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Jul 21, 2011 12:20:32 GMT
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I know we all hate these threads, but i am looking for a new car. The Acclaim is up for sale and got someone who seems really keen on seeing it tomorrow, and i have no idea what i want to buy, and need to make up my mind asap as i will need the new car if/when it sells!  Will be used for a 30mile/day commute. At the moment, i am looking at a Triumph Dolomite 1300 or 1850. I can rule out the 2000/2500 as it wont fit in my garage.  Saab 99's nice, but would rather a Dolomite.
Needs to be 30mpg+, 35 would be nice and 40 a treat but not essential.
Needs to be somewhat practical and older than 1985.
Needs good UK parts and supply.
Easy to fix/ good access.
Cars i have ruled out-I have looked at the usual Fords (Fiesta's, Capri, Cortina, not for me) Triumph Herald, Vitesse etc nice but too expensive for a good'un. Porsche 924, ticks all the boxes, really expensive insurance. Hillman Imp, interesting. Fiat X1/9, MR2, Scimitar SS1 all not practical enough. BMW E30's expensive insurance and cant see myself driving them. MK1/2 Golfs, Polo's etc, not a fan. TR7, really like them, but not practical enough atm. Mini's, not a fan. So far the Dolomites are my fav/best option, is there any cars i am missing?       (Most from Lewis  )   |
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Jul 21, 2011 13:10:30 GMT
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I'd like a Dolomite Sprint one day but you wouldn't get one of those for £1000 sadly, but a nice 1300 is a enjoyable way to travel, again for £1000 you'll struggle to find anything that won't need work.
That red T plate one above belonged to Lewis on here, I was bidding on it on ebay at the time but it sold for strong money, something like £3000 for a 1500 HL.
Failing that I know someone selling a lovely red 1984 Escort 1.3L Mk3. ;-)
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Last Edit: Jul 21, 2011 13:19:06 GMT by trigger
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Jul 21, 2011 13:12:24 GMT
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Dude!! this seems to be a recurring question of yours. Dolomite or not to Dolomite. It's like you want a Dolomite, you know you want a Dolomite but are afraid there may be something better that someone else thinks.
Cars are an emotional choice, you are feellng the Dolly, so just get it done. This isn't Desert Island Cars, you can buy something else if you ever change your mind.
1850 for usability for sure....
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longman
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 506
Club RR Member Number: 3
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Jul 21, 2011 13:19:27 GMT
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Last Edit: Jul 21, 2011 13:20:20 GMT by longman
Paul
98 500 SL
86 911 Carrera/sold
23 Octavia Phev
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bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Jul 21, 2011 13:27:10 GMT
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What about 1300FWD? Similar to dolly but a bit different. 1850 spec interiors with a 1300 engine.
Or a DAF 66. Plenty of spares supply cheap and full of character 1108cc or 1298cc renault engine. A 5 turbo engine is a known upgrade for them as well
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44
1974 VW Beetle 1303s
1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV
1988 VW LT45 Beavertail
1998 Volvo V70 2.5
1959 Fordson Dexta
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Jul 21, 2011 13:52:59 GMT
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Nope, not interested in the FWD  alolympic, i know what you mean, its true, i went and had a look at my old dolomite sprint a month or so ago, and that's rekindled my interest, but also reminded me why i sold it. Its more of if there is anything else that is similar or better than the Dolomite, as i have a bit of a bias towards them anyway. |
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stevea
Part of things
Posts: 281
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Jul 21, 2011 14:59:05 GMT
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How about a BMW E21? A 316 has a similar engine size to the Dolomite 1850, slant 4 cylinder, so the insurance shouldn't be much more and it is eligible for classic insurance. Absolutely loads of space in the boot and around the same size as a Dolomite.  |
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Jul 21, 2011 15:36:22 GMT
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E21 fits the bill perfectly. Also, so does a Mk1 Estelle...  |
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Jul 21, 2011 16:13:21 GMT
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Will be used for a 30mile/day commute.
Needs to be 30mpg+, 35 would be nice and 40 a treat but not essential.On personal experience I'd say that the economy requirement rules out the 1850, especially if much of that commute is urban. 1500HL would be a better bet. |
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Jul 21, 2011 18:37:03 GMT
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Fatbaldbloke, an 1850HL in good tune shouldn't have any trouble doing that. I used to average about 30mpg out of mine in good tune, once I'd uprated the ignition system and had it tuned it managed to get above that too.
Record was 40mpg on a 60mph cruise back from Wales - and that was in the automatic version!
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Jul 21, 2011 18:39:49 GMT
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Its finding a mk1 Estelle
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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Jul 21, 2011 19:48:02 GMT
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one of these.......... a lot less than a grand, economical, rear wheel drive, cheap insurance, easy to service, 4x100 wheels. easy to tune, fast enough in 1.4 flavour. look best in 3 door but more 4 doors about I think.  |
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CIH
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,466
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Jul 21, 2011 19:53:56 GMT
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Yay a recmmend your own car thread. 'Ave an S12 Silvia (sadly not mine);  |
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Jul 21, 2011 20:47:25 GMT
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Cheers chaps, seems i had really already decided, and have now anyway to go for a Dolly.
Pointless Thread! My bad!
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" East bound and down, loaded up and truckin' "
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ive found that bigger engine older cars are better on fuel i had a 1.6 cortina and was really heavy on fuel cause you have floor it to get any where
i bet a 1.3 dolly is no better than a 1850 or even a sprint on fuel
i think if 30 + mpg is a biggy don't buy a old car as its always going be alot more to fuel than a newer model i find old cars just drink fuel what ever they are when say old mean 60-70s
personly there is more to life than mpg i get really curse word of driving something with small engine to point i go buy a v8 or something for daily use
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Fatbaldbloke, an 1850HL in good tune shouldn't have any trouble doing that. I used to average about 30mpg out of mine in good tune, once I'd uprated the ignition system and had it tuned it managed to get above that too. Record was 40mpg on a 60mph cruise back from Wales - and that was in the automatic version! With hindsight, when I owned mine I was 18 and we all know how most 18 year olds drive. ;D |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,201
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Jul 22, 2011 12:31:54 GMT
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I'd personally up the budget to get something you won't be fixing/spending money on, considering this will also be your daily, and covering around 10k a year (or is it more or less than that?). Even I have noticed cars below £1k are not quite as nice as they used to be, unless image/parts issues play a role in that. Can't your transfer your NCB onto something more modern? . You'd make quite a bit of the cash back from the insurance on potential reliability, much cheaper parts in a number of respects and improved MPG (the 106 of mine does near 40MPG with the 'B barely mustering 25, maybe over 30 on a run LOL). I'd be tempted by the Dolomite 1850 and E21 options, but invest in a Jetwash and waxoyl so as to keep the rust at bay. How about a Scimitar on LPG? I know that KD is selling one cheap (Why I cannot tell you LOL), and on LPG you would potentially crack most of the criteria. An LPG kit for something like that would not cost the earth either . |
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Jul 22, 2011 12:49:30 GMT
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I got quotes for moderns, 309GTi=£1k, 106GTi=£1k, AX GT=£850, Saab 99 GL=£400, Dolomite Sprint=£350, GT6=£350 etc etc Pretty much decided on a 2Dr Toledo or more likely a Dolomite 1300 or 1850. |
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,628
Club RR Member Number: 1
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Jul 22, 2011 15:12:12 GMT
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Ford Capri Mk3 in a 1.6 or 2.0 gotta fit the bill, I you said not for you I thought the same until I drove one.
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