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Jul 10, 2008 21:52:46 GMT
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Been browsing ebay etc looking for something retro, cheap and economical to use as a runaround. I'm hitting a brick wall when it comes to economy though. i went to look at a beetle but the mpg scared me! so my question is; whats out there thats good on MPG? the only requirements i have are: interesting (ie no 1989 micras), mpg above 40 and available from under £500?
so far I'm thinking:
early mx5 mk1 mr2 mini
any help much appreciated
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Jul 10, 2008 21:56:52 GMT
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You'll struggle to get over 40mpg from an MX5. More like mid 30s at best Anyway, where you going to find an MX5 for under 500 quid that works, thinking about it! ;D
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Last Edit: Jul 10, 2008 22:01:55 GMT by Lewis
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Jul 10, 2008 22:09:18 GMT
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or indeed a Mini thats not falling apart with rot for £500 will be a challenge...
or a Mk1 MK2 for that matter....
You need to redefine either your budget, re-evaluate your aspirations or think a little more latterally....
There was a shoddy polish registered Mk2 Astra on eBay last week with an LPG system on it, was up at £200 with no bids when I looked. My thougts would be to buy that, harvest the LPG system and whack that on the most interesting car you can find for £300 or so, sell any parts off the Astra you can on eBay and then weigh in the shell. Spend the change on kebabs and hookers and you're laughing.
With an LPG kit fitted any 25 MPG car will give you the same cost of motoring as 47-53 MPG or there abouts depending on the price of LPG where you are...
Oh, and I bet you can;t find much of a beetle for £500 either. Sorry
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 10, 2008 22:12:58 GMT
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My 205's just notched up 520 miles on 3/4 tank of derv. Would be academic if it was boring to drive, but I'm falling in love with it.
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sooty
Part of things
Posts: 447
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Jul 10, 2008 22:36:40 GMT
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The advantage of retro cars is that they are much lighter than todays.
But for £500 the only thing you are likely to find on your list above is an MR2.
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2016 Dodge Charger Scat Pack 2008 Jeep Liberty Limited
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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Jul 10, 2008 22:41:32 GMT
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You might pick up a rough but legal Imp for that. 45+mpg all day long. More interesting than a Mini, better all round than a Mini.
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport 1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport 1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2 1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome 2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily) 2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily) 2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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Jul 10, 2008 22:55:02 GMT
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yeah pug 205 1.8 diesel make monster mpg
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Lex
South East
日本車 <3
Posts: 2,404
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my 1.6 mk2 golf isn't THAT bad never measured it when it was being driven though.
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Resto-UKal
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Darrel
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,167
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£500 limit is pretty hard. Mk1 Fiesta maybe? Citroen Visa, 1.4 BX, Pug 205. As for a Mk1 Mr2 yes you can pick them up for less than £500, but I wouldnt bother. They will cost you that in the first 6 months of motoring getting it running/rust sorted out. Also on the 2 ive had I could never get anywhere near 40mpg. Yes the car could do it, bt I was in a 2 seater sportscar, My rightfoot was wanting to play (Its all very tempting) Ive got currently got 2 205 diesals. One is my Grandfathers old stdt which is giving me about 55 mpg and a standard Grd which will be up here soon for sale as i never even wanted the car, but just couldnt say no in true RR style but thats giving me around 65mpg. For me my money would be on the 205, maybe convert it to a GTI replica? Ive never really thought of the 205 as that retro, but parking it up and comparing it with more modern cars the design seems to have aged a fair bit.
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I'm certainly with the others here and not just for lazy reasons. The 205 diesel makes perfect sense for loads of reasons and would be top of my list. Others worth seeking out? Nova TD. Hell they can rot but very good on fuel and blindingly quick. Citroen BX diesel: 1.7/na and 1.9n/a can be ponderous but economy is amazing. 1.7TD a good bet and has a fair old turn of speed too. All BX diesels available within your budget and £500 should buy you a cracker. Failing that 1.3/1.4 Astra Mk2 or BX/205 1.4 if you like your petrol engines.
