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Oy oy crew As a couple of you know, I have jacked my job in due to it cheesing me off. I am going to come back to the UK for a while and do some contracting work on the supplier quality side, (still in the car industry like). A few years of that ought to get the bo11ox museum habitable without much debt and I will review my career plan when this is the case… However the point is that this means I will soon need some reliable wheels which are up to a bit/a lot of motorway bashing and it is here that I am looking for suggestions. I have a few ideas already, however here are the criteria: 1) must have at least some interest value, so no Kia Rio’s thanks, no Mondeos or Vectras. 2) Must be possible to buy a healthy example of one for a grand maximum, my self-imposed maximum car spend. 3) No carbs or points ignition – fuel injection only, and no engines smaller than 1800cc. 4) Got to be able to return 30mpg on a steady run, achieve 15,000 miles a year, and comfortable enough to avoid causing spinal injuries when driven on the UK’s shonky motorway network. Here are the ideas which are swimming round in my head at the moment: 1) Mark 2 Golf or Jetta GTi – 8 or 16v, ideally an early (C-reg?) un-mucked-about one (looking on the bay I reckon about 75% of Golf GTi’s have had lowering springs fitted)! I reckon I would pay a grand for one of these if I found a really nice one. This one looks healthy, C-reg, opening bid £900. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&item=1100082661472) Toyota Celica ST162 (C-G reg) – there must be a few of these knocking around which are not rotten. cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&item=1300074524913) BMW 318/320 E30 Touring. Would a 2.0 one of these be capable of 30mpg? And would the 1.8 one be capable of maintaining the ‘minimum speed’ imposed on some sections of the motorway? cgi.ebay.co.uk/1991-BMW-320I-Touring-3-series-estate-Manual-black_W0QQitemZ250001387094This one looks good, 320i, sold for only 475. 4) Vauxhall Carlton, a legendary motorway basher, not a good car to buy off the bay mind you due to unpredictable and sometimes rampant rot. A 2.0 diplomat or CDX J/K/L reg would be cracking if I could find a nice one. cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Carlton-2-0-CDX-i-Automatic-Black-Tax-Mot_W0QQitemZ200004648172This (at £260) is the most expensive non-GSi carlton sold on the bay in the last month! 5) Late-model Sierra 2.0, maybe a GT? J or K reg only. cgi.ebay.co.uk/1992-FORD-SIERRA-ESTATE-2-0-GT-GREY_W0QQitemZ230007746845Here is a cracking 2.0 GT estate which has just sold for £400. These are all well into old clunker territory but I’m sure if I hunt out a good, un-messed with example of any of them they are capable of doing the miles OK. Any other good suggestions? Obviously any suggestions need to be backed up with pics!!!!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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Haven't immediately got any better suggestions, but do you want to flog me your 929 wagon?!
Maybe Bluebird 2.0i GSX or Executive?
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You've got a few of my major suggestions there obviously, but i have just re reccomended these to a mate, he had one it did the job, smashed it, then bought one of the crappy bubbly ones. Honda in a bowler hat arn't they and quirky enough, enconomy is good specially on the 1.4 ones, even a cabrio available for some summer lovin...
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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My little bro had an E30, 320i Touring on an "H" plate which used to manage 30mpg quite easily with the air-con running, despite having nearly 200k on the clock. So no worries there! Bodieanddoyle probably has one in stock.... You ought to be able to get a hell of a Sierra for well under your budget - I missed out on a '92 GLSi Sapphire at the weekend, with two months tax...it was a really good one body-wise with only a couple of minor dents, and no rot ( ) Sadly I couldn't get to Kings Lynn with two hours notice so it got scrapped. The guy wanted £40 for it.
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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SAAB 9000, All owned by old duffers. Will go to the moon and back. My 2.3 N/A did over 30 to the gallon on a long run. 28 on town driving. Leather seats, 120mph plus, and if you buy a hatch you can fit you're cement mixer in it. You'll get one for well less than a grand, probably with FSH. Get one with leather interior and the front seats (when you kill it) have a cool retro bucket look ideal for transplanting. You know it makes sense!!
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Old Fords never die they just go sideways
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Now that is a great idea. Lovely!
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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SAAB 9000, All owned by old duffers. Will go to the moon and back. Why didn't I think of that! There's one 'round the corner from my office, £495 for a '97 "P", going to have a butchers lunchtime!
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My fleet: Suzuki GSX-R600Y SRAD with bald, melted tyres A borrowed Mondeo
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,950
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Pics to follow but my shameless bias leans me heavily to one of these....... At the price they are the level of kit and general all round ability means they are hard to beat...... I have a 2.0 GLi 5 Speed manual on an 94 L which had 88K on the clock when I bought it - I use it as a loan car - does 37 mpg plus at 80 mph cruise all day long!!! Cost me £300 8 months ago from the father of a club member - tad pricey but it had FSH, was mint body and chassis wise, just had 4 new tyres and a complete exhaust system on it Sailed straight thro an MOT I threw leather (heated seats) in it for £50 and changed the wheels from steels and trims to almost perfect X spokes for 99p It's had close 10K miles slapped on it in 7 mths with only a couple of oil & filter changes by way of maintenance!
