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Mar 12, 2009 23:54:44 GMT
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A lack of knowledge will certainly hinder you in buying the car in the first place as you might not know what to look for and end up buying a POS. With the first few cars I had, I always took my Dad with me, who knew what to look for. If you have a limited knowledge, take someone who knows something. Nowadays my friends usually ask me to come along. That said, when I bought my last car (the Alpine) I took an Alpine expert with me on the 2nd viewing to confirm everything I'd seen when I looked the first time (tip - if you can, don't decided on your first viewing; come away and think it over objectively!). Well when it comes to the time of the actual purchase when I'm convinced of what I want, I will read up what kind of things go wrong with said car, and what things to look for when buying them. I know the kind of things to look for though in general, rust on sills and chassis, engine condition etc. But I only know how to look for that in theory, never actually had to do it before. Because of this whatever I go to view I will take my dad with me at the very least. IMO, to work on cars you need: A little mechanical aptitude - things like knowing which way to turn a spanner to loosen/tighten nuts/bolts, knowing the correct tool to use, NOT using a metric spanner on a AF nut/bolt (used to do that alot when I was younger 'cos I couldn't find the correct AF spanner!). I know which way spanners go, but I've got to be honest, I wouldn't know what spanners to use for what etc. I would have though though with my dads guidance I should be okay, I think... A little knowledge of how things work - like, how the engine works, or how the brakes work etc and how it all fits together. You can get this sort of stuff by reading the Haynes manual and of course your knowlege will increase with experience. I know how an internal combustion engine works in general, and how brakes work etc. I wouldn't have the foggiest how it all went together though. Again, I was hoping that this would be fairly easy to learn from both reading up on stuff and actually looking at and taking bits apart for real. PATIENCE!! - maybe the most important thing of all! Things can often take a long time to sort out. Maybe a nut refuses to undo, or you can't get to a particular bolt 'cos some idiot designer put an engine in the way! Sometimes you take something apart which maybe you shouldn't have and you can't work out how to put it together again. You will almost certainly make mistakes (I do all the time) and that's how you learn, but you need the patience to not give up and to fix it. It helps to make yourself a cup of tea every now and again and think things through logically, or even sleep on it! I'd like to think I could be patient, so I should be okay there. Don't be put off 'cos you have no experience; If you can't afford to have someone else do the work on your car, you will have to do it yourself and you will soon learn! Stuff like servicing on old cars is dead easy and it'll save you a fortune if you do it yourself! Yeah I guess that's true! heh. Potential cost of things going wrong worries me more than the skill required to fix things to some extent, skills can be learnt, but you can only earn so much as a poor student. P.S. also I went to look at an Avenger the other day, a mint one though that isn't for sale. Quite liked it, having never actually seen one in the flesh before (I probably have just never really noted it), smaller than I thought they were. was that one in fact.
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Last Edit: Mar 13, 2009 0:46:09 GMT by yantorsen
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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Considering carsDavenger
@dminifreak
Club Retro Rides Member 140
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Mar 12, 2009 23:59:01 GMT
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Last Edit: Mar 13, 2009 0:02:25 GMT by Davenger
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I dunno, I bought my '78 1850HL as my first car and barring a few things come MOT time it soldiered on perfectly through winter after winter, sun, shine and snow....Barely touched it over 3 years!
Just what you buy, what condition it's in and how you look after it. I only did simple stuff like just keeping an eye on the fluid levels, keeping it clean and just learnt anything that was needed as I went along - which you could do, it being so simple.
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It does as well. Pity it's only got a few days left. I can't retrieve the money in time to get it. I have a savings account thing where I can only take out a maximum of £250 a month, because it's like a children's savings account thing.
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Last Edit: Mar 13, 2009 0:05:43 GMT by yantorsen
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Cool but my personal view on this is you put your love and attention into something you really have a passion for - choose a car that excites you. I think you are wise to take your dad and a friend to look at cars you want to buy and wish you the best of luck, the classic car scene needs more young blood like yourself.
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shlomping
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 499
Club RR Member Number: 30
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Considering carsshlomping
@shlomping
Club Retro Rides Member 30
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Mar 13, 2009 10:30:05 GMT
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if i was you I'd be going for totally different
Theres been no talk of beetles. for £2000 you could get quite a good one and hey are cheap to insure plus I'm sure all your friends would think it was a cool car to drive.
Same with a mini. There within your budget and parts are really cheap and readily available.
or how about an austin allegro. they are cheap and if you spent half your budget you would get a minter.
Talbot samba. There a cheap to buy cheap to insure rag top and they look great.
Ford cortina mk4/5 1.6. there still cheap at the min and if you keep it for a couple of years its most likely to go up in value.
Lada Riva Cheap. Made of iron girders and RWD. great fun.
Skoda estelle/Rapid again cheap to buy/insure and same layout as your imp.
