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Feb 16, 2013 20:18:25 GMT
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I'm going to suggest the MGF as £500 will get you one with tax and test I think they are vastly underrated. If you can peer around the K-series horror stories and frankly, rubbish MGR build quality then what your left with is a two seater convertible with character and fun and even a bit of frugality thrown in. When I look at mine I see the low, squat looks and the way the arches subtly broaden out from the cars centre line, the way the factory rims fill the arches, and some, quite frankly cool highlights like the quirky rear lights and raked tail. It is also a lot of fun to drive. Sure the steering could do with a bit more feel around dead ahead and the gear stick is too long but drive it, and I mean really drive it, and this stuff is forgotten as it's so well balanced, and that engine is so revvy. I find it impressive that some brummies managed to design it with a pile of bits from the parts bin for literally no money and managed to make a genuinely entertaining little car. Oh and parts/mods are dirt cheap because so many are being broken. Mine today:-
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'03 Porsche 996 C2 3.6 - Sort of Retro '84 Porsche 924 - Definitely Retro!
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Feb 16, 2013 20:20:51 GMT
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Porsche 924 is the one for me. Galvanized chassis, rear wheel drive, 125 horses fun to drive and still cheap as chips.
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sweaty palms slip off joystick
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Feb 16, 2013 20:28:15 GMT
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I know what you mean about overrated cars. Minis are somewhat overrated now (specially considering prices now), people bang on about go kart handling and all that but unless its in tip top condition using one regularly will kill you. Always thought 'old school fords' were overrated too. I'm sure they're great to own, look at, drive in some instances, but considering a mangled, bent, stupendously rusty non runner mk1 escort commands £1k now i don't think id ever want to own one. As for underrated, i know I'm biased and all that, but the dolomite 1850hl? Not only is the 1850 a great engine, but its great to look at, spacious, practical, and being the HL model, comfortable and fairly well equipped considering the age of it. And if you get an auto like i did, its got a lower final drive, so youve got lower RPM cruising speeds and decent MPG. Oh, and considering you can get a solid mot'ed one for 1200 ish, and a mini of the same age in the same condition is pushing £2k, that sounds like a bargain to me considering how much more car you get. I echo the sentiments of the person mentioning the XJ40 too, i have plans to get one of these very soon!
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Feb 16, 2013 20:37:36 GMT
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Citroen Xantia Activa if you can find one these days, not many left now. It has exceptional handling thanks to the computer controlled active suspension. I think it out performed quite a few proper sports cars in some handling tests at the time!
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1973 MG Midget 1.4 kseries
1994 Ex-Mod Land Rover 110 300tdi
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Deev8
Part of things
Posts: 127
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Feb 16, 2013 20:50:18 GMT
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Nissan Primera e-ZX, e-GT or the newer GT i have had all of them.Fast reliable and excellent handling,or a Nissan Almera gti.
There is a Fiat barchetta sitting on a blokes drive along the road from me its been there around 2 years now
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Just rolling along
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micrat
South East
Building a Kanjo styled Cinquecento :)
Posts: 1,176
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Feb 16, 2013 20:58:36 GMT
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Nissan Primera e-ZX, e-GT or the newer GT I have had all of them.Fast reliable and excellent handling,or a Nissan Almera gti. There is a Fiat barchetta sitting on a blokes drive along the road from me its been there around 2 years now You beat me to it! Love my GT, bad image, great everything else
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Feb 16, 2013 21:01:53 GMT
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The Citroen BX is a good underrated retro Love my two BX.s 1.6 and the 1.9 gti 16valve which was stupid fast for what it was not my BX, had them before clever cameras were around !
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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Deev8
Part of things
Posts: 127
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Feb 16, 2013 21:03:51 GMT
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I would have my Primera GT back tomorrow 98(S) 4 door in red,PX for a clio 172 biggest mistake I have made.
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Last Edit: Feb 16, 2013 21:05:14 GMT by Deev8
Just rolling along
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Feb 16, 2013 21:17:40 GMT
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The Nissan Bluebird. There used to be loads about, mainly driven by the older generation, but they seem to have mostly vanished off the face of the earth. They still have this image of being bland, slow and only suitable for the oval. I had one for £50, it was incredibly tough, fun, great in snow, and amazingly reliable. I think they're a good looking car too, but yet you still see hardly any modified.
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Feb 16, 2013 23:48:19 GMT
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4th vote for the Volvo 400s here. Great fun, a bit too much body roll maybe but they're just so characterful (well the 480s anyway!). People just remember the bad early days but mine's perfect so I'm sure others are lol
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Dare I say an Austin 1800, Gutless, ugly, but stronger chassis wasn't invented for 30 years, exceptional packaging, comfort and an outstanding ride (Hydro didn't really work with the 1100 or mini, but was marvelous in the 1800)
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Contrary to popular opinion, I do have mechanical sympathy, I always feel sorry for the cars I drive.
