Should you be willing to accept this mission.....

[purplebargeken]

to find a reasonable car that is:

 

Relatively straightforward to work on.

Still possible to buy a fair amount of bits for.

MOT'd, even a little bit.

Not in need of welding half of the stock of my local sheet metal suppliers actually onto the car.

No newer that say, 1993.

Within a 75 mile limit of London (but would go further for the right car).

For sale at £400 or less.

(thought that one would make you laugh)

Mildly interesting.

Not hugely shit.

 

Answers on a very, very, very small postage stamp please.

[catsinthewelder]

The Bluebird up in Wrexham and a train ticket?

 

edit.. I bet someone on here would deliver it to your doorstep for £400

[retrogeezer]

christ, my friggin Bluebird could not fit the bill more if it knocked on your front door and said 'hello'!

 

Get the train to Crewe and I'll pick you up in it!

[Cavcraft]

Also getting a train 'twixt London and Crewe is ridiculously easy.

[John F]

Or failing that, here's a 1993 16v Calibra in white:

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-VAUXHALL ... _86wt_1399

[purplebargeken]

The Bluebird does indeed hit the mark, especially at the price. However...... I've already had one. There is no doubt in my mind that this is actually a very tidy looking car and the memories of mine were pretty impressive (bar the wanked auto box). I also love the colour, but it's a ticked box

 

The Calibra is interesting and it is in my watched section. I've never actually had a Vauxhall, ever. I recall someone describing the Calibra as a Cavalier with a hoodie Is there anything in particular to look out for? The rear arches have seen better days but I'm not fussed by that kind of thing. I've never had a BMW either. How unusual.

[maxpower]

The Bluebird does indeed hit the mark, especially at the price. However...... I've already had one. There is no doubt in my mind that this is actually a very tidy looking car and the memories of mine were pretty impressive (bar the wanked auto box). I also love the colour, but it's a ticked box

 

The Calibra is interesting and it is in my watched section. I've never actually had a Vauxhall, ever. I recall someone describing the Calibra as a Cavalier with a hoodie Is there anything in particular to look out for? The rear arches have seen better days but I'm not fussed by that kind of thing. I've never had a BMW either. How unusual.

 

A workmate had a grey calibra on a K plate... said it was the worse car he ever owned, when it came to try and sell it he couldn't give it away

 

he still had it when i left the job

[purplebargeken]

Oh well, the Calibra is out of my budget now and the reserve still hasn't been met.

[retrogeezer]

I guess you need to add a list of all the cars you have owned then if you can't have the same thing twice....

[trigger]

Retros one might be twice as nice as your old one!, It's like going back to a ex-girlfriend for another shag and falling in love with her all over again!

[purplebargeken]

Ok, how about this then, as the list is long (but not as long as others I guess).

 

I haven't had (if this makes it easier ):

 

BMW

Merc

Citroen

Trabant

Rolls Royce

Aston Martin

Maserati

[Rocket88]

Stretch your budget a little, and buy Mr Wobbler's Merc!

[John F]

The Calibra is interesting and it is in my watched section. I've never actually had a Vauxhall, ever. I recall someone describing the Calibra as a Cavalier with a hoodie Is there anything in particular to look out for? The rear arches have seen better days but I'm not fussed by that kind of thing. I've never had a BMW either. How unusual.

 

I usually describe mine as a Cavalier in a posh dress, hehe! The dashboard and drivetrain are exactly the same as the Cavalier (although all Calibras have independent rear suspension whereas only the sportiest Cavs have it), so they're pretty tough mechanically. Early cars can have rust pretty much anywhere, although they're no worse than other cars of the era, but 1994 cars onwards were galvanised and tend not to rust. Prices have been rock bottom for years, but are now starting to creep up as 'classic' status is gained... solid, MoT'd cars can still be had for around £400 though.

