Replacement Chod

[Brent_Crude]

It looks like the old Rangie could be on its way this weekend, as I have a guy coming to look at it who knows his stuff (rather than being the 'always fancied one of these but know fuck all about them' type) and he seems keen. So my attention is now turning to how to replace it and after putting a bit aside for a rainy day, I have a budget of roughly £1500 for some top chod. A brief summary of the criteria is as follows: 

 

• It will only be a runabout - the wife's 'modern' will be the main motor
• An improvement on the 19mpg from the Rangie
• A small car is fine
• Reasonable cost and availability of parts and a good online community for help with repairs
• Nothing French (unless it is pre-'93)
• Nothing German
• Nothing Japanese

 

Or I could just sink it into the remnants of a two door Range Rover that has been pulled out of a derelict outbuilding and has no engine or gearbox and needs every panel replaced and I'll spend the next 5 years trying to get it back on the road while going through the inevitable messy divorce.

 

Shiters - I await your guidance.   

[John F]

It's got to be a Lada Niva. There's one on eBay at the mo.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lada-Niva-Cossack-4x4-Russian-Gem-/261230107271?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cd2871a87#ht_140wt_1399

 

Needs a bit of work though...

[dollywobbler]

Depends what you want really. Something sporty? Something a bit unusual? Something entirely dull but worthy?

 

If I had £1500 handy, I'd be hunting for either a ratty Rover SD1 (which should do 25mpg if you don't boot it too much) or a Ford Sierra XR4x4.

[brickwall]

I clocked that Niva, but as OP says fuel consumption is an issue. Leaving 4WD aside let's have a look. Would an estate be nice perhaps? Do you need 4 doors?

 

Mercs with square headlights are quite neat. The ones with round lights are the work of Satan.

 

Volvo offer up some very charming shite.

 

There's a nice Volkswagon Caddy pick-up on Ebay...great for garden rubbish.

[John F]

^ OP did say nothing German though. Which rules out a Porsche 924 / 944 as well.

[Junkman]

A Triumph Dolomite 1500 HL.

[Brent_Crude]

An estate is less preferable as the wife's 'modern' is an estate and part of the rationale for offloading the Range Rover is that there is not much point having two big cars. I suppose something little and on the sporty side would be a nice change to the old Rangie. 

 

Shame that Metro turbo that has been mentioned a few times on the Tat thread has been engined-raped

[Junkman]

Triumph Dolomite Sprint.

[Brent_Crude]

^ OP did say nothing German though. Which rules out a Porsche 924 / 944 as well.

 

Can I rescind the 'No Germans' criteria? We could be on to something with an old 80's porker! Yes!

 

Well done that man, have a banana.

[Brent_Crude]

A Triumph Dolomite 1500 HL.

 

Another great call and a bit of Touring Cars pedigree too. Our old neighbour used to keep an immaculate one that he'd had from new, garaged and cleaned it meticulously well into the 90's. Always fancied one.

[Junkman]

I had a rather clapped out one as a Winter beater two Winters back and I was well chuffed with how good it really is.

It's the most underrated Lada Riva there ever was.

[Junkman]

Sorry, I forgot:

 

 

 

 

[dollywobbler]

I really wouldn't bother with a Dolly 1500. Either go 1300 for cheaper tax, or 1850 for less chance of the bottom end f*cking up entirely.

[brickwall]

I had one of these back in the day; better build than the usual

 

 

1991 ROVER METRO GTA 16V GREY

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1991-ROVER-METRO-GTA-16V-GREY-/300921487641?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4610518119

 

[garycox]

I really wouldn't bother with a Dolly 1500. Either go 1300 for cheaper tax, or 1850 for less chance of the bottom end f*cking up entirely.

 

1500s are in the lower tax band as well...

[purplebargeken]

Mk4 Escort, and I'm in London. It's MOT'd and taxed. You know your life would then be complete. Maybe then my wife would stop going on about my cars.