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Last Edit: Jun 4, 2014 11:31:54 GMT by joem83
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Mid-thirties crisis delight
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,933
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Do it! Obviously I'm biased cause I love Polos. Easy to work on, fun to drive, cheap parts etc But when you say "Ford or VW" I'm guessing you're thinking in terms of resale value? There is a whole world of cool stuff out there if you broaden your horizons a bit though. Particularly since £500 will get you A LOT more Alfa (for example) than it will Ford or VW.
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First of all, I'm bound to say, a limited knowledge and being a complete novice is no barrier to working on any car anymore. Forums like this, let alone model specific ones, will have plenty of people who can advise you and talk you through any issues you may face. What I will say, because Ive been there, is that a lack of tools will certainly hinder any project progress. I know I'm not the only one who has, over the years, spent a bloody fortune on tools when Ive realised that I couldn't go any further forwards without them. Your £500 budget is really not realistic, that's not a massive amount more than "over the weighbridge money" and what you will get for £500 will be a complete shed IF you are set on buying anything older than the 1990s unless its a car that was and still is perceived to be unpopular to the masses. That will probably rule out most 1980s and older Fords and VWs. Even models from the 90s are going to be at least 15 years old and will have issues, then again, is a 1990s car seen as "Retro" in your eyes? Personally, Id say start saving, go on flea bay, buy a welder, decent spanners/socket set and good screwdrivers as the bare minimum of a toolkit. Once you have them then start saving for the car that you have chosen to be your project, the model you have read every scrap of info on, asked every question about and the car you go to look at and impress the seller with your in depth knowledge...... I suppose there is a tendency to see things through rose tinted specs. This forum has some amazing cars owned and created by some very clever people BUT they rarely tell the story of how they have had to motivate themselves to get out and work on the car after a weeks graft at work, the amount of questions they have had to ask about how to do stuff and all the trials and tribulations they have gone through to create something good from something bad. Basically, go into it with your eyes wide open, be realistic and expect grief!! Ultimately, do you want to be driving the car more than you will be working on it? That really will tell you how much you will need to spend on a car. Good luck, it really is worth it, its brilliant being a petrol head. ^^these are very very wise words
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Wow, you guys are awesome! This is all gold dust. Many, many thanks
The reason I'm looking at either a VW or a Ford, is because I'd like to take the car (one day) to either the Classic Ford show at Santa Pod, or Bug Jam at the same venue. Going to the Ford show at the weekend, has really pushed me to get my hands dirty!
EDIT: On a bit of a downer, now. Just had a look at insurance for that Mk2 Polo I posted earlier, that I'd found on ebay.........£450!
I did have a little prang about four years ago (Reversed into the neighbour's car!) and I did list a few mods (Wheels, suspension and exhaust - all which I would like to do to the car) I'm also unsure if I have an no claims bonus, as I've been driving on my Wife's policy for the last ten years, as we moved in together. The car would hardly get used. Maybe a quick buzz round on a weekend, and travelling to a few shows etc. Could I just get a few months insurance for it at a time? Rather than a whole year's, when it'll just be in the lock-up?
EDIT EDIT: Maybe they don't like the fact it's going to be stored at my mate's address? (In his garage, mind.....)
Cheers
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Look into limited milage classic insurance. I'd suggest keeping it standard ish to start with - for 500 quid finding something solid and usable will be hard enough and any extra is probably best spent on a service! Modding it can wait until it works! It will be worth phoning insurance companies rather than just doing online quotes - some may give you some credit for driving your wife's car... Good luck...
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Loads of great replies and good points made guys, Isold a 1987 Honda civic for £500, it would have been ideal as a first/starter classic/retro, something obscure and different from the norm is always good. Good luck with whatever you buy and keep us up to date with what you decide.
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I'd look at an Audi Coupe I just sold mine to someone on here, one that needs a bit of work will go under £500 had mine up for £450, it was tested needed a little work but it was solid and with VW underpinnings alot was easy to work on.
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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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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Just popped on here to post that lol.
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Heater motor is easy, might not be the motor, it could be the motor/dash switch/hedgehog - all easy to do though.
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Heater motor is easy, might not be the motor, it could be the motor/dash switch/hedgehog - all easy to do though. Thanks for the reply. Hedgehog? Sounds spiky! What do you think they mean by a 'worn suspension mount'? Welding needed?
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It's one of these, it's not actually straveller - just used to calling them that as BMW ones are straveller lol: www.amazon.co.uk/HEATER-BLOWER-RESISTOR-192959263C-C392/dp/B00AZXA99YBMW hedgehog: He probably means top mounts, which are cheap to swap, as with all old cars though - worth having a look at it to see how honest the seller is being. Assume that all the bushes/ball joints will want replacing unless they have just been done.
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Copey
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,845
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I got a 90 Sierra Sapphire for £500, never welded and in a pretty good condition all over really, there are bargains to be had
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1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLSi with 2.0 Zetec 1985 Ford Capri 3.0 (was a 2.0 Laser originally)
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Well, I've had chat with the bloke who's selling the Type 19 Golf, I posted about earlier. Seemed pretty genuine (Usual thing of not enough time, money or space to keep/finish the motor) Asked him to take some pictures of the newer wheels he's put on it (From the MK3 Golf, which is now wearing the Porsche-D90-Alloys) He also said he'd take £400 for it, as his Dad wants it off the drive!
Just need to get my mates in gear now! (Waiting on the trailer......)
EDIT: Just wondering if it's worth buying? Just got a nagging feeling in my head about it. Just don't want it sitting there, doing nothing.......
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Just as a point of interest, I think I must have started my midlife crisis at 12, I'm now 48 and I'm still in the midst of it!!!!!
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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