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,950
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Not advertised on ebay (Club car)
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SAAB 9000, All owned by old duffers. Will go to the moon and back. My 2.3 N/A did over 30 to the gallon on a long run. 28 on town driving. Leather seats, 120mph plus, and if you buy a hatch you can fit you're cement mixer in it. You'll get one for well less than a grand, probably with FSH. Get one with leather interior and the front seats (when you kill it) have a cool retro bucket look ideal for transplanting. You know it makes sense!! Just don't do this! But it got pulled out and carried on for another three years without missing a beat.
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Old Fords never die they just go sideways
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Yep lot of money for the car with a Carlton or Sierra defo, even though they get dissed my well oiled CVH is well up to job, they are available for peanuts, Saabs a great suggestion too, also as per yesterdays discussion could look at a Scorpio or granada 2.0.
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it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts
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phatphord
Part of things
Scorpilow
Posts: 674
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series one Lexus LS400 1990-1994 hunt around and you can find one with around 150k on the clock for around a grand. Disgusting colour schemes like green and gold two tone (why?) less wanted and so cheaper. Silver ones abound. 28mpg at 95 on the motorway all day long. Awesome comfort,awesome presence, one of the best stereos ever fitted into a car. The only niggles are the lcd air-con display fading and the slightly barge like handling. Still there is an art to hustling over two tonnes of rapid car,and its rewarding when you do. Also as a series one it means it comes sans traction control,air suspension etc. meaning more fun.
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1994 Ford Scorpio Lowrider um...and some bikes...
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These two were on the 'trader.
1989 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 1.8 GT 3dr Coupe, 58,000 miles, Grey. Manual 12 Months M.O.T. 4 Months Tax. Full service history. Very clean inside and out. Recent full service and new cambelt. £650. o.n.o
VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO GT11 1.8, H reg. 55,000 geniune miles, all old MOTs from new, MOT March 07, 1 former keeper, last owner 12 years, a future classic, totally immaculate. £950
Good luck with the move to contracting fella!
BB
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Yesterday at 7:54, pogweasel wrote:
Nothing wrong with creature comforts. If I want masochism, I'll just go and slam my knackers in the fridge door for a bit.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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I would immediately lean towards the Sierra or the BM. SIerra cos you could get an absolute corker well within your budget and I think they're great and the BMW cos I've always liked them.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,950
Club RR Member Number: 71
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Early Facelift H £125 - 10 mins to go No Bids (local ish to me!!!) Dippy - Nice colour Starting bid £250 - £400 BIN Always fancied one of these - Voyager 2.0 Man Est (mainly for the quirky seats and estate rear end!!!)
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These two were on the 'trader. 1989 VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO 1.8 GT 3dr Coupe, 58,000 miles, Grey. Manual 12 Months M.O.T. 4 Months Tax. Full service history. Very clean inside and out. Recent full service and new cambelt. £650. o.n.o VOLKSWAGEN SCIROCCO GT11 1.8, H reg. 55,000 geniune miles, all old MOTs from new, MOT March 07, 1 former keeper, last owner 12 years, a future classic, totally immaculate. £950 Good luck with the move to contracting fella! BB Cheers mucka!!! (i'll no doubt need it) Unfortunately i'm rejecting your Sciroccos as they fall foul of the 'no carburettors' rule! The Saab 9000 is an inspired choice. If we were a month or so down the line i'd most likely be chasing up that carlton too, looks a cracker.
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1972 Fiat 130 1985 Talbot Alpine 1974 Lancia Beta Saloon 1975 + 1986 Mazda 929 Koop + Wagon 1982 Fiat Argenta 2.0 iniezione elettronica 1977 Toyota Carina TA14 BEST CAR EVER!!!!!!!! 1979 Datsun B310 Sunny 4-dr 1984 Audi 200 Quattro Turbo 1983 Honda Accord 1.6 DX GONE1989 Alfa 75 2.0 TS Mr T says: TREAT YO MOTHER RIGHT!
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We had a Saab 9000 too, excellent truck. It was the 2.0 so not fast but it hauled itself about with aplomb Nothing went wrong on it for decades, I've never seen a car that aged so well (still was like new inside and only a few blisters outside!), then it got scrapped because it got left on a street too long once we sold it ;D Done 160~ thousands clicks by that point.
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qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,417
Club RR Member Number: 52
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My Grandma and Grandpa had a Saab 9000 2.0 LPT and it was a cracking car. Very comfortable effortless performance. Don't know what the fuel consumption was like but nothing ever went wrong apart from the air con needing gassing and my Grandma bumping things.
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Hey BC, that Voyager looks interesting to me. Are they just a special edition or summat? Seems like an honest car, what's your verdict? Any big bills forthcoming at that mileage or anything that should have been done recently?
Shame about the photos - is that a solid red colour or metallic? Seems to have alloys.
Not too far away either, could go and visit my Granny who lives nearby!
Anyway, got some negotiations to do on something else first......
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You know what I'm gonna suggest don't you! I think the suggestions of Carton & Saab 9000 are perfectly 'adequate', but will they sustain the interest level? The BMW Tourer sounds like an ace plan. There are plenty of nice ones about due to them being (a) preferred by the chelsea brigade and (b) mostly shunned by the 'wannabe dealer' mob A 320i will be lovely and effortless etc. if not quick and they can be coaxed into moderately sensible mpg on m-way trogging. A 318i will deffo give you the economy you need, but without the silky smooth 6 lovelyness. They're not abysmally slow either - my bro has a 318i currently and it will shift when you give it some beans - or at least much better than the old 316 I had which had 'ice-age' performance. If only they'd made an iS wagon.... that would be heaven
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