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bluebirds are ace and I reckon all metros are underrated . always cheap and felt good for there size and time imo not sure abut the MGF , cheap fun now but wernt they always trouble ? everyone i tried was
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Last Edit: Feb 17, 2013 4:02:19 GMT by toastie
sorry i cant spell
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Llewelyn_
Posted a lot
Hi everyone :)
Posts: 1,977
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5th vote for 480s! Although as mentioned earlier in the thread they are let down a bit by the build quality!
Definitely one of the few true bargain bona fide retro cars still available... Over the last few years I have noticed it becoming harder and harder to find a nice retro/youngtimer car for less than a grand but 480s are still very cheap!
I've had four of them I think!
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"Back off man, I'm a Scientist" - Dr. Peter Venkman
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Llewelyn_
Posted a lot
Hi everyone :)
Posts: 1,977
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Just to add as well the turbos are very capable and can run reasonable boost on stock internals, my turbo was about 180 horsepower and went like stink
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"Back off man, I'm a Scientist" - Dr. Peter Venkman
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Feb 17, 2013 12:05:12 GMT
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OK, I'll name three 1) Morris Minor. That might seem a bit predictable coming from me, but many people write tham off due to the district nurse/flat cap image. The handling is super-predicatable (although not perfect) and the steering extremely light and quick. Add to that the ever-willing A-series engine, and you'll be surprised at how much fun you can have with 48bhp. Add a set of radials, thicker oil in the front shocks and anti-tramp bars and you can have even more fun, and that's before you've thought about upping the power. 2) Austin Maestro. Every bit as good as its contemporary rivals, yet overlooked due to it being mostly bought by the more 'mature' driver. Oddly enough, I found the 1.3 nicer to drive than the 1.6. 3) Triumph Acclaim. Another 'grandad car', but with a free-revving Honda engine, slick gearchange and well chosen gear ratios, feels a damn sight livelier than it should. My cousin had the shock of his life when he tried shaking one off (oo-er!) in his 1.6 Cavalier and couldn't pull away from it!
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Last Edit: Feb 17, 2013 12:06:20 GMT by moggyman
1953 Minor (Long term project) PT Cruiser
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MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,328
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Feb 17, 2013 12:26:57 GMT
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3) Triumph Acclaim. Another 'grandad car', but with a free-revving Honda engine, slick gearchange and well chosen gear ratios, feels a damn sight livelier than it should. My cousin had the shock of his life when he tried shaking one off (oo-er!) in his 1.6 Cavalier and couldn't pull away from it! I fully agree with this - I drove my bosses rusty, tatty old Acclaim years ago - it was probably about 12 years old at the time, but hadn't aged gracefully. I pulled away expecting it to be slow, and the resulting massive wheelspin and intake noise is something I've never forgotten! Stupidly quick - proper little sleepers. My addition is this one: It always aspired to be big, but it never quite happened. Fantastic cars - I've owned 2 so far!
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dbdb
Part of things
Posts: 821
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Feb 17, 2013 16:42:03 GMT
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Fourth vote for the Jaguar XJ40 - they're great cars.
Actually, I find myself agreeing with quite a few of the cars chosen on this thread.
David
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Feb 18, 2013 12:15:21 GMT
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another vote for a cinq sporting here (broom yellow FTW!)
had mine for 7 or 8 years, far longer than any other car i have owned)
would still have it if i hadn't been driven into on a roundabout ;-(
used to be a common sight but don't see them much anymore, i guess i should accelerate my plan to buy another one one day before they get expensive like my other mini fiat love the 126
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Feb 18, 2013 12:52:25 GMT
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From my experience: Triumph Acclaim- Revvy engine, reliable, quite comfortable, does 40+mpg which is not bad for a twin carb non Injection engine. Would be tempted by another for the daily if/when the metro dies. 1983 Triumph Acclaim by RSdesignUK, on Flickr Triumph Dolomite 1850 - Again as mentioned much better value than a Sprint, engine/gearbox is a nice mix of power/torque and relaxed motorway cruising. I prefer it to the Sprint I had before actually. 1979 Triumph Dolomite 1850HL by RSdesignUK, on Flickr
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Feb 18, 2013 13:04:14 GMT
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As no one has been shot down yet, I'll pitch in with a few;
1) 309 GTI phase 1 (mentioned above) what a great car, there was very little that would touch one of these around the twisties, I loved mine. had an MI-16 309 a few years later and that was a proper laugh as it had the right amount of power.
2) mk1 mr2 t-bar. Get one in dark blue with black leather, nice set of 17's, induction kit to include junking the 10ft (not joking!) of air tubing that brings cold air right around the boot, stainless steel system and a decent steering wheel and you've got a proper little fun car that will rev to 8500rpm and still do great MPG.
3) Fiat Strada Abarth 130tc You'd have one for the seats and induction noise alone, but they're a great car and loads of fun to drive.
4) Lancia Delta HF turbo, again, a great car, fun to drive and a brilliant set of clocks.
5) Metro GTI (as mentioned above) a total giggle to drive and you'll leave many a confused driver away from the lights in much newer more powerful stuff!
6) Any old shonky looking car running big power, suspension and brakes!
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