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Corsa Apology Champion 2014.
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205 gets my vote, the diesel does more to the gallon but costs more in road tax, the 1.4 petrol does 40+ to the gallon, but is cheaper to tax.
Off the wall suggestion would be a 309.
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205 GTi Mi16
205 XS - Now in filmidget's signature
Clio dci 80
I've found in life if someone is an idiot, they generally stay and idiot.
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Personally I use my Scirocco for work and on a run get about 40-42mpg out of it. The MFA (trip computer) usually states about 47mpg, but I've worked it reads about 10% off, so its just over 40mpg. £500 might just get a serviceable 'rocco, but make sure its an injection as the carb models are slower and less economical.
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Current cars: 1999 VW Bora SE tdi 1998 Daihatsu Storia X4 (x2) 1995 Volvo 850R 1994 Umm Alter II 1992 Alfa 155 - LPG 1990 VW Scirocco Scala - TSR 1.9 1989 Renault Espace 1988 Mitsubishi Galant Sapporo 1987 Honda Accord Aerodeck Exi auto (x2) 1979 Lancia Beta Spyder
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Also also it depends on what kind of use you put your car to. I used to be able to get 36-37 MPG from a 2 litre Capri by sitting on the A1 cruising at a steady 55 mph. I used to commute my Ventora, when I was driving up the old Fosse 35 miles or so each way I got 28 MPG out of it, when I had a shorter commute like 10 miles into the local town I got 23 MPG out of it. Worse mpg but cheaper in fuel... Different driving conditions.
Ignoring fuel type for a moment the things which make the difference with MPG are:
fuel management (EFI = good, carbs = dubious) weight (obviously lighter cars accelerate etc easier, but heavier cars will maintain momentum better at cruise...) aerodynamics (frontal area is a drag, man...) gearing (the tallest supported by the drive train, but too tall means labouring and poor economy) torque (if a car can drive in its torque peak area it will be more efficient than one needing to be worked harder)
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Nova TD gets my vote. Austin A30 can get about 40mpg I think? Likely to get plenty of rust with that tight a budget though. Problem is, interesting cars tend to cost more than dull ones.
A 2CV will beat 40mpg even if you thrash it - but you'll struggle to get one within budget - although it can be done, as Ash has recently proved.
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1986 Citroen 2CV Dolly Other things. Check out my Blog for the latest! www.hubnut.org
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Fiat 127 with the 903cc pushrod engine.
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Austin A30 can get about 40mpg I think? so long as you stick to about 35-40 MPH on the open roads...
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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PhoenixCapri
West Midlands
Posts: 2,685
Club RR Member Number: 91
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Good MPG from retro?PhoenixCapri
@phoenixescort
Club Retro Rides Member 91
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Ooooo this is an easy one!
88-91 reg Honda CRX 1600 DOHC (the non Vtec one) ;D I just bought one for £1000 with 79,000 on the clock and running sweet as a nut, and only needs minor cosmetic work. Plus its been chipped and has been rolling roaded at 138bhp, and as standard they do 0-60 in 7.4secs. Plus they're stupidly reliable, very comfortable on a long trip, loads of boot space with the rear seat down, fairly cheap to insure, easy to fix and with double wishbones all round it handles like its on rails even with curse word tyres!
But the best bit is the MPG! I've been keeping and eye on mine and driving pretty quickly (enjoying myself if you like) with a mix of town, country and motorway driving I've been returning at least 43mpg!!!! ;D
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Got to be a Fiat panda 1.0, very nippy, entertaining to drive, £500 will get a good one with mot and tax, and you should easily get 45 mpg around town and 50-60 on a run. Parts and servicing are cheap too
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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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Darrel
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,167
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Ooh I forgot about the Panda. With the 1.0 Fire engine in they are great fun. Oh and the old Seat Ibiza 1.5 where good too.
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Last Edit: Jul 11, 2008 8:56:24 GMT by Darrel
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