Mk1/2polo Again cheap to run and amazing amounts of modding potential.
mk1/2golf same as polos but bigger.
and how about old japanese(spl?) cars.
I don't know alot about them but an old datsun 120y or simlar would be awesome.
Citroen ax's are really cheap to buy aswell and are great fun to drive ive had 2.
or you could do what i did and spend £1500 on a mk4polo then spend double that again getting it the way you want it. its not retro but i love my modern car.
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Mar 13, 2009 22:31:20 GMT
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I dunno, I bought my '78 1850HL as my first car and barring a few things come MOT time it soldiered on perfectly through winter after winter, sun, shine and snow....Barely touched it over 3 years! Just what you buy, what condition it's in and how you look after it. I only did simple stuff like just keeping an eye on the fluid levels, keeping it clean and just learnt anything that was needed as I went along - which you could do, it being so simple. How much roughly did it cost you a year in repairs and replacements?
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Mar 13, 2009 22:35:33 GMT
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Cool but my personal view on this is you put your love and attention into something you really have a passion for - choose a car that excites you. I think you are wise to take your dad and a friend to look at cars you want to buy and wish you the best of luck, the classic car scene needs more young blood like yourself. Are you implying the Avenger might be a bit dull? The Imp is still the strongest contender really, but they just don't look anywhere near as good as Avengers in my opinion, especially when done up. I really want to modify my car a bit, but the only mods I've seen that really suit the Imp is just lowering slightly and minilites/similar added. Which looks great, but everyone who has an Imp seems to do the same look.
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Mar 13, 2009 22:47:01 GMT
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if I was you I'd be going for totally different Theres been no talk of beetles. for £2000 you could get quite a good one and hey are cheap to insure plus I'm sure all your friends would think it was a cool car to drive. This is going to sound really pathetic and narrow minded, and it is, but I can't help but see Beetles as Hitler cars. I know there not really, but I want to be able to feel really proud of this car, so I'd like it to either be British or another make which I have emotional attachments to (such as Volvo and Citroen). Same with a mini. There within your budget and parts are really cheap and readily available. The reason behind thinking of the Imp was as a "better" alternative to the Mini. There less desirable so you can get a good one for cheaper, they have a racing engine as standard and there a bit more different. The mini would probably have cheaper parts though. or how about an austin allegro. they are cheap and if you spent half your budget you would get a minter. I actually love there querkyness, but I want something I can modify to look cool, I've played about on photoshop, but I can't find anything you can do to an Allegro to make it look good. But I have been thinking about Allegros/Princess, I like the princess, but I'm struggling to see the modding potential in them. Talbot samba. There a cheap to buy cheap to insure rag top and they look great. Too modern for me really. Ford cortina mk4/5 1.6. there still cheap at the min and if you keep it for a couple of years its most likely to go up in value. Look to modern for my liking really. Lada Riva Cheap. Made of iron girders and RWD. great fun. Too communist looking to me, and they have a terrible image. Skoda estelle/Rapid again cheap to buy/insure and same layout as your imp. Again, not really British enough, and I don't really like the Skoda image. Mk1/2polo Again cheap to run and amazing amounts of modding potential. mk1/2golf same as polos but bigger. German/too common and how about old japanese(spl?) cars. I don't know alot about them but an old datsun 120y or simlar would be awesome. Not into Japanese cars to be honest. Citroen ax's are really cheap to buy aswell and are great fun to drive ive had 2. Too recent for me really. or you could do what I did and spend £1500 on a mk4polo then spend double that again getting it the way you want it. its not retro but I love my modern car. I really appreciate the suggestions, was what I was looking for. I know I seem to have discounted them all though, sorry, it's nothing personal, I just don't like them too much. I know I'm a fussy customer. Thanks for posting the suggestions up though, certainly some food for thought.
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Last Edit: Mar 13, 2009 22:48:21 GMT by yantorsen
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I really want to modify my car a bit, but the only mods I've seen that really suit the Imp is just lowering slightly and minilites/similar added. Which looks great, but everyone who has an Imp seems to do the same look. I think the main thing about the Imp is that most people go for a 'motorsport' or 'fast road' type thing, with good handling, tuned engines, alloy wheels and bucket seats. It suits how the car drives - a rev-happy, go-kart-ish lightweight little fun thing. OTOH, it's not imp[/]osible to do other things with it. Have you seen the Tiki mobile?
retrorides.proboards86.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=36490
It is possible to do other things to the Imp, but they don't because they want to concentrate on the driving experience.
The other thing about the Imp is that it has quite a heavily detailed shape, with no distinct 'face' to the front. This makes it harder to modify successfully that something that has a smoother shape. It also means that there's less room to change the front-end looks.
All IMHO, of course.
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How 'bout a BMC 1100/1300?
