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Honestly I’m so tempted by it, but can’t transport a car. If I could guarantee an MOT pass on the day I’d catch a train up and get it MOT’d then drive it back. I haven’t read the for sale post that thoroughly, but if there’s nothing that’s a glaring safety issue then just book it in for MOT at home and you can drive it back legally then.
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern
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Honestly I’m so tempted by it, but can’t transport a car. If I could guarantee an MOT pass on the day I’d catch a train up and get it MOT’d then drive it back. I haven’t read the for sale post that thoroughly, but if there’s nothing that’s a glaring safety issue then just book it in for MOT at home and you can drive it back legally then. this! No Lawton say how far you can travel
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Whatever you decide to buy, may I suggest you do one thing... brakes! Give the brake system a good overhaul and use a good brake fluid before going. I can’t recommend this enough.
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book mot at your nearest tester... as far as i am aware you are entitled to drive the vehicle to a pre-arranged test , never heard that it cant be further afield than you would normally expect...if you know what i mean!
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'80 s1 924 turbo..hibernating '80 golf gli cabriolet...doing impression of a skip '97 pug 106 commuter...continuing cheapness making me smile!
firm believer in the k.i.s.s and f.i.s.h principles.
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Saab 9-5 aero gets my vote, cheap as chips, 250bhp and handle well I’ve had a few 9-5 Aeros and I’m a big fan, but they certainly don’t handle well. In fact, all “modern” Saab’s handle appallingly!
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern
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Nissan Primera (P11) 2.0. The Alfa 156 as already mentioned is a good bet, if the t-belt is done and the suspension is in good order you could be on a winner.
Personally, I'd be leaning towards a Honda Accord ('98-02) 2.0/2.3 - handle well, fairly bulletproof and sweet engine.
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Still learning...still spending...still breaking things!
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Paul
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,907
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Puma is the answer.
I remember doing the same thing - a proper Top Gear style Euro tour - about 10 years ago in a £500 Mk2 Golf. It was faultless apart from a clunking CV joint.
Good luck even finding a Mk2 rustbox for that now...oh how times have changed.
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smart
Part of things
Posts: 134
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Whatever you decide to buy, may I suggest you do one thing... brakes! Give the brake system a good overhaul and use a good brake fluid before going. I can’t recommend this enough. 100% this In my dads Rover I was completely losing all brakes halfway round each lap. When pulling into car park at end of the track the discs were purple! Fronts were ruined by the time we got home.
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1998 Rover 400 Derv
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MG ZS 180, excellent handling, front wheel drive and still cheap. They have a few common problems, clutch cylinder bracket,vis motors etc but these are not that hard to fix and upgrade if they haven't already been done.
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Bog standard petrol ford focus MK1 then buy the best tyres you can afford. Buyers market for these, loads of choice of low mileage clean cars for £500.
Excellent handling as standard and engines good.
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,191
Club RR Member Number: 170
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£1k to the NurburgringChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Some good suggestions here! How about a sportka? I borrowed my mum's for a few days and was impressed with the handling and brakes on it. Good shout, but man they like a drink! Where a Clio 172 will do the trip there and back for over £100, the SportKa would be closer to £200! That's before you even consider laps around the 'ring! Short gearing and a very secondhand engine really do ruin the MPG on those :/. I'm talking 30MPG tops on a cruise. Saab 9-5 aero gets my vote, cheap as chips, 250bhp and handle well I’ve had a few 9-5 Aeros and I’m a big fan, but they certainly don’t handle well. In fact, all “modern” Saab’s handle appallingly! Definitely agree! Sister's Saab 9-3 'vert is a lovely thing but it's a little curse word from a dynamics point of view. Even she noticed coming from a Mk3 Mondeo 1.8 and she's not really a car person! Bog standard petrol ford focus MK1 then buy the best tyres you can afford. Buyers market for these, loads of choice of low mileage clean cars for £500. Excellent handling as standard and engines good. I forgot all about the Focus. But it's a very good suggestion. If you want some pep, a 2.0 Zetec will be just fine, and in the real world isn't *that* much slower than an ST170. You may get an ST170, but they are a little too prone to 'common' issues at this price point. I was going to say Clio 172. You can get one for £1k ; but you have to be patient. A mate just sold a very nice example for £1k. Yes, it was a CAT D, but TBH I doubt you'd see many nicer examples for the cash. It had pretty much everything done to it ; he owned the car for 10 years. Puma wins however in this cash category and with following RetroWarwicK 's advice on the tyres on it ; easy when 195/50R15s are a cheap size .
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MG ZR or ZS
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1994 BMW 525i touring 2004 BMW Z4 sorn and broken 1977 Ford Escort 1982 Ford Capri getting restored 1999 Mazda B2500 daily driver.
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sweep
Part of things
Posts: 411
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Saab 9-5 aero gets my vote, cheap as chips, 250bhp and handle well You must have been in some truly shocking cars if you think a 9-5 handles well. A £1000 172 is going to be a bit of a lemon these days. A 1700 Puma is the biggest smile per mile for that money.
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,993
Club RR Member Number: 35
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£1k to the Nurburgringcraig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Saab 9-5 aero gets my vote, cheap as chips, 250bhp and handle well You must have been in some truly shocking cars if you think a 9-5 handles well. A £1000 172 is going to be a bit of a lemon these days. A 1700 Puma is the biggest smile per mile for that money. For a big car, mine handled well. Not hot hatch league granted, but not a wallowing barge either.
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Bit left field but, Mk4 Golf/Bora with 130 or 150 tdi, £45 remap from Black Smoke and you get 160/180bhp. Parts cheap as chips, plentiful and likely you'll find something modded with coilies etc or similar already on for your budget. Had a 150 (ARL engine)with 182 remap and the torque was immense. Not a hot hatch as such but they handle ok if you can drive it right.
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Needs a bigger hammer mate.......
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I’ve got the perfect car for you here now.
2006 Seat Leon 2.0 TFSI. Few sensible tweaks, running 230bhp. Comfortable, easy to drive, meticulously maintained mechanically, handles nicely and has great brakes!
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Specialist Bodyshop & Fabrication Classic, Retro, Prestige & Custom Small Repairs to Concours Restorations Mechanical Work Vintage to Modern
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