bit out of your price range (I know they are to me at 22... and for a long time!), you probably wouldn't get insured on them even with classic insurance, and as I just said they're going to break down anyway, any 35 year old car, regardless of nationality will sooner or later!
If I were looking for a cheap classic car I would probably be on the look out for one of these cars... sorry if its a bit Triumph heavy!
- Triumph Herald
- Truimph Spitfire MkIV/1500
- Triumph Dolomite 1500/1850
- Triumph TR7
- Triumph 2000/2500
- Mini
- Hillman/Sunbeam Imp (so undervalued its untrue!)
- MG Midget 1500 (no-one seems to like the rubber bumpers!)
I'll keep thinking...
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Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Many thanks for all the extra help. This forum really does have a wealth of knowledge and more diverse opinions - at least I can say the bias here is varied!
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jamiewakeham
Long time lurker
... or a late (rubber-bumper) MBG or MGB GT. Very undervalued.
Jamie
Jamie