They come in loads of different flavours, quite easy to work on, British, look good, nice to drive etc...
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1967 Simca 1301 1981 Austin Mini 1.0 HL 1981 Austin Allegro 1.3 HL 1993 Volvo 480ES 1995 Peugeot 405 GLX TD 1995 Renault Clio 1.4 RT
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I really want to modify my car a bit, but the only mods I've seen that really suit the Imp is just lowering slightly and minilites/similar added. Which looks great, but everyone who has an Imp seems to do the same look. I think the main thing about the Imp is that most people go for a 'motorsport' or 'fast road' type thing, with good handling, tuned engines, alloy wheels and bucket seats. It suits how the car drives - a rev-happy, go-kart-ish lightweight little fun thing. OTOH, it's not imp[/]osible to do other things with it. Have you seen the Tiki mobile?
retrorides.proboards86.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=36490
It is possible to do other things to the Imp, but they don't because they want to concentrate on the driving experience.
The other thing about the Imp is that it has quite a heavily detailed shape, with no distinct 'face' to the front. This makes it harder to modify successfully that something that has a smoother shape. It also means that there's less room to change the front-end looks.
All IMHO, of course.Yeah I agree. You can't really do much with them. With all due respect to Tiki, I'm sure he loves it and all, but it's not to my tastes. I like simple/clean looks, I find the Imp shape a little messy, but I can't see anyway of really making it look much better. They look great from the back, the front and side can look a bit awkward though.
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Last Edit: Mar 14, 2009 0:30:42 GMT by yantorsen
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How 'bout a BMC 1100/1300? They come in loads of different flavours, quite easy to work on, British, look good, nice to drive etc... I quite like those, still not sure how you'd go about doing one up though. Have any pics of customised ones? Also it's a BMC car so it's going to be more unreliable than a Rootes car, such as the Avenger. I'll have a look at some BMC 1300s and see what I think though.
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batten
Part of things
Posts: 188
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havent you bought an imp already?? lol
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1969 Hillman Imp Super
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havent you bought an imp already?? lol Nope, still not got all the money together.
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Also it's a BMC car so it's going to be more unreliable than a Rootes car, such as the Avenger.
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Last Edit: Mar 14, 2009 0:45:15 GMT by jrevillug
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I'm starting to despair a little at this thread You are making some sweeping generalizations for starters - how can you say a BMC car will automatically be less reliable than a Rootes one? I certainly couldn't state that for fact! Also, if you would like my advice, I'd say stop trying to apply logic and rules to classic car purchace. Best will in the world, it never goes how you expect/plan it to, thats part of the fun. Look at some - show season is coming up Buy something you like the look of with max 50% of your budget, spend the rest wisely keeping it roadworthy. Learn as you go!
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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BiAS
Club Retro Rides Member
Insert witty comment here
Posts: 2,231
Club RR Member Number: 147
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Considering carsBiAS
@cheeqi
Club Retro Rides Member 147
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^^Wise words SOC Don't bosh the whole budget on the car. Keep some back for roadworthyness (and mods obv)
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(car+wheels)-rideheight=WIN
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I'm starting to despair a little at this thread You are making some sweeping generalizations for starters - how can you say a BMC car will automatically be less reliable than a Rootes one? I certainly couldn't state that for fact! Also, if you would like my advice, I'd say stop trying to apply logic and rules to classic car purchace. Best will in the world, it never goes how you expect/plan it to, thats part of the fun. Look at some - show season is coming up Buy something you like the look of with max 50% of your budget, spend the rest wisely keeping it roadworthy. Learn as you go! I agree what with Mr ScaryoldCortina said. I made my mind up that I would only be buying a BMW m535. That's all I was interested in nothing would get in my way. 25 hours later I'd bought a custard yellow Merc 350 v8 on ebay. It was rubbish but thats all part of the game. I sold it again 2 months later and didn't loose any money on it. I started looking for the m535 again and ended up with an e21 320 baur convertible.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Cool but my personal view on this is you put your love and attention into something you really have a passion for - choose a car that excites you. I think you are wise to take your dad and a friend to look at cars you want to buy and wish you the best of luck, the classic car scene needs more young blood like yourself. Are you implying the Avenger might be a bit dull? The Imp is still the strongest contender really, but they just don't look anywhere near as good as Avengers in my opinion, especially when done up. I really want to modify my car a bit, but the only mods I've seen that really suit the Imp is just lowering slightly and minilites/similar added. Which looks great, but everyone who has an Imp seems to do the same look. No not at all, I'm sure Avengers are great, I was touching on what ScaryOldCortina has pointed out. It's very easy to fall into the trap of drawing up a logical spec sheet for a car and then buying one out of compromise. Imo you should get something which makes you eight again. I understand you wanting to modify the car, I can't help myself with thast either, however it will compound the issues mentioned earlier.
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