 

The V6 is smooth, rapid (a true 148 mph, allegedly) and not exceptionally thirsty for what it is (I get around 31 mpg from mine in the mixed cycle, and it hasn't ever had a new lambda sensor so would possibly do more), the 2.0 four-pots are tough in 8v form and rapid in early 16v form, later Ecotec 16v engines are nowhere near as bad as their reputation would suggest - they are criticised for having a slightly lower power output than the early 16v engines, and early models were also plagued with sensor problems when the engine range was launched. Gearboxes are all close-ratio except the f25 in the V6, which is really long-legged and makes what is a quite sporty car into a bit of a cruiser - disapponting, this. Other boxes can be made to fit, though.

 

Faults: V6 alternators can fail as they get hot behind the rear bank of cylinders. Fuel pipes can leak from a metal to rubber union just behind the driver's seat area. The headlights are bloody abysmal. Sunroof bowden cables can rust up, so need checking before purchase. Other than that, they're really easy cars to live with... mine has needed almost no repairs except consumables in the last 60,000 miles - not bad for a 19-year old car that's still well capable of doing double the national speed limit

[John F]

For the love of god, don't buy a Maserati...!

 

[Shep Shepherd]

Volvo 740!

[messerschmitt owner]

pug 405 petrol with a free 20p stuck in the handbrake - £399.80

 

or my local garage has a tidy grey pug 405GRDT estate for £495 - it's been there a while, am sure they'd haggle.

[John F]

pug 405 petrol with a free 20p stuck in the handbrake - £399.80

 

 

 

Don't watch it JUST BID!!1!!

[KruJoe]

405 seller* has been quiet for the last six weeks, he's either sold it, or given up on the job.

[purplebargeken]

Ok, I will try to avoid buying a Maserati, it'll be tough but I should be ok.

 

Pug, hmm. Never had one, always thought they came across as dull. Worthy but dull, don't know why.

 

740, had one (smelled of old person, pee and digestive biscuits). An estate would be cool but they seem to be experiencing that slow but steady creep upwards re: price.

 

This is harder than I imagined, not overly due to price limitations but choice/availability. Plus, I'm a contrary git

 

Oh, that Merc. Yum, yum, yum. If only. No more coin can be added to the pot until next month.

[Barry Cade]

What's happened to the MGF??

[Tetleysmooth]

I think you'll have to be quick if you fancy it:

 

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

 

BAR-GIN

[purplebargeken]

The MGF is tucked away in the garage and is a happy little car. Due to go out on saturday for a run round London ending at the Ace

 

That Merc, it's not a 190 is it?? Bloody cheap but a looooooong way away. I'd be in the spinal unit by the time I arrived in South Yorkshire.

[Tetleysmooth]

Yep, 190 2.0 auto with a bashed front wing.

Seems good value though.

[Tetleysmooth]

I didn't think the Merc would hang around for long, it's gone from the listings.

How about this:

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/ ... on-keynes#

[Cavcraft]

/\

Sadly the only reason that car is £225 is because of the price of scrap. That's an £80 special if ever there was.

[Rocket88]

Oh, that Merc. Yum, yum, yum. If only. No more coin can be added to the pot until next month.

 

I'm sure Mr Wobbler's EEZI WONGA PAYMENT FINANCE SCHEME could offer you a solution.....................

[cort16]

£350, 17,000 miles

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/151899/lada-samara-miles-north-herts

[cort16]

Alright it's 50 quid over budget but this 605 over on RR with a load of T&T looks well worth the money at £450.

 

http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/151682/1995-peugeot-605-srti-gloucestershire

[purplebargeken]

Well, the search has ended. A suitable vehicle has been purchased via the Bay of E. I had the offer of a good friends Rover 3500 SD1 but it was well above my budget, would have been bloody fun though. Annoyingly, 4 hours before the end of auction a bloke I know down the road offered me his very tidy FX4, grrrrrrrrr. Would have loved it, especially as it has had oodles spent on it. However, I go to pick up the new addition on Monday. A collection tale will follow. Until then you are all gonna have to guess. No, it's not a Daf, Volvo or MGF.

[Hertz]

Errr, Citroen?